Academics

Academics Speech & Debate Team Adapts to Online MSHSAA Competitions

Different. That word describes what the SCA Speech and Debate team had to face after MSHSAA mandated that all competitions would take place online. So, instead of traveling to a neighboring school to compete in person, we began recording and submitting speech presentations online, or logging in to an online conference call to participate in a debate. Challenges come as the team has had to make sure their speech recordings meet proper requirements for play back on the host school’s media platform, and that their WiFi signal is strong enough to maintain contact with their competition and judge for debate rounds. Online competition allowed the team to challenge schools from all over the United States and overseas. The team continues to face off with schools from all size classifications. Our students also continue their commitment to their craft, and to see the results that come from their hard work. Each of SCA’s nine team members took part in up to • five of the eight online tournaments on the first semester schedule. The team earned awards from each tournament; ten speech entries reached finals and eight debate entries competed in elimination rounds. Debate Team Members Senior Maycee Nicholson and Junior Zach Akeson prepare for online competitions with Debate Coach The top results from Mark Harris. team members were: • Briana Chapman (Jr) – 9th • Maycee Nicholson (Sr) – 3rd

Championship Division of Lincoln- Original Oration, and 2nd Open

Douglas Debate Division of Lincoln-Douglas Debate • Nate Barlett (Jr) – 6th Student • Zach Akeson – 2nd International

Congress, and 4th with Isaac Extemporaneous Speaking

Truesdale (Fr) Open Division of • Ryan Wagy (Sr) with Austin Wilson

Public Forum Debate (Sr) – 1st Championship Division of • Kaitlyn Gregg (Jr) – 5th Informative Policy Debate

Speaking The team’s results show the truth • Kandace Gill (Jr) – 4th of what was written in Proverbs 25:11,

Championship Division of Lincoln- “A word fitly spoken is like apples of

Douglas Debate gold in a setting of silver.” • Zach Akeson (Jr) with Kaitlyn

Gregg – 4th Championship Division of Public Forum Debate

Speech and Debate teacher Mark Harris and his Competitive Speech and Debate class display the school’s 100 Club certificate. L-R (Front row): Senior Austin Wilson, Junior Briana Chapman, Senior and President of the Debate Club Ryan Wagy, Junior Kandace Gill, and Freshman Isaac Truesdale. (Back row): Junior Kaitlyn Gregg, Junior Zach Akeson, Speech and Debate teacher Mark Harris, and Senior Maycee Nicholson. Not pictured Junior Nate Bartlett.

SCA Enters National Speech and Debate Association 100 Club

SCA is pleased to announce that our chapter of the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) competitive and honor society has earned the distinction of entering the “100 Club.” NSDA Club awards are earned by schools who demonstrate outstanding commitment to teaching students skills, including communication, research, listening, writing, and organization, for achieving degrees in the NSDA Honor Society. The “100 Club” recognizes a school that has a strength of over 100 points, and places SCA in the top 20% of all NSDA member schools. “I am proud of the hard work and dedication of our students to be able to make this happen,” shared Speech and Debate teacher Mark Harris. “They don't hesitate to set goals and don't back away from expectations.” SCA became a member of the NSDA in 2007.

Academics SCA Recognizes Spelling Bee Winners

SCA recently held their annual spelling bee with a total of 44 students in second - eighth grades participating. Three students emerged victorious: first place went to eighth grade student Abigail Shanahan, second place went to fifth grade student Leo Butler, and third place went to second grade student Joey Soule. Due to COVID-19, the district and regional spelling bees for top spellers have been cancelled.

Spelling bee winners (L-R): Eighth grade student Abigail Shanahan (first place), fifth grade student Leo Butler (second place), and second grade student Joey Soule (third place).

SCA Students Experience Hands-On Voting Education

SCA elementary students learned on November 17. Each student cast their ballots. Absentee ballots firsthand about the entire voting participated in registration, voter were even created so students who and election process. Kindergarten identification, voting, and delivery to were away from school traveling, in through sixth grade students the ballot box. quarantine, or weren’t able to vote in registered to vote, and on Monday, The polling booth was organized person could cast their vote! Ballots November 2, headed to the polls and led by SCA’s Student Environment were recorded, placed in the box, and to cast their ballot for their favorite of Arduous Study (STEWARDS) third tallied. themed dress day to take place through sixth grade students, who The final result was a total of spent much time in advance 341 ballots cast and tallied, and the learning and preparing for popular vote (174 votes) declared the civic process event. The November 17 “Pajama Day.” STEWARDS class provided STEWARDS is an SCA program nominations for the ballot and for students who demonstrate voted on the final ballot to be academic giftedness to the extent proposed to the student body. that continued educational growth Students stayed after school and stimulation can best be served by to prepare election flyers environment beyond typical gradeand film a TV ad to inform level curriculum. voters about the ballots. STEWARDS students were each assigned stations to work as an “election official” and each class had a scheduled time to visit the polls and

The SCA STEWARDS class led the elementary school in voting registration, voter identification, voting, and delivery, providing hands-on learning for their fellow elementary students. SCA first grade student Burke Sanko shows a sample ballot and voting booth.