Speech finals at CMS

Cambridge Middle School’s Year 7 and 8 speech finalists gave the event the ‘thumbs up’. Pictured, from left, back row: Madeleine Jones, Caitlyn Pell, Isla Newlands and Kendra Rogers. Middle row: Kaitlyn Kelly, Georgie Brown, Annelies Banks, Caitlin Cotter, Evie Ismay, Georgiana Reynolds, Eve Wotland and Abbey Morrison. Front row: Neve Keightley, Aishlin Long, Hannah Baikie, Blade Philip, Madeleine Jago, Poppy Fox-Worthington, Matthew Strawbridge.

I had the pleasure of judging the Year 8 speech finals at Cambridge Middle School recently and was quite blown away with the confidence that each student showed by getting up on stage in front of such a sizeable audience.

Each of the nine finalists – one was absent – showed fantastic writing ability and incredible confidence speaking to the school on Monday last week. Many of them were rather funny and clever too, making it pretty hard to select someone for first place.

The overall winner, Neve Keightley, gave a brilliant speech on being “the only kid in the world without a mobile phone”, pointing out hilarious and well-thought reasons as to why her parents should let her get one, whilst highlighting the benefits of not having one.

In second behind Neve was Ashlin Long with her speech on books, and Madeleine Jones, third, with her speech on gruesome fiction.

Having myself been a Year 8 speech finalist at Cambridge Middle School, I know how much guts it would have taken for each student to get up on stage, so well done to everyone who did!

The Year 7 speech finals were held earlier in the day, with a different set of judges. Their top three were Madeleine Jago in first, Caitlin Cotter second and Eve Wotland third.

More Recent News

A glass act

Holding a priceless piece of history in his gloved hands, he is quick to recognise the significance of his work. “It certainly is a unique job. I really enjoy the variety, but at the same…

Where art meets vegetables

Germinated in the fertile imaginations of the St Peter’s Catholic School community, a creative idea has blossomed into a colourful artwork. Principal Anita Asumadu is delighted with the school’s new garden mural, which capped off…

Audit report pleases council

Audit New Zealand billed Waipā District Council $233,469 to conduct its annual audit and provide a management report to the Audit and Risk committee. The committee this week received the report, which has three new…

A colourful occasion

Toilet roll tossing, bouncy castles, pony rides and rolled ice creams made for a day “brimming with fun and excitement” as the community got behind Roto-o-Rangi School’s fun run and carnival recently, principal Wayne Donnellon…