Gavel Club
About Us
Introducing the Gavel Club of St. Bridget’s Convent
The Gavel Club is an initiative that helps adolescents under the age of eighteen improve their public speaking and communication abilities. Gavel Clubs are youth programs provided by Toastmasters International that assist young people and adolescents in gaining confidence in their ability to communicate and lead. Following similar Toastmasters club meeting protocols, Gavel clubs use club officer titles and education manuals. On the other hand, Gavel Club members are identified as “Gaveliers.”
With a mission of providing a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth. The St. Bridget’s Convent Gavel Club started in September 2022. Since then, the SBC Gavel Club has grown and currently boasts more than 60 members. The Gavel Club aspires to develop an individual with a holistic, disciplined, yet unconventional approach to life that society can one day be proud of.
Benefits of Joining the Club
Confidence in front of a crowd is a quality that is continuously valued in economic, civic, government, and religious contexts. The Gavel Club focuses on cultivating these characteristics. It fosters a mutually helpful and positive learning atmosphere in which each member can enhance their personal skills.
They cooperate with others to improve their decision-making abilities. Furthermore, it instills important skills such as understanding, tolerating others’ viewpoints, and expressing one’s own. Essential assets such as personal growth are fostered by the numerous helpful activities carried out at frequent meetings in order to shape better individuals. The members can learn how to overcome fear while speaking, arrange and present ideas, listen closely to others, and engage in and lead group conversations.
Meeting format
- The meetings are held every two weeks in person.
- Each week, three members will be allotted a speaking role. Usually they are a few minute speeches. Gavelier’s first speech, known as their icebreaker, is just an introductory speech about themselves.
- From there, the speech objectives are divided into several categories, such as improving body language, structuring information, and making an positive impression on the audience.
- “Table Topics” are feature of every conference. Members are picked at random to talk for one minute on a topic assigned to them on the spot.
- “Round Robin” is a compulsory game where each member speaks about a chosen topic. They have to start speaking using the word the last person ended their talk with
- During meetings, there are numerous unique roles:
- Toastmaster – the host of the meeting
- Timer – time keeper of the other roles
- Member Evaluators – offers constructive critique and advice
- Round Robin Master – the person who announces the topic
- Table Topic Master – the holder of the Surprise topics
Events - Speakfest
Speakfest’24 was an intra-school speech competition organized by the Gavel Club of St. Bridget’s Convent. It was successfully attended by a large number of enthusiastic students on July 8 and 9. Ms. Samudra de Zoyza and Ms. Jean Fernandez were invited to judge the competition, which had both prepared and impromptu speeches.
- 1st Place – Saarah Mabodawila of 14SciE
- 1st Place- Amaya Wijesinghe of London A2 Science
- 2nd Place- Saarah Mabodawila of 14 SciE
- 1st Place- Doveena Fernando of 10T
- 2nd Place- Shimaya Perera of IGCSE 10
- 3rd Place- Dinuki Jayasinghe of 9s1
- 1st Place – Shanya De S wijeyeratne of IGCSE 10
- 2nd Place- Deyenka De Silva of 11E2
- 3rd Place- Tharuka Soyza Of 11E2
- 1st Place – Reema Azziyan of 7T
- 2nd Place – Shanelli Perera of 6s5
- 3rd Place – Chenudi Weerakkody of 8s1
- 1st Place – Reema Azziyan of 7T
- 2nd Place – Thinudi Nanayakkara of 6s1
- 3rd Place – Shanelli Perera of 6s
