Riverside Highlights Issue 17 Half Term Highlights Term 3b 2016-17 | Page 13

AWARD HIGHLIGHTS
SHREWSBURY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
YEAR 5 TALK THEMSELVES UP: BALOON DEBATE 2017
Picture the scene. Six famous figures from history have taken a balloon ride together and they are cur-
rently floating over the Gulf of Thailand. Suddenly from out of nowhere a seagull lands on the balloon and
pecks a hole in it. The balloon begins to plunge towards the sea.
The only way to guarantee safety is for all but one passenger to jump out, into the sea, leaving the final
person to pilot the balloon to safety, get the coastguard and send out a rescue party to pick up the others.
The passengers agree that they will have a debate. Each person will argue as to why they deserve to stay
in the balloon and thus guarantee their survival.
And so the context was set for May’s Year 5 Balloon Debate Finals, which saw six children, who, following
a very competitive hustings round, being voted by their peers to represent their respective House and ar-
gue their case as being the only deserving character to guide the balloon (and themselves) to safety.
Alexis, representing Teresa House, was the first to take to the stage as the father of animation, Walt Dis-
ney; a man whose creativity and imagination would surely come in handy in an emergency situation!
Next up was Tun, representing King house, taking the persona of Christopher Columbus. With a decent
enough track record (discovering America listed on his CV) surely he was the only obvious choice to guide
the balloon safely to land (?) Suu Kyi’s Jolyne stepped into the shoes of Apple front man, Steve Jobs, argu-
ing that the situation demanded innovation and problem-solving skills that Mr. Jobs was renowned for.
On a similar tack, Harrison (representing Schweitzer) took on the rival character of Google founder, Larry
Page; if anyone could search out the right solution surely it would be him!
Florence Nightingale, played by Williams’ Jelly, put forward a very persuasive argument with her reputa-
tion for selfless and tireless work for others being presented as a key argument as to why she, once again,
could be the only one to be trusted to save everyone (having persuaded everyone else to jump out in the
first place!).
The final candidate was Kris, representing Mandela, who transformed himself into Sir Isaac Newton. Kris
talked himself up as a man who knew a thing or two about falling down!
As ever, the Finalists did a fantastic job, and the judging panel comprising last years’ winner, Thio and run-
ner up, Jasmin, along with Miss Weston, Ms Dennison and chief judge and final arbiter Mr. Holroyd, all had
a tough job in deciding who would take this years’ title. In the end, However, it was the saintly Jelly, a.k.a.
Florence Nightingale who flew off with the title, whilst Jolyne took runner up spot – great job(s)! Thanks
to all of this year’s participants, finalists, judges and organizers, as well as our brilliant MC, Venice.
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