Voice
Looking to the Future
Saskatchewan Elocution and Debate Association
Email: info@saskdebate.com
Website: www.saskdebate.com
Location: 310 Wall Street Suite 207 Saskatoon, SK S7K 1N7
Phone: (306) 780-9243
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skdebate/
Twitter: @SEDA
Checking In
The POWER of the PAUSE
PAUSE!
As a debate coach – I would often tell my students as they practiced their debate speeches to pause. Use the pause. There is power in the pause.
Our club had students from Grade 5 through Grade 12 and often they would read through their prepared debate speeches in as fast a manner as they could. They were nervous and wanted to just get it over with or that pace of speaking was the only speed they had to read or to talk!
So, the lesson became the importance of the pause and how to use the pause and plan the pauses in one’s speech. For the speaker – you give yourself a chance to take a breath, get the attention of the audience and then emphasize the point you just said or what you are about to say. For the audience or the judge at the debate round, they too, get a breather, a time to write and a moment to consider what you are saying.
There is an analogy here as we consider this season of social distancing and learning or working from home. It may be a time to just take a breath or a time to consider what really matters and or another way to do the things that matter or just a time to count our blessings!
Regardless of what it may be for you - this may just be a providential gift of a pause.
Use the pause.
Plan the pause.
There is power in the pause.
Melissa Ong
SEDA Executive Director
April 13, 2020
We want to hear from you!
SEDA values your feedback! We are always looking to improve the experience of our members, so we have created feedback surveys for students, parents, judges, and coaches. Feedback survey links were emailed out on Monday March 23rd. FInd the link in your email and give us your thoughts! We appreciate the time you take to help us assess and improve the work we do. If you are a student, parent, judge, and/or coach, but did not receive a survey link in your email, contact info@saskdebate.com
Online Learning
The CSDF, the CNDC, and National Events
Senior Canadian National Debating Championships - Postponed
- Carrick P. & Victor W. (Walter Murray)
- Nathan G. & Mueez R. (Walter Murray)
- Josh S. & Jasnoor G. (Luther)
- Kaia B. & Hamza S. (Walter Murray/Bedford)
- Rohit K. & Bridget S. (Centennial/Walter Murray)
- Dawson P. & Aditya K. (Bedford)
- First Alternate - Rohan N. & Will. S. (Centennial)
- Second Alternate - Jasmine W. & William L. (Luther)
- Third Alternate - Fatima A. & Sanjana B. (Regina Huda/Carlton)
- Fourth Alternate - Aroba K. & Arfa. A (Regina Huda)
Junior Canadian National Debating Championships - Postponed
- Dishita E. & Rafay A. (Walter Murray) (Grade 9)
- Muhammad M. & Elliot C. (SHED) (Grade 9)
- Fatima E. & Ali E. (Regina Huda) (Grade 9)
- Lucas Tarry & Sahasro B. (Dr. John G. Egnatoff)
- Isabelle M. & Mahrukh H. (Caswell)
- Laraib M. & Aiman I. (Regina Huda)
- First Alternate - Emma K. & Mika S. (Saltcoats)
- Second Alternate - Sara S. & Liam B. (Saltcoats)
- Third Alternate - Ayesha A. & Bilal A. (Sylvia Fedoruk)
- Fourth Alternate - Samuel W. & Lucas L. (Greystone)
Worlds School Debating Championships Qualifier and National Team Tryouts - Postponed
2020 Canadian National Student Debating Federation National Seminar
We will not know the status of National Seminar until May. We are hopeful SEDA will be able to host this event on Schedule.
The Saskatchewan Elocution and Debate Association (SEDA) is honoured to host the 2020 National Debating Seminar in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on September 23 to 28, 2020. The National Seminar is a cultural and education event that will bring together 70 high school (Grade 9-12) students from across Canada that combines citizenship education, debate and cultural experiences. The theme will be Reconciliation: Making the Calls to Action a Reality.
Our goal is to facilitate a meaningful learning experience for all participants that fosters mutual respect, empathy and engagement. All programming will aim to provide plenty of space for group discussions and interactions as well as opportunities to present on what is learned.
We want to focus on a ‘I used to think, now I think’ premise to encourage participants to go past assumptions, observations, and truly wrestle and engage – this is the work and idea at the heart of debate.
SEDA Summer Debate Camp
SEDA hosts an annual one-week debate camp for youth of any experience level in grades 5 to 12! Camp will be in August with information on registration coming to you in May. SEDA wants to hold debate camps in BOTH Saskatoon and Regina if we have enough interest! A feedback survey has been sent to students and parents where you can express your interest in camp. It is a great opportunity for those new to debate to become familiar with it, as well as an opportunity for regular debaters to keep their skills sharp!
Though SEDA is hopeful camp will remain on schedule and in its usual form, we are preparing contingency plans if Covid-19 restrictions prevent us from gathering in person in August. As we develop a plan, we will let our members know.