Wednesday afternoon saw six debating teams battle it out in the Grand Final for our 2021 Coomera Alliance Debating Competition. This competition is in its third year and has brought together 7 local primary schools to compete in a number of debates across Term 4. The two top performing teams from Years 4 to 6 were then selected, based on their number of wins and point totals, to represent their school in the grand final. Coomera Rivers was lucky enough to have 3 teams represented on Wednesday, although lucky isn't the right word. They worked so very hard and were very deserving of this position.

The calibre of speakers at these debates was nothing short of impressive and each debate was exceptionally close. The adjudicators, Rod Dixon and Francesca Thorn from Gold Coast Toastmasters, Mrs Kym Amor, Principal from Foxwell Secondary College and Ms Mia O'Brien from Griffith University, had an incredibly tough job and all walked away completely blown away with how talented our students performed.

Coomera Rivers year 5 and 6 teams walked away victorious and the Year 4's came in very close. This is a remarkable feat given students only had 5 school days to research and prepare for their debate. To formulate a strong team argument, prepare a speech and then deliver it with conviction in such a short space of time is something most adults would struggle with.

The results were as follows:
Year 4 - Coomera Rivers vs Coomera State School
That teacher's job is the most important job in the world
Coomera Rivers Negative

Year 5 - Coomera Rivers vs Coomera Springs
It is better to be smart than funny
Coomera Rivers Affirmative

Year 6 - Coomera Rivers vs Picnic Creek SS
That life is easy when you're beautiful
Coomera Rivers Affirmative

So the decision at the end of the night was that a teachers job is the most important job in the world, that it is better to be smart than funny and life is certainly easier when you're beautiful, inside and out.

Congratulations to the following students:
Year 4 Grand Final Team: Lana P, Alana B, Frankie G and Lia L.
Year 5 Grand Final Team:  Fellyn H, Annabelle N, Lucas I and Ashley M.
Year 6 Grand Final Team: Georgina B, Wyatt S, Angel-Rose W and Ariana T.

Contributing to the team's success in making it to the grand final were also these students:
Year 4: Silva C, Connor B, Frankie T and Tamara S.
Year 5: Chase M, Annabelle F, Camille S and Mariyae A.
Year 6: Antonina W, Maiya B, Tyler L and Sebastian P

A very special mention must also go to Fellyn who won the Most Outstanding Speaker Award for Year 5. This award was determined from the points accumulated from all the debates and could have gone to any student from any school.

Congratulations must also go to each and every teacher who mentored, inspired, encouraged and supported our students in developing their debating skills. The improvement in our students' confidence and skill was tangible.

Year 4: Ms Conroy and Ms Bray
Year 5: Mrs Comley and Mrs Wager
Year 6: Mrs Ellison and Ms Dare

We mustn't forget to mention our Year 6 'Reserve Team B' who also did extremely well throughout the competition.  Although they didn't make it to the grand final, they were very close.  Having this extra team meant our Year 6 coaches needed to oversee an extra team but it meant that we were able to offer this experience to more students because we certainly have the talent at Coomera Rivers.

We are genuinely looking forward to the competition next year and we know that our students and teachers, as well as those from our neighbouring schools, are as equally excited.