SHS Speech and Debate Club Y2023-24 First Meeting

Sep. 12, 2023

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Agenda

• SHS Speech and Debate Club Introduction
• Speech and Debate Introduction
• S&D Club Schedule and Operation 2023-24
• Breakout Session
• Students: Meet Coach and Student leadership (Student Center)
• Parents: Judge Training Workshop (Cafeteria)

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About SHS Speech and Debate Club

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• Extra-curricular activity open for SHS students grade 9 through 12
• Develop a truly valuable skill set the student will carry into college and future life
• Top-notch professional coaches and a successful competitive students team
• Excellent opportunity to participate many local, state and national tournaments
• Great support from Saratoga High School and the Booster team

Speech and Debate Goals

• Develop skills in the public speaking, debating and effective communication
• Help students build up confidence, critical thinking and leadership skills
• Improve research ability, analytical skills, and logical argumentation
• Encourage teamwork and build friendships in high school
• Bring valuable benefits beyond high school and impact future life

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Community and Support

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Meet the Coaches

• Head Coach: Steve Clemmons
• Director of Debate for Saratoga High since 2009
• Director of Forensics for SHS
• Awarded Hall of Fame from the CHSSA (California High School Speech Association) in 2022
• Serve as CHSSA Board as the Chairperson for Debate Committee
• Serve as the California Representative to the National Federal for High School Topic Selection Committee
• College professor and high school teacher
• Standout competitor and won many national awards in high school and in college

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Meet the Coaches

• Head Speech Coach: Jenny Cook
• Over 32 years of coaching experience in speech and debate
• Founder and Executive Director of Summit Debate for 27 years, which is one of the largest summer program for Speech and Debate
• 2020 National Speech and Debate Association Hall of Fame Inductee
• Awarded NSDA 4th Diamond Coach in 2023 (90,000 coaching points and minimum 20 years coaching experience)
• Coached Five National Champions in Speech and Debate, 16 National Finalists and numerous Semi-Finalists in all events at the NSDA and NCFL National Speech and Debate Tournaments during 1991-2023
• 2002 Massachusetts State Speech and Debate Coach of the Year, and 2008 Florida State Speech and Debate Coach of the Year

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Speech and Debate Introduction

Coaches

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What is Debate ?

High School Levels:

• Novice
• Junior Varsity
• Varsity

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• A debate is an argument that is presents in a structured format utilizing data sources and sophisticated techniques
• Debate Events

What is Speech ?

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• Speech events generally center around public speaking and usually include an element of presentation through either acting or body language
• Speech Events

Tournaments Introduction

• Coast Forensic League (CFL)
• Our local league tournaments with most tournaments will be held in person this year
• CFL & CHSSA Circuits

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• Invitational Tournaments
• local, state, and national tournaments hosted by individual colleges, universities, and high schools as fundraisers for their teams.
• Potential “bid” tournaments also known as Circuit Tournaments such as Stanford, Berkeley Invitational

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• Championship Tournaments
• State and National Championships
• Tournament Of Champions (TOC) , NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association)

and National Catholic Forensics League (NCFL)

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Tournaments Planning 2023-24

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Tournament Registration - Students

• Please always check with coaches first for readiness and qualification specially for new students
• Pay attention to the tournament schedule and signup deadline
• Register via Sign Up Form from Club Website under Tournaments, boosters will help register the tournament in Tabroom (Please Do Not sign up with coaches directly)
• For team event, please check your partner first, and make sure both have signed up and made payment to secure your spot for tournament.
• For students, if you register during practice time, please notify your parents to check their schedule for judge obligation as well as pay registration fee on time before deadline. You won’t be registered until we received all required info including judge info and payment.
• If you want to make any change, please notify us before the signup deadline
• Please follow detail instruction on logistic email threads from tournament chair or organizer.
• The S&D Club Tournament Sign Up Instruction will be shared with students and parents. Please read carefully and follow the instruction.

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Expectation from Students

• Weekly Practices
• Practicing at home
• Tournament Participation

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Expectation from Parents

• Be patient to your child
• Time commitment to serve as a judge
• Support your students !

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Club Schedule and Operation

Club Boosters

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Club Schedule

• Practice Style: Provide Two In-Person Practices each week
• Schedule: Every Tuesday and Thursday 6:00-8:00 pm
• Location: Meet at Student Center first, then break into speech and debate groups in Cafeteria and Student Center
• First Class Date: Sep. 14, Thursday, 6:00-8:00pm

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Club Communication

• Parents Communication Channels
• Parent Google Group Mailing List
• Parent WhatsApp

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• Students Communication Channels
• Student Google Group Mailing List
• Instagram: saratoga_sd

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• Current and Alumni (Parents+Students) Facebook Group
• facebook.com/groups/SaratogaSD

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shssd-parents@googlegroups.com

shssd-students@googlegroups.com

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Parent WhatsApp group

Facebook group

Club Registration

• All new and returning students are required to officially register in the program
• Please visit our website at http://saratogahighsd.club/ or scan QR code
• If any question, please contact us: saratogahigh.sd@gmail.com
• Registration Deadline: Sep. 22, 2023
• Contribution Deadline: Sep. 29, 2023

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Registration Form

Parent Responsibility

• Register both student and parent account at Tabroom.com if you don’t have it
• Parent are required for judge and meet judge obligation of tournaments unless judge buyout
• If you cannot judge, there’s option to purchase Judge Buyout
• Suggest pay registration fee immediately during signup or when your child notify you the tournament registration (before deadline)
• Take care of trip logistics specially for in-person tournament
• Support club fundraising and other club events
• If you are interested in volunteering, please talk to us!

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Tournament Judging Resources

1. SHS S&D Club Tournament Sign Up Instruction

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• Instruction on How to Use Tabroom

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• Speech and Debate Judging General Info (Q&A)

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• NSDA Judge Training Materials (Videos)

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Club Contribution

• Need Donation to help us reach our budget goal
• Support our coaching staffs and club operation
• The club support every student. If you have financial issue, please talk to us

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Where Do Your Funds Go:

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• CFL League Tournaments*
• NSDA Membership Fee
• Coaches Stipend
• Club Events
• Accounting and Tax
• Senior Gifts
• End of Year Banquet

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* The club will cover for league tournaments, other tournaments registration will be self-paid. Boosters will help on the registration process.

Donation Payment Methods

• Pay via Zelle using saratogahigh.sd@gmail.com (Preferred)
• PayPal to “Saratoga High Speech and Debate” https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/saratogahighsdclub
• Check Payable to “Saratoga High Speech and Debate Supporters”
• All our donation can be Company Matched, please check our website for the details.
• All payment methods are listed on our website under donation tab

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PayPal QR Code

Next Steps...

• Register your students ASAP before 9/22 Friday
• Membership Contribution no later than 9/29 Friday
• Practice will start on 9/14, Thursday 6:00-8:00pm @ Student Center
• Breakout Session (next half hour)
• Students: Meet Coach and Student Leadership (Student Center)
• Parents: Judge Training Workshop (Cafeteria)

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Club Registration Form

https://saratogahighsd.club/

saratogahigh.sd@gmail.com