TWO YEARS LATER…Members Of The Law Community Reflect On Living, Learning Through The COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on March 15, 2022 by The Advocate Online Leave a comment

On March 13, 2020, Jonathan Law High School and schools across the country transitioned to distance learning as the COVID-19 pandemic began to sweep across the United States and the world. To mark the two-year anniversary of COVID-19, The Advocate staff interviewed students, faculty, administrators, and support staff about what it has been like to live – and learn – through a global pandemic.

Dr. Thompson, Jonathan Law Principal 2011-2021

By Ella Franzman – Staff Reporter

Dr. Fran Thompson was the principal of Jonathan Law from 2011-2021. Advocate Staff Reporter Ella Franzman interviewed Thompson about his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ella Franzman: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Fran Thompson: I had to really think about this. Like so many of us, it has been an isolating time. I miss my friends and the freedom that comes with going out and spending time in places where there are a lot of people (concerts, restaurants, weekends at the Ragaini’s 🙂 All of that said, I think the pandemic has made me more grateful for my family and friends and has made me appreciate the goodness that we have around us.

EF: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

FT: As principal at Jonathan Law, the biggest challenge was figuring out how we could support each other and the needs of our students with some many unknowns and changing information coming at us. I am grateful for the incredible staff, parents, and most of all, our students. So we could have graduation (or five of them), prom and post-prom (at Quassy) and yearbook (with the teachers cheering on during the pick up time). These are some of the many challenges but more importantly, like so many parts of Law Nation, it was figuring out how we can overcome the challenges in support of each other. I will be forever grateful to have been part of the staff and community that worked so hard to make it all happen.

EF: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

FT: I have seen so much good through the sadness, loss, and frustration. The good in people supporting each other, the ability to adjust on the fly (remember how quickly we distributed the Chromebooks and every teacher became a Google Classroom Instructor – I can give you a behind the scenes take on that: Not one teacher hesitated to make that shift even though many were scared of the technology – the team at Jonathan Law learned from each other and would spend hours on the phone or a Google Meet working with each other to get up to speed. I don’t know if I will ever see something so impressive or inspirational again in my career.

EF: What have you learned over the past two years?

FT: I learned that when you are fortunate enough to work with and be friends with good people, anything is possible. I have learned that it is OK not to know what’s coming and that it’s OK to be OK with whatever is coming. And finally, I have learned that no matter what happens, with creativity, imagination, love and laughter you can handle anything!

EF: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

FT: Well that’s easy – for my friends at reading this, I wish the Class of 2022 the hope for the very best of health and happiness, wherever the road takes you. For Mr. Marko, Mr. Hoggatt, Mr. Sarullo and Rags, I hope their Honeyspot lunches always have enough bread and butter. For the ladies in the main office, I hope that every Thursday is a Peanut Butter Shake Day. For Mr. Darcy – I hope and wish him the joy and love of Jonthan Law that I found during my time there. For the faculty and staff, I hope for them all the goodness and happiness they deserve. And finally, for all the Jonathan Law community, I hope and wish everything Lawmazing comes your way, each and every day.

Mr. Darcy, Jonathan Law Principal

By Katie Servas – Staff Reporter

After a long two years of a global pandemic, aspects of the Jonathan Law community have changed to accommodate for the different dynamic of today’s day and age. Law Principal Mr. Darcy was asked about the changes he endured over the last two years and how it affected his lifestyle.

Katie Servas: As we approach the two-year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mr. Darcy: The pandemic has impacted us all on a professional and personal level. On a positive note, it highlighted how important it is to care about a student’s mental health. We always talk about supporting students academically, but now we are looking at how to support students as people which has always been extremely important to me personally.

KS: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MD: The biggest challenge was adapting to different schedules. There have been points where we’ve been home, been in school for half days, been in school for 2-3 days per week and then finally back to school five days per week. These changes had a major impact on everyone in school and at home.

KS: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MD: We always talk about it, but the past two years have really allowed us to get to know students and figure out ways to support them on all levels, not just their educational pursuits. It’s allowed me to reflect on what is really important in my life which is my family at home and now here at Law.

KS: What have you learned over the past two years?

MD: I’ve learned to slow down and stay in the moment more. Life moves very quickly and if we don’t take the time to slow down, think and reflect, then we miss out on what is really important to us.

KS: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MD: My hope is that everyone remains healthy and we can have a “normal” end of the school year. I hope we can have the activities that students missed out on over the past two years including plays, prom, and graduation.

Mr. Marko & Mr. Hoggatt, Jonathan Law Assistant Principals

By Reilly Hungerford – Staff Reporter

Mr. Marko and Mr. Hoggatt are Jonathan Law’s Assistant Principals. Throughout the course of COVID-19 and its protocols, Law has undergone many changes to accommodate CDC COVID-19 mandates. Advocate Staff Reporter Reilly Hungerford interviewed Marko and Hoggatt about how COVID affected them.

Reilly Hungerford: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mr. Marko: Fortunately my family was able to stay safe during the pandemic with only mild cases, so I would have to say that our mental health was affected the most.

Mr. Hoggatt: Over the past two years the hardest part of COVID has been watching my two sons having to deal with all of the quarantining and protocols put in place on them. Neither of them have ever experienced a “normal” school year. When the pandemic first hit it was almost impossible to work and have my children online schooling at the same time.

RH: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MM: My biggest challenge in the last two years was planning to create a safe environment for our students to thrive at Jonathan Law.

MH: Last year was very hard to get a good read of all of the students in the building. The hybrid model of students in class and online was very difficult for everyone. It was hard to watch teachers and students struggling through the academic school year.

RH: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MM: The most positive thing that I can take away from the pandemic is how flexible our learning community is. The fact that our staff and students were able to make the transition to distance learning so quickly and to actually make it work still amazes me.

MH: I really believe that the pandemic has shown what a strong family feeling has been created here at Jonathan Law. Everyone created positive relationships with each other and focused on social emotional health. This just proves that the Jonathan Law community can accomplish a lot while working together.

RH: What have you learned over the past two years?

MM: I have learned to appreciate all of the things that give me joy at Jonathan Law. I never realized how much I would miss attending the music performances, the athletic events, the dances, the ceremonies and all of the other various events.

MH: I have learned not to sweat the same stuff. Try not to bring work home and enjoy time with your family.

RH: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MM: My hopes for the rest of the school year are that everyone remains safe and that we are able to hold all of the spring events that make this school such a special place. (ie. the Prom, the cotillion, the Ring Dance, Graduation ceremony, etc.)

MH: I hope that we are able to finish strong this school year and start fresh in September. The students and faculty have been great over the past two years and our goal is to return to some sort of normalcy.

Mr. Ragaini, Jonathan Law Dean Of Students

By Harrison Fisher – Staff Reporter

Mr. Ragaini is the Dean of Students at Jonathan Law High School. Advocate Staff Reporter Harrison Fisher interviewed Ragaini about how COVID affected him the past two years.

Harrison Fisher: As we approach the two-year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mr. Ragaini: I think the pandemic somewhat affected my mental health. In the very beginning, I was worried about family, friends, coworkers, and the Law community. I was stressed out thinking about people close to me and their vulnerability to the virus.

HF: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

GR: The biggest challenge for me over the past two years was trying to meet the needs of our Law students. I tried to always be as flexible as I could and be attentive to what their needs were.

HF: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MR: Obviously, there were many struggles that we all faced that threatened our basic need for safety. However, the pandemic gave me an opportunity to show my family how to make the best of even the worst situations. We were forced to get back to the basics and spend quality time together; something that we haven’t done in a while.

HF: What have you learned over the past two years.

MR: I learned the importance of resilience. We were all forced to adjust to things like our schooling, our work, our socializing, and even our gym routines. These were not small changes. However, we all made adjustments to deal with this crisis.

HF: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MR: I hope for proms, ring banquets, pep rallies and graduations. I hope all students can eat in our cafe as soon as possible. We are already heading in that direction. I am confident we will continue to advance.

Mr. Sarullo, Jonathan Law Athletic Director

By Gabe Garnett – Sports Editor

Mr. Sarullo is the Athletic Director at Jonathan Law. Advocate Sports Editor Gabe Garnett interviewed him about how COVID has impacted Law athletics.

Gabe Garnett: What has been your biggest challenge the last couple of years dealing with COVID?

Mr. Sarullo: While sports are certainly a huge part of the high school experience, the biggest challenge has been to provide these experiences while ensuring we did everything in a way to keep everyone safe and healthy. I am grateful to everyone involved for following the rules along the way to ensure that we were able to have all of our sports compete safely over the last few years.

GG: What will the COVID protocols be this spring?

MS: We are excited that it appears that we will be able to have a fairly normal spring season. While masks will not be required, we will still have some procedures in place to keep everyone safe. We will continue to have our health checklists posted in the athletic areas of the building to ensure that everyone is safe and healthy before participating. Also, we will continue to limit times in locker rooms to avoid any close contact situations.

GG: How will masks work with transportation?

MS: We will be following Milford Public School rules that states that masks are optional on all school buses, including athletic transportation.

GG: What are your thoughts about how Law managed COVID during the winter season?

MS: I cannot thank the student-athletes, coaches, and families enough for everything that allowed us to play complete seasons in all of our sports. Like everyone else, we hit a little rocky patch around the holidays, but by following the rules and procedures we were able to come back strong and not have issues after that point.

GG: What are you most looking forward to this spring season?

MS: I think the biggest and most exciting plan is to be able to watch our spring student-athletes return to full seasons this year for the first time since 2019.

Mrs. Dunnuck, Jonathan Law Director Of School Counseling

By Helen Chizmazia – Staff Reporter

Mrs. Dunnuck is the Director of School Counseling at Jonathan Law. Advocate Staff Reporter Helen Chizmazia interviewed Dunnuck about how COVID affected her the last two years.

Helen Chizmazia: As we approach the two-year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mrs. Dunnuck: The pandemic has affected me most in my ability to connect more closely with my students. From masks, having to maintain distance, and avoiding extended in person contact, I believe I have not been able to establish as close bonds with my students as I have in the past.

HC: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MD: My biggest challenge was managing my responsibilities at work and at home. I have three small children and between quarantine and illness, it made it hard to balance work and home.

HC: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MD: These past two years have been filled with the unknown, loss, sadness, and fear. Yet, I have been blessed to watch my students, friends, and family find silver linings and attempt to establish some sense of “normalcy” to their lives that makes sense for them.

HF: What have you learned over the past two years?

MD: I have learned to have more grace for others (than I did before) because I have no idea what they are dealing with. I have learned to find a better ratio in my work/life balance and have strengthened my relationships with those that I count as family and friends.

HF: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MD: I hope everyone is better able to extend grace, compassion, and acceptance to each other after living through ALL the experiences (not just the pandemic) the past two years have brought us. I have started to see this change over the past few months though for which I am incredibly grateful.

Ms. Mannion, Jonathan Law History Teacher

By Lily Forster – Entertainment Editor

Ms. Mannion is a history teacher and one of the longest tenured teachers at Jonathan Law. Advocate Entertainment Editor Lily Forster interviewed her about her experiences with COVID over the past two years.

LF: How has COVID affected you and your last two years of teaching?

MM: Teaching during COVID changed almost everything about the way I teach. I was thrown for a loop with what we had to teach from home, and the same is true when we taught in the classroom and at home at the same time. It was terrible for me. I was not that tech savvy (still need help here) and we had so much tech stuff to learn and then use. I cried a lot because I felt I was not doing my job well and it bothered me a great deal. Wearing masks was a pain, but I think most of us got used to it. Now that I am mask-free I feel like my old self.

LF: Did COVID change any of your teaching methods?

MM: Yes, I had to learn to be cool with tech like the young teachers (ha ha). I also get frustrated way too easily and I used to feel so lousy. When I was teaching in the cafe, the kids were spread out all over the place. I almost had to yell to be heard. No one wanted to talk and engage in a real conversation about a topic in history; it was too quiet. I had some miserable days, but I think everyone had some really tough patches over the course of the two years.I did learn a lot about myself too which is a good thing.

LF: What was the most difficult part of teaching during COVID?

MM: As I said above, I did feel kind of deflated at times. And I also felt like I did not get to know my students very well at all, especially when the whole learning style was virtual. I am sure that most of the teachers would say that that was a tough time to be a teacher. It also made me tired!

LF: What was the biggest lesson you learned during the pandemic?

MM: Do not take anything for granted, especially your health and your ability to be the best person you can be. I also learned to be honest about my feelings and talk to folks who care about my mental health. There definitely were some depressing days, moments. I am 90% of the time an upbeat and optimistic person, but I experienced some (too many) dark moments. That is not my style.

LF: Since masks are optional now, does anything feel more “normal” to you?

MM: Yes, I feel like a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders. Seeing my kids’ faces is the BEST. It is easier to breathe, easier to hear, and easier to be heard. I feel it is a gift from heaven. And I feel that COVID has taught me a lesson..do not take anything for granted. I love seeing and hearing the kids in the hallways again too.

Mr. Beler, Jonathan Law Business Teach & Track Coach

By Christian Andriolas – Staff Reporter

Mr. Beler is a business teacher and track coach at Law. Advocate Staff Reporter Christian Andriolas interviewed Beler about his experiences during the pandemic.

Christian Andriolas: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mr. Beler: The biggest effect was as a parent. Sending my kid to school with a mask. I didn’t realize the impact until he was actually allowed to see his friends and teachers last week.

CA: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MB: My biggest challenge was teaching virtually, I am and have always been a people person and thrive when I teach live. Teaching little dots on a screen was difficult.

CA: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MB: The biggest positive I was able to take from the pandemic was a deeper appreciation to friends and family.

CA: What have you learned over the past two years?

MB: The biggest thing I learned was I have increased my knowledge and usage in technology making it easier to teach and connect with my students.

CA: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MB: My hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year are to Have life get back to a greater level of normal as the past two years have been anything but that.

Mrs. DiPrimio, Jonathan Law Math Teacher

By Olivia Augustine – News Editor

Mrs. DiPrimio is the Math Department Head and teaches Precalculus at Law. Advocate News Editor Olivia Augustine interviewed her about her experiences with COVID over the past two years.

Olivia Augustine: How has COVID impacted your teaching this year?

Mrs. DiPrimio: Luckily, the COVID restrictions this year have improved since last year. It still has impacted my classroom set up. I miss my students being in the math “lab partners,” which allows for more opportunities for student to student discourse, but I’m hopeful with the mask restrictions lifted, so will our classroom set up options.

OA: What have been your goals for this year?

MD: My goals for this year are to get my students talking to one another again and creating that good struggle. I wanted to and have been embedding opportunities for new learning to be difficult, not because they are behind a screen, but because they are defending their answer over another student’s answer in class.

OA: How has your way of teaching changed during COVID?

MD: My teaching has greatly evolved over these past two years and not only from a technical standpoint. I definitely use more technology in the classroom, but my mindset behind course workload and the importance for student self-reflection has increased greatly.

OA: How have you been able to enjoy teaching during COVID?

MD: The most enjoyable part of teaching has and will always be the students. COVID or not, you all are the reasons I come to work. You make me laugh, you inspire me to learn and always give me an outlet to whatever else is going on in my own life. If it weren’t for my students, teaching would not be worth going through the past two years.

OA: How has this school year been going for you?

MD: This school year has been another roller coaster of a year for many reasons. However, it’s great to be back in one classroom and my fellow math department riders have made the year much smoother. I can’t emphasize enough how much their support has gotten me through the COVID years. I don’t know what I would have done without them.

Mrs. Mercaldi, Jonathan Law Science Teacher

By Madelyn Baranowsky – Staff Reporter

Science teacher Mrs. Mercaldi has been teaching at Jonathan Law for 16 years. Advocate Staff Reporter Madelyn Baranowsky interviewed her about two years of dealing with COVID.

Madelyn Baranowsky: As we approach the two-year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mrs. Mercaldi: The biggest impact that COVID had on me was to make me a better teacher – better at using digital tools and better at incorporating more social-emotional activities for my students.

MB: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MM: The biggest challenge for me had been the distancing (socially and mask wearing) from friends and family, especially during the holidays.

MB: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MM: The positive I’d take away is an appreciation for the amount of time I got to spend with my own young children during quarantine. The situation really made us slow down and work on our family unit.

MB: What have you learned over the past two years?

MM: I have learned to appreciate the little things in life and take time to reflect on all the things I am grateful for.

MB: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MM: My hope for the rest of this year and next year is that our community is safe (thanks to vaccines and boosters) and that low transmission numbers mean that other social distancing restrictions are lifted so lunch and other activities can run as they should.

Mr. Ruzbarsky, Jonathan Law Math Teacher

By Isabella Gecaj – Staff Reporter

Mr. Ruzbarsky is a math teacher at Jonathan Law. Advocate Staff Reporter Isabella Gecaj interviewed Ruzbarsky about two years of teaching during the pandemic.

Isabella Gecaj: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mr. Ruzbarsky: I would say that I have been monitoring not only my motivations but all of my students more than I have ever in the past. It has been tough to change the platform in which we teach and learn so much and still expect the same results. You have to change and adapt to everything as opposed to just changing and adapting to the students in a classroom only.

IG: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MR: My biggest challenge over the past two years was meeting my students emotional needs every day. It was a big struggle to change everything everyday and still try to stay somewhat the same all at once.

IG: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MR: I would say that when you build lasting relationships with anyone that you can persist even through the toughest times. There were many ups and downs for us all over the past two years, but the family environment we have has helped us all through those times.

IG: What have you learned over the past two years?

MR: Like I always believed, the relationships we make are the most important to help us get through tough times. We always need to lean on someone eventually and I think the past two years have really put that into perspective for all of us.

IG: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MR: My hopes are that we continue to grow as a family and get back on track to being better than we were before.

Mr. McPartland, Jonathan Law Spanish Teacher, Basketball & Baseball Coach

By Zack Sulkis – Staff Reporter

Mr. McPartland is a Spanish teacher and basketball and baseball coach at Jonathan Law whose life was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Advocate Staff Reporter Zack Sulkis interviewed him about his experiences during the past two years.

ZS: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

MM: The most difficult part of the last two years or so has been the fact that I have not had the opportunity to see the people I would normally see and be around the people I would normally be around. Granted, things seem to be turning the corner, however the toughest part has been not being physically able to be around my students, players, friends, and family. The people with whom I most cherish relationships.

ZS: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MM: Kind of piggy-backing off my first answer, the biggest challenge was figuring out how to stay in touch and maintain the professional relationships I have with my students and colleagues, and the relationships I have with my friends and family. I’m all about connections, so I would say trying to keep those connections alive while not being able to physically be with people was tough.

ZS: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MM: There are actually a number of positives that I have taken from the last two years or so. The importance of reaching out to people and checking in. The importance of maintaining positive, healthy relationships. The importance of getting outside and getting some physical activity. The importance of taking care of our mental health. Lastly, just how important technology can be when it comes to keeping us all together.

ZS: What have you learned over the past two years?

MM: Relationships are so important – maintaining these relationships is so important.

ZS: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MM: My hopes for the rest of this school year (and into the next school year) are that everyone stays safe and healthy – both physically, mentally, and emotionally. I hope that everyone finds some time to make some time for those that matter to them and that everyone is able to find something to be happy about in their day-to-day lives. Stay positive, be great! Get after it!

Mr. Kulenych, Jonathan Law English Teacher

By Ava Korkmaz – Sports Editor

Mr. Kulenych teaches Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, and Humanities and coaches girls tennis at Jonathan Law. Advocate Entertainment Editor Ava Korkmaz interviewed Kulenych about his experiences the last two years living through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ava Korkmaz: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mr. Kulenych: The pandemic affected me in many ways, but knowing that we were all missing out on so much being apart from one another, having so many events and activities canceled, really weighed on me. Life is about moments, and whether it was my own kids at home or all of the students at Law, I felt awful that everyone was being robbed of those moments. Out of all of that, though, came a real appreciation for how important my family and friends are and that we need to appreciate and cherish the time we spend together.

AK: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MK: Trying to keep my 4-year-old daughter from crashing every Google Meet we had in 2020. Seriously, though, my biggest challenge was trying to keep things “normal” even though they weren’t. At home, I was trying to make sure that my kids felt safe and supported and were able to still “be kids” and have fun despite everything that was going on. At school, my goal was to stay as positive as possible for all of my students, to help them emotionally, socially, and academically, and to make each class as fun and “normal” as it could be given the circumstances.

AK: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MK: I’ll always remember at the start of the pandemic when things were so uncertain (and a little scary), that everyone at Law was there for each other and supported each other. I remember meeting with the Broadcast class on a Google Meet on the Friday we left school and their immediate response was, “We are still doing the news, right?” They wanted to keep that sense of normalcy and community going and as a school I think we did an amazing job of that over the past two years.

AK: What have you learned over the past two years?

MK: I learned the importance of family and relationships. Even though we were apart from each other for so long, keeping those relationships going – even if it was over a Google Meet or a FaceTime call – made a difficult period a little bit more tolerable. I also learned – again – just how special our Law family is. We rise to the occasion in tough times and we showed it over and over the past two years.

AK: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MK: My hope is that every day feels a little more “normal.” I feel like we are really, really close to being back and I can’t wait to see that trend continue.

Mr. Zuraw, Jonathan Law History Teacher

By Maddy Gaillard – Staff Reporter

History teacher Mr. Zuraw has been one of the many teachers who have faced change throughout the pandemic. For the two-year anniversary of COVID, Advocate Staff Reporter Maddy Gaillard interviewed Zuraw about some of the things he dealt with during the pandemic.

Maddy Gaillard: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mr. Zuraw: The biggest effect the pandemic has had on me has been here at school. The virtual classes, hybrid classes, masks, desk spacing, not being able to share materials, etc. was a total shift from the norm. While I was home the effects were felt a little less because I wasn’t wearing a mask around my kids or keeping a distance from them, but anytime I was working, the realities of the pandemic were obvious.

MG: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MZ: I would say the biggest challenge was trying to maintain the rigor of the courses I teach, all while trying to be accommodating to students that were going through a variety of issues during the pandemic and adjusting my lessons to work in a hybrid/online setting.

MG: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MZ: One positive is that I was lucky enough to not get any illness for the past two years. All of the mask-wearing and social distancing has kept me and my kids very healthy as of late. Another positive from the past two years is that it has made me appreciate face to face interaction with people and enjoy coming to school even more than I usually do.

MG: What have you learned over the past two years?

MZ: I learned to appreciate things more…family, friends, colleagues, etc. (Also that I need to wash my hands way more often than I used to).

MG: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MZ: I hope over the coming months/years we are able to continue to ease back into a “typical” school year and things will continue to get back to normal in our daily lives.

Ms. Jones, Jonathan Law Choir Director

Mr. Pelaggi, Jonathan Law Band Director

By Amaya Vargas – Staff Reporter

Mr. Pelaggi is the Band Director and Ms. Jones is the Choir Director at Jonathan Law. Advocate Staff Reporter Amaya Vargas interviewed Pelaggi and Jones about how COVID affected the music program the past two years.

Amaya Vargas: How has the pandemic affected you most?

Mr. Pelaggi: So many things have happened during the pandemic to affect everyone’s lives. These past two years have made me a much more compassionate person. I have learned to listen to others much better. A lot has changed for me during these two years. I got married, I bought a house, completed most of my master’s degree, I’ve lost friends and family members. It’s been a very tough, stressful two years. But on the other side (hopefully), I’m a better person for sure.

Ms. Jones. As a music teacher the impact has been tremendous. We lost out on competition trips, banquets, senior traditions at spring concerts, singing together, performances, field trips and even just being in each other’s presence. We also lost our music space. To think of that last day together two years ago when we thought it would be TWO WEEKS before we saw each other again and that was not the reality is daunting. However, to see how far we have come in that time and all that we have persevered to be here today is tremendous and a true testament to the resilience and strength of each and every one of us.

AV: What was your biggest challenge over these two years?

MP: Teaching online in 2020 was so challenging. Trying to help students rebound from being home for so long was very difficult as well. Last year was the hardest year of my teaching career, and I’m very glad it is over!

MJ: Not being able to sing in the way we are used to OR, in some cases, at all. We obviously can always create music and learn about it but It has been such a huge loss to lose the ability to connect in that very personal way through music performance. Thank goodness we are on the upswing again!

AV: What positives have you been able to take from the pandemic?

MP: I think as a community, we have learned to appreciate the good more. Before the pandemic, we were passively living amazing lives. Now that we are getting some of these luxuries back, we are able to totally appreciate them. I’ve been so happy to run ensemble classes again. During online learning, I was really missing being able to make music with my kids.

MJ: The resilience and strength of our program! We were on such an amazing trajectory prior to the pandemic and this could’ve completely derailed a young and blossoming community. However, despite the obstacles, due to such incredible students in our program we continue to grow and I believe we are improving even more than we have in the past. Maybe because now we know how fragile it is.

AV: What have you learned over the past two years?

MP: So much. Between being in grad school and just living life I feel like I have gained so much knowledge. I’ve been reading more than ever as well. I’ve learned a lot about being compassionate. I’ve learned a lot about finding life outside of being a music teacher. I learned that I love to make stuff out of wood and play golf! I would’ve never tried those things if it wasn’t for the pandemic.

MJ: That we have to keep relying on each other. No matter how dark and bleak times can get, we will get to the other side of it and it is easier to do that when we work together and depend upon each other in times of need.

AV: What are your hopes for the rest of the school year and year ahead?

MP: I’m excited for the musical experiences and memories my students are going to have this year. Between our commissioned piece, concerts, parades, and just being able to make music together, we are going to have some excellent times.

MJ: That we continue to make music and create more opportunities for our choir family to strengthen their bond as a community but also as musicians. I am so lucky to work with such amazing students and I believe they recognize how special it is to be a part of this community. I hope we just continue.

Mrs. Almonte, Jonathan Law French Teacher

By Shane Cepalia – News Editor

Over the past two-years, COVID-19 has affected Jonathan Law and everyone in it dramatically. Advocate Editor Shane Cepalia interviewed Law French Teacher Mrs. Almonte on her experiences over the past two years.

Shane Cepalia: As we approach the two-year anniversary of COVID-19, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mrs. Almonte: Probably the social distancing. It’s hard for me to help a student if I have to stay 3 feet or 6 feet away from them so now with the new protocol I can get up close to them and see what their work is and help them. I don’t have to put it up on the board for them to correct their mistakes.

SC: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MA: Probably having the students understand what I’m saying with my mask on. It’s really hard to teach another language, and it’s visually hard for someone to learn a language when they can’t see the face of the person who’s speaking.

SC: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MA: Students are always willing to try and do things on their own.

SC: What have you learned over the past two years?

MA: I’ve learned to be more tech-savvy. I’ve learned new games, I’ve learned Blooket, Peardeck, I’ve learned to use technology much more in my instruction.

SC: What are your hopes for the rest of the school year?

MA: To have group work, have more collaborative assignments, and next year I hope this thing will leave. I hope to really just get back to our normal way of teaching and learning.

Mrs. Meyer Farrell, Jonathan Law Social Worker

By Sophie Maselli – Staff Reporter

In March of 2020, Jonathan Law shut down in-person learning and a strange, unfamiliar, new life began. Now, two years later, Jonathan Law students and staff reflect on how life has changed these past two years, and how things are finally getting back to normal. Advocate Staff Reporter Sophie Maselli interviewed Mrs. Meyer-Farrell, Jonathan Law’s School Social Worker, about how her life has changed, both in-school and life in general, as we approach the two-year anniversary of COVID.

Sophie Maselli: As we approach the two-year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mrs. Meyer-Farrell: As a School Social Worker, I can’t believe how much I’ve learned about using technology to support students and their families. Helping students cope with the things they have felt like they “lost” during the last 2 years. Also, initially, it was helping to navigate a remote learning world. Recently it’s helping them re-adjust to being in school, in person.

SM: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MMF: To make sure that students were emotionally and academically OK with the ever-changing school climate. Also that every student had access to reliable Wifi. Providing support to students and families regarding all the things they missed out on dances, athletics, seeing friends.

SM: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MMF: That people are resilient and can adjust. We can always learn new things. Sometimes slowing down is beneficial.

SM: What have you learned over the past two years?

MMF: A lot about technology! And how nice it is to see faces again.

SM: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MMF: In-person learning and the return of all the fun parts of high school for students- athletics, dances, clubs, cafeteria tables!

Mrs. Malski, Jonathan Law School Nurse

By Lana Hanania – Staff Reporter

Many school nurses were already overworked by COVID, but when students and staff returned to school, they had a significant challenge in ensuring both student and staff safety. Jonathan Law school nurse Mrs. Malski was on the front lines of this work. Advocate Staff Reporter Lana Hanania interviewed her about how COVID affected her.

Lana Hanania: As we approach the two-year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Mrs. Malski: I feel the pandemic has affected me mostly by a complete change of my job description. I am a Milford City employee, employed by the Health Dept, and I “wore” my public health nurse hat much more than my school nurse hat.

LH: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MM: My biggest challenge was keeping up with the almost daily updates, rule changes, and different symptoms that occurred in the Health office.

LH: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MM: The biggest positive is seeing the acceptance of our school family in following the rules/regulations/changes in our school life – and returning to in-school learning!

LH: What have you learned over the past two years?

MM: My biggest learning point is patience and kindness goes a long way. You never know what students and families are going through.

LH: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MM: My hopes for the rest of this school year is that no other variants come our way, the number of positives and hospitalizations continue the decreasing trend we are currently seeing, and to finish out the year healthy and LawStrong!

Ms. Mundy, Jonathan Law Library Media Specialist

By Olivia Hudak – Staff Reporter

Ms. Mundy is the Library Media Specialist at Jonathan Law. Advocate Staff Reporter Olivia Hudak interviewed Mundy about her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Olivia Hudak: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Ms. Mundy: For me the pandemic was and is very isolating. I live alone and don’t have family nearby. With virtual school I didn’t have a lot of contact with any people, which can be tough. I also switched jobs to come here in the pandemic, which was a big change for me as well. It was really challenging to start a new job during a pandemic, and I feel like I didn’t really get to know many people that first year. But it’s taught me to be more appreciative of things, as things could always be worse.

OH: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

MM: The isolation has been difficult for me. While I am an introvert, having zero human contact is still difficult. Then I got so used to being on my own all of the time that I find sometimes now it’s hard for me to readjust to going out in the world. I’ve always hated big crowds, but it’s even harder for me now than it was back then. It was also challenging to start a job in the pandemic. I felt isolated the first year of teaching here, so I’m very happy to be able to engage with all of the students and staff.

OH: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

MM: There are always positives, and I always try to find the best in any situation! I learned a lot more about technology, and my family started a text thread that we still continue today. We also send fun videos over Marco Polo that bring me joy. Additionally, I like that people are talking more openly about health and mental health. This time has been tough for so many people, and I think people realized they need to prioritize their physical and mental health.

OH: What have you learned over the past two years?

MM: I think I’ve learned to be even more flexible than before. As we all made a rapid switch to distance learning I had to make so many changes. At the time I was working with students with autism and a huge range of learning styles. Some students weren’t able to read or use a computer, so that posed a lot of challenges for me! But flexibility, adaptability, and being open about my struggles were areas of growth for me.

OH: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

MM: I hope that COVID numbers stay down and we are able to resume life as close to normal as possible. I know so many people have lost so much, and they can’t go back to “normal” ever again. But I would like to be able to see my friends and family without worrying about spreading COVID. I want to travel and see more of the world again. I hope that students can participate safely in all of the great things that make Jonathan Law the wonderful place it is.

Michael Loschiavo, Jonathan Law Class Of 2020

By Sydney Simpson – Editor-in-Chief

Michael Loschiavo is a graduate from the Jonathan Law Class of 2020. Loschiavo now attends Southern Connecticut State University and is an assistant cross country coach at Law. Advocate Editor-in-Chief Sydney Simpson interviewed Loschiavo about how his life was affected by COVID in high school and in college.

Sydney Simpson: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Michael Loschiavo: I think mostly the pandemic affected my senior year of high school and the fun senior activities that come along with being a senior. I also think the pandemic affected my spring sports track season.

SS: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

ML: I think the biggest challenge over the past two years would be getting used to the normalization, which was to wear a mask and practice social distance.

SS: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

ML: I think some positives that I would take away from the pandemic is it gave me quality time with my family, and on joking matter, I was a Chic-fil-a frequent customer because I went every day of the week.

SS: What have you learned over the past two years?

ML: What I’ve learned over the past two years would be to take every moment for granted, live everyday like it’s your last, and be grateful for everyone and everything you have in your life.

SS: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

ML: My hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year is to not have to wear a mask anymore and to be able to get back to somewhat of normalcy to the way it was before the year 2020.

Katie Konareski, Jonathan Law Class Of 2021

By Lucia Pino – Staff Reporter

Katie Konareski is a graduate from the Jonathan Law Class of 2021. Konareski now attends Endicott College where she plays Division III basketball and studies exercise science. Advocate Staff Reporter Lucia Pino interviewed Konareski about how her life was affected by COVID in high school and in college.

Lucia Pino: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Katie Konareski: The pandemic has affected me by taking both academics and athletics away from me. My junior year our basketball state tournament got cut short and we went virtual for the last 3 months of school. My senior year we didn’t get the opportunity to have a state tournament and academics were somewhat hybrid. This year in college, half of our team got hit with the virus, including many other teams who had to postpone games.

LP: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

KK: My biggest challenges have been to choose what’s right and what isn’t. Should I go out with people or is it too risky to get sick?

LP: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

KK: One positive I took away from the pandemic was I got closer with my friends. We were all going through the same thing so it was easy to connect.

LP: What have you learned over the past two years?

KK: I learned that sometimes you’ll get hit with the unexpected and it feels like it threw a wrench in your whole life, but you adjust and that’s the hardest part.

LP: How did COVID affect your first year of college?

KK: During the winter we had a mask policy for a short period of time. Also during our season we had a couple games get canceled. Other than that everything has been pretty steady which I’m very thankful for.

Hailey Boyle, Jonathan Law Senior

By Lucia Pino – Staff Reporter

Hailey Boyle is a senior at Jonathan Law High School. Boyle is a lacrosse captain and volleyball player at Law as well as Senator of the senior class. Advocate Staff Reporter Lucia Pino interviewed Boyle about how COVID affected her life as an active member of the school community.

Lucia Pino: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Hailey Boyle: The way covid impacted me the most was taking away my sophomore lacrosse season. At that time I was still contemplating possibly playing in college but I knew without a whole year of practice or film there was no way of that happening.

LP: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

HB: My biggest challenge over the past two years was being alone. The pandemic was an extremely lonely time for everyone and after a while, quarantining really did get to me, as I enjoy going out and being with my friends, and depending on them to make me happy. But with corona that was all restricted.

LP: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

HB: A positive I took away from the pandemic was that fortunately no one close to me had their life taken from the coronavirus, and I felt very lucky in that sense. It also made me appreciate just being able to be with my friends.

LP: What have you learned over the past two years?

HB: Over the past two years I learned to not take anything for granted because there is so much in the world we don’t know about and at any time on any random day, the whole world can change. I’ve just learned to be more grateful for the little things in life, like just being able to have fun with a group of people.

LP: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

HB: My hopes for the rest of this school year and the next is that we only continue to move forward, and not have to go back to any corona restrictions. Obviously, I hope the masks stay off, and that the virus comes to an end all together.

Caroline Doyle, Jonathan Law Junior & Key Club President

By Maya Rosado – Staff Reporter

Junior Caroline Doyle is the president of the Jonathan Law Key Club. Advocate Staff Reporter Maya Rosado interviewed Doyle about her COVID experience as a student and club leader.

Maya Rosado: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Caroline Doyle: The pandemic has affected me most in my ability to see family normally. I have lots of family members that are immunocompromised, which made it extremely hard to see family in the peak of COVID. The pandemic has affected me most in my ability to see family normally. I have lots of family members that are immunocompromised, which made it extremely hard to see family in the peak of COVID.

MR: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

CD: My biggest challenge was time management. I have always taken AP and honors classes as well as balance extracurriculars, so finding time to do things when everything was at a stand still and felt optional was challenging.

MR: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

CD: A positive I have taken away is that I have learned to value my time with friends and family since it was not occurring for so long.

MR: What have you learned over the past two years?

CD: I have learned how to manage my responsibilities in a stressful situation, making me more capable of succeeding.

MR: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

CD: My hopes for the rest of the school year are to get back to normal life as much as possible. I’m looking forward to the tennis season, college tours, and a hopefully normal summer.

Aislinn Burns, Jonathan Law Junior

By Marisa Laviano – Staff Reporter

Aislinn Burns is a junior at Jonathan Law and a member of the Natural Helpers. Advocate Staff Reporter Marisa Laviano interviewed Burns about her experiences the last two years during the COVID pandemic.

Marisa Laviano: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Aislinn Burns: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, the pandemic has affected me in many ways. It has interrupted sports seasons, changed a lot of things at school, and taken away a lot of opportunities which have been extremely difficult.

ML: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

AB: The biggest challenge over the past two years for me was definitely the shutdown/lockdown. Not being able to go to school was extremely difficult because personally, it is a lot harder for me to learn online. It was also challenging when the spring sports season got canceled, and there were lots of covid protocols to deal with during other sports seasons. Not being able to see friends and family for months was also a huge challenge.

ML: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

AB: One of the biggest positives that I can take away from the pandemic is my mindset. This year in particular I have been a lot more grateful for what I have, I have stepped out of my comfort zone more for certain opportunities, and I have found new hobbies/interests that I may want to pursue after high school.

ML: What have you learned over the past two years?

AB: I have learned a lot over the past two years. I have learned to be a lot more flexible with my schedule, I have improved my time management, and I have learned to be a lot more appreciative of my life and the people within it.

ML: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

AB: My hopes for the rest of this school year are to continue to take steps in the right direction with covid protocols and to continue to have more of a “normal” sports season. For next year, I want to be able to have the most fun and successful senior year possible.

Talia Salanto, Jonathan Law Sophomore

By Caden Simpson – Staff Reporter

Talia Salanto is the President of the sophomore class at Jonathan Law. Advocate Staff Reporter Caden Simpson interviewed Salanto about how COVID affected her the past two years.

Caden Simpson: As we approach the two year anniversary of COVID, how has the pandemic affected you the most?

Talia Salanto: Over the two year pandemic, I think the hardest thing was knowing I was missing out on my first year of high school. Adjusting to social distance, masks, virtual school and canceled sports was really damaging to mental health and sociability.

CS: What was your biggest challenge over the past two years?

TS: The biggest challenge for me was probably remembering to wear my mask in school. Along with social distancing and going online, adjusting to school was the hardest thing for me.

CS: What positives have you been able to take away from the pandemic?

TS: During the pandemic and quarantine, I was able to give time to myself and focus on my mental health because of events being postponed or canceled.

CS: What have you learned over the past two years?

TS: I have learned to value the time we have with friends and family because you don’t know when it is the last time you will get to see them. I have also learned how important it is to stay in touch with people and socialize in order to stay connected and healthy.

CS: What are your hopes for the rest of this school year and next school year?

TS: My hopes for the rest of this school year is to be completely free of social distancing, and have our cafeteria back to normal. I hope that COVID-19 slows down and people are able to come to school without feeling unsafe.