By Maeve Rourke – Sports Editor

The National Honor Society is a club that plans events, such as fundraisers, that benefit the Law and Milford community.

The club welcomed 17 new juniors to the club on March 2.  The induction ceremony was a celebration of these students’ accomplishments.

“The club provides an opportunity for these students to continue to serve as leaders and to serve the school community with other like-minded students,” science teacher and club supervisor Ms. Turcotte said.

During the winter, a handful of Juniors and Seniors who have shown good character and academic success are invited to fill out an application that provides evidence of leadership skills and service. The four basic requirements for NHS are scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

“I’m excited to become a member because I have always admired the academic pride that members have held, and their authority in school,” junior inductee Grace Piselli said. “NHS is a prestigious organization and I’m excited to be welcomed into it, as I am opened up to another outlet of community service that I am eager to participate in.”

Being a member of NHS has many benefits as well. Members have opportunities to get volunteer hours, and give back to the community.

“By becoming a member of NHS, you start to make a positive impact on the Law and Milford community,” senior club vice president Nisali Fernando said. “You get to spend time doing kind things for other people, and there’s nothing better than watching our community prosper because of the actions of NHS and the hardworking kids in it.”

Also, being a member of the National Honor Society is a great addition to college applications.

“Being a member of NHS shows I’m a very well rounded student and it will prove to colleges that I am a good student,” junior inductee Brianna Lenotti said.

The National Honor Society’s main goal is to help to give back to the community. Many of the events benefit organizations around Milford, and help people in need.

“My favorite part about being in NHS is giving back to the community,” senior club president Jillian Bendlak said. “Service is a big center of NHS and it’s a great feeling to raise money for organizations like the American Cancer Society.”

Many of the members within the club create and partake in fun activities around Jonathan Law.

“Since my induction NHS has organized events such as The Brain Bowl, The Giving Tree, Relay for Life, the Halloween Costume Contest, and 50/50 raffle for Dani Kemp,” senior club member Trisha Brady said.

Currently, NHS is planning another event for students called Welcome Back Graduates, where juniors and seniors get the chance to talk with past Jonathan Law graduates.

By Mike Dattilo – Staff Reporter 

Mr. Robinson’s class looks a lot like any other modern technology education classroom. It has computers, robots, and a three dimensional printer.

But soon the class will be missing one thing.

Mr. Robinson.  

After 16 years as a teacher, coach, mentor, and Law graduate Mr. Robinson is leaving to become the Technology Education Teacher and Department Head at Ludlowe High School in Fairfield. His last day at Law is Wednesday, March 8.

“Becoming the Department Head was a big attracter,” Mr. Robinson said.

During Robinson’s tenure in the Tech-Ed department there has been many changes.  

“I couldn’t have helped made the tech-ed department better without the help of Mr. Barcello, Ms. Corriveau, Mrs. McCoy, Ms. Ryan, Ms. Martinich, Ms. Juhase, Mr. Beler, and Ms. Sipos, “ Robinson said. “They’ve all bought in into what we wanted to do, I was fortunate for all of us to have the same vision.”

He is looking forward to his new job to lead new people.

“I don’t feel like there’s any more I can do to lead (the department at Law), because they’re great,” Robinson said. “Fairfield is behind us in the Tech-Ed and Family Consumer Science Departments, there’s a lot of work that could be done.”

Beginning in January of 2001, Robinson began teaching at Law right out of college, and was named Law’s head football coach later that year. Before becoming a head coach, Robinson was an assistant coach at two schools in Kentucky.

“It was always a dream of mine once I began coaching, to come back to [Law] and coach,” Robinson said. “It was tough and hard, it was a big eye opener to me especially being a former player from here.”

In his first season the team went 5-4-1, Law’s first winning season since 1992.

“We had great football players the first year, we’ve always had great kids,” Robinson said.  

In 2007, the team went 9-1 tying the school wins record. Thirteen years later, Robinson retired as head coach.

“In 2014 I retired, I didn’t resign,” Robinson said. “There’s a big difference, you resign when you did something wrong, I retired because it was time to spend time with my kids. I will not coach football ever again.”

In addition to football, Robinson also coached track as an assistant for 10 years and is in his fourth season coaching girls basketball as an assistant.

“I absolutely love coaching girls basketball,” Robinson said. “It’s a good way to give back to the school.”

Robinson still plans to coach girls basketball next season.

“He’s definitely impacted my life a lot through coaching and teaching,” senior Keala Hoff said. “He will always have a place in my heart, and will truly be missed.”

During Robinson’s 16 years at Law, enrollment has gone up in Tech-Ed. Also more Advanced Placement students have taken Tech-Ed classes compared to when Robinson began teaching in January 2001.

“Ryan Siddall (a Law Class of 2015 graduate) never took a Tech-Ed class until his senior year,” Robinson said. “He took a Computer Animated Drawing Class, and now he’s interning with NASA this coming summer.”

Robinson hopes his impact on the Tech-Ed department will be felt long after he leaves.

“Everyone needs to try at least one of our classes, because they’re going to realize they can apply it to what they’re learning in math, science, English, and history, and apply it in a real world situation and they’ll find a love for it,” Robinson said.

Not only has Robinson’s teaching has been praised, but also his character.

“I like what Mr. Robinson stands for,” English teacher Mr. Nigretti said.  “What I learned from him as far as coaching is he always cares about the well-being of the student, before the athlete, that plays an integral role in my teaching and coaching.”

Before becoming a teacher, Robinson was also almost drafted into the NFL.

“After college, Mr. Robinson almost made it on the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots,” business teacher Mr. Beler said. “There’s not a man who embodies Jonathan Law more than him. When parents send their kids to us, there’s not a better role model who always puts the kids first.”

Robinson is also a vital part to the school’s auto shop.

“Mr. Robinson’s commitment to our school and our community is both amazing and remarkable,” Principal Mr. Thompson said. “Above all, his dedication to EVERY student he worked with, whether in the classroom, in the shop, on the field, on the court, or in the community created a standard that all of us strive for every day.”

Robinson said that there is a need for Technology Education teachers across the state.

“Mr. Robinson’s departure leaves big shoes to fill here at Law,” Technology Education teacher Mr. Barcello said. “He is involved in many things here at Law, not just teaching Tech-Ed classes, so to find someone to do what he does for this school will be very,  very difficult.”

Robinson’s departure also means that he and his sister, Law special education teacher Mrs. Andrews, will no longer work together professionally.

“We’ve shared many students over the past two years,” Andrews said. “It was nice to work together to meet individual students needs and be able to use the family connection to have the students feel more comfortable to work with us.”

Like many teachers, Robinson has spent many late nights at Law trying to benefit the students.

“I’m leaving; I’m not dying,” Robinson said. “Jonathan Law will always be a part of me forever. When you do things with kids in mind you’re always going to make adults upset until they see the product of why you’re doing what you’re doing. They don’t understand why you’re doing it, as long as the students appreciate what you’re doing it does not matter what an adult is saying,” Robinson said.

By Tyler Chavez – News Editor

The Jonathan Law Science Club competed in the Yale Undergraduate Science Olympiad at Yale University in New Haven on January 21.

Led by science teacher and advisor Ms. Turcotte, the club competed in multiple science themed events.

The Law Science Club competes in different similar competitions every year. The Yale Science Olympiad features schools from all over the east coast.

“It is an invitational Science Olympiad run by Yale undergraduates,” Turcotte said. “Events range from astronomy, to chem lab, to robot arm and electric vehicle.”

The Yale Science Olympiad features multiple events under a certain field of science. Students competed against other students in teams.

“I competed in chemistry lab, hovercraft, and micro-mission,” senior Korbin Betso said.

Science Club members have prepared weeks in advance for this competition. Students did research and worked with one another to get themselves ready for their events.

“For forensics, I would research information about certain types of forensics analysis online, and I would take online tests to prepare for the written tests,” senior Deepika Senthilnathan said.

Their events challenged them academically as they were given unique tasks related to science.

“For wind power, I created a model with my partner, and I would test different models to see the performance level of the wind turbine for the wind power event,” Senthilnathan said.

The competitions consisted of written tests and construction tasks.

“Most of them are tests and there are some building events,” junior Salma Samih said. “So when you enter the building events you have to test what you build and you get scored on how well it worked.”

The Law Science Club found themselves competing against students from Connecticut, and from other states along the East coast. This was a new experience for many students.

“While the tests themselves were a bit difficult, just the whole experience of being surrounded by like-minded people and being in a place like Yale was new and exciting,” Betso said.

The members of Law Science Club spent their time around Yale University in New Haven. They were able to compete in one of the most prestigious university campuses in the world.

“I liked the environment of Yale,” junior Christina Mohammed said. “It was cool watching everything happen.”

Turcotte said she was very proud of the performance of her students. She hopes they can use this experience to improve for the UConn Olympiad in the spring.

“I love watching the kids compete,” Turcotte said. “They work hard to prepare for their events independently and it’s great to see their hard work pay off.”

The students were able to take previous academic experience and apply it to the competitions.

“Science Olympiad competitions has helped me visualize the applications of classroom science into a real life perspective,” Senthilnathan said. “For example, forensics was partially AP Chemistry and AP Statistics combined and different courses that I took at Law.”

At Yale, Law’s “A” Team finished with 768 points from 23 events while the “B” Team finished with 845 points.

The club will now prepare for their next Olympiad.

“We’re going to UConn,” Mohammed said. “We’re going to win.”

 

By Nisali Fernando (Entertainment Editor) and Maeve Rourke (Sports Editor)

Jonathan Law’s Model U.N. classes recently experienced the impact of the United Nations first-hand.

Mr. Evanko’s Model U.N. classes attended an interactive conference at Yale University in New Haven from January 19-22. Over the course of four days, students were involved in an international relations simulation crafted just for high schoolers.

During the semester, the Model U.N. class has been learning about prominent conflicts happening globally. The class centers on current relations within countries around the world in order to prepare for this conference.

“Students can expect to learn about international relations and the focus is on current events,” Evanko said. “We do cover the history of the United Nations and a few big conflicts, but I try to keep the focus on current issues such as climate change, cyber security, the situation in Syria, and other current topics.”

At the conference, students were immersed in intense, challenging situations that members of the United Nations are faced with everyday.  

“I was in was the World Health Organization (WHO) what we did was discuss the distribution of pharmaceuticals to developing countries and combating emerging infectious diseases,” senior Jordan Negron said. “Our goal was to work together to make resolution(s) that would effectively tackle the issue.”

Throughout this four day conference, participants found themselves learning valuable skills that they can apply both inside and outside of the classroom.

“It taught me to always be prepared to compromise, and that preparation is key,” senior Owen Paiva said. “[The conference] helped me with public speaking and conveying important information in front of people.”  

The conference has been running for the past 43 years. This year alone, 1,400 delegates from 40 countries gathered in the prestigious university to solve pressing problems.

Most students acted as delegates for a specific country in certain committees to solve a wide array of modern day issues. In official U.N. fashion, members were able to sponsor and offer resolutions during discussions.

“I was a signatory on Denmark’s resolution dealing with worker’s rights by establishing a committee inside SOCHUM to hear accusations of workers rights violations and setting a global guideline for the treatment of workers,” senior Tyler Chavez said. “I was also a sponsor and co-wrote a resolution for women’s reproductive rights that established a global standard on abortions, and worked with non-governmental organizations to provide clean clinics related to women’s health and classes about sexual education for men and women. This resolution actually passed.”

Many students found themselves at home during the fun-filled, hectic conference.

“My favorite moment of the conference happened during my first committee session… After several “inflammatory” remarks about the Chinese head of state, a YMUN staff member, pretending to be a Chinese police official, kicked open the door and declared the immediate arrest of the two press corp members,” Krois said. “The two press corp members were then escorted out by the police with their hands behind their back. Throughout this, the whole committee laughed and joked around until the chair finally brought order back.”

Students were also able to engage in the bustling city of New Haven, finding opportunities to enjoy themselves outside of the conference.

“My favorite part of the conference was seeing the Donald Trump protest (off-campus) and I joined in,” Rossi said.

The Model U.N. class may be offered as a half year course at Jonathan Law, but the experiences gained in the classroom transcend one semester.

“This conference not only better educated me on Model UN but also granted me experience negotiating with new people, overcoming language barriers and how to better structure and prepare arguments in parliamentary procedure,” Krois said.

By Kristin Frank (Sports Editor) and Owen Paiva (Entertainment Editor)

Students from Jonathan Law visited the Washington D.C. area for the inauguration of President Trump and toured the area throughout the week.

The main draw of the trip was the inauguration, which is one of the most significant events during a president’s tenure. The trip was organized by history teachers Ms. Burns and Mr. Zuraw.

“It was a beneficial trip for the students because this was a once in a lifetime historic event,” Burns said. “We wanted the kids to have that opportunity.”

Students also were able to visit the many historic landmarks in the D.C. area during the five-day trip.

“Our students visited Smithsonian Museums and Arlington National Cemetery, where we saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and watched the Changing of the Guard; that is an awesome ceremony,” history teacher and chaperone Ms. Mannion said.  “We paid our respects at the grave of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his two brothers’ graves, Robert and Edward.”

The students who attended the trip had developed a set of their personal favorite landmarks that they saw along the way.

“We went to the Arlington Cemetery where I learned that they have the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers 24/7,” junior Maggie Kelly said. “We went to Mount Vernon and got to see everything George Washington had on his land.”

Regardless of their political views, this trip was enjoyed by all.

“The trip was a great experience and I’ve never seen the inauguration up close,” assistant principal Mr. Marko said. “There were 60 of us who went and all had different political views and to see them come together to share dinners and conversations even after discussing our opinions was my favorite part.”

There was something for everyone who attended.

“We visited a host of other monuments and memorials, including FDR, the Jefferson Memorial, MLK, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Wall Memorial, the World War II memorial and the Korean War Memorial,” Mannion said.

This trip provided both the chaperones and students with more knowledge about politics and government.

“After going on this trip I better understand how the government works,” junior Emma Carollo said. “I also learned the importance of maintaining these historical monuments, buildings, and museums so that other generations can share the same experience I did.”

The whole experience was worth the journey, and the inauguration was the main highlight.

“The experience of being part of the inauguration was special,” senior Zach Anderson said. “ I also found it nice that while the trip was very educational, we all had a good time.”

No matter which candidate students wanted to win, the inauguration was still worthwhile.

“I learned from this trip, that no matter your political affiliation, the inauguration was a moment of history,” senior Jill Bendlak said. “We got to witness a huge event that will be talked about forever, going to an inauguration is something that very few people get a chance to do, and I feel incredibly lucky I was given this opportunity.”

Those who attended were able to take back ample amounts of memories they created in D.C.

“I have never been to D.C. before so seeing all of the monuments,  memorials, and the Supreme Court in person was amazing,” senior Tori Contaxis said.

Some of the chaperons have made the trip to D.C. before. Marko explains that he had experienced a few differences between the times that he has traveled there.  

“I have been to D.C. before when I was a history teacher at my old school and used to take about 250 students to this city,” Marko said. “The biggest difference this time was the amount of security since time has passed, I saw more security in the museums that we visited and the travel time was longer as well.”

Students saw all the monuments that D.C. had to offer.

“We saw every monument possible – the Washington Monument, the Korean/Vietnam War Memorials, and the Iwo Jima Memorial, for example,” senior Matt Zancewicz said. “They were all very informative and gave out a sense of respect for the fallen soldiers,  Arlington was also a solemn place to go and give respect for the soldiers that paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

Aside from Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon was a very popular stop among those who attended the trip.  Mount Vernon is located in Virginia and was the home of George Washington.

“I enjoyed seeing Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home,” Bendlak said. “It was so surreal to see his property and actually see the bed he died in, he is the foundation of our country, and it was amazing to see the way he lived.”

The estate also serves as the burial location of Washington.

“Overall my favorite was attending the inauguration but I also really enjoyed visiting Arlington National Cemetery and Mount Vernon,” Anderson said.

The students also met with Rosa DeLauro, Congresswoman from Connecticut’s Third District, and Milford Mayor Ben Blake when they visited the Capitol Building. DeLauro has been the a Congresswoman for 28 years.

“We stood outside the Rayburn Congressional Office Building in DC, where Congresswoman DeLauro has her office,” Mannion said. “She explained her work today and how she came to run for Congress 28 years ago.”  

For both the students and teachers, this was a unique experience.

“She was very inspiring and enthusiastic, she was so gracious to spend that much time with us,” Mannion said. “We might have a future member of Congress here at Law, you never know.”

By Nisali Fernando (Entertainment Editor) and Kristin Frank (Sports Editor)

In the spirit of “Lawmas,” Jonathan Law kicked off the holiday season by lending a helping hand to the United Way of Milford.

Students and faculty filled the gymnasium on December 22 to participate in a yard game competition to commemorate the money raised for a Milford based organization.

The event was dreamt up by student leaders and was executed by the faculty at Law. English teachers Mrs. Lucia and Mr. Kulenych worked tirelessly alongside students to promote and prepare the event at the school.

“I am so proud of our students here at Law,” Lucia said. “Our school did what we knew it would, because it is what we do best: we came together for a good cause and showed how altruistic we all are. We raised a lot of money that will help a lot of people, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”

The United Way of Milford does so much to help the Milford community and many members of the school were happy to donate their time and money to such a worthy cause.

“The United Way raises funds and distributes them to 20 health and human service agencies in Milford,” President and CEO of the United Way of Milford Gary Johnson said. “Also, we provide diapers, discount prescription insurance cards and an Emergency Fund which assists residents with rent payments, utility bills, food, oil, and summer camperships.”

The week leading up to the pep rally was filled with a competitive race between classes to raise the most money. The students and faculty were promised incredible prizes for their donations.

The student who raised the most money overall would be Principal For The Day, while the faculty member who raised the most money would become Dean For The Day. The class that raised the most money overall would be awarded the senior cafe for a day while the seniors, if victorious would be awarded a complimentary breakfast.

“We wanted to make the Law United rally a fun way to welcome in Winter Break and, more importantly, a way to thank all of those donated to the fundraising effort,” Kulenych said. “We couldn’t be happier with the result of the fundraising. Hundreds of students, staff, and community members donated and it was amazing to see everyone come together for a great cause.”

Principal Mr. Thompson promised to shave his head live on air of Eagle Eye News if the school managed to raise $3,000 altogether. Much to Thompson’s dismay, Law raised a whopping $3,051.

“Well, I have had better experiences,” Thompson said. “But it was for a good cause and it will grow back. Plus, maybe it’ll be a new look for me.”

There were several ways to donate and to earn a spot at this event. To acquire a seat at the event there was a $2 admission fee and “Law United” T-shirts were sold for $10.

“There are so many things that make us a very special place. One of those things is our commitment to helping our community,” Thompson said. “We have so many activities, clubs and programs dedicated to giving back to our city. This is just one example of the many ways we are the community’s flagship school.”

Kulenych said that the event showed how well the community works together in times of need.

“It was amazing to see the school rally together and be “united” for a common cause,” Kulenych said. “We had so many student help fundraise, help set up the gym, help take donations and sell T-shirts. It was a real student-led effort which was great to see.”

Team members at the rally participated in backyard games such as Spikeball, Kan Jam, Washers, and Baggo.

“We liked the idea of backyard games because everyone can play, and they are fun to watch,” Lucia said. “We wanted the event to be interactive and fun – a way to reward people who were generous enough to donate time and money to our goal.”

The students who collected the most pledges represented their classes at the Law United rally.

“The classes can get pretty competitive especially in situations like this one such as spirit week,” senior Sydney King said. “But at the end of the day we’re all one school and were so happy that we collectively raised so much money for organizations that help the local community.”

The faculty team included Ms. Burns, Mr. Roumeles, Mr. Young, Mrs. Blude, Ms. Corriveau, Ms. Rosner, Mr. Giangregorio, and Mr. McPartland.

“(We) committed to a positive cause for the community,” Young said.

The juniors who placed the highest in all four events took on the faculty team in a relay race at the end of the rally.

“I would love to participate again next year because it was amazing to have fun in helping a great cause,” junior Maggie Kelly said.

Leea Palmer, a senior at Law, raised a total of $278 for the United Way. Palmer single-handedly closed the gap between classes but it was not enough, the sophomore class donated the most money (a total of $787) and will be awarded the senior cafe one day in January.

“The money was going to a good cause,” Palmer said. “This year our family wanted to donate for the holidays.”

Blude, the faculty member who donated the most money, will be Dean For The Day, and Palmer serve as Principal For The Day.

Johnson was presented with a check at the end of the rally. Johnson, Palmer, Mrs. Drew, and Mr. Marko posed for a picture alongside of a giant $3,051 check.

“I enjoyed my time at Law,” Johnson said. “To me, I witnessed a school community full of enthusiasm and a commitment to helping others. I could see that the students and faculty were excited with the fundraiser.”

In the end, Law was able to learn what it truly meant to be “Law United” through this event.

‘”Law United’ describes something we already knew about our school, but maybe we didn’t have a phrase for it,” Lucia said. “Coming together, pooling our ideas, time, and other resources to do something great, something bigger than just ourselves, is what Law is all about, and now we have a term that defines it.”

Aside from longstanding class rivalries and the hilarious incentive of seeing Thompson’s head shaved, members of the Law community were proud that they proved that no feat too large for a “united” high school.

“Being “Law United” means the Law community doing what it does best – coming together at a time of need to help those who need it,” Kulenych said. “Our school is filled with selfless people who are always willing to help so it was no surprise that ‘Law United’ was as successful as it was.”

***

To get involved with the United Way, students can visit the United Way website or call the United Way at 203-874-6791.

 

By Marissa Pollack – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s choir is bigger and better than ever this year.

Recently, the choir has been featured at events all around Milford. Some events include Christmas caroling at Milford Hospital, at the Lamplight Stroll, the Milford Christmas tree lighting, and the choir’s annual concert along with the Law band and strings.

“Since last year we have gained about 10 new members and we have a new teacher (Mrs. Jones),” senior Brianna Whitlock said. “Advanced choir now has a male group (featuring seniors Michael Maccio and Jon Paul Amaro) which is new.”

The new male members of the choir have made an immediate impact on the program.

“I’ve only been in choir for two years now and it’s been so much fun,” Macchio said. “We all are amazing people and blend together as singers marvelously.”

In mid-December, the choir had another successful performance at its annual winter concert. One song was done a capella, another included a djembe (drum) player, and another was a song that featured the children’s choir.

The choir has already performed at West Shore Middle School and will soon be reaching out to Harborside Middle School as well. They will be promoting the Law music department in general and the choir program.

“It’s going great this year,” junior Emma Hudd said. “We are singing better than ever and nothing can keep us down.”

Gaining a new teacher has only made the group grow closer. Choir teacher Ms. Jones said that each performance and practice has been filled with improvements.

“I could not be more proud of the progress the chorus  has made this year and all the effort that they put in,” Jones said. “Their lives are busy and full of challenges and obstacles and yet they overcome them and rise above to come together as an amazing musical family.”

Jones said that positivity is overflowing this year. The group is advancing vocally while creating a close family like bond helping them to grow stronger.

“I love the energy and the close bond we have formed with everyone,” senior Beatrice Relucio said.

The group can’t wait to see what lies ahead in their future. Members said they have no doubt they will continue their success and become even better as the year goes on.

By Cassandra Soda – Staff Reporter

Law’s Keyettes Club recently held a fundraiser where they asked students to donate a dollar and guess how many Skittles were in a jar to benefit Brady’s Smile.

The person who had the closest guess could either win the jar of Skittles or a $10 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card.

“The purpose of the fundraiser is to raise money for the Brady’s Smile organization, which helps kids who are suffering from illnesses,” junior secretary Priya Gupta said.

The Keyettes raised money for two purposes: donating to Brady’s Smile and making fleece blankets for children.

“We wanted to hold the guessing contest, because the proceeds will go to purchasing fleece material to make blankets for children who are in the hospital fighting back cancer,” senior president Deepika Senthilnathan said.

This fundraiser was a very important part of the Keyettes Club and will help many children who need it.

“It is important to do this fundraiser because the blankets can give sick children and their families a sense of comfort while they are spending time in the hospital,” Keyettes advisor Ms. Wilcock said.

Fundraising is a main purpose of the Keyettes Club. The club has also done service projects such as the fall blood drive for the Red Cross.

“Fundraising is an important part of Keyettes because everything that we do is to further benefit the community in some way,” junior secretary Ally Voytek said.

Fundraisers like the one for Brady’s Smile can impacts people’s lives in ways some may not realize.

“This fundraiser is important because those who donate are making a huge impact on kids who are struggling with illness and disability,” junior vice president Brianna Lenotti said. “It is important to keep these kids happy and healthy.”

The fundraiser also raised enough money for the fleece blankets. The club will be able to make many blankets to comfort children.  

“Just a dollar from each person that participated allowed us to buy enough fabric to make about 12 blankets, ” Wilcock said. “That’s going to make 12 little ones who may be really struggling with their health very happy and very cosy.”

The first place winner of the contest was Colleen Goodwin winning the Dunkin’ Donuts gift card with a guess of 3,784 and history teacher Mr. Zuraw came in second place and won the jar of Skittles. The jar actually had 4,135 Skittles.

The club will be making the blankets in one of their meetings after winter break and will give them to Brady’s Smile who will then give them to the children in hospitals in the area.  

In past years, the club has made bags of gifts that they gave to the children but they decided to go back to the original idea of making blankets.  

By Molly Mercaldo – Staff Reporter

The first ever Lip Sync Battle was held at Jonathan Law on December 15 to raise money for the indoor track team.

This show featured many impressive lip sync performances, as well as performances by the Law choir, Lawcapella, and members of Law’s advanced ensemble.

“We’ve got nothing but great reviews and it seems like the school has a little bounce in its step,” said business teacher and track coach Mr. Beler.

The winner of the Lip Sync Battle was “The Spice Girls,” which was a group made up of juniors Morgan Macey, Rhea Grant, Colleen Hugo, and Salma Samih.  

“I think this event really brought the community together; it was really Lawmazing,” Grant said.

The event had an audience of over 500 students, family members, and Law staff members.

“The winning group’s performance was well rehearsed and looked spectacular when it was preformed,” junior Bobby Fisk said. “It’s not a surprise that they won.”

The winning group took home a prize of $50 as well as a Lip Sync Battle trophy to commemorate their victory.  

All grades were represented throughout the event, with Law staff members and coaches also participating.

The event was in the planning process for months and was put together by the indoor track coaches with help from other members of the Law community like senior Ben Warters and members of the indoor track team.

“It became my end of the semester project to create and run the whole show,” Warters said.

The event reached its goal of earning money for the indoor track team that will help cover expenses for the team’s apparel and banquet.

Other groups who participated in the competition include Mike and the Ladies and the Cheetah Girls.

The runner-up performance of the night was from a group of teachers named Out of Sync featuring Beler, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Toussaint, Mr. Rhode, Mr. Barcello, and Mr. Nigretti.

In third place was Hamilton, a group made up of members of Law’s Drama Club, who performed songs from the hit Broadway musical.

Beler said that he hopes the Lip Sync Battle becomes an annual tradition at Law. He hopes to include performances from Law alumni in upcoming years. 

“I think this can be a great new tradition here at Jonathan Law,” Beler said.

By Valeria Araujo – Editor-In-Chief

Jonathan Law’s National Honor Society is hosting its annual Giving Tree event.  

The Giving Tree is back in the main lobby full of cards with presents idead for underprivileged children in the community. Students and faculty are able to leave gifts (new, unwrapped, with the original tag) under the tree.

“It is a way to donate presents to kids whose parents are unable to provide them with everything on their christmas wish list,” NHS vice president Nisali Fernando said. “We essentially serve as Santa’s helping hand in spreading a little Christmas magic.”

NHS will bring the gifts to the Milford Prevention Council and the United Way to help distribute.

“We are a service organization and enjoy helping others, especially children from our community,” NHS advisor Ms. Turcotte said. “We want to brighten the holidays for the children (and parents) of families in need.”

NHS works with counselors at Bridges to collect four to five gifts for each child.

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

“Christmas is about giving,” Fernando said. “We have an opportunity to remind our Law and Milford community there is still a little good in the world when giving to those in need during the holidays. When you give a present to someone you imagine the joy on their face once they open it.”

NHS has continued to bring a sense of humanity to the Law community.  

“Being in NHS is a great way to spread compassion within the Milford community,” NHS president Jill Bendlak said. “We encourage all to try to get in to be involved with the community and become good student leaders.”

Once the Giving Tree drive is over, NHS will be working on inducting new members.

“People are nominated to be inducted into NHS and then there is a lengthy application process,” Fernando said. “You are recognized for all you do in and out of school and get to make a differences in the community, you get to spread the magic of christmas and raise money for causes you are very passionate about. It’s an honor.”

By Valeria Araujo – Editor-in-Chief

The Jonathan Law Drama Club knocked out its performance of Neil Simon’s play “Plaza Suite” on November 11-12 in the auditorium.

“Plaza Suite” gives the audience a glimpse into the lives of three different couples staying in Room 719 of the Plaza Hotel on three separate occasions.

Each couple has their own hilarious problem to work through. The Drama Club members and the audience members were thrilled with the set design and performance of the cast.

The cast included seniors JP Amaro, Tyler Chavez, and Chloe Bee Erickson, juniors Berat Celik, Rosalie Filippone, Colleen Hugo, and Allyson Voytek, sophomore Anna Malin, and freshmen Justin Amaro, Kevin Bretthauer, and Luke McDonald.

“My experience working on ‘Plaza Suite’ was wonderful,” senior Drama Club member Tyler Chavez said. “We had a small cast so it was very easy for us to all bond and come together and everyone was so friendly and great to work with that it made the show so much better.”

This play was a very challenging but rewarding one for the Drama Club and has expand their wide range of theatrical ability.

“Neil Simon is one of the greatest playwrights of our time,” Drama Club Director Christina Kalafut said. “I wanted to teach the students his style of comedy and how to perform it.”

The Drama Club is always looking for new members and stressed that students don’t have to be an actor one of the plays if they are in the club. They want anyone who would like to join feel comfortable and welcomed.

“We push anyone who is unsure about joining to come to a few meetings and see for themselves how the Drama Club is full of amazing people that will change your life as they changed mine,” senior co-president Sarah O’Brien said.

Going forward, the club will be having meetings on the first Tuesday of each month in the auditorium.

“Right now, we are planning our holiday party and our Barnes and Noble fundraiser,” O’Brien said.  

Senior co-president Ann Reed said that the Drama Club is a judgement-free zone where students can make long-lasting friendships.

“I’ve been in Drama Club since freshman year and it’s just really fun,” junior Rosalie Filippone said. “I’ve made a ton of new friends and found new interests, and being part of the shows, whether you’re a small role, a big role, or even part of the crew, means that you’re a part of the club and that you won’t be valued any more or less than anyone else. People who have never been interested in theater before have joined and loved it and It’s really worth being a part of in any way possible.”

Kalafut not only works hard with the students to make them stronger performers but makes sure that they are having fun.

“I enjoy seeing my students come to rehearsals each day, having a great time with their friends, doing what they love and creating memories along the way,” Kalafut said. “The smiles, the laughter, and the memories remind myself why I do what I love to do: for them.”

The club is holding auditions for its spring show, “Bye Bye Birdie,” in mid-January. The performance is scheduled for March 31-April 1.

“Even if you don’t feel comfortable performing on the stage, there are plenty of other ways you can still be involved with the club off the stage,” Kalafut said. “You can help run sound, move set pieces backstage, help organize costumes…there are so many aspects to theatre.”

By Nisali Fernando – Entertainment Editor 

For years, Milford students spent Veterans Day at home.

This year, Jonathan Law students and faculty embraced the national holiday and all it represents. As the entire school packed into the new gym, all eyes were on the brave men and women who served our country.

The event was organized by the history department at Law and was led by history teacher Mr. Kravecs. Unlike past Veterans Day events held at the school, students were given a pivotal role in the ceremony; they were given the privilege to educate the audience about the holiday itself.

“On the surface we have the event because we’re in school on Veterans Day and we didn’t used to be in school on Veterans Day,” Kravecs said. “There’s a major feeling out there if this day in particular is gonna have students in school, some level of education about the holiday needs to take place.”

Aside from the students, many veterans also chose to speak to the crowd and had very inspiring things to say to students.

Justin Knight is an electrical technician in the Navy. He captivated the audience with a personal parable about failure, hard work, and reaching success.

“Some people are hard-headed like me and you have to learn them (lessons) the hard way and you have to almost fail or you have to fail and then pick it back up,” Knight said. “If I can help prevent any one kid from having to go through that experience and learn from it that’s worth it.”

Students were given a chance to relate to the speakers, many we’re nodding and chuckling at the idea of failing a class after getting too comfortable. These veterans were more than servicemen and women, they proved to be people too.

Ihlo Yi managed to have the crowd in uproarious laughter by saying he was just going to wing his speech. A petty officer in the Navy, Yi is a recruiter here in Connecticut and told students his love for military came from struggling academically in school.

“I want to help people and the first step to help people I think is to build that relationship, coming here was a great way to have everyone see me and I see everyone and they get to know my face,” Yi said. “Even if y’all need somebody to help tutor in subjects… except math – I just want to be part of the school.”

The event proved to be very uplifting and reminded students what this holiday really means to them and their loved ones. For many, Veterans Day was never just a day off from school.

“I celebrate Veterans Day because I have a cousin who has served in the Army and I understand what families go through while their loved ones are away,” senior Abby Williamson said. “It is only right that we honor the people who put their life on the line for our country.”

Following the assembly, students were given a chance to interact with the veterans one-on-one and ask them any questions they had about their service. It allowed for students to bond with the servicemen and women over pastries as the Veterans offered sage advice.

“I thought the event was a success because the event went as planned, as a social studies department we put a lot of time and effort into thinking about who we wanted to intend and what roles we wanted students to be playing in the event,” Kravecs said. “I think the end result really showed that attention to detail and that planning to try to make it as positive an experience for everybody.”

According to Tom Flowers, the Sergeant Masters General of the Air Force and first speaker at the event, Veterans Day is not for those who have served but for those that are worth protecting.

“We don’t come here to be honored by you, we come here to honor you,” Flowers said.

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To check out hundreds of Spirit Week photos, go to twitter.com/jlawadvocate!

By Tyler Chavez – News Editor

Jonathan Law students showed just how much spirit they have by engaging in this year’s Spirit Week.

Spirit Week is a continuation of the year-long class vs. class competition to see which grade has the most school spirit.

Leading up to the Powderpuff/Thanksgiving pep rally, activities ran from Monday, November 14, to Wednesday, November 23, with Jersey Day, Tacky Tourist Day, ’90s Day, Red, White and Blue Day, Country/Flannel day, Color Wars Day, Blackout Day, and Black and Gold Day respectively.

“All of the credit goes to the students,” athletic director Mr. Sarullo said. “There is an unbelievable amount of spirit and positive energy this year, which is needed for a school to have a successful spirit week.”

The activities were created by Sarullo and a group of students from various grades. The aim was to promote school spirit, getting involved with the school, and a bit of friendly competition.

“The point of Spirit Week is to get everyone excited and have school spirit,” senior Keala Hoff said.

The committee also brainstormed ideas for the upcoming pep rally to hype students up for the annual Law vs. Foran Powderpuff and Thanksgiving football games.

“I hope the students get excited for the Powderpuff game as well as the Thanksgiving game,” said Hoff, who also acts as an emcee for the pep rallies.

Students were encouraged to tweet pictures of them partaking in the festivities to The Advocate Twitter in order to get points for their class. Twitter was inundated with selfies, group photos, and mannequin challenges in an attempt to take the lead.

“The response was incredible,” journalism teacher Mr. Kulenych said. “I think it’s been an awesome showing by all the classes. You can feel the spirit from all the classes.”

The juniors started the week with a lead, but the senior and sophomore classes have been right behind them. The friendly competition could be seen throughout the halls.

“I love Spirit Week because I love to see how my grade can work together to get this win,” junior Christina Mohammed said.

The variety of days to participate in gave every student the chance to show off their school spirit and earn points. The hosts of Eagle Eye News got in on the fun by using ’90s slang on ’90s Day and Southern accents on Flannel/Country Day.

“My favorite day was All-American Day because absolutely everyone went all out painting their faces and flying flags,” senior Marissa Pollack said. “It was so fun especially because my friends and I walked in the halls chanting and sang in front of the whole cafeteria.”

The last three days include a Color War, Blackout Day, and Black and Gold Day. The school held its Powderpuff/Thanksgiving pep rally on Tuesday.

“My biggest wish, which I think has already been realized, is that the school comes together to support each other’s teams, clubs, competitions, etc,” Sarullo said.

The positivity of Spirit Week can be seen throughout the school. Jonathan Law students have shown their enthusiasm and energy to create a memorable week and a half of activities.

“I love that Spirit Week reminds everyone how much we love Law,” Pollack said. “As a senior it shows me what I’m going to miss next year and how much fun I had with all my friends.”

The Jonathan Law students will carry their energy from Spirit Week to the pep rally, and the Powderpuff and Thanksgiving football games against cross-town rival Foran High School.

No matter the results, Law students can look back and smile at the smiles formed during Spirit Week.

By Emma Caserta – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Keyettes held their annual blood drive on October 26.

The blood drive took place in the old gym and was open to all students and volunteers. The purpose of the drive was to benefit those agencies who are in low supply of blood.

“Keyettes is all about helping the community, from small to big acts to benefit those in the Milford Community,” Keyettes co-president Deepika Senthilnathan said. “We had a great turnout this year.”

Each person who donated blood helped people in need. It was a small act, but the impact is positive and extremely helpful.

The American Red Cross was in need of blood in order to help patients. All students and faculty members that helped this year and previous years are greatly appreciated.

“It is a great chance for high school students and teachers to donate blood and help the cause,” said senior Abby Williamson, who volunteered and donated blood at the drive this year.

Students needed to be 17 years or older in order to donate blood. 

The Keyettes have hosted a blood drive for the past six years.

“By donating blood, patients can get treated for any illnesses they are facing that require blood to help them heal and get better,” Keyettes co-president Madison Laezzo said.

Keyettes advisor Ms. Wilcock was excited about this year’s turnout.

“With about 25 blood donors on the day of the drive, our Jonathan Law community could potentially have helped up to 75 people,” Wilcock said.

By Chloe McCullough – Staff Reporter  

The Milford Prevention Council hosted its 12th annual “Thanks 4 Giving Food Drive” this year to help those in need during the holiday season.

The food drive took place from November 11 to November 13 in the parking lot at Wasson Field in Milford. There were many community groups that participated in this year’s drive.

Some groups who attended this year’s included the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Venture Crew. All of these groups had participants in the drive and most camped out in the parking lot for two days.

The final turkey count this year was 367 and, in total, 315 families were fed this year.

Law junior Molly Mercaldo, an active participant of the drive, said that the plan was to raise as many turkeys as they could to give to needy families. Mercaldo also hoped to provide food to many families in Milford and donate to local food banks.

“The food drive is a really fun way to help the community, see your friends and make a difference in Milford,” said Mercaldo.

In previous years, scouts have collected more than 70,000 pounds of food and 1,600 turkeys. Extra food is normally donated to food banks and the drive is highly supported by local businesses.

Law junior Priya Gupta, a participant in the drive, said she was proud to continue this tradition of giving back.

“I think the food drive is a really good cause and it helps a lot of people,” Gupta said. “It really makes a difference in not only the community, but also the worl.”

The Jonathan Law Key Club was very involved in the drive as well. Key Club members helped organize cans and did other jobs that helped organizers of the drive.

“The food drive is for a great cause because it helps families in Milford who are not as fortunate as others have a great Thanksgiving,” Key Club president Mike Jalaf said. “It is also a great opportunity for community service.”

Law senior Kyle Krois, an Eagle Scout and a member of Troop 1, has been a part of the food drive for the past 11 years.

“This past year we fed over 350 families, and filled all of the food banks in Milford,” Krois said. “We only sent them to non-denominational food banks.”

By Maeve Rourke – Sports Editor

 

With the cold weather approaching, Jonathan Law’s Ski and Snowboard Club is getting ready for its winter season.

The club is an extracurricular activity that is open to all students, no matter how much skiing or snowboarding experience they possess. The next club meeting is scheduled for December 14.

“I enjoy giving kids the opportunity to do something they might not otherwise do,” club advisor and Jonathan Law parent Ms. Lacadie said. “Skiing and snowboarding are great ways to get kids to enjoy the outdoors during the winter months and get some exercise.”

The club was formerly run by parent Mr. Savo. Ms. Lacadie used to run the West Shore Middle School Ski Club for six years and this is her first year running the Jonathan Law Ski Club.

“I give a lot of credit to Mr. Savo who has run this club for many years even after his children finished Jonathan Law,” Lacadie said. “ I look forward to a fun and rewarding season.”

This year, the Ski cCub plans to do four day trips every other Saturday for two months. They also attend an overnight trip to Smuggler’s Notch, which gives them a full day and a half of skiing.

“In the past, we have only gone to Mount Snow and Okemo,” senior co-president Ann Reed said. “But this year we are hoping to broaden our scopes and attend a couple new mountains.”

The club offers a great opportunity for students to make new friends, and learn how to do a new sport. The each mountain usually offers a learn to ski program with lessons and equipment rentals for anyone who may need them.

“The ski club gives you an opportunity to hang out with your friends while doing something that you love,” Reed said. “Skiing and snowboarding can get expensive fast, so getting the opportunity to utilize the group rates along with the transportation to Vermont is an opportunity I’d hate to miss out on.”

Skiing and snowboarding is also great exercise. You can be healthy while having fun.

“I ski and I love it because it gets me outside and moving,” senior Katie Lacadie said. “It’s a non- competitive sport that I can exercise and enjoy without worrying about winning.”  

The team also becomes very close knit. During their bus rides and through learning to ski together, new friendships easily form.

“The club bonds on the bus back home after a trip, where we watch movies and share snacks,” co-president Sarah O’Brien said. “On the longer bus rides we even play bingo together (with prizes!).”

Also, during the overnight trip, the club hosts a pizza party in the lounge one night, and a trip to Ben and Jerry’s another.

“The overnight trip is my favorite part about Ski Club because it’s fun and you get to spend a whole weekend skiing with your friends,” senior Callie Merva said.

Anyone interested in Ski Club is encouraged to attend a meeting and contact one of the co-presidents.

By Daniella Berg – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law has introduced a new SAT Math class this year.

The SAT class is a semester-long course that meets 4th period. Next semester, it will meet during 8th period.

Mrs. Diprimio teaches the class and she believes that the class will help all of her students to be better prepared to take the SAT. Diprimio said that the class exposes students to the types of questions on the SAT as well as the SAT testing format.  

“We review concepts from Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geometry in the exam format of the SAT in class,” Diprimio said.

On block days, students work on the Khan Academy website, which is an online program that allows students to work through concepts and SAT-type questions that are specific to their individual needs.

DiPrimio has 18 students in this semester’s course and next semester there are 14 students already signed up. The class is currently for junior and seniors only.

The SAT can be very intimidating for many students. The test is formatted differently than what students normally see in the classroom, so DiPrimio helps students become more familiar with that format.

Students are exposed to the wording of questions as well as the content needed to maximize their SAT math scores.

Senior Jovana Mrvic said she likes how the class reviews the questions that everyone struggles with to get a better understanding of some of the concepts.

Mrvic believes the class helped prepare her for the SAT she recently took.

“On my most recent SAT taken in October, my score has improved,” Mrvic said.

Senior C.J. Rainey is also in the SAT class and said that the class helped a lot when it came to the real SAT.

“You take mini tests to help on the SAT and the teacher helps you step by step on any problems you don’t understand,” Rainey said.

 

By Ronnie Spangler – Staff Reporter

An Ultimate Frisbee Club has recently been formed at Jonathan Law.

The club is run by freshman Zack Chesson and his father, Robert Chesson, who played ultimate frisbee in college

The Ultimate Frisbee Club is a great place to improve your skills and meet new people that also enjoy playing the sport and it’s for all skill levels and they hope lots of people come.

“I want to improve my frisbee skills and become a better team player,” junior Anthony DeBenedet said.

The club hopes to scrimmage other schools in the spring. They already have one scrimmage planned against St. Joseph’s High School and hope to get cross-town rival Foran to also make a club so that they can face off against them.

‘I’m hoping that we get to scrimmage against other teams, but also that we do well and have fun,” senior Melissa Chodziutko said.

The club’s first two meetings were at 7 p.m. on the turf under the lights. Meeting lasted between an hour and an hour and a half. The club hopes to meet every Tuesday.

“It’s a rockin’ time,” junior Matthew Marino said.

The club focuses heavily on respecting the game and being honest. Everyone is there to have fun be competitive but also practice good sportsmanship.

“The community that ultimate frisbee has is similar to the community that Law has created,” Chesson said.

So far, the club has a wide variety of members ranging from freshmen to seniors. Both boys and girls are in the club.

“Multiple friends came up to me and told me I should join and I took their word for it,” junior Matt Tournas said.

The Ultimate Frisbee Club is always looking for new members of any ability level.

By Molly Mercaldo – Staff Reporter

A new Sports Highlights Club has been started at Jonathan Law by senior Mike Dattilo and junior Nick Owens.

The club produces videos that feature outstanding plays and players from Law home games. The videos are broadcast on Eagle Eye News, Law’s daily morning news show.

“We show up to every game with a camera ready, a sideline reporter, booth reporter, and we get interviews as well,” Owens said.

The Sports Highlights Club has covered sports like football, girls swimming, and boys and girls soccer. The club also hopes to continue covering more sports as the year continues.

“We want to cover just about every sport coming forward,” Dattilo said. “Powderpuff will be a big one for us.”

So far, the club has five members including freshman Addison Schwing, junior Paris Champ, and junior Matt Maineri along with Owens and Dattilo.

“We want to extend that number to at least five or six more,” Dattilo said.

All club members take part in the recording and editing process.

“Doing the videos all by myself is tough so I wanted to find other people and inspire other people to be broadcasters as well,” Owens said.

The club hopes to have more members join over the course of the year. They have set roles for their members but is hoping to develop the club to be more organized for the winter and spring sports seasons.

“The club has been a great addition to Eagle Eye News and the school in general,” Broadcast Journalism teacher and Sports Highlights Club advisor Mr. Kulenych said. “Nick and Mike are motivated, talented kids and they’ve found a great way to put there talent out there for the whole school to see.”

The club has allowed sports at Jonathan Law to be broadcast to a wider audience and has brought more attention to the sports that have been covered.

“(The club) has helped to increase the attention on the sports programs and increased excitement as well,” Athletic Director Mr. Sarullo said.

In addition to helping the sports programs at Jonathan Law, the club has also helped to increase the attention to the school news program as well.

“It has made people want to come out to games and has helped people to watch the entire news broadcast,” said Lexi Fisk, a senior and anchor on Eagle Eye News.

The Sports Highlight Club will be continuing to make videos for the rest of the year and hopes to keep the club going in the future.

By Dominick Buccitti – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s National Honor Society held its annual costume contest on October 31 – but with a twist.

The contest was different this year because of the added rule that banned clown costumes as well as a new name for the contest: The ‘Hal-Law-Ween’ Spooky Attire Contest.

“It was very successful; we had a great turnout,” NHS vice president Nisali Fernando said. “Everyone was given a chance to showcase their creativity and love for Halloween.”

Students had to pay $1 to enter the contest. This year, NHS ended up raising approximately $50.

Like every year, there were four categories: best male costume, best female costume, best teacher costume, and best group costume.

Junior John Fowler won the best male costume category for a second year in a row. Last year, Fowler won the same category as Donald Trump; this year, he dressed as Hillary Clinton.

“My inspiration for the costume this year was just to satirize the current election and someone in the media,” Fowler said. “So I chose Hillary Clinton.”

Junior Christina Mohammed won the best female costume category as Joanne the Scammer. Mohammed’s friend Amanda Downs did her makeup for the costume.

“Someone gave me the idea when they told me that I should be Joanne,” Mohammed said. “So I decided to go with it.”

History teachers Mr. Evanko, Ms. Burns, and Ms. Mannion won the best teacher costume category as Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump.

“The idea was born when I wanted to do a couples costume with Mr. Evanko,” Burns said. “I was going to be Hillary and he was going to be Bernie.”

Senior Juliana Rivera, Senior JP Amaro, Senior Beatrice Relucio, and Freshmen Justin Amaro won the best group costume category as Morticia Addams, Gomez Addams, Wednesday Addams, and Pugsley Addams.

“We wanted to be unique from all the possible costumes out there,” Relucio said.

By Maeve Rourke (Sports Editor) and Valeria Araujo (Editor-In-Chief)

Jonathan Law’s band is excited to start this year’s season of competition and fun.

This year, the band is looking forward to expanding not only their group but their skills as well. Band director Mr. Giampietro oversees the jazz ensemble, marching band, and concert band and encourages students in each of his classes to try all three types.

“You can’t win if you don’t play I push my students and set the bar high so they can do great things and then raise that bar higher and higher each year,” Giampietro said. “There is no reason we can’t do better and I will absolutely get them to where they need to go, the sky’s the limit”

Giampietro is hoping to bring the band to bigger and better places.

“Our goal is to expand the band, be more visible, and help with school spirit,” Giampietro said. “We definitely want to be more spirited and more enthusiastic to show how much we love being students here.”

The band is also trying to flesh out their sound to give them a more unique quality over other high school bands.

“We are working on a wide range of music from pop to classical,” junior band member and saxophone player Kyle Shugrue said.

Members perform at a variety of events including home football games, pep rallies, and parades. Last year, they even got to spend the day and perform at Six Flags where they won first place out of all the bands participating in the competition being held there.

“It was an awesome experience,” sophomore saxophone and oboe player Michael Bagdasarian said. “We had to play during the morning, but the entire afternoon I got to hang out with my friends and go on awesome rides making the overall experience amazing.”

Giampietro said the band is ready to showcase that they’ve got spirit and deserve to be heard.

“You can expect us to continue showing our school pride by playing in events in Milford and around the state,” sophomore trumpet player Scott Monforte said.

The band has class during the school day and often practices on the football field. Extra help and practice is completely optional, but many of the band members come in after school on Monday to what they call “Period 9” for this extra practice and to spend time with each other.

“My favorite memory in band is just spending my time with all of my friends in the band it may be small but it’s like one big family,” sophomore flute, piccolo, and saxophone player Hanna Swenning said. “That is also why I continue to do band every year because it is just a very welcoming and fun environment.”

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By Kristin Frank (Sports Editor) and Owen Paiva (Entertainment Editor)

Jonathan Law High School hosted its annual 7th and 8th grade Open House on Thursday, October 16.

Prospective students were given the opportunity to take part in a classroom seminar, which allowed students to experience a high school class first hand, to take a tour around Law and view different facets of the school, and to meet with members from teams and clubs the school has to offer.

The administration was very impressed with the turnout of 8th graders that attended.

“The open house was fabulous,” Dean of Students Mr. Ragaini said. “If I had to guess, there had to be about 400 people in attendance.”

The program began in a packed auditorium where the strings orchestra and choir performed. A promotional video entitled “I’m A Lawman, What Are You?,” which was produced by Law’s Broadcast Journalism class was shown, and students from each grade level at Law spoke about the reasons they love Law.

Two Law parents also shared their experiences and Law principal Mr. Thompson followed with a presentation about all of the academic and extracurricular opportunities that the school has to offer.

The students that represented the senior class played a huge role throughout the night. They contributed immensely to the success of the event.

“I think the seniors did an amazing job of handling the tours and volunteering at our academic, activity and athletic fair,” Thompson said. “The Class of 2017 is very special and they showed their love of our school and our community to everybody who attended, I couldn’t be more proud and grateful.”

Tour guides were conducted by selected students, including Nisali Fernando, Jake Mola, Matt Zancewicz, and Gina DiFederico

“I was helping with the tours around the school, showing the new students the amazing school we have,” Mola said. “While on the tours, I answered any questions they had to ask about sports or school or anything, and also represented the football team as captain.”

Classroom seminars were conducted by Mr. Roumeles, Mr. Morazzini, Mrs. Burns, Ms. Rosner, Ms. Lucia, Mr. Young, Mr. Mamrus, Mr. Koorejian, and Ms. Kowalsick.

“I taught a lesson on the Renaissance and it’s connection to our everyday lives,” Roumeles said.

The seminars covered all core academic classes at Law.

“At the Open House I spoke to parents about the science courses we offer here at Law, and about the sequence in which students could take them,” Morazzini said.

In the science seminar, different labs were shown, and prospective students got a good preview of what was available.

“I then had parents and students circulate through stations showcasing some of my favorite labs that we do in Biology,” Morazzini said.  “The stations included, questions about evolution, Elodea and human cheek cell microscope slides, mitosis and meiosis slides, a DNA extraction and yeast cell respiration, and oak leaf stomata.”  

After prospective students had a chance to experience a classroom, they were given the opportunity to take a tour of Law. These tours were conducted by Law seniors.

“On the tours we toured around the whole school, going by the support center and nurse. showed them the freshman wing and the gym,” Mola said. “All the places you need to go.”

Another event that took place during the classroom seminars was the dissection of a mink. This gave the 8th graders a good sense of what they could anticipate at Law.

“I took part in the science section of the tour and represented Human Anatomy,” senior Tori Contaxis said.

After the tours, prospective students and their parents were brought to the new gym for an activity fair. All of Law’s sports teams and clubs were represented by the respective members.

“At Open House I helped at the booth for National Honor Society,” senior Ryan Wasserman said. “I received valuable questions about the events our club takes part in, such as the Brain Bowl and Relay for Life.”

The Jonathan Law community had a positive impression on the prospective students attending.

“Well, my first impression of Law at the Open House was that it was nice, family friendly school, and that it’ll be a really fun and educating time when I go there,” 8th grader Amir Elhelw said.

The 8th grade students also enjoyed the classroom seminars.

“After the Open House, I felt that Law was a school that has a lot of nice teachers that really want to help me be better and have a fun time while doing so,” Elhelw said. “For example, I had Mr. Roumeles and he seemed like a really nice teacher that would give me a nice learning experience.”

Contaxis had a similar impression of the night overall.

“I liked seeing some new faces that could be possible future Lawmen,” Contaxis said.

By Nisali Fernando (Entertainment Editor) and Tyler Chavez (News Editor)

The Jonathan Law Class of 2021 recently learned what it means to be #lawmazing.

Members of the Jonathan Law community recently made its annual visit to speak to 8th graders at Harborside Middle School and West Shore Middle School.

On October 5th and 6th, nearly 20 Jonathan Law seniors visited the middle schools to answer any questions the eighth graders had and inform them about life at the high school.

“I thought the presentation provided my students with important information about all the great opportunities available at JLHS,” said former Law assistant principal and current West Shore principal Mr. Cavanna. “More importantly I thought the presentation demonstrated the family atmosphere that Law offers and the great relationship between our two schools.”

The Law students took a bus to each middle school where Law principal Mr. Thompson presented a slideshow which gave an overview of the school. The presentation gave eighth graders a glimpse into what Jonathan Law was like.

“It was my hope to generate some interest so that the eighth graders would tell their parents to come to our open house because I believe once they get to Law just being there really helps to clinch the deal about making their choice our school,” Thompson said.

Afterwards, the eighth graders and Law students were divided into groups. Here, current Law students gave their personal stories and history with Jonathan Law High School.

“We had a tough task actually, we had to sum up the entire high school experience in only about 1/2 an hour, which as I say it is pretty much impossible,” Law senior Matt Zancewicz said. “We did our best to explain the challenges that can come along with high school. The homework, grading policy and expectations are all new to them so it’s tough.”

The seniors used their own experience to give the middle school students a view into the life they could live at Jonathan Law. They wanted to highlight how getting involved around school could make their experience so memorable.

“I told them how at first I wasn’t really involved in too much,” senior Casey LaScola said. “But then I jumped into a bunch of clubs and joined golf and now, I’ve got little families all over the place.”

The eighth graders asked questions about topics related to Jonathan Law. The seniors and accompanying faculty members answered these questions attempting to give the middle school students a better understanding of Law.

“I was inspired by each of the Law representatives’ stories about their experiences at Law,’ Harborside eighth grader Adarsh Senthilnathan said. “I am glad they came to talk about amazing things at Law. I’m excited to be a Lawman!”

Jonathan Law students made sure to display their school spirit. They didn’t hesitate to make it known that they are Lawmen as they wore their “I’m A Lawman, What Are You?” T-shirts and smiled when talking about their high school.

“[The Law students] were well-spoken, friendly, and knowledgeable,” Cavanna said. “They looked great in their Law T-shirts.”

Everyone involved wanted to show why Jonathan Law was the best choice for middle school students.

“I wanted [the middle school students] to get a first-hand experience of the great academic and extracurricular experiences Law has to offer,” Cavanna said. “Simply put, I wanted them to see that Law is their best choice for high school.”

Middle school teachers were very impressed with how the high schoolers carried themselves. They felt the presentation was informative and helpful for middle schoolers.

“I believe the presentation and particularly the break out sessions where students get the opportunity to talk with [middle school] graduates help to put the students at ease with this big change in their life,” West Shore social studies teacher Mr. Montanaro said.

Jonathan Law seniors looked back at the visits from high schoolers from when they were in eighth grade. 

“Middle school visits were big when I was in eighth grade because I was choosing between Law and St. Joseph’s,” Zancewicz said. “After attending both open houses, the ability to converse with Law’s students truly put Law over the top.”

Middle school students took away valuable information from the sessions. The interaction with actual high school seniors made them more comfortable.

The Harborside and West Shore teachers were also able to reconnect with some of their former students. It was a reunion for the Lawmen with some of their favorite teachers.

“I look forward to the presentations every year but my absolute favorite part is catching up with my former students just to learn what is going on in their lives,” Montanaro said. “I am delighted to see that they have grown into wonderfully caring and responsible young adults who are willing to come back and put our students at ease.”

Reconnecting with old teachers during the presentations were an added bonus for the seniors.

“I loved seeing my old teachers,” LaScola said. “I’ve been busy with school and clubs and everything so I haven’t gotten a chance to go back and visit on my own in a while.”

Even Cavanna and Thompson got in on the reunion fun, sharing a friendly hug and conversation as the seniors and faculty members entered the West Shore cafeteria.

“Now that my friend Mr. Cavanna is at West Shore, it’s really fun to go down and see him,” Thompson said.

From visits to the middle schools, to the freshman seminar, Jonathan Law is working to help prospective Lawmen adjust to high school. These seniors have made it their mission to showcase the great things the school they love has to offer.

By Emma Caserta – Staff Reporter

The National Honor Society is a service-based organization at Jonathan Law created for volunteerism and to acknowledge academic achievement.

Students who are inducted into NHS it must have certain qualifications and go through the process of becoming inducted.

“It is based on GPA (and other factors),” senior NHS member Lexi Fisk said. “You get an application and you tell all of your volunteer information, clubs, and sports.”

The club consists of senior and junior students who meet the guidelines to be a part of NHS. Members take part in a special induction process to become a part of the club.

NHS commits its time to the school and other out of school activities in order to recognize the students that are a part of it.

“In their application, students need to prove they have scholarship, leadership, character, and service,” NHS advisor Ms. Turcotte said. “If they have all four of those qualities, they will be invited to join.”

This year’s NHS president is senior Jill Bendlak, the vice president is senior Nisali Fernando, the secretary is senior Maddie Laezzo, and the treasurer is senior Deepika Senthilnathan.

“The officers run everything,” Fisk said.

This year, NHS has more upcoming projects that are exciting for the school. Their first major project of the year was a 50/50 raffle in order to raise money for Foran graduate Danni Kemp, who is battling brain cancer.

“It is important to serve the Jonathan Law community, and our community in general, to give back,” senior NHS member Lauren Paredes said.

NHS members are very involved in school activities and contribute to the school in many ways.

“We want to acknowledge them for their hard work,” Turcotte said.

Overall, NHS  creates a club for students with outstanding achievements and leadership skills, allowing them to use those skills accordingly to help the Jonathan Law community.

“The club has motivated me to work hard and strive to be the best person I can be,” Bendlak said.

By Valeria Araujo – Editor-in-Chief

Jonathan Law’s Unified Sports team is looking forward to an exciting year.

Unified Sports is a program that pairs special education students with their regular education peers. The idea of Unified Sports is to give all students the opportunity to play sports in a fun, supportive, enthusiastic environment.

“I liked how when we practice everyone participates and it’s amazing to see,” freshmen Unified Sports peer Lily Downing said.

Unified Sports is starting the year off with many practices in preparation for their upcoming tournaments.

“The Unified Sports team loves the tournaments,” Unified Sports director Mrs. Daniels said. “They’re always so much fun for them. They can meet the other players from other teams and other schools and they always have a great time at the tournaments.”

The Unified Sports team hopes to win the prestigious Michaels Cup again for the second year in a row.

“When we won the Michaels Cup, which is an award for being an exemplar program in the state of Connecticut, we were very excited,” Daniels said. “I’ve been wanting to win this award ever since we went to our first Micheals Cup dinner 12 years ago.”

One of their newest tournaments is a Wiffle Ball tournament that started last school year.

“We’re really hoping to have more schools come and participate in a round robin Wiffle Ball tournament where a team is up at bat and a team is out in the field and then we rotate teams,” Daniels said. “It should be a lot of fun.”

Daniels said the team is looking forward to hosting its basketball tournament, which is in its seventh year, as well as participating in other sports.

“Soccer is fun and so are the tournaments,” Unified Sports senior athlete Luigi DeCastro said.

The Unified Sports team works with an air of camaraderie that helps the kids excel from year to year and show how they’re able to really play and understand the sport like anyone else.

“I love basketball and soccer is great,” Unified Sports junior athlete Atul Simeone Joseph said. “I get to play around with all my friends because all my friends are there and get to do some exercises that are fun.”

By Maeve Rourke (Sports Editor) and Nisali Fernando (Entertainment Editor)

Ryan Phillips graduated from Jonathan Law in 2006. He spent his spare time working on cars, playing sports, and spending time with family and his friends. Ryan’s father, Bill Phillips, speaks highly of his son, the pride in his voice is indistinguishable.

Recently, Mr. Phillips took from a beaten manila folder two things. One was a crisp copy of his sons high school diploma. His voice breaking he said, “I want you to work hard in life, and receive this (a diploma) and work hard not to end up with your name on one of these (a grave marker).”

Mr. Philips was one of panelists who spoke at the Opiate Awareness Presentation at Jonathan Law on Friday, September 23. The presentation coincided with Opiate Awareness Week.

There were also many important officials at the assembly which was organized by Law Health and Substance Abuse teacher Mr. Sweeney. Senator Chris Murphy, U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Spector, and DEA Special Agent Dana Mofenson were all in attendance.

“I wanted to be proactive about this. None of the teachers here think there is an opioid issue, so this was a preventative measure of what could happen,” Sweeney said. “And I feel this presentation echoed and reaffirmed what I try to teach in class. I am very pleased with the results.”

An informational movie, “Chasing the Dragon,” was shown first at the assembly. It consisted of real stories from people that got arrested and were involved with opiates.

“During the presentation I felt an overwhelming amount of students were engaged and they  seemed to be interested in the material that was presented, especially the guest speakers,” Sweeney said. “This week in class when I asked about the assembly most of the students felt it was a very good presentation.”

Over 46,000 people die from drug overdose year and the government is working tirelessly to decrease the number of drug abusers in the United States.

Senator Murphy took time to address high school students who had pressing questions about this growing issue. Murphy spoke about current legislation in Congress surrounding the opiate abuse.

“We need more funding for addiction treatment, but we haven’t won that battle yet,” Murphy said. “We passed a new law that establishes a lot of new programming for addiction, but there’s really no money behind it. The law is called the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) but we need to pass some more funding for it.”

Also, police departments from around the nation are teaming up to reduce the deaths due to drug overdoses.

“We try to identify the supplier, the distributor, and work up the chain and get the lethal drugs off the street,” U.S Attorney Deirdre Daly said. “Particularly the pentenoyl which is the most dangerous. But the reality is that there are always going to be people that are selling drugs and we cannot stop that.”

By speaking at high schools they’re attempting to solve the problem before it starts. Government officials and lawmakers are reaching out to students and telling them the real cost of opiate abuse.

“It is important to have these presentations in high schools because the average addict is getting younger and younger,” Murphy said. “Maybe it hasn’t happened here at Jonathan Law but at a lot of high schools’ drug of choice is no longer alcohol or marijuana, it’s prescription pain medication so we’ve got to do a better job of educating kids on how your life can be ruined virtually over night if you abuse these drugs.”

The speakers have provided many ways in which students can help fight against drug abuse in their own homes and communities.

“As students, you have to be responsible for not only yourself, but your friends and classmates as well,” DEA Agent Dana Mofenson said. “By educating yourself and each other, you’re taking important steps to protect yourselves.”

The video revealed that 80% of people that use prescription opioid are not the person that was prescribed the medication, and for many students the revelation was eye-opening.

“I thought the presentation was really amazing,” senior Jillian Bendlak said. “The video gave me a broad view of how bad prescription drugs can actually be, most people don’t understand or know how addicting they can be. This video portrayed this information in a personal, and even sad, way.”

After the presentation subsided, Mr. Phillips looked hopefully at the students surrounding him. Still clutching his wrinkled manila folder. Mr. Phillip’s story about his son shook everyone in the audience, many who were laughing and wincing during the video finally realized the severity of the issue.

“The boy (Ryan Phillips) went to law, he came from our school,” Bendlak said. “He went down the wrong path and unfortunately passed away, it shows how this can happen to any one of us.”

By Kristin Frank – Sports Editor

Jonathan Law started off the new school by hosting a fall sports pep rally filled with excitement and school spirit.

On Friday, September 12, students took over control over the annual fall pep rally. To help kick off the fall sport season, Law invited all students into the gym for an eventful 45 minutes.

“The pep rally got our fall sport teams energized and excited for their season,” Law athletic director Mr. Sarullo said. “The students of the school that aren’t involved in fall sports were still involved in the event and helped support the teams.”

There were a variety of contests that took place during the pep rally. The class officers of each grade had to eat an Oreo off their forehead without using their hands. They would shake their heads and sway back and forth until the cookie landed in their mouth.

Another contest that occurred the relay races. Fall athletes participated in the races that were teams of boys against girls. Each fall sports team was also introduced.

Those in attendance only positive comments to say about the outcome of the pep rally.

“The pep rally was amazing,” history teacher Ms. Burns said. “This was the best one I’ve seen in seven years.”

A meeting for the pep rally took place in order for the students to run an organized and smooth event. Many of the students and teachers agreed that the meeting helped out a lot and the pep rally was a success.

“I think it was great to get the students involved and hear what they wanted to include in the event,” history teacher Mr. Young said.

Law’s senior class president, Nisali Fernando, was amazed how eventful this pep rally was. Fernando was one of the participants in the Oreo challenge.

“My favorite part was definitely when the rest of the Student Council and I had to participate in the cookie challenge,” Fernando said. “I was so reluctant to be up there because I didn’t want to make a fool out of myself in front of the entire school but when I did finally complete the challenge, the crowd erupted and I remembered why I love Law so much.”

The Law band, choir, and cheerleading team also performed at the rally.

“I liked performing in front of everyone for the first time this year,” junior captain Stella Patrick said. “It was cool to show everyone what we have been working on.”

One new wrinkle for the team introductions this year was that all team members walked out to their favorite song in the beginning of the pep rally.

“We had never told the athletes do this in past pep rallies,” Sarullo said. “The students talked about it in the meeting they had and we thought it was important to recognize each team in front of the student body.”

Many student-athletes believe this pep rally was the best they had attended in their high school careers.

“I had a lot of fun because our school was united that afternoon,” senior Tori Contaxis said. “There was an ample amount of energy among the crowd and every class had their own type of school spirit.”

Law principal Mr. Thompson was ecstatic about the progress of the pep rally.

“I had goose bumps when the sport teams walked out,” Thompson said. “I have never been part of a student centered pep rally and it turned out to be great.”

Members of Law’s junior class decided to go all out for the pep rally by creating posters for their class and cheering throughout the afternoon.

“I liked how it was ran by super enthusiastic students this year,” junior Maggie Kelly said. “It really pumped up the juniors because of the good rivalry between grades and fighting to be the loudest class.”

By Mike Dattilo – Staff Reporter

Mr. Robinson’s Period 7 Robotics class looks like most high school Robotics classes. There are computers, software, and robots.

The class is missing one thing, though.

Boys.

The class has seven students – all of them female.

“I decided to take Robotics because it seemed like a good opportunity to learn and try something I didn’t do on a normal basis at school,” sophomore Robotics student Daisy Green said. “I love to work on and build things and I knew this would definitely be a hands on class.”

Since last year, there’s been an increase in female students taking technology class, creating more opportunities for all female technology classes in the future.   

“We’ve put a big push on it since last spring,” Robotics teacher Mr. Robinson said.  “There was an article in a national Career to Technology magazine that a lot of schools are pushing for all girls classes because basically females in the engineering field can write their own ticket.”

According to the National Science Foundation, females are very underrepresented in the engineering field.

“I wanted to learn more about engineering,” sophomore Robotics student Jenna Stash said. “I am thinking about majoring in technology or engineering when I go to college,  I don’t know exactly what for yet, but hopefully taking this class will help me figure that out.”

Robotics was chosen to be all female because it is part of the computer science pathway. Robotics is a semester-long class.

“I have thought about going into engineering,” sophomore Robotics student Alexandra Leparik said.

Robinson worked with Assistant Principal Mrs. Drew and Data Processor Mrs. Hofferman to create an all female class.

“For me it is very different from the other electives I have taken so far,” sophomore Robotics student Kaitlyn Navarro said.

Robinson also hopes moving forward there will be an increase in females taking technology classes.

“Currently there are three girls taking Wood Shop and three girls in Power Technology,” Robinson said.  

The girls already in the class are enjoying themselves. The response from students has shown how interested and positive they are about Robotics.

“For any female students who are thinking about signing up for robotics I 100 percent recommend taking it and trying it out,” said Green. “The class is really interesting and a great learning opportunity.”

Law’s Technology Student Association is also looking for more females to join the club.

“Female students thinking about signing up for robotics should definitely do it,” Navarro said. “Even though it may seem like a more guy oriented class, it’s not, if you decide to take robotics, once you get the hang of it, it will be a class you look forward to going to everyday.”

By Kiana Walker – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law Spanish teacher Mr. Toussaint has been an asset to the high school’s staff.

Although still relatively new to the school, Toussaint has adapted to the facility quickly.

He has only been apart of the Jonathan Law community for three years, but has made quite the impression on the staff and his students. Toussaint is very attentive when it comes to supporting Law’s sports teams, especially the girls soccer team.

“It’s been a fantastic experience working here, I enjoy working with all of the students,” Toussaint said.

He teaches Spanish 4 and Spanish 3  to Level 1 and Level 2 students.

“Mr. Toussaint is a wonderful addition to the Jonathan Law staff, he is a delightful teacher and cares for both students and adults, “ Law principal Mr. Thompson said.  

Toussaint also stays after school most days to help students with their work.

“I remember last year when I had him he would always say his door is open after school if I wasn’t getting something, so I took him up on that many times and I’m really glad I did,” former Spanish 4 student junior Amelia Trapp said.

Toussaint is also known for being an avid Law sports supporter. He has been spotted at many home games, and is a big fan of the Jonathan Law girls soccer team.

“I love how he supports our team by showing up to as many home games as possible,” junior soccer player Molly Mercaldo said.

Toussaint has also made many friends among the staff at Jonathan Law.

“It’s been a pleasure working with him, he is a very bright man,” Latin teacher Mr. DelVecchio said.

Toussaint was born and raised in Haiti and still sticks to his native customs.

“I am enamored with my county because I just can’t let go of my customs,” Toussaint said.

Many current and former students say that their learning experience with Toussaint has been a positive one.

“He has a bubbly personality, and has the ability to make each and every class enjoyable and enriching,” former Spanish 4 student and junior Morgan Fletcher said.

Many faculty members and students believe that Toussaint has been a great addition to the Jonathan Law community, and will continue to be a role model to his students.

By Nisali Fernando – Entertainment Editor

The Milford community banded together in the fight against cancer during the 14th annual Relay for Life event.

Hundreds of people gathered on the Jonathan Law track to celebrate survivors and their caregivers on September 17. Nearly 470 participants were able to raise over $57,000 for the American Cancer Society.

“My favorite part of the day was seeing all the survivors and caretakers being honored,” senior National Honor Society member Owen Paiva said. “It was really cool to see them be honored for the struggles they went through, and you could tell it meant a lot to them.”

The event ran from noon to midnight and all 39 participating teams worked tirelessly by selling concessions, by raffling prizes, and by offering exciting contests.

“My favorite part of the day was watching Samir in the wing eating competition,” senior NHS member Kyle Krois said.

The tents and booths surrounded the circumference of the track and kids of all ages could be found playing on and off the turf. The track itself was constantly occupied with either survivors proudly brandishing their white sashes or with teenage boys proudly wearing dresses and tutus.

Much of the Jonathan Law community was represented at Relay. From the Keyettes to the Friends Forever Club to the cross country and girls basketball teams, faculty and students alike contributed generously to this great cause.

“I helped organize the girls basketball setup and they (the team) made a bunch of baked goods and sold them at our stand,” girls basketball coach Mr. Young said.

The NHS sold henna tattoos like they’ve done during past events and the cross country team sold paintings and candy.

“At first we were all really nervous to be doing the (henna) tattoos because hardly any of us had done it before,” senior NHS president Jillian Bendlak said. “It turned out we had some great artists in the group, and everyone really liked the tattoos.”

For many, cancer unfortunately hits close to home and the Milford community stood together and offered support and guidance for people facing this ordeal.

“Relay is important to me because my close childhood friend battled cancer and won,” senior cross country captain Lauren Paredes said. “I also lost my grandfather and great-grandfather to cancer, so it’s great to be able to make a difference by raising money to find a cure.”

Relay for Life is meant to be a day to raise awareness about this detrimental disease, but the atmosphere was anything but somber. A feeling of hope enveloped the Jonathan Law track.

“It was a nice way to give back to the community,” Paiva said. “The whole event was for those who overcame cancer, are battling it, or have a family member succumb to it, and to give them a day to enjoy themselves is something special.”

By Cassandra Soda – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Key Club had a successful start to the new school year.

Key Club meets on Wednesdays at 7:05 p.m. in the senior cafeteria. The club has 123 members signed up and typically over 100 people attend the meetings.

“Key Club does community work and events like raising money for the Salvation Army, working at picnics, and open houses for elementary schools,” junior secretary Christina Mohammed said.

Many new students have joined Key Club as a way to get the 200 hours of community service required to graduate with distinction.

There have recently been changes to the club that will help in a positive way. Sign-ups will now take place on Google which will make it easier for people to sign up for events rather than on paper.

“The club switched to online sign up because it allows us to track people’s volunteer hours more easily than a paper trail,” senior vice president Jordan Negron said.

Key Club gives students a chance to meet new people and be a bigger part of the community.

“It gives me a chance to meet new people who have the same passion of volunteering,” junior bulletin editor Dominick Buccitti said.

For some people, Key Club does more than help students get their 200 hours of community service in school.

“Key Club helps me gain better communication skills,” junior member Salma Samih said.

The club has been a part of Jonathan Law since 1964. There have been different advisors, but the current one, Mr. Boynton, has been the advisor since 1993.

“I really like the idea that I get the kids involved and aware of things going on in the school and in the community,” Boynton said.

Many new students have joined the club this year. The officers think that the new members will do well this year.

“I think they will do very well. There are a lot of people in the club but the officers and I are going to do our best to make sure everyone is volunteering,” Mohammed said.

The officers have high expectations for what the club as a whole will accomplish this year. For example, they wish to increase the membership, increase participation in activities, have repeated business, and to be platinum level at the Key Club convention in April.

Key Club attends a convention in April in Springfield, Massachusetts. The club is a part of the New England and Bermuda district.

New members are welcome at meetings until the end of October and all members are required to pay dues which are $15.

By Tyler Chavez – News Editor

Jonathan Law students and faculty members gathered at Dulin Automotives for a special service project On Saturday, September 10.

The Jonathan Law family said “Thank you” to 9/11 first responders with a free car wash.

On a gorgeous afternoon, students and teachers delivered a free car wash to 9/11 first responders as a way to thank them for their heroism and sacrifice 15 years after the tragic day. 

“Events like this are so important because they connect our school to the larger community around us,” history teacher Mr. Evanko siad. “Schools have a unique position to connect young people to the rest of the world, and this is a great example of that practice.”

Students were happy to be a part of a team and show how connected the Law community can be.

“I felt really proud of my school and community during the car wash,” junior Emma Hudd said. “It felt awesome to come together as a community and show our respect to those who risk their lives.”

The car wash ran efficiently with a system of organization in place that made the process run smoothly.

“There were two lanes in order to accommodate more cars just in case,” junior Richard Ung said.

Students worked very diligently as a team. The cooperation showed teamwork and an understanding of how important this was, while also having fun.

“What impressed me the most was the fact that everybody chipped in,” history teacher Mr. Batson said. “Nobody needed to be told what to do.”

This act of kindness was very significant for the Jonathan Law community. In recent years, the school has made an effort to honor those first responders and thank them for what they did.

“I felt gracious during the car wash,” Evanko said. “Being able to give back to emergency personnel after everything they have done for our school is very important to me.”

Students felt a special connection to the cause and event. The good spirit showed the power of helping and thanking others.

“I went to the car wash because supporting first responders is very important to me because my father is a firefighter and EMT,” Hudd said. “When I have an opportunity to show my respect and support I will jump at it!”

People from the Milford community helped out as well through donations and paying to get their cars washed.

“We also washed the car of random people and they paid $5 which all the profits of that day were donated to a 9/11 charity foundation,” Ung said.

All those involved said that the First Responders Car Wash shows how dedicated Jonathan Law students are to improving their community and thanking those who make sacrifices. 

By Dominick Buccitti – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Keyettes have many new ideas and goals for the school year.

The Keyettes are one of many community service clubs offered at Law. Keyettes are open to all freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior girls.

This year, the Keyettes have a new advisor, math teacher Ms. Wilcock. She will be taking over for science teacher Ms. Jaekle.

“I’m excited to be the new advisor of Keyettes because I was a Keyette when I went to Law,” Wilcock said. “I have high hopes for the club, especially for kick-starting the Mr. JLHS pageant in the spring.”

The Keyettes also have a new panel of officers for the 2016-2017 year. Madison Laezzo and Deepika Senthilnathan are co-presidents, Brianna Lenotti and Mikaela Bravo are co-vice presidents, Allyson Voytek and Priya Gupta are co-secretaries, and Ciara Boyd is treasurer.

“This is my fourth year being part of Keyettes and now I’m a co-president,” Laezzo said. “I like organizing volunteer opportunities and making new friends.”  

On Saturday, September 10, the Keyettes were one of the many Law organizations to volunteer at Relay for Life.

“We had a great time while benefiting the community,” Senthilnathan said.

The Keyettes made a total of $105.

“We sold washable tattoos, face paint, and drinks,” Lenotti said. “Relay is a great cause, and it was something we were all very proud to be a part of.”

Volunteer events coming up for the Keyettes are the Parent Teacher Conferences, which are taking place on October 5-6 and their annual Blood Drive, which is taking place on October 26.

“The blood goes to people who need it, so it’s good to help your community,” Boyd said.

Keyettes offers their members an opportunity to get students their community service hours that can help achieve Graduation with Distinction.

“It’s been great doing it for three years and it’s been a great way to get involved in the community,” Voytek said.

Keyettes also helps members achieve friendships which can improve upon their leadership skills.

“It’s a good way to meet people from the school that you wouldn’t have known if you had not joined the club,” Bravo said.

The Keyettes have many fundraising ideas in mind, which they hope can be completed throughout the year.

Keyettes are always looking for new members. Their meetings take place on Mondays after school in Room 101.

“Keyettes Club is a good opportunity to work towards your graduation with distinction hours and it’s a great opportunity to make long-lasting friendships,” Lenotti said.

By Chloe McCullough – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Model U.N. Club has many new members and is ready to start the year off strong.

With about 44 new members, the advisors of Model U.N., Mr. Evanko and Ms. Burns, are excited to achieve their goals for the club this year. Bringing down the cost of the annual New York trip is the main goal for this year.

“Our goal is to fundraise enough to bring the cost down considerable from previous years,” Evanko said. “It usually winds up being about $500, but we’re hoping to bring that to maybe $300 or $400.”

The club is hosting several Shake the Can events at Stop & Shop, selling concessions at football games, and holding other various fundraisers in order to fundraise enough to bring the cost down. The club will also be hosting Retail 101 on October 21-23.

The club plans on repeating many aspects from last year, and previous years. They will be researching their countries, practicing with parliamentary procedure, which is a form of debating, and a lot more prep for the conference.

“I feel like I am ready to be a part of the conference in New York, after being a part of the Yale conference,” senior member Mike Jalaf said.

Jalaf will be going on the New York trip this year and he will be participating in the conference.

The club meets every Friday, to research their countries and discuss fundraising techniques for the upcoming year.

“We started the club four years ago, and it has continued to grow, and I feel that this year will be the best year, with new energetic students and great people coming from the club,” club president Ms. Burns said.

The club will be continuing to research countries, and all of the students will be writing their position papers on their countries. There is also a lot of new fundraising events that they will be hosting.

The club hopes to sell candy grams at Halloween this year, and they also plan on having a movie night at the football field.

“I am most excited for the conference this year because the club, as a whole, is a lot more serious than last year and we have the goal of winning an award at the end of the conference,” co-president Sam Rossi said.

The club hopes to win an award at the Yale and New York conferences this year. The club is continuing to expand, with many new members who are interested in what the club is all about. The new members and officers are eager to compete and debate real world issues.

“The officers are really organized this year and are ready to help the new members of the club prepare for the conference. Members are focused on the topics that we’re covering and are really excited to participate in the conference. We’re all really looking forward to this year,” secretary Gina DiFederico said.

The officers are very excited for this year’s turnout.

 

By Arianna Goenaga – Staff Reporter

The Friends Forever Club is an after school club that meets on the third Tuesday of every month to hangout with the special needs students at Law.

Friends Forever is not a new program. Formerly known as “Best Buddies”, a national organization, it was changed to the name “Friends Forever” as of four years ago.

Members of the Friends Forever Club get to play games, do arts and crafts, and even go on a special trip each year. In the past they have gone to the Shelton Sports Center and to the movies.

“My favorite Friends Forever memory would be having fun while going on trips to the movies and arcade,” club member Luigi DeCastro said.

The club also has themed meetings and bases activities off of these themes. The first meeting will be held October 18.

“We have our October Halloween themed meeting coming up with some fun things planned,” senior club member Leea Palmer said. “We also are planning to go bowling in the winter.”

The October meeting will include many different Halloween games and arts and crafts. It will even have some Halloween themed snacks.

“My favorite thing to do during Friends Forever is everything,” club member Hunter Cain said. “The food and ice cream is always great too.”

Besides the fun games and food, the club allows for new relationships and connections to be made between the special needs students and other members of the club.

“My favorite part of Friends Forever is the fact that it is a total ‘no judge zone’, unfortunately in high school, Special Ed and other students alike are subject to judgement constantly,” senior club member Sydney King said. “Having a place where we can hang out, have fun, and be ourselves is why I love Friends Forever so much.”

The club meetings will be held from 2-3 p.m. after school and anyone can join.

“Seeing my students make meaningful connections with new friends is my favorite part about friends forever,” club director Mr. Winebrenner said. “To get out and make a friend in this club can really make a difference in someone’s life.”

To join, students can see Mr. Winebrenner in Room 111A, ,or contact King or Palmer.

Students could also become a member by going to the first meeting on October 18 after school in the senior cafe.

Jonathan Law has opened its doors to several new staff members in a variety of subjects this year.

Here are some short bios of the new staff:

By Owen Paiva – Entertainment Editor

Ms. Corriveau is Law’s new Computer Science teacher.

Before teaching at Law, Corriveau taught for four years at Ridgefield High School, and before that worked at Sikorsky Aircraft for seven years.

However, she is no stranger to Jonathan Law.

“I am a Law grad, and it feels familiar and new at the same time,” Corriveau said.

Corriveau is teaching four classes this year: AP Computer Science Principles, 3D Modeling and Animation, Computers, Electronics, and Programming, and Intro to Computer Science.

She wants to help her AP Computer Science Principles students be prepared for the exam.

“I want to make sure my AP kids do really well on the exam,” Corriveau said. “This is the first year the class is being offered and I want to start off with a bang.”

Corriveau wants to increase the number of students taking Intro to Computer Science, which is offered second semester.

By Nisali Fernando – Entertainment Editor

Mr. Giangregorio, better known as Mr. G., is the new English teacher at Jonathan Law.

He is teaching three sections of freshman English and is co-teaching English 2 with Mr. Kulenych.

Giangregorio, a Shelton native, taught at a school in Colchester, Vermont, prior to his work at Law. This past summer, he spent six weeks in Italy, teaching English to locals ages 16 to 60.

He has high hopes for his students both academically and socially.

“My goal is for them to be able to express themselves in writing and in speaking so they can succeed throughout high school and especially after high school,” Giangregorio said. “I want them to do their best to engage in the text that we work with and to really be open and curious to these new ideas.”

Immediately, he felt at home within the Law community, and was welcomed with open arms.

“From the day that I first met all the teachers and my colleagues, everyone has been incredibly friendly and helpful,” Giangregorio said. “That just made my transition so much easier because it has been really nice getting to know really good people.”

Giangregorio spends most of his free time in his favorite state, Vermont. He is an avid soccer fan and in his free time he likes to snowboard, read, watch movies, and spend time with family and friends.

He is determined to teach his students the importance of listening to the stories of others and being able to create a story of their own.

“Think about where you fit in and who you are, just like what you like and enjoy what you enjoy,” Giangregorio said.

By Maeve Rourke – Sports Editor

This year, Law welcomes new music teacher, Ms. Jones.

Jones has spent her last five years teaching music at Harborside Middle School. She has also taught in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. This year she is teaching three selections of chorus, Music Technology, Vocal Performance Techniques, Piano 2, and Peer Assisted Music.

She is very excited to see all her students be successful this year, and is avid on helping them find happiness in everything they do.

“I hope that my students find passion in all that they do and find value in their role in the classroom,” Jones said.

In her free time, Jones likes to do anything that keeps her active and laughing, such as water skiing.

Jones is also very happy to be at Law.

“I love the camaraderie that the teachers and students alike have with each other to create an atmosphere that makes you want to be more involved,” Jones said.

By Kristin Frank – Sports Editor

A Jonathan Law alum finds himself walking down the same halls as he did when he was a student, but now he’s walking down them as a history teacher.

Mr. Cinar is a proud new member of Law’s staff. He truly feels welcomed as a new teacher and is becoming more comfortable as the weeks go by.

“I graduated in 2007,” Cinar said. “During my time as a student I was able to create some great relationships with my teachers, which I am very fond of to this day.”

This is Cinar’s very first year teaching. He is a recent graduate that attended the University of Connecticut and received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.

Prior to teaching at Law, Cinar had completed a student-teaching job at West Haven High School.

“I believe that my time as a student at Law had a significant part in molding me to become the person I am today,” Cinar said. “I chose to work at Law because I want to give back to the school that helped me so much as an adolescent.”

Cinar is very passionate about his job and strives to make an everlasting influence on his students.

“I want to use my prior experiences to help my students and hopefully make a positive impact in their lives,” Cinar said.

Being a new teacher, Cinar cannot help but shows his excitement in the classroom.

“I am most excited about the opportunity to see myself and my students grow,” Cinar said. “ As I’ve said before, this is my first year teaching, with my own students.”

Cinar is also thrilled about making real world connections with his students and help prepare them for today’s world.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to teach my students about our country’s past and help them make connections to what is happening today,” Cinar said.

Like many other teachers at Law, Cinar teaches both here and at Foran High School.

“At Foran, I teach two classes of Modern World History to freshmen and one class of Global Geography and Cultures to mixed upperclassmen,” Cinar said.

As for Law, Cinar teaches two classes of Survey of the 20th Century U.S. to sophomores.

Since school started, Cinar set goals for for both his students as well as himself.

“My goals for my students rise out of their needs,” Cinar said. “ I like to spend time on pre-assessments, where I gauge my students understandings of a certain content and their skills in the classroom.”

Cinar has already picked up on what his students need to improve on in class.

“What I noticed from my classes is that I need to put emphasis on improving their literacy skills, reading and writing at an appropriate level,” Cinar said.

Cinar also has a goal to improve their communication skills. He believes it’s important for students to speak well and clearly.

He plans on doing this by signing assignments where he will ask them to present and work in groups.

“History has always been my favorite subject,” Cinar said. “I like the whole idea of being able to analyze, interpret, and make your own conclusions.”

Cinar also went on to explain that studying historical tends to lead a person to look at a historical event or study a historical person through multiple perspectives. In addition, studying history makes a person more aware of their surroundings and the world they live in.

“It is because of these traits, I wanted to teach and like teaching history,” Cinar said.

Cinar has some personal goals for himself as well.

“My goal for myself, especially as a first year teacher is to, simply put….survive,” Cinar said. “What I mean by that is, I don’t want my inexperience to smother or overwhelm me.”

Cinar also wants to become a better and more efficient planner, be more organized, be more attentive to my students’ needs, be more involved with after clubs and sports, become a helpful coworker/ colleague, and have a role being a mentor of some sort in his students’ lives.

Cinar mentions that his experience teaching at Law has been a positive one.

“My experience so far at Law has been great,” Cinar said. “I’ve seen some of my teachers when I was a student, it felt great to see them go out of their way to welcome me and say hello.”

Cinar said that his favorite subject to teach is the Cold War.

“I really like the idea of how there were two mega powers basically playing a game of risk with the entire world,” Cinar said. “I believe teaching about the Cold War just naturally leads to great and different amounts of assessments, activities, etc.”

Overall, Cinar’s experience so far at Law has been enjoyable.

“I have felt welcomed by the students and faculty at Law,” Cinar said. “The faculty for the social studies department has been extremely helpful.”

The teachers here offer Cinar help whenever he may need it.

“I truly do appreciate the fact that whenever I have a question or concern, I can easily walk into any of their rooms and get what i need from them,” Cinar said.

Cinar is very pleased with his students he has for his first year of teaching.

“My students have been great to work with,” Cinar said. “They have shown interest in the topics we have discussed so far.”

 

By Nisali Fernando – Entertainment Editor

In their final year together, tradition and legacy are bonding the senior girls together.

Jonathan Law’s senior girls painted the rock that sits in front of the building on August 28. Nearly 100 girls, armed with bright pink spray paint branded “Senior Girls ‘17” across the boulder.

“I feel like everyone, especially the girls, really look forward to the rock and the shirts to make their mark and just be proud to be a senior,” senior Jessie Katrick said.

On the first day of school, pastel pink flooded the hallways. Matching T-shirts, like the rock painting, are a longstanding tradition of Jonathan Law.

Senior Kristin Frank undertook the responsibility of organizing the shirts, and emphasized the importance of these aforementioned traditions.

“Our class is so close and painting the rock and coming up with senior shirts lifts our school spirit up in so many ways,” Frank said. “It’s important to be good role models and show the underclassmen what fun stuff they have to look forward to.”

The rock painting and matching T-shirts can be written off as silly antics, but the camaraderie of this class in general is overwhelming.

“I love how supportive the senior class is of one another and I hope to see more of that support at sporting events like volleyball games and football games,” senior Tori Contaxis said.

After three years of bonding, the senior class could be considered a dysfunctional family of sorts.

“We all have such a great sense of humor,” Frank said. “Not a day goes by where I’m not cracking up in the middle of class, and that can be proven by everyone hearing my obnoxious laugh from the halls.”

Senior class advisor Mrs. Kovacs said that she has high expectation for the seniors.

“I want a class that is cohesive and that works well together,” Kovacs said. “I also like great new innovative ideas. (They are) a class that can run themselves.”

Aside from the rock painting and matching T-shirts, there are an overwhelming amount of exciting events right around the corner for the senior class.

“I’m excited to plan all of the amazing events we’ll offer later in the year- cotillion, class night, fire and ice, graduation,” Senior Vice President Casey LaScola said. “We’ll have some butt kickin’ fundraisers to make senior year as affordable as possible.”

The last year of high school reminds many seniors of how old they really are and how fast the future flies by.

“I’m really looking forward to making the most of my last year in highschool and making memories with my friends that I’ll remember forever,” Katrick said. “I’m also really looking forward to class night to look back at these past four years.”

The senior girls rock has now been painted over, but the memories and friendships forged that night and during these past three years still stand strong.

“Senior girl T-shirts and painting the rock may seem simple but they really do mean a lot to me and many others,” Contaxis said. “They symbolize our transition into our final year of high school and how we have matured from freshman to senior year.”

 

By Valeria Araujo – Editor-in-Chief

Jonathan Law students will get to experience history in the making on a trip of a lifetime.

The history department has decided to a host a field trip to the inauguration of the 45th United States President. All juniors and seniors are invited to Washington, DC, from January 18-22 to explore the nation’s capital.

“Mr. Zuraw and I have been talking since September of last year about how cool it would be if we could take the kids to the inauguration because it’s never been done,” history teacher Ms. Burns said. “It’s so important especially this year. It’s going to be historic because we’re either going to have Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton and you’re going to be there and watch them get sworn in.”

The cut-off date for signing up has been pushed back to October 1 to allow students’ more time to decide if they want to attend. Only 90 students will be allowed to attend so students interested should try their best to sign up as soon as possible.

“I’m an AP Government teacher so I always think it’s important to know and learn about any election because it affects them [the students] in so many ways,” history teacher Mr. Zuraw said. “I don’t know anybody who’s been to the inauguration so just to experience is neat because it brings to life what we’ve been learning in class.”

To reserve their spot on the trip students must go to http://www.elxporica.com/Burns-1365 and sign all of the necessary paperwork and pay the $50 sign-up fee. There are also payment plans available for the trip which costs approximately $700.

“I’ve never been [to the inauguration] and Washington, DC, is one of my favorite places to go,” Zuraw said. “I also like doing things with students outside of the classroom because that’s always quite fun. Whether it’s a field trip or a sporting event, it’s always pretty cool.”

Students who decide to attend this trip will get to enjoy more than just the inauguration and spending time with classmates. There are many other opportunities including traveling to the Washington Monument, visiting memorials, and even a ghost tour of the city.

“It’s five days in Washington, DC,” Burns said. “The big thing is that we’re going to the inauguration but aside from that we are going to see the monuments, tour the Holocaust Museum and others, go to Mount Vernon (which is George Washington’s home), to the Arlington National Cemetery, we’re doing a guided tour of the Capital and the Supreme Court, and also going to the National Archives to see the Constitution and other important papers.”

Although the presidential election only happens every four years, Burns and Zuraw plan to make this a recurring trip so that all students are able to experience this event.

They also have plans in store for students who will be out of school by the time the next election comes around.

“Because unfortunately since we only take upperclassmen, some students are always going to miss out,” Burns said. “So we’re trying to figure out something we can do every two years – maybe not to Washington, but to find an alternate place so that at least everybody would be invited at some point to go on a trip like this one.”

By Tyler Chavez – News Editor

Jonathan Law’s freshman class recently took part in a seminar aimed to help them adjust to high school life.

The seminar also covered topics such as athletics, academics, extracurricular activities, and school spirit.

“I think this seminar encouraged the freshman to approach challenges in and outside the classroom with a positive mindset,” history teacher Mr. Young said.

The seminar covered multiple topics such as school activities, adjusting to life at Law, and meeting new people. Juniors and seniors talked to freshmen about athletics, academics, clubs, and school spirit in groups.

“I liked how we got to introduce ourselves to other people,” freshman Jillian Hall said.

The freshman seminar has evolved from the freshman academy to be only a day long including a cookout at the end compared to the previous multi-day model.

“The freshman seminar/academy has shifted from a set of academic preparation and goal-setting objectives to objectives that focus on helping students become a part of the JLaw community,” science teacher Mrs. Mercaldi said. “This was done by encouraging a shared mindset, participation in extracurricular activities, and being an inclusive population of people rather than exclusive.”

Freshmen have found the adjustment to high school life fairly simple. Support from other members of the school has made the change smoother.

“The first week of school was confusing but it was really fun and the students and staff really helped me out,” freshman Riley Pastor said.

Freshmen have noted how the positive, helpful attitude of other students and faculty have made them more comfortable and not as scared.

“Everyone is actually really nice,” freshman Edrianah Martinez said. “I only got lost a couple times but whenever I asked for help they actually pointed me to the right place.”

The freshmen took away valuable information regarding being involved in multiple activities and balancing clubs and sports.

“I was eerie about joining clubs because of sports,” Martinez said. “But they said that you could join clubs and go to sports a little later by talking to your coach.”

Faculty members hope that the experience of the freshman seminar has helped prepared them for Jonathan Law and has made them more aware of what they can accomplish.

“I hope they are aware of the number of opportunities they have to be involved in with the school and the community,” Young said.

After the seminar, the freshmen were treated to a cookout lunch near the football field with burgers, hot dogs, and snacks.

“My favorite part was the enthusiasm that was brought to each block of the seminar,” Young said. “It was a great representation of what it’s like to be in the Law community.”

The Jonathan Law community has opened its arms to the freshmen class. The praise of the seminar by freshmen show that they learned valuable lessons and feel welcome at Jonathan Law.

By Maeve Rourke – Sports Editor

Jonathan Law’s Science Club is excited for a big year of competition.

The Science Club meets every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Room 212B. The club is run by science teachers Ms. Turcotte and Mr. Stanton.

“Our goal is always to try to improve, especially returning members who have competed before,” club advisor Ms. Turcotte said. “We also strive to generate interest in new members so they can run the club in the future.”

The Science Club gives students the opportunity to work with other passionate about science and compete with other scholars  from the around the United States.

“People should join science club because it introduces them to many different fields of science, some that are not taught about in school,” junior club president Meghana Jaladanki said. “The club is also a great way to meet new people and forge friendships.”

Every year, the Science Club participates in several competitions in the Science Olympiad for Division C. This will be the club’s 5th year competing.

This year, every member gets the opportunity to attend the Yale and UConn science olympiads.

“A goal for our team is to do even better than we did last year, at both Yale and UConn,” junior club treasurer Colleen Hugo said. “Each year our club seems to place higher and higher, so we want to keep that going.”

Last year the club placed 11th out of 43 teams at the UConn Science Olympiad, which is the best that they have ever placed. The team also won medals in the events: Game On (3rd place), Experimental Design (3rd place), and Write it Do it (2nd place).

Everyone  in Science Club is excited for this year’s competitions, and is heart set on making improvement.

“We can improve this year by making sure that we are more organized, because we have a lot more students joining this year than the past few years,” Jaladanki said. “Everyone, including me, can improve by spending more time on working on their events, because it will help us place higher at Yale and UConn.”

In the Olympiads, members get to build different mechanisms, study a range of scientific studies, and conduct interesting labs with friends.

The members of the science club are assigned to different events to compete in. Each year there is a new rotation of events.

“My favorite event is experimental design, in which you’re given a bunch of seemingly random supplies and you have to create and perform an experiment pertinent to a specific topic,” senior club vice president Trisha Brady said. “It’s fun because it encourages creativity and you have to work insanely fast.”

This year’s Olympiad include events such as Disease Detectives, Ecology, Invasive Species, Forensics, Helicopters, and many more.

“I hope to compete in Anatomy and Physiology this year,” new member Nisali Fernando said. “I would like to go into medicine and this event encompasses that field.”

By Owen Paiva – Entertainment Editor

Officer Goldfuss is ready to protect and serve the students and faculty at Law as the new School Resource Officer.

Goldfuss has experience as a School Resource Officer, spending some time as West Shore’s SRO. He has been an officer for three years in the Milford Police Department.

Goldfuss is happy to be Law’s new School Resource Officer, and wants to make that clear.

“I am always available,” Goldfuss said. “I am here to help and I want to be here.”

Goldfuss is in his element as School Resource Officer, as being a police officer was the career he always wanted.

“I always wanted to be a police officer since I was a kid,” Goldfuss said. “It puts me in the best position to help people, especially families.”

Goldfuss primarily did patrols during his time working with the police force before becoming the School Resource Officer.

He enjoyed his routine patrols, and in addition enjoyed taking calls. Certain calls involving families were the ones he enjoyed the most.

“The calls I like to do the most are families and kids who might be struggling, and help put them on the right path.”

He likes the Law community, and is happy to have Law as his home school.

“I like Law so far,” Goldfuss said. “It’s a good community that is tight knit and the students seem prideful in their school.”

The Law community is equally happy that Officer Goldfuss is the new School Resource Officer. From the students, to the faculty, all the way up to the principal and administrators, the feeling is the same.

”We are very excited and fortunate to have Officer Goldfuss join the Jonathan Law community,” Principal Mr. Thompson said. “He is a knowledgeable dedicated public servant who will bring new ideas and energy to our team.”

Thompson feels that Goldfuss will continue the standard brought to Law by Officer Kiely, the previous School Resource Officer.

“He is replacing a very special person, Officer James Kiely, but I know he will bring the same level of commitment to our school, “ Thompson said.

Goldfuss and Thompson work in tandem to make sure that things are running smoothly at Law.

“We operate as a team and Officer Goldfuss has already jumped in and made an impact,” Thompson said. “His connections to students and staff has been impressive and he is willing to help everyone, and we are lucky to have him!”

Senior Zach Anderson is also enthusiastic about Officer Goldfuss’ arrival at Law.

“I think SROs are necessary in high schools,” Anderson said. “I think we can all feel a little safer knowing we have a law enforcement officer in the building.”

The way students at Law feel about Goldfuss is also noticeable.

“While I do not know Officer Goldfuss on a personal level, he is a good guy who cares about his job and our school,” Anderson said. “Kids around Law really seem to like his friendly attitude and approachability.”

By Valeria Araujo – News Editor

There’s no second guessing as to who Jonathan Law’s valedictorian is this year.

Amita Sastry has earned the title of valedictorian for the graduating Class of 2016. She has worked extremely hard to achieve this honor and is excited for the future ahead of her.

“I’m really proud of myself for achieving this goal because it was a goal I had since freshman year,” Sastry said. “My sister was the salutatorian and since then I wanted to follow in her footsteps but maybe go a little bit further and become valedictorian. It’s really nice to know that all of my hard work paid off and that if you worked towards a goal you can really achieve it.”

Sastry will be attending Brown University. She was accepted into the school’s medical education program which guarantees admission to their medical school, Warner Albertus, after she finishes her four years of undergraduate school. In college, she will be studying neurology and neuroscience and her hope is that after eight years she is going to become a neurologist at a hospital.

“She is truly a remarkable person because she always gives it her all,” Law principal Fran Thompson said. “I’m very proud of her and she truly deserves to be valedictorian.”

Sastry said that she took many steps throughout her high school career that brought her where she is today.

“The first step was taking courses that really challenged me,” Sastry said. “It wasn’t just taking classes that would be easy and that I would get the grade. It was more about challenging myself in courses I knew would be hard and that I would put forth my best effort and actually learn the material. Also, by having great teachers who supported me and being able to go to them whenever I needed help assisted me in getting good grades which brought me here.”

Sastry believes that education is an important part of becoming the best version of yourself.

“I think it really important (to work hard in school) not only to get into a good college but for yourself as well to challenge yourself and to push yourself to your greatest abilities,” Sastry said. “Don’t sell yourself short. You never know what you can achieve by working hard. This way you can keep moving forward in not only school but in life as well.”

Sastry lettered in three sports (cross country, indoor track, and tennis) and was an active member of the National Honor Society, Science Club, and STEM Club.

Science teacher Ms. Turcotte recalled some of her fondest memories with Sastry.

“I don’t know how I could pick one memory because it was a couple of years of getting to know her and she’s just such an amazing girl,” Turcotte said. “But I’d probably say that all of us (in the Science Club) driving up to MIT for a competition through a crazy snowstorm was one of my favorite memories because we ended up doing so well in the competition.”

Last year, Sastry tarted working in a lab on the Yale University campus and also worked as a math tutor at Mathnasium. She also volunteers at Milford Hospital and previously has volunteered at the Milford Library and the YMCA.

Sastry admits that at times it was tough for her to budget her time but also explained how she overcame this roadblock.

“I noticed in the beginning I was trying to do everything and put my time into everything,” Sastry said. “It was getting to be a lot so I cut down on the amount I was doing and narrowed it down to a few activities and focused on doing them really well.”

The Law community has proven to be a place of many fond memories for Sastry and for those closest to her. 

“It was Christmas time our freshman year and we were all opening presents together,” senior Saniya Mumtaz said. “I realized what a great person she was, how fun she is to be around, and that she’s the type of person I want to be friends with forever.”

Sastry said that she is going to miss high school, but said she leaves with so many fond memories.

“All of my classes have been memorable because all of my teachers were so nice and funny and kept everything light and humorous,” Sastry said. “Also, having a lot of my friends in all of my classes has been really nice and I really felt like it was home, like a family.”

By Ian Hugo – Sports Editor  

Senior Emma Shea has been named salutatorian of the Jonathan Law Class of 2016.

Shea, an active member of the Law community, was officially given the title of Jonathan Law Class of 2016 salutatorian at the senior scholarship awards ceremony last Wednesday.

“I’ve never met another student with the work ethic that Emma has,” English teacher girls tennis coach Mr. Kulenych said. “She expects to be the best at everything she does and that drive and determination has helped her get where she is today.”

Shea, who accumulated an impressive 4.6147 GPA over her four years at Law, achieved this feat while simultaneously balancing a smorgasbord of other time consuming activities on her plate, so to speak.

“It has been tough to manage everything because I do so many sports (Soccer, Indoor Track, Tennis) and activities (National Honor Society, Science Club, Model United Nations, Keyettes) throughout the year,” Shea said. “With long practices and games/meets/matches, I come home exhausted.”

Although Shea has found time to fit everything into her packed schedule, she admits she does tend to procrastinate now and again. However, she always gets whatever she’s working on done, no matter the cost.

“Honestly, I can be a major procrastinator, but because I care a lot about turning in a well-done assignment, I always seem to get my work done, though this might involve pulling an occasional all-nighter,” Shea said. “I manage to complete my work because although I procrastinate, I prioritize my work: I’ll work on homework first, but if I have a little extra time, I might begin an assignment due at a later date. When it comes to studying for important tests, I try to first get all my study materials and notes organized, and then I just buckle down to study, often for hours at a time.”

Shea says that her hard work in the classroom can be pinned down to simply being a habit for her.

“I have always seemed to work hard and do my best in school, and now, that’s me,” Shea said.

Shea says that her parents and sisters have always been there for her these past four years, whether to motivate her, help her focus, praise her, give her advice, or simply to let her vent when she needs to. Shea says that her parents have always encouraged her to be who she is and do what she likes for the right reasons.

“Sometimes, if we happen to be discussing grades, my dad has told me that he wouldn’t mind if I got a C or if I got an A,” Shea said. “Although of course he wants me to do my best, he and my mom think that it is important that I am motivated intrinsically; my motivation shouldn’t be to please them or to please others. It needs to come from within.”

Shea, who has taken 11 AP classes the past four years ranging from AP Chemistry to AP Psychology, has some advice for underclassmen looking to emulate her achievements.

“Take as many challenging classes as you can handle (mentally, emotionally, physically),” Shea said. “However, I believe the goal is to challenge yourself, to be successful, and to reach your potential as a student. The difficulty of courses will vary for each person and it can be definitely tricky to manage your time.”

Shea will be majoring in biology with a concentration in either neuroscience or genetics next year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and hopes to do research in one of their many labs, or possibly conduct some research of her own.

As for her post-grad plans, Shea already has an idea for what she sees herself doing.

“I see myself attending medical school after college, possibly to become a neurologist or some kind of surgeon, but I haven’t completely decided yet,” Shea said.

Shea has received many awards and honors over her four years of high school. They include: High Honors (9, 10, 11, 12), AP Scholar with Distinction (11), Harvard Book Award (11), Letter of Commendation National Merit Scholarship (11), President’s Education Awards Program (12), NHS Award (12), Advanced Placement Biology Academic Achievement (12), Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Academic Achievement (12), Latin Academic Achievement (9, 10, 11), Spanish Academic Achievement (10, 11), Geometry Academic Achievement (10), English Academic Achievement (9), History Academic Achievement (9), All Academic Team (Soccer, Indoor Track, Tennis all four years), and SCC Scholar-Athlete of the Spring this year.

Shea had one final word of wisdom for underclassmen looking to do well throughout the rest of their high school careers:

“I would encourage students to make school a priority, to challenge themselves, and to try your best in all that they do,” Shea said.

By Layla Corona and Amanda Downs – Staff Reporters

Milford hosted its annual art show at the Parsons Complex on May 16.

The art on display consisted of photography, pottery, paintings, graphics, sculptures, and drawings from students who attend Milford public high schools.

“We look forward to putting up the exhibit each year as a means of showcasing the hard work and talent of so many of our art students,” Law art teacher Ms. Main said.

A lot of work was put forth in putting the art show together.

Although Opening Night was on May 16, all of the art work is on display until the end of May.

Superintendent Feser goes to the art show each year and selects a work of art from a senior of each of the Milford schools, and buys a piece of their work from the show to frame or mount in her office.

“I am so proud of all of my photography students,” Law photography teacher Mrs. Romanowski said. “Their work is a tremendous accomplishment which is illustrated through the variety of images they captured.”

Even though the art show has been going on for at least 20 years now, photography has not always been a part of the show.

“With addition of photography the show has been enlightened with color and black and white photos, along with graphics,” Main said.

The art show featured artwork from many students which whom attend Jonathan Law or Foran.

Many students were very pleased to have received recognition for all of their hard work.

“I liked the way the art show was set up and how everyone’s artwork and photos were equally displayed,” Law senior Kayla Carollo said. “I loved having my own photos hanging in the hall with the other students’ art work because it made me feel like the hard work I put into my class did not go unnoticed.”

Many students that have a passion for art have been in the art show for multiple years throughout their high school career.

Some students even have more than one of their art pieces displayed in the show, such as Thomas Kinross, a Law senior who had many of his photos on display.

“I have been a part of the art show for four years now and it has been an amazing thing to be a part of,” Law senior Gabby Gluhanich said. “This year I had the privilege of helping to set up for the art show and it was a cool process to be a part of.”

Gluhanich said that she felt “honored” to have her work on display.

“Getting to see the creativity of the students from Law and Foran is something I think is very special,” Gluhanich said. “I think it is a great honor to have my artwork featured in the art show. It is nice to work hard to create pieces all year round and be able to showcase that hard work for other people to see and hopefully admire.”

Law sophomore Emma Caserta agreed.

“It is my second year in the art show and it is a great experience to be a part of,” Caserta said.

By Isabela Roldan – Staff Reporter

With the end of this school year quickly approaching, class elections for the upcoming year have finally been set.

The Class President, Vice President, Senator, Treasurer, and Secretary for each grade were selected by peers during Advisory.

In order to run for class office, students were required to fill out a form consisting of their student information, which class office they wished to run for, followed by a list of peer signatures who approved of, and supported the candidate.

The approved candidates began campaigning around school by flooding the halls with creative and humorous posters to encourage the potential voters.

Final candidates from each grade were then required to appear on the morning news in order to give a speech to the student body explaining why they should be elected for class office, and the possible benefits of their success.

“Electing class officers is important because the people elected help out and organize important events for our grade and try to make things a little easier for us,” junior Jessica Cuevas said.

The upcoming senior class officers include Nisali Fernando as President, Casey Lascola as Vice-President, Olivia Tramuta as Secretary, Jill Bendlak as Treasurer, and Matthew Zancewicz alongside Melissa Chodziutko as Senators.

“I’m glad I can help to make senior year the best it can be,” said Junior, Olivia Tramuta.

Fernando is looking forward to her term as President.

“I wanted to run for office because I believe that students have a voice and I wanted to be able to advocate for my fellow classmates,” Fernando said. “High school is painful enough already and hopefully I can do something to make someone’s experience more positive.”

Upcoming junior class officers include Morgan Macey as President, Colleen Hugo as Vice-President, Rhea Grant as Secretary, Colleen Goodwin alongside Salma Samih as Co-Treasurers, and Nick Dostal alongside Shawna Winters as Senators.

“I’m very surprised by the outcome of the election,” sophomore Christina Mohammed said. “I think they’ll do well planning prom.”

Upcoming sophomore class officers include Hasher Mirza as President, Adrianna Izzo as Vice-President, Cali Jolley as Secretary, Julie Meyer alongside Andrew Berger as Co-Treasurers, and Cora Sala alongside Troy Anderson as Senators.

This year’s class elections may even encourage other students to run for the ensuing elections of 2017. The responsibilities of running the grade come with great benefits and joy to the candidates.

“I think this year’s candidates will do a great job at making sure they meet the needs of the entire student body,” junior Zach Bender said. “I can’t wait to see what next year has in store for us.”

By Nia Cordero and Arielle Eighmy – Staff Reporters

Jonathan Law’s junior prom was a tremendous success from dancing to food to the beautiful weather.

The event was was planned by Law’s Student Council.

Junior Jillian Bendlak, who is a part of the Student Council, said everyone worked hard and worked together.

“First we had to choose a venue. We chose Villa Bianca this year, we had some other choices but they ended up being too expensive so we thought this was the perfect choice,” Bendlak said

Villa Bianca proved to be a gorgeous outdoor venue, perfect for dancing the night away and attending events like prom or even a wedding.

“It was beautiful, it was outside and luckily we had a beautiful day with no rain,” Bendlak said.

Along with the appealing scenery there was a variety of delicious food served.

The variety of food included tacos, steak, pasta, appetizers, and, of course, dessert.

“We looked at the menu and looked at the different food styles so we would have four stations to choose from,” Bendlak said.

A lot of thought went into how the venue looked to all the students.

“After we got all that set up we got to go into more of the details like colors which were blue and silver, we got to choose flower arrangements and seating arrangements,” Bendlak said.

Months of preparation went into making this night great for everyone.

“We started planning in October and it took months,” junior Zach Anderson of the Student Council said. “After all the stress and hard work we put in it was all worth it in the end.”

Members of the Student Council were excited about being in charge of planning the prom.

“The fun part of planning prom was knowing that it was our own prom, and knowing that we had a hand in it all,” junior Lanie Ackley said

Before heading to the venue, many students met at the Green downtown to take pictures together.

“It was really fun seeing everyone dressed up and having fun,” Ackley said

Everyone had their own way of transportation from party buses to limos.

When arriving to prom, students were given their table numbers and received their prom favors.

“The night started off slow with people just socializing and eating,” Ackley said

Prom was filled with fun music and a photo booth.

“As the night progressed people started to get up and dance more, the pictures from the photo booth came out great and there were a lot of fun props to use,” Ackley said.

By Abby Williamson – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s National Honor Society hosted its annual Brain Bowl on May 19.

The Brain Bowl is a contest that challenges students and faculty to test their knowledge while raising money for mental health awareness and brain cancer.

“The Brain Bowl has been a tradition at Law for 10 to 15 years,” NHS advisor Ms. Turcotte said.

During the weeks prior to the Brain Bowl, the NHS walked around and collected donations during lunch.

Every dollar donated counted as 10 points for whichever class the donation came from.

“We were able to raise roughly $500 from walking around lunch waves alone,” senior NHS member David Patrick said.

This year’s Brain Bowl raised roughly $775, the best outcome in years.

A total of $550 was raised by students and faculty. An additional $225 was raised by business advertisements in the program.

For the first time, the money was split between two organizations. One, helping physical health of the brain and the other, mental health (in honor of Laura Gonzalez).

“We decided to divide our profits to two organizations in order to honor former NHS member Laura Gonzalez,” junior NHS member Melanie Coleman said.

The sophomore class raised the most money, and also won the Brain Bowl.

To get into the Brain Bowl, students and teachers took a 50 question quiz on random topics.

The top four testers of every grade/faculty were selected to be featured in the Brain Bowl.

“We didn’t have a great turnout when it came to the number of people taking the test, but we did raised a lot of money which is the most important factor,” junior NHS member Lexi Fisk said.

The freshmen team consisted of Jessica Postighone, Samara Thacker, Lola Hazarika and Spencer Mehan. The sophomore team was Meghana Jaladanki, Colleen Hugo, Jordan Beck, and John Fowler. The junior team featured Melissa Chodziutko, Madison Murphy, Kevin Chesler, and Sam Rossi. The senior team included Jennifer Rondinelli, Adam Streeter, Jake Fucci, and Dan Ouellette. Mrs. Briggs, Mr. Barcello, Mr. Stanton and Mr. Vitelli completed the faculty team.

The competition pinned freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors against each other. The winning class, the sophomores, then went against the faculty.

This year’s theme was “High School Musical” and the final question was based on just movie.

The sophomore class took the victory when they got the final correct answer and the faculty did not.

By Emily Carroll – News Editor

As the school year comes to a close, principal Mr. Thompson took time to speak with Advocate news editor Emily Carroll about his his fifth year at Jonathan Law. Here is what he had to say about the past year and what is on the horizon for the Law community:

Emily Carroll: What are some of your best memories from this year?

Mr. Thompson: I think my favorite memory is yet to come. When I see the Class of 2016 receive their diplomas, knowing they are ready for the next chapter in their lives, I will be so excited for them and anxious to hear about their success.

EC: How do you think Law did academically, socially, and athletically this year?

MT: Academically, I think this was a very strong class. We had over a third of the school at the Honors Breakfast which says something about the direction we are heading. I made a reference in my speech at the breakfast to Dr. Barbiero who is the District Supervisor for Social Studies, a former Law teacher and assistant principal who is retiring, and he said to me that there used to be such a small breakfast. To have that cafe packed makes you realize that you can achieve and deserve to achieve. Socially, I think we are a very caring community. There are a lot of different jobs out there at different schools, but we all like to stay here because we are part of a real community. It’s a very exceptional place, one like I’ve never seen. And athletically, all the spring sports are going to the state tournaments which is really cool and is a great way to end our year. I think that the path ahead for our fall sports and winter sports look brighter so I think that’s pretty exciting.

EC: Some students were wondering what keeps you so positive?

MT: Coffee. No, all kidding aside, it’s gratitude. I am very grateful. It’s not really a job. It’s a vocation for me, not an occupation. That makes the bad days greater in their struggle and it makes the good days really awesome. I think I have been very blessed from my family to just learn how to be grateful. And coffee.

EC: What is your favorite part about the Jonathan Law community?

MT: My favorite part about the Law community is the fact that everybody cares about everyone else. We have good days and bad days, but at the end of the day there’s a lot of love and that’s what keeps me coming back every day.

EC: What are you going to miss most from the Class of 2016?

MT: I am going to miss the individuals. I am going to miss so many people in this class who brought so many different strengths to our school and who have so many special gifts. I know that sounds silly but I am really going to miss those individual moments where there’s a conversation with some of the seniors. Everybody has so many different areas of interests and it’s really great to be able to be more personalized.

EC: Are there any big plans for next year?

MT:  We are actually starting on Friday (May 26th). We have an eighth grade picnic from all the kids from west shore. They will be here to celebrate an end of the year picnic and that’s 75% of our freshman so we will be able to meet them. We are going to be doing some different things with the freshman academy next year. We will have the kids go to their first few days of classes and do some work to help with their transition into high school. From all that I hear, it is a nice group of kids and we are excited about that.

EC: Looking back to when the Class of 2016 were freshman, what sort of changes and improvements have you seen?

MT: This will be part of my graduation speech. I have been really struggling with it because it’s very easy to say this was the forgotten class or this was the class that experienced a lot of loss and tragedy and we had to run to heal and help, but that’s just not true. This class has so many different individual strengths that I have seen leaders emerge from sophomore to junior to senior year. I’ve seen so many different skill sets.  So, I have seen a class that has really grown into its own and no one should make any type of generalization because they would be nonsense.

EC: What advice do you have for the Class of 2016 and their journey to college?

MT: Aww, listen to my speech. I can’t give you all of the stuff. Don’t ever let anyone tell you ‘you can’t,’ because you’ve proven over the four years that you can. So, just don’t let anyone tell you ‘you can’t,’ because that’s just not true.

EC: What are your plans for this summer?

MT: I am going to the Dominican Republic in July. My happy place. I’ve been going every year for the past three years. I will also be doing a lot of yard work. Right now my yard looks like a parking lot. It’s in really bad shape, but that will be my summer project.

EC: Is there anything else you would like to say to the Jonathan Law community?

MT: Just, thank you. Thank you for letting me be part of your community. Thank you for each and every day. It’s really a great place to be. It’s Lawmazing!

By Tyler Chavez and Nisali Fernando – Staff Reporters

Jonathan Law’s Drama Club struck gold with its production of “Seussical the Musical.”

On April 15 and 16, the Jonathan Law Drama Club put on a production of “Seussical the Musical.” The “lawmazing” cast of 25 performers wowed the audience with bright colors, catchy music, and a story of triumph in the magical world of Seuss.

The show, which was the last production of the year, marks a successful run for the Drama Club.

“This year was really successful,” said Junior and stage manager Ann Reed. “We had two great shows and we really came together as a family”.

“Seussical the Musical” tells the story of multiple Dr. Seuss characters, focusing mainly on the story of “Horton Hears a Who”.

“What I think is really interesting is that this is a kids show,” said junior Jill Bendlak, who played one of the Whos. “I have never seen a show with so much color in it before!”

The show follows Horton the Elephant  as he tries to protect a clover carrying the small planet of Who where JoJo, his family, and the rest of the Who’s live. Along the way, Horton is impeded by the Sour Kangaroo and the Wickersham Brothers, but is assisted by his neighbor, the bird with the one-feathered tail, Gertrude McFuzz.

“I was really impressed with how simple, yet beautiful and colorful the stage was,” said Spanish teacher Mrs. Fortin, who saw the show with her children.

The show is known for its vibrant, colorful atmosphere that can reach an audience of all ages. Younger fans love the music, colors, and humor, while older fans enjoy seeing the classic Seuss characters on stage and interacting together.

“My kids loved the show,” said Fortin. “They had never seen anything like it.”

The musical was a family favorite bedtime story brought to life. Familiarity and youthfulness flooded the atmosphere, in the world of Seuss it’s okay to be a little silly.

Earlier in the fall, the club performed, “Almost, Maine” a romantic-comedy play following the stories of nine interconnected couples.

“I had such a great time getting to know everyone in the club and performing for everyone who came to the shows,” junior Nikita Potnis said.

Current members of the Drama Club were pleasantly surprised to see new people join and contribute to the club.

‘It’s great because your family grows and you make a lot of new friends,” Bendlak said.

Members of the “Seussical” cast, both old and new, hold fond memories about preparing for the show and learning their parts. Rehearsals were considered a fun, energetic time.

“I think my favorite part [from rehearsals] was when we would play games and dance for warm-ups because everyone was always having such a good time and enjoying themselves,” Potnis said.

The show has also left an imprint on those who took part. Its charm has created memories for those onstage.

“I loved the opening number,” Potnis said. “It’s so high energy and fun and it was so great while we were performing on opening night and people started cheering before the song even ended.”

Offstage, stage managers work tirelessly to keep the show running smoothly. From managing props to preparing sets, without them the show would be at a complete standstill.

“Backstage is where everything comes together, there’s a lot of moving parts that have to work together,” Reed said.

Stage managers are constantly on edge, as they have juggle many things at once.

“I have around 15 nightmares before every show about certain scenarios happening backstage,” junior and stage manager Sarah O’Brien said.

Through the hard work of the cast and crew, the show sold out opening night, and rave reviews followed every viewing.

“It was a riveting experience,” junior Sam Rossi said. “I was really impressed with Maddie Baldieri and Emma Hudd and JP has the voice of an angel.”

Seussical the Musical, kept its audience on the edge of their seats. The show was interactive (live auctions and questions to the audience) and during moments of sadness, there was not a dry eye in the house.

“My favorite part was the auction,” Rossi said. “I got to participate and it was amazing.”

Current members are already looking forward to what the future has in store for the Drama Club.

“Here’s what’s happening: new merch, new shows, new team building, and new choreography,” O’Brien said.

As the school year comes to a close, members who will be reaching their final year of Drama Club reminisce on the success of the program.

“When we joined freshman year the club was very small,” Reed said. “But it’s been great to see it grow and I can’t wait for us to come full circle in this now successful program.”

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By Ian Hugo, Emily Carroll, Valeria Araujo, and Nicole Macchio – Advocate Editors

Jonathan Law hosted the second annual Peace, Love, and Music from Maren Festival on April 30 to celebrate the life of Maren Sanchez.

This year’s PLM planning committee consisted of Law history teacher Ms. Burns, Jesse Hudd, Mike Hudd, Elena Garet, Karen Passecredo, and principal Mr. Thompson. The six committee members have met every Wednesday since January to discuss the plans for the event.

For the second straight year, Colony Grill sponsored the event and made a sizable monetary donation. Over 30 raffle prizes were donated by local businesses.

Dozens of volunteers help throughout the day, including many Law faculty members.

“I think that having the festival every year it’s a really nice way to see the Milford community come together and see the kids come back that were really good friends with her be here and help each other heal,” Burns said. “Our school staff is unbelievably supportive and they are willing to be there to do anything. It wouldn’t be possible without them.”

Sanchez’s friends were moved by how the Law and Milford communities came together again to honor Maren. Thousands attended this year festival, which was held on Law’s baseball and softball fields.

“The event means so much to me it makes me so happy seeing everyone back at Law celebrating Maren’s life,” said alumni Darby Hudd.

The day kicked off with ahundreds of runners taking part in a 5K race around Milford.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the festival go back to Milford students through the annual Maren Sanchez Scholarship. The scholarship is not based solely on academics; it honors a well-rounded student that embodies all of the qualities that Maren possessed.

Besides games like dunk-tanks and bouncy houses the event also had booths with many different activities. Those at the event could browse through booths set up by local businesses as wells as booths run by many Law clubs and students that promoted their individual causes.

The Kindness Club, which was created in memory of Maren, celebrated her legacy by painting Ben’s Bells and giving kids stickers as they talked about how to promote kindness. Law art teacher Mrs. Murphy, wanted to spread the kindness that was shown to them when they needed it most.

“It’s important to remind you of what it means to be a good person what it’s like to care for other people just the be a better person in general,” junior Kindness Club member Nisali Fernando said.

There was also a booth set up in memory of former Law student Laura Gonzalez, who passed away last year. Those at the booth were just happy to be a part of the event and celebrate the lives of two of the friends and classmates.

“We wanted to prevent suicide prevention and honor our loss,” Law senior Amita Sastry said. “Being able to remember her at this event means a lot to us.”

One of the highly-anticipated events of the day, the second annual Peace, Love, and Music From Maren kickball tournament, kicked off at 10 a.m. on the softball field.

The tournament consisted of 23 teams, each made up of at least six people including two girls, which were mostly comprised of Law students ranging from freshmen to seniors. The bracket was set up with five rounds, the first two consisting of games lasting five minutes, the third round lasting seven minutes, the semifinals lasting ten minutes, and the final lasting ten minutes as well.

“[The tournament is] just some good old-fashioned recess fun…like I’m back in elementary school,” said Law senior Nolan Beardsley of the eventual tournament winners The Kickballerz.

The tournament was overseen and run by Law staff with Mr. Young and Mr. McPartland taking turns pitching, Mr. Ragaini as catcher/umpire, Mr. Sarullo, Mr. Kulenych, and Mr. Bainer as umpires, and Mr. Boynton as the day’s exuberant announcer.

While a day for fun, tensions ran high all throughout the games with collisions on the basepaths, diving catches, slides (even though they were not allowed), lots of strategy, and big kicks into the outfield. Along with the intensity, most teams brought a sense of formality with some teams donning matching shirts, headbands, eye black, and even some players opted for cleats to help them dig into the field’s dirt basepaths.

With each team bringing their A game as soon as they stepped out onto the field it was a spectacle for all those on hand to watch.

Last year’s tournament winners Recess All-Stars lost a thriller in overtime to Balls & Dolls, in which the objective was to see who could kick the ball and have it land closest to the cone, as Balls & Dolls kick landed closer to the cone than the All-Stars’ kick which saw the upset complete.

With all teams confident in their abilities it was always going to be a closely-contested tournament with each star-studded team putting their best foot forward to edge closer to the coveted championship trophy.

After an exciting day of play and fun, the Kickballerz came to reap the spoils of victory after defeating the Dirty D’s in the final. The Kickballerz, whose roster consisted of Erin Saley, Destin Johnson, Nolan Beardsley, Paige Szygiel, Laura Dulin, and Jess Centore, had a strong run of play throughout the tournament and came out on top.

“It felt good to win knowing we were underdogs coming in,” said Johnson, a Law senior.

While the spirit of competition was high, the tournament ended up bringing the community together while providing some fun for all those involved, whether they be playing, officiating, or just simply watching.

“It’s a great day to remember Maren and it was fun to play in the kickball tournament, it brings people together,” said Law alum Tyler Curtin.

With a great turnout this year, PLM attendees will be hoping the kickball tournament is a staple of the event for years to come.

“The kickball tournament was such a fun event to be a part of,” Kulenych said. “We had players of all ages, a lot of close games, and everyone had a blast.”

Another major aspect of PLM is the music played throughout the day. Local artists and even students perform at the event to provide song and dance for the event. To kick off the day, the choir sang a show tune medley.

“I think the music is very important,” said history teacher Ms. Mannion. “The music keeps people dances and singing and brings back memories for people and it’s really important. It is peace love and music.”

The music had a great variety with songs for everyone to enjoy.

“I think that it’s nice that there is a variety and that it’s for all different ages,” said alumni Haley Palmer. “There was rock and roll for the parents and rapping for the younger kids and it’s all positive music.”

There were 12 bands that volunteered their time and talent throughout the day, headlined by the Rum Runners. Seniors Max Caserta, Anna Downs, and Bobby Phong were among the performers, as well as alumni Kira Topalian.

“I had a great time,” Phong said. “It was good representing for Maren and Laura because Laura was a good friend of mine.”

Law alum Jeremy Doucette agreed.

“The music is very enjoyable and is a nice background for the event, its keeps up the real social mood and keeps everyone’s spirits up,” Doucette said.

All in attendance said that that had a great day honoring an amazing life.

“I’m from Sandy Hook, so I get it,” said Newtown resident Judy Byron. “It’s a great idea and it’s a great way to make people remember and not forget and that make people all over become more proactive because of activities like this.”

English teacher Mr. Nigretti said, “My favorite part of all of this is that it’s for Maren, but it gets everyone to come together and forget about all the petty stuff that really doesn’t matter and that is what this day is about.”