Dear Parents, Students, and Friends,
Why do so many students seem to live in Room 400?
Because speech and debate is “the best secret in all of high school,” as my own debate coach used to say before he retired as a California High School Speech Association Hall of Famer. Indeed, many wouldn’t know it, but San Marino’s Speech and Debate team boasts over 100 students and is the largest competitive activity on campus. Our uniforms are business suits. We study philosophy. We write to persuade. We speak to deliver. We entertain to make you laugh or cry. We arrive early and stay late.
Students competed in more than 20 tournaments this year. Events range from debate, to oratorical contests, to tests of political knowledge, to competitive acting. Tournaments take us from San Marino to Yale, to Stanford, and a dozen places in between. Students choose where and when they compete, and in what events, looking for an opportunity to challenge their intellects and talents. Here, also, students forge lifelong friendships.
I want to extend my thanks to all the students for all the hard work they put in this season. They are sharpening their skills and aiming for a highly coveted spot to compete in the California State Championships, and of course, the Nationals. Every student is special and each is essential.
To the School Board, Superintendent Kleinrock, Principal Derrick, Principal Emeritus Murray, Principal Kurtenbach, and the innumerable administrators, colleagues, and parents who support us, I extend my eternal thanks. We exist because of you.
To the Parents: we could not survive without your support, and my gratitude is profound. You are a blessing to our Program. Thank you for sharing your son or daughter with the Program. We are better for it.
To the Students: Thank you for all the hard work you will put in this season. Every student is special and each is essential.
Welcome to our San Marino High School Speech and Debate Program!
Sincerely,
Matthew T. Slimp
Director & Head Coach
San Marino High School Speech and Debate
Why do so many students seem to live in Room 400?
Because speech and debate is “the best secret in all of high school,” as my own debate coach used to say before he retired as a California High School Speech Association Hall of Famer. Indeed, many wouldn’t know it, but San Marino’s Speech and Debate team boasts over 100 students and is the largest competitive activity on campus. Our uniforms are business suits. We study philosophy. We write to persuade. We speak to deliver. We entertain to make you laugh or cry. We arrive early and stay late.
Students competed in more than 20 tournaments this year. Events range from debate, to oratorical contests, to tests of political knowledge, to competitive acting. Tournaments take us from San Marino to Yale, to Stanford, and a dozen places in between. Students choose where and when they compete, and in what events, looking for an opportunity to challenge their intellects and talents. Here, also, students forge lifelong friendships.
I want to extend my thanks to all the students for all the hard work they put in this season. They are sharpening their skills and aiming for a highly coveted spot to compete in the California State Championships, and of course, the Nationals. Every student is special and each is essential.
To the School Board, Superintendent Kleinrock, Principal Derrick, Principal Emeritus Murray, Principal Kurtenbach, and the innumerable administrators, colleagues, and parents who support us, I extend my eternal thanks. We exist because of you.
To the Parents: we could not survive without your support, and my gratitude is profound. You are a blessing to our Program. Thank you for sharing your son or daughter with the Program. We are better for it.
To the Students: Thank you for all the hard work you will put in this season. Every student is special and each is essential.
Welcome to our San Marino High School Speech and Debate Program!
Sincerely,
Matthew T. Slimp
Director & Head Coach
San Marino High School Speech and Debate