All Things Law @ MVB
Kevin Schult, Assistant Principal
The Institute for Law & Humanities
Welcome to the Institute for Law & Humanities at Martin Van Buren High School. In our classrooms you will find challenging college-preparatory curriculum, teachers dedicated towards getting every student to graduate college-ready, and students taking ownership of their learning through experience-based learning programs like Moot Court & Mock Trial competitions, NYU & Columbia Law’s Saturday High School Law Institute, Model UN conferences, and legal internships.
All Law & Humanities students will be sequenced into a new, four-year program which includes Introduction to Law, Criminal Law & Criminology, Constitutional Law, Mock Trial/Moot Court, and Senior Legal Research. The Social Studies department brings AP Global History, AP US History, and AP Psychology, along with eight other AP courses available for students at MVB. Students will also have the opportunity to take credited classes at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Queensborough Community College. During senior year, students are enrolled in Syracuse University classes for Economics, Government, and Sociology - all right in our building, accumulating college credits for a significantly reduced price; Martin Van Buren is one of the few schools in Queens offering this prestigious opportunity for its students.
The majority of our Law & Humanities programs take place in our brand new Courtroom! The room, built in 2019, is fully outfitted to teach our students and experience all aspects of law-related professions. We provide student-centered law related programs that cultivate future leaders as students learn about the functions of government, their roles and responsibilities as citizens, and develop a heightened respect for the law. The Institute of Law & Humanities at Martin van Buren High School is one of the premier law programs in Queens.
Our Moot Court Team made it to the Quarterfinals this year, which has only happened one other time in six years under the mentorship of our partner law firm Winston & Strawn. An accomplishment to everyone's dedication. Our Mock Trial team continues to grow with new members under the guidance of Vanessa Facio-Lince, Deputy Borough Chief within the Queens Family Court. We had a Soapbox Challenge for NYC, with six classes at MVB and ten winners selected from a panel of educators to represent the school (see the related article Finding Her Voice below). From that, two wonderful students were selected to compete at the NYC Preliminary level with 14 other students, a very nice achievement for our first competition. As part of our Law professions series, we had a paralegal come to our classes share their experiences with the Intro to Law students.
Planned activities this semester include:
As you can see, we have built up quite a program, but that hasn’t stopped Kevin from pushing for more. The Change the World Model United Nations (CWMUN) is an annual international program attended by more than 5000 students from all over the world, in which they debate the major issues of the international political agenda as delegates of UN countries. Sponsored by Associazione Diplomatici of Italy, CWMUN is the largest international youth Forum on the planet which takes place in different cities: New York City, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Rome.
This year CWMUN will take place at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square from March 24th to the 26th, with students traveling from over 40 countries. The three-day event includes training activities, multiple committee sessions, special guest speakers including Guest of Honor President Bill Clinton, opening and closing ceremonies, award ceremony, and a delegate dance. The $605 cost per student covers hotel (three nights and four days) and conference fees. Our plan is for our students to stay at the Marquis to have the full experience. Without the burden of a long commute back and forth to Queens each day they can attend sessions all day, working with other participants to debate, and with some negotiation, work to solve global issues. The Alumni Alliance is working to help raise funds to sponsor 3 students ($605 for each to have this unique experience) If you are interested in joining to help provide this special opportunity please email us at mvbhsaa@gmail.com
The Institute for Law & Humanities
Welcome to the Institute for Law & Humanities at Martin Van Buren High School. In our classrooms you will find challenging college-preparatory curriculum, teachers dedicated towards getting every student to graduate college-ready, and students taking ownership of their learning through experience-based learning programs like Moot Court & Mock Trial competitions, NYU & Columbia Law’s Saturday High School Law Institute, Model UN conferences, and legal internships.
All Law & Humanities students will be sequenced into a new, four-year program which includes Introduction to Law, Criminal Law & Criminology, Constitutional Law, Mock Trial/Moot Court, and Senior Legal Research. The Social Studies department brings AP Global History, AP US History, and AP Psychology, along with eight other AP courses available for students at MVB. Students will also have the opportunity to take credited classes at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Queensborough Community College. During senior year, students are enrolled in Syracuse University classes for Economics, Government, and Sociology - all right in our building, accumulating college credits for a significantly reduced price; Martin Van Buren is one of the few schools in Queens offering this prestigious opportunity for its students.
The majority of our Law & Humanities programs take place in our brand new Courtroom! The room, built in 2019, is fully outfitted to teach our students and experience all aspects of law-related professions. We provide student-centered law related programs that cultivate future leaders as students learn about the functions of government, their roles and responsibilities as citizens, and develop a heightened respect for the law. The Institute of Law & Humanities at Martin van Buren High School is one of the premier law programs in Queens.
Our Moot Court Team made it to the Quarterfinals this year, which has only happened one other time in six years under the mentorship of our partner law firm Winston & Strawn. An accomplishment to everyone's dedication. Our Mock Trial team continues to grow with new members under the guidance of Vanessa Facio-Lince, Deputy Borough Chief within the Queens Family Court. We had a Soapbox Challenge for NYC, with six classes at MVB and ten winners selected from a panel of educators to represent the school (see the related article Finding Her Voice below). From that, two wonderful students were selected to compete at the NYC Preliminary level with 14 other students, a very nice achievement for our first competition. As part of our Law professions series, we had a paralegal come to our classes share their experiences with the Intro to Law students.
Planned activities this semester include:
- We are planning for Civics Week in March with our annual voter registration drive.
- We are working on a grant to develop a Hate Crime Prevention event in the school.
- Our students will have a Virtual Library Lab day with the Manhattan Courthouse and have a Q&A with a judge.
- Our Law students will have guest speakers from the Queens DA
As you can see, we have built up quite a program, but that hasn’t stopped Kevin from pushing for more. The Change the World Model United Nations (CWMUN) is an annual international program attended by more than 5000 students from all over the world, in which they debate the major issues of the international political agenda as delegates of UN countries. Sponsored by Associazione Diplomatici of Italy, CWMUN is the largest international youth Forum on the planet which takes place in different cities: New York City, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Rome.
This year CWMUN will take place at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square from March 24th to the 26th, with students traveling from over 40 countries. The three-day event includes training activities, multiple committee sessions, special guest speakers including Guest of Honor President Bill Clinton, opening and closing ceremonies, award ceremony, and a delegate dance. The $605 cost per student covers hotel (three nights and four days) and conference fees. Our plan is for our students to stay at the Marquis to have the full experience. Without the burden of a long commute back and forth to Queens each day they can attend sessions all day, working with other participants to debate, and with some negotiation, work to solve global issues. The Alumni Alliance is working to help raise funds to sponsor 3 students ($605 for each to have this unique experience) If you are interested in joining to help provide this special opportunity please email us at mvbhsaa@gmail.com
Finding Her Voice
By Isamary Pineda
Soapbox Challenge is a public speaking program that calls young people to speak out on issues that affect them and their communities. This year’s Challenge was given to MVB’s Introduction to Law students and for me, it was an opportunity to not only talk about something I am passionate about but also to take me out of my comfort zone. The project required us to complete critical research and craft an enthusiastic, yet informative speech. During this process, I got to learn about myself and how much my topic affects my community and myself. With the help from my amazing peers and teacher, Mr Shult, I was able to feel comfortable while talking about my issue - Sexism in the School Dress Code. Although I felt nervous at first, once I got up in front of my class and spoke, I was shocked to see how much passion was released through my words.
As a participant, we sat down and listened to what my fellow peers had to say. One of the great things about the Challenge is that students who were usually shy or soft spoken shared what they are passionate about. Students opened their hearts, but it also made them vulnerable. Student’s spoke out about rape, violence, or immigration and it was sometimes not easy to hear. Personally, sharing my speech with the class was a kick of adrenaline that made this whole experience worth it. The Soapbox Challenge gave my fellow
students and I an opportunity to share what we care about and provided an opportunity for people to listen.
Soapbox Challenge is a public speaking program that calls young people to speak out on issues that affect them and their communities. This year’s Challenge was given to MVB’s Introduction to Law students and for me, it was an opportunity to not only talk about something I am passionate about but also to take me out of my comfort zone. The project required us to complete critical research and craft an enthusiastic, yet informative speech. During this process, I got to learn about myself and how much my topic affects my community and myself. With the help from my amazing peers and teacher, Mr Shult, I was able to feel comfortable while talking about my issue - Sexism in the School Dress Code. Although I felt nervous at first, once I got up in front of my class and spoke, I was shocked to see how much passion was released through my words.
As a participant, we sat down and listened to what my fellow peers had to say. One of the great things about the Challenge is that students who were usually shy or soft spoken shared what they are passionate about. Students opened their hearts, but it also made them vulnerable. Student’s spoke out about rape, violence, or immigration and it was sometimes not easy to hear. Personally, sharing my speech with the class was a kick of adrenaline that made this whole experience worth it. The Soapbox Challenge gave my fellow
students and I an opportunity to share what we care about and provided an opportunity for people to listen.
conversation corner
By Adib Khan ‘22
Conversation Corner is a program spearheaded by the Scholars’ Organization in which English Language Learners (ELL) get to practice their English skills in an informal setting. This pandemic has been difficult for us all to deal with. It has proved quite cognitively challenging for kids, particularly ELL students who require more support due to language difficulties. That is why, as Scholars, we have put on our thinking caps and devised an amazing program called Conversation Corner. Although it began virtually last year, we have now moved it to our classroom in room 214, the Scholar Lounge. Scholars and ELL students can socialize among each other every Tuesday from 2:30-3:30. A selection of board games are available in the scholars' room for participants to enjoy. Students can also come in for assistance in core topics and utilize the computers to do their schoolwork.
Conversation Corner is a judgment-free zone, and our students speak a number of languages, including Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Spanish, French, Urdu, Hindi, and Arabic. The session may last an hour, but don't let that put you off because students are free to leave whenever they wish. However, not many students depart early because their time at the conversation corner has been quite amusing.
It has been equally significant to me as a program leader as it has been to ELL kids. I frequently come here to unwind after being stressed out by an incredible magnitude of schoolwork. I'm generally doing something fun, whether it's conversing with others, playing board games, or watching my buddies compete in chess. Ms. Fried has a lot of things to share as well, and I frequently lose track of time while talking with her. In addition to my ideas, a few students were eager to offer their thoughts on the program. "Every week, my friends and I come here to relax and play board games. I prefer being here because it's very calm," sophomore Chandan Sharma stated. Owen Liu, another sophomore, added, "Conversation Corner is incredibly open and comfortable to be in. I'm glad to be here." Finally, senior Baoyi Zhuang stated, "I really like the program. It's enjoyable since I can speak with a large number of people and play games." The Scholars' goal is to assist kids in breaking down social boundaries and bonding with one another. A side benefit is we all learn more about one another in a relaxed setting and our ability to converse in English, our common thread, helps us all. We welcome all students to join as we have something for everyone.
Conversation Corner is a program spearheaded by the Scholars’ Organization in which English Language Learners (ELL) get to practice their English skills in an informal setting. This pandemic has been difficult for us all to deal with. It has proved quite cognitively challenging for kids, particularly ELL students who require more support due to language difficulties. That is why, as Scholars, we have put on our thinking caps and devised an amazing program called Conversation Corner. Although it began virtually last year, we have now moved it to our classroom in room 214, the Scholar Lounge. Scholars and ELL students can socialize among each other every Tuesday from 2:30-3:30. A selection of board games are available in the scholars' room for participants to enjoy. Students can also come in for assistance in core topics and utilize the computers to do their schoolwork.
Conversation Corner is a judgment-free zone, and our students speak a number of languages, including Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Spanish, French, Urdu, Hindi, and Arabic. The session may last an hour, but don't let that put you off because students are free to leave whenever they wish. However, not many students depart early because their time at the conversation corner has been quite amusing.
It has been equally significant to me as a program leader as it has been to ELL kids. I frequently come here to unwind after being stressed out by an incredible magnitude of schoolwork. I'm generally doing something fun, whether it's conversing with others, playing board games, or watching my buddies compete in chess. Ms. Fried has a lot of things to share as well, and I frequently lose track of time while talking with her. In addition to my ideas, a few students were eager to offer their thoughts on the program. "Every week, my friends and I come here to relax and play board games. I prefer being here because it's very calm," sophomore Chandan Sharma stated. Owen Liu, another sophomore, added, "Conversation Corner is incredibly open and comfortable to be in. I'm glad to be here." Finally, senior Baoyi Zhuang stated, "I really like the program. It's enjoyable since I can speak with a large number of people and play games." The Scholars' goal is to assist kids in breaking down social boundaries and bonding with one another. A side benefit is we all learn more about one another in a relaxed setting and our ability to converse in English, our common thread, helps us all. We welcome all students to join as we have something for everyone.
The world is facing environmental issues of a magnitude we have never seen before. Our AP science students are tackling this head-on due to the efforts of one of our outstanding science teachers. Carol Wang is a proud recipient of the 2018 Project Kindle Fellowship from Earthwatch. This past July, she was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go to Little Cayman with 7 other NYC Public School teachers to study endangered corals. It was certainly an amazing experience and one that she appreciates deeply and will never forget–one that she would like to share with students. So as part of the Earthwatch mission, as well as our own MVBHS mission, she plans to take students with her to Catalina Islands to engage students in actual hands-on, scientific field research with established scientists in the field in conduction with the Wrigley Institute of the University of Southern California.
Her ambition is to create an opportunity of a lifetime for her students. Not only to inspire them to be an advocate for a sustainable environment, but also to pursue studies in the STEM field and to teach them life skills. Carol's enthusiasm and determination to make this adventure a reality has permeated the students who have been selected for this very special project. Since the summer they have been working hard to raise the funds for this trip. The good news they have generated most of the money, but that still leaves them short of the goal and time is running out.
We are therefore asking for your help. Any donation you make will help pay for this unique learning experience and possible kindle a life long interest in the sciences. Please help bring this experience to a group of incredible students who have the potential to change the world for the better if given the opportunity.
Her ambition is to create an opportunity of a lifetime for her students. Not only to inspire them to be an advocate for a sustainable environment, but also to pursue studies in the STEM field and to teach them life skills. Carol's enthusiasm and determination to make this adventure a reality has permeated the students who have been selected for this very special project. Since the summer they have been working hard to raise the funds for this trip. The good news they have generated most of the money, but that still leaves them short of the goal and time is running out.
We are therefore asking for your help. Any donation you make will help pay for this unique learning experience and possible kindle a life long interest in the sciences. Please help bring this experience to a group of incredible students who have the potential to change the world for the better if given the opportunity.
The MVBAA has created partnerships with several non-profit organizations to create a series of innovative programs to enhance the MVB experience for our students. It is our belief that with these entities we have the necessary skills, experience, and resources to help enrich the school. We are excited to have them.
Below we have a brief description of the proven programs now in place at the school. For more information on any of the programs, please use the links provided.
Below we have a brief description of the proven programs now in place at the school. For more information on any of the programs, please use the links provided.
SUMMER SEARCH: Summer Search is a national youth development and college success organization which helps students from low-income households develop the skills and character traits they need to become college educated leaders who give back to their families and communities. Summer Search focuses on teachable skills – often called ‘non-cognitive’ or soft-skills like problem solving, resiliency, accountability and grit – by providing a combination of year-round mentorship, life-changing experiences, comprehensive college and financial aid counseling, and a consistent network of support through college and beyond.
GIRLS WITH IMPACT: GWI is a program focused on teaching teenage girls financial, entrepreneurial and business skills to start their own businesses. Conducted entirely on line, it helps develop confidence, leadership and critical thinking skills that are essential— regardless of the ultimate career choices made by its graduates. The aim of Girls With Impact is to push the students to grow comfortable discussing money and ideas with new people and learn skills that may spur them to go into business themselves. This is a laudable goal and one that meshes quite well with the Alumni Alliance mission.
YouScience: You Science is an on line tool that helps students determine attractive career paths, based on a detailed assessment of their own strengths, interests and talents. It then matches these skills and aptitudes to the most appropriate careers and also provides the necessary credentials and achievements to compete successfully in their chosen field. This process, in conjunction with the school’s guidance counselors helps provide a specific opportunity roadmap that supports their new found career goals. This is a critical exercise as we look to help focus our students on finding their inner strengths and building their confidence and interest in specific areas.
NEWS LITERACY PROJECT: News Literacy Project works with educators and journalists to give students the skills to discern fact from fiction and to know what information to trust and how best to verify the validity of what they are reading online. In today’s world, developing the ability to be smarter consumers of information is vital as we all must fight to separate fact from fiction, and qualify the sources of information to detect rumors, falsehoods and deception statements and stories. This is a powerful skill set to have in the world we live in.
CAREER DAY: The MVBHS Alumni Alliance has been organizing and sponsoring the school’s career day for a number of years. We developed a job fair approach that presents people from many different fields including healthcare, science and engineering, public service, business and finance, entertainment and legal professionals. Drawing on our vast alumni population along with many others, we present the opportunity of our students to interact one on one with these adults to learn more about the wide variety of career options and what to expect should one choose any one of these jobs. It also serves as a special chance to discuss life in college and the “real world” and convey the many life lessons that the presenters have learned themselves in their own lives.
All of these programs are designed to enrich the academic experience for the students at MVB and form the cornerstone of our efforts.
All of these programs are designed to enrich the academic experience for the students at MVB and form the cornerstone of our efforts.
