Community Day School student qualifies for debate championship

The Hershorin Schiff Community Day School Middle School Debate Team, under the guidance of teacher Michael Podolsky, recently attended and excelled during its third Incubate Debate Tournament of the school year, which was held at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fla.

Community Day School is celebrating one particular success: seventh-grader Matisse Cantero has qualified for Incubate.Champs, which will bring the top students from the Incubate Debate regions across Florida and South Carolina to the championship in Jacksonville, Fla. in early April.

Other CDS students excelled during the competition as well. Sixth-grader Ava Chapman earned her way to the semi-finals. Seventh-grader Logan Curie, sixth-grader Benny Labinger, and eighth-grader Erik Sinift were recognized with E.M. Hemingway Nobility Awards for most-improved from the first to the second rounds of the tournament; Sinift and sixth-grader David Turner both made it into the Tribunal Round for commendable performances in the preliminary rounds; and Turner’s team won its room for the Tribunal Round.

During the competition, middle and high school students competed alongside each other. Competitors are judged by panels of elected officials, members of the judiciary, civil servants, college professors, first responders, members of the armed forces, and faith-based leaders.

Incubate Debate operates competitive debate regions in Florida and South Carolina that collectively host no-cost debate tournaments every school year. Students from all backgrounds come together to debate timely and timeless topics that relate to the U.S. Constitution, foreign affairs, current events and issues, and the economy.

“Debate provides opportunities to build self-confidence while learning about public speaking, how to structure an argument, how to do research, and to learn how to debate opposite sides of an issue in a respectful and amicable manner – even if you don't agree one iota!”” said Podolsky. “A very important goal of the program is individual improvement; being better at the end of the day from where you started even if you did not receive an award.”

Cantero, who lives in Sarasota with his parents, older brother, three guinea pigs and two parakeets, is currently hard at work preparing for the championships. In addition to debate, the 13-year-old also enjoys playing basketball, watching anime, and expanding his adventurous palate.

There will be a “last chance” qualifier tournament in Sarasota on March 9; several Community Day students will participate, in hopes of joining Cantero for the Incubate.Champs in April.

To learn more about the school, visit CommunityDay.org or call 941-552-2770.

About Hershorin Schiff Community Day School
The mission of the Hershorin Schiff Community Day School, which serves students in preschool through eighth grade, is to impact the world by creating a community where children of all faiths demonstrate integrity, academic excellence, and a desire to improve the world. Community Day offers a rigorous, project-based academic program in a diverse and vibrant learning environment rooted in the Jewish values of honesty, integrity, mutual trust and respect. For more information, visit the website, communityday.org, or call (941) 552-2770.