The Port Townsend Mock Trial Team is gearing up for another exciting season, joining 80 other teams from across the state in a highly competitive and intellectually rigorous program. This year's case centers around a critical issue: the underhoused. The trial involves a defendant whose mobile home was impounded and who subsequently broke into a fenced enclosure to retrieve it, resulting in charges of Burglary I, Burglary II, and Malicious Mischief.
Port Townsend boasts 24 dedicated students competing on two teams. They recently tested their skills in a scrimmage against Sequim last Saturday and are preparing for more upcoming practice rounds. On January 25th, teams from Mt. Si and Tacoma School of the Arts will travel to the Jefferson County Courthouse for another scrimmage, followed by a match against Archbishop Murphy on February 1st. These competitions all serve as preparation for the district competition at the Kitsap Superior Court on February 7th and 8th. Schools of all sizes compete in Mock Trial, and many of the teams Port Townsend faces come from much larger schools.
Last year, the team earned first place at the district competition, securing their spot in the state competition in Tacoma. This achievement highlights the dedication and skill of the Port Townsend competitors, who continue to excel against tough competition.
The team benefits from the guidance of longtime advisor Chris Pierson, who has been involved with the program for an impressive 24 years. Mr. Pierson emphasizes the real-world skills that students develop through Mock Trial. "The students that take part in Mock Trial leave here ready to enter the world as adults. It's not just learning the law; it's oral advocacy, thinking on your feet, and presentation skills."
He also highlights the relevance of these skills in today’s digital world. "In this technology-driven modern world, the courtroom is one of the places where oral and written language still rule. Over the years, this is what’s drawn me to the competition as an English teacher."
Port Townsend is also a favorite scrimmage destination for many schools, largely because of how beautiful and historic our courthouse is and because of the hospitality of local judges Brandon Mack and Mindt Walker, both of whom spend hours of their own time each year ensuring the program is successful.
For those interested in witnessing the team in action, the scrimmages and competitions are open to the public. Community members are encouraged to attend and show their support for the Redhawk team as they showcase their talent and dedication in the courtroom.
As part of our series highlighting the incredible senior projects of Port Townsend High School's graduating class, we turn our focus to Emma Glass, who is making her musical dreams a reality through her senior project. Emma is working with Rainshadow Recording Studio at Fort Worden to record her first EP, an exciting step in her lifelong journey with music.
Emma, who sings and plays guitar, has been enjoying the process of working with professionals and gaining firsthand experience in the technicalities of music creation and recording. While she doesn’t plan to pursue music professionally, she sees this project as an invaluable opportunity to explore her passions beyond her future career goals.
Music runs deep in Emma’s family. She has been playing guitar for four years but has been singing for as long as she can remember. Her father played saxophone, piano, guitar, and bass guitar and was part of the school marching band during his time at Texas Christian University (TCU). Her mother is also a singer and grew up playing the violin. Emma’s grandfather was a music teacher for the Department of Defense, spending several years teaching in Germany. She credits him as her first music teacher and the person who initially inspired her musical aspirations.
When asked to describe her own music, Emma shared, "Indie-pop, with a value on lyrics and relatability. I like to find the feeling that no one can find the words for and make it into a song. Music helps make things make sense for me."
Emma also draws inspiration from artists like Faye Webster and Chappell Roan. “Chappell Roan got her first record deal at 17. She made her own genre and her own fan base, and I feel like she's an incredible representative for the LGBTQ community. Faye Webster started out really small, and I really like her music because it's easy listening with the happiest songs combined with gut-wrenching lyrics. It's also catchy!"
Emma moved to Port Townsend the summer before her junior year and has found it to be a great place to focus on her music. She appreciates the town’s smaller community and the wealth of local musicians who inspire her. She also recognizes how special it is to have the opportunity to work with a recording studio as part of her senior project.
Looking ahead, Emma plans to attend Western Washington University next year, where she will study humanities. Her ultimate professional goal is to become a high school English teacher. While her future may not be in the music industry, her love for music will undoubtedly remain a core part of her life.
Emma’s dedication and passion for her craft are truly inspiring, and we can’t wait to hear her finished EP. Keep an eye out for more senior spotlights as we continue to celebrate the outstanding work of the Class of 2025!
At Port Townsend High School, we believe that education extends beyond academics—it is about shaping students into well-rounded individuals who thrive in all aspects of life. Our core belief is that character development is just as crucial as intellectual growth. We approach every decision, lesson, and interaction through the lens of nurturing students who are not only academically capable but also compassionate, responsible, and resilient members of society.
To reinforce this commitment, we have embedded our KRISP values—Kindness, Responsibility, Inclusivity, Support, and Persistence—into the daily fabric of our school culture. These values serve as guiding principles that help students develop essential life skills and ethical foundations that will support them far beyond their time at PTHS. The lead for KRISP values is Mr. Harris, the school's assistant principal, who ensures that these values are consistently upheld and integrated into student life. Mr. Harris can often be seen throughout the hallways, laughing with students and checking in with them on their holistic well-being.
To make these values a daily focus, we’ve assigned each to a specific day of the week:
Kindness Mondays: Encouraging small gestures that create a positive ripple effect.
Responsible Tuesdays: Highlighting ownership of actions and choices.
Inclusive Wednesdays: Celebrating differences to foster belonging.
Supportive Thursdays: Emphasizing standing by one another.
Persistent Fridays: Inspiring perseverance and growth.
Each morning, announcements feature a short story or thought tied to the day’s value. These announcements are a labor of love for Mr. Harris, who carefully curates meaningful messages to inspire students. For example, a recent Kindness Monday shared how holding a door open led to a series of thoughtful gestures that brightened everyone’s day.
Families can help reinforce KRISP at home by:
Modeling Behavior: Show kindness, responsibility, and persistence in daily life.
Starting Conversations: Ask how your student demonstrated the KRISP value of the day.
Celebrating Efforts: Acknowledge their progress, no matter how small.
Sharing Stories: Discuss your own experiences with these values.
Together, we can equip students with the confidence and character to navigate life. Feel free to share how KRISP sparks conversations or actions in your family—we’d love to hear your stories!
About Port Townsend High School
Website: https://highschool.ptschools.org/
Location: 1500 Van Ness Street, Port Townsend, WA, USA
Phone: 360.379.4520
Non-discrimination statement
Port Townsend School District No. 50 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, immigration status, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. The district provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator
Carrie Ehrhardt
1610 Blaine Street
(360) 680-5756
Title IX Officer:
Carrie Ehrhardt
1610 Blaine Street
(360) 680-5756
Section 504/ADA Coordinator
Shelby Macmeekin
1610 Blaine Street
(360) 379-4501
Title IX inquiries may also be directed toward the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR):https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
