EDITED NEWSLETTER VOLUME 5 A.Y. 2024-2025 (3)

NEWS | VOLUME V

The Gavel is Hit: SISC Hosts Annual EF Debate Competition

Cleavon ICe Hufano

The Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand emerged as champion of the Grade 12 Strand-Level Debate Championship held on January 27, 2025, at the Luxembourg Mini Theater. After a series of intense rounds against ABM, GAS, and STEM, HUMSS secured the title through a decisive final debate against GAS, capping off a day that showcased critical thinking, teamwork, and persuasive excellence in celebration of English Fortnight.

The chosen representatives for each strand are as follows: For the Accounting and Business Management (ABM)

strand

Daniel Baniqued, Minyoung “Charis” Kim, Liana

Galisha, and Yannie Macasieb; for the General

Academic

Strand

(GAS)

Eunsong “Melody” Choi, Caitlin Nulud, JiYeon “Sarah” Huh, and Grace; for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand — Carlos Miguel De Guzman, Hanks Montenegro, Nicolo Antonio Geronimo, and Sean Peter Fuentes; and for the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand — Don

Enrique Margeaux

Louise

Padilla, Chebat, Julia Allison Barretto, and Kimoon “Martin” Kim.

River

Ypon from 12- Diplomacy was the host for the competition. River gave the rules for face to face and VOLT audience on what to do during the event. Ms Carla Villanueva, the Head of the English

Department, gave her opening remarks. She talked about the importance of debates and thanked the organizers, teachers, for coordinating this event for the English Fortnight.

After Ms. Carla’s opening remarks, River

Ypon introduced the adjudicators: Sir Joseph Wong and Sir San Bendo for the first match; Sir Joratio

Nyuda and Ms. Hannah San Esteban for the second match; and Sir Mark Cayas, Juan Labien (Debate Team President), and Martha Pinca (Debate Team Vice President) for the final round. River also explained the judging criteria, noting that teams would be evaluated based on Manner, Matter, and Method.

The matches were determined through random selection.

ABM and GAS were set for the first round while STEM and HUMSS were for the second round. Each team was given a 15 minute preparation to prepare their arguments for the motion.

After the preparation period, the first match commenced with the motion, “This House believes that authors have a moral obligation to represent diverse perspectives in their work.” ABM argued as the government, while GAS took the opposition bench.

Following exchange a of competitive arguments, GAS secured the win in the opening round.

The second round revolved around the motion, “This House would restrict the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of literary works for public consumption.” STEM represented the government side, while HUMSS stood as the opposition.

After an intense debate, HUMSS was declared the winner of the round.

The third round centered on the motion, “This

House regrets the dominance of Disney in global entertainment.”

HUMSS argued on the government side, while GAS took the opposition. At the conclusion of the round, the adjudicators announced =

HUMSS as the champion of this year’s

Strand-Level Debate Championship.

An intermission featuring music videos from the Grade 10 Music and Monologue competition followed every after the matches while the debaters prepared for their match.

SISC Student Body Launches Club Fair

Margeaux Louise Chebat

Student-led interest clubs and organizations officially launched their recruitment efforts during the Senior High School (SHS) Club Fair held on September

12, opening club registration for Academic Year 2024– 2025.

The fair aimed to attract both new and returning members from Junior High School

(JHS)

and SHS. Students were allowed to join at least one interest club, with a maximum of two.

Participating clubs represented a wide range of academic, service, and creative interests, with many organizations distributing information materials and small giveaways to promote their booths.

This year introduced a new approach to club launching. Instead of individual club presentations assemblies, the during SISC Student Council unveiled all organizations through a single club launch video shown during assembly, created by Kimoon “Martin” Kim.

Several clubs were also merged to improve organization and clarify their purposes.

Relevé

Dance

Club merged with the Pasundayag Dance Troupe to accommodate both JHS and SHS members, while Broadcast Club merged with The Mover to expand broadcast initiatives on the Luxembourg campus.

Science Department clubs included Red Cross Youth – SISC, an extension of Red Cross Youth Philippines, the Young

Enthusiasts for Science (YES) Club, and the Environment

Mind Organization (EMO). English Department organizations featured the SISC English Club

(SEC), SISC

Debate Club, and The Mover, the school’s official student publication.

CAPS-affiliated clubs included the Kindness Project and the SISC Peer Mentoring Club, while SISC Model United Nations (MUN) returned as one of the school’s organizations.

established

AY 2024–2025 marks the third year that onsite club promotion continuing has engagement following the pandemic.

resumed, student activities COVID-19