Speech contest’s lively voices

Students recite poems, stories and even movie dialogue before panel of judges.St. Catherine School held its annual speech contest on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Taking on the challenge of being scrutinized in front of a panel of judges, 36 students waited in turn to step into the spotlight before a crowd of around 300.

The contest was held in the school’s gymnasium, with the stage set up with nothing but a microphone and stand.

The public address system was just loud enough to overcome the revved-up student body as it greeted each participant with encouragement.

The event started with the kindergarteners and progressed to the junior high classes. All speeches were picked by students and recited from memory.

Lines were delivered with practiced precision as the contestants found their rhythms and nailed key points.

Some chose serious poems from Alfred Lord Tennyson and Edgar Allen Poe, whereas others went silly with Shel Silverstein and scenes from movies.

“I’ll fake a cough. I’ll fake a sneeze. I’ll say my throat is sore. If necessary I can throw a tantrum on the floor,” bellowed Darla Du Amarell in her rendition of the poem “I’m Staying Home from School Today” for the first- and second-graders category.

“You can argue with the football field or argue with the bleachers. But I’ve found it isn’t very smart to argue with the teachers,” announced Cambria Mogavero, competing in the first- and second-grade category with “You Can Argue with a Tennis Ball.”

“I practiced at home a lot,” Mogavero said.

Rachel Scalfani presented an original poem by her father Charles, “Through Wiser Eyes,” for the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade category.

With an English accent, Emily Loughlin recited Ogden Nash’s “Adventures of Isabel.”

“Good morning, Isabel, the giant said, I’ll grind your bones to make my bread.”

Michael Tingley represented the third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders with a dramatized version of “Mrs. Stein,” a humorous poem by Bill Dodd about a substitute teacher.

Maddie Renezeder performed a scene from the movie “Shrek II” in which she presented two characters in conversation.

She stooped and spoke with an accent on one side of the stage, and stood tall with a deeper voice on the other. The crowd loved it, and she earned first place for the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade category.

Annabelle Baldwin competed in the contest despite losing her father, Jason Baldwin, in a plane crash.

She earned first place among the first- and second-graders with “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” by Edward Lear.

Jason Baldwin was also the uncle of Renezeder.

“We told them they didn’t have to do it, but they wanted to,” said event organizer Ann Johnson.

Medals were given to the winners of each age category and ribbons to the second- and third-place winners.

Criteria for judging was based on visual presentation, degree of difficulty, originality, eye contact and quality of voice, Johnson said.

“Communication skills are emphasized from an early age in the school,” Johnson said. “We want to get them to feel comfortable speaking in front of groups.” 20051202iqsnw5knMARK DUSTIN / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Jordan Watkins points his finger in the air to symbolize the numeral 1 while giving his speech, “A Thanksgiving Table,” in front of a panel of judges during Wednesday morning’s speech contest at St. Catherine School.