Speech & Debate
Each school in the Buena Park School District has a speech team for students in grades 4 - 8. Taught by Advantage Communications, the speech program focuses on personal development, teamwork, empathy, writing, and public speaking to ensure scholars are prepared to enter today's workforce. As the program philosophy states, all participants have a voice, but it takes practice to feel empowered and to lead. Practices are held after school once a week, and scholars have the opportunity to compete in both district-wide and regional tournaments to improve their performance skills. Beatty Middle School also features a debate team whose members learn to present a well-researched argument on a particular topic, refute "point of information" demands and "heckles," and wrap-up before the five-minute timer sounds. In 2023, the Beatty Middle School Debate Team took home the top prize at the first in-person national championship tournament since 2020. Over 400 debaters from as far as Virginia competed in the tournament, with three teams from Beatty advancing to the second day of competition and one of those teams winning the entire tournament.
Dr. Sandra Song, Director of Educational Programs
Contact: Pamela Solorzano, Secretary
Phone: 714-994-9222
Email: psolorzano@bpsd.us
