Election Day is Thursday, October 6 at Jonathan Law.
There are six positions available per class: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two Senators. Students need 25 signatures from their classmates and four signatures from their teachers to be on the voting ballot.
Students will also have to prepare a speech to run and present it in front of their class.
“Each class, freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior elect students to represent them on matters pertaining to their class,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “They organize events, fundraising, or if there are some issues or concerns that they want to bring to the school’s attention, then that would be a way to filter that information.”
Speeches and signatures are due on October 3 and should be turned in to Mr. Boynton in the ISS room.
Students need to maintain a GPA above 2.0 to keep their position in the Student Council.
“Any student can apply for student government,” Boynton said. “There’s a procedure. We have elections each year and we break it down by class. Students will be required to get a petition, and get 25 signatures from people in their class.”
Presidents have to attend and conduct all meetings, delegate responsibilities, and be committed to the Student Council.
Vice Presidents are second in command and are to assist the President in all of their activities and endeavors. Treasurers keep track of income and expenses on a spreadsheet and lead fundraising events.
Class Secretaries keep track of meetings and type proposals and letters for the Class Council. They also creates announcements and flyers.
The two Senators attend meetings and help in voicing their class’ concerns.
“I think it’s an amazing way for students to get involved with school and for students to take on tasks that can set them up in the future,” senior Hamza Bhutta said. “It’s also a good way of preparing students to vote once they are 18.”
Law science teacher Mr. Morazzini feels that all students can benefit from running for class office.
“I feel that student elections are a good introduction to students starting to take on leadership roles,” Morazzini said.
Many students are running for office because they want to see a change in the school and in their class. They want to have a fun and exciting school year.
“I’m running because I want to actually do something for me and my peers,” freshman President candidate Walat Balu said. “I’ll make sure that we don’t have a boring freshman year and have fun events for the Class of 2026.”
Mr. Beardsley joined Law’s staff this year as a history teacher.
In the classroom, Beardsley is excited to share his passion for history with his students.
“I want to provide my students with as many authentic learning experiences as possible,” Beardsley said.
Beardsley is a member of the Law Class of 2016. After graduating from Law, he went to the University of New Haven and graduated with a Bachelors degree in History in 2020. He then went to Sacred Heart University and graduated in May of 2022 with a Masters in Education.
Outside of school, Beardsley plays basketball as often as he can. He also loves to watch his favorite sports teams – the Mets, Jets, and the Knicks – whenever he gets the chance.
Two weeks into the fall sports season, the Jonathan Law boys and girls cross country teams are off to an incredible start. These teams have put in a tremendous amount of time practicing to get better.
Coach Phillips, Coach Schulte, and Coach Loschiavo have been supporting these student-athletes daily after school and on the weekends. These veterans know the ins and outs of every course, and are ready to develop and motivate all runners.
All-State runners Liam Fedigan and Claire Moulton have hit the ground running. They showed their dominance on the Sheehan course last week and are ready to lead the team to victory in future Invitationals.
In the first meet of the season at Sheehan, the top five Law runners for the boys team were Fedigan, who ran a 17:19, Jake Ackley at 20:51, Matt Berendt at 21:51, Dallas Fasanella 21:28, and then Tanner Matchett at 22:40.
The Law girls came out strong and were the largest girls cross country team in attendance at Sheehan last week. Moulton finished second overall.
Fedigan has been a leader for the boys for three years now. He has had two terrific All-State seasons, and he looks to have an outstanding senior year. He passes his work ethic on to the other runners and is constantly working to motivate the team to try their best.
Coach Phillips is excited to see what the boys team can accomplish this season.
“I have always looked forward to the beginning of the season,” Phillips said. “The excitement for a cross country runner when his goals are met. As we work toward the league in-state meets, our daily practices contain hill work out and finishing strong at the end of a race with good form. We always talk about working together to lower our time. I have always said that if we can get five people under 20 minutes we would be competitive with most teams and we are getting close to that point already. We are led by Liam Fedigan, but already seeing lots of improvement by Jake Ackley, Matt Berendt, and Dallas Fasanella along with Tanner Matchett in our top five.”
Moulton also set high standards for the team and relentlessly encourages everyone to run their best race.
“I’m very excited for the season and happy to be back together with the team,” Moulton said. “Something I want to accomplish this year is getting my time to sub-21 (minutes) and to make the First Team SCC this year, which I hope to do considering freshman year I made SCC honors. Then last year I made the SCC second team. Making the first team would definitely be fun.”
Coach Loschiavo has high hopes for the teams as well.
“I am so excited to see for the season to start,” Loschiavo said. “I feel like we have a great team this year and a special group of runners that are eager to run and strive for success whether inside or outside of the classroom. One thing I want to accomplish this year is to have every runner at least run better than they did at the start of the season and watch them progress. I think some of the keys that might help law push toward SCCs and states is working every day to get better and better and to put in work even outside of regular practices. I feel like this will be better for you in the long run and make the team have a better result at SCCs and states. The number one thing I would like to accomplish this year is I would love is to see is our top 7 run under 21 minutes. The reason for this makes us more competitive when we get to the bigger state and SCC meets.”
The team is motivated to compete and is on pace to make its mark in the Connecticut cross country scene.
With the new school year beginning, many Jonathan Law clubs our starting back up. One club everyone is excited for is the Fishing Club, which is run by science teacher Mr. Morazzini. This year, the Fishing Club is finally allowed to go back on the water and cast their lines. Advocate Sports Editor Gabe Garnett talked with Morazzini about the club’s plans for the year.
Gabe Garnett: What are you most excited about for the club?
Mr. Morazzini: I’m most excited to gain new members who are interested in learning more about the sport of fishing. I’m also excited to take local fishing trips and conduct workshops about fishing tactics
GG: Who are the leaders of the group this year?
MM: This year we are working on a new leadership structure for the club. We do not have any official leaders yet, but we have a few students who have demonstrated strong leadership qualities.
GG: What do new members who join have to look forward to?
MM: New members can look forward to fishing locally for striped bass, bluefish, porgy, sea bass, blackfish and other local species. They will find a very friendly group of students interested in fishing.
GG: Do students have to bring their own equipment or can they join without anything?
MM: The Fishing Club received generous donations of equipment last year which we will be using this year.
GG: How do new members join the club?
MM: Join our Fishing Club Google Classroom to hear announcements about meeting times and dates. The code is 5j2fd36.
Jonathan Law’s Natural Helpers Club is starting back up for the 2022-2023 school year.
This club aims to help the Jonathan Law community through various activities and community service projects. The club is run by Ms. Smuniewski, an English teacher at Jonathan Law.
“Natural Helpers is a club that helps to build the Law community and facilitate different events throughout the year with the purpose of bonding and stress relief,” Natural Helpers President Skylar Johnson said. “We offer many opportunities for volunteerism and leadership.”
The club has a focus on mental health and student well-being. It aims to be a support for students at Jonathan Law.
“One of the best things about advising this club is that I get to work with students who are dedicated to the well-being and mental health of their peers,” Smuniewski said. “I love the new activities that club members bring to the table since our needs as a school change from year to year. They are always thinking of the ‘next best thing’ when it comes to making sure all students feel supported and welcomed.”
The club runs Law’s annual De-Stress Fest which aims to help students relax during finals week. Last year, there was an ice cream truck, petting zoo, and various games and activities for students to partake in.
“I think the De-Stress Fest is important because it makes students feel like their community cares about them,” Vice President Giuliana Aguilar. “It’s also important because helps everyone’s mental health by creating fun activities to destress after exams.”
This year, the Natural Helpers has a lot of fun activities planned for Jonathan Law students. In addition to the De-Stress Fest, there will be many other activities and projects run by the club.
“In the past, we’ve hosted a variety of different programs and campaigns such as Lunch Bunch, a kindness rock competition before Thanksgiving, and a De-Stress Fest before final exams. We intend on making last year’s rock competition an annual event with prizes for the top three rocks, as well as building on the success from last year’s De-Stress Fest,” Smuniewski said. “We also plan to incorporate new mindfulness activities throughout the school year and think of new ways to ensure that all students feel safe and connected in our school.”
This year, joining the club will be a different experience. To join, students must pick up an application from room 206 to become a part of the club.
“Right now, we are going off of an application based process,” Johnson said. “Our first meeting is on Tuesday, September 20th, after school in Room 206. Everyone is welcome to come and get a feel for the club and grab an application from Ms. Smuniewski afterwards if they’re interested.”
The Jonathan Law choir is starting to look sharp – and is ready for a new year.
The choir has been up and running for a few weeks now and have welcomed its newest members into the ensemble. There were many new freshmen who found choir as a community where they feel comfortable and welcomed which helped their adjustment to high school.
“The start of my freshman year was a huge change and an adjustment, I never really realized how many friends I made,” freshman Lexi Velez said. “Right when I entered school everyone was so welcoming to me, helping me and supporting me.”
Many of the upperclassmen have been stepping up and sharing their experiences with newer members, encouraging them to break out of their shells. They have had a handful of community-building events to welcome and show support for younger members.
“I am so happy and proud to say that I am a part of the choir community,” Velez said. “I think choir has helped me in high school and is going to help me more in high school, to not be afraid of doing things, to shine, never give up, always think of positive things and ways, and get out of my comfort zone and I believe that Mrs. Jones and the choir will be the one place I feel comfortable and the most welcomed.”
Many seniors have reflected on how much the group has affected them and their high school experience.
“Choir impacted my high school experience because music provided me a place to communicate with friends and to connect with others interested in music,” senior Choir Community member Deven Rivera said. “Advice I would give to underclassmen is to find a group and stick with it so you have something you can go to in rough times and a community to look back on that accepted you.”
Many have noticed how the ensemble has encouraged their personal growth and their ability to adapt and adjust to new experiences.
“Joining choir was one of the best decisions I have ever made, I have had so much fun singing and making memories, and have met some of my best friends through the choir,” senior Choir Committee member Marisa Laviano said. “Everyone at law and especially the music department is so welcoming and will accept you for who you are and be there when you need anything.”
One member of the choir, recently joined the marching and concert band to pursue his interest in percussion and mallet based instruments.
“Being part of both ensembles is extremely fun, it allows me to pursue my musical interests as a percussionist and a singer,” junior Section Leader Jasper Chu said. “However, time management isn’t going to be easy because I have to juggle homework, practice for both ensembles, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work but it’s most likely going to help me because my time management skills are going to improve.”
There are many performances to look forward to for the choir, such as, CMEA Regionals and All-State. The performances for Music In Our School’s Month is another exciting performance which will continue with participation from Foran’s high school choir.
Without having to worry about restrictions, the choir is looking forward to more field trips without having to worry about many cancellations or adjustments.
“It’s so refreshing to know we can plan for events and count on them happening,” Choir Director Kelly Jones said. “For instance, we have several upcoming events planned to perform, field trips to gain more musical expertise, and enjoy time together through consign experiences.”
These performances allow the group the ability to strengthen and growth their musical knowledge. Veteran members have learned so much, and have been providing as much advice as they can to ease the stress of high school.
“A piece of advice I would give to an underclassman is to not be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone,” senior Choir Comity member Kalli Kinsman said. “It’s definitely easier said than done, but everyone in the choir has your back and is there to catch you when you fall.”
The choir is a welcoming family who has many exciting performances and trips in the works and many other performances to look forward to.
The Jonathan Law football season began win a win over Bethel on September 9.
The team is looking to start strong this season under head coach Mr. Haley and captains John Neider and Jack Sellman.
“Our team has been preparing for Bethel by studying film, working hard during practice, and by staying focused,” Neider said. “We are staying healthy and keeping ourself in good shape to prepare for the long season ahead of us.”
On September 2, Law faced Brookfield in a scrimmage to get prepared for the regular season.
“No one is ever fully prepared to play Week 1, so we treated Brookfield as Week 1,” Haley said. “I believe we’re ready to go, and if you ask the team, I think they’d agree.”
The football team finished 6-4 last year.
“Our goal remains the same – to first represent our values in the way we conduct ourselves; second, win the division; and finally, put ourselves in a position to be practicing on November 25th,” Haley said.
This year, Law is in Class M for the state playoffs and the SCC (Southern Connecticut Conference) for the regular season games.
The team opens up their season with two away games but get to suit up in their black uniforms for East Lyme as their home opener on September 23.
Although the season has just started, Haley is looking forward to two very important games in the second half of the season.
“Game-wise, no big secret here, Branford and Sheehan,” Haley said. “All the one week at a time cliches apply, but those two are definitely on my radar.”
In the season opener, Law defeated Bethel 46-0.
Cam Upchurch returned an interception for a touchdown and junior Amadeus Betancourt had two touchdowns to lead the Lawmen to victory.
“This game doesn’t matter much next week,” junior Michael Neider said. “We will look back on the game but then move on from it and improve for next week.”
Shagoury attended UConn for her undergraduate degree. While there, Shagoury majored in English and History and then later attended the University of Bridgeport where she received her Masters in English Secondary Education.
Outside of school, Shagoury loves dancing, reading, and working out. Shagoury also has a passion for makeup, and in college, she worked as a professional makeup artist. On the weekends and after she also teaches her own fitness classes.
Shagoury said she is excited to be a member of the Law faculty.
“Everyone is super friendly and helpful,” Shagoury said. “I love it. With the new year starting there’s lots to look forward to. I am looking forward to all of the school events that Law has as well as watching my students grow throughout the year.”
The Jonathan Law boys soccer team started the fall season Saturday at home against Hamden.
They look to keep the momentum going after an impressive season last year. Their record was 16-2-1, which is the best record that Law has had in over 20 years
“This season I’m most excited about stepping up and competing against the best teams in the state erach game we play, because If we want to be the best we have to beat the best and our main goal is to win our division and states.” Boys Soccer Coach Mr. Gruber said. “It won’t be easy but we will be a hard working team that never quits and strives to get better each and every day.”
The boys soccer team has lost a lot of players since last year. Last year’s team had 12 seniors, so the new and remaining players have some pretty big cleats to fill.
“We are feeling pretty good about how we are going to do,” Senior Captain Oren Sedelmaier said. “We lost a lot of people last year but we have returning players who are ready to step up into a bigger role.”
The upperclassmen, while still setting goals for themselves this year, also have their sights set on preparing the underclassmen to step up in the coming years.
“We have a very young team with a lot of potential.” junior Cooper Fitzgerald said. “Their development is my top priority for this season, as it can set us up for success next season.”
With these expectations, the newer players are setting their own personal goals for this season as well.
“My main goal for the season is to make the state tournament and become a team that can compete with the other top teams in the state.” Sophomore Ryan Nastasia said. “We play some of the best teams in the state, including SCC champions and Class L semifinalists Xavier, SCC semifinalists Notre Dame-West Haven, Fairfield Prep who is always a strong State Champion contender, and Daniel Hand who has won 3 of the last 4 Class L State Championships.”
Mrs. Lopez is a new Nutrition & Culinary Arts teacher at Jonathan Law High School. Advocate News Editor Olivia Augustine interviewed Lopez about the start of the school year.
Olivia Augustine: What are you looking forward to this year?
ML: I am looking forward to getting to know all of my students and the incredible staff at JLHS.
OA: What do you like most about being a teacher?
ML: I love the opportunity to learn from my students.
OA: What classes are you teaching?
ML: I teach Nutrition & Culinary arts and I like to think I teach being respectful and kind to one another.
OA: What are your hobbies?
ML: I don’t really have particular hobbies, but, as cliche as it sounds, my favorite place on earth is by the ocean. I also love spending my time with family and friends.
OA: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
ML: I became a teacher later in life than most teachers. I decided to become a teacher because I volunteered for years in my children’s schools while they were growing up. I saw how dedicated their teachers were and the profound effect that they had on my children’s lives.
Jonathan Law principal Mr. Darcy is looking forward to his second year leading the Lawmen. Social Media Editor Zack Sulkis interviewed Darcy about the 2022-2023 school year
Zack Sulkis: What are you looking forward to most about this school year?
Mr. Darcy: I’m looking forward to experiencing a “more normal” school year where students and staff can communicate and collaborate more often. I want to see creative, engaging lessons and projects that allow students to learn from each other.
ZS: What are some events at Law this school year you are looking forward to?
MD: I’m looking forward to all the events happening this year without any issues with covid. This includes homecoming, plays, athletic events, dances, etc..
ZS: What is one important thing that the staff and students should know about your second year as principal?
MD: I’d like everyone to know that this is OUR school. Everyone shares the responsibility in making sure we do the best for each other. We work together to solve problems and anyone who has a great idea should speak up so we can move our school forward in a positive way.
ZS: How do you feel your first year went as principal at Law?
MD: I feel I achieved my personal goal of getting to know the students, staff and building as much as possible. I also feel the students did a great job of adapting to all the protocol changes that happened last year. It was a learning experience for everyone.
ZS: What was your motivation for making so many new rules last year?
MD: There is never a real motivation for putting rules in place. Students, families and staff talked to me a lot about things that were getting in the way of the school running safely and properly. We worked together to apply strategies that helped everyone feel heard and supported.
ZS: What’s your overall goal for the school in making new rules?
MD: Any rules or policies should always be updated and adapted. If something worked five years ago, it may not work today. A school community should always be reviewing what we do so we are able to make things better. This includes literally everything (rules, policies, procedures, grading practices, teaching, etc..).
ZS: What are your thoughts on all of the new teachers this school year?
MD: We had a few staff members retire and one leave the teaching profession this summer. It’s never easy to see people move on, but I feel we made some terrific hires. During the interview process candidates had to show they would not only be the best teacher for our students, but also fit into our positive climate. I’m confident in all the hires we made this summer.
ZS: Any advice for the incoming freshmen this year?
MD: My advice for the freshmen is to get involved. Join a club, play an instrument, sing, play a sport. Do something to be connected to our school community. The more students are involved, the better they do academically as well.
ZS: Any advice for this year’s seniors?
MD: My advice to seniors is to enjoy the time while you are here. When you are a senior in high school, you’re always thinking “what’s next?” and you can miss the great things that happen in the present. Soak it all in because I guarantee you will miss our school when you leave us.
ZS: What does it mean to you to be a Lawman?
MD: The staff and students have done their best to define this coming into this school year. At Law we are Leaders, Scholars, Advocates, and Family. Being a Lawman means doing your best for yourself, your family and your community. We should all be proud to be a Lawman everyday. I know I am.
The Jonathan Law Marching Band is bringing it back, ready to perform an explosive halftime show this year.
There are many exciting performances for the Marching Band. Their first performance this year will be in the Connecticut Day parade at the Big E on September 16.
The band has also been preparing their halftime show for the first home football game in a few weeks.
“This year I’m looking forward to my first year actually marching in the halftime show,” said junior Isabelle Maselli. “I’m excited to see the places we get to go to share our music especially since COVID has mostly cleared up with restrictions.”
The Marching Band hasn’t been able to perform a full halftime show since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students are unfamiliar with the process of building a show and executing it by the first home football game.
Newer members of the band, such as the freshman, were welcomed into the process early on with the help of band camp. Throughout band camp, they were learning music and how to march while playing and starting to become comfortable with their new school environment.
“I felt anxious about coming to a new school and finding my classes but being a member of the band has eased my transition into high school,” said freshman Abigail Jenkins. “During summer band rehearsals and band camp, I was able to meet new people and explore different aspects of the school.”
Band camp was a great opportunity for new members to learn their way around the school and be welcomed into a community that will always be there to support them.
“The start of my freshman year has definitely been very stressful but the band is so welcoming and helpful especially when I need something,” said freshman Melissa Servas. “They continue to talk to me during the school day even if it’s just a simple ‘hi’ in the hallway.”
The ability to have a group of people who are familiar with one another before starting the academic year was proven to have eased the transition back to school.
Many returning members of the band have been looking forward to the start-up of the concert season and Jazz Band.
“This year, I am really looking forward to the concert season,” said senior Jacob Swenning. “One performance, in particular, I am very excited about is performing for the Jazz Band because I had a great experience last year and believe I will have an even better experience this year.”
The Jazz Band has participated in a handful of festivals over the past year and plans to continue to throughout the year.
There are many performances that will allow tremendous growth within the band over the course of the school year and many members have set goals for themselves to achieve.
“My goal this year is to become a better trumpet player,” said junior Hayden Chetwynd. “I hope to have a successful transition from a brass instrument to percussion between the Jazz and Marching Band.”
Chetwynd is one of the handful of members who participate in multiple music ensembles. Branching out into the Jazz Band has granted him the opportunity to learn new instruments and become a stronger and well-rounded musician.
“This year I think I have already gotten so much better as a musician, said Maselli. “I’ve had a great role model, Bridget Dywer, to watch and help me grow, and hope I can have that effect on the younger people in my section this year and next.”
The veteran members have clearly shown their dedication to the music ensemble by taking the lead within their sections and providing guidance to younger members.
“If I could give an underclassmen advice it would definitely be to ask for help,” said senior Chelsea Abbey. “I’d also advise practicing on your own time if you have it because you’ll be able to prepare yourself for events and you’ll be able to focus on what you need to improve on.”
Band Director Mr. Pelaggi plans to improve the performance of the band’s concerts, parades, and marching shows.
“I have been incorporating some new strategies in my ensemble classes by breaking down my scores in different ways,” Pelaggi said. “When I think about the theory behind our music more, I understand it and the music better, and I can teach it more efficiently.”
This year the band has welcomed a new member, Michael Barile, a student teacher who’s working toward a degree in music.
He will be starting by taking over two of the music technology classes and theory classes first, to then moving on to ensembles and running rehearsals on his own.
“It has been an interesting new experience and so far has been a really cool process for me,” said Pelaggi. “I’ve been much more critical of my teaching because I am being viewed as an example for a teacher every time I am in front of students.”
Barile has been a great addition to the band community and has shown much talent within the music department.
For the first time, a member of the Jonathan Law High School Band has been chosen to perform in The All-National Honor Ensemble Concert Band.
“Noah and I, (a member of the Foran band) are the first musicians from Milford to ever make it to Nationals,” said junior assistant drum major Christopher Rickard. “I want to represent Milford and Law well, I look forward to performing with such a talented group of musicians, and I look forward to meeting new people.
Rickard spent hours rehearsing the piece “Sonata” for Euphonium with the help of Dave Pelaggi and private instructor Art Hovey.
The band will be performing from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., on November 6 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, in Washington D.C.
This is an incredible opportunity for Rickard that will allow him to experience a new dynamic of musicians and perform in the country’s capital.
The Jonathan Law Drama Club is up and running again and they are getting ready to show their production of “The Play That Goes Wrong.”
The club is very excited to be back. Their last play was an adaptation of “Freaky Friday,” a musical, and now “The Play That Goes Wrong” has a bit of a different twist to it.
“The fall production that we will be holding this year is titled ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ and as for the plot of the show, it is indeed strange, but overall unique,” senior Drama Club President Sofia Mazzella said. “The play is about a group of actors who are putting on a murder mystery play for an audience, but what makes the show earn its title is that every single thing imaginable goes wrong….actors forget their lines, set pieces break, cues are off, and technical details are greatly flawed.”
Students in the Drama Club want more people to join, because it can be a great place to make new friends and act on stage.
“My favorite part of being in Drama Club is how welcoming and kind the community is,” sophomore Sarah Ahmed said. “You can be yourself and have fun and make so many new friends, it’s amazing and I would say joining Drama is one of the best decisions I made going into high school.”
The club has many goals they want to achieve to make this play work and have people enjoy it.
“My goal is to make this another great show with hopefully an even bigger turnout than past years,” senior Shruti Simhadri said. “Expect some promo coming your way soon.”
Club members also want to improve on their acting skills and have a chance to shine on stage.
“I hope to be a part of the main cast and get to improve as an actor,” junior Faith Santiago said.
Everyone in the club wants to just have fun and enjoy their time making memories on the stage, but also making memories off the stage as well.
“My main goal for being in the club is to just have fun and enjoy it because it is going to be funny and I am so excited,” junior Hailey Russo said.
The Jonathan Law girls soccer team kicked off their season on Thursday, September 8 with a home game against Hamden.
The team’s next home game is September 27 against Lauralton Hall, and the team could not feel more confident about upcoming games. With several incoming freshmen and the varsity team growing, the girls soccer team is in good shape for the 2022 season.
“This summer the girls spent two days a week conditioning and completing agility workouts,” head coach Mrs. Francisco said. “ The girls are also participating in summer league games to prepare for this season.”
The team has many goals set for this season, one of them being making it to states.
“My goals for this season would be to have a winning record and make it to states,” senior captain Elly Van Waveren said. “I hope the team can connect passes and have chemistry on and off the field to improve performance.”
The teams has multiple big games coming up, including an away game with rival Foran on October 10.
“The Foran game is the most important game of the season,” senior captain Demi Carrapico said. “Because Foran is our rival school everyone comes out to watch, making it really exciting to play.”
The team has another game against Foran on October 27 at home, which is the last game of the regular season.
“I am really excited for this season,” sophomore Maddy Baranowsky said. “We have some big games coming up and I think that our team will play really well together, despite losing some of our strongest players.”
The girls soccer team lost several seniors from last year’s team, but Francisco is optimistic about this team’s performance this season.
“Graduating seniors will always be missed, however this season’s captains are doing an incredible job of stepping up and helping the younger players find success at the same time,” Francisco said. “The best players make those around them great’ and I think that encompasses our team to a ‘T.’ I’m excited to see all of the success that our team earns.”
Senior captain and goalkeeper Sabrina Lawless is not worried about the team’s performance this year either.
“I think the team will really pull through,” said Lawless. “Although we lost strong players, I believe that our team will be able to play together well and have the ability to build chemistry with one another to better ourselves on the field.”
Florian graduated from UConn with a Bachelor’s degree in Allied Human Sciences and a minor in Psychology. She then studied abroad in Australia for six months at Macquarie University.
She got her first Master’s degree in the Art of Teaching at Tampa University and her second Masters’ in Building Leadership and Administration at Mercy College.
Florian’s teaching experience is extensive. She taught AP Biology in Tampa, Florida. Then, she moved to Rhode Island and taught Physics, Biology, and Chemistry at Immaculate Conception Academy, an all-girls Catholic boarding school.
After that, she came back to Connecticut and started teaching at Greenwich High School and their alternative school. She also coached soccer and lacrosse there. Afterward, she moved to Southington and started teaching at The Academy in Milford.
Florian then had three children in three years and came to Law after her maternity leave was over.
“I haven’t been in the classroom in two years because of the pandemic and having kids so I am ready to get back to interacting with peers and students,” Florian said.
Outside of school, Florian is also a very adventurous person. She has traveled a lot. She also enjoys scuba diving, skydiving, skydiving, bungee jumping, hiking, camping, and much more. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and creating art. She is also a very sporty person, having played soccer, lacrosse, and volleyball.
She is so excited to be teaching now that COVID-19 restrictions have lessened.
“The students so far seem like a great bunch too,” Florian said. “It is nice to see more socializing and normalcy after a pandemic.”
The Jonathan Law Teaching and Learning Commons (TLC) and Support Center have some new additions and rules with the new school year.
The TLC is an open spot for students to study or get academic help. In previous years, the Support Center has been located in the back of the TLC, but this year it has been separated into Math and English Support Centers in designated rooms in the TLC.
There are many new rules and guidelines about the TLC as well as changes with the Support Center.
“This year the upperclassmen now have study hall in the TLC,” Library Media Specialist Ms. Munday said. “Instead of reporting to study hall and getting a pass to come to the TLC, students can come directly here.”
While the upperclassmen privilege is new, there most other rules stayed the same, such including the sign-in system.
“We are keeping the Library Trac sign-in system,” Mundy said. “Students need to sign in when they come to the room for any reason. If they have a study they also need to check in with their study hall teacher. For new students they just need to know their five digit lunch code (or the last five numbers of their Google password) and log into Library Trac that way.”
The Support Center has also had some new adjustments with the beginning of the new school year.
“The Support Center is in two rooms in the TLC: Math is in one room and English in another. There’s nothing different other than the location,” Mundy said. “It gives more privacy to students who are working and frees up more space in the main room of the TLC.”
The Support Center also has teachers that are there to help students with a specific subject.
“The Support Center is a place where all students can come down for Math, Science, English, Social Studies, group work, or a quiet place with a knowledgeable person nearby to answer possible questions,” math teacher Mr. Ruzbarsky said. “The Support Center helps all students achieve their academic goals by helping them in a non-traditional classroom way to explore the misconceptions they have to help them fully understand what they are working on.”
For students, the new TLC rules and Support Center opinions can vary.
“I may be biased but I like the new upperclassmen rule in the TLC,” Junior Emily Lo said. “It regulates the amount of people in the room making it easier to study and work. I use the TLC and Support enter a lot and I believe it is a great way for students to work on their skills and improve academically.”
Many students and teachers value the Support Center and TLC, no matter the changes.
“Our goal is to help all students with any academic, organizational, or study skill need,” English Teacher Mrs. Goldbeck said. “The teachers look for ways to improve the Center each year so that students can reach their highest level of achievement.”
The Jonathan Law girls volleyball team kicked off the new season with a win over Brookfield on September 12.
The girls have been putting in work everyday and have high hopes for the season. The team is led by three captains: seniors Paige Jolley and Nicolina Salanto and junior Ashley Borecki.
“For this upcoming season we are definitely right on the cusp of being ready,” Salanto said. “We lost five seniors so this is a new group at the varsity level but we’ve been working hard since the first day of tryouts and the growth and improvement is very visible day to day.”
The team has a busy game schedule with 19 games between September 12 and October 26.
“It will take some time to prepare and get used to playing next to a new person,” head coach Ms. Loch said.
The team is very excited and hopes to show their skill in the state tournament.
“We all have high expectations as a team and we are constantly striving to get better,” Salanto said. “Our goals are simply to not only qualify for states and SCCs but to go deep into the tournament.”
There is a lot to look forward to as the team moves into the start of their first game.
“This season I am just very excited to play, we have a really solid team with awesome people,” Borecki said. “The dynamic is so fun, and I can’t wait to see it all come together on the court come game time.”
The girls always have a lot of fun together and bond really well. Players on the team often look forward to simple things like being around their friends.
“I am most excited for the bus rides and games,” junior Helen Chizmazia said. “I also enjoy just having fun with my teammates and getting to know everyone.”
The girls also have different goals they want to achieve individually.
“I really want to work more on my swing and get it the best it can be so I can get kills,” Borecki said. “Also, defensively I want to be more consistent with my passes and make it easier on the setter.”
Overall, all the players aim to improve themselves to make the team even stronger than years prior.
Mr. Barcello is back at Law as the new Technology teacher.
Barcello had previously taught at Law for seven years. In 2022, he moved on to the Fairfield School District, but now he has returned to Milford.
Before teaching, he went to Boston University, and while there, he majored in Journalism.
When not in school, Barcello loves to cook, listen to music, and play sports, specifically disc golf.
This year, Barcello is mostly looking forward to the Powder Puff game. It is one of his favorite events of the year.
“I love the Law community,” Barcello said. “When my job opened up, I jumped at the chance to come back because I missed the sense of community that we have here at Law.”
The Jonathan Law Key Club is back up and running and will have its first meeting of the year on September 14 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.
Law’s Key Club will be run by Lieutenant Governor and Co-President Caroline Doyle and Co-President Hanna Keating. They are looking forward to their upcoming projects and are ready to see some new faces.
Key Club is a great opportunity for students to participate as volunteers and to earn community service hours.
“This year we are hoping to get involved in our community, hold some service projects at meetings, and fundraise, especially for Camp Sunshine, which is my Governor’s Project focus this year,” Doyle said.
Key Club hopes to successfully fund children with cancer to attend Camp Sunshine. For the kids, the camp is a great opportunity to have fun and do activities.
“I am most excited for all the volunteer work we will be doing this year,” Keating said. “We are working on a district project for Camp Sunshine so most of our fundraising will go to them this year which is really exciting. I think Key Club helps me as a student because it surrounds me with others with similar mindsets and motivates me to do better.”
Key Club is a great way for students to engage at school and meet others who share their interests.
“This year we will have a lot of new activities and we will be focusing a lot on raising money for Camp Sunshine which is a great cause that provides a fun camp for kids with cancer,” senior Maya Rosado said. “I think it’s important for students to join the club because it is an easy way to get your volunteer hours.”
Members say that helping the community is the most rewarding part of joining Key Club.
“Key Club has been very beneficial to me during my time at Law so far,” Secretary Skylar Johnson said. “I’ve met some really great friends, gotten closer with the Law community as a whole, and felt the joy that accompanies volunteerism.”
Students can stay busy this year and grow closer to Law with the help of the volunteer opportunities and activities offered.
“We were able to go to a Decon trip last year, and I was able to learn about treasure training and take care of the key club finances,” Treasure Kyle Chy said. “It benefited me by giving me volunteer hours, leadership positions, and there is an officer for every freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior as well.”
The Jonathan Law girls swim team recently dove into its fall season.
The swimmers have been preparing by doing dry land captains practice and swimming over the summer. Team members are hoping to have a successful season.
“I think as a team we will do really well and I think we will compete really well,” sophomore Ella Franzman said. “I’m super excited to see how we do this season.”
Franzman is a sophomore who has been on the team for two years.
The season’s first meet was on September 8 at 5 p.m. at Foran against Woodland.
“The first meet went well,” junior Gianna Gagliardi said. “We, unfortunately, did lose by 12 points to Woodland High School but we kept our sportsmanship and still had a good time and competed to our best ability.”
Gianna Gagliardi placed second in the 200 freestyle at her last meet.
“The people who stood out at this meet were Natalia Gagliardi and Olivia Coddington,” Gagliardi said. “Natalia made states in her 50-yard freestyle and her 100-yard freestyle”.
Sisters Gianna and Natalia Gagliardi have been swimming for Law girls swimming together for two years now.
The team also competed with a 200 freestyle relay performed by Aislinn Burns, Gianna Gagliardi, Sarah McCann, and Natalia Gagliardi.
“Olivia Coddington qualified for states as well, her dives were amazing. She scored a 195.20, well above what is needed for states, (160 needed for states) she was outstanding,” Gianna Gagliardi said.
Senior Macie Rascoll is in her fourth year competing on the Law swim team.
“My favorite part of the season is getting to spend time with each other and bond at activities like pasta parties and secret psycher,” Rascoll said.”Another one of my favorite parts is when we push each other to get better and it all pays off in the end.”
There are three captains on the team this year: Coddington, Aislinn Burns, and Rascoll.
“I think as a team we will do great things this season, we lost a lot of seniors but we also have lots of incoming talent and I’m very excited to see what we do,” Rascoll said. “Overall we have a great team and such a tight-knit group so I think we will be successful while having fun at the same time.”
Burns said she enjoys her role as captain.
“To prepare for this season I swam over the summer to get back in shape, and I helped run captains practices to meet the team and start conditioning for the season,” Burns said.
She added that some of her favorite swim memories have come outside the pool.
“My favorite part of the season is getting close with the team, having fun, showing sportsmanship, and watching the success of all of my teammates,” Burns said. “I love when our hard work and dedication pays off.”
Mr. Rosner coaches the Law girls swim team along with assistant coach Mr. Lui. One of their team’s goals is to make it to states and SCCs for the 2022 season.
“My favorite part of the season is the postseason,” Franzman said. “The postseason is my favorite because I really think about how hard I’ve been working all season to get to this point.”
Last season Franzman made it to SCC and State meets in multiple events.
The Law girls swim team will continue to improve throughout the season and keep competing in various meets.
“I am hoping that I will end my Law swim and dive career on a successful note, especially after all of this hard work,” Rascoll said.
Eagle Eye News is back up and running at Jonathan Law for the new school year.
Eagle Eye News will air at the start of second period on A-D days and then at the start of Common Time on E and F days.
Each day on the news, there will be announcements about all of the different events that are happening around Law. Some days there will be guest appearances from Law’s clubs, teams, and other activities. There will also be on air news stories, interviews and other videos produced by the editors.
“I am most excited to start getting a feel for being behind the camera and for creating new projects this year like highlight films and podcasts that can make the news longer,” senior Maya Rosado said.
The first episode of the school year aired live on Friday, September 9.
“We are constantly getting announcements and appearance requests emailed to us, and every day, we organize all of those announcements and schedule the guests for that day,” Broadcast Journalism teacher Mr. Kulenych said.
Broadcast Journalism has a brand new staff this year and the students have already been brainstorming ideas for new segments for Eagle Eye News.
“Every year, I am most excited to see what ideas the new Broadcast students have for Eagle Eye News,” Kulenych said. “We have one of our biggest classes ever this year, including a lot of returning members from last year, and they are all ready to bring their creativity to life on the news every day.”
Senior Ben Rossi is excited to be back in Broadcast after taking the course as a junior last year.
“I’m super excited about working with a whole new group of people,” Rossi said. “The class doubled in size so it’s exciting to have more ideas to improve Eagle Eye News.”
This year, the class has 20 students, up from 12 last year.
“I hope we will be able to do more news segments around the school live on air,” senior Dom DiFederico said.
Social Media Editors-In-Chief: Madilynn Black, Aislyn McKernan, Courtney Russo
Social Media Editors: Fiorella Gargiulo, Sebastian Marino Beltran, Taylor Mola, Matthew Sanchez, Adrian Vitale
Staff Reporters: Kaylanii Albert, Joseph Amaro, Breana Aquino, Emma Bonanno, Marina Cosmas, Calder Constantini, Mihika Dabhade, Eason Dong, Joeliz Gonzalez, Cameron Graf, Sarah Hammad, Lillian-Mae Haney, Zachary Hyatt, Aleah James, Jackson King, Tyler Lilly, Teagan Liphardt, Eryn McCarthy, Delaney Morrin, Alexandra Oliveira, Gabrielle Rodriguez, Tiana Rosiak, Skylar Smith, Kendall Upchurch, Matthew Witteman, Ryan Woods
Advisor: Mr. Kulenych
The Advocate is the official, student-run online newspaper of Jonathan Law High School. The opinions presented in The Advocate are solely those of the students. As journalists, the members of The Advocate staff are committed to upholding the core of our code of ethics: objectivity, integrity, and truth. The staff endeavors to report the news without editorializing, include a diversity of opinions in our coverage, and present sound, corroborated information. We welcome letters to the editor as well as issue-based commentaries. If you are interested in contributing, please submit your writing to: The Advocate, Room 211, Jonathan Law High School, 20 Lansdale Avenue, Milford, CT 06460.
Jonathan Law High School is a community that exists to maximize the intellectual, the social, and the emotional growth of each student in a safe, stable, supportive environment. We believe that a positive, collaborative atmosphere fosters high expectations and recognizes individual differences. In partnership with students, parents, and the community, we are committed to developing the skills necessary for educational, career, and life choices.
Law’s girls and boys track teams finished the 2022 spring season strong.
The teams were very successful as a whole with several athletes going All-State. They placed well in the SCC and state meets and had athletes qualify for the New England Championships and Nationals as well.
“I loved that the students went into each meet looking to improve and PR,” girls track coach Ms. Corriveau said. “There were so many times that I asked individual athletes to step up to a challenge and they ran with it – no complaints.”
This is Corriveau’s first year coaching girls outdoor track. She was impressed by how close the track team became as the season went on.
“To me, it seems that most of the bonds are made on bus rides and in the bleachers,” Corriveau said. “Spending hours together in one location for a meet really helps kids to create a community of friendship.”
Corriveau has years of coaching experience from volunteer coaching for indoor track and field.
“Even when things seem to be going downhill (rain delays and timing issues) I always remind the team that it might not be perfect, but we’re together and we are making memories that we will look back on and laugh about next year,” Corriveau said. “Our shared experiences really tie us all together.”
Junior Shane Pritchard has competed on the track team for two years.
“There were a ton of overall accomplishments not only individually but as a team, we won the Quinnipiac Division title,” Pritchard said. “We broke the school record in the 4×100 and we qualified for nationals in the 4×100 as well.”
Pritchard is a sprinter for the indoor and outdoor seasons. Pritchard is a member of the 4×100 boys team that has qualified for Nationals.
“Team bonding is important to make sure we all stay focused and get things done when we need to; it improves the team so much by helping one another out and showing us we aren’t just a team we’re a family,” Pritchard said.
On the girls side, sophomore Caden Simpson went All-State for the past two years in a row. Simpson qualified for Nationals in the 55M hurdles.
“This season I went all state and came in 9th at New Englands for the 300M hurdles,” Simpson said. “I think it was a good season for me although there are definitely things that could be improved on.”
Simpson said she enjoyed the season on and off the track.
“The friendships we’ve all created with each other makes us a better team, and personally I know that I would not be where I am without my teammates and coaches being there for me and supporting me throughout the season,” Simpson said.
Senior captain Aiden King had a standout season for the boys team in the pole vault.
“We obtained a divisional title which was great,” King said. “We have a few kids participating at Nationals. At states, we came in third place despite being one of the smallest schools in our class size.”
King was the state champion in the pole vault which led him to go All-State for his senior year.
“I set several personal goals for myself in the beginning and I was able to accomplish the majority of them,” King said. “I obtained the school record in the pole vault with a jump of 13 feet.”
Working and training during the off season helped King reach his goals. Team bonding really helped King in his athletic career because sportsmanship was one of the things that drove him.
“The great thing about the kids on this team is that everyone is here for each other,” King said. “We are all flexible to help one another out.”
For the girls, senior Sydney Simpson was one of the team’s standout performers.
“My favorite part of the season this year was watching the growth of both myself and my team,” Simpson said. “Everyone put in their best effort this season and it was incredibly rewarding to watch all their hard work pay off. One of my favorite memories this season was beating Foran at our last home meet. It was also one of my better meets personally.”
Simpson said she will miss the bonds she shared with her teammates this season. She will attend Yale University in the fall.
“The team spends a lot of time together between meets and practices, even going to the beach after practices if the weather is nice,” Simpson said. “I think this really added to our success on the track because we wanted to see each other do well and everyone cheered each other on.”
The Jonathan Law golf team recently finished a tremendous 2022 season.
The team closed out the season with a 9-5-1 match record. Every member of the golf team improved from the start of the year and the starting lineup has achieved some personal best scores.
One of Law’s goals each match was to have the starting lineup shoot in the low 40s so they could continue to be competitive in every match.
Mr. Koorejian has been the Law golf coach for the past 20 years. He worked hard this season to ensure the team had the right chemistry to achieve victory.
“We had an excellent season,” Koorejian said. “We are very happy with all the young talent and how our scores improved throughout the season. All of our goals were met. We improved individual performances from last year, made States, and even defeated Foran twice this season. We really had a successful year.”
Koorejian said he is already excited for next season to start.
“The next step for us is for this year’s players to return next year,” Koorejian said. “Playing over the off season, improving skills and even getting more players for the team would be a great addition.”
Mr. Maurutis has been an assistant coach to Koorejian for the past two years. As a former Law golfer himself, he knows what the expectations are for every match.
“The season went very well,” Maurutis said. “We consistently improved throughout the season, and I am proud of the hard work our players put into every round. They were all committed to improving their scores. I believe we accomplished many of our goals this season. We consistently improved our scores, had many highlights, and competed in the State Tournament at Tallwood Country Club.
Maurutis said he is excited for the talent that is returning nest year.
“There is definitely room for improvement,” Maurutis said. “However, we competed and beat many teams this year. We are a very young team, which is a good thing. We need to keep practicing and continue to lower our golf scores.”
Maurutis mentioned several highlights from the season, including Anthony Fino making a 20 foot putt to beat Sheehan by one stroke, the team’s lowest score of 176 against Shelton, Jaden Archuleta’s consistency of scoring low, Dylan Soule’s eagle against Branford, and the team’s performance at the State Golf Tournament.
Archuleta is a sophomore golfer and was the best player for Law throughout this season. He shot in the low 40’s several times and was the leading scorer for Law. One of his goals is to have the entire starting lineup to shoot in the 40s.
Senior Anthony Fino was a role model and a leader for all of the new Law golfers.
“I think we had a really good season as a team and individually,” Fino said. “I did not know what to expect having lost six kids from last year, but everybody played really well and had a better season then I expected. I did accomplish all my goals this season. I wanted the team to have a winning record and myself to have a winning record. We both accomplished those goals. I am very happy with the results we had this season. Going 9-5-1 is a big accomplishment for the team. It also shows that there will be an improvement because most of the match players expect for me we’re all underclassmen. I think the biggest thing I can do to improve my scores is to work on my chipping because the short game always can improve my score. I think the biggest moment of the season was against Sheehan at their home course. We were tied coming to the last hole, and I made a 15-foot putt to win the match by one. That was definitely a big moment for the team and myself because Sheehan is a really good team.”
The Law golf team’s goal is to continue to improve their scores over the next couple of years and to continue to build on this program for generations to come.
The Jonathan Law boys lacrosse team recently finished a successful spring season and achieved a goal it spent five years trying to reach.
The boys lacrosse team won six games in the regular season, the second most in school history. They also won a home game for the first time in five years.
“Our goal as a team was to get a home win this year and we accomplished it numerous times,” senior captain Luke Henricksen said.
Head coach Michael Ayala said he knew the boys would persevere this season.
“I knew it was going to be a tough year,” Ayala said. “But by the end of the season we had built some chemistry. Furthermore, the culture and attitude I hoped to instill had come to fruition.”
Ayala looked beyond skill and dove deeper into the attitude of his players. He looked for certain attributes.
“The always ready mentality (R- respect E – effort A – attitude D- discipline Y- Why not US..) and also the tradition of “Long Live Law”, where the names may change but the traditions will remain,” Ayala said.
The team sees its growth and aims to do more.
“I think we improved tremendously as a team as we won lots of tough games and we were only one game away from states which is a big improvement from last year,” junior Connor Chirco said.
Several Law players set individual records this season.
“We broke a few records such as the single game points record which was set by Luke Henricksen with 12 points total (7 goals, 5 assists) and the single game scoring record set by Conor Chircio with 8 goals in one game,” Ayala said. “Likewise Conor Chircio received Second Team All-SCC honors.”
The Lawmen grew individually and as a team.
“We improved with better chemistry and feel for the game as it’s a team sport and having good chemistry is very important,” junior Louis Sabo said. “I improved on my saving ability along with communicating with my team on defense where they need to be and when they need to slide.”
Not only were they able to do more with their games, but they were also able to do more outside of competing.
“This year we were really happy to have our first team dinner in a long time, we also had an awesome family vs. players game and senior cookout event, and we had our second annual girls vs. boys Law lacrosse game,” Ayala said. “All these events and fans really made this a special year and I look forward to doing it all over again for years to come.”
The Jonathan Law boys tennis team has completed its 2022 season with a hard-fought match against Joel Barlow on May 31 in the Class M State Tournament.
The team was missing two of their veteran players, putting them at a disadvantage from the start, and they lost 5-2, including two matches that went to tiebreakers.
“I feel we had an excellent season, especially coming off a record breaking year and graduating nine seniors,” head coach Mr. Maxwell said. “We played a much tougher schedule and still finished 12-8 while qualifying for the state tournament. We battled in every match and grew so much on and off the courts during the season, which matters most.”
The team had one of their toughest schedules ever and still had many hard-fought matches. They managed to hold their own facing most of the top teams in Connecticut and even had captains Dan Folloni and Julien Roy qualify for the doubles state tournament.
“Dan is by far the best player in Law mens tennis history and I believe him and Julien were probably the most dominant doubles team, at least in recent years,” sophomore Arshaq Ahmed said. “The match against Joel Barlow was just unfortunate timing due to the fact we knew we were going to be missing two seniors but the scheduling unfortunately couldn’t be altered. Still proud to be a part of this team.”
The team is losing some major talent with five starting seniors graduating but Maxwell has faith in junior Rishab Nair to lead the team next year, as well as other members of the team who will be returning.
“I started playing tennis last year and I began playing tennis because my brother played on the team and he told me to join,” Nair said. “I like tennis for the competitive nature of the sport and how there are many ways to improve and become better.”
The team became very close with each other on and off the courts this season, everyone on the team had nothing but nice things to say about each other.
“I feel like we had a great season with all of us trying our hardest and getting along so well and it definitely showed in our scores,” freshman Sean Luxeder said.
The Jonathan Law girls tennis team recently wrapped up its season with an exciting finish.
The girls ended their regular season with a record of 13-7 and were seeded #14 for the 2022 Class M Tournament.
Law beat #19 seed Ledyard 6-1 in the qualifying round and fell short to #3 Branford on in the first round.
The team has had many accomplishments this season including one of senior Lucia Pino who broke the school record for career wins (59) with her victory against Ledyard in the state tournament.
Pino breaks the record previously held by Monica Pydipati (Class of 2019) and did it in less than three years.
Law also had three girls make the SCC All-Conference team: Pino and first doubles players Caroline Doyle and Olivia Hudak.
“I feel like the season went extremely well this year, and I’m so proud of everything we accomplished,” Doyle said. “Everyone put in 110% and I couldn’t have asked for a better team.”
The team bonded extremely well and the girls created lots of new friendships. Leading the group was senior captains Pino and Sophie Maselli.
“The best part of the season was getting to travel as a team for states,” said Pino.
Doyle said she was happy that the season was more “normal” than the last two years.
“The best part of tennis this year was easily being able to do things that we couldn’t last year,” said Doyle. “We had pasta parties and went out to eat after away matches, and through those we got a lot closer as a team.”
The girls are very happy with how their season went and strive to be even better next year.
“At the beginning of the season we wrote down personal goals as a team and one of my main ones was to become more consistent with my serve,” junior Sabrina Lawless said. “I definitely felt happy with my improvement.”
Pino also qualified for The State Open Individual Tournament at Wesleyan University on June 6. She advanced to the second round and had a hard fought loss to the #1 singles player from Joel Barlow.
“The season went very well, as I felt I was able to succeed individually and as a team,” Pino said.
Head coach Mr. Kulenych was very impressed with the girls this season.
“Coming into the season, we had a lot of players in new spots, and as the season went on, we had to deal with rain, injuries, and a very difficult schedule,” Kulenych said. “But the girls stay focused and continued to work hard and I could not be prouder of how the season turned out.”
Kulenych said while he is excited for next season, he will miss the team’s three seniors – Pino, Maselli, and Nihitha Kothapalli.
“Our seniors have been incredible leaders on and off the court for us the past four years,” Kulenych said. “It’s impossible to put into words what they have meant to our team. They are incredible players but even better people and they can’t be thanked enough for everything they have done for us.”
Competing was quite the emotional roller coaster, until the park opened and everyone got on the actual roller coasters.
Then the emotion came from those who were afraid of heights.
The concert band, orchestra, advanced vocal ensemble, and concert choir performed at Holy Oak High School, minutes away from Six Flags.
This was the first time for many ensemble members to perform for live judges and receive professional feedback on their performance.
“I haven’t been to a music competition in three years so I definitely forgot how it felt to perform at a competition,” sophomore section leader Moulika Sivalenka said. “I was nervous, scared, and just wanted to get the performance over with, but I think the cool energy and calmness of (band and orchestra director) Mr. Pelaggi made me less nervous.”
Receiving the feedback after the performance allowed the ensembles to reflect on their performance and their improvements throughout the year.
“The feedback was great and mostly constructive,” junior choir manager Kalli Kinsman said. “Every judge is different, so you have to take their feedback and recognize what you need to work on as a group to improve and be better the next time you perform.”
The concert band received an excellent score as well title as the overall high school concert band. The concert choir received the second place high school choir title as well as a superior score. The advanced vocal ensemble also received a superior score and first overall. Finally, the orchestra received a superior rating.
There was tremendous growth within the ensembles that shown through with their performances.
“Our students’ tone, sense of rhythm, sense of intonation, and balance and blend have improved immensely,” Pelaggi said. “At the beginning of the year, students were having some trouble coming out of COVID, but we have really overcome these challenges.”
After the competition the department spent the remainder of their afternoon at Six Flags amusement park with all the other schools attending.
Many students spent their time with members from other Jonathan Law ensembles and were able to venture around the park together.
“Being able to spend time with my friends that I don’t normally hang out with was one of my highlights of the trip,” senior percussion player Dimitri Barnes said. “It was a great experience, especially at the end of senior year.”
The trip was popular among students as it was near the end of the year and the first trip many have taken due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was just so wonderful to feel like we had a group of people who love and support each other walking around throughout the park,” choir director Ms. Jones said. “So, it made it so much more fun to have the people we enjoy being around to share the day with.”
Jonathan Law’s National Honor Society held its annual Brain Bowl on April 27.
Members from each grade compete against each other in trivia in front of an audience of the school in the auditorium and the winning team to compete against the faculty team.
“The purpose is to bring the entire school community together to have fun competing in trivia while raising money for brain cancer research,” National Honor Society Advisor Ms. Turcotte said.
In all, over $800 was raised for brain cancer research from this year’s Brain Bowl.
All students and teachers trying out for their team had to take the preliminary multiple choice trivia test. The four students in each grade with the highest scores were selected to represent their grade on their brain bowl team.
Representatives from each team were: freshmen Sarah Ahmed, Isabella Vancho, Sarah Gutierrez, and Carol Jiang; sophomores Arshaq Ahmed, Arman Punjabi, Eliot Melgar, Benjamin Giarandola; juniors: Matt McKlosky, Kyle Chy, Skylar Johnson and Devin Calvin; seniors: Elanor Clay, Anthony Fino, Travis Zeidler, and MaKenna Sharpe; and faculty: Mr. Evanko, Ms. Furst, Officer Goldfuss, and Ms. Mannion.
“The highlight of the event was when I got a ‘Freaky Friday’ question wrong when I was in the musical,” freshman Sarah Ahmed said. “All of the drama kids started yelling from the audience. It was so funny.”
The game consisted of four rounds and at the end of each round the team with the least amount of points got eliminated.
All four student teams competed for a chance to compete against the faculty team.
The first to be eliminated were the the sophomores, followed by the freshmen, then the juniors. The seniors went on to compete against the faculty.
“Our team did surprisingly well and made it to the final round against the staff, even though we lost in the end we put up a great fight,” senior Travis Zeidler said.
The final question of the brain bowl both teams wager their points to answer a question following the theme of the game, this years theme being “The Avengers.”
“The highlight of the event was probably watching the staff try to name each of the Infinity Stones,” junior Skylar Johnson said.
The staff ended up going home with the victory in the 2022 Brain Bowl.
The Class of 2024 held a Spirit Week during the week of May 16-20 to raise money for the sophomore class.
The spirit week consisted of Pajama Day, Crazy Sock Day, Law Gear Day, Adam Sandler Day, and Color Ward.
Throughout the entire spirit week, sophomores had jars out during lunch waves to help raise money for their class. The jars were labeled with a different pair of teachers and whichever pair raised the most money would be pied in the face on Eagle Eye News.
The teachers that raised the most money were history teachers Mr. Lui and Mr. Zuraw. They were pied on the June 1 episode of Eagle Eye News.
“Although I’m genuinely glad we were able to help raise money for the sophomore class, I wish it didn’t have to of happened in the middle of the day on a Wednesday when I still had to teach and for the remainder of the day because I smelled like spoiled milk,” Zuraw said. “The pie did taste great, but whipped cream isn’t that much fun to have up your nose, in your hair, and in your ears.”
In total, the sophomore class raised over $100. This money goes to future events such as dances, funding, etc.
Sophomore class President Hailey Russo orchestrated the spirit week along with help from sophomore Jessica Brocksom.
“We planned the Spirit Week by first coming up with an idea and then getting it approved by Mr. Darcy,” Brocksom said. “Once that was done we just made some posts to spread awareness and we spread the word to our friends as well, and lastly, we asked some teachers if they would be willing to get involved.”
Once everything was approved and organized, the result was a fun week for all students and teachers.
“My favorite Spirit Day was Adam Sandler Day and Color Wars,” Russo said. “Color Wars is a classic and Adam Sandler Day was funny to see people in oversized clothes and sunglasses.”
The sophomore class plans to have many more events in the future.
“We have many ideas planned for this year and next year,” Russo said. “We were going to have them all together but since we have limited time we decided to split it up into different ideas.”
The Jonathan Law baseball team recently finished the regular season with a 12-8 record and were able to make a good run in the state tournament.
After beating Waterford 9-1 in the Class M quarterfinals, the Lawmen played Woodland in the semifinals. Despite losing 3-0, the team is happy about the season.
“We were very happy with how the season turned out,” junior Cole Pleimann said. “A lot of people doubted our talent, and we proved those people wrong. The most important thing in any sport is to have fun, and that is exactly what we did. We built a community as a team and raised the standards of being a lawmen baseball player. We became a family throughout the year, and I could not ask for a better team.”
With the regular season coming to a close, the team learned a lot about themselves and what helps them win.
“We learned that if anything goes wrong we will have each other’s backs,” junior Jeanero King said. “We knew if we played as a team and believed in each other, everything would come together.”
Despite losing the last two regular season games, the team still had hopes heading into states.
“After a couple good practices after the losses, we were confident going into the first round of states,” sophomore Brian Goglia said.
To start the tournament, the Lawmen got a 9-0 win in the first game fueled by a great pitching performance from senior captain Jaden Wywoda.
“I felt our team played one of our best games yet,” Wywoda said. “Our defense made plays and I felt fantastic throwing. My slider was the best it was all year and I was able to locate my fastball wherever I wanted.”
The second game against Watertown was an 8-7 nail biter, where the team came back after being down 4-1.
“I went in knowing that I had to keep the game where it was,” junior Aidan Ryan said. “After I got the final out of my first inning the bats woke up and it was a breath of fresh air. After that inning, I went in pitching with a lead but the fatigue soon got the best of me when I handed it over to Brian, who closed the game out and had one of the better performances of the year.”
The Jonathan Law Natural Helpers club is creating a De-stress Fest before final exams.
This is an opportunity for students to relieve stress and to lend a helping hand.
Natural Helpers intends to host their annual De-stress Fest in the senior parking lot, which allows students to put their feet up and enjoy themselves before finals and the end of the school year. It will be there to help manage stress with the many activities provided.
“There will be two days of activities with the natural helpers,” junior club member Giuliana Aguilar said. “One of the days we have rooms with specific activities such as a movie room and an arts and crafts room, and the next day is the petting zoo.”
The cozy room, game room, mindful art room, new gym, and ice cream will be Wednesday, June 8, and the petting zoo will be on Thursday, June 9 after school. It will be a fun day for students to take advantage of the provided activities.
Students will be able to unwind after their AP exams and prepare mentally for finals at the festival. This is an opportunity for students to participate in after-school activities and relax while also socializing.
“I think the De-Stress Fest is a useful and fun stress management tool that every student should take advantage of,” junior club member Skylar Johnson said. “Everything, including the game room, cozy room, mindful room, new gym, ice cream truck, and petting zoo is free. Any student is welcome to stop by and relive any finals stress they may have.”
During this time it can be very draining for students, this can be a great opportunity to take a break from homework and studying. The Natural Helpers are thrilled to lend a helping hand and be of assistance.
“Taking time before finals to participate in the De-stress Fest may help students by making them feel less overwhelmed and less stressed at the end of the year,” junior club member Aislinn Burns said. “It’s important to take care of yourself, especially around finals time which is why participating in some of the De-stress fest activities is so important.”
Members of the club suggested attending the event, emphasizing the importance of engaging yourself in the activities offered to you. Everything available will be free.
“The Natural Helpers hope that students will come out and spend some time engaging in self-care before a week of final exams,” Natural Helpers advisor Ms. Smuniewski said. “It’s been a long year, so relax with some games, ice cream, and animals. We hope to see you there.”
Mac Miller was an American rapper and record producer. In 2010, he signed a record deal with the independent label Rostrum Records. He then released his breakthrough mixtapes “K.I.D.S” (2010) and “Best Day Ever”(2011). Miller also saw a ton of success with his debut studio album “Blue Slide Park” in 2011. In 2013, he founded the record label imprint REMember Music. After his sophomore album, he signed to a new record label and released four studio albums: “GO:OD AM”(2015), “The Divine Feminine”(2016), “Swimming”(2018) and “Circles”(2020). Miller has been nominated for a Grammy with his release of “Swimming”. Miller later died in 2018 due to an accidental drug overdose.
The mixtape “Faces” is the eleventh mixtape by Miller. It was independently released for free download on May 11, 2014. The mixtape is a follow up to his second album “Watching Movies With The Sound Off” (2013). On October 15, 2021, “Faces” was commercially released on streaming platforms and vinyl. The mixtape goes in depth to Miller’s addiction problems and he portrays this by creating more psychedelic and jazz songs. Miller produced most of this mixtape himself, because of this he incorporated many dark lyrical themes. The mixtape has multiple features including Rick Ross, Earl Sweatshirt, Schoolboy Q, Mike Jones, Sir Michael Rocks, Vince Staples, Ab-Soul and Dash. The mixtape has 25 songs and runs for about an hour and a half.
The strong points of this mixtape are that it has multiple features which can be good for a listener to have because it can switch up the flow of the music. It is also nice to have a numerous amount of songs that gives the listener more chances to like something. The mixtape has features of rap, jazz and R&B. The selection of songs is overall very catchy and it does not all sound the same which is widely appreciated amongst many listeners.
Some weak points of the mixtape are that it can be similar to his older music considering it was originally created in 2014. If someone is primarily a fan of Mac Miller’s new music, this may not be the mixtape for them because it is not as similar to his new releases. Additionally, some people may not like the amount of features this mixtape has. It overall really depends on the listeners personal preference of music and how this mixtape can compare to Miller’s previous releases.
The Jonathan Law girls lacrosse team finished the season with a record of 7-10.
This year’s varsity captains were Lindsay Konlian, Hailey Boyle, Avery Fletchner, and Maya Rosado.
The girls team qualified for the state tournament and lost a hard-fought game against Fitch in the first round.
“I feel the season went well,” sophomore Helen Chizmazia said. “The team had a lot of fun playing together and learning about the sport.”
The team is happy about their achievements this season and how far they were able to go with their record and qualifying for states.
“The season went great individually and as a team,” Rosado said. “We reached our goal and qualified for states and had a lot of new players make a big impact on the field.”
This season, team members formed very strong bonds with one another that worked towards their chemistry on and off the field.
“The best part of the lacrosse season this year was getting closer with my teammates,” Konlian said. “I enjoyed getting to know everyone, especially the freshman. I am sad that I will be having to leave them.”
Overall, the girls were extremely happy with the team and individual accomplishments they were able to achieve.
“My personal goal was to score three goals in one game,” senior captain Hailey Boyle said. “I was able to do in our game against New London so I did achieve my personal goal.”
With a record of 19-4, the Law softball team recently finished one of its best seasons in years.
In the state tournament, Law won its game against Killingly (6-3) on May 31 but lost a close game against Bristol Eastern (5-4) on June 1.
“This was such a fun ride,” softball coach Mrs. Bludé said. “We know we have talented players but to be able to go far and make memories that will last a lifetime for each individual is even more important than the record.”
Members of the team not only showed their love for the sport but for their teammates, which enhanced their ability to play well together.
“When I say the girls love each other, I say it with no exaggeration,” Bludé said. “We have always instilled the idea of FAMILY and with each season comes a tighter and tighter bond.”
The team worked hard this year to make it as far as they did and the effort showed.
“There was never a dull practice,” All-State shortstop Talia Salanto said. “We had such a great dynamic on and off the field which made it easy for us to really play as a team for games and work hard while practicing.”
The seniors were big staples of the team this season, but the team is excited for the roster it will bring back next year.
“The team is definitely losing some of the most valued players,” All-SCC Second Team catcher Nicolina Salanto said. “But we gained and continue to have valued players on the team which will help go even further next season.”
Senior captain Grace Kantor said that much of the team’s success this season could be credited to the girls’ closeness off the field.
“We made it to the SCC Championship game and the second round of states, which would not have happened if not for the teams grit and dynamic,” senior captain Grace Kantor said. “Our record would not be the way that it is if not for the pasta parties, team bonding, and overall love we have for each other. It’s going to be really hard to leave a team as great as this one.”
Members of Law’s senior class and their guests had a blast at this year’s prom.
The event was held on May 26 at Villa Bianca in Seymour and was then followed by post-prom which was held at the Sports Center in Shelton.
“I was so excited to finally get to have a prom,” Senior Lauren Davis said. “We have spent our whole high school careers looking at people going to prom and there was a lot of anticipation leading up to prom itself, seeing as ours had been postponed twice.”
All the students that attended prom were happy to have a “normal prom.”
“It became very clear that students and staff wanted everything to go ‘back to normal’,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “The prom was included in those discussions and we decided a few months ago that if our school district restrictions lightened up and we were as safe as possible, we could have a real prom.”
The prom is an experience that every principal and staff member wishes each kid goes to in their high school years. “It’s a moment you will always remember,” Darcy said.
“My favorite part about prom was seeing everyone all dressed up and dancing together,” Davis said. “Everyone had so much fun on the dance floor and it was such a good time.”
Since prom was originally supposed to be held last year, it was postponed to October 1. As the date changed, so did the planning.
“Luckily for us, time was on our side,” senior class advisor Mrs. Fransisco said. “By ‘waiting it out’ we were lucky enough to have no restrictions at prom.”
The Class of 2021’s prom was held at Quassy Amusement Park, and this year that option was still on the table. But the class officers optioned to have a more traditional prom.
“My favorite part of prom was going to Sports Center after,” senior Lucia Pino said.
This was the first real event that this class was able to attend this year and it was a great experience.
“I was very excited to finally have prom, because not being able to have one junior year had me looking forward to it this year,”’ senior Lucas Pincus-Coyle said.
Diya Daruka has officially been named Jonathan Law’s Class of 2022 valedictorian.
Daruka will be attending Duke University and plans on double majoring in Economics and Statistical Science with concentrations in Finance and Data Science.
“It definitely feels great and I’m extremely happy,” Daruka said. “I’ve worked very hard for this so it’s nice to see that I was able to accomplish it.”
Daruka took 14 AP classes during her time at Jonathan Law while being involved in many activities both inside and outside of school.
“Some APs I’ve taken are United States Government and Politics, United States History, Statistics, Language and Composition, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Psychology, Human Geography, Computer Science Principles,” Daruka said. I’m currently taking Macroeconomics, Literature and Composition, Seminar, Physics, and Computer Science A.”
“For me, Diya is one of those students that I will never forget. I would even say that she is one of a kind,” math teacher Mr. Ruzbarsky said. “She is exactly what a teacher wants and wishes every student could be like.”
Diya is the President of the National Math Honor Society, treasurer of Key Club, Vice President of Science Club, Founder of FBLA, and a member of the National Honor Society. She also started a nonprofit financial literacy course which she teaches to students from third to twelfth grade. Outside of school, Diya is the President of the Keystone Club at the Boys and Girls Club of Milford and also serves on the national Boys and Girls Clubs of America Teen Leadership Board.
“She has excellent time management and is able to maintain all of her extracurriculars, her schoolwork, and her social life, which I find admirable,” senior Katherine Froelick said. “She is genuinely one of the brightest people that I know, and her ability to work so hard on everything that she does is truly something to be proud of.”
In addition to being valedictorian, Daruka has won a lot of her accolades during her time at Jonathan Law. In addition to numerous school awards and graduating with distinction, she is a Coca-Cola Scholar, Boys and Girls Clubs of Connecticut Youth of the Year, and National Merit Scholar Commended Student.
“I have only known Diya for a few months during my time here at Law, but she is a kind, passionate and intelligent young lady who exemplifies exactly what we expect from all of our students,” Jonathan Law Principal Mr. Darcy said.
While Daruka worked incredibly hard to achieve this, she is incredibly grateful for the supportive community around her.
“I’d like to thank my family, especially my mom, the administration and teachers I’ve had at Jonathan Law, my neighbors, and my friends,” Daruka said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without each and every one of them.”
Eva Carroll has officially been named Jonathan Law’s Class of 2022 salutatorian.
Carroll will be attending the University of Miami in the fall and is planning to study chemical engineering.
“I feel very proud of myself,” Carroll said. “I worked very hard throughout my four years at Jonathan Law, and I feel that I deserve this accomplishment.
Carroll challenged herself with eight advanced placement classes over the years, setting herself up for success and preparing her for her future in college. She has taken AP Government and Politics, AP Language and Composition, AP Chemistry, AP Macroeconomics, AP Human Geography, AP CSP, AP Psychology, and AP Calculus AB.
Carroll’s academic drive is not only reflected in this outstanding achievement, but it is recognized by all those around her.
“Eva is a hardworking young lady who possesses an inner drive to accumulate as much knowledge as possible,” Jonathan Law High School Principal Mr. Darcy said. “Her drive and passion for science in particular has focused her down a possible career path as well.”
Carroll’s friends are extremely supportive of her and remark that they can easily see how she has earned the prestigious title of salutatorian.
“Eva is very smart, and she is really good at paying attention to detail,” senior Eliana Markowitz said. “One message that I have for Eva is to keep working hard, because I know that she will do great things!”
Carroll is very thankful for the Jonathan Law community, and attributes her success to her peers and her teachers.
“I’d like to thank Ms. Turcotte for this achievement; she always made me feel like I was capable of doing great things,” Carroll said. “If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know if I would have pushed myself as hard as I did.”
Throughout her high school career, Carroll not only maintained outstanding grades, but she was also involved in many extracurricular activities and held numerous leadership positions in the Law community.
“Eva works hard in the classroom and has shown her ability to work and lead teams throughout her high school career,” Darcy said. “Two examples of this are her leadership role as co-president of the senior class and her leadership role with the National Honor Society.”
In addition to her role in class office and in the National Honor Society, Carroll is also a member of the National Math Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, and she is on the senior prom committee.
Mr. Healy is the advisor of the Multicultural Club at Jonathan Law. Advocate Staff Reporter Reilly Hungerford interviewed Healy about the club’s recent fundraiser to support Ukrainian refugees.
Reilly Hungerford: When did the Multicultural Club get the idea to help raise money?
Mr. Healy: Our club has always wanted to help spread awareness of and help those from different cultures than our own who are struggling. This has been a goal of ours previously, helping IRIS, which is the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Service based in New Haven which resettles and helps refugees in CT. So the idea to help Ukrainian refugees was a natural next step.
RH: What goal were you guys reaching for the fundraiser?
MH: We thought $500 would be a substantial but reachable goal so that’s what we chose.
RH: How long did the fundraiser run?
MH: We were running it sort of passively throughout March with our donation box in the TLC and news announcements, but all along we had planned to partner with Lawnation Donation and Ms. Russell was kind enough to facilitate that for us. That’s what got us to our goal.
RH: How much did you guys end up raising?
MH: We got right to our goal of $500. We had some especially kind donors that asked us how much we needed and were able to supplement that finishing amount.
RH: Which organization are you donating the money to?
MH: We are donating to a group called Alight which is based in Poland and is working to help Ukrainian refugees.
“Alright jazzy-jazzers, let’s get ready for our concert.” – Mr. Pelaggi
The Jonathan Law Jazz Band preformed at the Naugatuck Jazz Festival on April 29 at Naugatuck High School. This is the first time many members performed in the ensemble but returning members haven’t preformed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This opportunity gave the group the ability to share their music with other high school students as well as listen to many jazz bands preform.
“It was so great to hear other groups perform,” Band Director Mr. Pelaggi said. “For me, it was interesting to hear the differences between the groups that have jazz as a part of their curriculum and those that have it as an after school activity.”
The other bands allowed them to see what they could work towards and where they can push themselves to improvise with higher or lower notes than they are comfortable with, within each solo section. It was a strong learning experience for all of those that participated.
“It was very fun and exciting to hear all of the other musicians play different pieces,” freshman trumpet player Peter Gill said. “The trumpet solos in other bands were thrilling because of how good their skills are.”
There were around eight different bands that performed, each presenting different styles of jazz.
“It was good to get a mix of styles,” junior alto saxophone player Matt McKlosky said. “Listening to swing style music, more kinds of rock/jazz centered pieces, a couple of latin pieces, and one being like a jazzy sea shanty was interesting to see how each of the pieces played with their instruments, especially more brass centered songs, since we don’t have many brass players.”
After listening to all of the bands, many members reflected on their personal growth with their instruments and how much they’ve improved since receiving the music.
“I’ve personally grown with playing the slide trombone,” sophomore low brass player Chris Rickard said. ”I am an entirely self-taught trombone player, and through Mr. Pelaggi’s program have been able to accomplish more in that respect which has helped to diversify instrumentation and appreciation for other styles of music and has been one of my biggest growths, along with challenging my limits as not simply a euphonium or tuba player, but a low brass player in general.”
With each member finding improvement within themselves, there were many improvements with the entire ensemble overall.
“I think the whole band has grown so much in the time we got these pieces,” junior Drum Major Kayla Lembo said. “We have all gotten more comfortable with the music and playing it together.”
The ensemble was proud of their performance as well as their growth since the beginning of the year. For the few returning members, it was a new experience preforming with a new group of musicians whom never preformed jazz music before.
“The purpose of music is to play and perform for others, without the performance, it’s just a whole lot of repetition,” McKloksy said. ”I’ve also definitely noticed that the group dynamic has shifted from a more balanced instrumentation to being more saxophone heavy, but that’s not a bad thing at all.”
The loss of many strong musicians and the growth of many strong musicians have brought different elements to the ensemble.
“As a director, the whole gig is just wearing a suit and talking into a microphone,” Pelaggi said. “Seeing our students be independent and work as a unit is always a treat to me. We hadn’t had a jazz gig in a while, so being able to do this concert was really fun.”
With this being the first preformed gig in two years, many thought it was a great way to showcase their growth as a group and individually.
“The dynamic of the group has changed a lot since we started together in 2019,” Pelaggi said.“Our students are more friendly with each other and are more collaborative because the relationships are stronger than ever.”
Since the start of the season, the Jonathan Law golf team has been working hard to prepare for each match on the schedule. Coaches Mr. Koorejian and Mr. Maurutis have helped the Law golfers improve their game and stay motivated to compete. One athlete has taken the course by storm and has improved each and every round. That golfer is sophomore Jaden Archuleta. Archuleta has consistently scored in the 40s to help the Lawmen stand out this spring.
Archuleta’s teammates have followed his lead and have grown into incredible golfers themselves. Senior Anthony Fino drained a 15-foot put on the ninth hole to win the match for Law against Sheehan on May 3. On May 4, Dylan Soule shot a team-low of 38 to win a match against North Haven. The next day, Law beat Career High School at Alling Memorial Golf Course in New Haven. Archuleta shot a 41, and Peter Savoie shot a 44.
Overall, the Lawmen are 7-1 on the season, and they are looking to defeat rival Foran on Wednesday, May 11. Advocate Staff Reporter Harrison Fisher interviewed Archuleta about the season so far.
Harrison Fisher: How do you think the progress of the team has been so far this season?
Jaden Archuleta: I think as a team we have grown so much and we are still going to grow throughout the season.
HF: What was your reaction when Anthony Fino won the match for Law against Sheehan on that 15-foot put he made?
JA: I was very relieved when I saw that putt drop. I was very hyped knowing that this match was close and that the putt could seal the deal for us.
HF: What are your goals going forward to help the team?
JA: My goals are for our 1-4 starting lineup to all be shooting below 50 and in the mid 40s.
HF: How do you think you have evolved into a leader yourself? What will you do to keep everyone on the team motivated?
JA: I think the motivation will come from the amount of heart and pride we have to play golf for Jonathan Law. I think we all want to see all of our hard work and dedication pay off.
HF: What is one course that you really want to play this season?
JA: I would love to play Racebrook Country Club in Orange, CT. I am a member there and I know both courses very well.
Mr. Zuraw is an AP Government teacher at Law. Advocate Staff Reporter Olivia Hudak interviewed Zuraw about AP exams.
Olivia Hudak: How do you prepare students for AP Exams?
Mr. Zuraw: Practice, practice, practice. Practice doing tests/questions, practice scoring student samples, and practice giving peer feedback.
OH: Is it stressful for AP teachers when exams come around?
MZ: Absolutely. Like I always tell my students, they are taking a test that I don’t create nor grade, but reflects on me…which certainly adds a little stress.
OH: Why are AP exams so important for students?
MZ: They can be very helpful if the student does well because they can earn college credits while in high school (which will save them money down the road). Also, just taking an AP course is important for students because it exposes them to the rigor of a “college” style class and forces them to push themselves further than they thought they could.
OH: What advice would you give to students who take AP Exams?
MZ: Start studying earlier, like way earlier in the year. There is too much information to try to cram it all in a few days before.
OH: Do you think there should be any changes to the AP Exams?
MZ: I plead the fifth on this one. I don’t want to get myself into trouble
Shelby Green is a Jonathan Law senior committed to playing Division II soccer at Southern Connecticut State University. Green has been playing soccer all throughout her high school career and is ready to take the next step at SCSU.
Caden Simpson: What college are you playing at next year?
Shelby Green: I am playing for Southern Connecticut State University next year.
CS: How did you get recruited to play soccer in college?
SG: I got recruited to play in soccer in college by attending many ID clinics with some of the best soccer players in the state. I had to have really good communication with my coaches and allow them the chance to come to my games, give me feedback and get better every day.
CS: What did you have to do in order to meet credentials to play?
SG: In order to play I had to meet a certain GPA requirement and maintain good grades, as well as stay out of trouble – remembering I am being held to higher standards as a student athlete.
CS: How did you decide you wanted to play in college?
SG: I decided I wanted to play college soccer because I realized I wouldn’t want to live without it. I really love playing the game of soccer and it gives me this feeling like no other. I have the ability to work hard, compete at high levels and help your team succeed.
CS: What are your goals while playing college soccer?
SG: Playing college soccer, I hope to help my team win the conference and be able to qualify for the tournament and win the first game because that has never been done before. I want to push all my teammates to work hard, maintain good grades and graduate with my degree.
Artist Rex Orange County recently released his fourth album, “WHO CARES?” Rex Orange County is a singer from the United Kingdom. His professional name is Rex Orange County but his legal name is Alexander James O’Connor. O’Connor rose to fame in 2017 after multiple features on Tyler the Creator’s Grammy-nominated album “Flower Boy”. He released his debut album, “Bcos U Will Never Be Free” in 2015. Following that release, his sophomore album, “Apricot Princess” which came out in 2017 gained him more popularity. “Pony” was the next album released and now his senior album, “WHO CARES?” is his latest release. In addition to that he has a live album titled “Live at Radio City Music Hall” in 2020 which is a compilation of many of his songs in one album.
The album “WHO CARES?” was confirmed to be in the process of being made by O’Connor in October 2020. In January 2022, O’Connor officially began teasing the album by sending out postcards with a phone number that revealed a part of a song on the album. The first single from the album, “Keep It Up” was released as a single at the end of January 2022. The album was fully released on March 11, 2022. The album contains a pop/slow album that has a few songs that are slower and a few songs that are upbeat. The studio album has 11 songs and runs for about 35 minutes.
Some strong points of the album are that it is very upbeat compared to his past albums. Many listeners like the different feel and how O’Connor switched up the genre for his fourth album. Tyler the Creator, an American rapper, was featured on the album. The song he was in was “OPEN A WINDOW” which was a fun upbeat song. Overall, the new feel and the pace of the album is what a lot of listeners appreciate and love.
A few weak points of “WHO CARES?” are that it is pretty short and compared to other albums, all of the songs together are only 30 minutes. Many people also would have liked more features on the album and not just Tyler the Creator who Rex Orange County has collaborated with many times.
Jonathan Law history teacher Miss Mannion will be retiring this year after 40 years of teaching, with 20 of those years being at Law.
Mannion is a part of the Law history department and she has made an impact on all of her students, teachers, and faculty.
“In this building, Miss Mannion will always be remembered for the relationships that she built with people,” assistant principal Mr. Marko said. “I have spoken to many students over the years that all said that they always knew that Miss Mannion cared and wanted what was best for them.”
Mannion started her teaching career in Missouri, and has also taught in New York and Massachusetts. She came to Law in February of 2003 and has been teaching at Law ever since.
“Miss Mannion is basically the mother hen of our department,” History Department Chair Mr. Zuraw said, “She is the oldest, wisest, and most caring person.”
Surprisingly, teaching wasn’t exactly what Mannion had in mind when she was in high school but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“When I was in high school I thought I was going to be an attorney and possibly run for Congress one day,” Mannion said. “Thank God I got terrible scores on the LSAT test when I was in college. That ended my chance of being a lawyer. One of the best things that ever happened to me.”
In her 20 years of teaching at Law, Mannion has taught hundreds of students and she will miss all of them the most.
“The best thing about Johnny Law is the kids,” Mannion said. “I love them even when they drive me nuts.”
Mannion’s students will also miss her.
“One thing Miss Mannion always ensured was that every student felt at home in her classroom,” junior Eric Relucio said. “She is the nicest soul I’ve ever met and such a sweet person that would not only be a good role model as a teacher but a best friend.”
Since Mannion has had such a great, long, and impactful career, she is ready to enjoy the next phase of her life.
“I would like to volunteer some of my time next year at an animal shelter,” Mannion said. “I would also like to READ and READ…..not because I have to…but because I want to.”
The Jonathan Law junior class had its Cotillion on Thursday, April 28.
Students were beyond excited to have their first normal dance experience since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The event started at 7 p.m. and was held at The Woodwinds in Branford, CT. The venue was beautiful and students and faculty loved it.
“I think the venue was great,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “The staff there was wonderful and it allowed both an inside and outside experience for students and staff.”
Students were able to choose their own tables and request music before and during the event.
Everyone was pleased with the setup and excited to be together with no masks.
“The dance was very fun and I thought the music was good,” junior Connor Chirico said.
The food was well-received and many students liked the buffet style that was provided.
“I think the dance went well,” junior Olivia Coddington said. “The food was great and a lot of people had a good time.”
Despite the fun, there was a lot of planning that went into the event.
“The biggest challenge this year was having it on a Thursday,” Darcy said. “Due to COVID, a lot of dates were blocked off at venues because of weddings that were being scheduled from the past two years so we will look to schedule the event on a Friday for next year.”
Some students are hoping that next year’s Cotillion adds a theme – similar to what the senior have now at prom.
“I feel like having a theme for a dance could have been something to do for dances in the future,” Coddington said.
Students also really liked the idea of having Cotillion as a junior and prom for their senior year.
“Cotillion was fun and I like how it is, because prom would be a good send off as a senior,” Chirico said.
Overall, the event was a success.
“You all had fun and were respectful to each other and the staff at the venue,” Darcy said. “It was a great experience to just “sit back” and see you have fun as kids.”
Junior Maya Rosado and sophomore Helen Chizmazia are members of the Law girls lacrosse team. Advocate Staff Reporter Isabella Gecaj interviewed them about the season thus far.
Isabella Gecaj: How is the season going?
Maya Rosado: Overall, the season is going really well. We have lots of good freshmen this year and have been working together as a team really well.
Helen Chizmazia: The season is going pretty well. We are 5-5 as of now. The team is getting better at working together and getting down the fundamentals.
IG: What is the overall goal of the girls lacrosse season and what are some steps you are taking to achieve that?
MR: Our goal for this season is to go to states and just win as many games as possible. We are going to reach this goal by working hard in practice and going into every game with a positive mindset despite what their record may be.
HC: The overall goal would definitely be to make the first round of states.
IG: How do you think you are doing individually?
MR: As an individual I think I’m doing well, I aim to score as many goals as possible and have more than last year (25) and I’m on my way with 22 right now. I also want to help lead the team as best as I can and help make others more confident.
HC: I am doing alright this year. I am working towards making more varsity goals and working on more complex skills on JV.
IG: What is something that you are looking forward to in the season?
MR: Something I am looking forward to this season is spending more time with my team and winning more games together.
IG: Any personal comments you’d like to make or advice to share to the team?
MR: My advice for anyone who wants to play lacrosse is to just go for it. I picked it up in seventh grade and it was easy to learn and became my favorite sport.
HC: I think we are having an awesome season so far in terms of bonding. We all have a lot of fun with each other.
The Jonathan Law Key Club attended its annual Decon Conference in Springfield, Massachusetts on April 9 and 10.
At this overnight field trip, students got to participate in workshops, listen to speakers, and educate others about key club along with other members from the New England and Bermuda district.
“Throughout the day, we attended workshops surrounding whatever we were interested in, all of them broadening our perspectives,” Key Club secretary Skylar Johnson said. “We attended various ceremonies and events to celebrate the accomplishments of our district’s clubs during the 2021-2022 Key Club year, we were even able to participate in some service projects while there.¨
Members also received many different awards for their excellence in their club over the past year.
“The highlight of the trip was when our club was recognized as one of the Distinguished clubs in New England,” Key Club advisor Mr. Boynton said. “All our members hard work both in the school and community and the election of Caroline Doyle as Governor of New England made the weekend truly worthwhile.”
The club received first place in Non-Digital Poster, Monthly Report, and Yearly Achievement; along with 2nd place in the Talent Contest, 3rd place in Single Device and received the Early Bird Dues and Distinguished Key Club awards.
“The highlight of the trip was definitely our success as a club,” Doyle said. “The many awards and positions we attained served as a bonding moment for our club, and brought us all together.”
Students also got to listen to guest speaker Binh Rybacki, the founder of Children of Peace International, a humanitarian organization dedicated to helping the people of Vietnam. Students got to learn from her story and be inspired how they can do more in their community.
“Students benefited from this trip because we got to learn about what our fellow district Key Clubs were doing throughout the year, and got to take pride in what we accomplished as a district for COPI and individually,” public relations officer Kalli Kinsman said.
Jaden Wywoda is a senior captain on the Jonathan Law baseball team. Wywoda has played baseball his whole law career, and next year is committed to play at Division I college Holy Cross. Advocate staff reporter Christian Andriolas interviewed him about the season and college.
Christian Andriolas: What are you looking forward to in the second half of the season?
Jaden Wywoda: We are very excited for another game against Foran and the state tournament at the end of the year.
CA: What has been your favorite part of the first half of the season?
JW: Shutting out Foran 5-0 was definitely the highlight of our first half. Lots of fans, lots of energy, and we played great.
CA: What are the biggest obstacles this season for yourself and the team?
JW: Finding consistency as a team has been our biggest struggle. We have shown serious potential to play great. We just have to bring it everyday.
CA: What do you like most about playing baseball?
JW: I love that there is no clock. The pitcher has to throw it over the plate and beat the batter. There is no running the clock down. You have to earn every out.
CA:What are your feelings about playing in college next year?
JW: I am super excited about playing next year. I think it is a great opportunity to play the game I love. The team is welcoming, the coaches are amazing, and I love the school.
The Advocate Online Staff – 2025-2026
By Helen Chizmazia – Staff Reporter
By Marisa Laviano – Staff Reporter
By Caden Simpson – Staff Reporter
The Advocate Online 