Parent, Busch top speech contest

St. Francis students Matthew Parent and Laura Busch are tops at speaking French.
At least, that’s what the judges felt after the pair won the Core and French Immersion divisions at the annual district French speech contest last Tuesday at the Emo Inn.
Parent won the judges over with his speech, “Les sports,” while Busch was tops after explaining “What I Want to Do When I Grow Up” en Français.
Both now advance to the “Concours d’art oratoire” in Toronto next month, courtesy of event sponsors, the Canadian Parents for French.
“There was some tough competition. I feel a little lucky I won,” said Parent, who added he’s excited to go to Toronto.
“It was pretty fun. I went last year so I knew what to expect,” noted Busch. “My speech was about what I want to do when I grow up. It’s pretty much about how I can’t decide.”
Nina Stopa (St. Francis) and Sonja Schulzki (Our Lady of the Way) earned second and third place in the Core French division with their speeches “A Trip to Biwabik” and “Braces.”
Meanwhile, Dayna DeBenedet and Jennifer Green, both of St. Francis, took second and third in the French Immersion category as they talked about “Me” and “How I’ve Had to Live with My Sister for 13 Years” respectively.
Other competitors in the Core French category included Paul Stintzi (McCrosson-Tovell), Nicole Burner (OLW), and David Nussbaumer and Heidi Friesen (Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program).
Busch, DeBenedet, and Green were the only competitors in French Immersion.
All participants received certificates, medals, and pens. And Parent and Busch will be taking a pair of plaques–one for each category–bearing the names of other top winners from previous years back to St. Francis.
They’ll stay there until next year’s speech contest.
“The tone was light. The kids were very confident, and we had a good-sized, positive audience,” said Ron Fryer, curriculum co-ordinator for the Northwest Catholic District School Board.
“The judges were very positive and they provided feedback—the whole atmosphere was good reinforcement for the students,” he added, noting teachers should be congratulated for being “cornerstones” of the competitors’ French education.
“They were there for them all along the way,” Fryer stressed.
Fryer also thanked judges Carol Begin, Louis Quesnel, and Monique Sharpe, timekeeper Jean Hebert, and questioners Gemma Lamonato and George Blanc.
In related news, the Rainy River District School Board will host its English speech contest May 15 at 7 p.m. at St. Michael’s School gymnasium here.