Law Studies
The award-winning Law Academy at PSMS has a Law Studies program. In Law Studies, we participate in the following activities and competitions: PROJECT CITIZEN, MOCK TRIAL, WE THE PEOPLE, PROJECT SOAPBOX, & MODEL UNITED NATIONS. The program also takes EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS to Tallahassee, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C.
Project Citizen
Mock Trial
We the People
PROJECT CITIZEN (Through our Curriculum, students will work together to research their community to discover problems and then identify solutions in the form of policy that require government involvement. Students also have the opportunity to display their research and policy suggestions through Showcases, a way for students to display their research and present their policy solutions to their classroom and/or community. Showcases are also held at the state and national levels, where classes have the opportunity to participate and share their work with other classes from across their state or nation.)
MOCK TRIAL The Mock Trial Competition is an exciting competition that allows students to prepare and argue a civil or criminal court case. Students have approximately five to six months to prepare for their roles as attorneys, witnesses, and jurors in a simulated trial situation.
WE THE PEOPLE The program’s culminating activity is a simulated congressional hearing in which students “testify” before a panel of judges acting as members of Congress. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary
issues.
Project Soapbox
Model UN
Field Trips
PROJECT SOAPBOX Project Soapbox is a public speaking competition facilitated by Mikva Challenge that calls young people to speak out on issues that affect them and their communities. These powerful speeches have lasting, transformative impacts on classrooms, schools. The National Mikva Challenge Project Soapbox allows students to develop and deliver a two-minute persuasive speech answering the prompt: “What is the biggest issue facing your community, & what should be done about it?” The program culminates in a citywide, regional, or national event.
MODEL UN Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or M.U.N., is an extra-curricular activity in which students typically roleplay delegates from different countries around the world to the United Nations and simulate UN committees. This activity takes place at MUN conferences. Students explore current world issues and debate ways to solve the problem through UN Resolutions.
Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice Academy at PSMS is an outstanding program with an emphasis on law education. Students gain an understanding of the American legal system and explore the wide range of career-related opportunities available. The class provides a comprehensive, integrated, experience-based curriculum that motivates and challenges students interested in law-related fields of study. The curriculum provides the opportunity to explore these fields and meet professionals such as lawyers, police officers, law enforcement agents, forensic scientists, criminologists and even judges.
Law Enforcement
Criminology
Forensic Science
Chess
Our Chess Program at Palm Springs Middle School will take students on an exciting immersive journey.
Students will learn how the game came to be, how it developed over time, the rules of the game, basic strategy, tactics, and endgame concepts.
Practical experience will also take place in the CHESS program, from engaging in in-house competitions, District tournaments and National competitions.
CHESS is a program that uses the chess game strategies to help students develop their concentration skills and intellectual maturity. These skills increase students’ opportunities of being successful in the academic arena Boston, and Washington, D.C.
In-house Competitions
District Tournaments
National Competitions
After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box.
-Italian Proverb
Chess in the News Today
PALM SPRINGS CHESS STUDENTS BENEFIT IN 10 WAYS…
