To be a successful candidate for the Speech Club, the student must express an interest in improving their confidence and skill in public speaking. Students compete in public speaking tournaments on a local, regional, and national level.

The Academy of the Holy Cross Speech Club provides the school community with public speaking enhancement opportunities and the ability to compete on a local, regional, and national level in public speaking events including:

• Declamation ( Freshman and Sophomores Only)
• Duo Interpretation of Literature
• Original Oratory (Original speeches written by participants)
• Dramatic Interpretation of Literature
• Extemporaneous Speaking
• Impromptu Speaking

Membership Status:

To maintain an active membership status in the Speech Club, the student must meet the following criteria:

• Participate in one speech tournament per year (officers must participate in at least three tournaments per year) through the Washington Catholic Forensics League (WACFL)
• Regularly attend Speech Club meetings, especially those meetings and coaching sessions prior to a scheduled tournament listed below.
• Participate in all special events and fundraisers.

Membership is attained through the Fall Club Fair sign-up and members receive regular communication via email from officers and coaches. There are no auditions for The Speech Team.

Being an active member of the Speech Club automatically makes you eligible for many opportunities that are not available to other students, such as the following:

1. Public recognition as one of the top public speakers at AHC.
2. Opportunities to perform at tournaments, school assemblies, and special events.
3. Exposure to many forms of public speaking, literature, and drama.
4. Award nominations and special performance workshops
5. The ability to compete on local, regional, and national level in public speaking and drama.

Speech Club Meetings and Coaching Sessions :

Bi-Monthly Tuesdays and Thursdays               2:45 – 4:00 p.m.            

October 25, 2008           Speech I                        Edison High School

November 8, 2008          Speech II                       Potomac Falls High School

December 13, 2008       Speech III                       Westfield High School

January 17, 2009            Speech IV                      Chantilly High School

January 31, 2009            Speech V                       Freedom High School

February 28, 2009          Metrofinals                      Our Lady of Good Counsel

May 20                            Awards Gala                  The Academy of the Holy Cross