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

Two Jonathan Law students recently earned a prestigious award.

Senior JT Nelly and junior Matthew Berendt were named Eagle Scouts for their achievements within Boy Scouts.

In order to become an Eagle Scout, which is the highest distinction in scouting, students must earn at least 21 total merit badges, and serve at least six months in a youth troop leadership position. They must also be active in a troop for six months, complete a board review, participate in a Scoutmaster’s Conference, and demonstrate scout spirit.

The scouts also had to complete a service project in order to receive the distinction. 

Nelly’s project was landscaping the Plymouth building affiliated with the First United Church of Christ. He re-mulched the area, dug out and planted new bushes and flowers, sanded and repainted the railings, and trimmed the hedges. 

Berendt’s project was reroofing and painting the baseball dugouts at Wasson Field. He fundraised, got materials donated, and organized volunteers to execute the project. 

Both students have set their eyes on becoming an Eagle scout for years. They both have been a part of Boys Scouts for years with anticipation of someday becoming an Eagle Scout.

“It took me five years – I started when I was 12 when I finished Cub Scouts,” Nelly said. “I continued to work towards my Eagle Scout because I believe the knowledge I learned and retained on the way will be helpful for serving and helping others throughout the rest of my lifetime.”

As part of receiving the honor, scouts must earn badges through exhibiting proficiency in specific life and outdoor skills. The scouts are all led by their scoutmaster who guides them through their scouting journeys.

Scoutmasters are able to watch and aid in helping the boys succeed in scouting. Scoutmaster Mark Krom serves as scoutmaster for both Nelly and Berendt. 

Krom is a former Eagle Scout who’s served as a scoutmaster for over 40 years. He leads Troop 1 which has over 50 Boy Scouts.

“My favorite part is watching a shy young boy come into our troop as a new scout and watch him grow over the 8-19 years to become a fine young man,” said Krom. “I am very proud of all my scouts.”

While Eagle Scouts is an amazing accomplishment, both Nelly and Berendt can agree that being a scout comes with so many additional benefits.

“I became involved in a Robotics Club and was introduced to cross country by fellow scouts in my troop,” Berendt said. “The friendships I have made in scouting have exposed me to hobbies and interests that I never would have discovered otherwise.”

By Gabriella Coffin – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Social Studies Honor Society, also known as Rho Kappa, held its first ever induction ceremony on February 26.

There were over 35 inductees that attended the ceremony which was held in the evening in the senior cafe. 

“The event was very exciting,” History teacher and Rho Kappa Advisor Mr. Zuraw said. “It was the first time we have ever had a Social Studies Honor Society so I was very happy to see that we had so many students interested and able to meet the requirements to be admitted into Rho Kappa.”

The induction ceremony was conducted according to guidelines that were put forth by Rho Kappa.

“The induction was well-organized and smoothly executed,” Rho Kappa president Raymond Dong said. “Each new member received a certificate and was warmly welcomed into the Rho Kappa Honor Society.”

History teacher Ms. Healy gave the keynote speech and several Rho Kappa officers also made remarks

“We had a guest speaker, ceremonial candle-lighting, and speeches given by our officers,” Zuraw said. “It was a very nice event that went very smoothly.”

Meetings for Rho Kappa are normally held twice a month and are organized by the club officers.

“We are trying to meet once or twice a month and usually our president puts together an agenda of what we are discussing, such as what fundraisers we want to do or what events we want to hold,” Zuraw said.

To apply for Rho Kappa, students needed to have completed two core social studies courses, have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0, and have participated in activities that demonstrate civic engagement in their school or community.

Some upcoming events for Rho Kappa may include volunteering and other fundraising opportunities around school.

“Some upcoming events would be volunteering opportunities and opportunities for our members to get involved in civic engagement,” Dong said. 

By Cindy Bone – Staff Reporter

The Spanish Club had a major success with their recent service project – the Pulsera Project. 

The Pulsera Project was a bracelet sale held by the Spanish club from January 29 to February 12 to help support the nonprofit organization. The Pulsera Project is a nonprofit organization that educates, empowers, and connects Central American artists with students in more than 3,600 U.S. schools through the sale of colorful hand woven bracelets, or “pulseras,” in Spanish.

“Overall, the Pulsera Project was a massive success,” senior President Raymond Dong said. “The Spanish Club has fundraised a total of over $300 to support the nonprofit organization.” 

The Spanish Club had many eager members participate in the bracelet sale. There were many volunteers taking shifts to sell bracelets during lunch and promote the bracelet sale around the school.

“It was great to volunteer,” sophomore Gleidson De Souza said. “Getting to work alongside people and doing something good for the club just felt great.” 

The Pulsera Project was also a way to promote the Spanish Club throughout the school and help a good cause in the end.

“I loved being part of The Pulsera Project,” Spanish Club Advisor Mrs. Trombetta said. “My favorite part was seeing students work together to promote sales and educate their peers about the purpose of the project. It made our club more visible in the school.” 

Not only did the Pulsera Project help the organization, but it also helped some of the students get volunteers to do something they liked with their friends.

“I really liked volunteering with my friends cause we enjoyed our time while being able to get volunteer hours doing something good,” sophomore Aarush Katyal said.

The club wanted to do a service project to help show their club around the school and to help communities as well. 

“(Co-Advisor) Mr. McPartland had mentioned doing a service project as a club, and I suggested the idea of The Pulsera Project because I remember doing the same project at Harborside Middle School many years ago,” Trombetta said. 

Many people in school bought bracelets for their friends and family to help show their support for the cause. Each bracelet sold cost $5 and bags of bracelets cost $15. 

There were a variety of colors and bracelets and each item sold would help benefit the artists that created the hand woven bracelets. 

“The club decided to do this project to help support artisans in Central America,” Dong said.

By Ella Franzman – Editor-In-Chief

Freshman Selena Batres and Amilio Venditti were named February Athletes of the month by the Jonathan Law Athletics Department. 

Both placed at states with Batres winning her weight class. She is the first ever female wrestler from Law to win states and make it to New Englands. 

“I feel good about being Athlete of the Month,” Batres said. “I think someone who puts in the work, sees the outcome and also always has good sportsmanship, is worthy of athlete of the month.”

Batres said that she decided to join the team because she loves the sport and has been doin it her whole life. 

“Selena is a freshman that is a very determined competitor and works very hard in wrestling,” Assistant Coach Mr. Ruzbarsky said. “She is the first ever girl wrestler to go all state in the girls state tournament in our schools history as well as first ever girl to place in the Girls New England Championships and has amassed over 30 wins this season.”

Venditti also placed at states, coming in fourth at the Class M tournament. 

“Besides wrestling, at Law, I play soccer year-round for a team called Beachside of Connecticut, which we are in one of the hardest leagues in the country,” Venditti said. 

Venditti said he decided to join wrestling because he wanted to stay in shape and leave a lasting impact at Jonathan Law. 

“I feel happy and honored to be recognized for my achievements because I put so much effort throughout the season that I am glad to see it was recognized,” Venditti said. 

“Amilio is a very hardworking and determined athlete,” Ruzbarsky said. “He is only a freshman that never wrestled before and placed in the class M tournament at a difficult weight class and had over 20 wins individually this season.”

The wrestling team looks to have a bright future for a few seasons to come and is looking forward to getting back on the mats next year. 

By Quinn Willett – Social Media Editor 

Jonathan Law would not be the same without its group of dedicated, hard-working paraeducators. 

Law’s paraeducators take on many different roles and responsibilities on an daily basis. The group includes Mr. Boynton, Mr. Belade, Mr. Greenbaum, Ms. Leonard, Ms. Bourque, Mrs. Powers, Ms. Bartolomeo, Ms. Bencivengo, Mrs. Carolla, Mrs. Brennan, Ms. Brown, Ms. Fuentes, Mrs. Garnett, Mrs. Knoth, Mrs. Michels, Mr. Murphy, Mr. O’Reilly, Mrs. Pastick, and Mrs. White – all of whom lend a hand to Law’s special education students.

Powers is one of Law’s one-on-one paraeducators.

“I am a one-to-one paraeducator with one student under my care,” Powers said. “My day begins by driving to her home and riding the bus to school with her. She begins her day in a classroom with other students and she loves interacting with and learning with them. On most days we leave this classroom to go out into the community with a different set of students.”

Powers is not just a paraeducator at Law. She is also a friend and role model to so many of her students. 

This is Powers’ sixth year at Jonathan Law. She is one of the many paras at Law that contribute to making the community a more positive place.

“I am always so happy to see the kindness and respect that each group shows to the other,” Powers said. “In a perfect world we would all get along but here at Law I feel we do.” 

Michels, has also worked at Law for six years. She starts her day by greeting all the students she works with in the ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Life Skills Program. 

“Law is a special place to work,” Michels said. “You feel like family when you’re here. The special education teachers and paraeducators all work together to make our students successful. We celebrate all accomplishments big and small. It’s simply the best.”

Leonard has been a paraeducator at Law for four years and said she loves the teachers and students she works with everyday.

“I enjoy working at Law very much,” Leonard said. “The best thing about working at Law is being supported 100% by the special education teachers. These wonderful teachers run classrooms with many levels of learning abilities and needs yet still find time to let us know how much they appreciate the work the paraeducators in their programs do. It’s a great feeling when your work is appreciated.”

By Maya Markowitz – Social Media Editor

Members of Law’s Future Business Leaders of America Club got the opportunity to visit the New York Federal Reserve on February 22. 

Students spent the entire day in New York City, accompanied by Business teachers and FBLA Club advisors Mr. Beler and Mrs. Israelite. They got the opportunity to take a tour of the Federal Reserve and learn about how it works.

“The goal of the trip was to see one of the federal government’s institutions and see how it operates and see billions in gold,” Beler said. “The students received a tour of the vaults and participated in a scavenger hunt.”

The Federal Reserve is home to 507,000 gold bars, equating to billions of dollars in value. These are stored in the basement of the Federal Reserve, which are only seen on a request-only basis, usually limited to only those in certain counties of the United States. 

“I love to give students the opportunity to learn more about business and the economy in an interactive way,” Israelite said. “We were able to see billions of dollars worth of gold in the vaults. In addition, students were able to see the Statue of Liberty, the New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street Bull, and more.“

Students were able to ask questions and engage with global economies which is relevant to the work that they do in FBLA. 

“I learned about how the Federal Reserve was very important to the United States but also very important to other countries,” sophomore Alani Velez said. 

At the end of the trip, students were able to take part in different activities in the city including sightseeing and other leisurely activities. 

“My favorite part of the trip was renting and riding bikes around the city with friends while we waited for the train home,” junior Christian Galligan said. 

One of the highlights of the trip for some was seeing the Statue of Liberty. 

“I was really excited to see the Statue of Liberty because I’ve never seen it before,” senior Hailey Russo said. “The trip was such a good experience.”

By Charlotte Rascoll – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s annual Brain Bowl is rapidly approaching and members of the National Honor Society are working hard to make it perfect.

Preparing for the Brain Bowl includes more work than people are able to see. Members of NHS meet after school every Thursday, and for the past month and a half, have been working hard to prepare for the event.

NHS Advisor Mrs. Goldbeck said there are many steps that must be taken for a successful Brain Bowl to occur.

“All of the members are working on committees to bring the Brain Bowl to fruition,” Goldbeck said. “The committees include advertising, question creation, video creation, and logo design.”

Certain steps are taken in order to have a successful Brain Bowl this year, including establishing a timeline for certain tasks to be finished.

“I am sure as the date closes in, we will all be feeling the pressure,” Goldbeck said.

The members have been doing their best this year keeping up with preparations and getting them done.

“I think that we’re doing really well in terms of preparation,” senior Sara Moshirzadeh said. “ I think the group of kids who stepped up this year have also been really important, we got the questions done pretty quickly, and the video was done wonderfully.”

This year the theme of the Brain Bowl is “The Hunger Games.”

“A lot of people are liking the theme this year and I think it’s what’s getting people to work more behind the scenes or even take the preliminary test,” Moshirzadeh said.

Donations made for the Brain Bowl go to brain cancer Research. Students are encouraged to donate in order to help their team gain points.

 “What I enjoy about preparing for the Brain Bowl is that we are making a fun event for the school community and raising money for a good cause in brain cancer research,” senior member Chris Deprofio said. “Overall, this is a great event that everyone in the school enjoys, and it also helps us contribute to helping find a cure for brain cancer.”

Members of NHS are challenged to come up with ideas and get creative while prepping. 

“I enjoy all the advertisement things,” junior member Olivia Pisacane said. “Making the posters and creating ideas is so fun.”

By Layla Alogna & Avery Moulton – Staff Reporters

Jonathan Law’s SAVE Promise Club celebrated Say Something Week with a series of activities from March 4-8.

Say Something Week aims to teach the warning signs of when someone might be struggling or need help and encourages people to be upstanders instead of bystanders. The club organized different activities and spirit days to raise awareness.

“Say Something Week is hosted by SAVE Promise to teach people the signs of someone in danger of harming themselves or others and being an upstander by telling a trusted adult,” SAVE Promise Club Advisor Ms. Healy said. “Our club is participating in this week in a few different ways with all the activities we’ve been hosting this week.”

Healy and the officers put in weeks of work to organize Say Something Week. They advertised on The Morning Briefing every day and posted information about it on their social media accounts.

“For Say Something Week, the other officers and I helped develop the week’s activities,” senior Officer Natalia Gagliardi said. “We try to come up with fun activities to invoke learning about how to speak up and take care of yourself.”

Each day this week was either a spirit day or an engaging activity to capture people’s attention and spread awareness.

“For Say Something Week, we planned activities every day with the purpose of spreading awareness,” senior Co-President Maya Markowitz said. “Some of the days that we had this week were Self-care Monday, where students wore pajamas to kick off the week, and Trusted Adult/Therapy Dog Thursday, where we handed out ‘trusted adult certificates’ and had Therapy Dog Winston visit our school.”

The steps of the Say Something program are recognizing the warning signs, saying something to a trusted adult, and building up a community of upstanders to look out for each other. PJ Day encouraged comfort in the Law community and Trusted Adult Thursday made students aware of the authoritative figures in the building they could talk to if they ever needed it.

“Staff and students were encouraged to wear their PJs because self-care should be comfortable,” Healy said. “On Tuesday we had a friendship bracelet station in the TLC to encourage people to get together and talk to each other.”

Members of the club appreciate Say Something Week because it makes students feel more comfortable and welcomed by the community around them.

“Say Something Week to me is really important because it allows students to realize and understand that there is a whole community of people and trusted adults that are ready and available to listen to you,” sophomore Harshitha Kothapalli said. “It teaches skills to students and faculty about being able to speak up in a judgment-free zone. This week brings up so much awareness to such a sensitive topic, so it’s really important that it’s talked about.”

By Fiorella Gargiulo – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Class of 2026 held its Sophomore Ring Banquet at Race Brook Country Club on March 1.

The Ring Banquet was held from 6-9 p.m. and was catered by the country club. A total of 95 students and additional guests attended the event. 

“A class ring is something you will have for the rest of your life,” Law Principal Bryan Darcy said. “It is something that you can look at as you get older and remember your times in high school with the students you experienced those events with.”

The Class of 2026 Student Council – President Layla Alogna, Vice President Aryan Sikinham, Treasurer Ben White, Secretary Nadia Nuzzo, and Senators Harshitha Kothapalli and Yeiden Nieves – had many council meetings and smaller fundraisers to make sure the Sophomore Ring Banquet was a hit.  

“The Student Council had to make sure everything was booked and that word got out to the sophomores about the dance and all of the details,” Alogna said. “What is most important is the Student Council’s passion and motivation to get the dance going.”

Having a Sophomore Ring Banquet allows the class to fundraise for future events, like the Junior Cotillion and Senior Prom. It is also en event for sophomores to look forward to in the spring.  

“Ring is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for sophomores because many people go to it, so it was a big deal to make sure that we fundraise as much as we could,” Sikinham said. 

Besides the work behind the banquet, the three hours were filled with dancing, eating, and taking many pictures with friends. Law Spanish teacher Mr. Rodriguez was the DJ for the night and helped the students unwind.  

“Throughout the duration of the event, the dance floor was always full,” Kothapalli said. “The food and venue upheld a certain level of excellence while also being able to cater to high schoolers.”

Some teachers and faculty from Law also attended the event. Many were there not only to chaperone but also to support their students.

“I really enjoyed chaperoning the beginning of the dance,” Health and Safety teacher Mr. Maurutis said. “It was great to see my students outside of our normal school day, dressing up, dancing, and having a great time.”

By Sophie Kalagher – Staff Reporter

A group of Jonathan Law student-athletes took a trip to Mathewson Elementary on March 1 where they helped with the school’s Read Across America Day celebration. 

Thirty-five Law athletes, along with a group of students from Foran High School, spent their morning reading to young learners in different grades. They got to travel around the school to different classrooms and build connections with young readers. 

“The Law student athletes who went did an amazing job interacting with the students, engaging in reciprocal conversations, and motivating the young learners to do their best in school,” Special Education teacher Mrs. Drew said.

The event was organized with Mrs. Jaggers, a first grade teacher at Mathewson. The goal was to give the young students role models and people to look up to. 

“I remember when I was in elementary I was so excited for the ‘big kids to come and read to me,” said freshman Nikhil Misra, a former Mathewson student. “It felt nice to be able to give them the same feeling.” 

Many of the Law students in attendance were Mathewson graduates. On the trip, they were also able to connect with their old teachers and feel like an elementary student again. 

“Revisiting all the teachers, it was awesome seeing all of their reactions and sharing past memories,” said freshman Anthony Scappatura, a Mathewson graduate.

Everyone enjoyed themselves – both students and teachers. It was an experience that the Law and Mathewson students won’t forget. 

“You could tell everyone enjoyed it and it was special for the teachers to see their old students,” junior Chloe Konereski said.

In the future, Drew is hoping to keep this event an annual trip and potentially take more students. Many students plan on attending again because of how successful the trip was this year. 

“I would like to attend next year and see more students and teachers,” freshman Madi Black said. 

By Addy Barber and Julia Ryan – Staff Reporters

The Jonathan Law Key Club is hard at work preparing for this years District Conference (DECON) where they hope to win multiple awards to match their winning record from last year’s convention.

The officers of Key Club used what they learned at last year’s convention workshops to lead the club through another successful service year.

“Last year we took home a lot of awards as a club, including 1st place in the Non-Digital Poster, Annual Achievement, and Monthly Reports, and 3rd place in Traditional Scrapbook and the Oratory Contest,” senior Key Club President Maya Markowitz said. “We have been working hard again this year so I am hoping to bring home even more.”

To ensure all of these contests are done before convention, the club has divided into committees during their weekly meetings.

“The club has been constantly preparing for DECON by working on committee projects such as scrapbook, oratory, and digital/non digital posters,” sophomore Bulletin Editor Harshitha Kothapalli said.

Club members are excited to attend the convention and to see how well the club places in each contest. 

“I’m looking forward to DECON because it’s a really good opportunity to get involved with other Key Club members from other schools and also a chance to have fun with club members from Law,” sophomore Kayla Markowitz said.

Key Club Advisor Mr. Boynton has attended DECON many times and loves seeing what other clubs are up to.

“I love opening ceremonies and seeing all the great things the Key Clubbers in New England have accomplished throughout the year,” Boynton said.

The club is looking forward to showcasing all of the hard work and service to their community they’ve done throughout the year.

“Every week in meetings we continue working on our year-long service projects,” Maya Markowitz said. “Members are constantly volunteering and gaining more experience in preparation for the conference.”

This year’s board of officers not only includes traditional club officer positions but also has the 2023-2024 Lieutenant Governor. The club’s Bulletin Editor will be taking on this position next year and is excited to meet the rest of the 2024-2025 District Board at DECON.

“Something I’m looking forward to the most is being sworn in and trained to be the new Lieutenant Governor of Division 20,” Kothapalli said. “It’s a chance for me to meet the rest of the new LTGs and to build the future of our division.”

By Kayla Markowitz and Harshitha Kothapalli – News Editors 

Jonathan Law’s Black Student Union recently hosted a series of events to highlight Black History Month.

In February, the BSU held a student panel at a faculty professional development session to share Black experiences, a book talk on The Morning Briefing to promote black authors, and an Advisory activity that taught students about Black culture. 

“The BSU made these activities for Black History Month in order to educate the school on Black history that’s mostly unknown in our school,” senior Ikeoluwatomiwa Opayemi said. 

The club put together a panel of students to share out different experiences in hopes that they could work with staff members and have an honest conversation about diversity.

“I think it’s important for schools to participate in these activities because it gives them a chance to educate themselves and see how life is for people different than them, and can also give them a chance to self-reflect on moments where they may have said or done something offensive and ignorant,” senior Sarah Ahmed said. 

Faculty attending the student panel learned insightful ways to make sure they make every student at Law feel welcomed and accepted.

“I learned that students always prefer that they feel like they are heard and that racism in the classroom gets addressed,” English teacher Ms. Kelly said. “Additionally, I learned that being an adult does not mean you know everything, and all of our gaps about Black culture is our own issue, and I need to educate myself accordingly.”

Other than the panel, the club also came up with other fun activities for students to participate in throughout the month. 

Specifically with our advisory activity, students are able to ask each other questions and come together in order to ultimately win the prize,” Co-President of BSU Senior Gemard Geury said. “I believe our activities serve as a fun way to just learn more and can even contribute to an advisory community.”

The BSU allows Law to recognize Black culture and creates an accepting community that empowers and encourages students to celebrate their backgrounds.

“It’s important for schools to participate in BHM activities because it’s important to Black stories to be visible, especially where they can be silenced,” Opayemi said.

By Taylor Batterton – Staff Reporter

The Friends Forever Club meets once a month to make crafts, play games, and connect students throughout Jonathan Law.

The next meeting will be on March 12 from 2-3:15 p.m.. The meeting will have a Saint Patrick’s Day-themed craft, an activity, and a snack.

The Friends Forever Club stems from an international mission known as Best Buddies. Best Buddies consists of student peers and volunteers that create opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

“My favorite part is being able to help create bonds and achieve goals with different people, whether we are making crafts or playing games,” junior club member Tucker Donegan said.  

Friends Forever used to be held combined with Foran High School and meetings used to be at Foran. Now Jonathan Law has their own club that began in September and meets once a month.  

The club is especially excited for its upcoming meeting because the February meeting was canceled due to snow.

“For the February meeting we were teaming up with the Natural Helpers Club,” Friends Forever Co-Advisor Mrs. Blude said. “It was going to be a Valentine’s Day activity, cookie decorating, and a scavenger hunt, but due to the snow, the meeting was canceled.”

The club usually makes a themed art project, participates in an activity, and has a snack. 

“The last meeting, in January, we had cupcakes and did painting on canvases,” Friends Forever Co-Advisor Mrs. Michaels said. “The craft that we did was a picture frame, they try to do different things.”

Friends Forever is always looking for new members.

“I enjoy and recommend the program because it’s a fun experience and I leave feeling like I did something to help my school community,” Donegan said. “It is something that benefits everyone involved and is a great way to be involved with the Law community.”

The Friends Forever club also participates in Unified Sports which began in February. Practices are at Jonathan Law right after school. The club participates in basketball, wiffle ball, track, and soccer tournaments with neighboring towns. 

Friends Forever also has an egg hunt and cornhole tournament at Bunnell High School planned for after school on March 27. 

There is also a Unified Prom scheduled for  May. 

“The Unified Prom is usually held at Foran, but it is at Jonathan Law this year,” Blude said. “We need as many peer helpers as possible to come and volunteer, but it’s a great night there’s dancing and we all have so much fun.”

By Zack Sulkis – Social Media Editor-In-Chief

In the Jonathan Law school counseling wing, Ms. Stofko works daily to keep students and staff organized.

As an Administrative Assistant for the school counseling department, Stofko’s work changes virtually every month because her position is so vast.

“The best part of the job is that the tasks change each month – it’s never boring,” Stofko. said “One month, I’m sending college materials, another collecting AP payments,  or preparing materials for an evening event, and celebrating with students when they receive college acceptances.”

Stofko supports Law’s five school counselors and also works regularly with College & Career Coordinator Ms. Sylvia and Administrative Assistant Ms. Fameli.

“I support five counselors and I also work closely with Ms. Sylvia and Ms. Fameli,” Stofko said. “Together we keep the department working smoothly and provide a welcoming atmosphere.”

Stofko has been in her current role for nine years and been at Law for four of those years.

“My day starts at 7:00 a.m. greeting students and visitors to the counseling department and answering phone calls,” Stofko said. “I process transcript requests, incoming phone calls and emails, ordering supplies for the department, mailing correspondents, just to name a few. Every day is different.”

Stofko loves helping the Law community and the loves the people she works with.

“My thing about working at Law is coworkers and the Lawmazing staff,” Stofko said. “I enjoy working with the students and seeing their growth over the four years here at Law.”

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

In the College and Career Center, Ms. Sylvia has been working hard for the past seven years in order to support students in post-secondary planning and in building their resumes. 

As College and Career Specialist, Sylvia assists the school counseling department in whatever they need to in order to assist students of all grade levels.

“As a freshman, it may be community service. As a sophomore, it could be building a resume and getting involved,” Sylvia said. “I obviously work most with juniors and seniors as they begin college and career exploration. I help with scholarship and college applications to ensure they’re the best they can be.”

For upperclassmen, Sylvia serves as a helping hand in all of their post-secondary needs and questions. She often researches and finds additional resources to aid in preparation for after high school. She also conducts mock interviews and reads over applications to ensure they’re the best they can be.

Students speak highly of Sylvia as she’s helped them immensely and has constantly gone above and beyond.

“Ms. Sylvia has helped me with literally everything I’ve ever had a question about,” senior Ashley Borecki said. “If she hasn’t known everything on the spot, she’s always taken time out of her day to research it for me. Everything she’s done for me, she’s always been super enthusiastic about it and never made me feel like I was bothering her.”

In addition to student support, Sylvia, along with History teacher Ms. Burns, coordinates the Internship Program which allows seniors to build their resumes by gaining experience in fields they’re interested in. She also aids in AP test planning and coordinates with the Board of Education Student Liaisons in order to help them create their monthly school reports. 

“Ms. Sylvia is an integral part of our building,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “Ms. Sylvia is a person who ‘jumps in’ and helps whenever anything is needed to assist students and staff.” s

Sylvia has done so much for the students and staff at Law and is such a valuable part of the school community.

“I am a product of the Milford Public Schools myself and love giving back to the community that’s poured so much into me,” Sylvia said. “I love the staff, faculty and the community we’ve created here at Jonathan Law.”

By Harshitha Kothapalli – News Editor 

Ms. Mello, Law’s School Psychologist and Ms. Meyer-Farrell, Law’s full-time Social Worker work together behind the scenes to help make Law what it is today. 

Meyer-Ferrell, along with Ms. Bernardo, Law’s part-time Social Worker, talk to students to help them encounter different issues. Mello meets with students for counseling and evaluations. 

“I talk to students for a variety of reasons including stress, depression, anxiety, social skills, executive functioning, grief, and other troubles that happen to them during their teenage years,” Meyer-Farrell said. “Together we work together to come up with ways to help ease their feelings.”

These support staff members love their job but more importantly love the people they work with. 

“I really enjoy the conversations I have with high school students,” Mello said. “It is a lot of fun to watch them grow personally and in their academics.”

Principal Mr. Darcy works with Mello and Ms. Meyer-Farrell and could not be happier with the work they have done at Law.

“Ms. Meyer-Farrell is simply the best Social Worker I’ve ever worked with,” Mr. Darcy said. “Ms. Mello is a wonderful person and School Psychologist.”

Darcy truly believes that both staff members are the stars behind the scenes. 

“Ms. Meyer-Farrell also works so well with every staff member in our building and is just an incredible person to be around,” Darcy said. “Ms. Mello meets with students individually to ensure they are supported, communicates with parents/guardians, and runs reports that are very important for staff.”

By Ella Franzman – Editor-In-Chief

The Jonathan Law Class of 2014 Senior Video is suddenly a viral sensation on TikTok – 10 years later – thanks to alum Matt Tighe, also known as MattTheBat.

Over the past few weeks, Tighe has posted clips of the “Where Will You Be In 10 Years?” segment of the Senior Video on TikTok. Those clips have amassed tens of millions of views on the social media platform.

“A while back I saw that someone was posting the ‘10 Year’ videos from other grades, and thought it was really well done and cool,” Tighe said. 

TikTok users then began asking for updates on the Class of 2014 graduates, so Tighe reached out to his fellow alumni and has since posted updates from over a dozen students and teachers from the video. These updates – and Tighe’s commentary that accompanies each submission – have already generated over 11 million views.

Class of 2014 alum Casey Bostic recently sent in her update video. Bostic said in her Senior Video segment that in 10 years, she would be living on a farm in Wisconsin with five children. In her update, Bostic revealed that she did in fact move to Wisconsin, does not have five children, but recently got engaged. 

“I’m not exactly where I thought I would be when I was 18,” Bostic joked in her video response. “But in this economy, that’s probably a good thing.”

Class of 2014 alum Hazal Kayalioglu also recently sent in an update video. In her Senior Video response, she said she saw herself as a veterinarian in 10 years. But after a college professor bluntly told her that she was not picking up the concepts of her course quickly enough to be a veterinarian, she switched paths and began a career she loves in the public health field.

She currently lives in New York with her fiancee, dog, and two cats.

“It makes me so happy to see where everybody is and what everyone is doing,” Kayalioglu said. “If we have a 10 year reunion, I am so there. I would love to see everyone again.”

In his own answer to the “Where Will You Be In 10 Years?” question, Tighe said in 2014 that he hoped to be a millionaire and a talk show host – and so far, he is halfway there.

“I started posting to YouTube in 2008 and have been making content ever since,” Tighe said. “Though my content has changed a lot over the years, I’ve consistently experimented with the type of things I post.”

Tighe also has a YouTube channel called “MattTheBat” where he creates various content. The channel is a mix of commentary, travel vlog clips, and his animated talk show. 

“I like to call my content ‘creative complaining’ where I’ll go on rants about various things in my life,” Tighe said. “I often cover pop culture and tell stories about my life. Many of which, about my childhood in Connecticut.”

Tighe currently has a full-time job in marketing, and since leaving Law, he has worked as a producer for Nickelodeon and as a freelance writer. He has had several music and entertainment articles published in Rolling Stone magazine.

His TikTok account, meanwhile, has become as popular as ever over the past few weeks due to his latest Senior Video posts. He has recently added updates from members of the Law Class of 2013 Senior Video as well.

English teacher Mr. Kulenych, who had Tighe in his Journalism and Broadcast Journalism classes, said he is extremely proud of his former student.

“Matt is so talented and has done so many creative, entertaining projects in his life post-Law – and this is just the latest,” Kulenych said. “The Class of 2014 was a special group and it’s been awesome seeing where life has taken the members of that class. It’s been a fun ‘family reunion’ on TikTok over the past few weeks and I can’t wait to see more updates in the future.”

History teacher Mr. Young, who recently left Law to become a history teacher and the head girls basketball coach at Masuk High School in Monroe, said he loves being able to reconnect with his former students through this TikTok series. 

“It’s been so awesome to see the Class of 2014 reconnect,” Young said. “They will always be a special group, my first AP Psychology class. It was so much fun as a teacher to work with them and be part of the Law community. I was a second year teacher and they really inspired me and to take advantage of each day.”

By Maya Markowitz – Social Media Editor

Most students share one favorite location at Jonathan Law High School – the cafeteria. 

The Jonathan Law cafeteria consists of over a dozen hard-working staff members. They serve breakfast in the morning, and rotate hot lunch, pizza, and sandwiches for lunch everyday. 

The staff works from 6 a.m. through 2 p.m., always preparing for the next meal. Sometimes, they even come after hours to prep for the following day’s meals.

“The food services staff cooks, prepares and provides food for students and staff alike but more importantly, they also build positive relationships with our students during their interactions with them on a daily basis,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy. “The bonds they form last throughout a student’s time here at Law and they even attend graduation for students each year.” 

The amount of work that goes into serving breakfast and lunch for students is often overlooked. The kitchen is busy during the entire school day to ensure that the day moves smoothly. 

Kitchen Manager Cary Sue Attardo makes sure that each meal is both healthy and tasty for students and staff. 

“As Kitchen Manager, the biggest responsibility for me is making sure all of our staff prepares and cooks food safely and to serve our food with love,” Attardo said.  

Many people at Jonathan Law have built relationships with the kitchen staff, as they look forward to seeing them several times a day.

“I look forward to getting breakfast everyday and seeing Barb,” junior Lila Hoxie said. “It really brightens my morning.”

One of the kitchen’s staff members, Debra Perez, has worked at Law since 2022. She said she looks forward to seeing students every day in the cafeteria.  

“I love working here and I would say that my favorite part of working here at Jonathan Law is seeing the kids everyday,” Perez. “All the students are so polite to us.”

Students said that Law could not function the same without the hard work that goes into feeding the school everyday. 

“My favorite lunch is the sandwich bar, but getting to see the cafeteria people everyday is an added benefit,”  junior Hannah Engel said.

By Bobby Black – Sports Editor

Mrs. Hofferman is the Data Processor at Jonathan Law High School, maintaining PowerSchool as well as setting up schedules, running progress reports, report cards, and the honor roll.  

She sets up new PowerSchool accounts for new students and their parents, sets up locker assignments, and works with the counselors to change students’ schedules. 

“Together with (Assistant Principal) Mrs. Farotti, we build the master schedule for the next year which includes not only instructional classes, but study halls, Advisory, CERTOs, senior privilege, and Independent Studies,” Hofferman said.

Hofferman loves the community at Law as it is one of her favorite things about her job. 

“Hands-down, it’s the people – staff and students,” Hofferman said. “Law has such an amazingly warm and welcoming environment. They’re not kidding when they say we are a ‘Law Family.’ Everyone is so supportive and caring.”

Hofferman is a data expert and always available to help anyone  in the building. 

“Mrs. Hofferman does a lot for our building,” Principal Mr. Darcy said. “She analyzes data, helps run the schedule for the building, and creates special schedules when we have events running in the building. She is a data expert. I go to her weekly to gain valuable data that assists with making changes on how we can support our students better. On top of all that, she is just a great person who always jumps in to help everyone around her. “

Hofferman has been a part of the Law community for 10 years. Before coming to Law, she was a school secretary at Calf Pen Elementary School. Prior to working for Milford Public Schools, she was the Training Manager for a computer training and consulting company in Shelton.

Hofferman’s colleagues are amazed at how she handles so many daily tasks.

“Mrs. Hofferman is one of the most indispensable people at Law,” English teacher Mr. Kulenych said. “She has so many responsibilities but she does all of them so well and so efficiently – and she always, always has a smile on her face no matter how busy she is. She’s the best.”

By Cesar Mendez – Sports Editor

Jonathan Law’s Employment Developer has been hard at work helping special education students get ready for their futures. 

Mrs. Knoth assists students to gain a better understanding of what is required in a professional work environment.

“The JLHS Work Experience program has a significant impact on students and their ability to gain and master multiple vocational skills in order to become successful in true life employment opportunities outside of the school environment,” Knoth said.   

Knoth and the programs have expanded to include both Canine Catering and Blossom Boutique and student-made products are sold and distributed at the Parson’s Perks Cafe, select community partners, and several pop up shops across town.

“She’s had a tremendous impact on the Law community by leading students, providing them with experiences beyond our walls, and supporting the needs of all the people at Law,”  Principal Bryan Darcy said. 

Knoth has seen plethora of students that have been impacted by the opportunities she has provided to students. 

“I have seen the Work Experience Program grow confidence and self esteem in our students in knowing that they have the necessary abilities needed to reach their fullest potentials in gaining employment after graduation, which is very gratifying to be a part of as an educator,” Knoth said.  

By Harry Fisher – Sports Editor

The role of a Speech and Language Pathologist is vital to many students in school but often goes unnoticed.

A Speech and Language Pathologist works hard to evaluate and treat speech, language, and communication disorders. They look at each student as an individual and work to create a plan that will help them. Some students need help with social skills, some students need help to strengthen their reading skills, and some students need support to communicate effectively. 

Their work even goes beyond the school day, for they often work collaboratively with families to ensure the best possible care is given to a student or patient. At Law, Ms. Salvi is that person. 

She has worked at Law for the past several years and always goes above and beyond to help the Law student population. She helps our students with their communication skills and teaches everyone how they can advocate for themselves. 

Salvi got her degree in Communication Disorders from Southern Connecticut State University. She also got her Masters in Communication Disorders at Mercy College.

Salvi began her career in the Bridgeport School System before coming over to Jonathan Law.  She also travels to St. Mary’s School in Milford to work with their students as well. This is Salvi’s sixth year at Law.

“I help students who have speech or language-based difficulties improve their listening and speaking skills so that they can be better communicators socially and academically,” Salvi said.

Jonathan Law Principal Mr. Darcy sees the impact Salvi has had on helping the Law community. 

“Ms. Salvi is a great Speech and Language Pathologist and overall a support team member here at Law,” Darcy said.  

Darcy said that Salvi has helped students at Law take their academic growth to a whole new level.  

“Ms. Salvi works closely with our students and their families to ensure they are supported and show growth with the work they are doing with her,” Darcy said. “She is a hero here at Law to many students.”

By Madi Black – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s recently-formed Fitness and Nutrition is continuing to gain members.

The Fitness and Nutrition Club will have its seventh meeting of the year on February 23 from 2-3 p.m. in Room 128. Members said that the club is a great way to work out and get help from others so students don’t injure themselves.

“This club is something that I’m able to express the interest I have in the hobby while also helping others out during our workouts,” sophomore Fitness and Nutrition Club President Kris Shastry said. “I am glad that I even got people to try and step out of their comfort zone.” 

Shastry wants others to have confidence in themselves to work out in a public space. He thinks that everyone should be able to workout and have a good nutritious life.

“We currently have 20 members that are a mix of boys and girls,” Shastry said. 

Shastry wanted a place where students could not be afraid of the workout they were doing. 

“I made the club because I wanted to share my knowledge about muscle growth with people who want to gain muscle,” Shastry said. “Without having to question everything they do and have a place for questions to get answered the best they can.”

The club has fliers around the school with dates when they are meeting. You can find them on any bolutin board or by asking an aminstrader. 

Shafty is not the only person who students can ask if they need help with form. Shastry is glad to help anyone with questions about the club or questions regarding the time and dates.

“I am in charge of the club and run scheduling with the vice president and treasurer,” Shastry said. “I am the one that helps people out with their form or if they have any questions along with (history teacher) Mr. Lui.”

The Fitness and Nutrition Club wants more students to join. They still have several meetings left the rest of the school year.

“We are going to have anywhere from 8-10 more meetings this year,” Shastry said. “We want as many students that feel comfortable or just need a spot to workout to join.”

By Chloe Edmonds and Analiyah Velez – Staff Reporters

The Jonathan Law Ski Club recently took its final trip of the season to Killington Mountain in Vermont. 

There were about 25 people who went on the trip which cost $200 per person. The Ski Club went on a total of three trips this ski season, with Killington being the overall favorite. 

“I had a great time skiing down Killington,” freshman Cole Alogna said. “The weather was great and the scenery was beautiful.” 

The Killington trip was a whole day event. Students had to wake up as as early as 4 a.m to get ready and get on the bus. 

“We got there around 8 a.m. and we were there for at least 12 hours,” freshman Everett Alogna said. “We had a lot of fun and I’m sad to see the club come to an end.” 

The favorite part of the trip for most club members was the scenery and connecting with their peers.  

“My favorite part of the trip was seeing all the views from the beautiful mountains with my friends,” sophomore Layla Alogna said. “It really takes your breath away.”

Members of the Ski Club encourage students to join if they are looking for a new adventure and looking to participate in the Law community . 

“Ski Club is an amazing place for making memories with your friends and meeting new people,” sophomore Lily Pleimann said.

In order to prepare, students needed to make sure all of their gear was rented, that had clothes that were sure to keep them warm, and that they had snacks to make the trip more comfortable. 

“We had a really good group of friends to ski with and it was pretty warm that day with a lot of snow,” sophomore Charlotte Balderi said. “The bus ride was long but it was so worth it.”

By Cindy Bone – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s Multicultural Club is recruiting new members to plan activities for the rest of the school year.

The Multicultural Club is advised by Mrs. Evans, who seems to be enjoying her first year teaching at Law.

“As a new teacher at Jonathan Law High School, I wanted to find ways to get to know students outside of the English classroom,” Evans said. “Mr. Darcy indicated that this club needed an advisor and I thought this would be a great place for me to start.”

The Multicultural Club is working on new plans for the club including having students and faculty wear awareness t-shirts for February since February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness month. They plan to discuss this at their next meeting in hopes to share their initiative to Law in the future.

The club is also planning on showcasing different cultures at upcoming meetings.

“I’m looking forward to having some more people come to the cultural presentations and potlucks,” sophomore Gleidson De Souza said.

The Multicultural Club also holds potlucks as a way to share food from different cultures. All students are invited to participate.

“I’m looking forward to all the potlucks that the club is doing,” sophomore Mya Cordeiro said.

Some students recently have shown an interest in joining the club.

“I went to their last meeting because my friend wanted me to go, and I actually found it interesting and was thinking of joining,” sophomore Jaylen Rogers said. 

The Multicultural Club is a great way for students to get involved in extracurricular activities at Law and to make new friends. Students can find information about meeting ties by watching The Morning Briefing.

By Haley Stroffolino – Social Media Editor

Mrs. Griswold is the academic tutor at Jonathan Law, assisting students with school work, organization, time management, and more.

Before coming to Law, Griswold taught sixth grade Language Arts.

“I knew I would like to transition from middle school to high school,” Griswold said. “I like that I get to know so many different students and help them however they need.”

Griswold creates a learning environment where students take on challenges and ask for support. Whether it’s one-on-one sessions or drop-ins, Griswold is always available in the TLC to help.

“Mrs. Griswold communicates effectively with all staff to support students,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “She’s a valuable resource, providing students with an additional layer of support beyond the classroom.”

Senior Samuel Steven often stops by Griswold’s room for academic assistance. 

“Mrs. Griswold helps guide the direction of my writing,” Steven said. “When I’m unsure, she serves as someone I can bounce ideas off of. She breaks down assignments into manageable tasks, making essays feel less intimidating.”

Steven said that Griswold helps him breaks down daunting tasks into manageable sections and helps him set attainable goals. These goals help Steven stay focused and use his time efficiently.

“During my periods with Mrs. Griswold, she set attainable goals for me within that time, such as having an introduction finished by the end of a block period,” Steven said.

Griswold not only enhances students academic performance but also instills a sense of confidence and resilience in the face of challenges. 

By Ella Franzman – Editor-In-Chief 

Jonathan Law’s secretarial staff is always working hard behind the scenes to make sure that everything runs smoothly. 

In the Main Office there are three secretaries – Mrs. Heenan, who is Assistant Principal Mrs. Farotti’s secretary, Mrs. Sarullo, is Assistant Principal Mrs. Sulzycki’s secretary, and Mrs. Silver, who is Mr. Darcy’s secretary. 

“We both (Sarullo and I) schedule appointments, assist students, answer phones, update attendance records, register new students, and send correspondence to parents just to name a few,” Heenan said.

The secretaries and support staff are critical in the daily operations and do so much for the school that sometimes goes unnoticed. 

“They are the ‘first line’ of communication for families when they call the building to communicate with another staff member or their student(s),” Darcy said. 

Heenan, who has been at Law since the summer of 2015, also works at various Law sporting events as a site supervisor. She helps to check students in through Law Nation, sells tickets and help cheer on our teams. Sarullo also helps out as a site supervisor for athletic events. 

“My favorite part of my job is helping and getting to know all of the students, going to and selling tickets to our sporting events, and making some life long friends here,” Sarullo said. 

Sarullo, who will soon be going on maternity leave, has worked at Law for almost 12 years. 

“I handle Mrs. Sulzycki’s calendar, scheduling meetings and teacher observations for her,” Sarullo said. “I also handle new student registrations for grades 9 and 11 this year and my biggest project of the school year is coordinating the Senior Awards Program.” 

Ms. Lagarde, who is filling in for Silver while she is on maternity leave as well, worked at Law previously from 2019-2022.

Lagarde, who is currently Darcy’s secretary, is in charge of attendance, helping substitutes, and ordering supplies. She also schedules all of Darcy’s appointments and answers any incoming phone calls for him.

“I really love the people I work with here at Law – the community and students, teachers and staff make it a special place,” Lagarde said. “I also really enjoy seeing and interacting with the students.”

Heenan also agreed with Lagarde, wishing that she could know even more of the students’ names and their successes. 

“I love being part of the family we have created at JLHS,” Heenan said. “I enjoy being a team player and helping with whatever needs to be done in the office as well as assisting students with whatever they need.”