E L A the
OFFICIAL LAW MAGNET STUDENT NEWS SOURCE
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Social Media Handles & Video Team Members
C e d Important Dates in September e o e a ! Tips & advice to ensure a successful semester
C l e o e PTSA Membership Announcement T EIF Information
C u i e v e Community Service & Volunteer Opportunities
a i e a
SkillsUSA & Mock-Trial Summer Highlights
l i i l t
Features 2018 Law Mag Graduate & current Cal Berkeley JD Candidate Traelon Rodgers
C r t e t e e t v
Reflection/Analysis of Affirmative Action Ruling
Features Pre-Law Professor Ms. Opitz
Wordle
CHE K T U
P I H E I !
Andrea
Valentina
Elizabeth
Myzraim
Jordan
Simly
Jackie
9/4 DateDay Info Monday Labor Day (No School)
• Mock Trial Interest Meeting
9/5 Tuesday
• EIF- Financial Literacy Interest Meeting
• Debate Interest Meeting
9/6 Wednesday
• PTSA Membership Meeting @6pm 9/7 9/11 9/13 9/21 9/29 Thursday
• Model UN/SKills Interest Meeting
• Speech Club Interest Meeting
Monday Townview Basketball Club
Wednesday Destination Imagination/Skills Interest Meeting Thursday North Texas Giving Day Friday Fall Fling Dance 9/30 Saturday Battle of the Bands
E O A K!
By: Amarys Rodriguez
Welcome to a brand new year! With another school year just starting, The Legal Pad wanted to leave you with a few tips to ensure you have a successful semester.
Freshmen: Make friends! We know, it’s not always as easy as it sounds, but it’s crucial to have a strong support system throughout your four years of high school. High school can be draining, so it’s important to have friends to turn to in times of need. Another piece of advice, you should also establish a solid foundation of grades. Your first-year grades establish the basis for your GPA, and this year will be the easiest to get the best grades possible, so take advantage of that!
Sophomores: Congrats on making it through your freshman year! While sophomore year is similar to freshman year in terms of difficulty, it's important that you don't become complacent! Remember to turn in your assignments on time and get some sleep!
Juniors: This year won’t be easy; you’re suddenly taking a bunch of AP classes, and the workload can get overwhelming. Make sure you establish a system to stay organized! Don’t let your work consume you, and remember to take time for yourself! There’s nothing wrong with taking a break once in a while.
Seniors: You’re almost there! This next semester will be difficult between filling out college applications, getting admission results, and taking several AP classes. But you got this, you’ve done everything you can to prepare for your applications, it’s just sending them in. You can do this. It’ll all be worth it in the end!
T
Welcome to the first edition of The Legal Pad for the 2023-2024 school year. We hope that you will take advantage of this monthly publication to stay up to date on everything happening at the Law Magnet.
Don't forget to join the Law Magnet PTSA. Membership is NOW OPEN. Https://www.txpta.org
District: Dallas ISD
School: Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet
Our first PTSA membership meeting will be held on Sept 6th. We will highlight last year’s accomplishments and vote on this year’s budget. Hope to see you there.
NTX-Giving Day is fast-approaching, and your support is greatly appreciated. Our Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet Students and Faculty would welcome your support during this one-day event. Please mark your calendars for September 21. We ask that you show your support by donating via NTX-Giving Day site: http://mtyc.co/zvjzrf.
These funds will go to our Law Magnet PTSA, allowing them to host special events for our Students and Staff, and provide much needed support to our Law Magnet Team and Family. Providing extra resources and fun events for our Students and Staff is what contributes to the success of our Law Magnet Community. Please share this link with your family, friends, and associates. No amount is too small.
Here’s to a great year! Your PTSA Board
Volunteer to help the PTSA!
Law Magnet Spirit Wear
Law Magnet Teachers
Townview Directory Links
Education is Freedom (EIF)
Townview Wide Club List
Link Tree
C L E O E
Who is Education is Freedom (EIF)?
Education is Freedom is a non-profit organization, located in room 249, that assists all students with life after high school, specifically - college, career, and military readiness. The Law Magnet along with ESSM and TAG, has three EIF Advisors this yearMs. Cabrera, Ms. Linares-Vasquez, and Ms. Richman - ready to enable, equip, and empower all students, grades 9-12.
What does EIF do?
On campus, EIF provides college and career advising, assistance with College Applications, SAT/ACT Prep, Financial Aid, Community Service Opps, Career Development Workshops and Internships.
EIF also shares weekly updates to students via Remind and SchooLinks: Remind Codes:
• Law Class of 2024-: @lawt24
• Law Class of 2025- @lawt25
• Law Class of 2026- @lawt26
• Law Class of 2027- @lawt27
Both students, and parents, are welcome to meet with the EIF Advisors to discuss “Life after High School”, or anything else, Monday through Friday 8 30am-4 30pm. Alternative hours are provided on a case-by-case basis.
You can also follow @EIFTownview on Twitter and Instagram as well as Education is Freedom (@eifdotorg) for additional information on scholarships, industry trends, internships, and community service opportunities.
C u i
By: Sukhmani Nijjar
It is the beginning of the school year. Your goal for this semester is to have at least 18 hours of community service completed. Here are some volunteer opportunities to start off the year!
REMINDER: Law Magnet students can only receive up to 6 hours through donations, while the rest have to be hands on. The Law Magnet requires students to do at least 36 hours every school year. All community hours should be logged on x2VOL to receive the credited hours.
LINK: https://www.x2vol.com/index.html
Here are 5 easy steps to creating an x2VOL account:
1.) Visit x2vol.com and select "Join" located at the top right corner of the page.
2.) Click on "Complete Registration" under the section that reads, "My school has instructed me to complete my registration."
3.) Search for "Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet" on the website.
4.) Locate your account by providing your last name and student ID.
5.) Fill in the student registration section and then proceed to create a login in order to finalize your registration.
If you need extra assistance, scan the QR code LINK: https://tinyurl.com/x2volAccount
Community Service Excel Sheet: Are you having a hard time finding hands-on community service opportunities? The Law Magnet has the perfect resource for you. A Google Sheet that is monthly updated with new opportunities available for students!
LINK: https://tinyurl.com/OpportunitiesCommunityService
A I HE A : o r l
By: Jiashuo (Moon) Liu
Our Co-Champions:
Caniac Combo - Elizabeth Bell, Alana Arteaga, Abygail Vargas, Brandon Plascencia, Jiashuo (Moon) Liu, Alejandro Garcia, & Emily Ramirez
Verdict Vixens - Sukhmani Nijjar, Chloe Hawkins, Anaya Martinez, Amarys Rodriguez, & Morgan VanArsdall
Best Witnesses:
Abygail Vargas & Brandon Plascencia
After months of intensive preparation and scrimmages this past summer, two of our mock trial teams represented the Law Magnet at the National Judicial Competition that took place in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 24th-27th. Hilariously named “Caniac Combo” and “Verdict Vixens,” the two teams not only followed in the footsteps of last year’s national champions (team “Five Guys”) by getting first place but made mock trial history as well! Never before have both teams facing off in the championship showcase round belonged to the same state, let alone the same school. As said by the Law Magnet mock trial coach, Mr. Gonzalez, the two teams successfully “closed out” the competition, and proudly bear the title of co-champions!
A I HE A : o r l
By: Jiashuo (Moon) Liu
What’s more, Abygail and Brandon of the “Caniac Combo” took home both of the best witness awards. Upon receiving the 14 glass gavel awards, the ‘22-’23 Law Magnet mock trial season came to a triumphant end. Join the Legal Pad in congratulating both teams and best witnesses on their excellent performance and wishing them good luck in the upcoming season!
The Legal Pad asked the two teams’ captains and the two best witnesses to share some insight about their once-in-a-lifetime experiences at the national competition.
“Competing at Nationals was like riding on a Dora the Explorer-themed Ferris Wheel with the people you love the most. There were many ups, a few downs; at times it felt like we were going in circles, but we ended up where we were supposed to—as champions. Although I can't say we were expecting it, it looks like all of our late nights and long Zoom meetings were worth it. My team and I are so proud of the win, and we are looking forward to getting even better!” - Sukhmani Nijjar
“Nationals was on par with the trepidation of being at the summit of a rollercoaster that is about to fall, except you have no earthly idea of what it is on the other side. It was truly a rewarding experience, but not without difficulties. My team, the Caniac Combo, consists of the most hardworking people I’ve ever met. We’re all so close and we work with each other, not against each other. That’s why I was so proud when two of my witnesses won best witness. I could see how hard they worked, and they were the most deserving people I know.” - Elizabeth Bell
“Mock trial isn’t going in circles. It’s more like going down those spiral slides on the playground. During state, my coaches and I talked about being the best witness. Just because you got it doesn’t mean that you are the best in the room, nor does it mean that your teammates aren’t just as good as you. Things like this cause adrenaline rushes until you hit the wood chips, when the final round is over, and the award ceremony begins.” - Abygail Vargas
“Nationals was a nice experience. All the stress and sleep deprivation, that’s what makes it so nice. I think we as people have to find some good in all that bad feeling, because it’s in these moments in which we are genuine and real. I’m thankful I got to meet all these new people and lay our true selves out on that podium instead of fakes. There’s one thing I want to leave you with: just trust yourself a little, you know more than you think.” - Brandon Plascencia
A I HE A :
i s A
By: Jiashuo (Moon) Liu
t e a !
This past spring, Sridurga Revu, one of our very own juniors, took home Gold in the First Aid & CPR section of the SkillsUSA state competition in Corpus Christi, TX! As such, she earned herself (and the Law Magnet Chapter 2392) a place at the 2023 national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, Georgia, where she competed from June 19th to 25th. There, she won fifth place out of thirty of the best competitors from all over the nation. Sridurga’s SkillsUSA journey spanning the past two years is an extraordinary and welldeserved one, due to her can-do spirit, continuous hard work, and insistence on being the best she possibly can be. Let’s all applaud Sridurga for her amazing achievements and contribution to the Law Magnet SkillsUSA, Chapter 2392!
“If I look back at my journey in SkillsUSA, I can’t believe I truly experienced something this wonderful and challenging. Throughout this amazing journey, I got to learn how to save a life, meet new people from all over the nation, and become more independent. Most importantly, I learned a life lesson that I will never forget: keep working hard until the end. I am really thankful towards SkillsUSA for letting me get a taste of nationals, which was like a bottle of Coca-Cola that was shaken hard before being opened, because the competitiveness and pressure just takes over, but the remainder was still sweet and satisfying. I made lifelong memories with my family, Mr. Jennings (my advisor), and other SkillsUSA members.” says Sridurga Revu.
L N I HL HT
By: Amaad Garrett
Traelon Rodgers
Law Magnet Class of 2018 J.D Candidate at Berkeley Law
Brief Biography:
Traelon Rodgers is a 2018 Graduate of the Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet who is currently obtaining his Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He graduated from Dillard University in 2021 as valedictorian, earning a Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies & Public Policy. At Dillard, he was a two-term StudentGovernment Association President and a member of their esteemed Mock Trial team. Traelon was previously a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP) National Board from 2018 to 2022 and became the youngest assistant secretary of the board in NAACP history. He is a devoted public servant who aspires to one day provide tangible resources for his community.
What skills or knowledge did you learn throughout your time at the Law Magnet that you found most useful in your career?
“I think the biggest skill I got from my time at the Law Magnet would be self-advocacy. Advocacy was a crucial skill I had developed to express my thoughts and concerns in an environment that didn’t necessarily provide for my particular needs. It helped me analyze complex situations, identify key issues, and develop strategies to address them. I was able to fight for social and policy changes on campus to improve the quality of student life. These experiences made me an overall better communicator which has been useful in my career.”
What advice do you have for students in regard to finding success in school?
“I would say that it's important to make relationships. The people that you meet in high school can be life long if you are intentional about them.”
C R T VE S
f r a e c o
By: Mikayla Spivey
As we are entering into a new school year and seniors are starting their applications to college, it’s time to think about the Affirmative Action ruling. Back in June the Supreme Court officially ruled to curb Affirmative Action in higher education. Affirmative Action in the United States was an active effort to improve employment or educational opportunities for members of minority groups and for women. For Colleges and Universities, this refers to the practice of considering student background characteristics such as race as a factor in deciding whether to admit an applicant. Affirmative Action has been around for over four decades, allowing colleges and universities to consider race in their admissions process. This process has allowed colleges and universities to consider students of minority groups with admissions since the 1978 case ruling of the University of California v. Bakke. After the Supreme Court ruling in June on Affirmative Action, minority students now are learning how to make their applications stand out.
Let’s break down what this means for the future of College admissions for minority students. The big question is, does this get rid of diversity in the application process? "No”, writers at NBC stated. Deborah Santiago, the CEO and co-founder of Excelencia in Education stated that, “While the ruling focuses specifically on barring race as a factor in admissions, it doesn't limit institutions' outreach, engagement, retention or completion strategies aimed at enrolling diverse student bodies.” This simply means that Universities are still looking for Diversity, however, they aren’t allowed to use race as a factor determining if students get into their school.
Now, does this mean that you can’t state your race in your application? “No, but students can still convey their racial or ethnic backgrounds through extracurricular activities and other application materials, such as essays and personal statements,” said NBC. Therefore, applicants can state their race in more than one place throughout the application. This will give students the opportunity to give admissions officers a full understanding of the application.
Now that the college admissions system has changed, we want to leave you all with a few tips to ensure that you have a strong application.
C R T VE S
f r a e c o
By: Mikayla Spivey
• Apply to more schools.
• Ask for letters of recommendation that reflect your personality and positive qualities.
• Show personal interest in the schools you apply to (college fairs, visits/tours, and signing up for school’s email lists).
• Make sure you write a compelling personal statement that makes you stand out from the crowd.
• Do your research!
• Make sure your supplementals show why you would be a good fit for whatever school you are applying to.
E HE N RVI W
s O t
By: Japheth Russell
Ms. Opitz, a Texas native, attended the University of North Texas in Denton obtaining an undergraduate degree and pursued a law degree at St. Thomas University in Miami, FL. She was a legal practitioner for over 20 years, practicing many different areas of law such as oil and gas, contracts, mortgage banking litigation, and family law. Currently, Ms. Opitz teaches Pre-Law to underclassmen at the Law Magnet.
What made you decide to teach at the Law Magnet?
“I love being an attorney, but something was missing. I decided to give a different career a chance, and I have not regretted it even once.”
What has been the best part about teaching at the Law Magnet?
“Besides the obvious reasons, I laugh out loud every single day because of something a student or a coworker said. Everyone should be able to burst out laughing at least once a day.”
What is something important you’ve learned from your time teaching here?
“I’ve learned that our teenagers are smarter, kinder, funnier, and more creative than most adults in the world. The Law Magnet kids can achieve anything they set their minds to, and are willing to work for.”
By: Sukhmani Nijjar
Instructions:
• Each guess must be a valid 5-letter word (including a name)
• You cannot enter random letters
• Hit the enter button to submit the guess.
• After your submission, the color of the tiles will change.
Link: https://tinyurl.com/SeptemberWordle
Green: A letter in the guessed word is correct and in the correct position.
Yellow: A letter in the guessed word is correct but in the wrong position.
Gray: The letter is not part of the word.