NEWSLETTER

We’re excited to kick off another year supporting the incredible students and coaches of the Grand Oaks High School Speech & Debate program!

The Booster Club helps make so much of the student experience possible - from tournament meals and entry fees to judging support, team materials, Homecoming, hospitality, scholarships, and more.

There are several ways families can get involved this year, and right now we need your help getting the year off to a strong start. Whether you become a member, volunteer for one event, join a committee, help us find a sponsor, or simply connect your Kroger account, every contribution makes a difference.

Help us reach our membership goal by October 01!

Booster Club membership is one of the easiest and most meaningful ways to support our Speech & Debate students.

Membership funds help cover expenses including student meals, GOHS-hosted tournaments, tournament entry and judge fees, team supplies and materials, Homecoming, travel-related expenses, hospitality, end-of-year awards, and senior scholarships.

This year, families can choose from three membership options:

Memberships can be purchased through CheddarUp or Venmo.

Join a Committee or Volunteer When You Can

A successful Speech & Debate program takes a village, and there is a place for every parent or guardian who wants to help.

You do not have to make a year-long commitment to make a difference. Families can join a committee, volunteer for individual events, donate food or supplies, help with a special project, judge at a tournament, or simply pitch in when their schedule allows.

Homecoming Float Committee

Perfect for our creative parents, decorators, builders, planners, and anyone who loves school spirit!

We need volunteers to help:

• Brainstorm and design the float

• Gather decorations and supplies

• Build and decorate

• Coordinate students and volunteers

• Help with parade-day activities

• Assist with setup and cleanup

Fundraising Committee

Help us generate the financial support needed for tournaments, travel, supplies, team expenses, and other program needs.

Volunteers can help brainstorm fundraisers, reach out to businesses and community partners, assist with sponsorships and donations, and connect us with potential supporters.

Hospitality Committee

If you enjoy organizing, hosting, feeding people, or helping behind the scenes, we would love your help!

Hospitality volunteers may assist with food and refreshments, meal delivery, event-day volunteers, setup and cleanup, welcoming judges and guests, and tournament hospitality areas.

Other Ways to Help

Can’t commit to a committee? No problem! We often need help with judging, tournament-day support, food and snack donations, setup and cleanup, special events, sponsorship connections, and other short-term needs throughout the year.

Even helping once or twice makes a difference.

Hospitality Help Needed

We need help feeding our students during the upcoming tournament/event weekend:

Friday, September 04 - approximately 6:00 PM: Meal/hospitality needed for approximately 25 students.

Saturday, September 05 - approximately 1:00 PM: Meal/hospitality needed for approximately 30 students.

Judges Needed

No Speech & Debate experience required!

We also need volunteer judges on September 04 and September 05.

And yes - you really can do it!

Any adult can volunteer to judge: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, family friends, and neighbors. No prior Speech & Debate experience is required. Judges watch students perform, provide written feedback, and rank or score the round.

You can volunteer for one day or even just a few rounds.

New judges can create a Tabroom account and complete a simple online judge training, and the team can also provide quick guidance and a cheat sheet when needed.

Pick Your Game. Build Your Float. Join the Fun!

Homecoming is coming quickly, and this year’s parade theme is The Grizzly Games Parade!

The theme invites groups to choose their game inspiration - video games, board games, arcade games, retro games, card games, and more.

Float Build Dates: September 28 – October 5

We need students and parent volunteers to help bring our Speech & Debate float to life.

We Also Need a Float-Building Home Base

We are looking for a family willing to host the float during the build week.

Ideally, we need a home with enough driveway, garage, or other accessible space to safely park the float/trailer while students and volunteers work on it during the build week.

If your family may be able to host the float, please let us know as soon as possible.

Do you own a business or know someone who does?

Our students compete throughout the year, and community sponsorships can help us provide additional resources, tournament support, meals, travel assistance, supplies, scholarships, and other opportunities for the team.

If you own a business, work for a company that supports local schools, or know a business owner who may be interested in supporting GOHS Speech & Debate, we would love an introduction.

Sponsorship support may include financial contributions, donated goods or services, restaurant partnerships, event support, or other community connections.

Did you know you can support the GOHS Speech & Debate program just by shopping at Kroger? It's simple and doesn't cost a thing! Login to your app or online account and navigate to Rewards then Community Rewards. Search for code XP456, select GOHS S&D, and save. It’s that easy!