Lifestyle
Students from Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School were the proud recipients of the silver medal at the Mock Trial Competition on January 10, 2011. From left: Ryan Rysdale, Katie Patrick, Kirsten Ingham, Kassandra Picco, Don Cormie-Bowins, Alicia Chiesa and Jon Slater (absent). The team was guided by the expertise of John M. Bray and Michael Gauthier of Orendorff and Associates and Law teacher Terry Pagan.
Rainbow students excel at Mock Trial Competition
Winter 2011 |
Rainbow secondary school students showcased their analytical and critical thinking skills at the 10th annual Mock Trial Competition where they garnered the silver medal and captured a number of individual awards. Other awards that were presented included:
Close to 110 students in Grade 12 from Rainbow District School Board, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board and the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario donned legal gowns to prosecute and defend the case of Her Majesty the Queen versus Alex Sebastian.
Participating secondary schools included Chelmsford Valley District Composite School, Confederation Secondary School, Espanola High School, Lasalle Secondary School, Lockerby Composite School, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, Sudbury Secondary School, St. Benedict’s Secondary School, St. Charles College, and Collège Notre Dame.
The Hennessy Cup was awarded to St. Charles College. Silver medals were presented to students from Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, including Katie Patrick, Ryan Rysdale, Don Cormie-Bowins, Alicia Chiesa, Kassandra Picco, Kirsten Ingham and Jon Slater. They were coached to victory by John M. Bray and Michael Gauthier of Orendorff and Associates and Grade 12 Law teacher Terry Pagan.
Miller Maki Best Witness Award
Kai Salminen – Confederation Secondary School
Coach: Michael Haraschuk
Noel Walker – St. Charles College
Coach: James Ross (Conroy, Trebb)
Award Presenter: Gary Marcuccio (Miller, Maki)
Lacroix, Forest Best Advocate Crown Award
Katie Patrick – Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School
Coaches: John Michael Bray and Michael Gauthier (Orendorff & Associates)
Award Presenter: Niguel Mousseau (Lacroix, Forest)
Weaver Simmons Best Advocate Defence Award
Sara Rovinelli – St. Charles College
Coach: James Ross (Conroy, Trebb)
Presenter: Lindsay McNicol (Weaver, Simmons)
Edward J. Conroy Q.C. Team Civility Award
Lasalle Secondary School Team 1
Lasalle Secondary School Team 2
Coaches: Sarah Viau and Nigel Mousseau (Lacroix, Forest)
Students include Cody Lemieux, Rob Staszak, Mara Matijevich, Alexander Best, Bianca Tremblay, Bryann Levesque, Holly Prince, Alyssa Sabourin, Scott Miller, Madison Austin, Robin Bilton and Carrissa Peach.
Tyler Campbell, Chair of Rainbow District School Board, commended Sudbury’s legal community for their ongoing support of student success through their generous contribution of time and expertise for the Mock Trial Competition.
“I would like to thank the volunteer coaches from the Sudbury and District Law Association and the Sudbury Crown Attorney’s office who, once again, have provided hundreds of hours of time to this project. The local lawyers make an invaluable contribution to student learning, taking it from the classroom to the courtroom. These lawyers often ignite in the students a passion for the law, inspiring them to work hard in university and continue their studies in law school. As an added bonus, students see first-hand the community service commitment that these professionals make, which so enriches our city.”
The Mock Trial competition is well established within the Grade 12 Law curriculum. In addition to meeting curriculum expectations, mock trials develop other skills in students, including public speaking, teamwork, presentation, preparation and critical thinking skills.
“Learning the fundamentals of the criminal justice system through participation in an actual trial has proven to be a wonderful experience,” said Madame Justice Patricia C. Hennessy. “Students are learning the democratic principles which underlie our justice system. They prepare their witnesses and their examinations the same way that practicing lawyers do preparation work.”
She added: “The Sudbury lawyers who mentor and coach the students bring added skill and experience to the teaching. Year after year, we see outstanding work from these students who have learned advocacy and public speaking skills from their lawyer coaches.”
