Ridge Speech and Debate Summer Institute Dates Announced

The Ridge Forensics Team, the state championship interscholastic speech and debate team for Ridge High School is excited to announce their 2019 Summer Institute in Speech and Debate. The institute will continue offering two separate week-long experiences. The first week will be for incoming 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students and will take place on July 22nd - July 26th, while the institute for incoming 7th, 8th, and 9th graders will take place on July 29th through August 2nd. Both will take place at Ridge High School and will be taught by the Ridge High School and William Annin Middle School (WAMS) coaching staffs along with members of the Ridge High School state championship team.
David Yastremski, director of the Ridge Forensics Team, states, “Each year we have welcomed more and more students to our program. We enjoy helping our students develop their voices and critical thinking skills so they can benefit in years to come!

The workshops will focus on developing confidence in a variety of speaking situations. Jessica Lynch, Language Arts teacher and WAMS debate coach states, “We are developing some interesting and fun activities so our students of all age and ability levels can become more confident speakers and communicators.”

The institute will feature lectures, workshops, individual coaching sessions, and social activities that will help students practice and polish their skills in all three genres of forensic speaking: debate, public address, and interpretation. William Annin Middle School Science teacher and debate coach, Dr. Vivekanand Balija, states, “last summer, 2018, we welcome almost 150 students to our program. We try to ensure that students, of all age groups and abilities, have an opportunity to grow in confidence as communicators and critical thinkers.”

Stephanie Fletcher, assistant coach of the Ridge team, adds “middle school forensics programs continue to grow and develop in our area, especially with the increasing popularity of the William Annin Middle School Speech and Debate Club. For those students who are interested in competing, the institute will provide an opportunity to work with the Ridge team to help develop a competitive edge. Whether competing or not, all students will have the opportunity to develop their skills as confident communicators in a fun and exciting environment!”

The workshop will run between 9:00am and 2:00pm each day with an after-care option available.
Details and registration information can be downloaded at http://www.ridgeforensics.com/summer-institute.html.