Parents need to spend more time with their kids bike riding, and less time handing them iPads to keep them busy, says Grade 12 Isfeld student Holley Miller.
Her Ted Talk, “The fidgety future; the truth about distracted students,” landed her first place at ‘Comox Valley Students Speak,’ the SD 71 annual public speaking competition.
Two other Isfeld students, Megan Rutledge and Sara Dunn, finished second and third, respectively, in the annual contest held at the Stan Hagen Theatre at NIC on May 8.
“It was a remarkable day for these students,” said event organizer Jodie Zuccato. “Whenever students speak, it’s powerful and moving. I commend all the students from each school for having the courage to get up in front of an audience to practise their speaking skills.
“When students write for an audience, rather than just their teacher, students have to think of how their words are going to land on a group of people. That requires a higher level of thinking, and that’s why it’s such a powerful exercise.”
Students from three Valley high schools took part in the event, including Highland, Vanier, and Isfeld, competing for a total of $2,400 in bursaries. All bursaries were provided by the Dr. David Carmichael Memorial fund.
WINNERS BY CATEGORY
Traditional Speech
1) Talia Gilmore Vanier “Ripplings of depression”
2) Lindsay Pettis Isfeld
“Dangers of competition”
3) Keziah Magor Isfeld
“Happily Ever Afters; Are They Helping Or Are They Hurting.”
Extemporary category
(Random draw for topic; three-minute speech)
1) Hannah Arthurs Isfeld
2) (tie) Samm Merrick Isfeld
Andrew Jutte Highland
Performance Arts
1) (tie) Christian Taylor Isfeld
Josie Patterson Vanier
2) Kirsten Bystrom Isfeld