On 30 September 2026, Junior School students at Beacon Academy took to the stage for the exciting finals of three speaking competitions: Show & Tell, JAM (Just a Minute), and Opinion Pitch.
Bringing together students from Years 1–5, the event provided a wonderful opportunity for our young learners to develop their confidence, communication skills, creativity and ability to express their ideas in front of an audience.
More than simply competitions, these activities encouraged students to find their voice, think independently and communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence.
Year 1: Show & Tell – Sharing Stories and Meaningful Objects
For our Year 1 students, the Show & Tell competition encouraged them to speak about a favourite or meaningful object from home. From toys and books to family photographs and special items collected from nature, each object provided a starting point for students to share their stories and ideas.
Following classroom elimination rounds, finalists presented their objects once again during the Grand Final. Students were assessed on their clarity of speech, confidence, content and presentation, encouraging them not only to speak clearly but also to engage their audience and explain why their chosen object was meaningful to them.
Show & Tell Winners
- 1st Place – Pranit Agarwal
- 2nd Place – Marc Immanuel
- 3rd Place – Ariaa Kunal Gidwani
Years 2–3: JAM – Thinking on Their Feet
Our Years 2–3 students took on the challenge of JAM (Just a Minute), a competition designed to develop confidence, fluency, quick thinking and effective communication. During the competition, students selected a random topic and were given only a few moments to prepare before speaking for one minute without notes. This challenged them to organise their thoughts quickly, stay focused on the topic and communicate their ideas clearly and naturally.
Students were assessed on areas including clarity, confidence, relevance, creativity, fluency and delivery, rewarding those who could express interesting ideas while maintaining a clear and engaging presentation.
JAM Winners
- 1st Place – Dhivina Ritesh Daswani
- 2nd Place – Zhaavia Rohesh Lalwani
- 3rd Place – Marco Evan Wu
Years 4–5: Opinion Pitch – Finding Their Voice
For our Years 4–5 students, the Opinion Pitch competition provided a platform for students to share their own perspectives and persuade an audience through thoughtful reasoning.
Students prepared a one-minute persuasive speech around a teacher-approved topic, presenting a clear opinion supported by reasons, examples or evidence, and a strong closing statement. They were expected to deliver their speeches confidently without relying on notes or cue cards.
Through the competition, students developed not only their public speaking abilities but also their critical thinking, organisation, presentation and audience engagement skills. The judging criteria focused on the clarity of their opinion, supporting reasons and examples, organisation, voice and expression, as well as confidence and audience engagement.
Opinion Pitch Winners
- 1st Place – Amelia Kyara Nawani
- 2nd Place – Zachary Guna
- 3rd Place – Jeshua Sutanto
Celebrating Every Student Voice
While the competition celebrated our winners, the greatest achievement was seeing every finalist step forward and share their voice.
Speaking in front of an audience can be challenging, especially for young learners. Across all three competitions, our students demonstrated courage, confidence, creativity, perseverance and respect as they communicated their ideas and responded to the challenge of performing under pressure.
These experiences reflect Beacon Academy’s commitment to developing students who are not only capable learners, but also confident communicators, thoughtful thinkers and courageous individuals.
A heartfelt congratulations to all our finalists and winners, and a special thank you to our teachers and families for encouraging and supporting our students throughout their preparation. We are incredibly proud of every student who stepped onto the stage, found their voice and had the courage to let it be heard.
