AUBURN – Auburn intermediate schools took part in the annual “The Great Debate” at Fairview School on Jan. 6.

Fifth- and sixth-grade students from Webster, Fairview, Walton and Sherwood Heights schools prepared team debates on the subject of “Animal Rights: Should Animals have Legal Rights?” and “Space Exploration: Should NASA Continue with Current Plans for a Manned Space Flight Program?”

Students researched the topics and composed original speeches stating their position on the issue and supporting their arguments with facts and figures.

The finished debates were presented to the student body at Fairview School and were judged by Fairview fifth- and sixth-grade teachers on the basis of time, use, clarity, organization, preparation and construction.

Parents were invited to attend the enrichment activity offered through the Auburn Gifted and Talented Program, facilitated by Joanie Simard and Carrie Beaulieu, consulting teachers.

Fairview School participants were: Steven Giorgetti, Ben Denison, James Hardiment, Michael Devoe, Michael Heikkinen, Katherine Harmon, Andrea Jenney, Abby Holmes, Sarah Olstein, Dawn Sylvester, Rebecca Dubois, Felicia Stewart, Shelby Chouinard, Emily Blackwood, Chloe Lapointe, Marlee Collins, Hilary Boulier, Jeremy Theriault, Marie Dufresne-Dixon, Brandon Giguere, Nathan Fairchild, Lauren Ratsep, Katie Delorme, Shonah Russell, Zoe Theriault, Isaac Sawyer, Caroline Klonosky, Kimberly Mae Clark, Cody J. Leavitt, Alex Smith, Miranda Martin, Emily Grund, Katie Eraser, Robert Miller, Zach Olstein and Josh Robichaud.

Walton School: Taylor Nicholas, Amber Pugh, Michelle Grivois, Jessica Staples, Hilary Tate, Catherine Bauer, Jennifer Rioux, Amber Hathorne, Cory Spruill, Michael St. Denis and Cody Nicholas.

Sherwood Heights School: Letisha Belanger, Brian Bickford, Donna Daigle, Amanda Dubois, Carter Innes, Samantha Lamson, Josh Libby, Luis Pernia-Rovayo, Evan Poliquin, Taka Ranucci, Cassie Webster, Natalie Bornstein, Elsa Brown, Jaime Sevit, Philip Sears, Mackenzie Souders and Ashley Winn.

Webster School: Ben Armstrong, Melissa Brown, Emily Deveau, Caroline Dunn, Bowen Leary, Haley McConnell, Brenna Rasmussen, Deseree Tanguay, Tim Brodsky, Sydney Browne, Clark Chamberlin, Emily Dumont, Stephanie Elwell, Ashley Gallagher, Carmen Lasagna, Hanna Mogensen, Henry Moniz and Helen O’Neill.