The district’s fifth graders are stepping into the roles of lawyers, judges and witnesses through the district’s new Mock Trial program.
Interested students applied by submitting short video applications, and each school now has its own Mock Trial team: six students at Garden City Park School, 14 students at Hillside Grade School, eight students at Manor Oaks School and 11 students at New Hyde Park Road School.
The teams work closely with two dedicated volunteer attorneys who guide them through the legal system and help them prepare for their cases. Meetings alternate each week, led by either enrichment teacher Dominque Dunn or the attorneys. The students experience a variety of courtroom roles as they argue cases for both the plaintiff and the defense during the mock trials.
“The goal of the program is to strengthen confidence, expand critical thinking and communication skills, and empower advocacy among Nassau County elementary and middle school students,” Ms. Dunn said. “It’s a deep dive into rules, responsibility and what it truly means to be careful and fair. It’s an exciting way to build real-world reasoning and teamwork skills.”
The experience will culminate in two competitions, scheduled for May and June, to be held after school at the Nassau County Supreme Court in Mineola.