By Stefanie Lojko – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s Badminton Club, run by seniors Susan Wischow and Sana Rana, needs students’ help.

Badminton Club started having meetings at the beginning of last school year and they were pretty sure the club would work out. Many students showed up and were super excited about the tournaments and the fact that they didn’t have to deal with the stress of regular sports.

It is a club that students can join whenever they like in order to have fun and relieve some stress every Tuesday after school.

“When we first thought of the idea, we proposed it to our friends and they all loved it,” Rana said. “We also went to the freshman orientation to promote our club and many people were interested.”

Starting a club and being in charge of it can be hard for Rana and Wischow as they are busy applying to colleges. Winter sports are also starting up and getting gym time can be hard considering.

“It’s also hard since were busy with school and work and college deadlines coming up,” Wischow said.

Nevertheless, Rana and Wischow hope to revive Badminton Club this year because of the community it brought. Everyone got along and loved to have games with their friends.

“Many people came and were very excited about the tournament we were going to have,” Rana said. “There was a lot of friendly competition.”

The tournaments were held every time they met. Each group would come up with a name and Rana and Wischow would bracket everyone to end up with a winner.

“The tournaments helped you get to know everyone in the club instead of playing with the same people every time,” senior Shayna Levay said.

A big staple of the club was that it helped to relieve stress from school and other sports.

“I thought the club was very fun and stress relieving,” senior Lola Hazarika said.

Everyone was able to let loose because of how relaxed the club was. There was never any attendance and students could join whenever you wanted.

“We want it to be a fun and relaxing place for people so they shouldn’t feel obligated to impress us or anything,” Wischow said.

This year, the club is trying hard to revive themselves as many students enjoyed the club. Their first meeting this year did not go as well seeing as not many people showed up.

“We are hoping to revive it this year since it was such a success last year,” Rana said.

By Mia Cerrato – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law High School had Jeanette Mare, the founder of Ben’s Bells, and Dr. Erin Bowen, the creator of Kisses for Conor, speak at an assembly entitled “The Kind Mind” which addressed the need for kindness in the community.

Kindness Club planned this PSA to encourage kind acts at Jonathan Law, which is the sole purpose of the affiliation.

“The purpose of Kindness Club is to spread kindness throughout the community and wants the community, especially at Law, to be kind and respectful towards one another,” junior Tess Rosato, a member of Kindness Club, said. “We try to promote that.”

Kindness Club got in touch with the founder of Kindness for Conor, Dr. Erin Bowen, back in September. Ben’s Bells, an organization that advocates intentional acts of kindness, also reached out to attend the assembly.

“Dr. Erin Bowen, a pediatrician in Milford, lost her 17-month-old baby, Conor in 2016 due to complications created by Sudden Death Syndrome and created ‘Kisses for Conor’ to spread kindness in Conor’s name,” Kindness Club advisor Mrs. Murphy said. “We invited her to the assembly and to meet Jeanette Mare who also lost her baby boy Ben from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.”

The women discussed the science behind kindness and the difference from being nice and kind. They also explained how students could practice kindness and encourage others to do the same.

“The purpose of the assembly was to spread kindness and allow Jonathan Law students to understand the true meaning of the Kindness Club,” said Rachna Vipparla, a sophomore in the club. “The assembly explained how everyone could show random acts of kindness and how impactful it could be.”

The assembly seemed to influence many students in the Jonathan Law community to cultivate kindness.  Many students decided to join the club as well.

“The assembly went really well and I learned how even small acts of kindness can make a big difference,” said new senior member Carly Mancinone. “I joined Kindness Club to get involved with the community and make a difference.”

The Kindness Club and their many generous acts all began after the loss of a beloved friend Maren Sanchez.

“One of the things Maren Sanchez was known for was her kindness and spreading kindness throughout the community,” Murphy said. “She was the girl that sat with the kids that had no one to sit with at lunch.”

The Kindness Club will continue to honor Maren and encourage positivity at Jonathan Law.

By Gia Edwards – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law students are excited for the annual Homecoming dance which will he held on November 16.

The dance is open for all grades, and will include a DJ, snacks, and the announcement of Homecoming king and queen. This is the only dance the senior class hosts, and they sold tickets for $10 during all lunch waves.

“A lot of planning goes into Homecoming,” senior class advisor Mrs. Kovacs said. “We have to figure out what the theme is, we get the cafeteria ready, have snacks ready. We also need a lot of advertising which includes posters and e-mails sent out with information about homecoming to students and their parents.”

The freshman class is especially looking forward to its first high school dance.

“It’s cool that all grades get to go; it’s not just separated grade by grade,” freshman Lex Edwards said.  “I’ve never been to a dance that has a king and queen so that’s also different.” 

Upperclassman are also excited for the dance because it has become a fun tradition.

“I think it’s a great environment for people to be in,” junior Tori Kowalski said. “It’s every grade in one room so there’s a good sense of community and everyone has a good time.”

The dance will go from 7-10 p.m. in the cafeteria and students are reminded to dress their best.

By Morgan Taylor – Editor-In-Chief

Jonathan Law High School welcomed middle school students to this year’s Open House on October 11.

Law planned many activities for 8th graders who were coming to high school next year, including a “scavenger hunt,” an Activity Fair and an Academic Fair.

“The word is out in our community about how great Jonathan Law is,” Law principal Mr. Thompson said.

When students and parents arrived, they were given a “swag bag” with items such as free football tickets to Friday night’s game, sunglasses, and a piece of paper which served as their “passport.” They were instructed to get stamps along their tours at different locations in the school.

“ If you’re a Lawman, you have swag,” Thompson said. “It had to be done.”

The night started with a chorus performance of the national anthem followed by speeches from Mr. Thompson, two students currently attending Law, and a parent of two Law students.

The speeches served the purpose of explaining what being a Law student is truly about.

Next, the students were given a sample lesson by teachers from one subject. Some groups saw a science lesson while others saw an engineering lesson.

“I wanted to give the families a sample of what a day is like at our school,” Thompson said.  “We have so many wonderful teachers who offered to give a lesson and all the rooms were packed.”

Students were also shown a sample Eagle Eye News video which gave an example of what announcements look like at Law. This video also included a segment called “I’m a Lawmen” which showcased students and faculty doing different activities and saying what things at Law they took apart of.

“Eagle Eye News is our signature show (no offense to Technical Difficulties) so it made sense to put these two great parts together to showcase what we do everyday,” Thompson said.

Next, students were taken on guided tours of the school.

Along the way students collected stamps spelling out “JLAW!” and when it was filled out, received a T-shirt.

On the tour, 8th graders were shown an Academic Fair which included lists of classes one could take in the different subject areas at Law as well as the elective course options.

“Our academic offerings are most impressive,” Thompson said. “It was a chance for our middle school families to see why coming to Jonathan Law High School prepares students to be the leaders of tomorrow.”

Students were also shown an Activity Fair which included clubs and sports presentations.

“It is an important part of our school and I put it at as the last stop because our students, coaches and advisors get to spend time with middle school students and their families discussing all the opportunities beyond the classroom that makes Jonathan Law such a special place,” Thompson said.

Both the Academic and Activity Fairs included sign ups so that clubs, sports, and teachers could see the level of interest of incoming students.

“The energy and spirit of the event were great and I have received many compliments from middle school parents about how excited their family is to join ours,” Thompson said.

By Lucas Greifzu – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law High School Key Club meets Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the Senior Cafe to discuss its plans for upcoming events.

The Key Club raises money at many events around the community, but, outside of that this year, they have decided to work with the Thirst Project and are trying to raise $12,000 to help build a well in Swaziland.

Their next local event is called Shake the Can, where they help raise money for the Salvation Army.

“Our goal is to raise $12,000 over the next six months or so,” Key Club Director Mr. Boynton said. “We want to provide a community in Swaziland with a well system, so that they’ll have water.”

Just because it has taken on this bigger project this year doesn’t mean that the Key Club will stop working around the community in Milford. The Key Club is partnering with several local community service groups and with the Law Keyettes.

“(The Keyettes president) and I both agreed that this will be the best for both clubs, and so far it has,” Key Club Officer Angel Santiago said. “I have greatly appreciated their support and love for our community.”

The Key Club volunteers at many events throughout the year. For instance, they volunteered at St. Mary’s Carnival and Pumpkins on the Pier and they still have several events left throughout the year.

“We have six events planned for this month,” Santiago said. “I don’t know all of the events that we have because more keep getting added.”

The Key Club also has two conventions that the go to every year, one at the district level and one at the international level. Key Club members can run for higher offices within the district or international level.

“The district convention and international convention,” Key Club Lieutenant Governor Rohan Manohar said. “I’ll be running for International Trustee this year.”

Everyone in the Key Club is eager to volunteer when their help is needed. 

“When the opportunity comes to volunteer in the community, I’ll gladly accept it,” sophomore and member of the Key Club Noah Golden said. ”Even though I might not know when all of the events are I’m still glad to help.”

The Key Club is ready to have a very productive year and to raise $12,000 for the Thirst Project.

By Jefri Caballero – Staff Reporter

This year, Jonathan Law has over 20 clubs and one of them is the Natural Helpers.

Natural Helpers is an organization with the goal to train students to help their peers when they are in need. The president of the Natural Helpers is junior Morgan Taylor. 

“Natural Helpers is a great way for students to get involved in helping their community,” Taylor said. “We try to make this school a better place for all students and faculty alike.”

The Natural Helpers work together on how to make the school community and the Milford community better. They work on being approachable role models for Jonathan Law students.

“I joined Natural Helpers because it’s a good way to get involved and be with a good group of people at Law,” junior Brooke Nabors said.

The club had its first meeting in mid-September and will continue to have meetings on F days during common time.The club is currently planning its activities for the year, a list which includes the Special Olympics. 

“Anyone and everyone should join because the skill set you gain by been part of the organization will make you asset to all the people around you,” Natural Helpers advisor Mrs. Mercaldi said.

Taylor revived the club because when she was a freshman, she was the only freshman, and the rest of the members were seniors. Her sophomore year, she was the only member left, so she found a new advisor for the club and tried to get people involved.

“I heard about the club from Morgan,” junior Thea Ryan said.

Taylor has promoted the club this year and many juniors have already joined.

This year, the Natural Helpers are also working on an anti-bullying campaign. Their idea is that “happy people don’t bully other people.” They are also really interested in organizing a de-stress event before midterms and finals.

The Natural Helpers work with the Milford Prevention Council which is their parent organization. This year, they would love to be more involved in the community and are always looking for new members.

By Noah Golden – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Science Club is getting ready for another year of competing.

Annually, the Science Club competes in Science Olympiads across the state in different levels. They hope to do well this year and win some medals.

“It’s really just about having fun and learning new things that we don’t get to learn in class,” senior Ming May Hu, the Science Club president, said. “We get to do more in depth research about Science topics and it’s just having fun and competing with your friends.”

Most years, the Science Olympiads take place at UConn. This year, the Science Club will be going to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“Everyone has about three events and a partner, and they just compete in events,” Hu said. “We have building ones, like robots ands towers.”

Last year, the Science Club won a few medals and placed well in several events.. Senior Tyler Goodwin, who has been in the Science Club since his sophomore year, is one member who placed.

“I took 4th place in the Helicopter Tournament at the Invitational Level,” Goodwin said. “I also took 7th place at the Optics Tournament.”

Law science teacher Ms. Turcotte said that the team has improved over the years.

“At first we didn’t do very well when we started because we didn’t know what we were doing,”  Turcotte said.

This will be Law’s 6th year of competing in the competitions. Since they first started, they have shown improvement.

“We have shown improvement in the way of having more commitment to the club,” Turcotte said. “Every year they have more interest. This year we look forward to going to MIT.”

The commitment level has gone up to the point where Law now has two seperate teams.

Law is looking to earn some more medals this coming year. Now with Law having two separate teams, this gives them even better of a chance to get more medals.

“I hope we do well this year,” Hu said. “We did pretty well last year.”

The state competitions can lead to the national competitions, which is what Law hopes to make.

“We have some different events this year, but I hope we do well,” Goodwin said.

The Science Club’s first meeting was on Monday, September 17.

By Samiksha Mehta – Staff Reporter

The Law community has no idea what choir has in store this year.

The choir will perform at several events including at Hershey Park, and possibly even Carnegie Hall next year. They recently performed at a ceremony for the new Jonathan Law Brick Walk, and are getting ready for another fundraiser to go to Hershey Park at the end of the year.

“I’m excited about all those things that seem un-choir related, but they actually really fill the bond in the group, and it becomes like a family,” choir director Mrs. Jones said. “So a lot of the new people that we have this year are really very interested in being there and we have our best attendance ever at a lot of our out-of-school functions this year. I’m really excited about everybody involved in choir this year and the efforts they’re making.”

Although many members graduated from last year’s choir, the choir hasn’t had any issues so far and is getting along swimmingly.

The fundraisers they hosted to get this far have been paying off and they’re almost ready for the Hershey’s event. The choir was able to raise over $500 by selling chocolates.

Members of the choir said that the extra work they put in class and at out-of-school functions to determine how well they’re doing. That work has paid off to get them where they want to be and where they are now.

The hard work they’ve put into their concerts and their performances earned them first place at Lake Compounce and their performance there boosted their popularity throughout the school.

Choir members said they are excited for their upcoming trips.

“We’re gonna go to Hershey this year and I’m so excited,” sophomore choir member Britney Delgado said. “I haven’t ever been there and I feel like it’s gonna be awesome.”

Travelling to out-of-school and out-of-state functions helps the choir to bond and become a family.

“What’s best about choir for me is the bond that we share and the bond that we create,” junior choir member Faith Mills said. “It makes it even better to perform, knowing we’ll always be family.”

The family bond that is created between choir members is what they look forward to and what they feel is most important.

“Being a new choir member is kind of hard, to be honest, because everyone else knows what to do and each other while I’m trying to catch up,” sophomore choir member Haley Hedman said. “It’s exciting, though, because it’s easy to make friends, since some of my friends are in that class.”

By Stephanie Caron – Staff Reporter

The members of the Class of 2022 are settling nicely in their new home.

Freshman students from West Shore Middle school and Harborside Middle School are meeting new friends and adjusting to their new life at Jonathan Law.

“My favorite thing about high school so far is the freedom,” freshman Gabby Fino said.

High school is a big change from middle school, but the freshman class seems just fine with the big change.

“Middle school and high school are very different,” freshman Sadie Willett said. “Just because of how everything is handled, and how all of the classes are different.”

Many of the freshmen have joined sports and clubs. They said it helps them adjust and meet new people at Jonathan Law.  

“I know more people, and I know my way around,” freshman Moira Staples said.

During the second week of school, Law held a picnic and a Freshman Welcome Day to get the students excited for the upcoming years, and teach how to get involved at Law outside of the classroom. It was also an opportunity to bond with their classmates.

“My advice for the Class of 2022 is to make organization a top priority, and to get involved,” freshman teacher Mrs. Anderson said. “There are so many great opportunities for students here at law, and I think every 9th grader should try to join at least one club or sports team.”

The upperclassmen also attended the picnic to teach the freshman football cheers, how to get involved, and the clubs that they could join.

“The work is harder, but overall it’s more fun to be here,” freshman Emma Nelly said.

Freshman Troy Brennan agreed.

“It’s harder, because it’s a lot more work to do in a shorter amount of time,” Brennan said.

Members of the freshman class said that high school is an exciting yet nerve-racking experience, and they know it is important they manage their time wisely.

“I’m looking forward to all of the activities,” Staples said. “And all of the involvement outside of the classroom.”

Anderson said that high school is a fun experience and that it is important for freshmen to meet new people outside of their classes.

“The Class of 2022 seems to have a lot of enthusiasm,” Anderson said. “I can’t wait to see what they do here in the next four years.”

By Stefanie Lojko – Staff Reporter

The creator of the rock sculptures that appear almost overnight between Silver Sands and Walnut Beach has stepped forward.

Students at Law might know him.

Former Jonathan Law student Ozan Oncu has spent summers building these rock towers. He used it without any wires, supports, or rings, combining balance and patience to create these pieces of art.

“I started the rock-sculptures because one of my friends showed me how to make them, then I started doing them all the time,” Ozan said.

Many residents like the rock towers because not many other beaches have them an entire section of beach dedicated to them. They add something unique that Milford residents can enjoy.

“It’s fun and a nice thing to look at,” said Hannah Swenning, a senior at Jonathan Law.

Ozan was not the first one to start these rocks but he made them more popular. He spent various amounts of times on each sculpture but the most time was three hours.

“It was hard at first but as time went by, it became second nature and I could feel when the rocks were balanced,” Ozan said.

The amount of time it takes someone to master this skill can take years months, even years.

Creating rock-sculptures can be a hard skill to master because the sculptor have to learn to feel the rocks and when they’re balanced. It takes time and patience and can even become calming and therapeutic.

“It started off as a hobby but it  sort of became a type of therapy,” Ozan said.

Students at Jonathan Law have taken more of a notice to the rocks after finding out they knew who did them. Although he didn’t start them, he did popularize them.

“It’s more interesting than boring sand,” Law senior Susan Wischow said. “They look cool and remind me of yoga.”

Now that Ozan no longer lives in Milford, others have continued to make the rock-sculptures.

“I would be sad if people stopped making them,” Ozan said. “I even remember while walking down the streets of Milford people would recognize me as the ‘Rock Dude.’”

Ozan created a reputation for himself in Milford known as the “Rock Dude” and people still love the sculptures that they see everyday while walking on the beach. It gives a homely feel whenever the rock sculptures are in sight.

“They rock,” Law senior Olivia Ott said.

By Anish Sikhinam – Staff Reporter

Earlier this month, Jonathan Law remembered and commemorated the events of 9/11 by selling red bandannas in honor of firefighter and hero Welles Crowther.

The Law community purchased 185 bandannas and raised a total of $925.

“I think that Welles particularly resonates with students your age,” reading teacher Mrs. Rowley said. “And that’s why the red bandanna fundraiser is always very successful.

All proceeds will go to the non-profit Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust, which creates curricula for students about the events of 9/11 as well as leadership qualities and the impact of good deeds. The red bandannas were being sold in the rooms of social studies teacher Mrs. Mannion, Rowley, and history teacher Mr. Zuraw, and in the cafeteria courtesy of the Key Club.

In addition to the fundraiser, students also watched a documentary about Welles Crowther in their advisories.

“It was really inspiring knowing that some simple ordinary guy could do so much,” sophomore Sanskar Shah said.

Welles Crowther was an extraordinary leader who grew up being very polite and well-spoken, as well as having a strong sense of duty and care. He participated in many leadership activities while growing up, and excelled at many sports such as lacrosse, which he got to play for the varsity team at Boston College.

Crowther completed the New York State firefighting when he was just 18 years old, and became a full member of the fire department. After graduating college, Crowther became a research analyst and then an equities trader for the investment firm Sandler O’Neill & Partners.

During the events of September 11, 2001, however, Crowther became a firefighter and a hero.

That day, a man wearing a red bandanna was seen amidst the smoke and the ashes organizing a rescue effort, ordering fire extinguishers, directing people to the stairwell, and as a result saving the lives of many.

This man was later identified by family as Welles Crowther, as he had always carried a red bandanna in his back pocket, and his spirit lives on today honored by many schools around the country due to this red bandanna.

“It certainly helps me remember and reflect on September 11, 2001 and the impact that [it] had on this country, but also the spirit of Welles Crowther, who was just a true hero… so it really makes me reflect on the American spirit, how we’re always at our best when we work together and help each other,” principal Mr. Thompson said.

This tradition was brought to Jonathan Law several years ago by Rowley and Mannion, who were involved with the 9/11 Tribute Center.

“We were lucky enough to actually meet Welles Crowther’s parents… and eventually Mrs. Crowther actually came to Jonathan Law… and she spoke to the senior class that day,” Mannion said.

The presentation was very touching for the students, and ever since, Rowley and Mannion have shown the students a documentary about Crowther and have worn and honored the red bandanna, as well as starting a fundraiser with it in recent years.

Rowley, Mannion, and Zuraw have all been involved designing the 9/11 curriculum taught in the history department in the Milford school district.

“I think it’s getting trickier for our students because when I first started teaching, the students were in 7th, 8th, 6th grade, and now you guys weren’t even born when it happened… so you need to try [to] educate people and make them realize how much of an impact it had and… that’s our job to do,” Zuraw said. “Over the years and through our 9/11 curriculum, you guys and younger generations will have a good appreciation for what happened that day and what changed.”

Rowley hopes the curriculum and fundraiser will bring awareness to this worthy cause.

“I think stories like Welles help to make a personal connection to 9/11,” Rowley said. “I feel it’s extremely important to make sure you guys are educated as much as possible about 9/11 [because]… 9/11 to you is what Pearl Harbor was to me.”

(Some information courtesy http://www.crowthertrust.org)

By Jessica Owens and Rachna Vipparla – Staff Reporters

Jonathan Law has welcomed several new staff members to the community this year.

Here are some short bios of the new staff:

Mr. Walsh is one of the newest additions to the math department this year.

Before coming to Law, Walsh worked in Business, Healthcare Administration, and Market Research in Boston and decided to make a career change by going to Central Connecticut State University to get his teaching certificate. He then did student teaching in Meriden before joining the Law community.

“I’m really happy to be here,” Walsh said. “The administration is very positive here and very positive people like Mr. Thompson, they have good attitude and spirit.”

This year, Walsh is teaching three Geometry and two Algebra 1 classes. He teaches a majority of freshmen and some sophomores.

“My favorite part of this year is getting to watch my students grow in their math knowledge,” Walsh said.

During his free time, Walsh plays guitar in a band.

***

Ms. Smuniewski is the newest addition to the English department this year.

Before teaching at Law, she worked at Newtown High School. Due to low enrollment in the district, they eliminated her position, which led her to choosing the Law community.

“I have kids who are really motivated and eager to learn and the faculty is super nice and administers are great,” Smuniewski said. “It really feels like the Law family that everyone talks about.”

Smuniewski is teaching three sections of honors freshman and two sections of honors sophomores.

“I have larger classes this year so I’m excited to get to know my students and help them grow as readers, writers, thinkers, and as people,” Smuniewski said.

During her free time, Smuniewski likes to read and go to fitness classes.

***

Mr. Rodriguez is one of the newest additions to the world language community this year.

Before coming to Law, Rodriguez taught in Hamden at a middle school teaching Spanish, and then moved up to Hamden High School. He taught at an alternative high school in Hamden for two years and then was a media specialist at an elementary school in New Haven for three years.

“Everyone’s really nice here,” Rodriguez said. “The teachers the faculty here is great, the kids are great, and the administration is really nice.”

Rodriguez is teaching two Spanish 5 classes, two Spanish 4 classes, and one Spanish 2 class. He teaches a majority of juniors and sophomores and one freshman class.

“My favorite part of this year is I get to go to the sporting events again,” Rodriguez said. “I missed going to high school sporting events.”

During his free time, Rodriguez likes to work on cars.

***

Dr. Knipp is the most recent addition to the Jonathan Law staff.

He works in the science department, teaching Physics classes. Knipp teaches part time at both Jonathan Law and at Joseph A. Foran High School.

“Since I teach at Jonathan Law and Joseph Foran, I can’t be truly characterized as being a Law eagle, or a Foran lion,” Knipp said. “Instead, I consider myself a Milford griffin.”

Knipp has taught since 1984 at a multitude of schools including Lauralton Hall and Stratford High School.

However, he spent most of his teaching career as a professor at a university in Virginia.  

This year, at Law, he wants to get to know the school better, including the students and his colleagues.

“I sense a real sense of camaraderie amongst the faculty,” Knipp said.

Other than teaching Physics, Knipp loves tennis, playing frisbee, walking outside, sailing, or anything related to nature.

***

Mrs. Francisco is another new teacher in Jonathan Law High School.

Francisco works in the math department teaching Algebra II and Geometry.

When asked what she loved about Law, Fransisco said, “I love the energy, support, and hard work of the faculty and my students. I love the phrase Lawmazing.”

She is extremely passionate about math and enjoys coaching the girls soccer team at Oxford. In addition, Francisco enjoys traveling with her husband, playing fetch with her dog, and anything outdoors.

***

Mr. Beale is another new staff member at Jonathan Law High School.

He works in the Technology, Technical Engineering & Communication departments. Beale teaches classes such as drafting, wood shop, and automobile.

He started teaching in the fall of 2010 and this is his eighth year teaching. Previously, Beale taught at Stonington High School.

Beale likes to spend time volunteering and helping out in the community that he lives in. Most frequently, he participates in the organization Habitat for Humanity.  

Beale is excited to be a part of the Law community.

“It’s a very open school in a very welcoming environment to a degree that other schools I was at, did not have,” Beale said.

His goals at Law are to have a fun time and have students learn some things from him. He hopes they will have a fun time themselves.

Francisco taught for seven years at Oxford High School and this is her eighth year teaching.

Her goal this year at Law is to help students not hate going to math class and help the juniors succeed on their SATs.

By Addison Schwing – Staff Reporter

This year, Jonathan Law High School is playing host to Simona Turatti, an exchange student from Malnate, Italy.

Turatti will be spending the year at Law in the 12th grade, in partnership with the American Scandinavian Student Exchange, a program that manages year-long cultural and academic exchanges for youth in 33 different countries.

“The first reason why I wanted to study in the US is that I wanted to learn English the ‘better way’ that I can,” Turatti said.

Exchange programs like ASSE exist to enable youth to learn a second language and experience a culture different from your own.

But why choose the United States, of all places, to study in for a year?

“I love America, and I wanted to discover what it’s really like and about the style of living,” Turatti said.

One of the activities that Turatti is participating in at Law is cheerleading.

“I decided to do cheerleading because we don’t have it in Italy, and it’s a new experience and adventure,” Turatti said.

Junior Hailey Johnson is very excited about Turatti joining the cheer squad.

“[Turatti’s] outstanding on the team, she learned everything really fast, and bonds with everyone really well,” Johnson said. “Everyone loves her.”

Junior Kendal Stryker is also excited about Turatti joining the team.

“[Turatti’s] English is pretty good, she does well with the cheers, she helps with basing and stuff like that, and she’s nice and sweet,” Stryker said.

Freshman Kylie McCool, who is also joining the cheer squad for the first time, said Turatti is fitting in well.

“Turatti is learning the cheers pretty well and we all seem to like her,” McCool said. “She’s really friendly.”

Turatti is taking Physics, Art for Seniors, Calculus, Computer Science, Human Anatomy, Philosophy, and History. She cites Art for Seniors as her favorite class.

Turatti comes from Malnate, Italy, a town near the Austrian-Italian border in Northern Italy of about 17,000 people. She describes her home as similar to Milford, even with a downtown area, yet different all the same.  

“I live in Malnate, but my real life is in Varese, which is the bigger city near me,” she said.

Turatti recalls things from her life in Italy such as taking the train to school, and as the houses being closer together than back home, strong contrasts to her host city of Milford, whose students rely on school buses to get to and from school, and whose houses, by comparison, are farther apart.

One of the more exciting parts of learning about another culture is finding out the truth about common stereotypes.

“I say that the most common Italian stereotypes are that we overeat pasta, we gesture when we talk, and we are all ‘mafioso.’  For Americans, the answer could be that Americans eat a lot, especially fast food, they’re patriotic, and they all own guns,” Turatti said.

Turatti feels that these stereotypes are inaccurate.

“I think that each stereotype is an excessive exaggeration of the features of a country,” Turatti said. ”They may be true, but not for all individuals living there.”

Principal Mr. Thompson has many good things to say about student exchange programs such as ASSE, and the opportunities that they provide.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Thompson said. “I think it’s so enriching and it allows all of us to gain cultural confidence about how others live in the world, and not just the differences, but also how similar they are.”

By Justin Judge – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law has been doing some upgrades to the school, including a brand new weight room.

This weight room includes all brand new machines, equipment, and weights. The total cost of this room was roughly $80,000.

“It’s a lot better weight room,” sophomore student-athlete Nahiem Washington said. “It looks like a college weight room in my opinion, and it’s a lot better now than last year’s.”

The weight room was available to students the beginning of the 2018-2019 year.

”Last year’s weight room was bad and we didn’t really get anything done because of no space,” senior football captain Mike Plaskon said.

Law’s goal was to make a state-of-the-art weight room. They wanted the weight room to be one of the best in the state.

“I feel that a modern, up to date weight room is as important as anything else we have in terms of athletics,” athletic director Mr. Sarullo siad. “In order to perform well on the field, we must be well-conditioned and in shape.  Also, the room will now be used by our PE classes, which will help the overall student body, not just our student-athletes.”

Law’s weight room will be open to their physical education classes to strengthen the student body.

“The goal was to make our weight room the best of any high school in the state,” Sarullo said. “Now that we have a state of the art facility, we hope that all teams will use the room and help not only with our physical conditioning, but also help with team building as well.”

The old lifting room consisted of old weights and bars and had little space to move around.  The upgrade was much needed for the school and students.

“I think it was necessary because the weights and stuff were getting old and gross and now it looks dope,” sophomore student-athlete James Marino said.

The weight room offers many different options of exercises to the student body, from power racks to medicine balls.

”All brand new weights and equipment were installed,” Sarullo said.

With football season in progress, and basketball season coming up soon, the weight room will be put to use.

By Mia Cerrato – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Sports Booster Club uncovered 30 new personalized bricks to honor student athletes, coaches, and alumni in a ceremony on September 7.

The bricks were obtained by supporters of Jonathan Law athletics and the funds will go towards the athletic program to benefit all student- athletes.

“The donations from the Brick Garden fundraiser  benefits all Jonathan Law Students,” Judy Pincus, the President of the Sports Booster Club, said. “Last year we sponsored a fan bus to the first football states game, and we are paying for the sound system in the newly updated weight room.”

The brick walkway was on the field for a few decades, commemorating athletes and coaches dating as far back as the 1990s.

“The original walkway was put in about 20 years ago and no one really updated it for awhile,” Jonathan Law athletic director Mr. Sarullo said. “When the Sports Booster club came into existence a couple years ago they decided to start it up, so now they’ve been selling bricks and installing them for two years.”

The contributions provide assistance towards Jonathan Law sports teams.

“The money goes to the Booster Club,” Jonathan Law cross country coach Mr. Schulte said. “We could always request if we need something from the Booster Club.”

Jonathan Law athletics had a phenomenal year in 2018-2019. Each team made the playoffs for the first time in school history.

What each sports team strives for is making the postseason. Athletes and coaches work together to achieve this goal.

“Making the postseason has become a part of what each Law athlete works towards,” Angela Felag, the co-secretary of the Booster Club, said. “Our coaches here at Law have that same drive; they talk about making states from the start of each seasons.”

Jonathan Law continue to exceed in athletics and Jonathan Law wants to show their support in every way possible.

“I encourage everyone to support our athletes and all of our sports and clubs by showing up,” principal Mr. Thompson said. “When you come to a game, or any event, you show your support and your school spirit. That’s what we do.”

The ceremony encouraged other supporters to acquire their own bricks.

“We have a campaign running right now through November 1,” Pincus said. “For anyone interested in ordering a brick they can get an order from from the School Office or contact the booster club and we can send one to judybethpincus@gmail.com.”

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By Morgan Taylor – Editor-In-Chief

Jonathan Law senior choir member Kruttika Gopal will join many other talented musicians in the National Association for Music Education’s 2018 All-National Honor Ensembles in Orlando, Florida.

The event will take place on November 25-28 at Disney Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida and will include an array of performances from a Guitar Ensemble and Jazz Choir to a Symphony Orchestra and a Concert Band.

“It has been such an honor to watch Kruttika grow as a musician throughout the years,” Law choir teacher Ms. Jones said. “Kruttika shows such class and nuance when she performs and is always aiming to improve her skill and craft in and out of the choral classroom.”

The ensemble only includes 550 students from 49 states and territories.

“I am so honored and excited to be given this opportunity, and endlessly thankful to Ms. Jones, my family, and my friends for all their support,” Gopal said.

Students were chosen through an audition process and must have priorly been a part of their state-level honor ensemble programs.

“For the audition, I had to submit a video of me performing an old Shakespeare chorus piece that they had chosen,” Gopal said. “But for the Regional and All-State auditions that made me eligible for Nationals, they were in-person with a judge and you had to sing scales, a piece, and sight-read music on the spot that they chose for you.”

The selected few will be rehearsing a challenging piece of music and will be led by five of the most prominent conductors in the United States during their performance.

“I have to self-prepare the pieces that the music directors at Nationals send to me,” Gopal said. “I need to learn six or seven songs on my own and they must be prepared fully by the time I go to the festival in Florida.”

The music will be chosen by the directors soon.

“The directors will be sending out all the music by the end of September,” Gopal said.

The way the National ensemble will rehearse will be much different then the way the choir rehearses at Law.

“Since the festival is only four days, the choir at Nationals will move a lot faster in perfecting each song by the concert day compared to how we have several weeks of class leading up to concerts in Law Choir,” Gopal said. “It will be rigorous but I am excited for the challenge.”

The National Association for Music Education is one of the world’s largest arts education organizations and has been providing resources for students, parents, and teachers nationwide for more than a century.

It has more than 60,000 members at a local, state and national levels and has become the national voice of music education in the U.S.

Jones said she couldn’t be prouder or Gopal’s achievement.

“Kruttika deserves every accolade she could get for receiving this high honor,” said Jones. “She is a true testament of what hard work, dedication and perseverance can achieve and we are so honored to make music with her! This is just the beginning of Kruttika’s success story.”

By Morgan Taylor – Editor-In-Chief

As a new year at Jonathan Law High School starts, principal Mr. Thompson answered some questions about his goals for the year and gave advice to the students at Law. He also explained what it really means to be a “Lawmazing” student in his conversation with The Advocate Editor-In-Chief Morgan Taylor.

Morgan Taylor: What are your goals for this school year?

Fran Thompson: My goal is to be in every classroom, as often as possible, in order to support the good work of our teachers in their instruction so that every student, every day, will have the best high school experience.

MT: What is your advice to the Class of 2022?

FT: As I told them at our class meeting – be patient. You will not only get used to high school but you will also find out what a very special place Jonathan Law is! Also, be kind. Our school is a family, a community. We must take care of each other so we can all succeed.

MT: What is your advice to the Class of 2019?

FT: Remember the love and support the staff has for you. We are excited to help you prepare for the next chapter in your journey. Don’t forget to enjoy your senior year. These memories will last a lifetime.

MT: Are there any new things you are excited about for this school year?

FT: In addition to welcoming some wonderful, dedicated new staff, we are really focusing on instruction this year. Our goal is always to deliver the best teaching to all of our students. This year, I am honored and excited to work with the faculty to continue to improve our practices in the classroom so every student, every day will be engaged and challenged and reach his/her potential.

MT: How was your summer?

FT: It was awesome! I went to the Dominican Republic…twice! I also spent time with Mrs. Drew and her family in South Carolina. It was a great summer surrounded by so many good people and good things. I am ready for a great year!

MT: What makes a “Lawmazing” student?

FT: Oh that’s an easy one! If you care about our community and those around you, if you work hard to achieve your goals and help others around you do the same, if you are kind and dedicated to making our community a better place – than you’ve got what it takes to be Lawmazing!

MT: How are you going to make this school year the best it can be?

FT: I’m going to work hard every day to make Jonathan Law the best place it can be for every student, every day. I ask everyone reading this to ask themselves the same question. For only if we work together, to support each other and our community in a kind and caring manner, will Jonathan Law be the best place it can be. I know we will and that’s why I know we are in for a truly Lawmazing year!