Published on: 28 March 2024




Throughout the course of the year, students compete in events across all disciplines to gain House points towards the Beatty Cup. The House Arts competitions see students participate in four rounds of public speaking, Chess, and eSports. Round 2 of the House Arts competition took place in recent weeks, with the topics for public speaking including:

Year 7 and 8: Learning a second language is so valuable
Year 9: Acts of kindness I have witnessed
Year 10: Things I would do differently
Year 11: University; not for everyone
Year 12 (Impromptu topics):
1. Everything I needed to know in life, I learned in Kindergarten.
2. Fake news presents a real challenge for our society.

For their impromptu topics, Year 12 speakers are given 30 minutes to prepare before presenting at 8.30am. This challenge means they have to generate creative ideas on the spot, effectively manage factors such as nervousness and time constraints, and develop coherent, structured arguments on short notice to engage their audience.

In doing so, our more senior speakers are given the opportunity to further improve their communication and problem-solving abilities, and build their confidence. All students who participate in public speaking can apply the skills they develop to many facets of life beyond school, enhancing their capacity for leadership and influence.

Round 3 of the House Arts takes place in early May. You can view short videos of two Year 12 public speakers Jack Poulson and Jeremiah Wang.