Guide for Parents & Students

Updated 10/3/2023

​WELCOME TO THE WOLFPACK SPEECH & DEBATE PROGRAM.  This program is a varsity activity and should be considered a privilege.  We expect all team members to follow all activity guidelines and program expectations.  With the foundation of the most successful AA Forensics program in Montana, the birth and growth of the GLACIER WOLFPACK SPEECH & DEBATE TEAM have already established themselves as the “pride of Montana.”

In our first fifteen years, we have captured State Tournament Trophies in all but our first year, including five State AA Championships since GHS opened for the 2007-8 season. The bar has already been set, and we hope to continue to grow and improve.  We are the largest speech and debate team in Montana and the most successful team at GHS.  An average of 125-160 students (nearly 10% of the entire GHS population) compete for the Wolfpack Speech & Debate team. Last season, according to records kept at the National Speech & Debate Association in Wisconsin, our program not only had both the most active members and most new members in the State--in fact we were nationally ranked in both areas.  The varsity tournament season starts with the first weekend in November and runs until mid-February. Junior Varsity tournaments end before Christmas. School District #5 provides transportation to tournaments. Glacier High and the GHS Booster Club provide lodging at overnight tournaments and most meals for two-day tournaments.  Other meals and supplies are at the student's expense. 

HOW DOES MY CHILD MAKE “VARSITY”?  The top four entries per event will score points for our Varsity team and will compete in the two-day tournaments.  Our "JV" team competes in one-day tournaments in local tournaments. The “Varsity” and “JV” rosters are somewhat fluid and will change as the season progresses.  This determination depends on many factors including; past performance, practice attendance and effort, natural talent, available slots based on other events, available bus seats and competitive strategy, attitude, and coaches’ discretion.  We don’t have “cuts” in this activity, however, travel slots are not guaranteed. Students may also earn a Glacier High School Varsity letter.

HOW OFTEN DOES MY CHILD NEED TO ATTEND PRACTICE?  Practice schedules vary based on the event your child chooses, but you can expect that your child will practice two to five days per week.  Each squad will have its own practice schedule that will be shared through the squad's Google Classroom and on this website. Weekly practice schedules will be posted in the squad's Google Classroom.  While we do have flexibility, we do expect students to attend all required practices and to communicate with their coach—especially in the case when the practice schedule needs to be compromised.

WHAT EVENT SHOULD MY CHILD DO?  Finding the correct or right event is difficult!  Do not stress! The coaches will help find the event that fits you and the team the best!  We need depth in all events to compete for the state title this season! It is important to note that most students try several events until they find the “right” event.  Students are encouraged to double-enter (compete in two events) in the Short Prep Events, Memorized Events, and Interp Events.  Montana does not allow debaters to double-enter.

WHAT SHOULD I DO AS A PARENT NOW?  Make sure fees and paperwork are taken care of!

DOCUMENTS AND SIGN-UP:  DRAGONFLY MAX: Prior to the beginning of the first day of practice, parents MUST complete the Parent Consent Form, Medical Release Form, and Concussion Form online AND upload MHSA Physical Form with insurance card with DRAGONFLY MAX. ​Home School and Private School families should contact the Glacier Activities Office for clearance before our first meeting/practice/audition.  Create your child's profile, then use the arrows at the top of the page to complete all required documents and forms. Medical Physical is NOT required for Speech & Debate. PARENT CONSENT AND MEDICAL RELEASE CONCUSSION FORM INSURANCE CARD OR Proof of accident insurance available for purchase after July 1st if need

REQUIRED FEES FOR PARTICIPATION IN ALL ATHLETICS/ACTIVITIES:

COMMUNICATION:  If you are a FACEBOOK user, I encourage you to join WOLFPACK SPEECH & DEBATE (STUDENTS, ALUMNI, FRIENDS) group page for announcements and pictures.  A "REMIND" texting app will also be utilized to communicate this season.  Students are to join Wolfpack Speech & Debate Students by texting @sd2023-24 to the number 81010.  Parents are to join Wolfpack Speech & Debate Parents by texting @sdparent24 to the number 81010.  This is a new group, this season.  Previous seasons have been archived and will not be used.  Parents and Students MUST join this season to be active.

FEED THE WOLVES PARENT GROUP:  Our parent group aka “Feeds our Wolves” in many ways.  We will: 

WHAT IS THE THEME ALL ABOUT?   Each year we use a team theme in the Wolfpack Speech & Debate program.  The 2022-23 theme is the 4 Leaf Clover.  Check out the theme info on the Theme Link on this page.

WOLFPACK COACHING STAFF: Greg Adkins (Head Coach), Ivanna Fritz, Josh Munro, Sara Menssen, Chris Adamcyk, Kerrie More, Dwight Camillucci, Brianna Camillucci, Emma Blonda, Keegan Siebenaler and Jenna McCrorie will serve as coaches this season.​​  Check out the coaching profiles on the team website.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS:   It is a privilege to be on the Glacier Speech & Debate Team. In order to participate all must be in good standing academically and have no disciplinary infractions at GHS, in the classroom, and on the team, and must have met all team practice expectations during the week.


BRIEF DEFINITIONS OF EVENTS 

LINCOLN DOUGLAS DEBATE Coached by Ivanna Fritz.  Also known as LD Debate or Value Debate.  LD Debate is modeled after the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates during the Civil War period. LD Debate involves one-on-one debating about topics of moral, political, or social significance. The national topic changes monthly. Competitors research each topic and construct cases and arguments. LD Debate requires a moderate to heavy research load and the ability to speak with both prepared and impromptu presentations. Until January, there is a novice division of this event for newcomers.  For the current debate topic, please click on the link:  https://www.speechanddebate.org/topics/

LEGISLATIVE DEBATE Coached by Chris Adamcyk.  Also known as Legi Debate, Parli Debate, or Student Congress.  Legi Debate is an individual debate modeled after congressional debate. The topic area changes monthly. Competitors research each topic and construct bills and arguments. Moderate to heavy research commitment and the ability to speak in persuasive, prepared, and impromptu presentations is essential. This is a “varsity-only" event (meaning that it is not offered at one-day invitational JV tournaments).  For the current topic, please see Mr. Adamcyk.

PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE Coached by Chris Adamcyk.  Also known as PF Debate, Forum Debate.  Public Forum Debate is a team event that advocates or rejects a position posed by the resolution. A central tenet of the debate is that the clash of ideas must be communicated in a manner persuasive to the non-specialist or "citizen judge". This event originates from the popular CNN TV show Crossfire. The topic area changes monthly. Competitors research each topic and construct positions and arguments. Moderate to heavy research commitment and the ability to speak in persuasive, prepared, and impromptu presentations is essential.  For the current debate topic, please click on the link:  https://www.speechanddebate.org/topics/

POLICY DEBATE Coached by Josh Munro.  Also known as Team Debate, CX Debate, or Partner Debate.  Policy Debate involves a “team” of two competitors who debate another “team” of two competitors. Policy Debate involves discussions of policy-orientated issues. For the current debate topic, please click on the link: https://www.speechanddebate.org/topics/.  Competitors research the topic and construct cases and arguments. Policy Debate requires a moderate to heavy research load and the ability to speak with both prepared and impromptu presentations. Until January, there is a novice division of this event for newcomers. 

EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING Coached by Dwight Camillucci.   Also known as Extemp or EXT. Extemp is a short prep event focusing on social, political, and international, and national current events. The speaker has thirty minutes to prepare a seven-minute persuasive speech using a number of current periodicals and student-created files. Extemp requires a moderate research commitment and the willingness to remain up-to-date on current issues. 

IMPROMPTU SPEAKING Coached by Dwight Camillucci.  Also known as Impromptu or IMP. Impromptu is a short-prep event that focuses on current social issues. The speaker is given three minutes to prepare a five-minute speech. The topics are presented in the form of either quotations or editorial cartoons. Impromptu requires a light research commitment and the ability to improvise. 

ORIGINAL ORATORY Coached by Kerrie More.  Also known as Oratory or OO.  Speech is memorized and is intended to persuade the audience. Oratory requires a willingness to do extensive writing and research. The time limit is ten minutes. 

INFORMATIVE SPEAKING Coached by Kerrie More.  Also known as Expos, Expository, and Inform.  Speech is a memorized speech intended to inform or enlighten the audience. Visual aids, usually posters, are strongly recommended. Expos, like Oratory, require a willingness to do extensive writing and research. The time limit is ten minutes. 

MEMORIZED PUBLIC ADDRESS with ANALYSIS Coached by Sara Menssen. Also known as MPA or "mumpa”.  Students present, analyze, and address previously given in an audience-speaker situation. The speech must be memorized and requires dramatic skills. Analysis requires writing skills. The time limit is ten minutes. 

HUMOROUS INTERP & DRAMATIC INTERP Coached by Greg Adkins.  Also known as HOI or HI is also known as SOI, DI, or Serious Interp.  Memorization and dramatic skills are essential (although manuscripts are allowed, but not recommended). These events are stylized acting.  Dramatic Interp themes should be “dramatic” while Humorous Interp themes should be “humorous”. The time limit is ten minutes. The time limit is ten minutes.  

DUO ORAL INTERP Coached by Sara Menssen. Also known as DUO or DOI or Duo Interp. Two students (partners) are to perform a published piece of literature that has a humorous or dramatic theme. Memorization and dramatic skills are essential. This event is stylized acting. The time limit is ten minutes. This is a “varsity-only" event (meaning that it is not offered at one-day invitational JV tournaments)"

PROGRAM ORAL INTERP Coached by Ivanna Fritz & Sara Menssen. Also known as POI, Programmed Oral Interp and PROGRAM.  Program Oral Interpretation is a 10-minute performance that can include some combination of Prose, Poetry, and Drama. All students must have at least two out of the three genres included in their performance. The use of a manuscript is required. The focus of the event is the development of a theme or argument through the use of narrative, story, and/or characterization.