East Naples Middle Debate Team
Competition. It is a word that we usually associate with athletics. While there is no doubt team sports play an important role in a child’s development, there’s also tremendous value in academic competition. By participating in activities such as spelling bees, debate tournaments, and writing symposiums, students can learn the same sportsmanship skills as athletes do on the playing field. Character traits such as fair play, respect, and grace.
Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) recognizes the importance of academic competitions and strives to provide countless opportunities for students to showcase their skills. Those include the Scholar Bowl Program, the Middle School Debate Program, and Odyssey of the Mind, just to name a few. Ashleigh Koch, Coordinator of Academic Competitions, tells me there’s something for everyone. “If your child loves to research, argue different sides of an issue, and is willing to speak in front of a small audience, they would be well-suited for debate. Creative thinkers would love Odyssey of the Mind. The Laws of Life Essay Contest challenges students to write effectively. There are so many opportunities for students to fit in and to find success.”
Speaking of finding success, this past school year, we saw so many of our students shine in these competitions. Four of our elementary school Odyssey of the Mind teams made it to the state finals. In the words of one student at Parkside Elementary, “My experience of working on an Odyssey of the Mind team this year was amazing. I loved how our project challenged me to use my brain and think outside the box.”
Our young scientists also had one of their best showings ever at the 60th Annual State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida. Eleven of the 13 students took home awards. One student even won a $10,000 scholarship to the University of Florida.
With the new school year about to start next month, Koch tells me her department is working hard to keep up the excitement surrounding the district’s academic competitions. “We are continually trying to expand our programs to include more students.” She suggests that any student looking to get involved in one of our many competitions reach out to the teacher or coach responsible at their school. Some academic competitions require tryouts, while others are open to all interested students. As always, you can get the latest information on our website: www.collierschools.com. There, you can also watch videos of some of our academic competitions from this past year.
Whatever your child wishes to pursue, remember to celebrate with them along the way. Celebrate their courage to participate and the skills they develop as they prepare for the competition. That way, win or lose, you have helped them establish the spirit and desire to try it again.