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SPEECH

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The Speech Team is an afterschool program that gives students an opportunity to compete in a variety of events that are designed to engage them in communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

​We are looking forward to the second year of the CCMS Speech & Debate Team! This year (25-26) we are debuting a program in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, along with all of the speech and interpretive events that we offered last year.

  • Weekly attendance at practice is mandatory, so students need to be able to dedicate themselves to this activity and have a clear schedule every Thursday. There will also be homework--writing, memorizing, and researching that will be required at times between practices. 

  • Participation in at least 4 tournaments a year is mandatory.
    Tournaments take place on weekends and allow the students an opportunity to present their work and compete with other middle school students. Online tournaments will be hosted at CCMS, where students will compete together as a team.

  • All student members will also be part of an honors society associated with participation in speech and debate through the National Speech & Debate Association. This membership follows them through high school and includes honors cords at 8th and 12th grade graduations.

  • Speech programs are not common at middle schools in our area, outside of private schools and a few charter schools, and this team will ensure that our students are afforded every opportunity to grow and have fun in this academic sport. CCHS does have a high school team that students can advance to when they complete 8th grade.

  • Review the Student & Parent / Guardian Expectations Form here. (This form is required to be turned in by new and returning students.​​​​​​​​

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​​Interested in joining the CCMS Speech Team?

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                                            CONTACT

                                            Gina Polesetsky, Speech Coach  speech@pantherpartners.com

                                                     

                                                     

 

                                             COST

                                             $275/semester + $20/per event/per tournament attended, & $40/LD Clinic

                                             Scholarships will be available for students who want to participate, but are unable to pay fees

                                             Apply for scholarships using https://tinyurl.com/SpeechScholarship

                                                     

                                                     

                                             WHERE

                                             CCMS rooms 216, 221, 222, & 224​​​​​​​​​

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Expenses for the Speech Team are being generously subsidized by the Culver City Education Foundation (CCEF).

Parents, we need volunteers to help mentor students at practice. If you can volunteer even one or a few practices, it is appreciated. For volunteering at tournaments, a separate signup will be sent out for each tournament.

Practice Schedule

Fall Practice Dates
09/18/2025
09/25/2025
10/09/2025
10/16/2025
10/23/2025
10/30/2025
11/06/2025
11/13/2025
11/20/2025
12/04/2025
12/11/2025
Spring Practice Dates
01/08/2026
01/15/2026
01/22/2026
01/29/2026
02/05/2026
02/12/2026
02/19/2026
02/26/2026
03/12/2026
03/19/2026
04/09/2026
04/16/2026
04/23/2026
04/30/2026
05/07/2026
05/14/2026

Winter End-of-Term Party: December 11th 2025, 2:45pm - 4:45pm

Spring End-of-Term Party & Awards: May 23rd 2026, 2pm - 5pm

Tentative Tournament Schedule

* For a live copy of the Current Tournament Schedule with Sign Up Links Click Here

  • Friday, October 3, 2025: SCJFL Online Speech Tournament

  • Saturday, October 4, 2025: SCJFL Debate Tournament - East Los Angeles College

  • Friday, November 7, 2025: SCJFL Speech Tournament - Jefferson Middle School * Students will ride to Jefferson together on the bus, departing at 1 pm from CCMS and parents will pick them up from Jefferson MS.

  • NO NOVEMBER DEBATE TOURNAMENT

  • Friday, December 5, 2025: SCJFL Speech Tournament - Jefferson Middle School * Students will ride to Jefferson together on the bus, departing at 1 pm from CCMS and parents will pick them up from Jefferson MS.

  • Saturday, December 6, 2025: SCJFL Debate Tournament - East Los Angeles College

  • Friday, February 6, 2026: SCJFL Online Speech Tournament

  • Saturday, February 7, 2026: SCJFL Debate Tournament - East Los Angeles College

  • Friday, March 6, 2026: SCJFL Speech Tournament - Jefferson Middle School

  • Saturday, March 7, 2026: SCJFL Debate Tournament - East Los Angeles College

  • NO APRIL SPEECH TOURNAMENT

  • Saturday, April 11, 2026: SCJFL Online Debate Tournament

  • Saturday & Sunday, May 2 - 3, 2026: SCJFL So-Cal Champs Speech & Debate Tournament - East Los Angeles College

  • Saturday & Sunday, May 16 - 17, 2026: Online CMSF State Championship Speech & Debate Tournament

  • Tuesday - Saturday, June 16 - 20, 2026: 2026 Nationals NSDA Middle School Tournament - Richmond, VA

Gallery

Coaching Team

Gina Polesetsky, Head Coach

Gina Polesetsky (she/her) is the Head Coach. She has extensive performance experience as a high school speech student, serving as the President of the Speech Team...

Frances Jereb, Asst. Coach

Frances Jereb (she/her) is the Asst. Coach for Impromptu, Extemporaneous, Informative, and Original Oratory. She is a Communication student at UC Santa Barbara with broad speech and debate experience in the California Community College Circuit, receiving the Top Speaker Award at the 2024 CCCFA State Championship...

Kevin King, Asst. Coach

Kevin King (he/him) is the Asst. Coach for Informative, Original Oratory, and Interpretive Events. He has extensive experience in coaching high school students in school and summer camp settings, including at the prestigious University of Texas, Austin National Institute of Forensics...

Ashley Lau, Asst. Coach

Ashley Lau (she/her) is the Asst. Coach for Lincoln Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, Informative, and Original Oratory. She is an English student at USC. She has years of experience in Speech & Debate...

Elodie Tinajero, Asst. Coach

Elodie Tinajero, Jr. (she/they) is the Asst. Coach for Informative, Original Oratory, and Interpretive Events. Elodie is a writer and speech and debate coach located in Peoria, IL. She has eleven years of competitive experience in speech and debate, as well as nine years of coaching experience...

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