By Editors-in-Chief Katie Servas and Gemard Guery, Entertainment Editor Truman Martin, and Social Media Editor Zack Sulkis
The 2022 Jonathan Law-Foran Thanksgiving Day game was an incredibly memorable experience for the Jonathan Law community.
Not only did the Lawmen win the game and make the playoffs for the second time in school history, but two celebrities were also in attendance.
Logan Paul and Mike Majlak attended the game along with approximately 5,000 spectators. Majlak, a Foran alum, was in Connecticut for Thanksgiving and decided to attend the game with his friend, Logan Paul.
Law Principal Bryan Darcy and Milford officials learned of their impending arrival the week of the game.
“I found out that Monday morning prior to Thanksgiving, and we knew it was a possibility because their people contacted our people downtown and there had to be some logistical things,” Darcy said. “They were coming no matter what, but we had to prepare to ensure that they had security and everyone was safe here.”
When Paul and Majlak arrived at the game, they sat in their own designated seats on the track to avoid energized fans.
“It was a nice experience for me because I actually spoke to (Logan Paul) for about 10 minutes on the field, and I know he’s famous for a lot of things, but we had a very nice, normal conversation,” Darcy said. “He was nice, he was genuine and I when I asked and he was willing to meet students.”
Some students taking photos were also able to have conversations with Paul and Majlak.
“It was unbelievable that they were there, because I’ve been watching Mike Majlak ever since he started vlogs and have told him my appreciation about all the love he gives back to the Milford community,” said senior and photographer Eric Relucio. “Doing what I love like filming alongside them only helped support my passion and the whole experience has given me the determination and confidence to continue to do what I love knowing that anything is possible.”
During the halftime show, Paul and Majlak came over to greet students who were eager to meet them. Many students had their phones out and some even brought Sharpies so they could sign their phone cases, PRIME drink bottles, and sweatshirts.
“It was-life changing. He held my phone and I’ll never forget that for the rest of my life,” said junior Samantha Chy. “It made my Thanksgiving.”
Paul and Majlak stayed until the end of halftime before exiting the field. After their departure, the Law would conclude the game by defeating Foran 60-29.
Majlak later posted photos and videos of their appearance on his social media accounts.
Jonathan Law recently held a “Spirit Week and a Half” and a pep rally the to get students ready for the Thanksgiving Day game and Powder Puff game.
The Spirit Week themes were Student-Teacher Swap, Country/Country Club, White Lies, Multicultural Day, Twin Day, Pajama Day, Blackout Day, and Law Gear.
“It doesn’t matter if you play a sport, or participate in choir or band,” math teacher Ms. Russell said. “Spirit weeks can help students that don’t necessarily participate in school activities feel like they are a part of the Law community.”
Throughout Spirit Week, students dressed up according to the theme.
This year’s Spirit Week continued for a week and a half. This led up to the annual Law vs. Foran football and Powder Puff games. Spirit Week also featured a pep rally on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to get students excited for the upcoming games.
The pep rally was held in the new gym. Each grade was involved in all activities.
Students participated in activities such as musical chairs and other games and competitions. There was also a performance from the choir.
The purpose of the pep rally was for students to get excited for the upcoming games.
“The purpose of this week’s spirit week was to get students excited for the Powderpuff and Thanksgiving Football game,” sophomore Sarah Ahmed said. “Showing school spirit is a very important part of every school event.”
Russell said she was happy with the results from Spirit Week.
“I think we had a little more participation in the first Spirit Week of the year,” Russell said. “I think we still need to keep it a little simple with the themes so that they are easier to participate in. Once we have a better Spirit Week culture, we can start adding in more ‘out of the box’ themes.”
A group of Jonathan Law students attended West Shore Middle School on November 2 and Harborside Middle School on November 14 to showcase the school and its values.
The students attended West Shore and Harborside to showcase what Jonathan Law has to offer. They showed a presentation that described the school community and answered questions that prospective students had.
“I hope that if they got anything from the visit, they got that Law is a great option for high school with lots of different opportunities,” sophomore Cameron Upchurch said.
Every year, eighth grade West Shore and Harborside students are given the opportunity to explore their options for high school. In addition to the magnet schools and private schools which appeal to some students, Jonathan Law is always invited to speak about what it is like to attend Law.
Students were given time at the end to ask questions to the panel of Jonathan Law representatives.
“Some of the questions I got asked consisted of sports, AQUA, and class scheduling,” senior Liam Fedigan said. “It was cool to be able to tell the kids about Law and what values we have.”
Students chosen to attend these visits represented all different aspects offered at Law such as academics, clubs, and sports. This allowed everyone to be able to ask specific questions and get answers directly from involved students.
“It was exciting to be chosen because I was given the opportunity to speak to incoming freshmen on things that I love about Law, and give them things to look forward to,” senior Caroline Doyle said. “They were all so enthusiastic about joining the Law community and becoming involved”
The meeting lasted a few hours and gave prospective Lawmen the opportunity to get a taste of what Jonathan Law High School is like.
The presentation additionally consisted of the administrators that are important to know as someone potentially attending the school.
The Jonathan Law Future Business Leaders of America Club is hosting the First Annual Jonathan Law Winter Wonderland on December 13.
The Winter Wonderland is a fundraising event for the FBLA to be able to go on trips and competitions. The Winter Wonderland is open to all kids and families in Milford, and they will have various events and activities, such as Connect Four, Jenga, arts and crafts, a snack/coffee stand, Letters to Santa, and more.
“We have a big event coming up on December 13th. We’re having the Winter Wonderland, and Santa’s going to be there,” FBLA advisor and Law business teacher Ms. Israelite said. “Kids can come and get their picture taken with Santa, and we’re going to have games and activities for young kids to do.”
The Winter Wonderland will cost $10 per child, and up to $25 per family, and all money collected from tickets and concessions will go towards the FBLA to be able to participate in statewide trips, and potential Nationals if they qualify.
“We are going to use the money and get involved in local businesses, and get speakers in,” FBLA advisor and business teacher Mr. Beler said. ”We want to give all the students of Jonathan Law the best knowledge for community service, and meeting community members.”
FBLA is trying to make a positive impact on the community and help out small and local businesses, as well as study them and see how they work.
“We are having a fundraiser for a Winter Festival at Jonathan Law to help raise for the club,” junior FBLA President Jack Bretthauer said. ”The money raised will go to help support our members to go to hopefully Nationals, depending on who makes it.”
The FBLA meets every other F Day during common time in Mr. Beler’s room to discuss and share ideas.
“FBLA is a great way to expand your knowledge in the business and economic world,” senior FBLA member Shruti Simhadri said. “I have found it to be a great learning experience for myself and others around me.”
To join the FBLA or for more information, contact either Ms. Israelite or Mr. Beler for the Google Classroom code.
The Jonathan Law Drama Club performed “The Play That Goes Wrong” the weekend of November 11.
”The Play That Goes Wrong” is a unique comedy where issues arise for all of the characters in the play.
“The play is about a group of actors who are putting on a murder mystery play for an audience, but what makes the show earn its title is that every single thing imaginable goes wrong,” Drama Club President Sofia Mazella said. “Actors forget their lines, set pieces break, cues are off, and technical details are greatly flawed.”
In the Drama Club’s rendition of the play, there were only eight cast members, plus around 8-10 crew members.
Shruti Simhadri played Annie, Sarah Ahmed played Taylor, Mazella played Christina, Deven Rivera played Jonathan, Kadance Kovacs played Rachel, Toni Cepalia played Denise, Faith Santiago played Max, and Hailey Russo played Sandra.
Russo said she thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the production.
“I chose to be in this play because I love Drama Club,” Russo said. “My favorite part was being able to ‘beat up’ Shruti. I would totally do it again too. My favorite quote for the play would have to be ‘stiff drink,’ because it always made us laugh on stage. The second one is ‘Not so fast inspector!,’ because it was Devin’s big entrance.”
Mazella said she chose to audition for “The Play That Goes Wrong” because she knew that it was going to be hilarious and exciting.
“As a committed Drama Club member, I make the choice to audition for all the shows that we do because acting is truly my passion, and I know that I will enjoy doing any production,” Mazzella said.
Mazella loved playing the role of Christina in the show because in a way she got to play two characters at once.
“Christina played the Director, as well as Inspector Carter in the show,” Mazella said. “I loved playing this role because my dream is to become a director, and seeing what it felt like to stand up there as a director truly made my heart explode. I also loved being able to switch back-and-forth between two types of characters.”
Members of Drama Club said that their favorite part of the play process was definitely Tech Week. Tech Week is the week leading up to the play Drama Club members bring in all of the props, costumes, and sets.
The club stayed after school from 4-10 p.m. the week of the show and did their best to perfect everything.
“Seeing everything come together implanted an excitement within all of our actors, and gave us hope for a smooth show,” Mazella said. “My favorite part of the show specifically was the fight scene at the end between two of the characters.”
Russo said she loved the performance – and being a member of the Drama Club in general.
“It feels like a home away from home and acting and singing brings me so much joy and happiness,” Russo said.
The Gaming Club is drifting its way into Jonathan Law yet again.
The Jonathan Law Gaming Cub has been revived for another year. The group has hosted multiple meetings with fluctuating amounts of new members.
“We created the Gaming Club in order to have a fun and safe environment for people to meet new friends that share a common interest,” senior club vice president Jacob Swenning said. “There was a Video Game Club three years ago at Law that we seniors were a part of during our freshman year but we wanted to continue the club and take it to the next level.”
Typically, one of the members will provide snacks during the meetings as well as multiple games and gaming systems to appeal to all those who come to play.
“Right now, leadership decides what game would be played at the next meeting, making sure to have some variety so it doesn’t become the “insert game title here” club and so it feels refreshing,” senior club president Matt McKlosky said. “So far, we’ve played ‘Super Smash Bros Ultimate,’ ‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,’ and soon-to-be ‘Nintendo Switch Sports’ at the next meeting (totally not a plug).”
In Room 199A, two television sets are hooked up to different gaming consoles to grant members the opportunity to play other games and include more people. To maintain organization, the group has created a spreadsheet to quickly sign up to bring in a console to meetings and allow more game options.
“As of now, we decide on games by randomly selecting a game we have and announcing it at the end of each meeting,” senior Kim Padilla said. “In the future, we might vote on what games to play or have a game rotation schedule soon, but we’re still planning things out.”
The club used to have many members who would spend an hour or so after school and play video games with others with the same interests. The club was a comfortable and relaxing place for students to meet under and upperclassmen through a common hobby.
“We really missed having a place to chill out, relax, and play games with each other and decided to start it up again so people will have a place to relax and decompress after school,” McKlosky said. “With the help of Jacob, Deven, Kim, and Rob, we asked Mrs. Mercaldi if she would want to be the advisor, and she said she would love to do it.”
When locating an advisor, the group knew they wanted to reach out to science teacher Mrs. Mercaldi.
“I was the advisor for the Dance Dance Revolution club here at Law in the early 2000s and have always thought gaming was a great adventure and a wonderful way to relax and made me more social and has helped me find friends who enjoy gaming as well,” Mercaldi said. “When Matt, Jacob, Kim, Deven, and Robert asked me to be the advisor I couldn’t have been more delighted.”
The club meets from 2-3 p.m. every Tuesday in Room 199A and the Google Classroom code is b5wxjyx.
The Jonathan Law National Honor Society hosted a costume contest on Halloween.
There were a few categories that students and staff could enter. Money had to be donated in order to participate in the contest.
“It is a tradition for the NHS to organize the costume contest and it always brings out creativity from the students,” senior NHS member Lylah Eckert said.
This is Eckert’s second year in Natinal Honor Society.
“We all agreed on a foundation to donate to – which was Legos for Logan – and we went on from there,” senior NHS member Sabrina Lawless said.
Legos for Logan is a foundation created for in memory of a local boy named Logan, who passed away at age 12 from pediatric cancer.
The categories for this year’s contest were individual costumes, duo costumes, and group costumes.
“All the members in the group voted for each winner in the categories,” Lawless said.
The winners were announced over the loudspeaker at the end of period eight.
“We decided on the winners by taking all of the participants’ photos, and reviewing them as a Club at the end of the school day,” senior NHS member Caroline Doyle said.
Students and staff enjoyed partaking in the contest.
“My favorite costume was Ryan Z’s costume that he and his mom made together of a flamingo,” Eckert said.
Many students dress up on Halloween showing their authentic costumes that they worked hard on.
“My personal favorite costume was the group of Minions,” Lawless said.
The Jonathan Law Ski Club is back up and running for this upcoming year.
Last year, the club participated in two trips and members of the ski club are excited to get out and run more trips with friends.
“In addition to getting us out on more day trips this year (last year we only did two), I am excited to get the weekend overnight to get Smuggler’s Notch back up and running this year,” advisor Ms. Turcotte said.
Ski Club allows members to stay overnight at Smugglers Notch which is an exciting event for members since it was not available to them last year.
“I’m looking froward to the overnight trip which has not happened since COVID started,” senior Jack Aliberti said. “It will be cool to be able to stay overnight with friends.”
During COVID, the club struggled to attend trips. Now, they are able to expand their locations and engage in more activities.
“I think that the Ski Club has benefitted me by allowing me to visit a bunch of new mountains, and getting to experience better conditions than what we have in Connecticut,” junior Ashley Borecki said. “I also just like seeing new places and resorts. They are all pretty different and it’s really cool to ride in new environments.”
By joining Ski Club, members get to go skiing and expand their experiences in the world with their friends.
“This year, I am most excited about the trip to Killington,” Borecki said. “Out of the places I’ve been to, that is one of my favorites, so I’m excited to go back again.”
Members can’t wait to visit their favorite destinations and return to the slopes.
“I’m most excited about doing our overnight trip this year to Okemo because we haven’t been able to because of COVID,” senior Lia Schulte said. “I think students should join because it’s a great opportunity to go skiing with your friends at discounted prices and travel on a comfortable schedule.”
The Jonathan Law Key Club participated in the International Key Club Week beginning on October 31 and ending on November 4.
Each day of the week represented a different initiative. Officers of the Key Club went on Eagle Eye News each day during the week to tell more about what they plan to do for the different themes.
The themes for each day were: “Show Your K,” “Kudos To The Key Players,” “Dare To Share,” “Random Acts Of Kindness,” and “Connect The K’s.”
“To me, Key Club Week is a celebration of our hard work as well as a way to educate others on what we do,” senior co-president Caroline Doyle said.
“Show Your K Day” was used to show people what Key Club is all about. Therefore, students spread the word by wearing Key Club gear and publicizing Key Club Week.
“Kudos To The Key Players Day” was used to personally thank all the Key Club supporters students know — teachers, advisors and other key players.
“Dare To Share Day” celebrated diversity and equity with the Key Club family. “Random Acts Of Kindness Day” aimed to show how far a smile can go. On this day, the club aimed to spread happiness throughout the schools.
“Connect The K’s Day” celebrated the entire family of Kiwanis by getting everyone involved. They connect with local Kiwanis, Circle K International, Builders, K-Kids or Aktion clubs.
The purpose of Key Club Week was to show thanks for those that have helped the club and educate others of their mission and how they aim to achieve it.
The officers of the club were all very excited to take part this year and hope to get even more people involved in the club.
“I was most excited for Friday, which is ‘Kudos To The Key Players’ because we were able to thank our teachers who have helped us so much in the past,” senior co-President Hanna Keating said.
The members of the club also have traditions they like to continue each year during Key Club week.
“The day I always look forward to is ‘Kudos To The Key Players,” Doyle said. “We bring bagels to the teachers, and I love thanking them all for their constant support.”
Each day of Key Club Week places an emphasis on service, to promote Key Club within every home, school and community and to make Key Club a household name.
The Jonathan Law chapter of the National Art Honor Society is designed for ambitious high school art students.
In 1978, the National Art Education Association began the National Art Honor Society program to inspire and recognize students who show an outstanding ability and interest in art. The NAHS strives to aid members in attaining the highest standards in art scholarship, character and service, and to bring art education to the attention of the school and community.
“The chapter of the Art Honor Society is dedicated to improving the community and school through celebrating the artist through Law,” senior Skylar Johnson said.
In order to be considered for membership into the National Art Honor Society, a student must earn 1.0 credit of art at the high school level. They also have to maintain a “B+” average in ES and Level 1 art courses and at least a “B-” in AP Art and Design.
Students must also meet the Milford Public Schools’ “Standards of Eligibility” requirements. They must also be committed to developing as an artist. Another requirement is that they must be willing to serve their school and community through artistic endeavors. The last requirement is that students must demonstrate integrity, dedication, and responsibility.
At Law, there are typically around 20-25 student artists in the NAHS, which started at Law nine years ago. They meet regularly during common time on F Days and they stay after school to work on a variety of community art projects.
“In NAHS, the students completed a project called Wings For Peace,” advisor Mrs. Murphy said. “In this project the students had to represent gun balance.”
Another project the NAHS is currently working on is painting a mural in the Podcast Studio in the Newsroom.
“It has been great working with the NAHS on planning the mural for the Podcast Studio,” Broadcast Journalism teacher Mr. Kulenych said. “They have been very creative and professional throughout the planning stages and I can’t wait to see what they come up with for a design.”
Members said that students should join the National Art Honor Society, because participation provides students, faculty, school, and community with invaluable benefits, including peer recognition, leadership growth opportunities, college and career preparation, recognition of their art, and more.
Jonathan Law continues to promote inclusivity with the return of the Gay Straight Alliance which is advised by Mr. Evanko.
Meetings are Thursdays after school at 2 p.m. in Room 193.
“I didn’t start this club, I picked it up from Ms. Mannion about 10 years ago,” Evanko said. “I was inspired to become an advisor for the GSA.”
Mannion was a history teacher at Law before her retirement last year.
“I wanted to help build a community on campus for LGBT+ students and allies on our campus,” Evanko said.
Evanko is a history teacher at Jonathan Law.
“I chose to advise the GSA because I want Law to be a welcoming, inclusive space for all people, including LGBT students,” Evanko said.
The main goal of Gay Straight Alliance is to have an open and welcoming community for all students.
“Myself and club’s members hope to make an impact this year by building our membership back up and to host presentations and social events for students to attend,” Evanko said.
Debate Club is back up and running for the new school year.
The club has hopes of participating in competitions this year. The club is for anyone who is interested in learning how to debate topics.
“Debate Club is a space for students to learn the rules of formal debate and have a space to discuss issues, including current events and issues that affect their lives,” advisor Mr. Evanko said.
Anyone is welcome to join the club even if they don’t want to compete. Debate Club meets on Tuesdays after school in Room 193.
“We want to compete in debate competitions, but we practice for a while before going to any,” senior president Shruti Simhadri said. “This is to make sure even new people without experience will feel confident at competitions.”
Debate Club gives students the opportunity to talk to different people and debate topics of their interest.
“I enjoy the debate club because it gives me the opportunity to have debates and conversations with other people who are just as passionate about the issues,” senior Finnegan Sclafani said. “It’s also a really interesting challenge when you have to argue for the side you don’t agree with or believe in. It forces you to really focus on the facts to create a strong argument, rather than your passion or opinion.”
Students who have been in the club for a few years have progressed well with public speaking.
“I think what I enjoy about debate club the most is the fact that we have that space to practice our techniques when it comes to public speaking and debate because so many of us haven’t done it before,” junior Ikeoluwatomiwa Opayemi said. “It’s cool to see how as a club we’ve progressed over the years and improved in our skills to prepare for competitions this year.”
The Jonathan Law Badminton Club is back for another season.
Badminton Club is a weekly event for students to attend and practice their badminton skills. Students are welcome to have competitive or laid back matches and stay for any amount of time they like.
“Early last year, Sri Gudlavalleti, Jingyu Dong, and Saharsh Bhatia approached me about hosting weekly badminton sessions in the gym. We started out with a small group of players and expanded slowly as word spread,” English Teacher and Badminton Club advisor Mr. Giangregorio said. “We had our first meeting of the school year last Friday with a record number of students. Most stayed to play the whole time, while others dropped in for a few minutes after school. We had several matches going on at once -some competitive, some relaxed.”
The club is a great opportunity to find new friends and be able to participate in sports without being on a team.
“I would encourage others to join to just have fun, meet new people, hangout with their friends. You will be around the people with the same interest,” Co-President Jingyu Dong said. “Since badminton is a two-player sport it enables you to learn good values such as fair play and sportsmanship. It is also a great stress reduction.”
The schedule for the Badminton Club is very flexible and allows new people to join easily.
“We plan on meeting once a week until about Thanksgiving, when winter sports start up and gym time becomes more difficult to schedule. After the winter sports season, we’ll get back to regular weekly meetings in the spring. For now, we usually meet on Fridays, but a few scheduling issues are going to move our meeting days around,” Giangregorio said. “Interested students should look out for updates on Eagle Eye News and our Google Classroom, using this code: zoy3l2b.”
One aspect about Badminton Club that many members love is the laid back attendance.
“I think what specifically makes the Badminton Club standout is our very relaxed policy on attendance of the club,” Badminton Co-President Sri Gudlavalleti said. “Badminton Club is a very chill club and it’s for all people, those that only have a couple minutes after school and want to spend time with their friends and for those people more committed to the sport and want to challenge themselves.”
The Keyettes Club is up and running again and is looking forward to bettering the community with fundraising and volunteering.
The Keyettes Club is similar to the Key Club, but is female-led and focuses primarily on the Law community. They run fundraisers in the school, and also give students a chance for volunteer opportunities.
“During the school year, the Keyettes will coordinate fundraisers for various causes,” Keyettes Club advisor Ms. Sylvia said. “For example, last year the Keyettes collected donations for Homes for the Brave to assist veterans, and beCause 4 Paws Animal Rescue.”
The Keyettes Club is always looking for new members and is a great way to get involved in the school community and get volunteer hours.
“You should join the Keyettes Club because it’s a great opportunity to make new friends within our community at Law and is also a great chance to volunteer for community service opportunities that are offered our way to not just benefit our school community but our community all throughout Milford as well,” Keyettes Club Vice President Alyssa Greggis said. “Joining Keyettes can help put yourself one step closer to earning Graduation With Distinction and show colleges that you are an active member of your community both in and out of school.”
The club has many goals they want to achieve this year, considering some of the activities they would normally do were not possible to do because of COVID last year.
“Our goals for this year is to raise money for club funds, gain more support for the drives we have, and to increase the amount of members we have in the club,” junior Moulika Sivalenka said.
Many club members enjoy the club because of the relationships they make and because they can get involved in the Law community.
“My favorite part about the Keyettes Club is the relationships that we all build with each other as the year goes on and how passionate we all are about wanting to help our community,” Greggis said. “We all work together to be successful as a club and have fun in the process.”
Law’s Multicultural Club is back for the news school year.
Last year, the Multicultural Club raised $500 for Ukrainian refugees and they also worked with IRIS which integrates refugees here in Connecticut. This year, the club is trying to help victims of recent natural disasters, specifically Hurricane Ian.
The Multicultural Club is also a place where students can learn about different cultures and share their own.
“They get to spend time with global-minded peers and learn a vast amount about countries and cultures all around the world,” Multicultural Club advisor Mr. Healy said.
Meetings of the Multicultural Club include cultural food, guest speakers, and games, and overall it is a relaxed atmosphere.
Sophomore Sarah Ahmed said her job as secretary is to take attendance, record what is discussed in the meetings, and include any ideas for new events and activities for the club.
She also had advice for students interested in joining the Multicultural Club – or any club – at Law.
“Make sure to take advantage of all of the extracurricular activities that we have here at Law,” Ahmed said. “You can make new friends, find a new hobby, and find something to help distress from your school work. And remember to have fun.”
Ahmed said she is looking forward to pot lucks, new people joining the club, and the presentations club members do about their culture. She joined the club her freshman year.
The president of the Multicultural Club is junior Anna Sutram. Sutram helps to run the club and arranges meetings. She is hoping to expand the Multicultural Club membership this year.
“We are a diverse group that has multiple perspectives and opinions but when we come together we can do a lot for our community,” Sutram said.
Sutram said she was inspired to join the club because she has immigrant parents and staying in touch with their heritage is important for them. Culture played a big role in her life growing up.
It fascinated her to see how other people celebrate and represent their culture.
Sutram mentioned how she loves learning about other cultures and sharing hers. Since most COVID restrictions have been lifted, she has plans for a pot luck event, a Multicultural Day, and more.
“It can be hectic but it is part of the experience,” Sutram said.
Broadcast Journalism and Journalism two and three students are ‘amped’ up about the new podcast studio.
Jonathan Law has introduced a new professional-level podcast studio for Broadcast Journalism and Journalism classes to produce podcasts.
The podcast studio includes multiple headsets and microphones connected to a soundboard with audio controls and sound effects. The room also features a television screen to display logos and other visuals for each episode.
“We are always trying to add new elements to Broadcast to give students real-world experiences, and we thought an upgrade to a professional-level podcast studio would be an exciting addition to the Newsroom,” said Broadcast Journalism teacher Mr. Kulenych. “Students have already produced some amazing podcasts and I can’t wait to see their creativity continue to come out.
Many Broadcast Journalism and Journalism students have had the opportunity to create in the space and have used it as a creative outlet to discuss topics about the school community as well as other interests.
“Having a podcast studio has been such an amazing opportunity,” said sophomore Sports Editor Ella Franzman. “The ability to create content for the school through different media has piqued an interest for me.”
The soundproof room has allowed students to express themselves and expand their knowledge by learning audio and visual editing and the behind-the-scenes of video production.
“I think it’s great that we are able to use the podcast studio now because it really expands the range of content we can make in both broadcast and regular journalism,” said senior Broadcast Journalism student and Editor-in-Chief Maya Rosado. “It’s something I’ve already been interested in because I love to speak my mind and the podcast studio has given me that ability.”
In addition to the studio, many students have been incorporating their peers and teachers into their podcasts, interviewing and conversing with them about upcoming school events and their individual accomplishments.
“I enjoy using the studio,” said junior Sports Editor Zack Sulkis. “I listen to lots of podcasts in my free time from guys like Joe Rogan and Theo Von so getting the chance to talk about sports is the highlight of eighth period.”
There’s a process to podcast preparation that requires writing scripts and reaching out to guests. This opportunity teaches students what it’s like to create and advertise content from a realistic perspective.
“I’ve always wanted to know what it’s like to make a podcast and I loved it!,” said junior Editor-in-Cheif and Editorial Editor Gemard Guery. “I enjoyed the planning aspect a lot as well.”
Starting within the next few weeks the National Art Honor Society will be painting the podcast studio walls. The idea is to include a podcast-themed mural on one of the walls with the incorporation of a few older podcasts that have been created and passed to younger students as they’ve graduated.
The English and Math Support Centers are now open in the TLC for all students in need of help.
The English Support Center can help with homework, college and supplemental essays, college applications, essay writing, reading comprehension, and much more. The Math Support Center can help students with completing assignments, revising topics, or learning topics they might have missed.
“For English/Humanities-related content, we can work through those skills and concepts with you on a pretty thorough level,” English teacher Ms. Reed said. “For subjects outside of the humanities field, we can often walk you through directions and provide clarity on the assignment itself, even if we can’t help you with the skills and concepts directly.”
There is a teacher in the Support Center every period of the day. Students are able to visit during study hall or lunch.
The teachers working at the Math Support Center are Mr. Frank, Mr. Ruzbarsky, Mrs. DiPrimio, Mrs. Francisco, and Mrs. Rich.
The teachers working at the English Support Center are Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Giangregorio, Mr. Healy, Mrs. Lucia, Mrs. Goldbeck, Ms. Smuniewski, and Ms. Reed.
“It’s not just for students that have a D or F in a class — anyone can go get help,” math teacher Mr. Walsh said.
Students benefit from the support center in many ways.
“I was able to complete all of my work with someone by my side every step of the way if I needed help,” freshman Emily Bassett said. “They were able to help me with anything I needed.”
The Support Center provides every student with personalized help and allows students to work more efficiently.
“It’s a chance to receive one-on-one attention that might not always be available to you in a whole-class setting,” Reed said. “It’s also a great way to get to know other staff members in the building — the more resources you have throughout your academic journey, the better!
The Support Center can be used for many different areas of school as well.
“If you need some organizational support (setting up your Google Drive, organizing folders, backpacks, etc.), we’re here for that, too,” Reed said.
Teachers are always ready and available to help students.
“The support center helps students by providing a safe space to ask questions, complete assignments, and get a better understanding of material given in their math class,” math teacher Mrs. Rich said.
Plans are already in the works for this year’s Post Prom.
Post Prom is an event at the Sports Center in Shelton where the senior class can have a fun time together after Prom. Students have free range of the entire Sports Center to play games, golf, play laser tag, ice skate, and more.
“Some of the biggest hits there are definitely the driving range and laser tag but overall it’s a fun and awesome experience,” said senior Jack Alberti, who attended Post Prom last year as a junior.
Food is provided at the event which goes until about 1:30 a.m. It’s a great way to have fun with your friends and create memories from Prom.
“I would say the best part of Post Prom was the raffle,” said senior Hailey Oliver, who attended Post Prom last year as a junior. “At the raffle there were a lot of cool prizes.”
Some prizes that were included at the raffle were TVs, speakers, gift cards, a printer, laptops, and more.
“The planning is still in the early stages and it is entirely run by parent volunteers,” senior parent Bridget Lawless said. “For the next several months we will be fundraising to pay for the venue, food and raffle prizes; then the night of the event parents will run the logistics of getting the students to and from the Sports Center and be on site as chaperones and run the raffles and food.”
This year’s Prom date is May 12, 2023, at Amarante’s in New Haven. Students will get to Post Prom on a bus directly from Prom.
“The committee has buses at Prom that will take them directly to the Sports Center or they go by limo or parent drop off,” past senior parent Susan Reed said. “No student can drive to Post Prom. They change at the Sports Center and then all students take the buses back to Law to get picked up or have cars there.”
The facilities are all provided by the Post Prom committee through donations from the Milford community.
“My favorite thing that I did was probably walk around the whole place with my friends and hit every spot,” said senior Demi Carrapico, who attended Post Prom last year as a junior. “Personally, I absolutely loved laser tag because of how intense it was and how much fun everyone else around me was having.”
Lawless said the Post Prom committee is looking for volunteers to help plan the event. Anyone who would like to volunteer can email her at olaw2@optonline.net.
The Student Help Desk is back to replace and repair devices for the 2022-2023 school year.
The Student Help Desk is located in the TLC and is available to help out anyone having technology issues. Students working at the help desk can fix or replace Chromebooks, Smartboards and other devices.
Law’s Library Media Specialist Ms. Mundy is the Student Help Desk advisor.
“If someone were to break their Chromebook it’s my responsibility to diagnose the problem,” senior Matthew McKlosky said. “The main purpose for the students is for them not to worry about their Chromebooks being broken.”
The Student Help Desk is available for everyone who needs it.
“The main purpose of the student help desk is to give students first hand experience with the IT system,” senior Jacob Swenning said. “It also allows for students to meet people in the IT department and have experience with them.”
The Student Help Desk gives students opportunities to learn about the IT field. This experience can help for future jobs or can be just for fun.
Students from the help desk suggest taking computer science courses to gain a better understanding at first. Then, if students are interested in working at the help desk, they should speak with Mundy.
“The Student Help Desk gives the students’ job skill training and gives Law technology needs,” Mundy said. “I assign tasks for them, but it’s very independent.”
Working at the Student Help Desk can be helpful if students are interested in IT jobs. Students can also learn to work with the IT department for summer and college jobs.
The Jonathan Law Spirit Committee organized a Spirit Week for the first time of the 2022-2023 school year during the week of September 19.
The Spirit Week consisted of Pajama Day, Jersey Day, Anything But A Backpack Day, Red, White, and Blue Day, and Color Wars.
Throughout the entire week, students dressed up according to the days and the week concluded with a pep rally on Friday. Due to COVID, Jonathan Law had not hosted an in-school pep rally in three years.
The senior class and the senior class advisors, Mrs. Francisco and Ms. Russell, organized the Spirit Week and pep rally.
“Spirit Week is always a fun and exciting week,” Francisco said. “I saw more participation this year than in recent years and that speaks volumes to our school spirit. This group of Law high school kids are ready for some fun.”
This Spirit Week was different from others because it was the first in-school Jonathan Law pep rally in years.
“It was great to be back in the gym for our pep rally,” Francisco said. “The decorations, noise level, and closeness really is a whole vibe (did I use that right?). We are hoping this is the start of something great and going forward we can only continue to show our school spirit through pep rallies and spirit days.”
Senior Class President Macie Rascoll, along with other members of the senior class, planned the themes and pep rally.
“I think Spirit Week went great,” Rascoll said. “It was super successful and we had so many students and staff participate which made it more fun.”
Jonathan Law is looking forward to having more spirit weeks coming in the 2022-2023 school year.
“This Spirit Week was different from other spirit weeks because it was the first one of the year and kind of like a welcome back to school,” Rascoll said. “It really made the transition from summer into school more fun knowing we had something to look forward to.”
The goal of Spirit Week is to bring the Jonathan Law community together and have everyone participate in something.
“With the different rules involving COVID, people were very hesitant to get involved in school spirit, activities and events, so it was just a lot more participation that was the biggest difference from last year,” Principal Mr. Darcy siad.
On the Friday night of Spirit Week, Law played its first home football game of the season.
“According to (Athletic Director) Mr. Sarullo,” Darcy said. “It was he largest crowd for a home opener in the history of the school.”
Everyone involved in the planning of the first Spirit Week said it was a success and they hope there are many more to come.
Jonathan Law’s Class of 2026 learned what it means to be a Lawman at a “Freshman Welcome Day” on September 23.
The Freshman Academy hosted a cookout, put together fun field games, escorted students room to room learning about what it means to be a Lawman, and so much more.
“My favorite part of the Freshman Welcome day was learning about Law spirit and learning how to be a Lawman,“ freshman Cassie Rodriguez said. “From the tables outside, being able to see all the clubs and sports teams together and having upperclassmen there to help explain really helped me feel welcome.“
Being a freshman can be a challenge, so many upperclassmen stepped up at “Freshman Welcome Day” and encouraged the freshmen to get involved in the school community. They hosted a handful of community-building events to welcome and show support for the freshman class.
“When helping out the freshmen during the ‘How to be a Lawmen’ station, I saw the kids start to open up a bit when we were teaching them the chants for sports games,” senior Sabrina Lawless said. ”They started off quiet but once they heard us upperclassmen screaming them they didn’t feel as shy doing it themselves.”
This day was a great opportunity for the ninth graders to learn their way around the school and be transitioned into Law’s supportive community.
“As a freshman, I feel as if it would have been an easier experience for me if the school clubs and different extracurriculars would come up to me rather than me walking to them,” senior Demi Carrapico said. “I felt very intimidated and hesitant to walk over and ask questions. It got very overwhelming.”
Starting in the cafe, freshmen played a Kahoot about Law with Munchkins as a prize. They also did icebreaker activities and built towers out of spaghetti and marshmallows.
After those events, the freshmen went broken into groups and went around to classrooms to hear presentations from upperclassmen about all things Law. Everyone then went outside to play sports on the football field, enjoy a BBQ, and walk around an Activity Fair to learn more about Law’s clubs and sports teams.
The Activity Far was followed by a school-wide pep rally.
Jonathan Law hosted its first pep rally of the year on September 23, as students got ready to cheer on the football team in their home opener that night.
Students decorated the class sections with the class colors that were worn that day for Spirit Week. The pep rally was especially exciting, since it was the first pep rally to take place inside the new gym since before COVID.
“I think it went great,” math teacher Ms. Russell said. “It was amazing to have all of our students together in one place for the first time since 2020. The energy was awesome.”
Students of all grades got involved in the activities and in the school spirit that day. This was an especially important event for the freshmen, as they experienced some of the fun events Law has to offer.
“I think that the pep rally was very exciting,” freshman Avery Moulton said. “I enjoyed watching the tug-a-war and the choir singing. The cheers went well and it got me up on my feet.”
Many freshmen were excited to be a part of their first pep rally at Law, and surprised many with their enthusiasm and excitement for the activities planned.
“The students had a lot of energy for the pep rally this year,” senior Elly Van Waveren said. “We had just taught the freshmen the chants and they were louder than I expected.”
Senior members of The Jury and faculty organizers agreed that the pep rally went especially well, since it was one of the first indoor pep rally in years. The Law band, choir, and cheerleaders performed at the event.
“I do think it went pretty well considering it’s the first time we’ve done it in a while,” senior Sabrina Lawless said. “We got everything done that we wanted to get done and everyone did great with the chanting and the tug-o-war.”
Russell said she is working on a plan to help get more students involved in activities to make an overall better atmosphere for everyone.
“This year we are going to have the Captain’s Council for each season to help with the planning of the pep rallies,” Russell said. “I think this will help involve more students and get them excited.”
This pep rally may be the first, but it is certainly not the last, and students can look forward to more pep rallies as the year goes on.
The SAVE Promise Club is a new club at Jonathan Law which is advised by history teacher Ms. Healy founded by senior Aislinn Burns.
The club is built around mental health awareness, inclusion, and preventing violence within schools. The goal of the club is to make sure students feel both safe and welcome at Law throughout the year.
“The main goal is to de-stigmatize mental health,” Healy said. “We wanted a club specific to mental health.”
The president of the club is Burns, who started the club to increase the message of the Sandy Hook Promise inside of Law. SAVE is a part of a national organization called SAVE National. SAVE stands for Students Against Violence Everywhere and is an initiative of the Sandy Hook Promise.
“In previous years, some of the Sandy Hook Promise events were run through Natural Helpers,” Burns said. “However, I wanted to create SAVE Promise Club to increase the impact/message of the club at our school as well as have the opportunity to run events year-round.”
The club had its first meeting on September 16 where they discussed preparations for Start With Hello Week.
“We discussed different activities or themes,” Healy said. “A lot of students are in it so far.”
The club meets on F days in room 187 during common time but plans to move into the auditorium due to the strong attraction the club has gained.
Over 50 students came to the meeting on the September 16 and signed up for the club’s Google Classroom. People who joined the club have had many reasons to join.
“I wanted students to feel safe at school,” said sophomore club member Alexandra Fino. “With everything that has happened in the past few years, I wanted to help make a change.”
At the meeting, club members introduced themselves and learned about the club. The members also discussed ways they could help make an impact on students at Law for Start With Hello Week.
Members of SAVE Promise appeared on Eagle Eye News the week of September 26 where they explained that day’s activities.
“For example, some people might have needed to go to school early to write motivational messages in chalk by the entrances,” sophomore member Natalia Gagliardi said. “Some may have written on name tags, and some may write messages on sticky notes and placed them around the school.”
The week was to promote positivity throughout the school and welcome those new to the Law community.
At the start of 2022-2023 school year, Jonathan Law’s freshmen have adapted very well to high school life.
The freshmen have adapted to changes like a different schedule, new classes, and different events that go on during school.
“One month into high school and I feel like I’ve been here for a while now,” freshman Brian Gonzalez said. “Everything is going very well.”
This year, Law has lots of athletic freshmen participating in sports ranging from football to soccer.
“This year I’m definitely looking forward to getting better at my position in football,” freshman Walat Balu said.
Balu is just one of the new freshman football players for Jonathan Law. This year, 19 incoming freshmen have joined this year’s football team.
“I started the football season off strong but I’m starting to slow down a bit,” freshman Yeiden Nieves said. “Hopefully I can pick myself back up and have a good rest of the season.”
This year has been a good test for the freshmen to keep up on schoolwork.
“The hardest part of the year so far has been getting things in on time,” freshman Ryan Nobles said.
Another positive experience for the freshmen has been getting to know everyone and introducing themselves.
“The easiest part of high school was getting to know everyone and try to become friends with them,” freshman Nick Cosmas said.
Law’s teachers have also spent time adjusting to the freshmen and getting to know them. They might have been working at this school for a long time but they have to adjust just as much as the freshmen.
“I love this time of year as we head into October,” freshman English teacher Mrs. Branco said. “The students are starting to feel comfortable and at home at Jonathan Law and we have entered into a routine within classes.”
Freshman teachers also have lots of advice to give to the new students coming in.
“My advice academically is to stay on top of your work,” Branco said. “It is much more difficult once you get behind in a class to try to make up assignments, stay organized and ask for help when needed.”
This year, Law opened up the year with a Freshman Welcome Day. Law’s freshman team teachers hosted a bunch of activities for all the freshmen so they could figure out how Law works.
“The Freshman Welcome Day felt very welcoming,” freshman Jeremy Clark said. “ It gave me a good idea of where everything is in the school and felt like a great way to get the freshmen ready for the school year.”
The National Math Honor Society is making its return to Law.
Math teacher Mr. Ruzbarsky is the advisor for the National Math Honor Society. He is returning with President Aislinn Burns, Vice President Rishabh Nair, Secretary Angus Cheng, and Treasurer Elizabeth Ryan.
“We are excited to start this school year and to have new members join our society,” Ruzbarsky said. “We are looking forward to our induction of our new members, learning more math, helping with math, and sponsoring our school wide April Math Month challenge and Pi Day activities.”
The NMHS is currently looking for new members to apply.
Current members said they are looking forward to Pi Day activities and some April Math Month activities.
Although NMHS has hosted Pi Day in the past, they have not narrowed down exactly what activities they will do yet.
“We might do some of the same activities again but those decisions will start to be made at our first official meeting on October 25th,” Ruzbarsky said.
In past years for Pi Day, NMHS has hosted a school0wide math event in the TLC where students complete different activities such as Draw The Best Circle and Pin The Radius On The Circle.
For April Math Month, the NMHS has done a scavenger hunt and a Math Problem of the Day. They might do some of these again but those decisions will start to be made at the first official meeting on October 25.
Burns joined the club as a junior and is now the president. She is hoping for lots of new members this year.
“We have 12 members so far with inductions going on,” Burns said.
There are normally around 20 members but they hope to grow bigger this year after inductions.
Nair is excited for the NMHS to hold regular meetings.
“The meetings are quick, very relaxed, not super math-involved,” Nair said
Many members joined the club to discuss math, which is a common interest among them.
“I joined this society to further pursue my passion for math,” Cheng said. “As a member of this society, I’ve been able to improve my math skills and help others as well.”
Ryan said she joined the club to help others who are struggling with math.
“I joined NMHS because it’s nice to be able to help out anyone who may need some math help”, said Ryan.
A group of Jonathan Law students came together to start a Black Student Union for all students in the Milford Public Schools.
This club met for the first time on Tuesday, October 4 in the TLC. The club’s goal is to create a place where students can feel a part of a community.
“During the first meeting we will Introduce ourselves and the purpose of the club and of course have fun,” junior Black Student Union co-founder Ike Opayemi said. “We hope to provide a nice space for the community and a safe space for other students with the addition of the BSU.”
The club will be run by Mr. McNeill, the principal of Pumpkin Delight Elementary School and Dr. Williams, the principal from The Academy. The club was founded by three juniors at Law: Gemard Guery, Opeyemi, and Faith Mayo.
“In terms of having a Black Student Union in Milford and the idea behind it is that voices who are often not heard in society need a voice,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “I’m excited to be able to support them in finding their voice.”
Meetings will be scheduled around events run by the club.
“I am most excited for the events that will attract students from the entire school through fundraising and service projects,” Guery said.
One of their biggest projects this year is the celebration of Black History Month in February. They plan to fundraise for this project in the months leading up to this.
“The students are hoping to establish a community of students who are looking to support causes and issues that impact our Black students in MPS,” Williams said. “My role as one of the advisors is to support the students in their work. This can be a challenging first step but it’s necessary to support all of our minority communities within our schools.”
The club will be seen on social media platforms such as The Advocate, Eagle Eye News, and Twitter to attract new members.
“It’s important to empower all students and all groups of students,” Darcy said.
The club will be a great way for students to meet and share their support for the club.
“I am excited to meet all the different people who will come to support and celebrate the club.” Mayo said.
The club is an exciting addition to the list of clubs at Jonathan Law High School that will encourage all students to get involved.
Election Day is Thursday, October 6 at Jonathan Law.
There are six positions available per class: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two Senators. Students need 25 signatures from their classmates and four signatures from their teachers to be on the voting ballot.
Students will also have to prepare a speech to run and present it in front of their class.
“Each class, freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior elect students to represent them on matters pertaining to their class,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “They organize events, fundraising, or if there are some issues or concerns that they want to bring to the school’s attention, then that would be a way to filter that information.”
Speeches and signatures are due on October 3 and should be turned in to Mr. Boynton in the ISS room.
Students need to maintain a GPA above 2.0 to keep their position in the Student Council.
“Any student can apply for student government,” Boynton said. “There’s a procedure. We have elections each year and we break it down by class. Students will be required to get a petition, and get 25 signatures from people in their class.”
Presidents have to attend and conduct all meetings, delegate responsibilities, and be committed to the Student Council.
Vice Presidents are second in command and are to assist the President in all of their activities and endeavors. Treasurers keep track of income and expenses on a spreadsheet and lead fundraising events.
Class Secretaries keep track of meetings and type proposals and letters for the Class Council. They also creates announcements and flyers.
The two Senators attend meetings and help in voicing their class’ concerns.
“I think it’s an amazing way for students to get involved with school and for students to take on tasks that can set them up in the future,” senior Hamza Bhutta said. “It’s also a good way of preparing students to vote once they are 18.”
Law science teacher Mr. Morazzini feels that all students can benefit from running for class office.
“I feel that student elections are a good introduction to students starting to take on leadership roles,” Morazzini said.
Many students are running for office because they want to see a change in the school and in their class. They want to have a fun and exciting school year.
“I’m running because I want to actually do something for me and my peers,” freshman President candidate Walat Balu said. “I’ll make sure that we don’t have a boring freshman year and have fun events for the Class of 2026.”
Mr. Beardsley joined Law’s staff this year as a history teacher.
In the classroom, Beardsley is excited to share his passion for history with his students.
“I want to provide my students with as many authentic learning experiences as possible,” Beardsley said.
Beardsley is a member of the Law Class of 2016. After graduating from Law, he went to the University of New Haven and graduated with a Bachelors degree in History in 2020. He then went to Sacred Heart University and graduated in May of 2022 with a Masters in Education.
Outside of school, Beardsley plays basketball as often as he can. He also loves to watch his favorite sports teams – the Mets, Jets, and the Knicks – whenever he gets the chance.
Jonathan Law’s Natural Helpers Club is starting back up for the 2022-2023 school year.
This club aims to help the Jonathan Law community through various activities and community service projects. The club is run by Ms. Smuniewski, an English teacher at Jonathan Law.
“Natural Helpers is a club that helps to build the Law community and facilitate different events throughout the year with the purpose of bonding and stress relief,” Natural Helpers President Skylar Johnson said. “We offer many opportunities for volunteerism and leadership.”
The club has a focus on mental health and student well-being. It aims to be a support for students at Jonathan Law.
“One of the best things about advising this club is that I get to work with students who are dedicated to the well-being and mental health of their peers,” Smuniewski said. “I love the new activities that club members bring to the table since our needs as a school change from year to year. They are always thinking of the ‘next best thing’ when it comes to making sure all students feel supported and welcomed.”
The club runs Law’s annual De-Stress Fest which aims to help students relax during finals week. Last year, there was an ice cream truck, petting zoo, and various games and activities for students to partake in.
“I think the De-Stress Fest is important because it makes students feel like their community cares about them,” Vice President Giuliana Aguilar. “It’s also important because helps everyone’s mental health by creating fun activities to destress after exams.”
This year, the Natural Helpers has a lot of fun activities planned for Jonathan Law students. In addition to the De-Stress Fest, there will be many other activities and projects run by the club.
“In the past, we’ve hosted a variety of different programs and campaigns such as Lunch Bunch, a kindness rock competition before Thanksgiving, and a De-Stress Fest before final exams. We intend on making last year’s rock competition an annual event with prizes for the top three rocks, as well as building on the success from last year’s De-Stress Fest,” Smuniewski said. “We also plan to incorporate new mindfulness activities throughout the school year and think of new ways to ensure that all students feel safe and connected in our school.”
This year, joining the club will be a different experience. To join, students must pick up an application from room 206 to become a part of the club.
“Right now, we are going off of an application based process,” Johnson said. “Our first meeting is on Tuesday, September 20th, after school in Room 206. Everyone is welcome to come and get a feel for the club and grab an application from Ms. Smuniewski afterwards if they’re interested.”
The Jonathan Law choir is starting to look sharp – and is ready for a new year.
The choir has been up and running for a few weeks now and have welcomed its newest members into the ensemble. There were many new freshmen who found choir as a community where they feel comfortable and welcomed which helped their adjustment to high school.
“The start of my freshman year was a huge change and an adjustment, I never really realized how many friends I made,” freshman Lexi Velez said. “Right when I entered school everyone was so welcoming to me, helping me and supporting me.”
Many of the upperclassmen have been stepping up and sharing their experiences with newer members, encouraging them to break out of their shells. They have had a handful of community-building events to welcome and show support for younger members.
“I am so happy and proud to say that I am a part of the choir community,” Velez said. “I think choir has helped me in high school and is going to help me more in high school, to not be afraid of doing things, to shine, never give up, always think of positive things and ways, and get out of my comfort zone and I believe that Mrs. Jones and the choir will be the one place I feel comfortable and the most welcomed.”
Many seniors have reflected on how much the group has affected them and their high school experience.
“Choir impacted my high school experience because music provided me a place to communicate with friends and to connect with others interested in music,” senior Choir Community member Deven Rivera said. “Advice I would give to underclassmen is to find a group and stick with it so you have something you can go to in rough times and a community to look back on that accepted you.”
Many have noticed how the ensemble has encouraged their personal growth and their ability to adapt and adjust to new experiences.
“Joining choir was one of the best decisions I have ever made, I have had so much fun singing and making memories, and have met some of my best friends through the choir,” senior Choir Committee member Marisa Laviano said. “Everyone at law and especially the music department is so welcoming and will accept you for who you are and be there when you need anything.”
One member of the choir, recently joined the marching and concert band to pursue his interest in percussion and mallet based instruments.
“Being part of both ensembles is extremely fun, it allows me to pursue my musical interests as a percussionist and a singer,” junior Section Leader Jasper Chu said. “However, time management isn’t going to be easy because I have to juggle homework, practice for both ensembles, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work but it’s most likely going to help me because my time management skills are going to improve.”
There are many performances to look forward to for the choir, such as, CMEA Regionals and All-State. The performances for Music In Our School’s Month is another exciting performance which will continue with participation from Foran’s high school choir.
Without having to worry about restrictions, the choir is looking forward to more field trips without having to worry about many cancellations or adjustments.
“It’s so refreshing to know we can plan for events and count on them happening,” Choir Director Kelly Jones said. “For instance, we have several upcoming events planned to perform, field trips to gain more musical expertise, and enjoy time together through consign experiences.”
These performances allow the group the ability to strengthen and growth their musical knowledge. Veteran members have learned so much, and have been providing as much advice as they can to ease the stress of high school.
“A piece of advice I would give to an underclassman is to not be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone,” senior Choir Comity member Kalli Kinsman said. “It’s definitely easier said than done, but everyone in the choir has your back and is there to catch you when you fall.”
The choir is a welcoming family who has many exciting performances and trips in the works and many other performances to look forward to.
Shagoury attended UConn for her undergraduate degree. While there, Shagoury majored in English and History and then later attended the University of Bridgeport where she received her Masters in English Secondary Education.
Outside of school, Shagoury loves dancing, reading, and working out. Shagoury also has a passion for makeup, and in college, she worked as a professional makeup artist. On the weekends and after she also teaches her own fitness classes.
Shagoury said she is excited to be a member of the Law faculty.
“Everyone is super friendly and helpful,” Shagoury said. “I love it. With the new year starting there’s lots to look forward to. I am looking forward to all of the school events that Law has as well as watching my students grow throughout the year.”
Jonathan Law principal Mr. Darcy is looking forward to his second year leading the Lawmen. Social Media Editor Zack Sulkis interviewed Darcy about the 2022-2023 school year
Zack Sulkis: What are you looking forward to most about this school year?
Mr. Darcy: I’m looking forward to experiencing a “more normal” school year where students and staff can communicate and collaborate more often. I want to see creative, engaging lessons and projects that allow students to learn from each other.
ZS: What are some events at Law this school year you are looking forward to?
MD: I’m looking forward to all the events happening this year without any issues with covid. This includes homecoming, plays, athletic events, dances, etc..
ZS: What is one important thing that the staff and students should know about your second year as principal?
MD: I’d like everyone to know that this is OUR school. Everyone shares the responsibility in making sure we do the best for each other. We work together to solve problems and anyone who has a great idea should speak up so we can move our school forward in a positive way.
ZS: How do you feel your first year went as principal at Law?
MD: I feel I achieved my personal goal of getting to know the students, staff and building as much as possible. I also feel the students did a great job of adapting to all the protocol changes that happened last year. It was a learning experience for everyone.
ZS: What was your motivation for making so many new rules last year?
MD: There is never a real motivation for putting rules in place. Students, families and staff talked to me a lot about things that were getting in the way of the school running safely and properly. We worked together to apply strategies that helped everyone feel heard and supported.
ZS: What’s your overall goal for the school in making new rules?
MD: Any rules or policies should always be updated and adapted. If something worked five years ago, it may not work today. A school community should always be reviewing what we do so we are able to make things better. This includes literally everything (rules, policies, procedures, grading practices, teaching, etc..).
ZS: What are your thoughts on all of the new teachers this school year?
MD: We had a few staff members retire and one leave the teaching profession this summer. It’s never easy to see people move on, but I feel we made some terrific hires. During the interview process candidates had to show they would not only be the best teacher for our students, but also fit into our positive climate. I’m confident in all the hires we made this summer.
ZS: Any advice for the incoming freshmen this year?
MD: My advice for the freshmen is to get involved. Join a club, play an instrument, sing, play a sport. Do something to be connected to our school community. The more students are involved, the better they do academically as well.
ZS: Any advice for this year’s seniors?
MD: My advice to seniors is to enjoy the time while you are here. When you are a senior in high school, you’re always thinking “what’s next?” and you can miss the great things that happen in the present. Soak it all in because I guarantee you will miss our school when you leave us.
ZS: What does it mean to you to be a Lawman?
MD: The staff and students have done their best to define this coming into this school year. At Law we are Leaders, Scholars, Advocates, and Family. Being a Lawman means doing your best for yourself, your family and your community. We should all be proud to be a Lawman everyday. I know I am.
The Jonathan Law Marching Band is bringing it back, ready to perform an explosive halftime show this year.
There are many exciting performances for the Marching Band. Their first performance this year will be in the Connecticut Day parade at the Big E on September 16.
The band has also been preparing their halftime show for the first home football game in a few weeks.
“This year I’m looking forward to my first year actually marching in the halftime show,” said junior Isabelle Maselli. “I’m excited to see the places we get to go to share our music especially since COVID has mostly cleared up with restrictions.”
The Marching Band hasn’t been able to perform a full halftime show since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students are unfamiliar with the process of building a show and executing it by the first home football game.
Newer members of the band, such as the freshman, were welcomed into the process early on with the help of band camp. Throughout band camp, they were learning music and how to march while playing and starting to become comfortable with their new school environment.
“I felt anxious about coming to a new school and finding my classes but being a member of the band has eased my transition into high school,” said freshman Abigail Jenkins. “During summer band rehearsals and band camp, I was able to meet new people and explore different aspects of the school.”
Band camp was a great opportunity for new members to learn their way around the school and be welcomed into a community that will always be there to support them.
“The start of my freshman year has definitely been very stressful but the band is so welcoming and helpful especially when I need something,” said freshman Melissa Servas. “They continue to talk to me during the school day even if it’s just a simple ‘hi’ in the hallway.”
The ability to have a group of people who are familiar with one another before starting the academic year was proven to have eased the transition back to school.
Many returning members of the band have been looking forward to the start-up of the concert season and Jazz Band.
“This year, I am really looking forward to the concert season,” said senior Jacob Swenning. “One performance, in particular, I am very excited about is performing for the Jazz Band because I had a great experience last year and believe I will have an even better experience this year.”
The Jazz Band has participated in a handful of festivals over the past year and plans to continue to throughout the year.
There are many performances that will allow tremendous growth within the band over the course of the school year and many members have set goals for themselves to achieve.
“My goal this year is to become a better trumpet player,” said junior Hayden Chetwynd. “I hope to have a successful transition from a brass instrument to percussion between the Jazz and Marching Band.”
Chetwynd is one of the handful of members who participate in multiple music ensembles. Branching out into the Jazz Band has granted him the opportunity to learn new instruments and become a stronger and well-rounded musician.
“This year I think I have already gotten so much better as a musician, said Maselli. “I’ve had a great role model, Bridget Dywer, to watch and help me grow, and hope I can have that effect on the younger people in my section this year and next.”
The veteran members have clearly shown their dedication to the music ensemble by taking the lead within their sections and providing guidance to younger members.
“If I could give an underclassmen advice it would definitely be to ask for help,” said senior Chelsea Abbey. “I’d also advise practicing on your own time if you have it because you’ll be able to prepare yourself for events and you’ll be able to focus on what you need to improve on.”
Band Director Mr. Pelaggi plans to improve the performance of the band’s concerts, parades, and marching shows.
“I have been incorporating some new strategies in my ensemble classes by breaking down my scores in different ways,” Pelaggi said. “When I think about the theory behind our music more, I understand it and the music better, and I can teach it more efficiently.”
This year the band has welcomed a new member, Michael Barile, a student teacher who’s working toward a degree in music.
He will be starting by taking over two of the music technology classes and theory classes first, to then moving on to ensembles and running rehearsals on his own.
“It has been an interesting new experience and so far has been a really cool process for me,” said Pelaggi. “I’ve been much more critical of my teaching because I am being viewed as an example for a teacher every time I am in front of students.”
Barile has been a great addition to the band community and has shown much talent within the music department.
For the first time, a member of the Jonathan Law High School Band has been chosen to perform in The All-National Honor Ensemble Concert Band.
“Noah and I, (a member of the Foran band) are the first musicians from Milford to ever make it to Nationals,” said junior assistant drum major Christopher Rickard. “I want to represent Milford and Law well, I look forward to performing with such a talented group of musicians, and I look forward to meeting new people.
Rickard spent hours rehearsing the piece “Sonata” for Euphonium with the help of Dave Pelaggi and private instructor Art Hovey.
The band will be performing from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., on November 6 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, in Washington D.C.
This is an incredible opportunity for Rickard that will allow him to experience a new dynamic of musicians and perform in the country’s capital.
The Jonathan Law Drama Club is up and running again and they are getting ready to show their production of “The Play That Goes Wrong.”
The club is very excited to be back. Their last play was an adaptation of “Freaky Friday,” a musical, and now “The Play That Goes Wrong” has a bit of a different twist to it.
“The fall production that we will be holding this year is titled ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ and as for the plot of the show, it is indeed strange, but overall unique,” senior Drama Club President Sofia Mazzella said. “The play is about a group of actors who are putting on a murder mystery play for an audience, but what makes the show earn its title is that every single thing imaginable goes wrong….actors forget their lines, set pieces break, cues are off, and technical details are greatly flawed.”
Students in the Drama Club want more people to join, because it can be a great place to make new friends and act on stage.
“My favorite part of being in Drama Club is how welcoming and kind the community is,” sophomore Sarah Ahmed said. “You can be yourself and have fun and make so many new friends, it’s amazing and I would say joining Drama is one of the best decisions I made going into high school.”
The club has many goals they want to achieve to make this play work and have people enjoy it.
“My goal is to make this another great show with hopefully an even bigger turnout than past years,” senior Shruti Simhadri said. “Expect some promo coming your way soon.”
Club members also want to improve on their acting skills and have a chance to shine on stage.
“I hope to be a part of the main cast and get to improve as an actor,” junior Faith Santiago said.
Everyone in the club wants to just have fun and enjoy their time making memories on the stage, but also making memories off the stage as well.
“My main goal for being in the club is to just have fun and enjoy it because it is going to be funny and I am so excited,” junior Hailey Russo said.
Florian graduated from UConn with a Bachelor’s degree in Allied Human Sciences and a minor in Psychology. She then studied abroad in Australia for six months at Macquarie University.
She got her first Master’s degree in the Art of Teaching at Tampa University and her second Masters’ in Building Leadership and Administration at Mercy College.
Florian’s teaching experience is extensive. She taught AP Biology in Tampa, Florida. Then, she moved to Rhode Island and taught Physics, Biology, and Chemistry at Immaculate Conception Academy, an all-girls Catholic boarding school.
After that, she came back to Connecticut and started teaching at Greenwich High School and their alternative school. She also coached soccer and lacrosse there. Afterward, she moved to Southington and started teaching at The Academy in Milford.
Florian then had three children in three years and came to Law after her maternity leave was over.
“I haven’t been in the classroom in two years because of the pandemic and having kids so I am ready to get back to interacting with peers and students,” Florian said.
Outside of school, Florian is also a very adventurous person. She has traveled a lot. She also enjoys scuba diving, skydiving, skydiving, bungee jumping, hiking, camping, and much more. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and creating art. She is also a very sporty person, having played soccer, lacrosse, and volleyball.
She is so excited to be teaching now that COVID-19 restrictions have lessened.
“The students so far seem like a great bunch too,” Florian said. “It is nice to see more socializing and normalcy after a pandemic.”
The Jonathan Law Teaching and Learning Commons (TLC) and Support Center have some new additions and rules with the new school year.
The TLC is an open spot for students to study or get academic help. In previous years, the Support Center has been located in the back of the TLC, but this year it has been separated into Math and English Support Centers in designated rooms in the TLC.
There are many new rules and guidelines about the TLC as well as changes with the Support Center.
“This year the upperclassmen now have study hall in the TLC,” Library Media Specialist Ms. Munday said. “Instead of reporting to study hall and getting a pass to come to the TLC, students can come directly here.”
While the upperclassmen privilege is new, there most other rules stayed the same, such including the sign-in system.
“We are keeping the Library Trac sign-in system,” Mundy said. “Students need to sign in when they come to the room for any reason. If they have a study they also need to check in with their study hall teacher. For new students they just need to know their five digit lunch code (or the last five numbers of their Google password) and log into Library Trac that way.”
The Support Center has also had some new adjustments with the beginning of the new school year.
“The Support Center is in two rooms in the TLC: Math is in one room and English in another. There’s nothing different other than the location,” Mundy said. “It gives more privacy to students who are working and frees up more space in the main room of the TLC.”
The Support Center also has teachers that are there to help students with a specific subject.
“The Support Center is a place where all students can come down for Math, Science, English, Social Studies, group work, or a quiet place with a knowledgeable person nearby to answer possible questions,” math teacher Mr. Ruzbarsky said. “The Support Center helps all students achieve their academic goals by helping them in a non-traditional classroom way to explore the misconceptions they have to help them fully understand what they are working on.”
For students, the new TLC rules and Support Center opinions can vary.
“I may be biased but I like the new upperclassmen rule in the TLC,” Junior Emily Lo said. “It regulates the amount of people in the room making it easier to study and work. I use the TLC and Support enter a lot and I believe it is a great way for students to work on their skills and improve academically.”
Many students and teachers value the Support Center and TLC, no matter the changes.
“Our goal is to help all students with any academic, organizational, or study skill need,” English Teacher Mrs. Goldbeck said. “The teachers look for ways to improve the Center each year so that students can reach their highest level of achievement.”
Mr. Barcello is back at Law as the new Technology teacher.
Barcello had previously taught at Law for seven years. In 2022, he moved on to the Fairfield School District, but now he has returned to Milford.
Before teaching, he went to Boston University, and while there, he majored in Journalism.
When not in school, Barcello loves to cook, listen to music, and play sports, specifically disc golf.
This year, Barcello is mostly looking forward to the Powder Puff game. It is one of his favorite events of the year.
“I love the Law community,” Barcello said. “When my job opened up, I jumped at the chance to come back because I missed the sense of community that we have here at Law.”
The Jonathan Law Key Club is back up and running and will have its first meeting of the year on September 14 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.
Law’s Key Club will be run by Lieutenant Governor and Co-President Caroline Doyle and Co-President Hanna Keating. They are looking forward to their upcoming projects and are ready to see some new faces.
Key Club is a great opportunity for students to participate as volunteers and to earn community service hours.
“This year we are hoping to get involved in our community, hold some service projects at meetings, and fundraise, especially for Camp Sunshine, which is my Governor’s Project focus this year,” Doyle said.
Key Club hopes to successfully fund children with cancer to attend Camp Sunshine. For the kids, the camp is a great opportunity to have fun and do activities.
“I am most excited for all the volunteer work we will be doing this year,” Keating said. “We are working on a district project for Camp Sunshine so most of our fundraising will go to them this year which is really exciting. I think Key Club helps me as a student because it surrounds me with others with similar mindsets and motivates me to do better.”
Key Club is a great way for students to engage at school and meet others who share their interests.
“This year we will have a lot of new activities and we will be focusing a lot on raising money for Camp Sunshine which is a great cause that provides a fun camp for kids with cancer,” senior Maya Rosado said. “I think it’s important for students to join the club because it is an easy way to get your volunteer hours.”
Members say that helping the community is the most rewarding part of joining Key Club.
“Key Club has been very beneficial to me during my time at Law so far,” Secretary Skylar Johnson said. “I’ve met some really great friends, gotten closer with the Law community as a whole, and felt the joy that accompanies volunteerism.”
Students can stay busy this year and grow closer to Law with the help of the volunteer opportunities and activities offered.
“We were able to go to a Decon trip last year, and I was able to learn about treasure training and take care of the key club finances,” Treasure Kyle Chy said. “It benefited me by giving me volunteer hours, leadership positions, and there is an officer for every freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior as well.”
Eagle Eye News is back up and running at Jonathan Law for the new school year.
Eagle Eye News will air at the start of second period on A-D days and then at the start of Common Time on E and F days.
Each day on the news, there will be announcements about all of the different events that are happening around Law. Some days there will be guest appearances from Law’s clubs, teams, and other activities. There will also be on air news stories, interviews and other videos produced by the editors.
“I am most excited to start getting a feel for being behind the camera and for creating new projects this year like highlight films and podcasts that can make the news longer,” senior Maya Rosado said.
The first episode of the school year aired live on Friday, September 9.
“We are constantly getting announcements and appearance requests emailed to us, and every day, we organize all of those announcements and schedule the guests for that day,” Broadcast Journalism teacher Mr. Kulenych said.
Broadcast Journalism has a brand new staff this year and the students have already been brainstorming ideas for new segments for Eagle Eye News.
“Every year, I am most excited to see what ideas the new Broadcast students have for Eagle Eye News,” Kulenych said. “We have one of our biggest classes ever this year, including a lot of returning members from last year, and they are all ready to bring their creativity to life on the news every day.”
Senior Ben Rossi is excited to be back in Broadcast after taking the course as a junior last year.
“I’m super excited about working with a whole new group of people,” Rossi said. “The class doubled in size so it’s exciting to have more ideas to improve Eagle Eye News.”
This year, the class has 20 students, up from 12 last year.
“I hope we will be able to do more news segments around the school live on air,” senior Dom DiFederico said.
Competing was quite the emotional roller coaster, until the park opened and everyone got on the actual roller coasters.
Then the emotion came from those who were afraid of heights.
The concert band, orchestra, advanced vocal ensemble, and concert choir performed at Holy Oak High School, minutes away from Six Flags.
This was the first time for many ensemble members to perform for live judges and receive professional feedback on their performance.
“I haven’t been to a music competition in three years so I definitely forgot how it felt to perform at a competition,” sophomore section leader Moulika Sivalenka said. “I was nervous, scared, and just wanted to get the performance over with, but I think the cool energy and calmness of (band and orchestra director) Mr. Pelaggi made me less nervous.”
Receiving the feedback after the performance allowed the ensembles to reflect on their performance and their improvements throughout the year.
“The feedback was great and mostly constructive,” junior choir manager Kalli Kinsman said. “Every judge is different, so you have to take their feedback and recognize what you need to work on as a group to improve and be better the next time you perform.”
The concert band received an excellent score as well title as the overall high school concert band. The concert choir received the second place high school choir title as well as a superior score. The advanced vocal ensemble also received a superior score and first overall. Finally, the orchestra received a superior rating.
There was tremendous growth within the ensembles that shown through with their performances.
“Our students’ tone, sense of rhythm, sense of intonation, and balance and blend have improved immensely,” Pelaggi said. “At the beginning of the year, students were having some trouble coming out of COVID, but we have really overcome these challenges.”
After the competition the department spent the remainder of their afternoon at Six Flags amusement park with all the other schools attending.
Many students spent their time with members from other Jonathan Law ensembles and were able to venture around the park together.
“Being able to spend time with my friends that I don’t normally hang out with was one of my highlights of the trip,” senior percussion player Dimitri Barnes said. “It was a great experience, especially at the end of senior year.”
The trip was popular among students as it was near the end of the year and the first trip many have taken due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was just so wonderful to feel like we had a group of people who love and support each other walking around throughout the park,” choir director Ms. Jones said. “So, it made it so much more fun to have the people we enjoy being around to share the day with.”
Jonathan Law’s National Honor Society held its annual Brain Bowl on April 27.
Members from each grade compete against each other in trivia in front of an audience of the school in the auditorium and the winning team to compete against the faculty team.
“The purpose is to bring the entire school community together to have fun competing in trivia while raising money for brain cancer research,” National Honor Society Advisor Ms. Turcotte said.
In all, over $800 was raised for brain cancer research from this year’s Brain Bowl.
All students and teachers trying out for their team had to take the preliminary multiple choice trivia test. The four students in each grade with the highest scores were selected to represent their grade on their brain bowl team.
Representatives from each team were: freshmen Sarah Ahmed, Isabella Vancho, Sarah Gutierrez, and Carol Jiang; sophomores Arshaq Ahmed, Arman Punjabi, Eliot Melgar, Benjamin Giarandola; juniors: Matt McKlosky, Kyle Chy, Skylar Johnson and Devin Calvin; seniors: Elanor Clay, Anthony Fino, Travis Zeidler, and MaKenna Sharpe; and faculty: Mr. Evanko, Ms. Furst, Officer Goldfuss, and Ms. Mannion.
“The highlight of the event was when I got a ‘Freaky Friday’ question wrong when I was in the musical,” freshman Sarah Ahmed said. “All of the drama kids started yelling from the audience. It was so funny.”
The game consisted of four rounds and at the end of each round the team with the least amount of points got eliminated.
All four student teams competed for a chance to compete against the faculty team.
The first to be eliminated were the the sophomores, followed by the freshmen, then the juniors. The seniors went on to compete against the faculty.
“Our team did surprisingly well and made it to the final round against the staff, even though we lost in the end we put up a great fight,” senior Travis Zeidler said.
The final question of the brain bowl both teams wager their points to answer a question following the theme of the game, this years theme being “The Avengers.”
“The highlight of the event was probably watching the staff try to name each of the Infinity Stones,” junior Skylar Johnson said.
The staff ended up going home with the victory in the 2022 Brain Bowl.
The Class of 2024 held a Spirit Week during the week of May 16-20 to raise money for the sophomore class.
The spirit week consisted of Pajama Day, Crazy Sock Day, Law Gear Day, Adam Sandler Day, and Color Ward.
Throughout the entire spirit week, sophomores had jars out during lunch waves to help raise money for their class. The jars were labeled with a different pair of teachers and whichever pair raised the most money would be pied in the face on Eagle Eye News.
The teachers that raised the most money were history teachers Mr. Lui and Mr. Zuraw. They were pied on the June 1 episode of Eagle Eye News.
“Although I’m genuinely glad we were able to help raise money for the sophomore class, I wish it didn’t have to of happened in the middle of the day on a Wednesday when I still had to teach and for the remainder of the day because I smelled like spoiled milk,” Zuraw said. “The pie did taste great, but whipped cream isn’t that much fun to have up your nose, in your hair, and in your ears.”
In total, the sophomore class raised over $100. This money goes to future events such as dances, funding, etc.
Sophomore class President Hailey Russo orchestrated the spirit week along with help from sophomore Jessica Brocksom.
“We planned the Spirit Week by first coming up with an idea and then getting it approved by Mr. Darcy,” Brocksom said. “Once that was done we just made some posts to spread awareness and we spread the word to our friends as well, and lastly, we asked some teachers if they would be willing to get involved.”
Once everything was approved and organized, the result was a fun week for all students and teachers.
“My favorite Spirit Day was Adam Sandler Day and Color Wars,” Russo said. “Color Wars is a classic and Adam Sandler Day was funny to see people in oversized clothes and sunglasses.”
The sophomore class plans to have many more events in the future.
“We have many ideas planned for this year and next year,” Russo said. “We were going to have them all together but since we have limited time we decided to split it up into different ideas.”
The Jonathan Law Natural Helpers club is creating a De-stress Fest before final exams.
This is an opportunity for students to relieve stress and to lend a helping hand.
Natural Helpers intends to host their annual De-stress Fest in the senior parking lot, which allows students to put their feet up and enjoy themselves before finals and the end of the school year. It will be there to help manage stress with the many activities provided.
“There will be two days of activities with the natural helpers,” junior club member Giuliana Aguilar said. “One of the days we have rooms with specific activities such as a movie room and an arts and crafts room, and the next day is the petting zoo.”
The cozy room, game room, mindful art room, new gym, and ice cream will be Wednesday, June 8, and the petting zoo will be on Thursday, June 9 after school. It will be a fun day for students to take advantage of the provided activities.
Students will be able to unwind after their AP exams and prepare mentally for finals at the festival. This is an opportunity for students to participate in after-school activities and relax while also socializing.
“I think the De-Stress Fest is a useful and fun stress management tool that every student should take advantage of,” junior club member Skylar Johnson said. “Everything, including the game room, cozy room, mindful room, new gym, ice cream truck, and petting zoo is free. Any student is welcome to stop by and relive any finals stress they may have.”
During this time it can be very draining for students, this can be a great opportunity to take a break from homework and studying. The Natural Helpers are thrilled to lend a helping hand and be of assistance.
“Taking time before finals to participate in the De-stress Fest may help students by making them feel less overwhelmed and less stressed at the end of the year,” junior club member Aislinn Burns said. “It’s important to take care of yourself, especially around finals time which is why participating in some of the De-stress fest activities is so important.”
Members of the club suggested attending the event, emphasizing the importance of engaging yourself in the activities offered to you. Everything available will be free.
“The Natural Helpers hope that students will come out and spend some time engaging in self-care before a week of final exams,” Natural Helpers advisor Ms. Smuniewski said. “It’s been a long year, so relax with some games, ice cream, and animals. We hope to see you there.”
Members of Law’s senior class and their guests had a blast at this year’s prom.
The event was held on May 26 at Villa Bianca in Seymour and was then followed by post-prom which was held at the Sports Center in Shelton.
“I was so excited to finally get to have a prom,” Senior Lauren Davis said. “We have spent our whole high school careers looking at people going to prom and there was a lot of anticipation leading up to prom itself, seeing as ours had been postponed twice.”
All the students that attended prom were happy to have a “normal prom.”
“It became very clear that students and staff wanted everything to go ‘back to normal’,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “The prom was included in those discussions and we decided a few months ago that if our school district restrictions lightened up and we were as safe as possible, we could have a real prom.”
The prom is an experience that every principal and staff member wishes each kid goes to in their high school years. “It’s a moment you will always remember,” Darcy said.
“My favorite part about prom was seeing everyone all dressed up and dancing together,” Davis said. “Everyone had so much fun on the dance floor and it was such a good time.”
Since prom was originally supposed to be held last year, it was postponed to October 1. As the date changed, so did the planning.
“Luckily for us, time was on our side,” senior class advisor Mrs. Fransisco said. “By ‘waiting it out’ we were lucky enough to have no restrictions at prom.”
The Class of 2021’s prom was held at Quassy Amusement Park, and this year that option was still on the table. But the class officers optioned to have a more traditional prom.
“My favorite part of prom was going to Sports Center after,” senior Lucia Pino said.
This was the first real event that this class was able to attend this year and it was a great experience.
“I was very excited to finally have prom, because not being able to have one junior year had me looking forward to it this year,”’ senior Lucas Pincus-Coyle said.
Diya Daruka has officially been named Jonathan Law’s Class of 2022 valedictorian.
Daruka will be attending Duke University and plans on double majoring in Economics and Statistical Science with concentrations in Finance and Data Science.
“It definitely feels great and I’m extremely happy,” Daruka said. “I’ve worked very hard for this so it’s nice to see that I was able to accomplish it.”
Daruka took 14 AP classes during her time at Jonathan Law while being involved in many activities both inside and outside of school.
“Some APs I’ve taken are United States Government and Politics, United States History, Statistics, Language and Composition, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Psychology, Human Geography, Computer Science Principles,” Daruka said. I’m currently taking Macroeconomics, Literature and Composition, Seminar, Physics, and Computer Science A.”
“For me, Diya is one of those students that I will never forget. I would even say that she is one of a kind,” math teacher Mr. Ruzbarsky said. “She is exactly what a teacher wants and wishes every student could be like.”
Diya is the President of the National Math Honor Society, treasurer of Key Club, Vice President of Science Club, Founder of FBLA, and a member of the National Honor Society. She also started a nonprofit financial literacy course which she teaches to students from third to twelfth grade. Outside of school, Diya is the President of the Keystone Club at the Boys and Girls Club of Milford and also serves on the national Boys and Girls Clubs of America Teen Leadership Board.
“She has excellent time management and is able to maintain all of her extracurriculars, her schoolwork, and her social life, which I find admirable,” senior Katherine Froelick said. “She is genuinely one of the brightest people that I know, and her ability to work so hard on everything that she does is truly something to be proud of.”
In addition to being valedictorian, Daruka has won a lot of her accolades during her time at Jonathan Law. In addition to numerous school awards and graduating with distinction, she is a Coca-Cola Scholar, Boys and Girls Clubs of Connecticut Youth of the Year, and National Merit Scholar Commended Student.
“I have only known Diya for a few months during my time here at Law, but she is a kind, passionate and intelligent young lady who exemplifies exactly what we expect from all of our students,” Jonathan Law Principal Mr. Darcy said.
While Daruka worked incredibly hard to achieve this, she is incredibly grateful for the supportive community around her.
“I’d like to thank my family, especially my mom, the administration and teachers I’ve had at Jonathan Law, my neighbors, and my friends,” Daruka said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without each and every one of them.”
Eva Carroll has officially been named Jonathan Law’s Class of 2022 salutatorian.
Carroll will be attending the University of Miami in the fall and is planning to study chemical engineering.
“I feel very proud of myself,” Carroll said. “I worked very hard throughout my four years at Jonathan Law, and I feel that I deserve this accomplishment.
Carroll challenged herself with eight advanced placement classes over the years, setting herself up for success and preparing her for her future in college. She has taken AP Government and Politics, AP Language and Composition, AP Chemistry, AP Macroeconomics, AP Human Geography, AP CSP, AP Psychology, and AP Calculus AB.
Carroll’s academic drive is not only reflected in this outstanding achievement, but it is recognized by all those around her.
“Eva is a hardworking young lady who possesses an inner drive to accumulate as much knowledge as possible,” Jonathan Law High School Principal Mr. Darcy said. “Her drive and passion for science in particular has focused her down a possible career path as well.”
Carroll’s friends are extremely supportive of her and remark that they can easily see how she has earned the prestigious title of salutatorian.
“Eva is very smart, and she is really good at paying attention to detail,” senior Eliana Markowitz said. “One message that I have for Eva is to keep working hard, because I know that she will do great things!”
Carroll is very thankful for the Jonathan Law community, and attributes her success to her peers and her teachers.
“I’d like to thank Ms. Turcotte for this achievement; she always made me feel like I was capable of doing great things,” Carroll said. “If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know if I would have pushed myself as hard as I did.”
Throughout her high school career, Carroll not only maintained outstanding grades, but she was also involved in many extracurricular activities and held numerous leadership positions in the Law community.
“Eva works hard in the classroom and has shown her ability to work and lead teams throughout her high school career,” Darcy said. “Two examples of this are her leadership role as co-president of the senior class and her leadership role with the National Honor Society.”
In addition to her role in class office and in the National Honor Society, Carroll is also a member of the National Math Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, and she is on the senior prom committee.
“Alright jazzy-jazzers, let’s get ready for our concert.” – Mr. Pelaggi
The Jonathan Law Jazz Band preformed at the Naugatuck Jazz Festival on April 29 at Naugatuck High School. This is the first time many members performed in the ensemble but returning members haven’t preformed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This opportunity gave the group the ability to share their music with other high school students as well as listen to many jazz bands preform.
“It was so great to hear other groups perform,” Band Director Mr. Pelaggi said. “For me, it was interesting to hear the differences between the groups that have jazz as a part of their curriculum and those that have it as an after school activity.”
The other bands allowed them to see what they could work towards and where they can push themselves to improvise with higher or lower notes than they are comfortable with, within each solo section. It was a strong learning experience for all of those that participated.
“It was very fun and exciting to hear all of the other musicians play different pieces,” freshman trumpet player Peter Gill said. “The trumpet solos in other bands were thrilling because of how good their skills are.”
There were around eight different bands that performed, each presenting different styles of jazz.
“It was good to get a mix of styles,” junior alto saxophone player Matt McKlosky said. “Listening to swing style music, more kinds of rock/jazz centered pieces, a couple of latin pieces, and one being like a jazzy sea shanty was interesting to see how each of the pieces played with their instruments, especially more brass centered songs, since we don’t have many brass players.”
After listening to all of the bands, many members reflected on their personal growth with their instruments and how much they’ve improved since receiving the music.
“I’ve personally grown with playing the slide trombone,” sophomore low brass player Chris Rickard said. ”I am an entirely self-taught trombone player, and through Mr. Pelaggi’s program have been able to accomplish more in that respect which has helped to diversify instrumentation and appreciation for other styles of music and has been one of my biggest growths, along with challenging my limits as not simply a euphonium or tuba player, but a low brass player in general.”
With each member finding improvement within themselves, there were many improvements with the entire ensemble overall.
“I think the whole band has grown so much in the time we got these pieces,” junior Drum Major Kayla Lembo said. “We have all gotten more comfortable with the music and playing it together.”
The ensemble was proud of their performance as well as their growth since the beginning of the year. For the few returning members, it was a new experience preforming with a new group of musicians whom never preformed jazz music before.
“The purpose of music is to play and perform for others, without the performance, it’s just a whole lot of repetition,” McKloksy said. ”I’ve also definitely noticed that the group dynamic has shifted from a more balanced instrumentation to being more saxophone heavy, but that’s not a bad thing at all.”
The loss of many strong musicians and the growth of many strong musicians have brought different elements to the ensemble.
“As a director, the whole gig is just wearing a suit and talking into a microphone,” Pelaggi said. “Seeing our students be independent and work as a unit is always a treat to me. We hadn’t had a jazz gig in a while, so being able to do this concert was really fun.”
With this being the first preformed gig in two years, many thought it was a great way to showcase their growth as a group and individually.
“The dynamic of the group has changed a lot since we started together in 2019,” Pelaggi said.“Our students are more friendly with each other and are more collaborative because the relationships are stronger than ever.”
Jonathan Law history teacher Miss Mannion will be retiring this year after 40 years of teaching, with 20 of those years being at Law.
Mannion is a part of the Law history department and she has made an impact on all of her students, teachers, and faculty.
“In this building, Miss Mannion will always be remembered for the relationships that she built with people,” assistant principal Mr. Marko said. “I have spoken to many students over the years that all said that they always knew that Miss Mannion cared and wanted what was best for them.”
Mannion started her teaching career in Missouri, and has also taught in New York and Massachusetts. She came to Law in February of 2003 and has been teaching at Law ever since.
“Miss Mannion is basically the mother hen of our department,” History Department Chair Mr. Zuraw said, “She is the oldest, wisest, and most caring person.”
Surprisingly, teaching wasn’t exactly what Mannion had in mind when she was in high school but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“When I was in high school I thought I was going to be an attorney and possibly run for Congress one day,” Mannion said. “Thank God I got terrible scores on the LSAT test when I was in college. That ended my chance of being a lawyer. One of the best things that ever happened to me.”
In her 20 years of teaching at Law, Mannion has taught hundreds of students and she will miss all of them the most.
“The best thing about Johnny Law is the kids,” Mannion said. “I love them even when they drive me nuts.”
Mannion’s students will also miss her.
“One thing Miss Mannion always ensured was that every student felt at home in her classroom,” junior Eric Relucio said. “She is the nicest soul I’ve ever met and such a sweet person that would not only be a good role model as a teacher but a best friend.”
Since Mannion has had such a great, long, and impactful career, she is ready to enjoy the next phase of her life.
“I would like to volunteer some of my time next year at an animal shelter,” Mannion said. “I would also like to READ and READ…..not because I have to…but because I want to.”
The Jonathan Law junior class had its Cotillion on Thursday, April 28.
Students were beyond excited to have their first normal dance experience since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The event started at 7 p.m. and was held at The Woodwinds in Branford, CT. The venue was beautiful and students and faculty loved it.
“I think the venue was great,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “The staff there was wonderful and it allowed both an inside and outside experience for students and staff.”
Students were able to choose their own tables and request music before and during the event.
Everyone was pleased with the setup and excited to be together with no masks.
“The dance was very fun and I thought the music was good,” junior Connor Chirico said.
The food was well-received and many students liked the buffet style that was provided.
“I think the dance went well,” junior Olivia Coddington said. “The food was great and a lot of people had a good time.”
Despite the fun, there was a lot of planning that went into the event.
“The biggest challenge this year was having it on a Thursday,” Darcy said. “Due to COVID, a lot of dates were blocked off at venues because of weddings that were being scheduled from the past two years so we will look to schedule the event on a Friday for next year.”
Some students are hoping that next year’s Cotillion adds a theme – similar to what the senior have now at prom.
“I feel like having a theme for a dance could have been something to do for dances in the future,” Coddington said.
Students also really liked the idea of having Cotillion as a junior and prom for their senior year.
“Cotillion was fun and I like how it is, because prom would be a good send off as a senior,” Chirico said.
Overall, the event was a success.
“You all had fun and were respectful to each other and the staff at the venue,” Darcy said. “It was a great experience to just “sit back” and see you have fun as kids.”
By Maddy Gaillard – Entertainment Editor 
By Ella Franzman – Sports Editor 
By Marisa Laviano – Staff Reporter
The Advocate Online 