Debate Club Spotlight by Parthvi Naswa (7)

When our school’s debate club first formed, we were small but determined. With just a handful of passionate students, we faced challenges, learned lessons, and discovered the power of our voices.

Our journey has been one of growth and perseverance. At our latest tournament on March 15, we showcased just how far we’ve come—securing 2nd place overall as a school! One of our teams placed 9th overall, and a team member earned 17th place in individual speaker rankings. These achievements are a testament to our hard work, dedication, and the support of our incredible teammates.

Looking back, we remember our first tournament, where we entered with two teams, eager to test our skills. The competition was tough, but every argument sharpened our minds, and every rebuttal built our confidence. We celebrated our successes while learning from our experiences, using feedback as fuel for improvement.

Starting small came with its challenges—coordinating practice schedules, refining research strategies, and learning to work as cohesive teams. But with persistence and unwavering support for one another, we turned those hurdles into stepping stones. Each challenge made us more resilient, and each practice debate brought us closer to our goals.

A special shoutout to our club advisor, Mr. Riley, who stepped in at the last minute when we had no one else to guide us. His dedication, encouragement, and belief in our potential have been invaluable to our growth as debaters and as a team.

Being part of the debate club is about more than just winning arguments. It’s about critical thinking, understanding different perspectives, and growing confident in expressing ideas. Debate teaches us to research thoroughly, listen actively, and speak with clarity—skills that are invaluable both in and out of the classroom. It also fosters teamwork and respect, as every debate is an opportunity to learn from others, even our opponents.

Our debate club’s journey is a testament to what can be achieved with passion, dedication, and teamwork. From a small group to a thriving club, we’ve grown stronger with each debate. As we celebrate our latest tournament results, we also look ahead to future competitions, ready to take on new challenges with the same determination that brought us here.

To our teammates, our advisor Mr. Riley, and everyone who cheered us on—thank you for believing in us! Here’s to many more debates, victories, and lessons learned! 🎙️🏆

As students of Canyon Hills, the world’s best junior high, we have also created the best clubs as well! Two out of the many clubs include the Golf Club and the Notes For Cause Club. Both of these awesome clubs have their own unique features, goals, creativity, and hard work put into these. Why don’t we take a deeper dive into them?  

Golf Club

The golf club is held in Mr. Riley’s class, room 401, on Thursdays from 8:00 to 8:30. . Now, what is the goal for this golf club? According to the golf club official, Romeo Sanchez, shares that he has a goal to help show others the game of golf. The club can introduce players to all that it has to offer. It can help all of the people who want to experience playing golf, and people who have already played a game of golf. No matter what level you might be at, this club will help you become the best golf player you can be!

Why was the golf club created? Also stated by the club official, he aspired to organize a golf club so he can make new friends with an interest in golf or to start new networks. The golf club  gives you a chance to make new friends, while also learning about the amazing sport of golf!

The club official revealed and explained that he’s been playing golf for seven years. He also discussed that he has been playing golf competitively for 3 years. The golf club is in very good hands, with a very experienced golf player. In a related manner, another experienced player is our very own science teacher, Mr. Riley. He also has a large interest in golfing, which works out perfectly.

Now, when you walk into the room beginning the club, the average routine would usually start with taking attendance, setting up all of the equipment, and then splitting the members into groups, and finally you can start playing a game. 

Canyon Hills’ Golf Club sure is an extraordinary club and is a great place to try something new, make friends, and most importantly, enjoy a game of golf. These are all great elements we want the students at this school to experience.

Notes For Cause Club

The Notes for Cause Club is run by the club official, Jasmine Aksoy. The club is held in Mr. Conaways’ class, room 313 on Tuesdays, from 8:00-8:30. The Notes for Cause club is where the members donate their time to local  shelters, community centers, and other services. For instance, some examples are, the local food bank, the local pet shelter, and crafts for the local shelter, etc. 

How does the Notes for Cause club help the students of Canyon Hills or our community itself? Well, stated by Mr. Conoway, this club helps our community tremendously from all the acts of services and donations of their time they do to shape our community into a better place. The Notes for Cause club helps the students of Canyon Hills Junior High realize that they can make a difference in the community. These are good traits and mindsets to have if we want to make our communities a better place.

Some goals for this club, according to Mr. Conaway, the teacher representative of this club, shares that the group just wants to take action in this community. The club is looking forward to working together to improve the centers throughout the community. Everyday, the Notes for Cause club coordinates their efforts as a group. 

Usually, the average routine of the Notes For Cause club would start out like this: 

Most of the time, the group will start to organize and/or coordinate the time to donate to the services in the local community. Then, they will do what they need to do to make these donations happen. For instance, if they are making crafts for the shelters, they would create the crafts.

This club is a great opportunity to not only work together, or make friends, but you could also make a difference in the community. You get to help others by using your cooperation abilities, and creativity. Those are some amazing characteristics you would want in a club!

Those are just two of the amazing clubs from Canyon Hills and we can’t wait to explore more of them! The two clubs will help you meet new people, make friends, and learn new things, whether it's golf, or making a difference. Both are creative and wonderful in their own ways. What do you think of these clubs? Which ones are your favorites, and which ones are you looking forward to seeing?