Sophia and Kathryn, two students at Rumson Country Day School, learned the fundamentals of teamwork, confidence building and public speaking, during the school’s recent Forensics Festival.
On Saturday, December 3, some 45 students from five schools competed at the annual Forensics Festival hosted at The Rumson Country Day School, vying for top honors in categories that included dramatic pairs, storytelling, and humorous interpretation of literature.
Two RCDS sixth graders named Sophia and Kathryn were among the participants who secured a finalist award, both of them crediting “working with a supportive partner” for their win in the dramatic pairs competition. For Kathryn — a new student at the school this year — the Forensics Festival represented an “opportunity to work closely with a partner and make new friends,” while smoothing the sometimes difficult experience of transitioning to a new school.
According to Forensics Coordinator Rebecca Andrews, the competition highlights the many strengths of student performers, such as public speaking, posture and diction.
“These are skills that our students use every day, whether it’s presenting a project in the classroom or having a discussion one-on-one,” she said.
As Ms. Andrews continued, “The key is to make learning fun,” through the use of interactive group games designed to refine technique, build confidence, and facilitate teamwork.
After three months of practice, Forensics culminates with the annual Festival; an opportunity for students to showcase their talents. Nine out of ten students are collectively involved in extracurricular activities at RCDS, with the next scheduled competition being a Debate Tournament on Saturday, February 4, 2017.
