Meet the coaches:

Renee Davis                          Chloe Anderson                   Student Assistants

(Speech Coach)                     (Debate Coach)                    (all  National competitors)

15 year’s experience in          Iron Man and DI 1st             Jared Bateman and

theatre and speech.                                                        Matt Pickett (Apologetics)

Tavi Davis (Speech events)

(Winsome Orations and Revolutionary Dialogues).

Here, words mean things; words are powerful tools.   We are a Speech and Debate club whose goal is to develop and inspire Christian students to winsomely and effectively communicate truth, hope, edifying literature, persuasive arguments, and articulate writing to both the Christian and the secular community.  Our desire is to prepare these students not only for tournaments but also for a larger contribution to the culture. Our emphasis this year is not only to compete but also to take the speeches out into the community for real world impact, with a wider audience! This club has developed into a close-knit supportive networking of families and students committed to encouraging and helping each one grow, mature and succeed.  Our desire is to know, nurture and encourage each student. Here’s for the nitty-gritty. We meet every Friday starting the first Friday in Sept after Labor Day (with a break for Thanksgiving) at Village Seven Presbyterian Church just off North Carefree in rooms 13-15 behind Leonard Hall. Club starts at 3:00-3:30 with Apol, 3:30-4:45 all other speech events; Debate meets at 5:00-6:00. The cost for speech is $60 per student, per semester or $100 for the year before August 1. After August 1 the cost goes up to the regular $70/ semester or $120 for the year. Students wanting to take Debate as well will be charged an additional $50/ semester or $75 for the year since our debate coach will be traveling from Denver each week.

Questions? Call  Renee Davis 719-597-6073.

How To Register

1. Each student must copy off, fill out, and send in the application form with the semester fee.   Link to Registration form.
2. Attach one letter of reference from someone outside your family regarding your character and willingness to work
3. Students must decide which of the events they want to try when applying.  It does not limit you to those events nor does it mean you have to compete in all those events. It simply helps us decide how to delegate responsibility to helpers and how many will be needed for given events.  All 9 events will be introduced in the 3:00-4:45 class. You can access the descriptions of the events on the Stoa website www.stoausa.org and click on the events bar on the left.
4. Students must read and agree to the Code of Conduct.
5. To run a club and give every student a chance to get trained and coached, it is necessary to have the cooperation and help of parents at times. We will be training parents to understand and be able to evaluate speeches as we go along, so all of you will be equipped to be of assistance and be able to judge at tournaments well.  There are a variety of specific administrative needs that might fit a parent’s individual skills as well.
6. We have a “Lettering” system much like any sporting team for our motivated students who want to challenge themselves to go above and beyond.
7. Beyond class costs students must get a member number through Stoa to compete for about $35-$45/family and pay tournament registration fees for any tournaments they attend.

WORDsworth Code of Conduct

1.  Be on time.

2.  Turn cell phones to vibrate and do not plan to use them during class.

3.  No iPods or gum in class.

4.  Come to class prepared.

5.  Comments made in class about another’s performance ought to be of an encouraging as well as a constructive nature.

6.  During tournaments all students and their families must be in tournament attire for the entire time even if not competing.

7.  We, as a club, always support every competitor even those outside our club.  These are our advocates in the real world and it behooves us to network with them and encourage them since our future together goes way beyond tournaments.

8.  Be gracious and Christ honoring whether you win or lose.  Winning or losing is not the measure of your worth or even of your performance.  Your worth comes from the One who made you.  He allows people to win or lose at a given time for his own purposes in their life.

9.  Follow the code of conduct because it is the right thing to do. Integrity is all about what you do when you think no one else is watching.

10.  No one dates or flirts or teases in a flirtatious manner anyone in club.  This is not the place or the time.  This rule eliminates distractions, silliness, hurt feelings, pressure and discomfort of wondering a thousand things.  This gives us freedom in all relationships within club knowing that everyone is free to be friends with anyone.