Speech & Debate Team

The Congressional Debate Team is an important avenue for students to learn about the art of careful, thoughtful, and researched deliberation among people through healthy and lively discussions. Students are instructed on how to prepare, how to retort, and how to speak publicly. The Debate Team is also dedicated to bringing thoughtful discussion to Notre Dame College Prep on important subjects throughout the community, region and nation. The team participates in several area and statewide organizations where it competes with other schools at high levels including the Chicago Catholic Forensics League, the Illinois Congressional Debate Association, and the IHSA tournament.

Students on the Notre Dame Speech Team learn the skills of competitive public speaking. Through competitions in the Public League (IHSA) and the Catholic League (CCFL), students compete in events ranging from Original Oratory to Dramatic Performance and Interpretation of Poetry and Prose. Students compete at the local, state, and national level and learn invaluable skills for communication and leadership. The speech season includes four local Catholic League tournaments, four Public League Tournaments, one national invitational held in Illinois, and possible bids to the IHSA state series in February and the national tournament in May. Membership is open to all students.