14th Annual Cat’s Meow!

Recitation Grand Finale 2018

Last week, on Wednesday, February 21, we gathered as a community for the 14th Annual Cat’s Meow: a recitation evening for the grand finals of our school-wide public speaking competition. It was an entertaining evening and huge congratulations are due to all competitors from Grades 8-12: their performances were poised, confident, and compelling. See below for all the finalist names.

Special mention must go to the following students who took home prizes for their performances:

People’s Choice Award: Carmel, Gr. 10
3rd Place: Emma, Gr, 8
2nd Place: Miranda, Gr. 12 / Leah, Gr.  12 (joint!)
Top Monologue: Chloe, Gr. 10
Overall Top Recitation: Frances, Gr. 9

We were also privileged to have an esteemed panel of judges for the evening: Raul Sanchez Inglis, a director, producer and writer of film, theatre and TV, with over three decades experience; Michele Riml, a critically acclaimed local playwright and advocate for theatre for young people; and Chamkaur Cheema, a long-time YHS parent, and professor of business at Kwantlen University.

As always, events such as this one would not be possible without the help of many behind-the-scenes people: thanks to the English Department for their work and guidance during class rounds, to the YHS staff who volunteered to judge the grade finals, and to all the students and staff who helped with photography, videotaping, ushering, and more! Special thank you also to Amanda (Grade 11), who shared her talents and treated the audience to beautiful music during the intermission.

Finally, a huge thank you to our Public Speaking Co-Heads, Catherine and Pepi, who did a fabulous job of coordinating and running the show on the night. Congratulations to all, and well done on supporting, building, and growing a vital life skill!

Mrs. Lloyd

Recitations Grand Finale 2018 Finalists:

Sarah, Gr. 12
Angela, Gr. 8
Tash, Gr. 9
Chloe, Gr. 10
Emma, Gr. 8
Tiana, Gr. 10
Frances, Gr. 9
Michelle, Gr. 12
Amanda, Gr. 11
Jessica, Gr. 11
Kaari, Gr. 8
Carmel, Gr. 10
Saphren, Gr. 11
Miranda, Gr. 12
May, Gr. 9
Leah, Gr. 12

The Cat’s Meow 2017

Recitations Grand Finale

Overall Winner, Julia, Gr. 12

All senior students competed to earn one of the 16 spots at this evening event, and the finalists did an incredible job. All of these girls deserve special recognition for this achievement alone. See below for the finalists names.

The night was highlighted by some very funny, powerful, and thoughtful performances, and in a time where we need more young women standing up to have their voices heard, our finalists proved they could command a stage as well as anyone!

Ms. Boteju with alumnae judges

We had an all-alumni judging panel this year, including a past Overall Winner, Anaheed Saatchi ’09; a past People’s Choice winner/Head Girl/Public Speaking Head, Ariana Saatchi ’12; a past Vice-Head and present-day actor/director, Rena Kawabata ’07; and a present-day actor, Aliza Vellani ’09!

The prizewinners for the evening were as follows–a very tough decision for the judges! Click the headings for a video of the recitation.

Top Junior (Gr. 8 & 9), Charlene, Gr. 9
“A Breakfast for Barbarians” by Gwendolyn MacEwen

People’s Choice Award – Isabel, Gr. 10
“Audition” by Jane Martin (Monologue)

4th Place – Marna, Gr. 12
“Let It Go” by Crystal Field (Monologue)

3rd Place – Saphren, Gr. 10
“Scandal” by Shonda Rhimes (Monologue)

2nd Place – Elise, Gr. 12
“Nice Tie” by Rich Orloff (Monologue)

Overall Winner – Julia, Gr. 12
“The Addams Family Values” by Paul Rudnick (Monologue)

Thanks to the English Department for their work and guidance during class rounds, to the YHS staff who volunteered to judge the grade finals, to our guest judges, and to all the students and staff who helped with photography, videotaping, ushering, tallying scores, the program, and more!

And finally, thank you to my incredible Co-Heads, Rainy and Julia, Gr. 12, who for the second year in a row helped to organize and MC this event, and who have generally been a pleasure to work with in public speaking over the past five years–I will miss them!

Congratulations to all students for taking on a worthwhile challenge!

Ms. Boteju

CONGRATULATIONS RECITATION GRAND FINALISTS!

GRADE 8

  • Alexandra
  • Jessie
  • May

GRADE 9

  • Emma
  • Sara
  • Charlene

GRADE 10

  • Isabel
  • Saphren
  • Amanda

GRADE 11

  • Ysabella
  • Leah
  • Miranda

GRADE 12

  • Marna
  • Julia
  • Lauren
  • Elise