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06/05/2024 05:22 PMPress Release, East Shoreline Catholic Academy
State Senator Christine Cohen came to East Shoreline Catholic Academy (ESCA) May 29 to present citations and awards to ESCA’s Middle School Mock Trial Team for winning the Middle School State Championship on May 9. It is the 15th win for Nancy Addorisio’s mock trial teams over the years. Addorisio is ESCA’s Mock Trial Teacher Coach and Middle School History Teacher.
One of many of the wonderful programs ESCA has to offer its students is their award-winning Mock Trial Program. Mock trial has had such a positive impact on the students who participate in it, and offers an exciting opportunity to learn about civic education and collaboration. Connecticut’s public, private, and parochial schools are offered the opportunity to compete annually hosted by Civics First, a private, non-profit association, with the final competition held at the state appellate court each year.
Addorisio welcomed Cohen and introduced her to ESCA’s mock trial team. Some of the team members presented a simulation of their role in the middle school mock trial competitions that contributed to the team winning the state championship. Mrs. Addorisio also introduced the team’s legal advisors including Hon. Maria del Pilar Gonzalez, as well those who could not attend due to work commitments: Barry Beletsky, Esq.; Hon. Peter McShane; and Megan Phillips, J.D. Candidate.
Cohen remarked on the excellence of ESCA’s Mock Trial Team, and congratulated them on “raising the bar even higher.” Cohen presented CT General Assembly citations to eighth grade students Elsa Bee; Mekella Cleary; Adrianna Forte, Elise Kane; Luca Pacelli; Loren Phouthasy; Delaney Shepard; Liliana Vitale and Ellery Weave; seventh grade students Liam Oraa; Natalia Sajdak; Keira Sprague and Connor Stroka; and sixth grade student Lila Shepard.
Awards from the Connecticut Bar Association were presented to Elise Kane, Best Witness; Connor Stroka, Best Attorney. The Middle School Mock Trial Champion Award was presented to Addorisio on behalf of ESCA.
What sets East Shoreline Catholic Academy’s mock trial program from other schools? This outstanding program will be the fifteenth time they were undefeated. Addorisio attributes their success through a culmination of months of hard work, preparation, and countless hours of practice.
“Our students have demonstrated their prowess in the courtroom, earning accolades and recognition for their outstanding performance. Through their meticulous preparation, persuasive arguments, and unwavering determination, they have not only showcased their legal acumen but also exemplified the values of integrity, critical thinking, and collaboration,” said Addorisio.
An important component to the success of ESCA’s mock trial program is the valuable expertise, insight and advice given to the students by Hon. Maria del Pilar Gonzalez, Hon. Peter McShane, Megan Philips, J.D. Candidate and Barry Beletsky, Esq., who have generously donated their time and talents of invaluable coaching, support and encouragement to the team, furthering students to “think outside the box”; students are able to go off script and address the legal question or issue.
Since Addorisio’s involvement in bringing a mock trial program to middle school students, there are seven alumni now pursuing a career in law, one of whom is a JD candidate, and three students currently interested in obtaining a law degree in the future, all inspired from the mock trial program at ESCA.
“It amazes me, with middle school kids, not only do they memorize fast, but you take them from not knowing how to develop a cross question, then they’re through law school,” Addorisio said. “I’m amazed. The entirety of competition dialogue is spoken from memory, including opening and closing statements that are about seven minutes long.”
Even after graduating, Addorisio said it’s not uncommon for former students to return to mock trial and help coach.
“Many students have said to me over the years that they have learned everything they need for life from mock trial, because you have to be able to think on your feet; you have to be able to critically assess a situation; you have to be able to write, and to collaborate. So, these skills are making a difference,” said Addorisio.
This is not only true of the mock trial program but all of scholastic and extracurricular programs at ESCA.
ESCA alumnus and class president (’20) Nathaniel Kerr said, “Mock trial really helped me to think on my feet,and helped me to speak in front of people a bit more…and helped me with public speaking and other key characteristics I would need to know for life,”
Addorisio first began the mock trial program in 2002 at Our Lady of Mercy School (OLM) in Madison, where she produced 12 championship teams. She brought the mock trial program to ESCA in 2018 when it became a STREAM model and successor school of Our Lady of Mercy and St. Mary (Branford) Schools. ESCA, now in its sixth year, has had three championship team wins (a reduced number primarily due to COVID). This outstanding accomplishment reflects the collective dedication and effort of our students, coaches, and the entire ESCA community. It showcases the passion, resilience, and pursuit of excellence that epitomizes our school community.
ESCA is one of four Archdiocesan academies with a STREAM educational model. This model connects every content area and richly augments all learning experiences by incorporating technology and engineering into a liberal arts curriculum. The STREAM framework includes Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts (fine arts, Language Arts), and Mathematics. Interdisciplinary instruction and project-based applications of learned concepts help children acquire leadership skills while preparing them for success in those careers most in demand. Students are taught how to use the Engineering Design Process by asking key questions: What is the problem that needs to be solved? What will work? How can I improve my solution? How will I communicate the results of the potential solutions to the problem? Which solution seems to be the best fit? What will I sketch or build to solve this problem? What Is my proposed solution? This encourages students to meet their goals through problem solving, group collaboration, and independent research in a progressive and creative learning environment.
Photo caption: Back Row (left to right): Ellery Weaver, Keira Sprague, Adrianna Forte, Elsa Bee, Luca Pacelli, Hon. Maria del Pilar Gonzalez, and Ryan McHugh. Front Row (left to right): Connor Stroka, Loren Phouthasy, Liliana Vitale, Mekella Cleary, Lila Shephard, Senator Christine Cohen, Delaney Shephard, Liam Oraa, Natalia Sajdak, Elise Kane, and Mrs. Nancy Addorisio.