Winnipeg, MB – After competing in three one-hour rounds at last weekend’s esteemed provincial debate qualifier, the Asper Cup, Gray Academy of Jewish Education (Gray Academy) students Ariel Melamedoff and JJ Gerstein were named the top team for their skills in the British Parliamentary debating style.
“Debating is great. We get to travel all over the country and meet lots of people,” says Melamedoff, 16, “But it is not just about traveling, we also learn skills that will help us for the rest of our lives, like improvisation and critical thinking.”
Those skills were in top gear as Melamedoff and Gerstein came up victorious against tough contenders from schools like St. John’s-Ravenscourt, Balmoral Hall and St. Mary’s Academy, but it is all in good fun.
“For me debating is all about building relationships and learning how to communicate with others,” says Gerstein, 17. “I hope that over the year I will have many more opportunities to do so.”
The next big opportunity for these avid debaters will be in November as their Asper Cup victory gives them an invitation along with four other Manitoba teams, to represent our city and province at the international Oxford Cup, being hosted by Toronto.
“Our debate students work very hard at honing their skills and it is extremely rewarding when that hard work pays off,“ says Andrew Kaplan, Asper Cup organizer and full time debate and English teacher at Gray Academy. “Manitoba is a great province for high school debating. The schools who participate in the Maitoba Speech and Debate Association are dedicated to making sure that students gain practical experience in critical skills of representing themselves articulately and being accountable in the defense of their beliefs.”
Gray Academy of Jewish Education is a JK – 12 university preparatory school that places equal value on both Jewish and general academic programs, and provides opportunities to nurture the emotional well-being and spiritual development of all students. Our vision is to provide an educational environment of academic excellence, strong Jewish values and proud citizenship.
For more information Ashley Morgan
Coordinator of Marketing & Communications
Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education
204.797.7871
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