DISD has selected Woodrow Wilson High School's mock trial team, which finished its season second among 180 Texas mock trial teams last year, to attend a Harvard University mock trial leadership and skills workshop in Boston Dec. 6-7, according to team coaches Catherine Pate, Mike Buchanan and Joe Smith. (Full disclosure: Our oldest son was an attorney on last year's Woodrow team, which returns all but one member for this year.)
The Harvard workshop hones team members' skills through a series of "mini-trials" against other schools from throughout the United States. DISD is paying for the workshop and hotel portion of the expenses, and the Woodrow team is attempting to raise money to cover airfare, meals and miscellaneous expenses, Smith says, adding that before accepting the money from DISD, the team voted not to accept the funds if they could be re-directed to helping retain a teacher laid off as part of the recent DISD budget problems. The team was told by DISD that the funds could not be used for teacher salaries, he says.
Bottom line: The 15-member team (including coaches and alternates) hopes to raise $6,000 through donations from neighborhood residents, as well as hosting a centralized childcare program from 5 p.m.-midnight Friday, Nov. 14, which coincides with the annual Lakewood Home Festival party. If you're interested in signing your children up for the service, which will be held at Northridge Presbyterian Church, send an email to [email protected], call 214-827-1264. The mock trial team, along with a number of parents, will be attending and supervising; a limited number of kids can be accommodated. Fees are $45 for the first child, $25 for the second child from the same family and $20 for the third child (children must be older than 3 and out of diapers).
And if you don't need babysitting but would like to make a donation to help the team, send a check to Woodrow Wilson PTA-Harvard Workshop (this makes the donation tax deductible), in care of Mike Buchanan, 2511 Cambria, Dallas 75214.
Last year's success has increased interest in mock trial among Woodrow students; this year, the school is planning to start a junior varsity team, Smith says, to help continue building the program. Returning team members from last year include Brenna Buchanan, Sarah Delph, Sean Draper, Nicolette Cueto, Joe Marshall, John Matusewicz, Nick Muston, Ashley Ramirez, Brian Tepera and Jack Wamre. Pate is a Woodrow graduate and instructor, while Smith and Buchanan are neighborhood attorneys who volunteer their time as mock trial coaches.
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