 Rotary Club of Aberdeen Deeside | sitemap | log in
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Primary School Public Speaking CompetitionRCAD’s Vocational and Youth Committee teamed up with Ruth Mathers, head teacher at Milltimber Primary, and other members of her staff to organise and run our first Primary Schools Public Speaking event. At 7.00 pm on Tuesday 27 September, 11 year old participants from three neighbouring schools, Culter, Cults and Milltimber, gathered in the dining hall at Milltimber Primary ready to show their communication skills. 14 pupils took part in the competition and gave talks on such diverse subjects as the blue whale, Westminster Abbey, the Olympics and sailing, the rules of golf, the harmonica, otters, the plastic bags problem, tsunamis, rainforests, and endangered species (Rotarians not included). Use was made of excellent visual aids which were integrated well into many of the talks.
At least 2 generations more mature than the pupils, our Rotarian team organised the competitors (Kaare), kept speakers to their time limits and rang the timekeeper’s bell (John E), judged the talks to set criteria and gave feedback on performance (Ellen, Doreen, Dave P), and hosted the evening (Ian R).
For 11 year olds, the level of presentation skills from all was very impressive, as was the standard of knowledge of subjects, of lively and interesting content, and of selection of relevant facts and arguments within strict time limits. Did you know that there were only two medals for each event at the 1896 Olympics, or that there are less than 50 Amur leopards left in the wild, or that the present Westminster Abbey was built in the 13th century, or that the blue whale is the largest known animal ever to inhabit our planet?
All speakers who took part were real winners, and all received RCAD certificates designed by our own Dave Pottinger. In addition for each of the three Primaries taking part a best speaker was given an award, and from that trio an overall event winner was selected, Rebecca Orr of Cults Primary.
Our President Mary Lennox awarded certificates to all 14 contestants, and then the trophy for the best performance was presented by Ian Connon to Rebecca. It was beautifully carved in the form of an open book, and all the work of Ian himself, a trophy worthy of a champion.
 Finally congratulations to the enthusiastic and receptive audience of over 100 crammed into the small atmospheric Milltimber dining hall to support the speakers; relatives, friends, teachers and other Deeside Rotarians/partners - Anne, Harry, Robert, Pat (Bill’s wife). They all helped to make it a great evening.
Ian Reid, Voc/Youth Com. Convenor Page Last Updated - 05/10/2011 |   |
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