(Photo by Ella Franzman)

By Ella Franzman – Sports Editor

With the end of the year approaching, Advocate Sports Editor Ella Franzman interviewed Law Principal Mr. Darcy to reflect on the 2022-2023 school year. 

Ella Franzman: What are your goals for next year?

Bryan Darcy: My goal is always the same. I want every student to feel heard, supported and valued during their time here at Law. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure a successful school year for all students. 

EF: What was your favorite memory this year?

BD: My favorite memory of the year was our first pep rally in the fall. It was nice to see the school come together to celebrate and acknowledge each other. Coming off of covid years, it was great to do this in a “normal” way as well. 

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

BD: It felt like a fresh start on a personal level. It was somewhat difficult to start here in October last year. I had to learn about a school, balance covid restrictions, try to modify some things quickly, and get to know students while starting at a new school and district. This year was about coming back to “normal” and learning/navigating the school year together (both staff and students). I’m happy I made the move and truly love it here at Law. 

EF: What big initiatives are you gonna start?

BD: I think our next step is getting more student voices into the equation. I want to meet with students next year and get their feedback on what works for them (or doesnt). This will allow our school to be even better moving forward. So, I wouldn’t just say an initiative, it’s more of a mindshift. 

EF: What is your advice to the incoming Class of 2027?

BD: Get involved. We have a sport, club or activity for everyone here at Law. Incoming freshmen need to be involved in something other than just clocking in and clocking out of school each day. The more involved you are, the better experience you will have over your four years here. 

EF: What is your advice to the leaving Class of 2023?

BD: Give time. Give your time to others. There is only one thing you can’t get back, time… Give your time to your loved ones because you’ll never get it back. 

EF: What is your favorite part about school? 

BD: My favorite part about our school is the love and support I see from students to each other everyday. We are an inclusive family where everyone is supported. You feel and see that everyday in our hallways. 

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

BD: Our biggest victory was providing more experiences for students this year. We had more dances, activities, clubs, and field trips than ever. This wasn’t just because we came off of covid. It was a concentration on having students experience life outside of our hallways. 

EF: Any summer plans?

BD: I’ll be heading to Narragansett Rhode Island. We’ve been going there since I was a kid and now own a home there. We will spend two weeks there with family and friends. Then, we are taking our girls to Ocean City, Maryland at the beginning of August. I also work during the summer so I’ll be at Law throughout the summer weeks as well. 

EF: Any last messages to the Class of 2023?

BD: My last message is to always know that no matter where you go in life, you all have a home here at Law. You are always a member of the Law community and family. All of you can always reach out to me if you need anything. I’ll do what I can to help. 

(Photo courtesy Maya Rosado)

By Helen Chizmazia, Maddy Gaillard, Olivia Hudak and Caden Simpson – Advocate Editors

The Class of 2023 Senior Prom was held on May 12 at Amarante’s Sea Cliff.

Seniors were able to celebrate their past four years at Jonathan Law by participating in the prom activities. 

Prom was a great experience for students and gave them the ability to have a fun night. The Prom itself was held at Amarante’s and the Post Prom was held at the Sports Center in Shelton. 

“I enjoyed dancing within the crowd of people and taking pictures with the props,” senior Miranda Meyer said. “I also loved seeing the sunset and sitting down on the grass. The food was also very good.”

The question of where prom should be held was a debate; however, the location that was ultimately picked seemed to be a great success. 

“Usually we let the class officers help pick the venue, but since elections were held in the fall (and we needed to book a venue earlier than that) Ms. Russell and I called various locations to book a venue,” Senior Class Advisor Mrs. Francisco said. “Over the summer, we chose Amarante’s and then had the officers help us with the details.” 

During Prom, there were multiple options for students on what they preferred to do. 

“I think it was a very organized event and I think that everyone had such a great time,” Meyer said. “I also loved the option of being inside or sitting outside because it gave people a chance to get away from the music and crowd of people.”

Additionally, there were tons of fun equipment to use to take photos as well as props. 

“My favorite part of the night was the camera that circled around you,” senior Aidan Ryan said. “It was cool seeing the edited video of you and your date after you stood there awkwardly not knowing what pose to do.”

With planning prom and post prom, there were many factors to consider. 

“We wanted to make sure there was something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you wanted to spend your time dancing or simply sitting out in the gazebo, everyone found some fun,” Francisco said. “We also tried to focus on the small details. Our theme was ‘red carpet’ so we wanted to have paparazzi, an actual red (sparkly) carpet, sunglasses for kids to take home, and silver/gold centerpieces.” 

Ultimately, one of the main goals for holding a Senior prom is to let the students enjoy each other’s company considering the school year is coming to a close. 

“My favorite part was post prom because it was a way for everyone to get comfy and play games,” Meyer said. “I think it is important, now that our senior year is ending, to spend time with each other and have as much fun as possible.”

(Photo courtesy Angus Cheng)

By Gemard Guery and Zack Sulkis – Advocate Editors

Angus Cheng has officially been named Jonathan Law’s Class of 2023 Salutatorian.

Cheng will be attending Princeton University and plans to major in computer science.

“I felt good and accomplished with myself when I found out that I was Salutatorian,” Cheng said. “I felt like I solidified my presence at Law and fulfilled my greatest goals.”

Cheng took 12 AP classes during his time at Jonathan Law while also juggling other extracurriculars and activities.  

Some AP courses that Cheng took include has taken are United States Government and Politics, United States History, Computer Science Principles, Human Geography, English Language, and Statistics. He’s currently taking English Literature, Calculus BC, Spanish, CSA, Environmental Science, and Psychology.

“Angus is so conscientious about his work,” Spanish teacher Mr. McPartland said. “What separates him from most students is that he works proactively and doesn’t allow things to fall through the cracks. He’s helpful and always wondering what’s next. He cares about learning and wants to get better. Angus is what you wish every student would be.”

Over the course of the past four years, Cheng served as President of the Model UN, Co-President of Math Club, Vice President of the Class of 2023, Secretary of the National Math Honor Society, Secretary of Science Club, and was part of the Student Help Desk for students who need help with their Chromebooks. Cheng was also a soccer captain and camp counselor at the Boys and Girls Club of Milford.  

“Angus is a one of kind friend and student,” senior Rishabh Nair said. “He is always there to help someone if they need. He is dedicated to whatever he puts his mind to and always strives to improve himself everyday.  Everybody would be lucky to have such a good friend as Angus.”

In addition to being named Salutatorian, Cheng has won many awards during his time at Jonathan Law. Cheng is graduating with distinction and he is a recipient of the Harvard Book Award and the Volunteer Award from the Boys and Girls Club of Milford.  Angus is also an AP Scholar and participant in the NSLI-Y program.

“Angus is an intelligent kid, quiet, humble,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “I honestly didn’t know he was going to go to Princeton until about a week prior to him being announced Salutatorian. He’s truly a role model student.”

While Cheng worked so incredibly hard to achieve this accomplishment, he is incredibly thankful for his family that supported him over the years.

“My parents have been my biggest supporters since the beginning, providing me with immeasurable love, offering unwavering guidance, and selflessly making countless sacrifices for me throughout my entire life,” Cheng said. “Their actions and influence have been and will continue to be invaluable to me. I am forever grateful for them.”

(Photo courtesy Mr. Darcy)

By Ella Franzman – Sports Editor

Seniors Aislinn Burns and Cole Pleimann recently won the 2022-2023 CAS-CIAC Scholar Athlete Award for Jonathan Law. 

Burns and Pleimann were selected by building staff and administration in a meeting a few months ago while reviewing the attributes they felt were most important to represent Jonathan Law and CIAC values. 

“I feel Cole and Aislinn are prime examples of what being a student-athlete is all about,” Principal Mr. Darcy said. “They compete on the playing field, in the classroom and they are kind to others. They were great choices to represent JLHS.”

Burns is a 12-season athlete in swimming and indoor and outdoor track & field. 

“I am so honored to be chosen as the female CAS-CIAC scholar athlete for Law,” Burns said. “I have worked extremely hard my 4 years of high school to balance academics and athletics, and I’m so happy that I get to serve as a role model for younger athletes and encourage them to be the best student athletes they can be.”

Burns was also a captain of the swim team and both indoor and outdoor track teams. 

“I consider Aislinn to be one of the most exceptional student-athletes I have ever coached, she is a leader in the pool and will not settle for anything but her best,” assistamt swim coach and history teacher Mr. Lui said. “After swimming her event, she would always be the first to ask for feedback on how she could improve, regardless if she swam a best time.” 

Pleimann is a four-year member of the Jonathan Law baseball team, and is a captain of the team this year. 

“It was an honor being selected for such a prestigious award, it felt amazing knowing that others saw not only the character that I posses, but also the athletic ability as well,” Pleimann said.

Pleimann has committed to St. Olaf College to continue his baseball career. 

“I was exhilarated when I received the letter from VJ (Sarullo) in the mail,” Pleimann said. “All the hard work I had put in during my years here at Law finally was being recognized. It felt terrific, and I am very proud of Aislinn and I.”

Pleimann sets the tone for the younger players and is constantly working hard to get better and better every day. 

“Cole is the epitome of what a coach looks for in their players and represents Jonathan Law to the highest degree,” assistant coach and Spanish teacher McPartland said. “He hits the books hard in the classroom and gets after it on the baseball diamond.”

(Photo courtesy Ms. Burns)

By Kaitlyn Goldberg – News Editor 

French teacher Mrs. Almonte is saying goodbye to Law after 38 years of teaching. 

Almonte is ready for this new chapter of her life and to be able to spend more time with her family. 

“I first plan on going to Virginia to help my oldest who is going to have her second baby in June,” Almonte said. “Then home to Connecticut where my youngest is due with her first child in September. So I will be trading in my ‘teacher hat’ for ‘Nana hat.'”

Almonte has been a staple of the Law community and she will be greatly missed. She has taught so many students the importance of French culture in a fun, engaging way. 

“I will miss the fun activities she has most classes, like Kahoots and Blookets,” sophomore Reilly Hungerford said. “She’s a really chill teacher too and I will miss having a chill teacher like her.” 

Almonte’s experience teaching and her impact on the Law community will not be forgotten.

“During Mrs. Almonte’s 30-plus years of education, she’s had a positive impact on literally thousands of students,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “She has creative lesson plans, has written curriculum, and has built positive relationships with countless students and staff.”

Students recall her fun and family-like class environment as something they will greatly miss. 

“My favorite part about her class was the family dynamic she had in the class,” junior Kailina Scalice said.  

Almonte has made her impression on the staff with her kind and welcoming attitude to all. 

“My first impression of her last year was that she was someone who I could count on to provide me with information that was necessary to make positive changes to our school and I count on her daily in that capacity,” Darcy said. “The thing I’ll miss the most is her smile. She is such a positive person to be around and her smile and her personality is just so infectious.” 

Almonte is going to be missed tremendously by students and staff, and the feeling is likewise. 

“The students made teaching a joy with their enthusiasm to learn,” Almonte said. “They made me much more flexible over the years, they taught me that they don’t put the wrong answer in the blank on purpose, so stop asking why, they kept me up to date with the latest technology and learning games, and they proved that perseverance really does pay off, and that self-discipline and self-motivation are the keys to success.”

(Photo courtesy Aislinn Burns)

By Ella Franzman – Sports Editor

Aislinn Burns has been named the Valedictorian for the Class of 2023. 

Burns will be attending Rice University and plans to major in Bioengineering, with a concentration in Biomolecular Engineering. 

“When I found out I had officially won Valedictorian I was so excited and proud of myself because all of my hard work paid off,” Burns said. “It has been my goal since the start of freshman year and I worked extremely hard to get there so I was beyond excited.”

This marks the ninth consecutive year a female has been named Jonathan Law Valedictorian. 

“My first impression of Aislinn Burns last year was that she is a passionate and driven person, she is someone who has been able to balance academics, athletics and supporting causes that impact the lives of others like the Sandy Hook Promise,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “I don’t know if I have ever met someone so ‘wise beyond their years’ than Aislinn.”

Burns took 11 AP classes during her time at Jonathan Law, including AP Chemistry, AP Calculus AB, AP Literature, AP United States History and many others. Burns was also very involved with many events inside and outside of school.

“One of the most challenging moments I encountered was junior year because I doubled the number of APs I was taking from the year before and was starting to take on leadership positions,” Burns said. “This was a very important moment because I learned that I can’t do everything, so I started to learn to prioritize what I was passionate about and step down/not take on a leadership role in other activities.”

Burns will be graduating with distinction and with 342.5 community service hours. While Aislinn was at Law, she was a three-sport varsity captain as a member on the swim and dive team, indoor track team, and outdoor track team.

“She does everything the coaches ask of her and goes above and beyond to help her team succeed,” head girls swim coach Rob Rosner said. “She embodies everything Jonathan Law athletics stands for and is exactly the kind of captain you want setting an example for the younger athletes.”

Burns is the president and the founder of SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) Promise Club, served as treasurer of Keyettes Club, and was a part of Natural Helpers Club, Lifting Club, and Ski Club. She is also president of the National Math Honor Society and is a member of the Science National Honor Society as well as the National Honor Society.

“Even at 7:20 in the morning she would always come in with a positive attitude and ready to learn,” math teacher Mrs. Diprimio said. “She asked insightful questions and was a real leader in the classroom. She offered help and different insights to any of her classmates in need.”

While Burns was at Law, she also won the Mayor’s Youth Award, the Yale Book Award, AP Scholar With Distinction, and was named CAS-CIAC Female Scholar Athlete of The Year for Law.

“Aislinn balanced her student-athlete life by always making sure that she had her priorities straight,” senior Macie Rascoll said. “She would always make sure that academics came first and then athletics, then time for what ever else she had to do, whether it was extracurriculars or her social life.”

Burns is also treasurer of her class and served as a Board of Education Liaison. She has also been a member of the Sandy Hook Promise National Youth Advisory Board as one of 13 students nationwide for the past two years. Through this she has traveled to Colorado, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio to attend leadership conventions and help run the National SAVE Summit.

“Aislinn is one of the best leaders of the school, on the track she is a hard worker always looking to improve,” head outdoor track coach Joe Beler said. “She is the ultimate leader by example. Every day she comes to work with a purpose but still always provides support for our younger athletes.”

While Burns worked incredibly hard to achieve this, she is incredibly grateful for the supportive community around her.

“Aislinn is an intelligent, motivated and driven student,” science teacher Ms. Turcotte said. “She puts a lot of thought and effort into her work, is genuinely interested in science and doesn’t hesitate to challenge or question concepts covered in class or data obtained in the laboratory.”

(Photo courtesy Ms. Jones)

By Gemard Guery and Katie Servas – Editors-in-Chief

For the first time in history, six Jonathan Law students attended the All-Eastern Music Festival in Rochester, New York.

Emma Vaccino, Ike Opayemi, Eric Relucio, Jasper Chu, Chris Rickard, and Oliver Harrigan were all selected to participate in the festival that brought the top musicians together from 13 states throughout the eastern states.  

The festival took place from April 13-16. In order to be selected for the All-Eastern Music Festival, students had to submit their scores and score sheets from previous All-State and Regional competitions. They also had to write a paragraph about some of their accomplishments as musicians.

“For All-Eastern, we simply applied online rather than an in-person audition with two judges with scales, a solo, and sight reading,” junior Ike Opayemi said. “It was based on our previous All-State score and other choral experiences. The process was much easier.”

The festival consisted of rehearsals, speaker events, dance, socials, and the final performance. These students had the opportunity to perform in the Eastman Theatre with a diverse group of musicians. 

“Everyone has had different experiences and teachings being from other states,” junior Band Section Leader Oliver Harrigan said. “Being able to meet people from other states is a very refreshing and much newer experience than having an all-state every year.”

These individuals all participated in the All-State Musical Festival this year, granting them the chance to participate in the All-Eastern Music Festival.

“Performing with people from all over the East Coast was definitely different from just singing in the All-State choir with people from CT,” senior Emma Vaccino said. “We all came from different conducting styles, voices, and music we’re just used to singing, which took a little getting used to but ultimately made us all better musicians.”

The new experience allowed each student to take something away and instill it in their own lives. 

“My biggest takeaway was to make sure you do everything with the most you can give it,” junior Jasper Chu said. “Whether it be singing, playing your instrument, or even relaxing, give any activity your most, we learned this from a very inspirational keynote speaker when we visited the convention hall and exhibits.”

Many concluded that they were grateful for their opportunity to participate in the festival and enjoyed their week with empowering and dedicated musicians.

“It was very humbling, although I believe that our school has one of the best music departments, in terms of people, and educators in the state, it was very humbling to see students from states like Pennsylvania who put a lot of hard work into their craft,” Chu said. “They were all amazing singers and performers, being able to sing with such a wide variety of people and so many talented performers was a blessing in itself.”

(Photo courtesy Mrs. Francisco)

By Cesar Mendez and Aryan Sikhinam – Staff Reporters

Jonathan Law’s National Honor Society hosted the annual Brain Bowl on April 27 in order to raise money for brain cancer research.

Every year, the Brain Bowl has a theme. Last year it was “Avengers” theme; this year, the theme was “The Office.”

Students and faculty took a preliminary test on March 27 to qualify for the Brain Bowl. The top four scores from each grade were selected to be on their grade’s Brain Bowl team.

“I took the test during common time and got one of the top four highest scores out of the freshmen,” freshman Yeiden Nieves said. “It was a good feeling knowing I would be on the team.”

Students and faculty had a lot of fun, and between all four grades and the faculty, NHS raised over $1,500 for “The Cure Starts Now.” 

“It was a very good experience and I had a lot of fun participating,” sophomore Ryan Chay said. “We did the best we could but unfortunately lost to the upperclassmen donating more than us.”

Junior Arshaq Ahmed enjoyed the challenge of competing. The juniors advanced to the semifinal round before falling to the seniors, who defeated the faculty in the final to win the Brain Bowl title.

“I think our team did very well on the fundraising aspect by really taking advantage of people’s competitive nature but we did not do that good on pressing the button on time and lost a lot of points because of it,” Ahmed said. 

Students and faculty had no fear in front of the big crowd of Law students in the auditorium.

“When I was on stage I didn’t really think about who was watching me, but I was just thinking about the questions and if I was ready or not,” senior Jake Ackley said. 

For every $10 donated towards Brain Cancer, one point was awarded to each team. The freshmen started out with 17 points, sophomores started with 28, juniors started with 35 points, and seniors started out with 37 points.

Seniors Kyle Chy and Lylah Eckert hosted the Brain Bowl and asked the questions, while NHS advisor Ms. Turcotte and a group of students and faculty checked and verified the answers given by the teams. 

“Competing in the Brain Bowl was a fun experience,” English teacher Mr. Kulenych said. “Even though we only answered a handful of questions correctly and knew nothing about ‘The Office, we tried our best and most importantly raised a lot of money for a great cause.”

Overall, Brain Bowl was a great experience and students and faculty are very excited to see what next year’s event will bring.

(Photo courtesy Choices Matter)

By Maya Markowitz and Quinn Willett – Staff Reporters

All Jonathan Law juniors and seniors were called to an assembly on April 28 called “Choices Matter” where they learned about the consequences of driving under the influence. 

“Choices Matter” is ed by Chris Sandy and the Connecticut Highway Safety Office. Sandy is a motivational speaker from Atlanta, Georgia, who has travelled to over 40 states to speak to students about his life after he killed two people in a tragic car accident.

Sandy was originally sentenced to 13 years in prison and 17 years in probation. He first lived in Jackson State Maximum Security Prison, but he was transferred throughout the 8.5 years spent in jail. 

While in prison, Sandy was able to volunteer with different organizations which shortened his 13-year sentence. Immediately after prison, he started working with “Choices Matter.” 

“I started this program because my mentor told me to try to turn a bad situation into a good one,” Sandy said. “I was told I could really turn my life story in a good way no matter what it was.” 

Sandy expressed that he was able to stay motivated because of his family and best friend, Eric Krug. 

Krug suffered traumatic brain injuries causing him to lose his ability to speak and walk. 

“I wanted the program, the speaker’s personal stories, and the interactive materials, to inspire our Law students to make the right choices in life and when they are behind the wheel,” Dean of Students Mr. Ragaini said.

One of the biggest takeaways for students from this assembly was how decisions can lead to major consequences. 

“I learned how making a poor decision at a young age can affect your life for years to come,” junior Liam Valvo said. 

Students were able to put on a VR headset after the assembly and experience a drunk driving simulator. 

“The simulator allowed us to experience what it’s like to navigate while under the influence,” junior Olivia Hudak said. “It was difficult because I felt dizzy and couldn’t really see anything in front of me”

This was a great opportunity for new drivers to learn from Sandy’s real life experience with driving under the influence.

(Photos courtesy Harshitha Kothapalli and Kayla Markowitz)

By Harshitha Kothapalli & Kayla Markowitz – Staff Reporters

Jonathan Law seniors celebrated their plans after graduation with a “Life After Law Day.”

On Friday, April 28, all seniors celebrated “Life after Law Day” with fun activities at the Jonathan Law football field. Seniors played corn hole, Spikeball, soccer, and ate free pizza and ice cream. 

“Our goal with Life After Law Day was to celebrate every single student and their choice for life after Law,” Director of School Counseling Mrs. Dunnuck said. “It’s an opportunity for them to show off whatever they decided to do and get together to acknowledge every student’s success.”

The event was very successful and gave a way for seniors to come together and get excited for college.

“It made me feel more comfortable to see everyone with their college merch on and see where everyone’s going next year and see that we’re all on the same boat going to different places,” senior Sabrina Lawless said. 

It was a good opportunity for seniors to have fun together before they graduate and spend one last day as a class.

“We got free food and played a lot of exciting games,” Lawless said. “We played really great games of Spikeball”

Seniors were able to celebrate with each other and talk about which college they are attending. It was a great way for everyone to feel more comfortable about going to college.

“We got to see where everyone’s going with their sweatshirts and merch and it was just an overall cool experience, to top it all off we get pizza and ice cream,” senior Jake Ackley said.

Before the event, teachers also wrote messages for the seniors to help them with the future. The messages were displayed outside each teacher’s door. 

“From all the signs outside the teacher’s doors, I learned that you have to take advantage of the future and the new opportunities you’re getting,” senior Aislinn Burns said. “A lot of the teachers said to travel a lot and make sure you’re saving your money and exploring.” 

Seniors recommend all juniors attend the event next year because it was a great opportunity for everyone to have fun and acknowledge all of their hard work.

“I think juniors should definitely go next year because it’s a great day to just get excited about college, have a lot of fun, and just let go of all the burdens for a little bit,” Lawless said. 

(Photo courtesy @jlawchoir)

By Olivia Augustine and Kaitlyn Goldberg – News Editors

The Jonathan Law Choir recently attended and performed at All-State.

The All-State festival took place at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford and hosted by CMEA. In total, nine Law Choir students qualified for All-State.

“The performance was probably one of the most memorable choir moments in my career and I can only hope the students felt the pride and gravity of their achievement,” Choir Director Ms. Jones said. “They performed with so much care, skill and precision and yet, one of the best aspects of their performance was their attention to their stylistic approach to each genre they performed.”

Choirs students had fun at All-State – and also put in a lot of hard work.

“Our days consisted of about seven hours of rehearsal split up by meals, so while it can be physically taxing, it’s also such an honor to be chosen to sing amongst the best performers in the state,” senior Kalli Kinsman said. “It also was very fun to be able to share the experience with other members of the Law Choir, and use our time there to bond.”

Junior Jasper Chu enjoyed all of the work he put in during his time at All-State as well.

“To help us, they provided the scores and gave us practice tracks of our individual parts so we can be fully prepared upon arrival,” Chu said. “I looked through the pieces multiple times and listened to other choirs performing them to get a feel for how the piece flows and its energy.”

The Jonathan Law Advanced Vocal Ensemble also got selected to perform as the Showcase Ensemble. They were blindly selected by CMEA to be a showcase ensemble for the festival.

“I enjoyed being in the performance ensemble because of all the music we made together,” sophomore Reilly Hungerford said. “Admittedly, it was very tiring preparing over five songs in a little under two months, but the process was very exciting.” 

Junior Kiley Sherman hopes to qualify for All-State again next year.

“It was an amazing experience and I would totally love to do it again,” Sherman said. “Singing with your choir is quite rewarding.”

(Photo courtesy @JLHSPrincipal)

By Helen Chizmazia and Madison Gaillard – Advocate Editors

Jonathan Law seniors Caroline Doyle and John Neider recently received the 2022-2023 SCC Scholar Athlete Award.

Both were nominated by staff and honored at a banquet at Anthony’s in New Haven. 

Doyle is a four-year member of the girls tennis team and Neider is a 12-season athlete in football, basketball, and baseball.

“I felt so happy after receiving the award,” Doyle said. “I was honored that the administration thought of me when selecting a student for the award.”

Doyle is one of the captains of the tennis team this season.

“I am very proud of the accomplishment,” Doyle said. “The award encapsulated everything I had done throughout high school.”

On top of her athletic responsibilities, Doyle maintained the role of Key Club District Governor, managing events and activities while giving back to the community. She is also the Vice President of the National Honor Society and Social Media Manager for the SAVE Promise Club. 

“I think there were several things that led to me receiving this award, including Key Club, tennis, and the other clubs I have been involved with here at Law,” Doyle said. “They have all taught me how to be a leader and to do great things.”

Doyle is attending George Washington University in the fall with the intention of majoring in Political Science. 

Neider, who was this year’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year and Walter Camp Player of the Year, was excited to win the Scholar Leader Award. 

“Winning the Scholar Leader Award means a lot,” Neider said. “It is really cool being recognized for the hard work I have put into the classroom.” 

At the ceremony, Doyle was also awarded a $500 Bill O’Brien Scholarship for an essay she wrote about the importance of being a leader at Law.

“I took away from the experience that very opportunity is only what I make of it, and that I can succeed at anything if I apply myself,” Doyle said.

(Photo courtesy Caroline Doyle)

By Maya Rosado – Editor-in-Chief

The Jonathan Law Key Club attended the 74th annual District Educational Conference for the Bermuda and New England District of Key Club earlier this month. 

The Key Club won a variety of awards including: 1st place in the Non-Digital Poster, 3rd place in Traditional Scrapbook, 3rd place in the Oratory Contest, 1st in Annual Achievement, 1st in Monthly Reports, and the Early Bird Dues Award.

Key Club advisor Mr. Boynton was honored as well with a Leader of Leaders Award. This year’s District Governor, Law senior Caroline Doyle, was given an Administrators Award.

“While at DECON, I learned how to say a proper goodbye,” Doyle said. “I was given the opportunity to give my governor farewell, and even though it was emotional, I’m so grateful for the time I was given to reflect on my time in Key Club.”

There were about 400 attendees at the conference. They spent the weekend attending a variety of workshops, learning about service projects, and spending time with their peers after their successful year came to a close. 

“My favorite part about DECON was having the freedom to walk around in the hotel with friends during downtime and getting to talk to Key Clubbers from all over New England,” Key Club treasurer Kyle Chy said. 

Every year, the current District Governor picks a service project for all the Key Clubs to raise money towards, and this year Doyle chose Camp Sunshine. Camp Sunshine inspires hope in families affected by life-threatening childhood illness. 

The Law Key Club raised a total of $1,200 for the cause through a kickball tournament hosted at school. During the recognition session every school had a representative share how much they raised and which cause they were putting it towards. 

“My favorite part of DECON was the recognition session,” Doyle said. “The District Board dressed up, and we spent the night giving out awards. It was so much fun being able to recognize the accomplishments that have occurred throughout the year.”

The club’s senior officers officially said their goodbyes at the farewell breakfast on the last day. After years of dedication, their time volunteering through the Law Key Club came to an end.  

“I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be involved in the Key Club,” co-president Hanna Keating said. “I learned about leadership and the best way to collaborate with my peers. Some of my best friends were people I met through the club and I know everything I learned will continue to help me in the future.”

(Photo courtesy amarantes.com)

By Ella Franzman – Sports Editor

The Jonathan Law Senior Prom is being held on May 12 at Amarante’s in New Haven.

The senior class is super excited to finally have their Prom. Last year, Jonathan Law decided to switch Prom to senior year and Cotillion to junior year. 

“I think it will be a great turnout and I am hoping that a majority if not all of our grade attends,” senior class president Macie Rascoll said. 

The senior class is expecting to have about 200 students at Prom which will include the senior class and any guests students wish to bring. 

“The Senior Prom is an event that literally takes about a year to plan – there is a lot involved in the process,” Principal Mr. Darcy said. “Our senior class advisors, Mrs. Francisco and Ms. Russell, planned the event along with members of the senior class.”

The Prom venue was booked last year and the Prom Committee has been coming up with ideas since about February. 

“Students should expect a large, beautiful venue with a familiar Red Carpet theme where they will have tons of food, music, a photo booth, and loads of fun,” Rascoll said. 

Since each Prom typically has a theme, this year’s Prom will be a theme for seniors and by seniors. The hope is that everyone who attends Prom this year will remember this event for the rest of their lives. 

After Prom, students are invited to attend Post Prom at the Sports Center in Shelton.

“I’m most excited for Post Prom because it is going to be an enjoyable night with my class before we all graduate and we will be able to hangout all together,” senior Hailey Oliver said.

Students are super excited to make memories that will last forever together, since the Prom will mark one of the last events when they are together with their entire class. 

“Students can expect great food, photo booth fun, something to take home with them, poppin’ music from the best in-house DJ and so much more,” Fransisco said. 

The plan is to make this the best last dance for them by creating a theme that everybody likes as well as an environment that is super fun and inclusive.

“My sincere hope is that students understand this and live in the moment so they keep lasting memories as they move on to the next step in their life,” Darcy said.

The Prom Committee doesn’t want to give all of their secrets away about Prom but they are super pumped to create a fun atmosphere. 

“Since I was able to go to Prom last year I’m super excited to go again,” senior Jack Aliberti said. “Getting to go to the Sports Center and just having full and unlimited access to all that they offer is so cool.”

(Photo courtesy @mrsdiprimio)

By Quinn Willett – Staff Reporter

Law’s National Math Honor Society hosted a school-wide Pi-Lympics event on March 8 and 9.

Mr. Ruzbarsky is the advisor for the National Math Honor Society. He and a group of NMHS students helped plan the event which included events such as Pin The Radius On The Circle, Ring Toss, Ring Hook, Basketball, Draw The Best Circle, Guess How Many In The Jar, Memorize The Digits Of Pi and How Many Words Start With “Pi.”

“I first met with the officers of NMHS to run by an idea that (math teacher) Mrs. Francisco had to make our Pi day events more enthusiastic and interactive for the whole school,” Ruzbarsky said. “We then brought the idea to all the members and we voted on it. It was then a process for officers, members, and myself to coordinate how we wanted to do it. It was a lot of work but it paid off because everyone seemed to have a lot of fun.”

Throughout the two-day event, students could bring money to donate to Livfree Foundation. Those donations helped each class team earn more points.

In the end, Francisco’s Period 7 Algebra II class came out on top. 

“Last year we donated to the Livfree foundation and we wanted to pick them again since we had such an interest last year and it’s for a good cause – childhood cancer,” Ruzbarsky said. “We will probably look to donate to a different foundation next year and make it a yearly goal of ours.”

Many students helped participate in making this school event happen. Senior Aislinn Burns, who is a member of the National Math Honor Society, planned several of the events.

“My favorite part of the Pilympics was definitely seeing all of our ideas come to life and watching students enjoy a lot of the activities with their math classes,” Burns said. “It also seemed like students had a lot of fun and it was good to get them up and moving during their math classes.” 

(Photo courtesy Advocate staff)

By Kriuthi Nandam – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s Business and Journalism classes recently hosted a very special guest speaker.

Famous sportscaster Dan Patrick, who currently hosts The Dan Patrick Show and who formerly worked for ESPN, spoke on March 13 to a group of Law students about the lessons learned in his decades-long career in broadcasting. Patrick has also appeared in several Adam Sandler movies and has covered all major sports and the Olympics.

During his visit, Patrick talked about taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. He also discussed the importance of young people believing in themselves and about the need to put maximum effort into working towards your dreams.

Patrick said he hoped his message reached all of the students in the audience, not just those looking for a career in sports broadcasting.

“My message was not really directed towards an athlete or someone who wants to work in sports,” Patrick said. “It is for everybody and I hope they looked at it in a perspective that benefits them.” 

Freshman David Guery said the advice Patrick gave was very motivating.

“Some the advice he gave was to Be sure of what you want to do so you won’t regret it later on,” Guery said. “You need to be prepared if you want to reach your goal.”

Freshman Aryan Sikhinam said the whole assembly was inspirational and uplifting. He said he liked the question and answer part of the assembly as other students could ask about Patrick’s journey.

“He told us never to give up on our dreams and to pursue them, even if you fail the first time,” Sikhinam said. 

Business teacher Mrs. Israelite, who organized Patrick’s visit, said that she hopes students learned some valuable lessons from Patrick’s visit.

“I loved that part of Dan Patrick’s message was for students to follow their dreams, but he also provided a road map to success by explaining the importance of hard work, determination, experience, volunteering and internships,” Israelite said.