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!

By Dominick Buccitti – Editor-in-Chief

GraceAnne Piselli is the salutatorian for the Jonathan Law Class of 2018.

“I was extremely excited and surprised,” Piselli said. “I was proud of myself and happy to know that hard work over high school has paid off.”

Piselli has been on the honor roll all four years of high school, where she had high honors in grades 9, 10, and 12 and first honors in grade 11. She has taken seven AP classes in her four years at Law.

Throughout high school, Piselli has always been involved in Law community. She has been an active member of the Key Club since her freshman year and has been a member of the National Honor Society, Keyettes, and Science Club since her junior year.

Piselli also joined the Interact Club this year.

“Grace is a confident, dedicated, and sweet young woman who I am proud to have seen grow in maturity,” guidance counselor Mrs. Kovacs said. “I know she will make me proud at Northeastern.”

Piselli has received much recognition over the past four years at Law. Some of the awards she has received include: Excellence in Math, Excellence in Mathematics, Excellence in Science, Excellence in Social Studies, the Wellesley College Book Award, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Medal, and the CAPSS Superintendent’s Student Award.

In her time as a member of the Science Club, Piselli placed fourth and third at the UConn Science Olympiad.

“Grace was and is a dedicated and serious student but she’s also kind and personable,” AP English Language teacher Mrs. Lucia said. “She has a sense of what really matters in life.”

At the recent senior awards night, Piselli received the salutatorian medal for the Class of 2018. She also received a Jonathan Law Key Club scholarship and the Milford Irish Heritage Society scholarship.

“It’s been a genuine honor and pleasure to see Grace grow into a successful student and wonderful person over the past four years,” AP Biology teacher Mr. Koorejian said. “She’s truly one of Law’s best in class.”

In the fall, Piselli will be attending Northeastern University, a competitive private research university with a 28 percent acceptance rate. She will be majoring in Biology, where she will use her eventual degree to get a job as a medical researcher.

“Don’t be afraid to take breaks if you have to,” Piselli said. “School should be a place where you learn and develop, not stress.”

By Dominick Buccitti – Editor-in-Chief

The Jonathan Law Key Club finished its 2017-2018 service year in great standing.

At the annual district conference, the club received the most in its history. Some of the awards the club received at the conference included: 1st place for Monthly Publications, 1st place for Monthly Reports, 2nd place in the Traditional Poster Contest, and the Distinguished Diamond Level Club Award.

“This group of seniors has been successful from the first day I met them,” Key Club advisor Mr. Boynton said. “They were great student ambassadors for both Jonathan Law and the Milford community.”

Webmaster Richard Ung received the Outstanding Officer award which is given to only one officer out of the whole New England District, for demonstrating leadership and a great work ethic throughout the year. Secretary Christina Mohammed received the District Secretary award, which is given to one secretary from each of the 31 divisions for submitting detailed and timely secretary reports.

“It was great getting to serve as secretary for a successful year,” Mohammed said.

As secretary, Grace Piselli helped the club receive the early bird award for collecting and handing in club dues earlier than the deadline that the district had set.

“I was grateful for the opportunity and I learned a lot about group management and community service,” Piselli said.

President Dominick Buccitti and Vice President Salma Samih led the Key Club this year.

“I was excited to be an officer to a great club who had a successful year,” Samih said.

Following the district conference, the Key Club has continued to volunteer at events such as the senior awards night.

Patrick Hall will be serving as the Key Club’s president for this service year. Josh DeVera will serve as vice president, Joe Federico will serve as treasurer, Ronan O’Reilly will serve as secretary, Amira Samih will serve as bulletin editor, and David Liptak will serve as webmaster.

By Morgan Taylor – Staff Reporter

The annual Brain Bowl, which was hosted by the National Honor Society, took place at Jonathan Law High School on May 4.

Students and staff competed against each other in answering trivia questions which were created by NHS. Each team had four students which represented their grade along with a team of four faculty members.

“The purpose of the Brain Bowl is to get the entire school community working together to raise money for brain cancer research (and to have fun doing it),” said Ms. Turcotte, advisor of NHS.

The students who represent their grade are chosen by a test which is offered for anyone to take on one day.

“NHS members create the 25 multiple choice test and I administer it in one day,” Turcotte said.  “The top four scores for each class serve as the teams.”

Preparation for the Brain Bowl is very important to the success of the fundraising event.

“Once NHS members decide on a theme they film and show the video to generate interest and to recruit people to take the preliminary test,” said Turcotte. “Then we design and order the shirts, come up with three rounds of questions, and fundraise in the cafeteria for the two weeks leading up to the event.”

This years theme was based off of the show “The Office.”

“Every year we choose a new theme; something that we can make a funny/interesting video to use to generate interest and to get everyone to take the preliminary test,” Turcotte said.

The first round was between the four grades.

At lunch the week prior to the event, NHS members walked around asking for donations. Every time a grade raised $10, they received a point which they started with in the 1st round.

“I think that the first round questions were harder just because it took a while to get adjusted to the speed of the questions and get used to the crowd,” junior participant Grace Wootton said.

The seniors started off with 23 points, the juniors with 11, the sophomores with 10, and the freshmen with 11.

“It was really difficult to that we started out with less points,” said Wootton. “The junior team would have made it into the final round had the seniors not started out with so many more points.”

The second round was between the top two scoring teams of the first round: the juniors and the seniors.

The third and final round was between the top scoring team of the 2nd round, the seniors, and the faculty team.

“It was definitely more challenging competing against the seniors than I expected,” science teacher and faculty team participant Mr. Aguiar said.  “They knew a lot of trivia, especially about the pop culture and music questions.”

In the final question, the teams are allowed to wager points.

The faculty won the Brain Bowl this year in the final question which was “Who played the character of Creed in The Office?”

“For the final question we wagered all of our points,” said Aguiar. “Our motto was ‘Go big or go home!’ We were willing to risk it all to win it all.”

By Morgan Taylor – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law High School’s Drama Club took on the spring production of “Shrek The Musical” on April 6-7.

The cast had three performances throughout the weekend – at 7 p.m. on Friday and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday. Each show brought a big audience and plenty of laughs.

“I think that the performance was really well put together and the cast and crew worked so hard as a team,” said sophomore Justin Amaro, who played Shrek.

The production took lots of time and effort to get it prepared for the audience, which consisted of students and faculty of Jonathan Law as well as friends and family of the cast and crew.

“In order to get the show ready, the cast put in months of rehearsal time. We really tried to make this show amazing for the audience,” Amaro said.

The production also involved many difficult aspects to the cast.

“It was definitely the hardest show I’ve ever done and it involved the most work backstage to move all of the sets and quick costume changes,” said senior Emma Hudd, who played Fiona.” It was such a cool experience as a cast to push ourselves to put on a seamless performance.”

The show was also difficult for the crew.

“There was a lot of preparation for the props and costumes especially,” said senior Ally Voytek, who was part of the cast and crew. “Because Shrek has a lot of characters that are more creative and generally more complicated to replicate on stage, we had to put our heads together to come up with the best way to get every single costume piece for each individual in order.”

The week before the production was very busy for the cast and crew.

“Tech week is the week that we add lighting, microphones, stage pieces, and costumes…basically where we make the show ready to be seen,” Amaro said.

Tech week was every day from 4-10 p.m.

The show also brought a full house for all three performances.

“The audience for all of the shows was really good,” said Hudd. “Usually the matinee has less people but it was pretty lively this time.”

The productions for the cast have not only been fun but also have taught life lessons.

“What I am going to miss most about the shows is the family I have gained out of it,” Hudd said. “When you are cast, you are with these people for hours on end. My favorite part about being in the shows over the years is the experience I have gained out of it. Without theatre I would not be able to public speak, pick up on social cues, or be willing to share my opinions. It has taught me how to work as a team and be expecting of anyone and everyone.”

Voytek was also nostalgic when thinking of the end of the year.

“I think two of the things I am going to miss most about being in the shows is the feeling of accomplishment that you get after the final bow and all of the friendships I have made,” said Voytek.

By Morgan Taylor – Staff Reporter

The Milford citywide College Fair took place at Jonathan Law High School on Thursday, March 22.

The fair was run by Law and Foran’s School Counseling Departments as well as some student volunteers from clubs in both schools.

“There were 94 colleges and universities represented at the Milford College Fair,” said Law’s College and Career Coordinator, Ms. Sylvia. “Institutions from all over New England were in attendance, including Harvard University and Yale University.”

Some schools traveled farther than New England to get to this fair.

“Schools such as University of Delaware, Savannah College of Art and Design, University of Tampa, University of Virginia, and Xavier University traveled a bit more to be at the event and meet our Milford students,” Sylvia said.

The gymnasium at Law was set up with a table for each college and a representative for each there as well.

“Each school had an admissions representative (or two) manning their table,” Sylvia said. “There were a few schools that had current student or alumni volunteers.”

The fair was a way for students from across the district, including private school nearby, to either start, continue, or retouch on the college search process.

“The purpose of hosting a city-wide College Fair is to provide an opportunity for students to explore all kinds of institutes for higher education,” Sylvia said. “Students and families can use the event to gain knowledge about a school directly from admissions professionals.”

Students are able to fill out forms to get emails from colleges that they are interested in throughout the fair.

“This is a chance to ask questions, which is important when making post-high school plans,” Sylvia said. “Students can start to get an idea about which schools may be a good fit for them based on location, size, major/course offerings, student activities, sports, and other factors.”

The age of students that attended ranged from freshmen to seniors.

“I found it interesting because as a sophomore it was my first introduction to the college process and I found a lot of schools in New England that had my teaching major that I am interested in,” sophomore Felicia Fanning said.

There was also two presentations taking place at the college fair.

“That evening there were two information sessions – one on the Financial Aid process, and the other on NCAA information,” Sylvia said. “Families were able to see brief presentations and speak with experts on these topics.”

There were also some new colleges that attended this year.

“We were pleased to host some new colleges and universities at this year’s College Fair,” Sylvia said. “Some of the new schools included Mitchell College, Savannah College of Art and Design, Skidmore College, University of Delaware, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Yale University.”

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By Dominick Buccitti – Editor-in-Chief

Students at Jonathan Law stood up for their rights and sat down together, in memory of the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.

On March 14, Jonathan Law High School participated in National Walkout Day, which was started by the March For Our Lives campaign. This organization was started by the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, to fight against gun violence, especially in schools.

Students all around the world participated, where they walked out of school. The duration of the walkout was 17 minutes, one minute for each victim of the shooting.

“I feel that it was important to hold a walkout in this way because gun violence in school is becoming a more prevalent issue in our society and something needs to be done about the gun laws in our country,” senior Salma Samih said.

Principal Mr. Thompson, Assistant Principal Mr. Hoggatt, and Assistant Principal Mr. Marko, worked with the student leaders of all of the grades to discuss how the walkout would be approached.

Senior Colleen Hugo was one of the senior leaders who stepped forward to organize the event.

“I feel very strongly about this issue,” senior Colleen Hugo said. “When Mr. Marko asked who wanted to make the announcement over the loudspeaker, I just decided to raise my hand.”

On the day of the walkout, additional police officers were present. The Law administration, faculty, and staff were posted near the front of the school that students sat and stood.

After the walkout was over, Fox 61 interviewed Hugo, Samih, and senior Grace Piselli, who were very passionate about the approach to Law’s walkout day.

“I was extremely proud and excited being a leader in this event,” Piselli said. “I was very happy I was able to be in a position where I could take action and hopefully make a change in our country about a subject I’m very passionate about.”

By Cassandra Soda – News Editor

Jonathan Law has a new Studio Club created by students which give kids an opportunity to pursue their passions in event production.  

The club was created to help other clubs in the school who need help with lighting, music, photography, and set design when running events.

“I made this club to provide a service to the rest of the school and third party groups that need audio, lighting, and photography help when it comes to running events at Law,” junior Ethan Fancher said.

Students say the club is a great way to work together as a team and make new friends while they also are able to get community service hours for the events they help at.

“I was actually asked to help out and host the lip sync battle with my friend,” senior Dominika Michnik said. “I had a blast and decided to officially join the club afterwards.

The club has helped with events such as the chorus concerts for both Law and the middle schools and they helped the Keyettes run Mr. JLHS. Their biggest event this year was the indoor track fundraiser, the Lip Sync Battle, where they completely ran the show.

Students have many ideas for future events including a school-wide talent show.

The club will also help with events outside of school that need a group to run their lighting or if they need a DJ.

Many students in the club do this as a hobby, as it is not something they want to pursue as a job, but there is a few kids that can see this in their future.

“There is a need for people who know how to do this profession and there is a general lack of knowledge of how to use most of the equipment,” junior Ethan Deer said. “It will always be a useful piece of knowledge that we will carry with us forever and can help us get jobs in the future.”

Members of the club hope that the club will continue to grow with incoming freshman as well as other students in the school.

By Morgan Taylor – Staff Reporter

Freshman Emma Liscinsky took a photo that was featured on the back cover of the Milford Public Schools’ Program of Studies.

Liscinsky is in Mrs. Romanowski´s Digital Photography class at Jonathan Law. She was chosen from many pieces of art by the Milford Fine Arts Council for a contest.

“I won first place for the picture and I got $100,” Liscinsky said. “The Milford Board of Education chose the picture from there.”

Liscinsky was in the photography class during first semester.

“The class was really fun,” Liscinsky said. “It was more of an introductory course so I was just learning about the camera and how to do things.”

Romanowski was very proud about her student.

“The art department selected and submitted a variety of artwork to be considered for the program of studies,” Romanowski said. ”Once the work was submitted, Emma’s photograph was chosen to be featured on the cover.”

The photo that was chosen was not part of an actual project in the class.

“The photo was just for fun,” Liscinsky said. “I saw that the flower was pretty so I took the photo.”

Being in the Program of Studies is a big accomplishment for art students as very few pieces get selected.

“Emma is very enthusiastic about digital photography,” Romanowski said. “She excels at capturing meaningful images because she is always willing to improve her style and techniques.”

Romanowski also teaches Advanced Photography, Digital Media and Illustration, Drawing, and Graphic Design and Communication along with Digital Photography.

“In Digital Photography students learn how to use the elements of photographic composition as well as photographic techniques to improve their ability to capture meaningful images,” said Romanowski.

Final courses will be picked in March and the course selection book are available to all students.

By Dominick Buccitti – Editor-in-Chief

The Jonathan Law band and the Bethel High School band recently performed in a “band exchange” concert.

The concert took place on Thursday, February 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. There were 26 Law band members and 54 Bethel band members that participated in the concert.

“I was approached by Damon Coachman, the band director at Bethel HS, who is a good friend of mine,” Jonathan Law Band Director Mr. Giampietro said. “I respect him tremendously as a colleague and I jumped at the chance to work with him and his students.”

Coachman has completed a band exchange with before with Brookfield High School in the past. Giampietro aspires to bring the Jonathan Law band programs to the same place as Coachman’s programs and hopes to bring similar experiences to Law.

The two bands had been rehearsing for weeks leading up to the concert.

“I thought the concert went very well and working with all the students in the Bethel band was a great experience,” junior Law band member Hannah Swenning said. “They were all very nice and working with them was a fun time.”

Giampietro felt that this band exchange would be a great experience for his students.

“There are plenty of ways that each band is helping to supplement the other and create a special experience for all of the students involved,” Giampietro said. “It may be the most exciting experience I will have had conducting a concert since I began working in education 10 years ago.”

By Cole Egersheim – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law is hosting a Winter Formal on Friday from 7-10 p.m. in the Old Gym.

The dance is Sadie Hawkins-style which involves girls asking boys to accompany them. It is recommended that juniors ask for dates this way, but it is not mandatory.

“The junior class officers come up with the idea,” junior class advisor Ms. Kizavul said. “They had so much fun at homecoming and wanted to have another dance.”         

The dance will help the junior class raise money to offset the cost of prom tickets in the spring.

Members of the junior class are hoping that the Winter Formal is as fun as Homecoming, which was held at Law in the fall.

“We’re doing the Winter Formal to raise money for prom and so we can have another fun dance besides Homecoming with all the grades,” junior class secretary Cali Jolley said. 

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By Cassandra Soda – News Editor and Molly Mercaldo – Entertainment Editor

The Jonathan Law business department hosted the first annual “Law Gives Back” business panel on Friday, January 26.

Successful Jonathan Law graduates who are now leaders in the business world came back to Law to talk to current business students.

“I wanted to get a group of alumni who took my business classes to come back and show the success they’re having in the real world,” business teacher Mr. Beler said.

An assembly was held in the auditorium where the alumni talked about their experiences in the world of business and gave advice to students looking to take the same route.

Alumi in attendance included Marie Hoyt, a manager and certified public accountant at Delooitte & Touche LLP; Mike DiLeo, a Senior Associate at General Electric; Steve Cajigas, the owner of Steve’s First Class Barbers; Anthony Pietrini, a Senior Brand Manager for Schick Intuition and Banana Boat Sunscreen; Matt Ramos, a Medical Device Sale Representative for Orthofix; and Frank Virgulto, a CPA for Ernst & Young LLP.  

“This gave me hope because these were Mr. Beler’s students as well, and I want to be as successful as these alumni someday,” senior business student Chloe McCullough said.

All sophomores also attended the event in hopes of learning more about business majors in college and what the future would be like.

“It was really interesting to hear everyone’s stories and hear how they went to Law and then moved up the corporate ladder,” sophomore Morgan Taylor said.

Students were given the opportunity to introduce themselves to these alumni and ask them questions regarding their experiences in business.

After the panel, a luncheon was held at Law for selected business students. Students were able to talk to the alumni personally and ask them questions about their jobs.

The luncheon took place in the culinary classrooms and the food was cooked and served by Law culinary students.

Beler hopes to continue this event in future years and has already heard from other alumni who want to participate.

By Morgan Taylor – Staff Reporter

Law’s Model U.N. class attended the Delegates in Action conference at Yale from Thursday, January 18 to Sunday, January 21.

Students were able to debate in committees on different topics such as how to resolve the European migrant crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Students were assigned the role of a delegate from various countries and had to discuss a variety of topics,” history teacher Mr. Evanko said.

The students debated for a total of 21 hours throughout the weekend.

“This was their final exam for the Model U.N. class,” Evanko said.

The conference was attended by close to 1,700 students from places all around the world.

“We worked with students from around the world to create resolutions on topics. There were students from Italy, Brazil, Nigeria, and other countries,” Evanko said.

Some of these topics included immigration and technology security.

“Model U.N. was a great experience which taught me a lot about international affairs,” junior Bella Carroll said.

This was the 44th session of the Yale Model United Nations which has been an annual activity at Yale.

“What I found most interesting about the conference was meeting people from all around the world,” Carroll said. “Some people had even never been to the U.S. before.”

The students engaged with Yale staff as well as students with all types of backgrounds.

“I thought it was a really fun and interesting experience to meet people from different countries,” junior Grace Wooton said.

The motto of the conference was “Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow” and students are pushed to make a social impact at the conference and when they leave.

“I was able to hear people’s perspectives on different world issues which was really interesting,” Wooton said.

YMUN has five types of committees: General Assembly (GA), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Regional Bodies, Specialized Committees, and Crisis.

The Model U.N. class at Law is a half-year, Level 1 course available for juniors and seniors.

The class is increasing in popularity for students as it offers a middle-ground between an AP class and a Level 2 class.

By Cassandra Soda – News Editor

The Jonathan Law indoor track team hosted its annual Lip Sync Battle fundraiser on February 11.

The fundraiser helps raise money to pay for the team’s banquet and to offset the cost of apparel.

“I love seeing all the kids who are normally shy open up and show their talent that night, it’s a lot of fun,” head coach Mr. Beler said.

Throughout the night there were 11 total acts, including the Law choir and Lawcapella, who opened the night with their performances.

“Performing was a lot of fun,” senior Cole Egersheim said. “The Lip Sync Battle is a great event.”

Students were the main performers of the night but many teachers also performed and joined in on the fun.

“My favorite thing about the Lip Sync Battle was getting to perform with Jordan (Beck) and (English teacher) Mr. Healy,” senior Matthew Marino said.

Throughout the night, there were a wide variety of songs from old to new, all of which thrilled the sellout crowd.

“All the performances were very enthusiastic and I thought the show was put together very well,” junior Troy Anderson said.

The winner of the contest was the “Hannah Montana Trio.” They were awarded the grand prize of $100 at the end of the night.

“The winning act was really funny and so were their costumes, I believe they deserved to win,” senior Irmina Chrzastek said.

At the event, there was a bake sale which included many different types of food and drinks. The money collected at the bake sale also went to the track team.

Beler has high hopes of this event continuing in the years to come.

By Molly Mercaldo – Entertainment Editor

The Jonathan Law Keyettes are hosting a fundraiser to raise money for blankets that they will then donate to Brady’s Smile, a charity aimed at helping children with special circumstances.

To compel peers to donate, the Keyettes have teacher volunteers who are willing to be pied in the face for the cause.

“It’s special because what were doing in our small club is having a positive impact on multiple kids and families,” Keyettes treasurer Ciara Boyd said.

This is the first time the club is pieing teachers in the face to raise money, but the Keyettes have donated to blankets to Brady’s Smile in the past.

The club’s goal is to raise at least $120 to buy fabrics for blankets. Blankets are one of the charity’s most requested items along with gift cards and food items.

“Doing charity events is a great way to give back to the community, and I know it makes a difference in people’s lives,” Keyettes vice president Priya Gupta said.

These blankets are given to patients as individual gifts that are tied in a ribbon with a note from Brady’s Smile. 

The Law staff members that have been nominated to be pied are Mrs. Loch, Mr. Zuraw, Mr. Hoggatt, Mrs. Jones, and Mr. Roumeles.

“I’m doing this because it’s a good cause and I know many students who really want to pie me in the face,” Zuraw said.

The pieing will be done to the teacher with the most money donated to their bucket in the cafe during lunch. It will be streamed on Eagle Eye News live sometime in the next week or two.

“This idea can give some students inspiration to donate, helping us raise more money for Brady Smile,” Keyettes president Mikaela Bravo said.

The Keyettes plan to continue raising money for blankets to give to the Brady’s Smile Foundation annually.  

By Dominick Buccitti – Editor-in-Chief

Jonathan Law’s new Advanced Creative Writing class is currently working on its first anthology “Trust the Process.”

The class currently consists of 18 student writers, working on three stories each. Student stories go through a pre-writing phase, drafting phase, and a revising phase; each story is revised five times before a final submission.

“I like the challenge of helping students shape and mold their ideas,” Advanced Creative Writing teacher Mr. Healy said. “It’s amazing when you see a student’s initial idea turn into an amazing story.”

This publication will contain a span of genres and topics, including mental illness, race, life and death, and love. The stories range from fantasy, realistic fiction, action, humor, and dystopian literature.

“I enjoy being able to pick any genre, the style I write my stories, and how long I can make stories,” senior Lindsaylee Buskey-Maud said.

The book will cost $20 and is currently on pre-sale. If interested, Healy and his students are taking orders.

It will be on sale through Barnes and Noble and Amazon in June.

“Creative outlets are so important for our students and the support of the community means a tremendous amount,” Healy said. “And, who knows, maybe it will inspire readers to express themselves.”

By Cole Egersheim – Staff Reporter

They are a full service mobile ice cream patrol.

And on November 14, Ice Cream Emergency came to Law to speak to Mr. Beler’s business students.

Ice Cream Emergency is a family-owned business located in Oxford, CT. They have over 10 years of experience in catering and event arenas and they service the entire state of Connecticut.

Founder Debbie Arrato said that the company’s ice cream trucks are very unique. They are designed as hospitals inside and their motto is “Saving lives, one scoop at a time.”

They offer super premium gourmet ice cream, delicious frozen yogurt, and low-fat and fat-free options.

“I think it’s a great experience for the Jonathan Law students,” Beler said. “Debbie has great experiences ranging for corporate and entrepreneurship skills. She is able to apply real life stories and success and the ice cream doesn’t hurt either.”

Students enjoyed hearing the presentation and learned how Arrato began her journey. Everyone also enjoyed the ice cream that was handed out at the end.

“I had the chocolate chip cookie dough,” junior Zach Smith said. “It was fire.”

Senior Maggie Kelly said she learned the process involved in opening a business.

“I learned that a business doesn’t start from one day,” Kelly said. “It takes a while to figure out what kind of business interests you and that you want to possibly spend the rest of your life as a career.”

By Morgan Taylor – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s Giving Tree re-appeared in time for the holidays.

The National Honor Society decorates the tree each year with tags that include a boy or girl along with their age and a gift. Students and staff can take a tag off the tree and return it with the gift that is listed.

“We work with Milford Bridges who work with families who are dealing with mental health and addiction issues,” NHS advisor Ms. Turcotte said. “They collect a gift list of their neediest clients and we help fulfill the list.”

Many children ask for clothes and other necessities that many people take for granted.

“Most of the gifts are given anonymously so we don’t know the exact amount of gifts that are given each year,” said Turcotte.

NHS collects about 180 gifts each year to donate to the Milford Prevention Council and the Milford United Way.

Both students and staff participate in the activity.

“I think it’s one of the most important things I do each year,” history teacher Ms. Mannion said. “I think it’s most important at this time of the year to help someone out who is less fortunate than I am.”

NHS is going to be taking a part in many activities in the upcoming future.

“In the new year we are hoping to get welcome back graduates running again, inducting new members and getting ready for the brain bowl in the spring,” said Turcotte.

NHS inducts new members every year and this process is starting soon. The induction ceremony will take place in March.

By Cassandra Soda – News Editor

Spirit Week at Jonathan Law was not an average week this year – considering it consisted of 10 days of festivities.

Spirit Week took place from November 13-17, November 20-22, and November 27-28. Some of the themes were Pajama Day, Tacky Tourist Day, All-American Day, Twin Day, Color Wars, and Black and Gold Day.

“The level of participation from all four grades and staff was the best we have ever had which made spirit week even more special,” Athletic Director Mr. Sarullo said.

The goal of Spirit Week is to bring the school together and increase the pride, energy, and school spirit through fun activities.

“I thought that Spirit Week was very eventful and it was a fun way to compete against the other grades,” freshman Jordyn Konlian said.

This year’s Spirit Week continued on after the Powderpuff team and football team won against Foran in their annual games. The football team continued on to the playoffs and spirit days were used to help them get excited for the game.

“This Spirit Week was better than previous ones because there was more school spirit everywhere and there was more competition and participation in general,” senior Molly Mercaldo said.

Spirit Week is usually used to help teams get excited for their upcoming games and give them motivation to go out on the field and win.

“My favorite part of spirit week is to see how much fun everyone has with their outfits for the themed days,” Sarullo said.

Through the use of spirit points, the week becomes a competition throughout the grades to see who has the most school spirit and who can win at the end of the week.

“My favorite thing about spirit week is being able to dress up to show my school spirit and competing against other grades for points,” junior Samantha Franzman said.

The themes of the days were picked by a committee of students and staff and the points were awarded by a secret committee that got together each day and determined points.