CLCGovtClub

Practices for Nationals

2009-12-03T11:09:00.000-08:00

Before we get the case (probably January -- March), we will have two practice times: Wednesdays from 4 - 5 p.m., and the 2nd and 4th Wednesday mornings from 10 -12. Everyone going to Nationals needs to come to at least one of those time slots (either the Wednesday afternoons or the Wednesday mornings). Anyone not going to nationals is also welcome to attend -- we will be working on general, keep Mock Trial fresh, types of things during that time.

Once we get the case (usually about April 1), we will practice on Thursdays from 10 - 2, and expect that everyone will be able to make it to at least an hour and a half of that time frame. We can decide then whether the Thursday practices are in addition to or instead of the Wednesday practices, but I'm guessing we're going to want to do both times!

Nationals Fundraiser

2009-12-03T11:06:00.000-08:00

Joel is getting information on a fundraiser where we will sell coupons in January for family photographs (probably to be taken in February). We can potentially cover the entire cost of Nationals with this fundraiser!

He should have more information at the CHRISTmas party in a couple of weeks.

We really need a volunteer to help set up the scheduling for the pictures. I do not have time to do that. Any volunteers?

Youth Leg

2009-12-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

I need a head count by the meeting on January 6 for who's going to Youth Leg in February. And it would be a good idea to get on the www.alyig.org website by then and pre-register, because the price goes up the following week.

Upcoming Govt Club Meetings/CHRISTmas party

2009-12-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

One "meeting" left for December -- it is December 16th -- CHRISTmas party from 10 - 2. Please bring a $5 wrapped gift for the Dirty Santa exchange, and a food/drink to share.

We will have two meetings in January ---January 6 & 20, and should be on the usual, 1st & 3rd Wednesdays for the rest of the spring (through April).

Congratulations/Wednesday Celebration/Debrief

2009-11-17T16:51:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to both Mock Trial teams! I am so proud of all of you! I cannot imagine a better weekend of Mock Trial.

We will be getting together Wednesday, November 18 (tomorrow) at 2:00 p.m., since it sounded like that time worked for everyone. I have copies of score sheets for everyone. I will also have some initial information about the AMTI National Mock Trial competition in May.

Paperwork need signed

2009-11-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

I need this form signed for each student. (Just found ou this afternoon!). If possible, please print and bring Friday morning.
http://www.alyig.org/register/10registrationForm.pdf

Some more details for trip to Montgomery

2009-11-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

Several students have already paid their $100 "extra" money...If you have not, please try to bring it to the scrimmage on Wednesday (check to WHCS Govt Club on Wednesday).

We will be meeting at Creative Learning Connection on Friday morning at 11:00 to depart for Montgomery. We WILL be stopping at the Art Museum on our way to Montgomery to see their "Art, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" exhibit. The tickets will only cost $6 each, and we are covering that out of the "extras" money.

We will also be stopping for lunch and dinner on our way down to Montgomery Friday; both of those are also covered in the money we're collecting.

I'll post more as I think of -- let me know if you have any questions: cmmjaime@alum.mit.edu

2nd Scrimmage Note

2009-11-06T10:49:00.001-08:00

For the Scrimmages next week, I would like everyone to plan to be there the entire time (regardless of which time slot you are scrimmaging in). The Montgomery folks should be there in the morning to encourage the Scrimmage folks, and vice versa.

We will be getting pizza again between the 2 scrimmages. Thank you to everyone who paid their $5 last week -- that will be enough to cover lunch for both weeks.

If you have not emailed me your direct/cross/statements, please do it ASAP!
cmmjaime@alum.mit.edu

Thanks.

See everyone Wednesday

November 11 Scrimmage

2009-11-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

Our second set of scrimmages will be at Grace United Methodist (2113 Old Monrovia Rd.
Huntsville, AL 35806) The church is very easy to get to from University. Go North at the light for Providence Main (used to be called Indian Creek). It is a left turn if you are coming from Madison. Go through the little "Providence Main" section to the round about. The third exit off the round about is Old Monrovia, heading toward the church. Go about two blocks, and Grace United Methodist will be on your left.

The scrimmage teams will go first, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The Montgomery teams will scrimmage at 1:00.

Friends and family are welcome to join us for either or both of these.

We will be having pizzas for lunch in between the two. If you paid your $5 the first week, you do NOT have to pay again, you are covered for both weeks.

Any questions, let me know: cmmjaime@alum.mit.edu

Notes for 1st Scrimmage

2009-11-03T17:50:00.000-08:00

I will be at CLC to meet someone else between 8:30 and 9, if anyone would rather meet me there instead of meeting us at the church. I would like to be leaving AT 9 to head to the church.

We will be ordering pizzas for lunch. If each student will bring $5 either this week or next, we should have enough money to cover lunch both days. (Two of our students donated sodas, water, and chips for us to sell at the store, and the money from those is helping bring down the costs for these two lunches. Thank you guys.)

Email me!

2009-10-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

I need Statements, Directs, and Crosses emailed to me by Tuesday afternoon: cmmjaime@alum.mit.edu.

Thank you.
Mrs. Jaime

Color Choices for Montgomery/Dress Scrimmage

2009-10-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

Both teams are using black as their base color (suits for the guys, dress slacks and/or skirts for the girls).

Defense team has decided on:
Red for Saturday, Blue for the girls and Black for the guys on Sunday, and White for Monday. They've also chosen White for the Dress Scrimmage on Wednesday, November 11.

Prosecution team has decided on:
Red for Saturday and White for Sunday. They are leaving Monday as an individual choice.

Nov 4 -- First money is due!

2009-10-29T18:46:00.001-07:00

The YMCA would like to get our $220/person next week. 4 students have already paid on-line, thank you! I need the other 8 to send their money in directly, or bring it to the Scrimmage on Wednesday.

We also need to finalize which adults are going with us. I've had a couple of parents express interest in going -- but we need to finalize who is and isn't joining us.

Nov 4 Scrimmage

2009-10-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

November 4 Scrimmage will be at Central Assembly Church, 1701 Sparkman Dr. (Huntsville). One scrimmage will be from 10 - 12 noon, followed by pizza for lunch, and the 2nd scrimmage from 1 to 3. This one is casual (no dress clothes necessary).

This week's assignments (for Oct 14)

2009-10-11T14:59:00.001-07:00

This week, we need all witnesses and lawyers on Montgomery teams to bring their questions (Direct or Cross) with them to Wednesday morning's practice. We will be copying them to share with the students on the scrimmage teams.

If you will not be there Wednesday morning, please email me a copy before then: cmmjaime@alum.mit.edu.

Students on the scrimmage teams are free to modify the questions they receive as little or as much as they like.

This week, in addition to sharing Cross and Direct questions, we will be focusing on Objections: what they are, when they are used, and how to respond to them.

Hamlet quotes

2009-10-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't." Hamlet quote (Act II, Scene II).

"That it should come to this!". Hamlet quote (Act I, Scene II).

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so" Hamlet quote (Act II, Sc. II).

"I will speak daggers to her, but use none". - (Hamlet Quote Act III, Sc. II).

Fundraiser Letter Update

2009-10-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

For everyone going to Montgomery, we will need to collect the $220 per person that we owe the YMCA by the end of October. The remaining $100 or so needs to be paid by time we leave on 13 November. If you have not sent out letters, it's not too late. (But I wouldn't wait much longer!)

Several of the students have sent out Fundraiser letters and are getting checks to help with the above costs. Their collections will go to pay their own expenses first (minus stamps if the club purchased the stamps). If anyone raises more than their own costs through the letters -- it will be applied to the group's expenses (such as the gas, extra hotel night, etc.)

Letters may be sent via snail mail, or via email, students have successfully done both at this point.

Any questions, let me know.
Cathy/Mrs. Jaime, Adviser
cmmjaime@alum.mit.edu 256-325-3305

Fundraiser Letter - be sure to insert phone number/names/email addresses

2009-09-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

October 2009

Dear

We are members of the Way Home Christian School (WHCS) Government Club. We are writing today to ask for your support for our important upcoming events.

Each year our club sends teams to the statewide Youth Judicial (Mock Trial) competition in Montgomery, Alabama, which is hosted by the YMCA Youth in Government program. The YMCA Youth Judicial program allows high school students (Grades 9 -12) the opportunity to learn about law though preparation and presentation of a mock case. Students are on teams of 6, with 3 youth lawyers and 3 youth witnesses. Teams prepare either the defense side of the case or plaintiff/prosecution. Other students in Alabama’s program go down as a judge, sheriff, or deputy sheriff. (No other states offer these other choices for participation or have youth as the scoring judges.) All participants receive a fictional case which has a case summary, evidence and affidavits for the plaintiff/prosecution and the defense.

In the last 12 years, the Club has taken 21 teams to Montgomery. Every year at least one team has placed in the top 10, and 8 of the years we had 1st place teams. (We take our Mock Trial seriously and yet still have fun as we prepare our cases.) Additionally, 15 of our students have participated in national Mock Trial competitions over the years. Several of those students went on to do College Mock Trial and one is starting his final year at NYU Law School.

Altogether our Club needs to raise $5000 for this event in order to cover program fees, transportation, lodging and food expenses for the teams and advisors. Additionally, we have several students who are planning to attend the Harvard Mock Trial Training weekend in October, many who would like to go to Youth Legislature in February, and numerous more who hope to attend our Government Club Field Trip to Philadelphia in March.

Any size donation would be greatly appreciated and your entire donation is tax deductible as well.

Please send your contribution in the form of check or money order made payable to the Way Home Christian School (WHCS) to the following address:
WHCS Govt Club Fundraiser
8006 Old Madison Pike, Ste 11-a
Madison, AL 35758

If you would like to learn more about our group or have any questions regarding this letter, please feel free to contact me at (insert phone number). Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Best regards,

Insert Names Here
WHCS Government Club
cmmjaime@alum.mit.edu

Montgomery Team Practice Suggestions

2009-10-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

It has been suggested that the Prosecution team meet at CLC to practice on Thursday from 10 - 12 (beginning next Thursday, Oct 15).

And that that we move the Defense team practices to Thursdays from 12 - 2 pm (starting Oct 15) We will still have one more Friday practice (this Friday, Oct 9 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.)

November Scrimmage Notes

2009-10-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

We will have two scrimmage days in November, one on Wednesday, November 4 and one on Wednesday, November 11. Plan on both of those days going from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (We will bring drinks, and order pizza for those days.) The scrimmages will NOT be at CLC; we are working on getting two churches in the Madison/Huntsville area to have those at.

Family and friends are welcome to attend either or both of the scrimmages. The second one will be more formal.

For the first scrimmage, the students can just wear "everyday" clothes -- jeans, t-shirts, etc. For that scrimmage, we will have the Defense scrimmage team go against the Prosecution Montgomery team, and vise versa.

The second scrimmage is a Dress Rehearsal, especially for the Montgomery teams. The students on the scrimmage teams do NOT have to go out and buy special clothes for the Dress Rehearsal. But I would like them to come reasonably dressed up -- khakis and a dress shirt or polo would be fine.

For that scrimmage the scrimmage teams will scrimmage each other and the Montgomery teams will scrimmage each other.

Prosecution Team (Scrimmage)

2009-09-23T10:47:00.001-07:00

Opening -- Aaron
Closing -- Tess

Witnesses
Shelby -- ?? (Directed by Micah)
Jamie -- ?? (Directed by Tess)
Police -- John (Directed by Aaron)

Crosses
Pat -- Micah
Kinsley -- Tess
Loren -- Aaron

Harvard Mock Trial Training

2009-09-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

It looks like only 2 of us will be attending the Mock Trial Training in Harvard this year. But don't worry, we will come back with lots of good information to share with everyone!

Other notes from today's Govt Club

2009-09-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

We got all members of the Montgomery teams registered on time!
www.alyig.org

For ALL team members:
The next meeting (Oct 7) we will have half the meeting as a General Meeting and half the meeting as Mock Trial -- Please bring at least a rough draft of direct questions if you are a witness and cross questions if you are a lawyer.

The following week, October 14, we will primarily be going over Objections. Witnesses from all the teams are welcome to attend, but we especially need all of the lawyers to attend.

Defense Team (Montgomery)

2009-09-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

For right now, will be practicing on Friday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Opening -- Tori
Closing -- Joel

Witnesses
Pat -- Heidi (Directed by Ariella)
Loren -- Lee (Directed by Joel)
Kinsley -- Noah (Directed by Tori)

Crosses:
Ariella -- Shelby
Joel -- Jamie
Tori -- Police Officer

Defese Team (Scrimmage)

2009-09-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

Opening -- Holden
Closing -- Eli

Loren -- Hannah (Directed by Eli)
Kinsley -- Brad (Directed by Holden)
Pat -- Ben (Directed by Tiffany)

Crosses
Police -- Tiffany
Jamie -- Eli
Shelby -- Holden