The Hershorin Schiff Community Day School Middle School Debate Team, under the guidance of teacher Michael Podolsky, recently attended and excelled during their second Incubate Debate Tournament in Lakeland, Fla. During the competition, middle and high school students competed alongside each other and were judged by a panel of elected officials, members of the judiciary, civil servants, college professors, first responders, members of the armed forces, and faith-based leaders. The entire team put in tremendous effort and competed with the utmost passion, debating timely and timeless topics such as the U.S. Constitution, foreign affairs, and the economy. Four students emerged with awards, with seventh-grade student Matisse Cantero securing coveted top honors among all middle school competitors and being named an all-around finalist. A trio of sixth graders–Ava Chapman, Benjamin Labinger and Avi Shalev – showed exemplary talent and determination, with Labinger earning second place among the intermediate competitors. “Debate is important in middle school because it gives students the tools to think critically and argue effectively, while also working in a collaborative and cooperative group setting,” said Dr. Vincent Miller, CDS’s Director of Middle School. “By having students discuss and organize their points of view for one side of an argument, they are able to discover new information and put their knowledge into action. Participating in events like these enhances our students' abilities while fostering personal growth and development.” The team is currently busy preparing for its third tournament in Lakeland, Fla. in February, which is the qualifier for the championship tournament to be held in Jacksonville, Fla. in early April. To learn more about the school, which serves students of all faiths in preschool through eighth grade, visit CommunityDay.org or call 941-552-2770.