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Speech & Debate Club (9-12) » Speech & Debate Club (9-12)

Speech & Debate Club (9-12)

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Get ready for 2025-2026 Speech & Debate Club!
 
Important dates:
  • Tuesday, September 16 through 9 p.m. on Thursday, September 25 - Annual Membership Registration
  • No late registrations accepted!
  • Thursday, October 2 - First Official Meeting

***Subject to change***

Last updated September 10, 2025

Welcome

Hello!

We are excited to advise and coach the Meridian World School’s Competitive Speech & Debate Club. This is our second year rolling out the club and competing in tournaments. We have chosen to focus on Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas, and Original Oratory. We look forward to coaching students this year in the 2025-2026 competition season. 

Your Speech & Debate Club Advisors,

Martha MacFarland and Jennifer Radebaugh

 

About Speech & Debate Club

Meridian Speech & Debate Club is a competitive organization for Meridian high school students (9-12). Students meet weekly to work on their skills. Additionally, students can choose to participate in local tournaments, with the possibility of earning advancement to the State Tournament and maybe even the National Tournament.


Speech and Debate club is designed to teach students how to compete in speech and debate tournaments against other schools in the Texas Forensic Association and National Speech Debate Association events focusing on three events: 1) public forum format, 2) Lincoln Douglas, and 3) Original Oratory. See Types of Events for more information.


Students who are new to the club will participate as Novice. Returning students can participate at the Varsity level.


Mission Statement

The mission of the Meridian School Speech & Debate Club is to promote strong communication skills in a competitive environment while fostering positive collaborative relationships, international mindedness, critical thinking, and research skills.

 

Weekly Meeting Information

Thursdays from 4:10-5:10 in Mrs. MacFarland's room, HS 1.11. 

 

Student Commitment Expectation

Students who do not participate at the same level and frequency in their competitive extracurricular activity negatively impact the group’s performance, morale, and culture.

  • For competitive extracurricular activities such as Speech & Debate Club, all students are expected to attend weekly meetings.
  • For competitive extracurricular activities, such as Speech & Debate Club, students who know they have a regular conflict are encouraged to choose between conflicting activities before registering.

 

Annual Membership Registration

Annual Membership Registration will open on Tuesday, September 16 and it will close at 9 p.m. on Thursday, September 25. No late registrations.

Important! Membership registration is required for all new and returning members, including officers.

See Annual Membership Registration.

 

Terms for Participation

Students and parents/guardians must thoroughly read and agree to the Speech & Debate Terms for Participation prior to completing and submitting the Speech & Debate Registration Form and paying the Speech & Debate Annual Membership Fee.

 

Eligibility

Members must maintain the following types of eligibility:

  1. Character in Good Standing
  2. Financial
  3. Academic

See Eligibility.

 

Fees

There is an Annual Membership Registration Fee and Tournament Participation Fees. Please see Fees for more.

 

After school pick up for student club/groups and tutorials

High School Building: students may be picked up from the high school lobby only if their ride is on time. Students that have to wait any amount of time must report to After School 6-12.

Students may not wait outside, in the middle/high school lobbies, or exit the Mays building through any other exit.

If you will not be picking your student up immediately after their activity, please register them for After School 6-12. After School 6-12 ends at 5:45 p.m. sharp and late fees start to incur at 5:46 p.m. Late fees will be charged even if you are not registered for After School 6-12. Learn more about registering for After School 6-12 and late fees.

 

Lettering

Lettering is an honor reserved for high school students who participate at the highest level in their extracurricular or co-curricular activity. Lettering requirements include:

  1. Grade Level Requirement (9-12)
  2. Academic Eligibility Requirement (must maintain passing grades)
  3. Character in Good Standing (consistently abides by the Student/Parent Handbook and the Speech & Debate Terms for Participation)
  4. Financial Good Standing (does not owe the school money), and
  5. Participation Requirements (see below).

Participation Requirements for a Lettering Nomination

Students who compete at the varsity level at all tournaments in which they participate may be nominated by the club advisors to letter in Speech & Debate Club  after meeting one of two participation requirements:

  • Competing in at least 3 high school debate tournaments at the varsity level, OR
  • Advancing to nationals for National Speech & Debate Association, and/or qualifying and competing at the state tournament for Texas Forensic Association State (TFA).

All other lettering requirements also apply. See Letter Jackets & Lettering.

 

Questions

  • About registration, tournament participation fee invoicing, school channels of communications (newsletters, website), eligibility, and lettering Secondary Enrichment.
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