21/08/2026
🎤 OLV PUBLIC SPEAKING FINALS – WHAT A CELEBRATION! 🌟
A huge congratulations to all of our students from Kindergarten to Year 6 who presented at the OLV Public Speaking Finals today! We were so proud of the courage, confidence and preparation demonstrated by every student who stood in front of an audience and shared their ideas.
For their prepared speeches, students explored the theme “The Power of Positive Energy”. Across the stages, students considered the emotions that motivate us and how positive feelings can inspire learning, action and achievement.
Our Kindergarten students spoke about Happiness, sharing the people, experiences and things that make them happy and considering why they bring joy to their lives.
Our Stage 1 students explored Excitement, reflecting on those special moments when something enjoyable or important is about to happen and the feelings these experiences create.
Our Stage 2 students spoke about Enthusiasm, considering how energy and interest in an activity, idea or goal can influence learning and achievement.
Our Stage 3 students explored Passion, examining how a deep commitment or strong interest can motivate people to act, persevere and achieve.
The challenge continued for our Stage 2 and Stage 3 finalists, who were then given an unseen topic and just a short period of time to plan and prepare an impromptu speech. This round explored the theme “Finding Our Place in the World” — considering how our sense of connection develops as we grow, from belonging to families and groups to understanding our responsibilities within the wider community.
Our Stage 2 students were challenged with the topic “Community”. They considered the communities we belong to, the ways people are connected through place, interests and shared experiences, and how communities can support their members.
Our Stage 3 students responded to the topic “Citizenship”, considering what it means to be an active and responsible member of society, the rights and responsibilities we have as citizens, and the ways individuals can make a positive contribution to the wider community.
One of the wonderful things about public speaking is just how much we learn from one another. Today we heard thoughtful, funny, insightful and deeply personal perspectives. Our students reminded us that happiness can be found in simple moments, enthusiasm can help us achieve difficult things, passion can motivate us to make a difference, strong communities help people feel supported and connected, and good citizenship begins with the choices we make each day.
Public speaking asks so much of our students — to organise their thinking, choose language carefully, engage an audience, speak with clarity and expression, and, particularly in an impromptu situation, think creatively and confidently under pressure. Every finalist should be extremely proud of what they accomplished today.
👏 Congratulations also to the students who were selected to represent OLV at the North Region Public Speaking Competition at St Columban’s, Mayfield, next Wednesday, 26 August. We know you will represent our school with confidence and pride.
Well done to all of our OLV speakers — what an impressive celebration of student voice, ideas and courage!
