South Texas Academic and Literary League

Did you know? Kirby has a STALL team that competes against other schools in academic & performing arts competitions. There are many different events and all 3 grade levels can compete! You can earn ribbons, medals, and trophies in a number of events.

PRACTICES You will meet with a coach for practices until the end of the competition season. You may be in more than one event! The team is coached by an awesome group of teachers who will help you be your best on competition day.

Who can join? Any Kirby student may compete. Students may compete in more than on event. Practices with your coach(es) will start in October and continue until the competitions No Pass, No Play – you must be eligible to compete the 6 weeks of the tournaments

When will we compete? January 24 th –Legacy Middle School January 31 st – Kitty Hawk or Heritage Middle School February 7 th – Scobee Middle School February 21 st at McNair Middle School: Tournament of Champions (only students who placed at one of the previous meets can compete) Students will ride a bus with the coach(es) to the events.

What are the events? Academic Events Performance Events

Calculator Applications This is a math event that involves solving problems involving calculators. Students take a 30 minute math test and use a calculator to answer the questions. Coach: Ms. M. Tucker Room Number: Practices: See Ms. M. Tucker

Number Sense This event is a test in MENTAL mathematics! Students are given ten minutes to complete a test. You must answer the questions without the use of pencil and scratch paper! Only the answers may be written in this event. You must use a pen! Coach: Ms. McKinney Room Number: Practices: Wednesday 3:30-4:30PM

Spelling This event is a written spelling test. A complete list of words are given to the students ahead of time to study. Then at the competition the spelling tests have 60 words. Coach: Ms. Hammac Room Number: Practices: Mon. & Wed. 3:30-4:30PM

Maps, Charts, & Graphs This event is a 45 minute written test with 50 questions. Students get information from a variety of maps, graphs and charts using an atlas as a reference book to locate information, making comparisons, estimating and approximating, using scale and interpreting grid systems, legends and keys. You can put tabs on the atlas before the competition to easily look for answers. Coach: Ms. Hammac Room Number: Practices: Monday and Wednesday after school

Poetry This event is literally poetry reading. Students use vocal and facial expressions to convey the meaning of a poem. The students must prepare one poem, a cutting of a poem, or a combination of several poems, which have been published, to read aloud. Coach: Ms. Crain Room Number: A 136 Practices: Mondays after school

Prose This event is just like poetry reading, except students read selections that are not poems. Prose readings cannot rhyme. Students use vocal and facial expressions to convey the meaning of the story. The students can use literary reading, written commentary, or public address, which have been published. Coach: Ms. D. Tucker Room Number: A227 Practices: 3:30

Oration This is an event where a speech is given. The student will select a topic and write a speech ahead of time. Students may use four 3X5 note cards to deliver their speeches. Coach: Mr. Shirazi Room Number: Practices: Thursday after school

Pantomime This event allows 2 students to silently act out a scene together. Students act out the scene without using words, sounds, or mouthing words. Movements of the body, gestures, and facial expressions should establish each character and convey a story. Coach: Ms. Jordan Room Number: 703 Practices: Tuesday 3:30-4:30; Wednesday 3:30-4:30

Solo Acting (Humorous/Serious) The student prepares and performs a memorized monologue. The selections may be from a play, poem, or prose and can be comedic or dramatic. Coach: Ms. Jordan Room: 703 Practices: Tuesday 3:30-4:30, Wednesday 3:30-4:30

Duet Acting (Humorous/Serious) Two students perform a memorized scene from a play, prose, or poetry selection which is humorous or dramatic in nature and act out the situation. Coach: Ms. Jordan Room Number: 703 Practices: Tuesday 3:30-4:30PM, Wednesday 3:30- 4:30

Ready Writing In this event, students will have 1.5 hours to write an expository composition. The writing will be judged on clarity and quality. Each competition will formulate three topics, from which, the contestants may choose one. The compositions are written ahead of time so they have time to be graded. Coach: Ms. D. Tucker Room Number: A227 Practices: 3:30

Science This event involves general science knowledge. Students take a 45 minute test that will consist of thirty-five multiple-choice questions. Coach: Ms. Bonnett Room Number: B132 Practices: Tuesday & Thursday mornings

Social Studies This event involves social studies knowledge. Students have 20 minutes to take a test that will consist of thirty multiple-choice questions. Coach: Ms. D. Tucker Room Number: A227 Practices: 3:30

Math This event is a 40 minute math test with 50 problems. Students are allowed to use scratch paper provided to work out the math problems. Calculators may be used on this test. Coach: Ms. McKinney Room Number: Practices: Wednesday after school

Dictionary Skills This event involves looking up information in a dictionary as quickly as possible. Students have 20 minutes to complete the as many of the 40 problems on the multiple-choice test as they can. Coach: Ms. Lehman Room Number: Library Practices: Tuesday and Thursday 3:45-4:30PM

We want you on the team! Talk to any coach to find out more information LISTEN to announcements for practice schedules and meetings to start SOON. LOOK for posters and signs near rooms of coaches and the cafeteria. Join our STALL team and help show that Kirby Middle School is #1!