Speech, as a whole, is a multi-seasonal activity that is available to all students. Large group speech starts in early October and finishes performances in February/March. Students have the opportunity to participate in two group events for contest. The most popular are: Choral Reading, which is telling a story as one voice, Group Improv and Musical Theatre.
Individual speech starts in January and ends in April. Individual speech allows the students to shine on their own. Many different performance topics are available. The most popular are: Poetry, which is the reading of a selected group of poems that follow a common theme, Musical Theatre and Storytelling. Many of the topics are performed completely from memory.
For both individual and large group speech, the students are rated on a Division I through IV scale, I being the best rating that can be received and a IV being disqualification. The students perform initially at district contest and if they receive a I rating, move on to state competition. At state, students perform for three judges. if they receive at least two Division I ratings, they are eligible for an all-state nomination.
Carlisle has been nominated for an honorable mention and had the opportunity to perform an original Choral Reading piece written by one of the students at large group all-state. We have also had numerous students who have been selected to perform at individual all-state.
