By Addy Barber – Staff Reporter 

With the end of the school year approaching, Advocate Staff Reporter Addy Barber interviewed Law Principal Mr. Darcy to reflect on the 2023-2024 school year. 

Addy Barber: What are some of your favorite memories from this year?

Mr. Darcy: Some of my favorite memories are all the events we had including; athletic events, Powder Puff, games, musical performances and of course prom and post prom that was just held. 

AB: What are your goals for next year?

MD: My goals have never changed. Each year my goal is to work with all stakeholders groups so that ultimately every student in our school feels valued, heard and respected at all times. They know that we are here for them and will challenge them to be the best version of themselves every day. 

AB: How was this school year compared to last year?

MD:  In my opinion, this year has run pretty smoothly (knock on wood). We were able to provide a high quality education, social/emotional support, and fun activities for all students. 

AB: What is your advice to the incoming Class of 2028?

MD: My advice to the incoming class is to get involved in something! We have so many clubs, sports, and other activities here at JLHS. Students who are more connected to their school community have higher levels of success during and after their high school years. 

AB: What is your advice to the graduating Class of 2024?

MD: My advice is to continue to be kind to others and give your time to others that deserve it. The class of 2024 is an incredibly kind class who comes to school each day with a smile and helps each other when needed. Continue those efforts when you leave us on June 11th. 

AB: What was your biggest victory and/or challenge this year?

MD: I think the biggest challenge was implementation of the e-hall pass system. There were several students (and staff) who had a lot of questions about how the system would work. We now have data that shows the system has worked and it has become a norm here at Law that everyone uses. When you make a change like that in November of a school year, it can be challenging, but it was totally worth it and has helped our school get better. 

AB: Any last messages to the Class of 2024?

MD: As I get older, I’ve been focusing on the concept of time. Time is something that you have to give to people and yourself. It’s something that is not renewable, so you shouldn’t waste it on people or things that don’t have a positive impact on your life or the lives of others. We also never know when our time is up. So, use your time wisely and share it with the people you love. 

AB: What changes are you looking forward to implementing next year?

MD: This will depend on a lot of what students and staff want for next year. One thing we’ve been discussing is how to expand and improve the support center and a concept of credit recovery for students that fall behind. This is something I’m very passionate about and hope we can make some changes for next year and beyond. 

AB: What was your favorite part of this school year?

MD: This is tough to answer because there are so many. The one that I’m thinking about the most right now is the Post Prom because it just happened this past weekend. It was an evening when parents/guardians, students and staff all came together to celebrate each other as a community. The decorations were beautiful, kids had a lot of fun and there were some great raffle prizes as well!

AB: What are your summer plans?

MD: As a Principal, I do work for a few weeks over the summer prepping the building for the fall. When I’m not here, I’ll be spending two weeks in Narragansett with my family. We have gone there for the past 11 years and purchased a summer beach house two years ago. It’s something my family looks forward to each year. My girls love it there! My wife and I are going to Jamaica with two other couples on our street in late July. We are looking forward to that trip as well. We spent our Honeymoon at the same resort and we are looking forward to going back again this summer.

By Harshitha Kothapalli – News Editor

Jonathan Law’s Science Olympiad team returned from the recent UConn State Competition with medals and smiles. 

The two teams from Law placed second and third in the “Write it, Do it” event, third and fourth place for “Tower,” fourth place for “Chem Lab,” and second place for “Flight.”

“It was really great to see all our hard work pay off through medals,” senior Science Club President Srivarsh Gudlavalleti said. “All of us put in so many late nights and I’m proud of us for the accomplishments we’ve reached.”

The teams placed 11th and 14th overall. Second place winner and junior Sana Joshi said her Science Club experience was a rewarding one.

“My experience participating in Science Olympiad has been one of the best experiences in my high school career as it has taught me the value of being a part of something so big and unique,” Joshi said. “Winning a medal with my partner brought so much joy to our team and especially to our advisor, Ms. Turcotte.”

Senior Science Club Vice President Moulika Sivalenka explained the knowledge and fulfillment the competition brought to the teams. 

“As a participant, it was really informative and helpful as I was able to see where I stood while taking the test and what I prepared for it,” Sivalenka said. “Seeing our advisors being so proud was so nice and always motivates us to do better.”

The Science Club is always recruiting new team members in hopes of building the team for future years. 

“I recommend people join science club because it allows you to be a part of a team and teaches you the importance of enjoying extracurricular activities outside of school,” Joshi said. “A ton of hard work definitely has to be put in before the competition but as soon as we compete the adrenaline makes you soar through it because the competition makes it 100% worth the effort.”

Gudlavalleti said the Olympiad was a perfect ending to the senior class’ Science Club careers.

“It was a good way to wrap up the four years of hard work,” Gudlavalleti said. “This graduating class went through COVID with the club and so many other hardships and it’s cool to see us coming out with a bang.”

By Gemard Guery – Editor-In-Chief and Editorial Editor

Jonathan Law senior Moulika Sivalenka has officially been named Jonathan Law’s Class of 2024 Salutatorian.

Sivalenka will be attending Northeastern University and plans on majoring in Computer Science and Business Administration.

“It felt really good when I was announced Salutatorian because it felt like all the hard work paid off in the end and I was able to take a break for a minute,” Sivalenka said. “I’m really grateful for all the wishes and encouragement from my friends and family after it was announced. For a minute I felt like a campus celebrity and that was really cute.”

Sivalenka took 12 AP classes during her time at Jonathan Law while also juggling various other extracurricular activities.  

Some AP classes Sivalenka took were: United States Government and Politics, United States History, Computer Science Principles, Chemistry, English Language, and Calculus. She is currently taking English Literature, Statistics, Human Geography, Macroeconomics, and Psychology.

“Moulika is so deserving of this honor,” Computer Science teacher Ms. Corriveau said. “She is one of the most dedicated students I have ever had the honor of teaching – she’s not only dedicated to her studies, but she also always finds ways to build up her community, create lasting friendships, and live her life to the fullest. For the past four years she has been such a cheerleader for females in STEM courses and I’ve been so incredibly lucky to have her in my classes. To say that I’m going to miss her would be an understatement.”

Over the course of the past four years, Moulika has  served as President of NMHS, President of Keyettes, Co-President of Model UN, Vice President of Science Club, Treasurer of SNHS, Fall Stage Manager of the Drama Club, and Co-Captain of the girls tennis team at Law.

“Moulika is an incredible person who will have a positive impact on many lives when she leaves our school in June,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “I’m incredibly proud of her achievements and I look forward to her leadership when she goes out into the real world.”

In addition to being named Salutatorian, Sivalenka has earned many accolades while at Jonathan Law. She is a recipient of the Harvard Book Award, University of Rochester Award for Innovative and Information Technology, and was admitted to Northeastern’s honors college.

“I find it really admiring to see how she puts herself into everything she does from school to sports to her personal relationships,” junior Deepika Chitirala said. “She’s an incredibly reliable friend who you can always count on to support you.”

While Sivalenka has worked incredibly hard over the past few years in order to become Salutatorian, she still recognizes the importance of relaxation and taking care of yourself. Sivalenka encourages other students to remember to take a step back and prioritize sleep and mental health.

She is also so grateful to her loved ones for their support over the past few years. 

“I would like to thank my loved ones, especially my parents, who’ve been a constant motivation and continuously support me and push me to do my best! I couldn’t have done this without their love and support,” said Sivalenka.

By Kayla Markowitz – News Editor

The Class of 2024 Senior Prom will be held at Amarante’s Sea Cliff in New Haven on Saturday, May 11, with the theme of “Coastal Charm.”

All seniors are invited to spend the night with their classmates and peers while they look back on their memories from high school. 

“Every student should attend the Prom because it’s sort of a right of passage,” Principal Mr. Darcy said. “This is the one and only time that you’ll be able to have the experience of going to your high school Senior Prom, so you should make sure to attend.”

Students attending Prom will have opportunities to have fun with their friends, eat, and play games at Post Prom. 

“It’s going to be so much fun, especially if you’re a senior, this is your last ‘hurrah’ before you’re moving onto the next chapter in your life,” senior and Prom Committee member Ike Opayemi said. “You get to dress up, dance, eat amazing food, and have even more fun with FREE gifts and games at Post Prom.”

The committee has been working tirelessly to make sure everyone has an excellent Prom experience and an awesome way to celebrate their last senior moments. 

“The Prom committee has been meeting every Friday to pick a theme, centerpieces, and any other extras to really put everything together,” Senior Class Advisor Mrs. Francisco said. “They will also put together tables and count nominations before the big event.”

By Ella Franzman – Editor-In-Chief

Jonathan Law senior Natalie Morrell was recently named Valedictorian for the Class of 2024. 

Morrell will be attending Brown University and plans to major in Biochemistry with a focus in Molecular Biology. 

“I was overjoyed to find out I was valedictorian, as it was exciting to hear that my work over the past four years had paid off,” Morrell said. 

This marks the 10th consecutive year a female has been named Valedictorian at Jonathan Law.

“Natalie is a quiet, humble and an extremely hardworking student,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said.”She is a nationally recognized athlete, she has taken just about every AP course there is, and works extremely hard in everything that she does. Most importantly, Natalie is kind to all, she is a leader in our building and helps any student who needs it.”

Over Morrell’s time at Law she took 13 Advanced Placement (AP) classes: Government & Politics, Human Geography, Language & Composition, Statistics, Environmental Science, Biology, Calculus BC, US History, Computer Science Principles, Literature & Composition, Chemistry, 2-D Art and Design, and Psychology.

Morrell is also a four-year varsity and Academic National All-American member of the Law gymnastics team.

“My most memorable moment at Law was probably my first high school gymnastics season,” Morrell said. “I met so many of my friends through this and got to enjoy gymnastics in a different setting for the first time, all while pushing myself to improve in the sport and further enjoy it with friends.”

Over the past four years, Morrell has also been involved in numerous clubs, including Science Club, Crochet and Knit Club, Science National Honor Society, National Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, and National Art Honor Society. 

“Natalie is very easy to work with and coach. She has tremendous talent and knowledge of the sport,” head gymnastics coach Pat Simon said. “She is always ready to help other girls on the team with their routines. Natalie also set the school record for the balance beam with a 9.6, which will stand for many years.”

Outside of school Morrell works at a local bakery, Scratch Baking, and volunteers at the Milford Historical Society. 

“To balance school, sports, work, and social life, I maintained a consistent schedule and worked to keep as much free time as possible,” Morrell said. “I worked on getting my schoolwork done in an efficient and timely manner so that I could still spend a lot of time with friends, and I also enjoy all of the things I’m involved in, between work, school, and gymnastics, making it easier to devote so much time to these things.” 

In April of her junior year, Morrell was awarded the Yale-Seton Hall Book Award and was named a Rensselaer Medalist and an AP Scholar with Distinction. 

Mr. Koorejian, a science teacher at Law, had the pleasure of teaching Natalie her junior year for AP Biology and feels very fortunate to have educated one of Jonathan Law’s finest students. 

“In my 30 years of teaching I have never really known a student that has excelled/accomplished more both IN and OUTSIDE the classroom than Natalie. Her resume models excellence in academics, athletics, and community involvement,” Koorejian said. “ She has such a congenial personality, Natalie Morrell is the very rare student that goes clearly beyond that and exemplifies what a truly exceptional individual in our community has accomplished.” 

Morrell talked about how she’s learned a lot about managing her time and finding a balance, all while making new friends and trying to further her understanding of her interests of what she wants to pursue in college. 

“One of my most challenging moments was just sophomore year in general, which was the year after we stopped doing hybrid for COVID and we had to transition back to coming into school in person full time,” Morrell said. 

Morrell had taken on more responsibilities which included a more intense course load and a busier high school gymnastics season, she learned how to manage her time and balance her social, school and work life. 

By Gabriella Coffin – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law hosted the  annual Junior Cotillion on April 19 at Grassy Hill Country Club in Orange. 

This night was filled with dancing, singing, and delicious food. This event was prepared by the junior class officers and brought an exciting night with lots of fun. 

“Cotillion went extremely well,” Junior Class President Sarah Ahmed said. “Many people attended and the atmosphere and energy was great.”

In preparation for the Cotillion, the Class of 2025 officers first decided on a venue. Then the process of picking a theme, getting decorations, and selling tickets took place. 

“For preparation, our advisors booked the venue long before the school year started, picked out the food choices,” Ahmed said. “Juniors voted on a theme for the dance, chose decorations, and then sold the tickets.”

Over130 students attended the Cotillion this year.

“My favorite part of the night was dancing with all my friends, and seeing everyone else have a good time,” Ahmed said. “I honestly think it went amazing for what it was. I wouldn’t change a thing.” 

Junior Reilly Hungerford explained why Cotillon was so important to her. 

“I think it’s because it’s a night of fun and dancing,” Hungerford said.

By Cindy Bone – Staff Reporter

Culinary teacher Mrs. Ryan recently won a fellowship to visit Europe to educate herself on advanced baking techniques.

Ryan is excited to travel and to pass on her newfound knowledge to her students. 

“All my learning will be incorporated into the Bake Shop course taught here at Law,” Ryan said.

Ryan is excited for the many activities she will experience during her trip.

“I am so excited,” Ryan said. “There are other activities planned along the trip, such as learning about sourdough starters, seeing a geothermal bakery, where rye bread is baked underground using the steam from underground water heated by nearby volcanoes. I’ll also participate in discussions on the future of food at the Zurich Food Festival.” 

Ryan will be traveling to Switzerland, Denmark, and Iceland to improve her education on pastries. 

“The focus of my trip is to expand my knowledge of advanced baking, especially the creation of baked items where I lack experience,” Ryan said.

Not only will this be her first time traveling to explore baking topics to expand her knowledge, but it is also her first time winning a grant that will be able to pay for most of the expenses. 

“I applied for a grant through the Fund for Teachers organization, a philanthropic organization that supports teacher learning goals,” Ryan said.

Law’s Bake Shop class is a brand new course this year that many students have enjoyed. It was the first course at Law that specializes in pastries and baked goods.

By Brian Goglia and Alex Rodriguez – Staff Reporters

The Jonathan Law Key Club recently attended the New England District Conference in Springfield, Massachusetts.

At the convention there were workshops, awards, and a service project, which was food packaging for EndHungerNE. EndHungerNE’s mission is to provide safe water, food, medical care, and education to those in need, at home and abroad.

Junior Addy Barber, who was recently elected President of the Jonathan Law Key Club for the 2024-2025 school year, was a big part of this year’s convention.

“At this convention my role was a little more than usual,” Barber said. “I had to give workshops and present awards, so I learned a lot about speaking to a crowd and also about leadership in workshops I attended. The Keynote Speaker, Hoan Do, also gave a great speech and advice about perseverance.” 

The Key Club received several awards at the conference: Senior Attaina Tandon was named an Outstanding Vice President in the District, Law received a 3rd place award for monthly activity over the past year, a 1st place award for overall Yearly Achievement, and they were recognized with the Early Bird Award for turning  club dues in prior to the deadline.

They also maintained their Diamond Level Status in the New England District – the only club to receive this award.

“DECON is the big end of year celebration that has workshops, awards, and a different service project every year, which was food packaging for EndHungerNE,” Barber said.

Barber was excited to share the club’s work at the district level.

“This year, our club didn’t bring as many people as last year, but a lot of our officers were able to go and celebrate our hard work,” Barber said.

The Key Club is planning on doing many more fundraisers in the future and Barber is excited to be a part of them all.

“Although DECON is over, Key Club still meets weekly and has many fun service projects planned for next year,” Barber said. “Our main goal next year will be retaining membership through fun events like cupcake wars, pizza nights, donuts at meetings, and Key Clubber of the Month.”

By Sophie Kalagher – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s SAVE Promise Club organized activities this week for National Youth Violence Prevention Week.

National Youth Violence prevention week takes place from Monday, April 22, until Friday, April 26. SAVE Promise has teamed up with Law’s Courage Club to set up different activities and experiences for  Law students during this week of awareness.

“This week is youth violence prevention week so a big part of it is bringing awareness to what it is,” SAVE Promise Club Advisor Ms. Healy said.

The activities for the week were Mindful Monday, Statistic Tuesday, Panera Fundraiser Wednesday, Therapy Dog Thursday, and Law Family Friday. 

“The activities include the Milford Police department’s therapy dog Winston, bracelet making, statistics around the school and more,” sophomore club member Sarah McCann said.

For Statistics Tuesday, the club members tied ribbons to lockers to represent one in five teens who will experience gun violence and one in three teens who will be in abusive relationships before graduating high school. 

“Hanging up the ribbons was a very fun and eye opening experience,” freshman club member Emily Vella said. “I really loved how the statistic came to life.”

This week of events is also intended to really advertise the club and get the Jonathan Law community to understand the club and its mission. 

“We are hoping to bring awareness to the topic of youth violence and allow people to realize how many people it actually affects,” senior club officer Gianna Gagliardi said. “In addition, we would love for more people to join our club.” 

On Friday, both SAFE and the Courage Club wore shirts that support the Violence Prevention mission. 

“The shirts are very cute this year, and do a great job at capturing the idea of this week,” freshman club member Sadie Timmeny said.

Healy said she was excited to see the school community participate in the week’s activities.

“I’m excited to see everyone in pink and to see the visuals of the people who support,” said Healy.

By Charlotte Rascoll – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s annual Brain Bowl competition and fundraiser took place on April 12 and had the whole school participating.

The Brain Bowl is a trivia competition planned by members of the National Honor Society. Teams of four students from each grade compete in rounds, and whoever has the most points at the end of each round wins.

This year the club’s advisor is Mrs. Goldbeck. It is her first year as the advisor of the National Honors Society. 

“I cannot thank the NHS enough for making my first year as Advisor amazing,” Goldbeck said. “The officers shouldered much of the work to make this event and The Giving Tree so successful.”

Two of NHS’s officers are seniors Sara Moshirzadeh and Grace Hess. They were a big part in the preparations that led up to the Brain Bowl.

“I definitely think all the work that went into the Brain Bowl was worth it,” Moshirzadeh said. “As a school and community we were able to raise over $1,000 for The Cure Starts Now and at the end of the day it’s about the impact we can make on other people.”

Moshirdzadeh and senior Ike Opayemi were the hosts for the competition. 

“I really enjoyed hosting,” Moshirdzadeh said. “When I looked out into the audience I could see people whispering and guessing the answer with their friends, and it was nice to see everyone involved even if they had to keep their guess a secret.”

Behind the scenes of the Brain Bowl, club members needed to set up everything that was seen. This included the team tables, the buzzers, the decorations, and even the merch.

“Being involved in the Brain Bowl was a little bit stressful,” Hess said. “Between the questions itself and getting sponsors and everything that gets put into the Brain Bowl.”

The entire school has a lot of fun, even those who are just watching everything on stage unfold. 

“It was really exciting to be a part of the Brain Bowl this year,” junior member Lily Baird said. “Everyone working together is what made it such a success.”

Senior Helen Chizmazia was a part of the victorious senior Brain Bowl team. The seniors beat the juniors in the semifinals and then beat the faculty in the final round.

“I loved participating in the Brain Bowl,” Chizmazia said. “It was a lot of fun competing with my peers and supporting a good cause.”

During the final round of the Brain Bowl, the last standing grade competes against the faculty. The points are set back to how they were originally, and whoever ends with the most wins the entire competition.

“The Brain Bowl had positive results for the seniors,” Chizmazia said. “We had a strong start with 24 points which also means we raised $240 as a grade so that was pretty epic.”

By Fiorella Gargiulo – Staff Reporter 

Eight teams competed in a charity kickball tournament at Law’s softball field on April 10.

The annual kickball tournament was created last year by Key Club to raise money for Camp Sunshine a retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

“The Kickball Tournament is great because the proceeds go towards Camp Sunshine, which allows children with terminal illnesses to go to a camp that provides relief for both them and their families, free of charge,” Key Club President Maya Markowitz said. 

The event raised $400 this year and Key Club continued to raise awareness about Camp Sunshine.

“It is such a great fundraiser because, at the end of the day, it’s all about kids helping kids and how we here at Law realize the importance of this,” Key Club Advisor Mr. Boynton said. 

Other Key Club officers assisted with the scoreboard, collecting donations, taking pictures, and overall making the fundraiser run smoothly. 

“Attending the fundraiser and being able to experience such an entertaining and adrenaline-filled environment was so great, and being able to capture that feeling through taking pictures was even better,” Bulletin Editor Harhsitha Kothapalli said. 

The tournament consisted of a single-elimination bracket, and many staff members helped umpire, pitch, and even play. 

“The primary reason that this tournament runs so smoothly is because of Mr. Boynton and the Key Club officers taking control of the event,” Dean of Students Mr. Ragiani said. “Also, our Law teachers and custodians are always willing to do whatever it takes to assist our students.”

Teams had to include at least one Law student or staff member, so the fundraiser expanded past Law and had many new players join. 

“Something that makes this fundraiser enjoyable is being able to play and compete with my friends,” kickball participant and Law junior Natalia Michnik said.

Participants and teams played at least one game, and ultimately, the Grazers got the win for the second year and remain undefeated.

“The most enjoyable part of the fundraiser is winning every time and having a great time with my friends,” kickball participant and Law junior Cameron Upchurch said.

By Addy Barber – Staff Reporter 

Members of Jonathan Law’s Class of 2024 are eagerly awaiting the start of their senior internships.

Students are offered a unique internship experience in the last few weeks of their senior year, which allows them to get real work experience as an intern in their chosen field of interest instead of attending school and taking finals.

Senior Maddy Gaillard plans to major in Psychology at Endicott College, and is doing her internship at the Milford Prevention Council.

“In my internship I will be working mainly in the psychology field,” Gaillard said. “I expect to be learning about mental health in young adults and information about brain development.”

Having an internship will help prepare students for life beyond high school, and having to make their own schedules.

“I think that this is going to be a huge opportunity for seniors doing internships,” senior Tanner Matchett said. “It gives us a peek at what post college life will look like and what to expect as far as time management and a job of interest.”

College and Career Coordinator Ms. Sylvia has been assisting students in finding internships all year.

“(History teacher) Ms. Burns and I meet with each interested student one-on-one to discuss the details of the program, and talk about areas of interest,” Sylvia said. “We will brainstorm with the students, but the students take on the process of researching and reaching out to potential internship sites on their own.”

Senior Ashley Borecki has taken the virtual route for her internship.

“I’m doing my internship remotely with Coretta Martin through her startup IEP&ME,” Borecki said. “For my internship, I will be facilitating a panel discussion on a topic of my choosing in regards to some aspect of her startup.”

Senior Caden Simpson wanted to learn more about an office setting and what her day-to-day might look like, so she is doing her internship with the CIA.

“I expect to be working with cases and doing paperwork,” Simpson said. “I am hoping to learn how an office operates and how to prepare for a real job in the future.”

Matchett is doing his internship with the Chief of Staff at Milford City Hall.

“I got into this internship because I am close with the City Attorney in Milford and he was able to set this up for me which I am so grateful for,” Matchett said.

Senior Gianna Gagliardi is pursuing a nursing degree at Nova Southeastern University and is doing her internship with a general medicine doctors office in Branford. Gagliardi has also taken CNA this past year, which gave her a glimpse of what she might be doing before her internship even starts.

“I think that this internship will prepare me immensely for post grad life, it will give me more experience before I start my clinicals and internships at university for my nursing degree,” Gagliardi said.

Law seniors are excited to gain some real world experience before they wrap up their highschool careers.

“I’m super excited,” Borecki said.

By Taylor Batterton- Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s Choir class traveled to the Big Apple on April 10 to see the Broadway smash “Hamilton.” 

The Choir worked hard all year long in order to earn the privilege of attending the annual trip to New York City. Every year they cooperate with a company who specializes in organizing these opportunities. 

“In comparison to previous trips, this year’s visit left a lasting impression due to increased engagement and overall enjoyment,” senior Emily Avila Castro said. 

“Hamilton” is best known for its innovative use of rap to address moments in history with an emphasis on dance technique. There are several eye opening and stunning moments that the audience can enjoy throughout the show. 

“My favorite part of ‘Hamilton’ was when the Schuyler sisters were introduced,” junior Brayden Dollar said. “I think their voices blend so amazingly and the outfits were just so perfect.”

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the Choir members. It was also a good way for freshman to get involved in Choir. 

“I’ve barely experienced anything like that and it was one of the most eye opening experiences I’ve ever had,” freshman Lexi Localzo said.

On top of watching the performance of “Hamilton,” students attended a workshop with members of the “Hamilton” cast and crew.

“These always include a workshop that is held at Sony Music Hall where students from many high schools combine and perform a piece, are led in a rehearsal and guidance to improve by music directors of the Broadway show and then engage in either choreography or some other performance task by members of different Broadway shows,” Choir Director Ms. Jones said.

Many of the students used this opportunity to get a feel for Broadway, including the dancing, singing, choreography, and acting. 

“We did a Broadway workshop with the composer of ‘Hamilton and a professional beatboxer, we performed a medley of Hamilton songs and learned a bunch of tricks on how to improve our singing,” senior Faith Santiago said. “Then a few of the current cast of ‘Hamilton’ came out and performed some songs, then there was a Q&A with everyone in the workshop.”

In previous years, the choir has gone to see “Waitress,” “Wicked,” and unfortunately due to COVID they weren’t able to see “Dear Evan Hansen.” Plans for next year is already circulating. 

“There is a possibility that we may see ‘Lion King’ next year which would be really incredible,” Jones said. 

By Haley Stroffolino – Social Media Editor

The Class of 2025 Junior Cotillion will be held on Friday, April 19.

Cotillion will be held at Grassy Hill Country Club from 6:30-10:30 p.m. The tickets are priced at $73 each and this this year’s theme is the Mid-Summer Solstice. 

Junior Class Advisors Ms. Loch and Ms. Burns, along with the junior class officers, have been working hard to plan this event.

Law Principal Mr. Darcy said that months of planning went into making this night amazing.

“The Junior Cotillion is something we do every year,” Darcy said. “Students should expect good food, dancing, laughing and just an overall good time to have with your classmates. It’s a fun event each year that everyone enjoys.”

Junior Ella Franzman, one of the three class Senators, helped in the planning of Cotillion.

“I hope a lot of students will attend Cotillion because it’s a great time to connect with each other and have a great time together,” Franzman said. “I’m really excited to see all of our hard work that we put into planning pay off.”

Junior Class President Sarah Ahmed hope that students attending Cotillion make lasting memories.

“I’m most excited to see everyone in the grade come together for a fun time,” Ahmed said. “It’s an opportunity to hang out with friends and make some high school memories.”

One of the main attractions at Cotillion will be the photo booth.

“We are having the same motion camera booth from Homecoming which will be very exciting for students to use,” Junior Class Treasurer Julia Ryan said. 

By Gemard Guery – Editor-In-Chief and Editorial Editor

Jonathan Law’s Bake Shop class recently participated in a Cake Wars competition. 

Students in the class were able to bake cakes for a panel of teachers to judge and vote on which cake won. 

The competition, run by Mrs. Ryan, came after Bake Shop  students wanted a more competitive aspect to their class.

“In the Advanced Culinary classes, we have one or two competitions each semester,” Ryan said. “Students in the Bake Shop classes wanted this component added to their class as well.”

The competition serves as a fun way for students to better apply concepts learned in the class. At the same time, students are given complete creative control over what cakes they want to bake and how it can look. It was a challenge that allows students to take their baking talents to the next level.

“I love to bake as a side hobby,” senior Bake Shop student Kayla Nastasia said. “So, the Bake Shop class was a fun class for me to experiment and learn more about baking.”

Students could testify that the competition served as a phenomenal learning experience. They were forced to plan out their cakes and manage their time efficiently in order to ensure cakes were ready for the judges.

“Being able to learn how to put the pieces together and how it all comes together was cool and a good learning experience,” senior Kaitlyn Goldberg said.

The students were also joined by special guests during the semester who could share their expertise with the students. The class then utilized these skills in the creation of their cakes.

“My decorating skills could use some improving, so I have asked others to give demos on decorating before the competition,” Ryan said. “A former Law student who is now at the Culinary Institute of America, and Stanley Hair, a MPS employee with a successful side hustle in baking have accommodated us each semester. I become the student when I watch their demos.”

While the competition was fierce, the winners were Nastasia and Goldberg who made a vanilla cake with raspberry filling and pink frosting. The judges loved their cake as well as some lucky students who were given the opportunity to try it.

“After the cakes were judged, we were able to take them home so I split it with my partner and shared the cake around with my friends at lunch,” Nastasia said. “I personally love to share I made with people to try and they really liked the cake.”

By Kayla Markowitz and Addy Barber – Advocate Editors

The Jonathan Law music department packed its bags and flew to New Orleans, Louisiana, from March 22-26.

Students participating in Choir, Band, Orchestra, had the once in a lifetime opportunity to visit New Orleans, a city best known for their live music, historic landmarks, and exciting atmosphere, with their musically inclined peers. 

“The trip impacted my life in the way that it was a very new experience for me as I’ve never been to New Orleans before,” senior Oliver Harrigan said. “New Orleans was different from anywhere else that I’ve been and the culture was so unique and powerful.”

Not only was this trip a fun break from the daily rehearsals, it was also a chance to learn outside of the classroom. Choir Director Ms. Jones and Band Director Mr. Pelaggi were excited to immerse students into new cultures, new sights, and most importantly, great musicians. 

“It has been researched that individuals learn better through hands-on experiences and being immersed in their learning,” Jones said. “This is an opportunity for that all while having fun with their friends.”

Students in Orchestra and Band were also given the opportunity to improve their talents, and learn about rich history and experience invaluable lessons about the history of music. 

“Some of my favorite experiences from the trip was the master class at Loyola University, where a professor helped the Orchestra and Band improve our combined pieces for our upcoming Spring Concert on April 23rd,” senior Isabelle Maselli said. “Also learning about the history of Preservation Hall, a historic music venue in the French Quarter, and they preserve the music through these concerts.”

Students couldn’t choose just one part of the trip they loved most. They truly enjoyed the whole experience. 

“My favorite part was the whole trip to be honest,” senior Hailey Russo said. “Seeing all the live music and the soul they put into their performance is just amazing, and being able to hear the history behind New Orleans and learn so much about one place was such a great experience.”

Although students couldn’t choose just one part of the trip they loved most, Jones had no problem highlighting her favorite part of the trip.

“My favorite part was watching the students be fully engaged, interactive, positive and respectful in so many new experiences,” Jones said. “To know that so many have never traveled, flown on a plane or been in another state before and now we’re surrounded by incredible musicians everywhere and steeped in the culture of New Orleans was something I will never forget or take for granted.”

The trip was designed to help students experience music in new environments and is highly recommended for underclassmen because it brings them out of their comfort zone and helps them experience new adventures. 

“I would recommend students traveling to New Orleans in the future to appreciate how different and beautiful their culture is,” Pelaggi said. “Our students were able to experience music, food, and culture that they cannot get in our part of the country.”

By Ava Vercellone – Staff Reporter 

The Natural Helpers Club recently held its annual cookie decorating event.

The main goal for this event each year is to decorate cookies and for students to have fun and to interact with their peers.

“This event was a success because it brought a bunch of people together to have fun and decorate cookies,” sophomore Molly Lynch said. “It was great to see kids engage with each other who don’t normally talk to each other daily.” 

The Natural Helpers welcomed students to the event and held a small cookie decorating competition.

“We decided to do the cookie decorating as a fun way to get everyone together,” sophomore Charlotte Baldieri said.

The event was held in the senior cafeteria and the winners of the competition each got a gift card to Dunkin’ Donuts. 

“Although we had a little smaller crowd than we did last year, it was still fun,” sophomore Gabby Coffin said. “We had a great time.”