Author Archives: The Advocate Online

NEWS: Law’s Race And Equity Committee Plans Black History Month Events

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(Photo by Angel Santiago)

By Ethan Harrigan – Sports Editor

The Race and Equity Committee is a combined group of seniors from both of Milford’s high schools who meet once a week to discuss problems surrounding race in schools and how to address them.

February is Black History Month, and the Race and Equity committee will continue to spread awareness of the impact African Americans have had on history.

The committee was formed during the spring of 2020 while the country was going through unrest over racial issues.

Law’s Dean of Students Mr. Ragaini said the group was formed with the goal of making change.

“The group made it clear that they wanted to make a positive change at Law as well as in the Milford community,” Ragaini said. “They are adamant that the work they started should continue throughout their senior year and the years beyond.”

Law senior Angel Santiago is a student leader and co-founder of the committee. He has helped plan events throughout the year to bring more awareness to the schools and leads the activities at Law, including a Multicultural Day in November that was live streamed on Eagle Eye News.

“We were able to give a presentation to the teachers at Law about race at Jonathan Law,” Santiago said. “We also ran a Multicultural Day that featured many cultures that are represented at Law.”

Senior Sanskar Shah is a member of the committee who focuses on recruiting students and teachers to help the cause. For Black History Month, Shah said, the committee has planned Advisory activities and daily segments on Eagle Eye News.

“We have daily facts about rich African American history and their culture,” Shah said. “We are also advocating for some time in class to be devoted to black history, and optimistically, I have heard teachers who have done this.”

The Race and Equity Committee is entirely student-run. Faculty and staff offer support in the process but let the students come up with their own ideas to improve schools’ racial climate.

“I am here to support them anyway I can,” Ragaini said. “The administration at Law – Mr. Thompson, Mr. Marko, and Mr. Hoggatt – make sure that the committee has all the resources they need to succeed in their mission.”

Shah discussed how the Race and Equity Committee’s main goal is to create an environment where people of all cultures can feel at home. 

““It’s an organization for optimal inclusion, but at the same time, we are constantly wary of not trying to solve problems when they weren’t existing in the first place,” Shah said.

Despite the challenges in planning activities due to COVID-19 this year, the committee is doing everything they can to make sure there is a lasting impact at Jonathan Law.

“Considering the numerous restrictions arising from COVID, we are pushing the small things,” Shah said. “Cliche or not, I’m gonna say it: It really is the small things that matter.”

5 QUESTIONS WITH: Senior Science Club President Katherine Mao About Competing In The Harvard-Brown Invitational Science Olympiad

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(Photo courtesy Ms. Turcotte)

By Gillian Rees – News Editor

The Jonathan Law Science Club recently competed in the Harvard-Brown Invitational Science Olympiad. Normally, they would have traveled to Boston to compete but they have competed virtually from home this year due to COVID-19. The competition would usually consist of a mixture of tests and hands-on building activities, but this year since it was virtual, they did the tests only. Advocate editor Gillian Rees interviews Science Club President Katherine Mao about the Science Club and the Science Olympiad. 

Gillian Rees: How often does the Science Club meet?

Katherine Mao: Science Club meets once a week on Mondays. This year our meetings are at 2:00 p.m. through Google Meet.

GR: How much preparation does the Science Olympiad take and how do you prepare for it?

KM: Preparing for the Olympiads is mostly done independently and outside of our normal meeting times. Depending on what events you have, there’s different ways to study for them, but the most important thing I think is to do a lot of practice tests so that you know what questions have been like in the past. It’s also really important to communicate with your partners as to how you guys want to approach the test, whether you want to split up the content, or if you want to strategize for the day of the Olympiad.

GR: As the president, what extra responsibilities do you take on?

KM: As president, my main task is to facilitate the weekly meetings and make sure everyone can have the best experience possible. I also work with the other officers to assign events for everyone, organize the different teams, and create schedules for each Olympiad. There’s also scheduling conflicts that come up and required forms that have to be filled out, so the officers and I work together to solve any issues and make sure everything runs smoothly. 

GR: How different was the Harvard-Brown Olympiad this year compared to other years?

KM: With Harvard-Brown and all of our competitions being online this year, it’s definitely a big change from other years. Instead of competing at college campuses, we access our tests through a website called Scilympiad, and we have to use either FaceTime, Google Meet, or Discord to coordinate with our partners. As with anything that’s online, some of us encountered tech issues, but the Olympiad organizers were pretty understanding about that. The awards ceremony was also online, so it wasn’t the same without the screaming and cheering during a normal awards ceremony, but I think it was still a cool experience for everyone. 

GR: What would you say to encourage anyone who might be interested in joining the science club next year? 

KM: I would just say to be open to trying new things because you’ll never know how great something is until you step out of your comfort zone. As an underclassman I was hesitant to join Science Club because I thought it would be really competitive and cutthroat, but now I’m so glad I did because it’s been a big part of my high school experience. Science Club is about learning new material that you otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to in school, but it’s also about getting to meet new people, make new friends, and have fun.

ENTERTAINMENT: “Penryn And The End Of Days” Is An Enthralling Apocalypse Story Worth Readers’ Time

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(Photo courtesy amazon.com)

By Rachel Mckay – Staff Reporter

The book series “Penryn and the End of Days” is a trilogy which consists of “Angelfall,” “World After,” and “End of Days.” The series was written by Susan Ee, starting in May 2011 and ending in May 2015.

The main premise of the series is that there is an apocalypse after angels came to Earth and threw the world into chaos. The series follows the protagonist, Penryn, as she does her best to survive and protect those she cares about. 

The book series begins with Penryn’s disabled sister being taken by angels. Her initial goal is only to get her sister back, however, early on she finds an angel with his wings removed and left for dead by other angels. The two of them make a hesitant and begrudging agreement to work with each other in order to achieve their own separate goals. Penryn wants to find her sister, and the angel, Raffie, wants to get his wings back. 

Over the course of the story, the plot becomes more complicated as new allies and enemies are found. These alliances and enemies guide the story in an effective manner, allowing for a plot that is easy to follow and interesting. 

These books have a compelling plot matched with unique and captivating characters. The plot is also done in a way where even the smallest details are all connected and contribute to the story.

The intricate way the different events build upon each other is engaging and keeps the reader wanting to know more. Plot points that seemed irrelevant or unimportant often end up coming into play later on. In addition, there is a lot of well hidden foreshadowing that can only be picked up on while rereading. 

Although some of the characters are not as interesting as others, many of them are extremely detailed and realistic. They have a wide range of personalities, backgrounds, and skill sets that do a lot to add to the story. Of the large group of main and secondary characters, few of them are done poorly or are not interesting enough. So, even though not all of the characters are interesting, the vast majority of them are fascinating and are relatable or realistic in some way.

Overall, this book series is a great read for anyone who loves apocalypse stories, unique characters, and an engaging and developing plot.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

NEWS: Students Adjust To Mix Of Traditional, Online Learning Snow Days

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(Photo by Sydney Simpson)

By Sydney Simpson – News Editor

Following a monstrous snowstorm that took place late Sunday night into Monday morning, Milford Public Schools has announced two snow days for the week of February 1, 2021. 

Monday, February 1, and Tuesday, February 2, were both classified as “snow days” by the city, but each day was different in terms of what was expected from students and teachers. Monday, the day of the storm, was what people are referring to as a “traditional snow day”, one where neither in person nor online attendance was necessary, while on Tuesday students were to follow the online learning schedule. 

“We had one day to enjoy and then having the online learning day gave us a full day of class, instead of a delay or an added day in June,” Jonathan Law English teacher Mrs. Lucia said. “This plan also gave custodians time to clean up the parking lots and entrances, instead of having them scramble to get the building ready for classes directly after the storm.”

There are mixed opinions from the student body as to which type of snow day they prefer better, and each side has strong reasoning. 

“I think I am just as productive as a normal online day during online snow days, maybe even more because it’s not like I can go anywhere so I just do all my work right away,” Jonathan Law senior Colin Buchner said. 

Many people share this mindset, of wanting something to do on a lazy day to feel more productive. Some, however, struggle with the concept of learning online and find it hard to keep themselves from being distracted. 

“I prefer traditional snow days because then we get the day off instead of still having to learn online,” Jonathan Law junior Luke Henricksen said. “I can’t focus online.”

Then there is the appealing concept of having the day off. Whether students play board games, watch movies, or read a good book, a snow day is always regarded as a day where there are no responsibilities and students can do whatever they want. 

“I use traditional snow days as an opportunity to sleep in and to spend time with my family that I don’t get to when I have school,” Jonathan Law freshman Caden Simpson said. 

Snow days were a fun, family filled part of everybody’s childhood, going out in the snow with your parents to build snowmen, make snow angels, and have snowball fights. As we get older, however, the fun snow activities with mom and dad turn into helping them shovel snow and clear it off the car. 

“During snow days, I usually help my dad shovel snow and go sledding,” Jonathan Law sophomore Demiana Boutros said. 

Everyone’s needs are different, whether they feel more productive online versus in school, they would rather spend time with family and have a break than get out of school earlier in the summer, or they just really enjoy playing in the snow.

This is what makes it impossible to make a decision about what to do with future snow days that will satisfy everyone. The general consensus is that not a lot of people truly mind either option. 

“I think this was effective because they let us enjoy the snow and the nostalgic feeling of a traditional snow day, while gradually transitioning us back into regular school without missing too much work,” said Simpson.

Most people also agree that in the future, it is likely that Milford will utilize more online snow days. 

“Now that we are used to the technology and know how to run an online school day they are most likely going to use it,” said Boutros. 

NEWS: Law’s English Department Promotes “World Read Aloud Day” With Video

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(Photo courtesy youtube.com)

By Alexis Broderick – Social Media Editor-in-Chief

The Jonathan Law English department participated in World Read Aloud Day on February 2 with a video of teachers reading a famous short story.

World Read Aloud Day was created in 2009 to celebrate the power of reading aloud. It is celebrated in over 173 countries around the world and was created by the nonprofit organization LitWorld to connect people all over the world through the power of books. 

“World Read Aloud Day is something I decided to celebrate at Law this year,” Library Media Specialist Ms. Mundy said. “I learned about it when I was in school to get my library certification and it was something I started celebrating at my previous school.”

The story the English department read this year was “The Dinner Party” by Mona Gardner. Teachers took turns reading lines from the story and the video was edited by Mundy and broadcast on Eagle Eye News.

“The video came out great and hopefully everyone enjoyed the twist at the end of the short story,” English teacher Mr. Kulenych said. “It was a lot of fun to see the finished product and to take part in spreading the joy of reading to the rest of the school.”

English teachers also did additional Read Aloud activities with their classes that day.

English teacher Mrs. Lucia was excited to participate in the making of the video.

“I think the video turned out well,” English teacher Mrs. Lucia said. “It was Ms. Mundy’s idea to have our department all share a story was fun, and I always love reading out loud to my students. It’s one of my favorite things as a teacher.”

Many students tuned into Eagle Eye News, Jonathan Law’s daily morning news show, to listen to “The Dinner Party.” 

“I tuned into Eagle Eye News to listen to the story,” senior Greta Valvo said. “It was actually so much fun. Maybe it could happen more often.”

The English Department is looking forward to continuing Read Aloud Day and making it a new tradition.

“The Math Department has Pi Day – we need a day too,” said Lucia.

Kulenych agreed.

“I would love to see the Read Aloud video become a yearly tradition,” Kulenych said. “It would be great if we could add a new wrinkle every year too – maybe have students involved or read a short story written by one of our students. Ms. Mundy did an awesome job and I’m excited to see what we come up with for next year.”

NEWS: Law’s Students Reflect On Black History Month Lessons

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(Photo courtesy cityofsouthfield.com)

By Tyanna Xavier – Social Media Editor

Black History Month has provided the students at Jonathan Law an opportunity to explain their knowledge of Black History Month and what it means to them.

From articles in The Advocate, to daily posts on The Advocate Twitter and Instagram, to daily announcements on Eagle Eye News, to lessons in history classes, and through a series of Advisory activities designed by Law’s Race & Equity Committee, Law has embraced the opportunity to celebrate black history and culture.

Senior Madison Jolley said she learned about the origins of Black History Month in school. In 1915, a historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. 

“This was done in order to bring awareness to the African American people who had made contributions to society,” Jolley said.

Senior Anthony Mendez said that it is important for students of all ages to know about these moments in history as they have created and shaped black culture today. 

“It is heart-wrenching to see what all of the black males and females had to do and the pain they had to endure while fighting for their rights,” Mendez said. “However, it is also empowering watching how ambitious they were.”

The goal of Black History Month is to appreciate the people who have fought for racial equality. Each year the Association for the Study of African American Life and History selects a theme to study.

Senior Kaleb Hart is excited for this year’s theme.

“This year the theme is The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity,” Hart said.

Hart said this theme will be very interesting in 2021 because it will show people all around the world what being raised in a black family was like in the past versus today.

Junior Solomon Mercado said that he learned the origins of Black History Month in his history class.

“The month of February was chosen for Black History Month because Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass both celebrated their birthdays in February,” Mercado said.

Freshman Ayden Sanchez said he was inspired by what he learned about Dr. Martin Luther KIng’s “I Have A Dream” speech.

“In Dr. Martin Luther King’s Speech ‘I Have a Dream,’ a part that really stood out to me was when he stated, ‘We are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.’ This is because he impacted people to be fearless and to not back down no matter the struggle,” Sanchez said. 

NEWS: Keyettes Club Volunteers At Kingdom Life Food Drive

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By Mia Cerrato – Entertainment Editor

Jonathan Law’s Keyettes Club recently helped out at the Kingdom Life Food Drive. 

“The purpose was to provide food to those in our community who may be struggling to put food on the table due the pandemic affecting their lives and jobs,” said senior Jenna Hanson, who is president of Keyettes Club.

Everyone helped by giving out boxes of food to the families that came to the event. 

“We were very excited to help families in need within the Milford community,” said senior Sara Desing.

Desing said the event was successful and organized.

“We asked those who attended how many boxes they wanted, and if they wanted us to place the box in the back seat or the trunk of their car,” said Desing. “We also helped with unloading the food boxes from the food distribution truck.”

Volunteers were also able to give away all of the food boxes in the truck to different families in the community.

“This food drive is typically an annual event and the Kingdom of Life Church is always willing to help the community,” said Desing.

Senior Juliana Restrepo said that volunteering this year has definitely been impacted by COVID-19, but it is still possible.

“Although it is hard not being able to do as much volunteering opportunities as possible,” Restrepo said. “I always try to add and contribute new ideas for Keyettes Club.”

Keyettes Club is always planning for their new event and always encouraging new members. 

“People can join the Keyettes Club by emailing me, Ms. Sylvia, or joining Google Classroom using the code on our Twitter @JlawKeyettes,” said Hanson.

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Key Club Senior Officer Noah Golden About Restarting In The Tier 1 Schedule

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(Photo courtesy jrhs.org)

By Lucas Greifzu – Sports Editor

The Jonathan Law Key Club is well known for its service around not only Milford, but around New England as well. On Thursday, January 28, the Jonathan Law Key Club restarted its service around the community after having to suspend activities because of the coronavirus. Noah Golden and the rest of Law’s Key Club officers are making plans about what to do now. Advocate Sports Editor Lucas Greifzu interviewed Golden about what the Key Club is going to do now.

Lucas Greifzu: Now that Key Club has been allowed to meet again, what are some of the things you want to volunteer at?

Noah Golden: I’m excited to do anything that may come up, especially with how limited everything is right now.

LG: Is there still any plan for the district convention?

NG: We’re gonna do all our projects to the best of our ability, showing off what we accomplished despite the pandemic.

LG: How has Jonathan Law adapted its club to operate with the pandemic happening?

NG: Our meetings happen on Thursdays rather than Wednesday’s, which isn’t a big difference, but a difference regardless. All meetings are socially distanced.

LG: What, if any, are some things that Key Club has wanted to do, that it hasn’t been able to do because of the virus?

NG: The biggest one is probably salvation army. Standing out there with friends, ringing the bell, getting into the holiday spirit was a yearly tradition that was always looked forward to, but unfortunately couldn’t happen.

LG: What is the plan to transition the club into next year, when hopefully the virus is less impactful?

NG: We will have a pretty new and young team running the club, we’re setting them up with leftover funds for projects to do in the future when this year’s seniors are gone, hopefully they can have a normal school year, but even if they can’t, they will have money to do stuff.

EDITORIAL: Poet Amanda Gorman Put My Feelings About America Into Words

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(Photo courtesy variety.com)

By Gemard Guery – Staff Reporter

The 2021 Inauguration was both historical and stunning.

While the ceremony was wonderful, the moments from a young poet stood apart.

Amanda Gorman, a recent Harvard grad who studied sociology and first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate, was that young poet.

Her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” captivated the hearts of millions.

Gorman researched the speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, she told CBS News, in her quest to create her masterpiece.

And then a pro-Trump mob attacked the U.S. Capitol.

That same day, Gorman told CBS, the poem “came to life.” She told the network that she wanted the poem “to be a message of hope and unity” but didn’t want to “turn a blind eye to the cracks that really need to be filled.”

After reciting the poem, Gorman’s fan base grew to include some of the most famous people in the world.

“I have never been prouder to see another woman rise! Brava Brava Amanda Gorman!” Oprah Winfrey posted on her Instagram account.  “Maya Angelou is cheering – and so am I.”

Gorman perfectly put into words some things that I have been feeling since the attack on the Capitol.

The attack was bothering me for some time because I never thought something like this could happen in 2021. But then Gorman said, “We learned that quiet isn’t always peace and the norms and notions of what just is isn’t always just-ice.”

That’s when I finally understood what was bothering me so much.

I believed we were all at peace.  I saw nothing about an attack and I only saw people arguing with the results because they were unable to accept the fact they lost.

I thought that just because I heard and saw nothing, nothing was going to happen.

Gorman’s poem allowed me to breathe a bit and know that days of true peace without fear could come.

I always thought that just because I was American, this could never happen.  I never saw anything like it, so I convinced myself that it could never happen.

But as the young poet perfectly said, “While once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe? Now we assert, how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?”

I always thought we would be strategizing to prevent catastrophe, but never thought catastrophe could win.

For months, I have been rethinking what being American has even meant, and with all the time covid has given, I have had a lot of time to think about it.

For so long, there was some kind of unexplainable joy that came from the word American. But it means so much more than it. It’s truly looking at what has happened in the past and learning how to fix it so it doesn’t happen again in the future because there is a lot of pain, grief, and sadness that comes with that word as well.

It was truly amazing to see how Gorman captured so many different feelings and thoughts in her poem.  It was a positive take on such a negative time in our country.

I believe history will remember how Gorman found light in so much darkness because as she said, “There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.  If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Senior Swim & Dive Captain Luke Morris About The Upcoming Season

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(Photo courtesy Luke Morris)

By Gillian Rees – News Editor

Recently across Connecticut, the winter sports season has begun. Student-athletes have been eager to get back to their sports for about a month now, not knowing whether they would have a season this year or not. With approval from the CIAC and the Milford Public Schools, Jonathan Law began winter sports practices on January 25. The uncertainty of which sports will happen and which high school events will happen has such a big impact on the seniors, for this will be the last time they’d be able to experience these moments. Advocate Editor Gillian Rees interviewed boys swim and dive captain Luke Morris about the start to the season.

Gillian Rees: How did you feel when you found out you’d be able to have a season?

Luke Morris: When I found out we were getting a season, I was very excited. I have been training a lot and I really wanted to get back and compete the new dives I learned. I have been looking forward to spending time with my teammates who I don’t get to see often. I lifeguard for the girls swim team, and watching them have their season made me hopeful of having my own. 

GR: What are the COVID restrictions in place at practice?

LM: For the first week, we have to practice in cohorts, so we only get to practice for an hour with our cohort. We have to wear our masks unless we are in the water, stay spaced out in our lanes and can not use the locker rooms. 

GR: How are meets planned to work?

LM: Our meets are “virtual” which means we do not go to other teams’ pools and they do not come to our pool. When we compete, we will only use three lanes and the energy is going to be a lot different since we won’t be racing alongside someone from the other team and because there will be no crowd. 

GR: What are you most excited about for the season?

LM: I am most excited to beat my times and my scores, and hopefully learn a few more dives. I am also hoping that we will continue winning more meets, since last year we ended 7-4 which was one of our best records in a while. We have a lot of new people this year and we are hoping that will be useful for getting more points and more wins.

GR: As a captain, what are your personal and team goals for the season?

LM: As a captain, I am trying to make sure that we still have a close-knit team even with all the restrictions. We used to have a lot of pasta parties and that was a great time to bond, but we cant do that anymore. I want to make sure that everyone can have a strong season by keeping the morale high and having a good time.

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Senior Class Advisor Mrs. Francisco About Spirit Week

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(Photo courtesy twitter.com)

By Stephanie Caron – Editor-in-Chief 

To welcome back Jonathan Law students from Tier 3 learning, the senior class recently held its second Spirit Week of the school year. At the end of each day, the judges came together to reward selected participants. Advocate Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Caron sat down with one of the judges, Senior Class Advisor Mrs. Francisco, about the action-packed week. 

Stephanie Caron: What is your favorite part of Spirit Week?

Mrs. Francisco: My favorite part of Spirit Week is getting to wear crazy outfits to school. It’s fun to do something different. I say it all the time, but school is more than just academics. The memories that are made being silly with your friends is a big part of high school. I can still remember some of the fun things I did with my friends in high school (and that was a long time ago!) With all the craziness going on in the world today, it’s nice to just “be a kid” for a week – even for me!

SC: What was your favorite day and why?

MF: My favorite day is Class Clash since the students tend to participate in that one the most. Any day that has high participation is a good day. 

SC: Do you think we will have another Spirit Week that’ll encourage even more participation?

MF: Ms. Russell, the judges, and I are struggling to get high participation. We try to brainstorm “different” themes that we haven’t seen before to increase participation, but it seems to do the opposite. We love having Spirit Weeks and hope that we can get more participation in each one.

SC: How did you and the seniors come up with the themes?

MF: The judges each come up with a few different ideas either by asking other seniors or researching what other schools have done. Then, we vote on which themes we think all students would have fun with. 

SC: What is one thing you hope for future Spirit Weeks?

MF: I hope for more participation! I want to walk down the hall and see everyone dressed up, laughing, and smiling. I also hope that we can end a Spirit Week with a pep rally once the COVID restrictions allow for it. 

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Senior Alexis Agyemang About Her Instagram Account “cultureknown”

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(Photo courtesy Alexis Agyemang)

By Tyanna Xavier – Social Media Editor

Alexis Agyemeng, a senior at Jonathan Law, recently creates a multicultural Instagram account called “cultureknown.” On this account, she shows pictures from different cultures along with interesting facts about that culture. Advocate Social Media Editor Tyanna Xavier interviewed Agyemang about the Instagram acoount.

Tyanna Xavier:  Why did you choose the name “cultureknown” for your multicultural Instagram account?

Alexis Agyemang: I named my Instagram account “cultureknown” because before I had this account I had a lot of people telling me that they have never gone on vacation before and they’ve just never seen other people’s ways of life before. Therefore, I’ve created an Instagram account called “cultureknown” so everybody can learn something about other’s traditions and ways of life.

TX: Who inspired you to make this multicultural Instagram account?

AA: After seeing everything happened in 2020 with the Black Lives Matter movement and all that was happening around the world it just seems like no one was truly understanding each other and no one was accepting each other. Therefore, I made this account so that it shows that it’s for everybody and you can learn more about one another.

TX: Have you received any feedback since you have created this account?

AA:I have received feedback from a lot of my friends and family saying that this was a really smart idea to help others stay informed about cultures they didn’t even know existed. When making this account I truly learned a lot about other cultures as well.

TX: What is your favorite post that you have made on “cultureknown?”

AA: One of my most favorite posts that I have made on “cultureknown” was about Egypt culture. This was my favorite because I learned that Egypt is one of the earliest civilizations and that its culture has been affected by many other cultures and ethnic groups.  

TX: Do you feel like what you’re doing is a form of activism? 

AA: Yes, I do feel like what I’m doing is a form of activism because I am bringing awareness to people who don’t know that much about other people’s cultures and traditions. It’s good for everyone to know a bit of knowledge about other people’s ways of life and where they come from so we can accept one another. 

5 QUESTIONS WITH…College & Career Coordinator Ms. Slyvia About Law’s Seniors

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(Photo by Alexis Broderick)

By Alexis Broderick – Social Media Editor-in-Chief

Jonathan Law’s seniors are continuing the college process and are now hearing back from some colleges. Some seniors have already committed to college. Social Media Editor-in-Chief Alexis Broderick interviewed Ms. Sylvia, the College and Career Center Coordinator, about this process. 

AB: Where should seniors be in the college process right now? 

MS: Every senior has a different path. Some students will have completed the college application process and are now awaiting acceptances. There are later application deadlines (into the month of February) which means some seniors may be finalizing their last few applications. Some other seniors may be composing their community college applications now. Still others may be preparing for the world of work through creating their resume or connecting with a military recruiter. There is no “one- size- fits- all” post-high school planning process.

AB: How do seniors get to apply for scholarships and what is your advice for the scholarship process? 

MS: The scholarship search process can start in Naviance. Simply log-in, select the “Colleges” tab, choose “Scholarships and Money” from the drop down menu, and finally select “Scholarship List”. You will want to look at the local listings, which I have uploaded to the system and update on a daily basis. Make a plan to check this list at least once per week to see the latest items. Students should also review college financial aid office websites, and websites like scholarships.com and fastweb.com. Outside websites will have you create a free profile and then pair your information with internet-based scholarship opportunities. My advice: pay close attention to the eligibility requirements and deadline dates for each scholarship. Keep track of scholarships that interest you and those that you end up applying for. Don’t discount smaller monetary scholarship awards – several small awards can add up! And finally, even if a scholarship requires a writing component don’t let it discourage you from applying – you may have to do a little extra work, but you won’t have to pay that money back. Need more information? Come see me in the College and Career Center, or schedule a virtual appointment!

AB: Where are some schools seniors are getting accepted to?

MS: It’s impressive to see the wide variety of acceptances: from our state universities (Southern CT State University, Central CT State University) to private colleges in state (Quinnipiac University, University of New Haven); many New England colleges and universities (Brown University, University of Rhode Island, Salve Regina University, Providence College, University of Maine, University of Massachusetts, University of Vermont, and so many more); and schools across the country (University of Alabama, University of Arizona, and University of Hawaii).

AB: What has been different this year from hearing back from colleges compared to other years?

MS: We have witnessed colleges and universities being slightly more flexible with deadline dates. Some extended deadlines to allow students more time to complete the application and to meet with college representatives to help make informed decisions. Therefore, this has pushed out the response turnaround time from those colleges. Despite some colleges making deadline adjustments, many have stuck by their typical timelines and students should be hearing back within the next few months.

AB: Are kids going farther or closer to home this year?

MS: That’s hard to say for sure! As you saw in the list of colleges students were accepted to, we have many students considering staying in-state, but also these students may have applied or been accepted to a school of their dreams out of state. This will certainly be a challenge for students to decide because many are concerned about financial cost, COVID-19 obstacles, and the uncertainty of family circumstances if they leave the state. By the end of the semester we will have stronger data to answer this question based on where students commit to.

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Senior Captain Kyle Kosh About Hockey Season

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By Ethan Harrigan – Sports Editor

Kyle Kosh is a senior at Jonathan Law and captain of the Milford Mariners. Last year, the team qualified for the SCC and State tournament for the first time since 2015 with a record of 8-12. This year, winter sports seasons were postponed to January 19 due to COVID-19, and many changes have been made. Sports Editor Ethan Harrigan interviewed Kosh about the team and his role.

Ethan Harrigan: How does it feel to be captain for your senior season?

Kyle Kosh: It’s definitely rewarding to have been named captain for this upcoming season. The decision was made through a voting process done by each member of the team, so it is nice to know that I have earned respect from my teammates.

EH: How is this year different from past years?

KK: Usually our team gets dressed and can leave our gear in our own locker room at the Milford Ice Pavilion. However, this year we will not start the season using that locker room. The greatest difference, though, is players must compete with masks on. We will be given mask breaks and will not come off the ice to our locker room between periods. Creating bonds off the ice will also be minimized as there are limits to how much we can see one another.

EH: What has the team been doing to get ready for the season?

KK: We began captain’s practices and conditioning in September. These were cut short after we were notified that sports were to be put on hold until January 19th. Since then, we have not done anything official, but most of us have been in the gym and have gotten some ice time.

EH: How do you plan to lead the team this year and what are your personal goals?

KK: I plan to make sure everyone will be following the guidelines in order to compete this season. Hopefully I can provide motivation and push our team in the right direction. My personal goal is to get All-State.

EH: What is the team hoping to accomplish this season?

KK: We are hoping to, of course, have a winning record. I’m not too familiar with what the SCC is doing for the tournament but whatever they are holding, we want to win.

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Senior Captain Brooke Dillman About The Indoor Track Season

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(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Sydney Simpson – News Editor 

Brooke Dillman is a senior captain and member of Jonathan Law’s 2021 indoor track team. Spending her four years at Law as a sprinter, Dillman competes in the 55 meter race and the 4×200 meter relay during the indoor track season. Last year, with Dillman as second leg, the girls 4×200 meter relay nearly beat the school record, making it to states but narrowly missing the cut for state opens. Dillman also participates in outdoor track during the spring season, where she runs the 100 meter, the open 200 meter, and the 4 by 100 meter relay. She is the anchor of the 4×100. Advocate News Editor Sydney Simpson interviewed Dillman about the upcoming 2021 indoor season. 

Sydney Simpson: What is your role as a captain this year? How is it different from just being a member of the team?

Brooke Dillman: My role as a captain is to keep the team informed on information about the season and keep everyone motivated. I also lead the girls sprinters through our workouts at practice. 

SS: How is the season going to look this year as compared to previous years? 

BD: This season is definitely very different from previous seasons. We are not sure yet about how meets will go and whether we can have them indoors or with other teams. But we will still be practicing so those will look relatively like past years. 

SS: How is conditioning running right now? Do you know when the team will be able to start official practices?

BD: Conditioning is going well right now with just the captains running it. Hopefully we will get more people coming when actual practices start. I believe actual practices will be starting next week. 

SS: What are the team’s goals for the season? What are your goals as an individual?

BD: The team goals this season are to excel in each event and break records from last year. We would also like to stay motivated to run and keep trying through the unusual season. As an individual I would like to get new personal records in all of my events.

SS: What are you and the rest of the team doing to prepare for the season?

BD: The captains have been running conditioning the last few weeks in order to make sure the team stays in shape and ready for the season. The captains have also had online meetings with Beler and relayed any information we get back to the team so everyone can stay updated on how the season will look.

SPORTS: Jonathan Law’s New Turf Field Project Almost Complete (WITH SLIDESHOW!)

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By Alexis Broderick – Social Media Editor-in-Chief & Hanna Broderick – Editorial Editor 

The soon-to-be-completed Jonathan Law turf field project is a complete renovation of the sports complex that will include permanent turf fields for baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, and football at Jonathan Law High School.  

The project will also include upgrades to the practice facilities (batting cages, bullpens) and will include upgraded electrical, storage, bleachers and landscaping.

“In addition to baseball and softball, the field will be lined for soccer, lacrosse and football,” Law Athletic Director Mr. Sarullo said. “Also, we anticipate that all of our teams will be able to use the complex when needed for practices, conditioning, etc. and that our PE classes will use the field as well.”

Last winter, the City of Milford and Milford Public Schools worked together to develop a plan to improve the athletic facilities in the city. 

As part of this plan, the baseball and softball fields were included in the project. Many groups worked together to determine what the new complex would look like. The committee wanted to ensure that they would include soccer, lacrosse and football lines to broaden who would be able to utilize the new field.

The goal for the turf field project was for it to be completed before winter break. The recent snow storm has delayed that, but the hope is that the project will be completely finished in January.

Sarullo said that once the project is completed, Law will have the best facility in the state.

“One of the things that we always strive for is to provide our student-athletes with the best facilities to play sports anywhere in the state,” Sarullo said. “We believe that this complex will absolutely be the best field in Connecticut and we are really excited to see our student-athletes playing on them soon.”

While playing on turf is different than playing on grass and dirt, there are several advantages.  

The biggest advantage for teams will be that they will rarely have games canceled due to the weather.  With the turf, it could stop raining just before the first pitch and the game could still be played.  Likewise, for lacrosse and soccer, Law can play in any weather conditions which was not possible on the grass surface.

“At first I was a little sad that we would be losing the dirt and the fun diving drills that went along with it,” Law softball coach Mrs. Blude said. “But there are so many positives that will come along with the turf.  We will never have to worry about puddles and  waiting for the field to dry out.  Also, we will look sharp after pregame warm-ups with Coach Mills. Usually we begin inning one with our infielders shaking dirt off their uniform.”

This new updated turf field will affect many different sports at Law – and can be used as an advantage. 

“I think there is a slight advantage to having turf,” Blude said. “The ball does play slightly different off of it.  I know it was always difficult to adjust at Daniel Hand (High School).  Many of our girls that play travel ball have played on turf so it should be something they adjust to quickly.”

Law senior baseball player James Marino can’t wait to play on the new field.

“I think it looks amazing – even too good, like a video game” Marino said. “I’ve very excited to play on it this season.”

NEWS: Jonathan Law Hosts Virtual 8th Grade Open House

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CHECK OUT THE “WE ARE BUILT FOR THIS MOMENT” HYPE VIDEO FROM OPEN HOUSE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmmxeOs9N5c

By Ethan Harrigan & Lucas Greifzu – Sports Editors

Jonathan Law welcomed middle schoolers to a virtual Open House on December 9 to introduce them to the high school environment.

In previous years, Open House would be held at Law and students and parents would be given a tour, shown a presentation by school administrators, hear from a variety of current Law students and parents, and exposed to sample courses where they could experience the high school curriculum. 

Dean of Students Mr. Ragaini said that despite the challenges of hosting this year’s Open House, the goals of the event remained the same. He believes that these Open House events are always an important way for students to ask questions about what Jonathan Law is all about.

“Every year, we want to give the incoming students a sense of what Jonathan Law is all about,” Ragaini said. ”Most of the 8th grade students attending the Open House are coming to Law but may have many questions about our school or maybe the common nervousness about going to high school.”

Due to the pandemic, this year’s Open House was held virtually but included almost all of the same elements of an in-person event.

“Rather than having traditional school tours, sample lessons, and activity fairs, we gave 8th grade parents and students a chance to explore all of what Law has to offer in a virtual setting,” English teacher Mr. Kulenych said. “We created a hype video, and had dozens of Google Meet sessions where parents and students could learn more about all of Law’s academic, elective, and athletic offerings.”

Senior Angel Santiago has been heavily involved in the Jonathan Law community since he was a freshman. He spoke about his experiences at Law and why he thought incoming 8th graders should choose Law for high school.

“I’ve always wanted to partake in an event like this cause I truly believe it is essential to helping 8th graders make their high school decision,” Santiago said.

Senior Connor Larson attended a private school his freshman year but transferred to Law his sophomore year. He spoke about his experience as a transfer student at the Open House.

“I was given a chance to speak to 8th graders and their families about why I transferred,” Larson said. “I hoped that I made some people change their minds about going to private school, and I was happy to talk about it because I would’ve been grateful to hear someone who transferred’s point of view when I was in 8th grade.”

Social Studies Department Head Mr. Zuraw believes that despite the pandemic pushing it to be online, the Open House was still successful. Zuraw presented information about the social studies curriculum in one of the breakout sessions.

“I think Open House is always an important event, but certainly during the pandemic it’s especially important to show the community all the great things Law has to offer,” Zuraw said. “And if it had to be over a Google Meet then so be it.”

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Dr. Thompson About Law’s “PJ Day For The Kids” (WITH SLIDESHOW!)

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By Stephanie Caron and Gillian Rees – News Editors

Jonathan Law hosted a virtual PJ Day on Friday, December 11, in support of the CT Children’s Care Center, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to improve the ability for children to access needed health care. Students and staff tweeted pictures of themselves with the #PJDay hashtag, money was donated to the charity for each photo that was tweeted. Advocate News Editors Stephanie Caron and Gillian Rees interviewed Jonathan Law Principal Dr. Thompson about the PJ Day.

Stephanie Caron & Gillian Rees: Do you think PJ day was a success?

Dr. Thompson: I do think PJ Day was a success. We were able to raise $150 for The Connecticut Children’s Hospital. 

SC & GR: Why did Jonathan Law participate in PJ day?

DT: Abby is my best friend’s daughter who was diagnosed with a rare cancer a few years ago. While I am so happy to let you know that she is doing well, the family’s struggles were immense. They were so grateful to CT Children’s Hospital for the care given to Abby that they began participating in this fundraising event. It has been incredible to witness our school community support this cause over the years and I am so grateful to everyone. 

SC & GR: How did students and teachers participate this year from home? 

DT: Our Lawmazings tweeted out their PJ pictures with the #PJDay to the advocate and for every picture, a dollar was donated up to $150! So we met our goal thanks to our incredible school community! We participate in PJ Day as part of “Team Abby.” 

SC & GR: How much money did Law raise? 

DT: We were able to raise $150 for The Connecticut Children’s Hospital. 

SC & GR: Do you think Law will participate in another PJ day this school year? 

DT: I know there will be some spirit day activities when we come back from the winter break so maybe another PJ Day in support of this worthy cause will be on the menu. Stay tuned. 

ENTERTAINMENT: “The Nightmare Before Christmas” Still A Holiday Favorite

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(Photo courtesy amazon.com)

By Ava Korkmaz – Staff Reporter

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” is one of the greatest holiday movies ever made. It was directed by Director Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Visionary Tim Burton. It also shows Actor Chris Saradon as the speaking voice and American Composer Danny Elfman as the singing voice of Jack Skellington. One of the other famous people in the movie is Actor Paul Reubens, who also was in “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” (1985) and “Batman Returns” (1992).

It took a lot of time to create a stop-motion movie – Jack Skellington had over four hundred heads. The animators for the movie wanted to capture every emotion that a human would have. This first song that they recorded was “What’s This?” the song for when Jack goes into Christmas town. This was also the first scene of the movie that they completed.

The directors were worried that children would not like the movie, but its re-release was a hit in 2006. The movie was so great that on the soundtrack, Disney decided to add artists like Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, Marilyn Manson, Fiona Apple, and She Wants Revenge. The original demo tapes that were created by Elfman during the original movie, were also added to the disc.

One of the best lines that are in the movie is “Curiosity killed the cat, you know.” This was the scene when Sally was more curious than all the Halloween town residents about Jack’s whereabouts. She goes in the mad scientist’s lair to ask him. He does not tell her where because he also does not know.

Another one of the best lines is, “Kidnap the Sandy Claws, beat him with a stick. Lock him up for 50 years, see what makes him tick!” This is the scene where Lock, Shock, and Barrel kidnap Santa Claus so that Jack could dress up like him and go into the real world and scare kids on Christmas. This is also the scene where they got the Easter Bunny mixed up with Santa.

Nevertheless, this movie will always be a part of our lives, as it truly is a classic Christmas movie. It is very funny, people can always watch with their family and friends, and it is truly what Christmas is all about. This will always be a holiday favorite, and will be in the hearts of moviegoers forever.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

ENTERTAINMENT: “Coraline” Intrigues Viewers With Increasingly Dark Storyline

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(Photo courtesy coraline.fandom.com)

By Rachel Mckay – Staff Reporter

The movie “Coraline” is a film produced in February 2009 by Laika Studios. It is based on the book Coraline by Neil Gaiman.

The movie starts with the protagonist, Coraline, moving into a new house. In the beginning, she is simply exploring the house and surrounding property, as well as meeting the other characters. It also serves to show her dissatisfaction with her new house. 

At first, the main problem Coraline faces is her sadness at leaving her friends and annoyance with her strange neighbors. The movie spends time letting the viewer know just how weird the characters are, however does not reveal too much about the storyline. 

There is also a great build up to the dramatic climax. It gives the viewer enough time to understand the world and learn more about Coraline, but it doesn’t drag on. It also leads up to the climax without the viewer even realizing. 

The plot begins to darken after she discovers a door that leads to what seems like a perfect alternate reality. It is clear that this door leads to a world where everything is better, particularly her parents. From there, the story continues to warp as Coraline learns more about what is going on.

The movie does an excellent job of maintaining a sense of mystery and the feeling that something is wrong, without telling the viewer what it is. In addition, there is a lot of hidden foreshadowing that can only be caught rewatching the movie. Many small details that could go unnoticed hint at the much darker truth of the story. 

All of this makes Coraline a movie that anyone can become invested in, and can be watched time and time again. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

ENTERTAINMENT: “Avatar: The Last Airbender” Thrills Fans 15 Years After Premiere

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By Gemard Guery – Staff Reporter

Since its premiere on Nickelodeon 15 years ago, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” has become one of the most loved shows on television and has become one of the greatest shows of all time.

The show takes place in a world made up of four nations: the Earth Kingdom, the Water Tribes, the Air Nomads, and the Fire Nation.  Certain members of the four nations (known as benders) have the ability to bend one of the four elements which usually corresponds with the nation they were born and raised in.  One individual known as the Avatar has the ability to bend all four elements with a new Avatar being reborn into a new nation after the previous Avatar’s death.  However, this individual is tasked with making sure the world stays in balance at all times and stopping anyone or anything that can cause imbalance.

But as the Fire Nation began a war to take control of the world, the Avatar vanishes and nobody sees or hears him for a hundred years, giving the Fire Nation the opportunity to conquer the other three nations and allowing them to kill anyone who stood in their way including all the Air Nomads to prevent the next Avatar from foiling their plans.

When two siblings from the Southern Water Tribe find the Avatar, a young immature Airbender named Aang.  The Fire Nation begins to go after him.  When Aang realizes that he has lost his entire culture to the vicious Fire Nation, he quickly finds his destiny.  Aang must master all four elements, defeat the fire nation, and save the world.  If he succeeds, the world can recover from the scar left by the Fire Nation.  If he fails, there will be no world to save.

This show is amazing. It gets very emotional at times and, honestly, hard to look away from.  It has one of the best character development that was done perfectly.  The show embraces the different cultures of the world with the four nations.  Each of the nations represented a different culture in the real world.  The show is also very relevant, a lot of the issues we see in the show happen all around the world today.  Avatar is funny and really encapsulates a little boy with imagination and humor, but with a huge responsibility.  Simply put, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is the perfect combination between a sweet humorous kids show and a more serious show for young adults. Absolutely thrilling!

There are practically no weak points in the show.  The only weak point is one of the most beloved main characters in the show was introduced long after the first few main characters made their appearances, but this is no way “ruined” the show.  It was great for the plot and even led to a very unexpected twist that helped them out immensely.

Rating: 10 out of 5 stars

ENTERTAINMENT: Action-Packed “Peppermint” Will Leave Viewers Speechless

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(Photo courtesy imdb.com)

By Lily Forster – Staff Reporter

The story of “Peppermint” revolves around Riley North, played by Jennifer Garner, a grieving mom who loses her daughter and husband in a gang-related shooting and goes on a campaign of targeted revenge. The title “Peppermint” refers to the flavor of ice-cream that her daughter was eating when she was murdered.

Five years after Riley North’s husband and daughter are killed in a senseless act of violence, Riley comes back from self-imposed exile to seek revenge against those responsible and the system that let them go free. According to the actress herself, the movie “Peppermint” is entirely fictional. This action/thriller movie is absolutely incredible.

This movie has an amazing plot and the amount of revenge that went on throughout the entire movie was outstanding. The choice of Jennifer Garner as the lead role in this movie was an amazing choice because of the other acting roles she has been in. No one had ever expected her to do something like this movie and people are so surprised on how she absolutely killed it. The acting in this movie was incredible within each major character.  

This storyline is chilling and emotional at first but then it gets quite crazy. A major strength is that viewers get so interested, they just want to keep watching to see what happens. This movie is the type that can just be watched and is easy to understand and go along with without brain power. It is simply just an entertaining movie and there were lots of twists and turns that keep viewers interested and wanting to know what’s going to happen next. But the biggest strength of the movie was 100% the ending…viewers will have to watch it to find out!

This movie did have a lot of visuals though. There was a decent amount of blood shown throughout this movie because there was quite a lot of violence. So if those types of visuals affect you: warning, there are some points where it’s pretty intense. But besides that and as a result, there aren’t too many crazy scenes.  

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

ENTERTAINMENT: “21 Jump Street” Relatable For High School Students

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By Shane Cepalia – Staff Reporter

The 2012 film “21 Jump Street” is a comedy/action film based on a former television series with the same name.

The plot is based around two cops, Schmidt (played by Jonah Hill) and Jenko (played by Channing Tatum). These two are fresh out of high school and have recently graduated from the police academy. A mistake in their first arrest forces them to either join an undercover division or get fired. They are assigned to an undercover operation where they need to infiltrate a high school’s drug ring powered by their new classmates.

Throughout the movie, viewers get many relatable comedic references to modern day high schools and the students that attend them. The film also shines light on how awkward high school can be especially when students are forced to fit in. Jenko and Schmidt are both assigned classes to fit their interests, but a mix up in their schedules reverses the roles and the two are required to attend each other’s classes to add to the vulnerability and confusion.

All the while they have to “infiltrate the dealers, find the supplier” as commanded by their Captain played by none other than Ice Cube. Their assignment requires them to get a sample of the drug “HFS” and in a deal gone wrong, they are required to take the substance and almost overdose. Once they are in with the dealer, they have to take down the supplier at a drug deal on prom night, which goes south and ends up resulting in a firefight as well as a car chase scene.

“21 Jump Street’s” biggest pro is its comedic value and relatability, especially towards a teenage audience. The pain of moving back in with one’s parents and doing high school over as adults is real, and viewers can see it in this movie. The movie has a good balance of comedy to action. All of the jokes and bits nicely lined up and sometimes progressed the story, like when they got their first arrest and proceeded to mock the suspect as well as fire live rounds into the air in a crowded park as a way of celebrating.

However, the film doesn’t do very well with realism. That first arrest scene probably would have led to them being fired or even detained, and it’s not plausible that Jenko would have blended in as well as he did when he’s half a foot taller than the average senior. The film also shows the officers committing more violations in order to catch the suppliers including but not limited to: hijacking three cars, engaging in a limousine chase on busy roads, as well as a shootout from the sunroof, punching a student that provoked them, taking the substance itself, holding a party with alcohol and marijuana stolen from evidence lockers in an attempt to blend in, etc.

However, the pros heavily outweigh the cons in this movie, and it made for a very humorous movie. Even if it isn’t based in reality, some of those unrealistic moments triggered the funniest scenes. The film was very nicely paced and balanced, and that plus the comedic value made it a great movie.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

SPORTS: Law’s Boys, Girls Basketball Teams Await Update On Winter Season

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(photo courtesy thechronicleherald.com)

By Bobby Black – Staff Reporter

The CIAC, the State Department of Public Health, and the state’s athletic directors are trying to figure out a way to play the upcoming high school basketball season. 

The current plan is that the basketball teams will start practicing on January 19, but this date still may be pushed back based on the local and statewide numbers of COVID-19 cases. On January 7, the CIAC board will meet and the coaches expect to receive a start date for the games and practices. 

Teams will likely play 10-12 regular season games in addition to a conference and state tournament. 

“I am going to listen to the protocols for the next season and we need to make sure that everyone is safe,” Law girls basketball coach Mr. Young said. “Whatever time we have we need to maximize so that we can compete at our highest level after we make sure everyone is safe.” 

Due to COVID-19, more regulations and rules will be put in place to ensure safety for all the players and coaches that are participating. 

“The CIAC is currently working with the Governor and the state DPH to develop the regulations to safely conduct winter sports,” Law athletic director Mr. Sarullo said. “Once those are finalized, they will be sent to the individual school districts to determine what is safe at the local level.”

One of the concerns that will take place throughout the basketball season is how the teams will stay safe while going to away games. 

“We will strictly follow all approved transportation protocols,” Law boys basketball coach Mr. Anderson said. “It is my understanding that our fall programs, in tandem with our bus company, did a stellar job in this area and they had no issues.”

Mask wearing will also be required in some cases during the basketball season. Student-athletes will have to wear a mask while sitting on the bench, during a talk with the coach or other players, and when they are talking to an athletic trainer. The coaches are required to wear a mask at all times.

Though players need to wear a mask, it doesn’t have to be medical grade masks and cloth ones are accepted. Also the shields or mask helmets are not allowed while playing or sitting. 

“We need to wait for the approved requirements and once cascaded at our level, we will go above and beyond to ensure a safe environment to compete in,” Anderson said. 

Even though there are already many rules that have been enacted to minimize the spread of COVID-19, there are likely still more to come. Members of Law’s basketball teams said they will do whatever it takes to make sure a season happens.

“As a leader on the team I am going to make sure the team and I follow safety protocols to ensure we have a healthy and successful season,” senior girls basketball player Katie Konareski said. “This may include staying socially distant while off the court, wearing masks if told, wiping down equipment after use, and other rules required to follow to keep safe and sanitary.”

All of the players and coaches are eager to get started with the season and practice for the upcoming games. The players will compete while trying to stay safe throughout the season. 

ENTERTAINMENT: “The Office” Remains A Hilarious Mockumentary Series

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(Photo courtesy cheatsheet.com)

By Olivia Augustine – Staff Reporter

The award winning show “The Office” created by Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, and Stephen Merchant ran from 2005-2013. This show has won many awards including a Golden Globe for Best Television Series in 2010. 

“The Office” is a TV show about a group of co-workers who work at a paper company called Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania. This mockumentary follows the lives of the manager and the employees he manages. 

This show starred Steve Carell as Regional Manager Michael Scott, Rainn Wilson as paper salesman Dwight Schrute, Jenna Fischer as Receptionist Pam Beesley, and John Krasinski as paper salesman Jim Halpert. As the seasons went on in the show Jim and Dwight would prank each other in the office causing some co-workers to laugh and others to get annoyed. Also as the seasons went on the relationships and friendships between some co-workers grew closer. 

A well-known line from “The Office” is “That’s what she said,” by Michael Scott. Michael adds this line into most of his conversations making the person he is talking to mad. People watching the show may find this funny. People may also find that line and Michael annoying because he doesn’t spend a lot of time doing his job. Instead he spends a lot of time walking around the office and talking with his employees. A hilarious quote from “The Office” is “Fact bears eat beets. Bears, beets Battlestar Galactica”, and “Identity theft is not a joke Jim.” Jim decided to prank Dwight by dressing up as him and Dwight found it flattering until Jim pulled out a suitcase that had a bobblehead in it. Dwight has a bobblehead on his desk. Dwight then thought Jim was trying to become him, which made this scene more hilarious. 

A less exciting point in the show is when Michael hits Meredith with his car in the parking lot outside of the office building, and Michael thought it was okay, but it wasn’t. Michael acted like hitting Meredith with his car was ok, especially when Meredith found out at the hospital that she also had rabies. Michael thought he saved her life. Michael’s guilt eventually causes him to organize a 5K run for Meredith. 

Comparing “The Office” and “Friends” they both show friendship. In “The Office,” Dwight and Pam become really good friends. Dwight is always there for Pam when she needed him and Dwight was never mean to Pam and Pam is always there for Dwight. In the show “Friends” Joey and Rachel are good friends. Joey is always there to make Rachel laugh and Rachel is always there for Joey when he needs someone there.

A memorable scene from the show is when Jim confesses to Pam that he loves her, which took him two seasons. Another memorable scene is when Michael comes to Dwight’s wedding after leaving Scranton, Pennsylvania about three years ago. 

“The Office” is expected to leave Netflix as of January 1, 2021. This show can be found on the channels NBC and comedy central. As of January 1, 2021, “The Office” will be on NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Some information courtesy of imdb.com and hollywoodreporter.com)

ENTERTAINMENT: “Criminal Minds” Series Full Of Crimes And Teamwork 

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(Photo courtesy countrylivingmagazine.com)

By Kaitlyn Goldberg – Staff Reporter

The CBS crime drama “Criminal Minds” follows the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI in Quantico, Virginia as they use the art of behavioral profiling to hunt down serial killers. The team is unique because they use not only evidence to solve the crimes, but using behavior to get into the mind of the criminal (hence the name of the show “Criminal Minds”)

In Season One, the team consists of Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner, Jason Gideon, Derek Morgan, Spencer Reid, Elle Greenaway, Jennifer Jaureau who is the communications liaison and technical analyst Penelope Garcia.  The show consists of 15 seasons and the three team members who continuously stayed throughout the entire series and they are Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) a genius with an IQ of 187 who can read 20,000 words per minute; Jennifer Jaurau (Aj Cook), a communications liaison eventually turned profiler; and Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), the FBI’s technical analyst and also has a special relationship with profiler Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore) The other cast members overtime eventually leave the show being replaced by other characters. 

As the seasons progress viewers see the character development of each character as they all go through things to change them. For example, Spencer Reid went through some traumatic events during the course of his time at the BAU which made him go from being completely awkward and antisocial to being more social, outgoing and all around a stronger person.  Another good thing about  the show is that it’s not like any other crime show where they use evidence, they use the killers behavior from the crime scenes and how these people were murdered and that is what ultimately gets them to find the killers. That’s what makes it so interesting because viewers get to see what makes the bad guys do what they do and how the team solves it in such a unique interesting way that is not portrayed on most other crime shows.

The only thing  in the show that could’ve been better is that there are some plot holes. Some things that happened to the characters would get dropped and never spoken of again that the show could’ve made into something much bigger that would’ve been very interesting to watch  Overall, what makes the show good is the unique plot and way of looking at serial crimes and it is definitely worth watching. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

ENTERTAINMENT: “Evermore” Ranks As One Of Taylor’s Swift’s Best Albums

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By Giuliana Aguilar – Staff Reporter

“Evermore” is Taylor Swift’s ninth studio album. The album is a sister album to her previous album released summer 2020, “Folklore”. The album features 15 new songs and the deluxe physical edition has 2 bonus songs. The Track listing is; “Willow”, “Champagne Problems”, “Gold Rush”, “Tis the Damn Season”, “Tolerate It”, “No Body, No Crime”, “Happiness”, “Dorothea”, “Coney Island”, “Ivy, “Cowboy like Me”, “Long Story Short”, “Majorie”, “Closure”, and “Evermore”. The two additional songs are “Right Where You Left Me” and “It’s Time to Go”.

The album is primarily alternative rock along with some chamber rock. Since Taylor left her previous label she is allowed more freedom to do what she wants with “Evermore”. The listener should be able to easily tell she is no longer trying to make radio hits, she already gained her status as an icon so in this album she focuses more on storytelling and creating pretty music. “Evermore” revolves around the different kinds of flaws in romantic relationships. The album is made for Taylor’s perspective in a bunch of different narratives. There are features on the album from American bands “Bon Iver”, “Haim”, and “The National’.” 

“To put it plainly, we just couldn’t stop writing songs,” Swift said. “To try and put it more poetically, it feels like we were standing on the edge of the folklorian woods and had a choice: to turn and go back or to travel further into the forest of this music, we chose to wander deeper in.”

A song that got a lot of people intrigued with finding the meaning is “Champagne Problems.” The song is about a relationship and Taylor sings from the perspective of the person who turns down a proposal. Verse one suggests that the man knew his relationship wasn’t working. The chorus describes the rejection and how the man was just left standing with a ring and a broken heart. Verse two tells that the man told his family despite knowing the relationship wasn’t going well, which made the rejection more awkward. In the second chorus Taylor dives deeper into the rejection. In the bridge, Taylor talks about the way his friends received the message with the lyrics such as “How evergreen, our group of friends/Don’t think we’ll say that word again” and “She would’ve made such a lovely bride/What a shame…they said.”

Taylor jokes that she lives in a madhouse which draws a parallel to the song “Mad Woman” on the “Folklore” album.  She again says sometimes there is no answer for the rejection and promises that he will find the right one for him that will mend the broken pieces that she created. In the last chorus, chorus three, Taylor parallels the first chorus but this time she imagines it as if the guy found the right girl who will say yes.

“Nobody No Crime” is a song that is similar to a murder mystery. The song is a country pop rock track about the disappearance of a woman named Esta, and her friends’ efforts to avenge her death. The lyrics “And I noticed when I passed by his house/His truck has got some brand new tires” infers that Taylor originally slashed his tires. Slashing tires is a common way to take revenge on a cheating lover just like in Carrie Underwood’s single, “Before He Cheats”, where she sings that she slashed a hole in all four tires of her cheating boyfriend’s truck. Taylor using these lyrics shows how deeply she wants revenge and she makes that her narrative. 

Something good fans realize in “Evermore” is that there is more variety and experimentation of sounds in this album, especially when compared to “Folklore” which just has an indie inspired sound. Also, every song has its own themes and tells a different story.  

Something that was  is songs that are forgetful such as “Happiness” and “Dorothea” which have a cliche Piano sound and are pretty but not mesmerizing or standing out so listeners remember them like others.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

ENTERTAINMENT: “Home Alone 2: Lost In New York” Serves As Perfect Sequel To An All-Time Classic

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By Ben Rossi – Staff Reporter

The holiday movie “Home Alone 2:Lost In New York” directed by Chris Columbus and starring Macaulay Culkin, is the sequel to the 1990 film “Home Alone.” Although the first film gets more of the fame “Home Alone 2: Lost In New York” serves as a perfect sequel to the first film and is just as funny and iconic. 

When his family goes on a vacation to Florida, 12-year-old Kevin McCallister gets lost in an airport and accidentally boards a plane to New York City.  When the plane lands Kevin soon realizes that he has made a huge mistake and is stuck alone in New York City. Left alone in a big city with his dad’s credit cards and his Talkboy voice recorder Kevin finds himself tangled up with the same bandits from the first film who plan to rob Duncan’s Toy Chest. Duncan’s Toy Chest is a toy store that plans to donate their earnings to the local orphanage. Kevin is forced to use his wits and clever traps to save the toy store and prevent the robbers from taking away Christmas for those in need.

“Home Alone 2: Lost In New York” is a family movie that brings laughs to any viewer. For example, Kevin decides to use his dad’s credit card to stay at a very fancy hotel where he buys tons of room service and rides in limos. Kevin also goes to several iconic tourist attractions in New York City such as the Twin Towers, Times Square, and Central Park.  While this movie is mostly a comedy it ends with a heartwarming reunion between Kevin and his family.

This film shows how family is the most important thing in life and that no matter what happens your family will always be there for you.  This is shown throughout the film because Kevin starts out very happy to be alone and enjoys not having parents to tell him what to do.  This changes towards the end of the film because Kevin realizes that even though his family may annoy him they love him and without them he is nothing.  Kevin is seen towards the end of the film in Rockefeller Center where he is very sad until his mom shows up and he runs to her with joy.

“Home Alone 2: Lost In New York” is the perfect sequel and gives viewers laughs while teaching them to love and cherish their time with family.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

ENTERTAINMENT: “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” Musical Flops

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By Alaina McCarvill – Staff Reporter

“The Grinch Musical!” offered holiday entertainment thanks to NBC’s 2020 adaptation of the 2007 stage production. Starring Tony Award nominee Matthew Morrison as the lead, “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical” aired Wednesday, December 9, at 8 p.m. Joining Morrison on stage were Tony Award-winner Denis O’Hare playing Old Max, the Grinch’s loving canine companion, as well as Booboo Stewart (“Descendants 3”) as Young Max. Newcomer Amelia Minto (soon to be seen in “The Lost Girls”) played Whoville’s favorite child, Cindy-Lou Who, and the musical featured popular songs like “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas.” Julia Knowles directed the event, working off staging by Max Webster, while Simon Nye adapted the script and Peter Bingemann served as set designer. 

Staged at the Troubadour Theater in London, the presentation was playful, colorful and visually inventive, from the storybook backgrounds to having Morrison’s Grinch break the fourth wall early on, demonstrating his cruelty by insulting the home audience’s ugly couches. The songs have been described as unmemorable, other than the few cribbed from the original animated classic. And even with a whole lot of commercials padding out the two hours, the show felt bloated and flat, with a scant sense of the magic in all the fluff employed to flesh out the Grinch’s journey. It felt that the plot was expected to be assumed without context by viewers. The classic story was taken and just expanded with extra songs. 

The show, of course, felt aimed heavily at the younger part of a family audience, with the hope that parents would be happy to share a theatrical-style experience with them, especially now.

Morrison clearly threw his all into vamping things up, but the performance seemed a bit forced and veered too far from the live action movie. Amelia Minto, the tyke cast as Cindy-Lou Who, also exhibited a fine voice.

Although the show was not well received, the cast was very talented and the costumes were perfect for the show. In any sense this performance could have still entertained a younger audience and possibly convince young people to be further immersed into the arts. It is difficult to recreate a classic and it was not a complete flop, but the portrayal was disappointing for fans of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

ENTERTAINMENT: “A Christmas Story” Remains A Holiday Season Classic

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By Truman Martin – Staff Reporter

“A Christmas Story” is a 1983 movie based on the book by Jean Shepherd. The movie is set in 1940’s Indiana where Ralphie Parker and his family live. The movie is narrated by Jean Shepherd who is supposed to play an older version of Ralphie later in life. Throughout the movie, Ralphie tries to get his parents (and Santa) to buy him a Red Ryder BB Gun that he saw in a store window. The movie follows the family all the way to Christmas Day, showing what Ralphie does at school with his friends and how he deals with bullies. The movie made $20.7 million in the box office, and it was directed by Bob Clark.

This Christmas movie is probably one of the best Christmas movies ever made. There are so many strong points in this movie, it’s hard to count. First off, the movie is hilarious. The lightheartedness that the narrator brings is very good. The way he gets into the mind of a child while he narrates the story is incredible, and it makes people really relate to Ralphie. Speaking of which, this movie is super relatable to pretty much everyone. Everyone has had a thing they wanted for Christmas, but their parents were skeptical. Also, everyone has had a Christmas where not everything really worked out.  It is not as magical as other Christmas movies, but that’s what sets it apart from all of the other Christmas movies. It doesn’t need to be magical. 

The movie’s pacing is good; there aren’t really any slow points in the movie. There are little flashbacks/daydreams that help with the pacing and add another comedy element to the film. There are many iconic things in the movie, like Flick sticking his tongue to the pole, Ralphie’s bunny suit, and when Ralphie says “Oh Fudge” (only he didn’t say fudge). The movie really cleverly tells the story of a pretty ordinary family. Also, there don’t seem to be any weak points to the movie. 

Now, everyone has their own opinions for the best Christmas movie ever made, whether it be “Elf,” “Home Alone,” or whatever else, but this movie holds a special place in many people’s hearts and they can deeply relate to different characters. Kids can relate to Ralphie and his friends, and adults can relate to Ralphie’s parents. All of the actors do a really good job portraying the characters from the book. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars, definitely a Christmas classic.

(Some information courtesy rottentomatoes.com)

NEWS: Law’s Students Keep Holiday Spirit Alive Despite Missing In-Person Learning

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By Tyanna Xavier – Social Media Editor 

Jonathan Law may have gone virtual, but that hasn’t stopped the Law community from being in the holiday spirit.

The holiday season is the jolliest time of the year. Even though they are distance learning, many Law students are keeping their holiday traditions alive.

“I am so glad that Jonathan Law’s broadcast staff has been keeping the Christmas spirit alive with the ‘Lawmas videos,” senior Elma Radoncic said. “Watching the students come together to make such a great video is definitely something I look forward to every year.”

After four years of high school, Law’s seniors have developed many traditions – in and out of the classroom. 

“Every year after Thanksgiving my family and I go tree picking and we come home to decorate the tree and make a nice apple pie,” senior Bella Torres said.

Senior Javoni Rivera is excited for Christmas dinner.

“Every year on Christmas I look forward to my family’s annual Christmas dinner,” Rivera said. “Every person from my family cooks something that makes them happy and is, of course, delicious.”

The Jonathan Law community has done its part to show the students what holiday spirit is all about. 

“Being new to the Jonathan Law broadcast family, one of my new favorite traditions is doing the ‘What I want for LAWMAS’ video,” senior Jefri Caballero said. “It’s a good feeling to see everybody still being safe and happy through being separated from their friends and community at Law.”

For a lot of students it has been hard not being able to go back to school; however, the teachers and staff at Jonathan Law have made virtual learning something that students can enjoy.

Law’s students are excited to return to school soon – right after they finish up the rest of their holiday traditions.

“One of my favorite traditions on Christmas is giving gifts,” senior Brianna Buccitti said. “I love to make my friends and family feel appreciated.”  

ENTERTAINMENT: “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Still Teaching Kids Life Lessons

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By Jess Owens – News Editor 

The animated movie “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is a 1965 television special and was the first TV special based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz. The movie was produced by Lee Mendelson and directed by Bill Melendez. 

The program debuted on CBS on December 9, 1965, and it remains a Christmas classic to this day.

Depressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas. His friend Lucy suggests that he becomes the director of the school Christmas pageant. He accepts but it becomes a struggle for him.

Charlie doesn’t want to let commercialism ruin his Christmas so he attempts to restore the proper spirit with a pitiful, little fir Christmas tree to show his cast that the “sad” tree will still work in the play, even though it is not what the others originally wanted.

Charlie uses the little tree to show his cast that they don’t need the type of Christmas that they see on commercials and that all they need is their loved ones around them. The story is meant to show them that there’s more to the holiday than just presents and money.

One of the most admirable things in the movie is that Charlie started off hating Christmas but came to love it when he learned what it was truly about. Another admirable thing about the movie is that it was people around him that helped him realize the true meaning of Christmas.

This is a great movie for kids being that it teaches them it is not about what presents they get but about what they can do for other people to spread Christmas cheer during the happiest time of the year.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

NEWS: Broadcast, Journalism Students Continue (Virtual) “Lawmas” Traditions

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By Sydney Simpson – News Editor

The Jonathan Law Broadcast and Journalism classes have been working hard this holiday season to keep tradition and make Lawmas happen amid unfortunate circumstances. 

Lawmas is a fun tradition that gets students involved in the school community and gets everyone excited for the holidays. Being home this year has been a new learning experience for all, and although some things must be changed, Lawmas is still a thing, and it is being kept as normal as possible.

“We all miss Law, we all miss being in the building, and this time of year is extra special at our school because of the sense of community and family that we have,” Broadcast Journalism and Journalism teacher Mr. Kulenych said. “Hopefully these two videos can get people in the Lawmas spirit and help people feel a little more connected to that feeling that we are all missing right now.”

Eagle Eye News has already aired one Lawmas video, the annual favorite “Twas the Night Before Lawmas.” Jonathan Law principal Dr. Thompson was featured as Santa Claus, along with many different students and teachers each reading a witty line from the parody. 

Aside from the first video released for Lawmas, the Broadcast and Journalism students are working on another project to keep spirits up this year – a “What Do You Want For Lawmas” video that will be released next week.

Both videos are a yearly tradition at Law, and although distance learning is in motion right now and everything seems different, Kulenych and his classes are working hard to keep Lawmas the same. 

“We are doing our best trying to keep the Lawmas traditions going this year, since this year has been really tough on a lot of people,” senior Broadcast and Journalism student Gill Rees said. “It’s important to do our best to keep the traditions alive even though it may be a little more difficult to do compared to past years.”

Although the unusual circumstances of 2020 make producing Lawmas both different and difficult compared to previous years, the one thing that has not changed is the attitudes of the hard working students and teachers who helped make Lawmas happen. 

“The spirit of Lawmas is the same, but since we are not in school, we had to change some of the Lawmas traditions,” Kulenych said. “If we were in school, we would have been able to have more in-person celebrations through Advisory or in classes, but virtually we wanted to keep as many traditions going as we could.”

Producing Lawmas videos was more difficult this year than in years past mainly because the way in which the videos are filmed had to change completely.  

“Being virtual definitely complicated things a little bit, “ Kulenych said. “For the “Twas The Night Before Lawmas” video, we decided that the Broadcast and Journalism students would read the lines (with some teacher lines as well), but for the “What Do You Want For Lawmas?” video, the whole school is invited to submit a response.” 

Typically, the Broadcast and Journalism students would go around the school stopping random people in the hallways to be in the two videos, in an effort to make sure each grade was represented. A difficulty faced this year with being virtual was not receiving responses from as many students as would normally participate. 

“The most difficult part, especially this year, would be how some people take a really long time to send videos and responses to us, it is understandable because obviously everyone has their own stuff going on,” said Rees. “If we were in school we would be able to track them down in the school and get answers on the spot, which is something I personally miss.”

The Jonathan Law staff and students have been a great help in putting together the Lawmas videos. Although a bit more difficult to get participants, the Law community still helped make it happen. 

“In the beginning it was a struggle but we have great staff and students and so far everyone has done their part and really pulled through,” senior Broadcast and Journalism student Alexis Broderick said. 

ENTERTAINMENT: “The Polar Express” Enjoyable For The Entire Family

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By Mia Cerrato – Entertainment Editor

The 2004 film “The Polar Express” is a holiday classic inspired by the 1985 children’s book of the same name that anyone can enjoy.

The story follows a boy named Chris, or “Hero Boy,” on Christmas Eve, as he spots a train on the route to the North Pole outside his window. A conductor steps out of the train and waves from him to come outside. He tells Chris the train is headed towards the North Pole. He accepts the invite, despite his skepticism of Santa and his workshop. Chris finds himself aboard the train with other kids. They soon become friends and venture on a journey to meet Santa and watch the preparation for Christmas.

“The Polar Express” is a family- friendly movie that tells a story that praises childhood curiosity and celebrates imagination. The look of the movie portrays this through the cross between live action and artwork. It makes the film catch people’s eyes and make each scene feel life-like. A scene that is truly memorable is the train emerging from in front of Chris. The way the snow falls and the lights from the train shine is captivating. Another scene that is unforgettable is when hot chocolate is served on the trail. The waiters serve it along with an acrobatic song and dance. 

However, this Christmas movie is not everyone’s taste. The life-like animation can be eerie and creepy. It has such a heartwarming message yet the animation seems a little cold and mysterious. One scene/character that just seems very cryptic is the hobo that lives on top of the Polar Express. He rides it whenever he wants for free. He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus or Christmas and always tells Chris his negative opinions on the holidays. Chris is the only one who can see him throughout the whole movie. 

“The Polar Express” is a film that is perfect for the holiday season and shows the joy of Christmas. 

ENTERTAINMENT: “The Perks Of Being A Wallflower” Shines Light On Difficult Subjects

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By Stephanie Caron – Editor-in-Chief 

The award winning moving “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” directed by Stephen Chbosky, follows a socially awkward high school freshman on his journey of making friends and dealing with depression. 

The 2012 movie was based off of the 1999 book “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” written by Stephen Chbosky was the talk of coming of age movie category. Despite the release in 2012, the movie is as popular as ever.

With popular actress and actors: Emma Watson playing Samantha Button, Logan Lerman playing Charlie Kelmeckis, and Ezra Miller playing Patrick Stewart, we follow Charlie as he meets two seniors, Sam and Patrick, who take him under their wing after they find out Charlie lost his best friend to suicide the prior year and had no friends. 

The movie is a chilling reality to the hardships of high school. Moments throughout the movie are light-hearted and joyful but we also see the side of Charlie that he keeps to himself. We see his eternal struggle with flashbacks of his late Aunt Helen who died on his birthday years prior. 

Becoming close to Sam and Patrick introduced Charlie to a whole group of people who were like him, misfits. The movie shows how much of a difference friends can make in someone’s life. It was not until Charlie had lied to one of his friends in the group about his true feelings when his mental health took a major decline. Later it blew up in his face when the tight-knit friend group were playing truth or dare, and the seniors wanted nothing to do with him. 

Though the beginning of the movie was light-hearted and joked around about Charlie’s struggles with his mental health, once he had broken his friends trust the movie takes a dramatic turn. We see Charlie unravel, his depression and PTSD get worse and worse. He finally felt like he belonged somewhere, but now he was alone all over again. 

This movie is beautifully made, and the casting choices were incredible. Everyone should take the time to watch “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” because it shines light on a “taboo” topic that most coming of age movies do not always talk about. It is educational, emotional, and funny. This movie not only can connect to high school students who might be struggling with similar problems but many adults find this movie connects to them as well. 

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” changed the coming-of-age movie category and continues to leave a positive impact on those who can relate to Charlie in any way. It is a memorable film that deserves the hype it receives. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

ENTERTAINMENT: Jim Carrey’s “The Grinch” Shows True Meaning Of Christmas

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By Alexis Broderick – Social Media Editor-in-Chief

The classic movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was released in 2000. The reclusive green Grinch (Jim Carrey) decides to ruin Christmas for the cheery citizens of Whoville.

Reluctantly joined by his hapless dog, Max, the Grinch comes down from his mountaintop home and sneaks into town to swipe everything holiday-related from the Whos. However, the bitter grump finds a hitch in his plans when he encounters the endearing Cindy Lou Who. 

The Grinch thinks that Christmas is all about the gifts, decorations and food. He steals all these things from the Whos and is surprised to find that they still sing and smile. They continue to have a great attitude even while the Grinch is trying to steal Christmas. 

The Grinch then learns that the Christmas spirit is more than the things that can be bought and is something inside everyone. His heart grows three sizes during the movie representing his love for Christmas and just being a better “Grinch” in general. 

The Grinch disliked Christmas because his shoes were too tight, his head wasn’t screwed on right, and his heart was two sizes too small. 

The Grinch who stole Christmas has a reason for growing up to be so bitter. As a child, he was picked on for being green and having hair all over his body and a beard.

One of the most admirable things in the movie is when the Grinch’s heart starts growing back to the size it needed to be. Another admirable thing is when everyone in Whoville didn’t let the Grinch steal Christmas and enjoyed the holiday season as much as they could. 

The only thing that young viewers may dislike about this movie is how scary the Grinch can be in certain parts of the movie. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

ENTERTAINMENT: “Home Alone” Remains Memorable, Hilarious Decades After Its Debut

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By Ethan Harrigan – Sports Editor

The holiday movie “Home Alone,” starring Macaulay Culkin and directed by Chris Colombus, is a classic comedy everyone should watch around Christmas time. It was released in 1990 and still stands as a popular movie, appropriate and funny for all ages. “Home Alone” is the first of five films and arguably the best of the series. 

The movie follows 8-year-old Kevin McCallister as he uses his wit to foil two bandits (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) attempting to break into his house. During the holiday, his family makes the trip to Paris but when they arrive they realize they have forgotten Kevin at home after his mother (Catherine O’Hara) sent him to sleep in the attic the night before. Left alone with no parents, Kevin has to get by on his own, making his own food, doing his laundry and shopping by himself. He is having fun with his mischief but is surprised when he sees local thieves making the rounds in his neighborhood. Seeing that they want to steal from his house while everyone is away, Kevin sets traps and uses trickery to deter the bandits.

“Home Alone” is a family comedy that you can watch alone or with others. It has many memorable moments like Kevin’s antics going shopping while he is home alone, when he uses a recorded TV sound to scare off the robbers, and when he uses countless traps he placed in his house to incapacitate the villains in funny ways. Kevin also manages to help a misunderstood Old Man Marley (Roberts Blossom) build up the courage to reconnect with his family. While in a large part humor, the movie ends with a wholesome reunion for the family for the holiday.

The film teaches you the importance of family, showing the viewer how Kevin is initially happy at the prospect of having them out of the house but at the end is grateful for their return. Old Man Marley is also portrayed as sad not being able to be with his family for the holiday but when given the confidence to reach out to them he fixes his derailed spirit.

“Home Alone” is a great movie for the Christmas season with an emphasis on the importance of family while still being a hilarious watch. It is a memorable film that everyone can enjoy watching together during the holiday.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Senior Captain Alexis Rios About Gymnastics Season

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By Mia Cerrato – Entertainment Editor 

Alexis Rios, a senior at Jonathan Law, is one of the captains on the gymnastics team. As the gymnastics season approaches, members of the team are trying to find ways to keep everyone’s spirits up despite the circumstances. Entertainment Editor Mia Cerrato interviewed Rios about the team’s upcoming events and plans.

Mia Cerrato: How are you guys going to have practices this year?

Alexis Rios: We are still having practices and meets this year except some meets will be virtual and there will be more restrictions due to COVID-19. 

MC: What are you most excited for this year?

AR: I’m excited to see everyone and play the sport that I love. 

MC: Any specific goals?

AR: My only goals are to get more skills and grow as a team!

MC: How will you work towards these goals despite the circumstances?

AR: I will try my best during our virtual meets to work hard and stay focused. Most meets will be virtual and can’t have a lot of in-person time.

MC: Any message for your teammates or other sports that have their seasons cancelled?

AR: I can’t wait to see everyone. Even though it’s a weird and difficult time, we have to keep a positive mindset and get through this. We got this!

ENTERTAINMENT: “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” An Underrated Holiday Gem

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By Gillian Rees – News Editor

The classic holiday movie “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” released in 1998, stars a young Jonathan Taylor Thomas, (who viewers may also know as the voice of young Simba in the beloved “Lion King” movie), and is a film that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Directed by Arlene Stanford, who also directed the beloved Disney Channel movie “Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” has the classic Scrooge undertone in the story of a college boy without Christmas spirit who then faces challenges and situations throughout the movie which makes him realize how important it is. 

The movie follows Jake Wilkinson (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), a college student who would rather avoid having to go home for Christmas, since his father (Gary Cole) remarried relatively too soon after his mothers death. Not only does his family have an issue with his reluctance to return home, but so does Allie (Jessica Biel), Jake’s girlfriend.  

It’s only when Jake’s father bribes him with a promise to receive a Porsche if he can manage to return home by 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, that he makes an effort to go home, and agrees to bring Allie along with him because she grew up in the same town as Jake. 

Everything is seemingly sidetracked when his nemesis Eddie, a fellow college student that is too fond of Allie, manages to have Jake finding himself stranded in the middle of a desert with nothing but only a Santa suit glued to him. Eddie then takes off with Allie, who thinks she’s been stood up, and leaves Jake facing a hectic adventure not only to satisfy his family, get home by 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, receive a Porsche and to save his relationship spiraling with Allie. All in the spirit of Christmas, of course.  

One of the most admirable things about this movie is that throughout the film Jake becomes less selfish and realizes the bigger picture of how important family and relationships are.  He learns that sometimes you have to give things up for other people for the greater good. In other words, he gains the Christmas spirit. 

The only thing that viewers may dislike about this movie is that it does not stand out from other Christmas movies. The story theme is pretty recognizable. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

ENTERTAINMENT: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” Still Hilarious After 31 Years

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By Lucas Greifzu – Sports Editor

The holiday classic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” starring Chevy Chase is a classic Christmas movie that everyone should see. It was released in 1989, and while it isn’t as popular as some other Christmas and holiday movies, it is still worth watching. It is the third of the National Lampoon’s movies, and it topped the box office in its third and 4th week. The movie was directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik.

The movie follows Clark Griswold and his family as they try to have their first big family Christmas. The movie opens with Griswold and his family driving to the woods to get the family Christmas tree. However, when they find the tree, they realize that they forgot the saw, so they dig up the entire tree. When they get back to the house with it the tree is too large for the house, and when he takes the rope off of it the tree breaks through the windows, and breaks things inside the house. These unfortunate incidents and slapstick humor keep taking place throughout the movie. But, in the end they all come together as a family, and have Christmas together.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is a funny, family-friendly, and heartwarming movie that teaches us to persevere even when seemingly everything goes wrong. Watching everything go wrong in this movie is what makes this movie hilarious. From 25,000 lights not working, to the turkey exploding on the dinner table, and a SWAT team storming the house after one of the family members was suspected of kidnapping Griswold’s boss. This plus a great cast that really brings the holiday spirit to light in the movie. However, watching them together as a family at the end is what makes this movie truly special.

However, there is a trade off in this movie. With all of the humor, and the funny scenes, there is an element of inappropriateness with this movie. The movie might not be suitable for people of all ages. There is some inappropriate language, and some slightly inappropriate humor in the movie. However, for people of the correct ages it does add to the humor that is in this movie. But, the dry humor and slapstick comedy is what sets this movie apart from other Christmas and holiday movies.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is a holiday classic and shows everyone what the true meaning of Christmas is. It shows us that coming together as a family and spending time with each other is more important than anything else during the holiday season.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

NEWS: Class Of 2021 Deals With Stresses Of College Application Process

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(Photo courtesy collegtransitions.com)

By Tyanna Xavier – Social Media Editor 

Despite difficult circumstances, members of Law’s Class of 2021 are continuing to keep their heads up while applying to colleges and universities.

Deadlines are coming up, applications are being filled out, personal essays are being written and the entire college process is a huge weight on these students’ shoulders. 

“I have applied to six colleges,” senior Alexis Broderick said. “The process is pretty stressful, but when it’s all complete it feels really nice. However, you get back to the stressfulness of the college process when you start hearing back from colleges and you have to make a big decision.”

For many students, finishing the application process is a relief, yet that does not last for long. There are many scholarship applications that need to be filled out, SAT scores that need to be sent in, and more. 

Many seniors are also now realizing that their future dreams are closer to reality.

“I want to go to Western New England University because they have a great pharmacy program, my plan for the future is to be a pharmacist,” senior Alexis Agyemang said.

The current school year has been a challenge for all students, especially seniors who must balance work, school, and the the long college application process.

“Balancing school, work, and college assignments have been extremely hard for me,” senior Rani Roderick said. “In the first quarter I felt very overwhelmed because I worked Monday through Friday from 4-8 p.m. and I had to make sure I was keeping my grades up, finding time to study, and get college applications finished on time which has been very stressful, but things are calming down a lot now which is good.”

Many seniors have already committed to colleges and applied early decision.

“I have committed to Goodwin University and I committed to them because they have all I need regarding help with financial aid, they gave me a scholarship, and it was my dream school,” senior Brianna Buccitti said. “I’m going there to study funeral service.”

College is often a scary feeling for students, but the Class of 2021 at Jonathan Law could not be happier to take the next step.

“The career path I hope to take in college would be majoring in Spanish,” senior Jefri Caballero said. “I hope to major in Spanish because I feel like I can connect more and it is something that I actually like and there’s a lot more career options I can pursue.”

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Senior Edward Platonov About The Boys Swim Season

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(Photo courtesy milfordmirror.com)

By Ethan Harrigan – Sports Editor

Edward Platonov is a senior captain of the Law boys swim team. He has already broken many individual and school relay records. Platonov qualified for states went All-State his sophomore year, has been All-SCC three times, and has been All-Area twice. He was set to go to the states meet last year before the pandemic emerged. Sports Editor Ethan Harrigan interviewed Platonov about the upcoming season.

Ethan Harrigan: How do you feel going into your senior season as a captain?

Edward Platonov: I’m really excited to have the opportunity to lead and want to make most of what we have available to us this year.

EH: How is this season going to be different?

EP: Well, we are taking advantage of our current free time at home to begin virtual conditioning before we come back to school. While there will be plenty of obstacles to overcome in order to stay safe, everyone on the team is ready to take back the goals and accomplishments we were prepared to achieve last year.

EH: How are you getting ready for the season?

EP: While the season has been postponed until January, we are scheduling to begin virtual conditioning so that once we do get back to school, we are ready to go.

EH: How do you plan to lead the team?

EP: A big part of being a leader this year will be making sure everyone is motivated and has the right mindset in performing just as well under these different conditions. This means trying to keep up spirits as they usually are and have everyone just as hyped and ready to compete.

EH: What are your goals for this season and the goals you have for the team?

EP: With everything that has obscured a normal season, my main goal is to go out with a bang. Make the most of what we have to finish off the last year and make my records strong. Overall, I just want the team to have the same kind of energy we did last year and use that to win the few meets we’re able to compete at.

ENTERTAINMENT: “Elf” Still A Heartwarming, Hilarious Holiday Tradition

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(Photo courtesy imdb.com)

By Sydney Simpson – News Editor

The holiday classic “Elf” starring Will Ferrell is a Christmas staple in some households. Since its release in 2003, the family comedy has been quite popular, hitting box office records upon its release and airing on AMC’s “countdown to Christmas” each and every year. The movie was directed by Jon Favreau, who has also directed many popular movies such as the newest rendition of “The Lion King” (2019). Favreau truly captured the real meaning of Christmas in this funny yet heartwarming story of a human elf trying to find his dad. 

The movie follows Buddy the Christmas Elf (Ferrell) as he goes on a journey from the North Pole all the way to New York to find his real dad. Buddy grew up raised as an Elf, but he was significantly larger than all the other elves and also did not possess the same amount of skill when it came to toymaking. The elves, along with Santa, felt that it was time to tell Buddy that he was in fact human, and that his father lived in New York by the name of Walter Hobbs (James Caan). Hobbs is not portrayed as a particularly nice man, always at work, not spending time with his family, and at first disregarding Buddy as crazy. The movie shows the viewers Buddy’s journey to finding his family, finding love, and even saving the holiday. Although there are many ups and downs in his adjustment to New York and his new family’s adjustment to him, the movie doesn’t fail to put a smile on the viewer’s face as Buddy and his family save Christmas. 

“Elf” is heartwarming, funny, and family friendly all in one, making it the perfect movie for the holidays. Watching Buddy win over his family and show both his dad and his love interest the true meaning of Christmas evokes a feeling of joy in viewers. He showed Walter Hobbs the importance of family, of love, and of laughter, effectively bringing his dad off of Santa’s naughty list. Hobbs’ transformation throughout the movie was a genius move by the director, creating a theme that family and love are what really make a person happy. Buddy was also able to bring joy into the life of his love interest Jovie (Zooey Deschanel), who wasn’t into the Christmas spirit previous to meeting the eccentric Elf. “The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear,” said Buddy. 

The movie is also hilarious, with scenes of Buddy pouring syrup onto pasta, getting scared of the radiator, and even getting into a fight with a fake department store Santa. He decorated a whole department store with elaborate lego designs and lite brite’s overnight, and also pelted kids with snowballs with extreme accuracy after he and his brother were ambushed by bullies. This funny factor to Buddy’s odd behavior brings viewers in, grasping their attention and keeping them interested. It is what sets this classic apart from boring old Hallmark movies. “Elf” is also family friendly, a movie the whole family can enjoy. It does have many different plots occurring at the same time, however, which can be confusing for younger viewers. Buddy is building his relationship with his family whilst he is also doing so with Jovie, all while adjusting to New York and saving Christmas. Further, parents may not want to have their children watch “Elf” due to the scene where Buddy exposes a department store Santa for being fake. Some parents may feel like this ruins the experience for their kids of getting to visit Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas. 

All in all, “Elf” is one of the best holiday classics to watch as a family this winter season because it shows all the aspects of a good holiday movie and really drives home the point that Christmas is more about love and family than it is about giving. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Senior Allyson Hyatt About Adjusting To Tier 3 Distance Learning

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(Photo courtesy Allyson Hyatt)

By Alexis Broderick – Social Media Editor-in-Chief

On November 10, Milford Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anna Cutaia announced that high school students will be moving to Tier 3 full distance learning schedule through January 9, 2021. Advocate Social Media Editor-in-Chief Alexis Broderick interviewed Law senior Allyson Hyatt about how she is dealing with the switch.

Alexis Broderick: How was the switch from in-person to distance learning for you?

Allyson Hyatt: It was hard to adapt to the beginning. I just got into the flow of waking up early and it was a struggle to now be home and just being in my room.

AB: How do you strive to still succeed academically even if at home?

AH: I usually try to stay out of my bed and room. I prefer to sit in my kitchen or another room in my house so I can stay focused and so far it has really helped me.

AB: Was this distance learning transition better for you than in March?

AH: This transition was a lot more smoother and easier for me. It wasn’t the best transition for my senior year. But, I’m glad I will be back with all of my fellow classmates and teacher on January 11, 2021.

AB: What is your biggest struggle during distance learning?

AH: My biggest struggle with distance learning is trying to stay focused. I have younger siblings that I sometimes also have to help while they are learning distance. But, I always find a way to find a balance and get through this short period of time.

AB: What is some advice you have for your fellow classmates and other students at law?

AH:  Some advice I would give is to try to stay focused. I know there are many distractions at home, but just keep your head up. This is temporary, so work as hard as you can now and get through this tough time. Lastly, never be too scared to ask for help, if you’re struggling in a subject and or class. Take the time to email your teacher, or set up a google meet and get the extra help you need. All of the teachers are there to help and support you even in your home.

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Law Girls Soccer Coach Mrs. Francisco About The Fall Season

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(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Gillian Rees – News Editor

As fall sports have come to an end, it is time to look back and see what went well throughout the season and what teams can improve on for next season. Law girls soccer coach Mrs. Francisco just finished up her second season as coach. The girls soccer team may not have had the season they hoped for by ending with a record of 1-9-1, but throughout the season they stuck together as a team and never gave up. Advocate staff editor Gillian Rees interviewed Francisco about her views on the past season and what is planned for next year. 

Gillian Rees: How did the team handle having to navigate the season during the COVID-19 pandemic? 

Mrs. Francisco: The team really rose to the occasion. I was very proud of their dedication to the season. The girls did what they had to do to without complaints: wore their masks, brought in forms, stayed in cohorts, didn’t share equipment, etc. and because of their willingness, we were able to get through the season healthy.   

GR: What was the most difficult part of this season?

MF: I think the biggest struggle was staying motivated all season. When the games don’t seem to go your way, it’s hard to bring that fight every game. Though, the girls did a great job. 

GR: What do you want to carry over from this season to the next? What worked well?

MF: Our positive team communication is something I’d like to keep for next season. I think being able to give the girls a voice is important, even if the answer is sometimes “no.”

GR: How did the team stay motivated throughout the season?

MF: Even though it was a challenge, the team did a good job playing every game like it was their last. Especially dealing with other teams, and even some of our players, going into quarantine, I think that helped the girls play hard and stay motivated. 

GR: What is something that you want to work on for next season?

MF: I’m really hoping that the COVID restrictions are lifted before next season so we can have some fun – pasta parties, high fives, secret handshakes, secret someone surprises, and more – those were the little things that bring us together to make our team stronger. I really look forward to that next season. 

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Law Key Club President Angel Santiago About The Club, COVID-19

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By Lucas Greifzu – Sports Editor

Senior Angel Santiago has been the President of the Jonathan Law Key Club since the start of his junior year. Unfortunately, his club has been hindered because of COVID-19. However, there is still some hope left to salvage the year once Law returns to in person school in January. Advocate Sports Editor Lucas Greifzu interviewed Santiago about how the Jonathan Law Key Club has been impacted by the coronavirus.

Lucas Greifzu: How has the Key Club been affected by the change to distance learning?

Angel Santiago: Key Club has been majorly affected because now we can’t meet in person.

LG: How is the Key Club still participating in the Jonathan Law and Milford community during this time?

AS: Yes we’re currently helping with the Kiwanis poinsettia fundraiser.

LG: As President, what are your plans to bolster involvement once we return to school in January?

AS: My plan is to go full steam ahead and try and pin point the needs in our community.

LG: Have there been events that the Key Club wanted to help with that they weren’t allowed to due to COVID, if so please elaborate?

AS: No, a lot of events have just been cancelled because of COVID-19.

LG: Is there still a plan for the district convention to happen in person this year, if not how do they plan on doing it?

AS: Right now it’s all in the air, but the hope is with the vaccine coming out that we will be able to have our district convention.

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Natural Helpers President Makenna Sharpe About The “Helper Hangout” Program

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(Photo courtesy twitter.com)

By Stephanie Caron-Editor-in-Chief 

The struggles of not being at school in person and not having social interaction is extremely hard. To help with these difficult times, the Natural Helpers are having their first “Helper Hangout” program Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. for anyone who needs support or for anyone who just wants to talk to someone. Advocate’s Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Caron interviewed Natural Helpers President Makenna Sharpe about the upcoming event. 

Stephanie Caron: What do you and the natural helpers hope to achieve with the new “Helper Hangout?”

Makenna Sharpe: We want to provide a place where students can go to to find support from their fellow peers, or just have a place to go to make new friends. 

SC: What can students expect from the “Helper Hangout?” 

MS: During the Hangout, students can expect to just have a fun time and be able to talk freely about whatever they need.

SC: During the hour of the Hangout what will those who attend do? 

MS: We have some ice breakers set up just to get the conversation started, but we also have some fun games we can play if the students wish to do so. 

SC: Do you guys plan on continuing to do this even when we go back to school? 

MS: Yes, we do plan on continuing this once we go back to school, and if possible we want to find a way to do it in person instead of over Zoom. 

SC: How do you think this can benefit students while we are doing Tier 3 learning? 

MS: We want this to help reduce loneliness during online learning this time around, and we want the students to feel like they have a safe place to go to and talk. 

NEWS: Milford Cancels Midterms, Finals For 2020-2021 School Year

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(Photo courtesych6albany.com)

By Stephanie Caron – Editor-in-Chief 

With Milford’s high schools transitioning to Tier 3 learning until January 8, midterms and finals are going to look different for the 2020-2021 school year. 

“We will not administer traditional midterm and final exams during the 2020-2021 school year,” Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Amy L. Fedigan said. “Therefore, each marking period for full-year courses will count toward 25% of the final grade, while each marking period for semester courses will count toward 50% of the final grade.” 

The temporary change will allow teachers to maximize their instructional time with students, assessing them with one on one feedback. 

“Students seem like there is enough stress of online learning, that without midterms and finals, hopefully there will be more focus on learning the current material and not worried about the test to come,” Math teacher Mrs. Francisco said. “Without them, teachers will adapt and come up with other ways to see where their students are academically.”

Though with the new change, the current grading structure and letter grades will continue to be utilized. 

“What is important this year is for our students to stay connected to and engaged with us, whether we are in Tier 1, 2 or 3,” English teacher Mrs. Lucia said. “Looming exams, for both teachers and students, would make an already difficult year harder and more stressful.”

Both teachers and students have had a positive response with the announcement. 

“It has been really hard and stressful on all the students work wise throughout the whole year from going in person and online,” senior Amanda Dew said. “Coming right back and going into midterms can be very hard for some students.”

NEWS: SheCode Club Aims To Introduce Female Students To STEM Fields

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(Photo courtesy shecoades.io)

By Mia Cerrato – Entertainment Editor

SheCode is a club that gives girls the opportunity to delve deeper into computer science and participate in competitions. 

Traditionally, women tend to not be introduced to STEM fields, which results in lower numbers of women working in these careers. Members of the SheCode club hope that women find a new hobby or gain experience in this field. 

Sreeya Gudlavalleti, a senior at Jonathan Law, is one of the founders of SheCode.

“With this club, we want to work together to introduce more women to computer science,” Gudlavalleti said. “In our own AP CSA class last year we noticed a striking discrepancy: there were only five girls, four of which were us. Throughout our CS journey at Law, we’ve noticed that this trend is apparent across all technology-related disciplines, including robotics, CAD, and engineering.”

Through projects, competitions and collaboration, they hope to create a community where they could all learn from one another and grow a passion for computer science.

“I am excited to work with other girls and learn more about computer science,” senior Meghana Cheela said. “I think with this supportive environment, it would be easier to get into computer science.” 

An example of a competition SheCode will compete in is Cyber Start. 

“A goal for the club is to get involved in as many competitions as we can,” Gudlavalleti said. “Hopefully, we can win some competitions but just competing is really exciting.”

For those interested in joining SheCode and to learn more about computer science, there are various ways to get involved. 

“People can join by emailing Ms. Corriveau or any of the other officers or through the Google Classroom code (7l4upbb),” Gudlavalleti said. “We meet on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. through Google Meet.” 

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