By Olivia Augustine – News Editor

Senior Diya Daruka has been selected to receive a $20,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Foundation. 

Daruka was one of 150 students selected out of 68,000 applicants to receive the scholarship. The Coca-Cola Scholarship is a scholarship given out by the Coca-Cola Foundation to senior high school students. 

“The Coca-Cola Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship in which scholars are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities,” Daruka said. “The scholarship is for students ‘who demonstrate academic achievement and leadership and to promote making the world a better place’.”

Diya is very excited and thankful for this scholarship. 

“I applied for this scholarship in order to save money for college but one of the main reasons I applied for this scholarship is also because it develops a powerful network of community leaders, touched by Coca-Cola, whose vision will help shape the world, leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come,” Daruka said. “Therefore, by becoming a Scholar, I am able to become part of that incredible, influential network.”

Jonathan Law Principal Mr. Darcy is very proud of Daruka for receiving this scholarship. 

“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,” Darcy said. “I’m very proud of her as a representative of Jonathan Law, her community, family and herself.”

Daruka’s teachers said that she is a hardworking student and very deserving of this scholarship.

“Diya is a spectacular student who gives in every way she can to not only our school but also our community,” math teacher Mr.Ruzbarsky said. “She was up against the best in the country and has proven time and time again that she deserves to be there with the best.”

By Reilly Hungerford – Staff Reporter

For over 30 years, Music In Our Schools Month has been celebrated nationwide.

Jonathan Law’s Music Department has many events and activities planned to celebrate.

Jonathan Law’s Choir, directed by Ms. Jones, is preparing multiple songs to practice with Foran’s Choir, directed by Mr. Stammen. This event will later turn into a workshop, being directed by the director of choral activities at UConn, Dr. Jaime Spillane.

“Choir is preparing varying choral repertoire to have the opportunity to perform and hopefully experience a choral worship with our peers in Milford under the direction of Dr. Jaime Spillane, director of choral activities at UConn,” Jones said.

The Choir students are very confident in their performance skills.

“I am super excited for MIOSM,” junior Choir Manager Kalli Kinsman said. “We have created an environment where people aren’t afraid to mess up or try new things and this leads us to improve quickly and sing stronger than before.”

Choir students are very excited for this in-school field trip.

“Of course, I’m excited for MIOSM,” junior Choir member Hannah Sullivan said. “I remember going to the middle schools when I was a sophomore and it was so fun.”

Jones also hopes to do something to celebrate with one of her other music classes, Peer Assisted Music.

“I hope to highlight our peer class as they have been showing such great progress on their drumming skills during the month of March,” Jones said.

Jonathan Law’s Band, directed by Mr. Pelaggi, is also doing some fun activities for MIOSM. They are commissioning a piece from Kyle Brenn, a composer from New York City who writes music for many musical ensembles.

“Our students are performing a piece specifically written for them by Mr. Brenn,” Pelaggi said.

They will then go into a workshop about the piece with Brenn.

“We will also be having a masterclass style workshop with Mr. Brenn in person at the end of March/beginning of April,” Pelaggi said.

The Band is very excited about their commissioned piece. They are also very confident they will do well when performing it all together.

“I am confident that the Band will successfully execute the new piece as well as our two other pieces that are very different from one another and focus on different aspects of our ensemble,” junior Band member Katie Servas said.

Band will be performing this piece at a music concert in May.

Pelaggi’s other music classes – Orchestra, Music Tech, and Music Theory – will also be doing fun activities for MIOSM. Orchestra will be making a video.

“For Orchestra, we are planning on making a video about our students’ experiences,” Pelaggi said.

For Music Tech, the students’ music will be displayed at the beginning of each Eagle Eye News episode as a theme song.

“In Music Tech, I am planning on having some students share their music with the school,” Pelaggi said.

In Music Theory, all of the students are working with another class in the music department.

All regular COVID-19 protocols will be followed when these events are celebrated.

By Caden Simpson – Staff Reporter

Members of the Class of 2022 are preparing for their future careers with Senior Internships starting in May. 

Taking an internship would entail seniors ending their school year early once AP exams are finished. Students can choose any internship that interests them, and gives seniors the opportunity to explore what they want to do when they are older.

“The Senior Internship Program is an opportunity for grade 12 students to transition to a hands-on, out of school experience in an area of their interest before graduation,” College & Career Coordinator Ms. Sylvia said. “This provides seniors the chance to explore fields that interest them and may set them on a particular path in their post-high school plan – whether that is a 2 year or 4 year college, work, military, or gap year experience.”

The internship not only sets students up for success with future careers, but allows them to step out of their comfort zone. 

“I cannot wait to start my internship,” senior Jenna Wasserman said. “It gives me an opportunity to see if I am interested in physical therapy as a career, and learn more about the field.”

Seniors can choose from a range of different internships, including teaching, therapy centers, and pharmaceuticals.

“I want to be a pharmacist when I’m older,” senior Lauren Davis said. “This internship will allow me to gain some field experience”.

Students will need a total 25 hours to complete the internship, but are able to control what their work schedule looks like, as to not interfere with sports and any other extracurriculars. 

“It’s 25 hours a week, for 4-6 weeks,” said senior Hailey Boyle, a media marketing intern. “The schedule is really flexible- you could spread out your hours custom to what works for you”.

Students who are planning on taking the internship or have already completed it would strongly recommend interning, because of all of the benefits it holds. 

“I would highly recommend taking this internship,” senior Shelby Green said. “Colleges and professionals love to see that applicants already have an internship experience.”

By Olivia Hudak – Staff Reporter

Law’s Advanced Creative Writing class is working on publishing its annual book. 

Each year, the Advanced Creative Writing class takes short stories that students write and creates a book. This book gets published and is available for sale. 

“’Seniorwritis’ is a collection of short stories all written by student authors,” Advanced Creative Writing teacher Mr. Healy said.

The class produces a variety of different stories and pieces each year. 

“Every year we have a completely new batch of stories,” Healy said. “So far this year we have a fantasy quest, an allegorical lesson about witch hunts and environmental destruction, a physiological thriller about a man possessed by his ancestors, and a cautionary tale against materialism, among others.”

Each story has its own reward. Students who have their stories published in a book feel a sense of pride and feel more confident as a writer. 

“It is so rewarding to have a piece written in a book,” senior Advanced Creative Writing student Sophie Maselli said. “I’ve had a love of books since I was young, with the ideal occupation of being an author, so I am over the moon to now have the opportunity for my own short story to be published in our class’ book.”

Students in Advanced Creative Writing experience a different look at stories, characters, and plots. Publishing a book of their work allows for a new and fun way of learning for students in class.

Maselli said she loved the process of writing her story that will appear in “Seniorwritis.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my writing journey so far,” Maselli said. “I’ve always loved to write, so being able to watch my work go into a published book is truly enrapturing.”

By Madelyn Baranowsky – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Ski Club had its first trip of the season to Killington, VT, on February 5.  

A lot of considerations went into planning the trip mostly due to finding dates that work for everyone and making the trip as cost-effective as possible.

“The main factors that I first consider are cost and dates,” Ski Club advisor Ms.Turcotte said, “Skiing is an expensive sport so we want to attempt to make it as cost-effective as possible.”

Not only was time and money a concern, but COVID-19 was also a major factor.

“COVID made everything about planning more difficult,” Turcotte said.  “First, we had to get approval by the district to go on field trips. Then we had to see which mountains and resorts were willing to book groups and if so which dates were available.”

The Ski Club had originally planned two trips in January, but they were both canceled due to the omicron variant.

“Also, after planning everything, the omicron variant caused the covid rates to surge and the district canceled all January trips,” Turcotte said. “As a result we had to cancel and reschedule our trips.”

This was the first trip Ski Club had had since the start of the pandemic.  The club is hoping to go on more trips before the season is over.

“It was nice to see the kids outside of school laughing, socializing and having fun together,” Turcotte said. “It left me feeling like we were approaching “normal” again.”

Since the trip was in Vermont, it gave students who don’t normally travel far a chance to experience the different ski conditions.

“I really enjoyed getting to snowboard somewhere new,” sophomore Ski Club member Ashley Borecki said.  “I usually go to closer resorts, so it was really fun to get out and find another really cool place.”

Despite all of the odds, the Ski Club advisors were able to put together a fun and safe trip for the students.

“I enjoyed skiing with my friends, but the conditions were great with all the fresh powder, it was a beautiful day overall,” freshman Ski Club member Logan McCorkle said.

By Katie Servas – Staff Reporter

Members of the Jonathan Law choir and band woke up early on February 5 to bring the regional concert to life.

After qualifying for the regional concert earlier this year, many students from the music department have been working hard to improve their technical abilities to execute a spectacular concert last Saturday. 

“The preparation was not too hard but I had to plan out ahead of time how I would be practicing and the things that needed extra work,” sophomore clarinet player Oliver Harrigan said. “The qualifying process wasn’t as tough as it usually would have been due to the online audition instead of having an in person audition which made the process much easier because I could record myself as many times as needed and fix my mistakes along the way.”

Those who prepare for the regional audition rehearse and perfect their scales and pieces to perform well and qualify for the large ensembles. 

While preparing through the week before the concert, the schedule was unexpectedly changed due to the weather forecast. 

With the loss of an entire day due to snow, those who participated only had the opportunity to rehearse their music hours before the concert with the entire band and choir.

“Having rehearsal time cut due to weather was really unfortunate, 7 hours is a really short amount of time when learning music,” junior choir board member Marisa Laviano said. “We still did the best that we could with what we got, we already got into regionals so we can handle anything!”

These students were able to adapt to their schedule change and find time to practice while ensuring themselves and those around them with a great experience. 

“I am incredibly impressed and proud of them,” Choir Director Ms. Jones said. “Given they missed one whole day of rehearsal due to weather and the ensembles were dramatically smaller, it was amazing what our students accomplished.”

Both the choir, and band directors were astonished by the level of adaptability and maturity that showed while the ensembles rehearsed and preformed.

“It is always a great experience to watch our students perform at such a high level,” Band Director Mr. Pelaggi said. “It’s lovely to hear the groups play more challenging works of music and watch the best players in our area perform.”

When reflecting on the entire experience, all of those included returned back to Law with a newfound skill and experience that they were all proud to be a part of.

“While regionals for me is not a challenge per se, I feel anyone would be able to enjoy this ensemble’s experience with its challenges and successes regardless of skill level,” sophomore assistant drum major Christopher Rickard said. “I always learn something from the rehearsal even as an all state musician.”

By Marisa Laviano – Staff Reporter

Students at Jonathan Law recently started a Bowling Club.

(Don’t worry, this article will spare the details.)

The club had its first meeting on February 16 after school.

“I wanted to start a Bowling Club here at Law because it seemed like an easy way to encourage anyone in the Law community to have a good time and learn or perfect their bowling skills,” Bowling Club President Katie Servas said. “We originally created this club during gym class because we enjoyed the activity during the class and how simple it was to learn while learning the mathematics behind the scoring.”

Bowling used to be a sport at Jonathan Law and Law even won a state championship in bowling back in the 1960s. Although it may not be a varsity sport anymore, this is a great way to bring it back to Law.

“I’m most excited about bowling with people and meeting new people in general,” Bowling Club Vice President Grace Hess said. “Also, (I’m excited) to run the club and to have bowling come back.”

Bowling Club is a good way for students to have fun and be active in a sports-centered club without having the same commitment level as a varsity sports team does.

“It is important to be exposed to as many lifetime fitness activities as possible and this is a great one,” Bowling Club advisor Ms. Blude said. “My 75-year-old father-in-law still bowls twice a week in leagues. It keeps your body and brain young.”

Bowling Club is also planning to go on trips to bowling alleys after school in the near future.

“We are still figuring out how we will be able to reserve lanes to bowl and the mode of transportation to get to the lanes but we also have a few ideas on fundraisers we would like to do and can’t wait to announce them when they are approved,” Servas said.

As it is a new club, the Bowling Club also plans to hold fundraisers to help fund their activities.

The Bowling Club will help bring together many different students of different backgrounds and interests together to have fun and bowl together at Jonathan Law.

Compiled by The Advocate Editors

As we welcome 2022, the editors of The Advocate took a look back at 2021 and the events and experiences that affected the Law community.

 

By Helen Chizmazia – Staff Reporter

Law’s Book Club is looking for book-loving students and staff to join. 

The club always welcomes new members to talk about fan favorite books and bring new conversations to the table. The meetings are held in the TLC on F days. 

“Our current book is called ‘Need’ by Joelle Charbonneau (who actually responded to my post on Twitter!),” Book Club Advisor Ms. Mundy said. “We are just starting it now, so it’s a great time to join Book Club.”

Different genres of books are always being read in Book Club. Meetings include a discussion of the book and snacks.

“I will give you a copy of the book and directions on where to stop for our next meeting,” Mundy said. “Our meetings have homemade treats, too.”

If interested in joining, students should see Mundy in the TLC. 

“We read one book every two months and meet once in the middle to discuss it halfway through,” Mundy said. “All you have to do is commit to reading the book.”

Mundy said she loves her time in Book Club and said it was a natural fit to be the advisor.

“I love reading and love talking about books,” Mundy said. “So it only seems natural to share that joy with students as well.”

Law’s Book Club is open to the student community or anyone who wants to join.

“Right now we only have a few students, but I would love to have some more,” Mundy said.

By Gemard Guery – News & Editorial Editor and Shane Cepalia – News Editor

The Jonathan Law Drama Club is officially back in action.

After over two years without live audiences, the Drama Club performed a showcase with an audience on December 10. The club was scheduled to perform a spring musical in March of 2020, but it was cancelled due to COVID. While the Drama Club was able to do some performances at the end of last school year, they were online with no in-person audience.  

“It was amazing to finally perform live on stage again,” senior Drama Club President Sophie Maselli said. “I love the thrill of having an in-person audience, and it was missed deeply last year. Everyone did such an amazing job, and it was a wonderful and fun experience.”

The showcase, “Opening Up!” was a tribute to the reopening of live theater at Jonathan Law. It consisted of 18 acts from songs to dances to monologues. Usually, the club does a play in the fall and a musical in the spring, but under the circumstances, a showcase was the best option for the first semester.

Returning cast members even got to perform a dance from “Footloose: The Musical,” the musical which was canceled 10 days prior to opening night due to COVID-19 in March 2020. This was a heartfelt addition to the showcase, and the cast members were overjoyed to finally perform a piece from that show.

“The best part of the showcase was watching all of the cast and crew become more confident in themselves and each other both on and off stage,” Drama Club Director Brianna Lenotti said.  “It was clear to me that everyone who worked on this production had a lot of fun and walked away with a feeling of pride. That’s a beautiful thing to see and something I look forward to when it comes to the musical as well.”

The showcase had to be planned in much less time than usual, but the committed members and directors pulled it off.

“I feel like the show went really well, especially considering we only had a month and a half to prepare and the COVID conditions we had to apply to our show as far as wearing a mask,” said Drama Club member Hailey Russo, who performed in four acts.  “I think we all did our best in the show and it came out really good.”

The Drama Club is currently planning for their spring musical of “Freaky Friday” which will be held on April 1-2.

“I was thrilled to learn that our showcase, ‘Opening Up,’ got to be a live and in-person performance, and moving forward, I would like to see the same for our upcoming performance of ‘Freaky Friday’ the musical in April,” Maselli said. “Hopefully, progress will be made in our area health-wise so that fewer health restrictions will be in place for the musical. Either way, I am ecstatic for our production of ‘Freaky Friday’ the musical. Rehearsals are starting soon, and I cannot wait.”

By Truman Martin – Entertainment Editor & Bobby Black – Sports Editor

One of the ways that Law celebrated “Lawmas” this holiday season was with an Advisory Door Decorating Contest.

All around the school, advisories decorated their doors in different ways in order to get in the holiday spirit.

“As I walk the halls, it’s hard to miss all the detailed and elaborate designs students have created around the doors,” Dean of Students Mr. Ragaini said. “Many of our students informed me that they are really enjoying this advisory activity.”

The Door Decorating Contest has been a tradition at Law for years, along with the Eagle Eye New Lawmas videos, an Ugly Sweater Day, and more.

“The Door Decorating Contest first started back in 2015 when we first came up with the idea of Lawmas,” Journalism teacher Mr. Kulenych said. “It’s an awesome way for students to work with their classmates and advisors to spread Lawmas cheer around the school.”

The Lawmas Door Decorating Contest has been one of few ways for students to work together after the COVID pandemic started.

“It was fun to be able to work with people again,” hunior Oren Sedelmaier said. “Especially because we haven’t gotten to do much stuff since COVID started.”

The Door Decorating Contest also introduced the underclassmen to the “Lawmas” holiday.

“It was pretty fun to think of ideas for how we could decorate,” freshman Sophia Martin said.

This year’s Door Decorating Conest winner was Ms. Blude’s and Mr. Roumeles’ Advisory, who designed their door with an Olaf and Law summer-countdown theme. Their Advisory students will receive a breakfast in January.

To check out all of this year’s decorated doors, including this year’s finalists, watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTa56hA9B_c

By Marisa Laviano – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law High School’s Drama Club is ready to “switch” into their spring musical.

The Drama Club will open the curtains with their first musical performance since 2019 with a musical adaptation of the classic “Freaky Friday.”

“I chose ‘Freaky Friday’ as the musical this year because it’s a fun and recognizable show that I expect will bring in a lot of attention from both students and audience members as our first musical in years,” Drama Club director Brianna Lenotti said.

Auditions for the musical will take place after school on Monday, January 10 and Tuesday, January 11. The audition sign up sheet is located in the hallway outside of the Wellness Wing.

The performances of “Freaky Friday” will take place on April 1-2.

“The musical is always my favorite event of the school year, so I’m really looking forward to ‘Freaky Friday,’” Drama Club President Sophie Maselli said. “It’s going to be really fun, and I’m so excited for the amazing songs to be brought to life.”

As Drama Club President, Maselli is ready to help make “Freaky Friday” the best it can be.

“As president, I’m really trying to hype up this musical for all of the cast and crew members, because only four current cast members have performed a musical here at Law,” said Maselli. “I’m so delighted to share this adventure with all those who have yet to undergo this amazing experience.’

With this being the first musical for many Drama Club members because of cancellations due to COVID-19, many students are thrilled to be back on stage.

“It feels great to be performing again,” junior Shruti Simhadri said. “It feels like I’m back to my old roots. In a way I feel like me again.”

To prepare for the musical, the Drama Club will hold practices Monday through Thursday from 4-7 p.m.

“Over the next few months of rehearsal and showtime, I am looking forward to working with my fellow seniors and cast to make the best show possible and having fun while doing so,” senior Connor Richards said. “I am very grateful for the people I’ve been able to work with and extremely confident that ‘Freaky Friday’ will be an amazing conclusion for me from the club.”

The Drama Club members are all excited to put on a spectacular show in April and are excited for the journey they will have along the way.

“I am very excited for the musical this year because it will be my first musical with the Jonathan Law Drama Club,” freshman Madison Frimpter said. “I am also excited to be with my Drama Club family again because I missed all of them so much.”

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By Ella Franzman – Staff Reporter

Members of the Jonathan Law Class of 2021 are finishing up their first semester of college.

They seem to be having a blast at college and can’t wait to go back. Some of these graduates include Alexis Broderick, Katie Konareski, Anthony DiFederico and Ethan Harrigan. 

Alexis Broderick is at Salve Regina University in Newport, RI, and she is majoring in Biology with a Pre-Med track. 

“I feel like Law prepared me very well for college,” Broderick said. “I went into college knowing how to study, good strategies to speak to teachers and professors and Law taught me what family is and I’m so blessed to have that at Salve Regina University as well.”

Broderick is working at the Salve Regina Bookstore and loves working there. 

“There are so many things I miss about Law, but I truly do miss all of my amazing friends and teachers,” Broderick said.

Broderick loved her first semester and pushed through the small and big bumps in the road to get to her winter break. 

Katie Konareski is attending Endicott College in Beverly, MA, and is majoring in Exercise Science to pursue a career as a Physical Therapist. Konareski is also a member of the women’s basketball team at Endicott. 

“At practice, we push each other to the max so we are constantly improving,” Konareski said. “Everyone here is a huge family and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.”

Konareski loved her first semester and said she met tons of new friends and is still meeting new friends everyday. 

“I miss the sports teams at JLHS. Basketball game days were my favorite, but I also miss my teachers,” Konareski said. “Everyone I had was always willing to help me and that set me up for success.”

Anthony DiFederico goes to Trinity College in Hartford, CT. DiFederico is also another athlete who is active on the Division III football team. 

“I miss going to school with the people I grew up with everyday and being on sports teams with them,” DiFederico said. 

DiFederico is majoring in Economics with hopes to work on Wall Street after he graduates. 

“The first semester was very fun,” DiFederico said. “I liked living on my own and meeting new people was fun as well.”

Ethan Harrigan is enrolled at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. Harrigan is on the club rugby team and next semester plans on exploring Greek life. 

“My first semester had ups and downs but I really enjoyed it and look forward to going back,” Harrigan said.

Harrigan chose to major in Biology at LMU after taking science classes such AP Bio and Chemistry at Jonathan Law.  

“I miss a lot of the teachers and being a part of the sports at Law,” Harrigan said. 

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By Kaitlyn Goldberg – News Editor

The Jonathan Law Key Club is wrapping up its annual holiday food drive this year. 

The club is asking members of the Law community to donate food for families who cannot afford a meal for Christmas. The food drive is an annual tradition for the Key Club and is a great way to give back to the Law community. 

“We chose this because we want to be able to give back to the families in our school community that are less fortunate,” junior Key Club President Caroline Doyle said.

Students who are donating are very happy that they get to give back to their community. 

“I wanted to donate to this food drive because I love helping people in need,” sophomore Kiley Sherman said. “Seeing the smiles on their faces while they pick up the food is so special.”

The goal for this food drive is to provide families in our school that are less fortunate with warm meals. The Key Club believes the food drive is a great way to give back and give families a happy, easier holiday season.

Donations can still be made to Mr. Boynton in Room 215.

By Sydney Simpson – Editor-in-Chief

Two high-achieving students from Jonathan Law’s Class of 2022 were recently named Coca-Cola Scholarship semifinalists. 

Out of more than 68,000 applications received, Diya Daruka and Mackenzie Powers were among the two percent named semifinalists. They are both currently competing to become one of the 150 Coca-Cola scholars, all of which will receive a $20,000 scholarship. 

“It feels great to be a semifinalist,” said Daruka. “I am so thankful for this opportunity, and I honestly never imagined myself making it to this round, so I am very happy and grateful that I was able to become a semifinalist.”

In order to advance to the next round, the girls have to fill out a lengthy application form complete with six open ended prompts. 

“If I get selected as one of the 250 to move onto the next stage, I will have an interview with the Coca-Cola board,” said Powers. “I will attend a conference in Atlanta with the other winners and participate in various activities.” 

Students were able to take advantage of this scholarship opportunity through Naviance, a resource offered to students to assist them with college applications and future plans. Both Daruka and Powers worked hard throughout their high school careers to achieve this honor. 

Daruka, in addition to being the Class of 2022’s valedictorian, is involved in a wide array of activities beyond the classroom including sports and clubs. She has even started her own non-profit financial literacy program for students from third to twelfth grade. 

“Financial illiteracy is a significant problem, especially in underprivileged areas, and it’s a big contributor to the cyclical poverty that occurs in underprivileged communities,” Daruka said. “Financial literacy needs to be taught at a young age, so that individuals can make successful financial decisions when they grow up, and by teaching my course to underprivileged youth, I hope that they are able to gain the foundational skills needed to help them financially in their future, and they can pass it down to their kids as well to hopefully combat the cyclical poverty that is occurring in underprivileged communities.”

Powers is also an active member of both the school community at Law and the Milford community. She participates in and is a captain for two varsity sports, gymnastics and outdoor track, and she holds several positions of leadership in many school clubs. 

She has made her mark on the Milford community through her work as the founder of Mackenzie’s Beach Clean-up project, which has been keeping Milford beaches clean for 14 years through an annual town wide beach cleanup. 

By Charlotte Hanks – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s Key Club is putting in the work to make sure everyone can have a good holiday season.

The club was limited last year because of COVID, but this year they are spending time working with several different organizations. Every year, the Key Club partners with the Salvation Army and they have been spending the weekends following Thanksgiving and leading up to Christmas outside of the Stop & Shop on Bridgeport Avenue ringing the bells and collecting donations. 

“I am really looking forward to what we have planned for this holiday season as we are doing so many of my favorite things, especially Salvation Army,” said junior Key Club president Caroline Doyle. “I think that we will be successful this year.”

The Key Club is also working on partnering again with Toys For Tots. Toys for Tots provides toys for underprivileged children.

There is also a Toys for Tots Literacy Program to give disadvantaged children the opportunity to be successful academically. This program caters those children with books and other educational supplies to supplement their ability to read and communicate successfully.

Doyle is excited to take part in this annual program.

“I have lots of confidence in the great group of members and officers we have this year and I know we can reach any goal we set,” Doyle said.

By Isabella Gecaj – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law recently revealed the annual Giving Tree in the front lobby, where students can grab an ‘ornament’ from the tree to get a gift for a child in need. 

Every year the National Honor Society club gets a list of children in need and a list of items they would like for the holidays. Students who want to help those children can grab a card from the tree, buy the item, and give the item to the front office along with the card. 

“Many of the gift requests are for basic necessities, like clothing, shoes and warm outerwear,” National Honor Society advisor Ms. Turcotte said. “NHS members put together the cards, set up the tree and help me to collect and organize the unwrapped gifts.” 

The club collaborated with clinicians at Bridges to sponsor this year’s tree. They always try to give five gifts on each child’s personal wishlist, every year.

“I think that the Giving Tree is a great way to help support those who need help giving their family a Christmas to remember,” junior Katie Servas said. “It’s also a great way to bring a community like Law together to perform selfless acts of kindness.”

For students who heavily participate in the Law community like Servas, this is one of the major events they can help out with. 

“I have been volunteering ever since I was around the age of eight with simple triathlons and beach cleanups,” Servas said. “I think giving back to our community is a great way to help others and encourage others to do the same.”

This is simply one event students of Law can help with in the community. The school gives a wide variety of volunteer opportunities they can partake in.

“I think the Giving Tree is a great tradition because it brings the law community together by spreading holiday cheer,” senior NHS member Nihitha Kothapalli said.

The Giving Tree is not only a way to help these children, but spread a smile on their face. 

“The Giving Tree brings the Law community together because we are doing something for others in our community and outside of our community,” Servas said. “It helps us realize that doing something for others gives one a feeling of fulfillment and cheer.”

The Giving Tree is a learning opportunity for students, and helps teach them that the holidays are just as much about giving gifts as they are about receiving them. It has inspired some students to find more ways to give during the holiday season.

“I think the Giving Tree is great as it is, though it could possibly be changed to help out more people in need, perhaps making it easier to put a card on or letting adults put cards in as well,” sophomore Bailey Seaburg said.

Students are happy to be a part of the process and look forward to buying their gifts. Some have already planned what they are going to do.

“My person is a little girl asking for dolls and I’m excited to go to the store and pick out some toys for her and help make her Christmas brighter,” junior Marisa Laviano said. 

By Madelyn Baranowsky – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law High School hosted its first pep rally in almost two years on November 23 on the football field as a part of the annual spirit week and a half before Thanksgiving. 

Student-athletes were dismissed from their classes at 12:30 p.m. and walked down to the stadium. The pep rally started off with each of the fall sport teams walking one by one across the field to a song of their choice.  

After the teams sat down, the pep rally activities began. There was a field goal kicking contest, tug-of-war, Law cheers,  and performances by both the band and choir.

“I participated in the field goal kicking contest and everyone was so nice cheering each other on before kicking the football,” junior Elly van Waveren said.  “I love how everyone gets really involved during these games and becomes competitive trying to cheer on the people from their grade to win and represent their class.”

The pep rally wouldn’t have been as great as it was if it weren’t for the members and student leaders involved in the planning.

The planning process began with an approval from district administration. Once Law principal Mr. Darcy got the pep rally approved, it had to be planned so that it was COVID-19 safe while still being fun for everyone.  

Due to these safety concerns, the planners had to think of fun activities that students could participate in outside.   

“We knew we had to do the pep rally outside, so we needed to make sure that we had some activities planned that we can do on the football field,” Senior Class Co-Advisor Ms. Russell said.

Despite the weather, students and staff alike had a fun time at the pep rally.

“I enjoyed the entire school coming together for the first time since I’ve been at Law,” Darcy said.  “It was great to see the entire student body at a shared event and experience all could enjoy.”

The activities such as the tug-of-war and the field goal kicking contest were among the favorites of the students.

“My favorite part of the pep rally was definitely the field goal-kicking competition,” senior Jaden Wywoda said. 

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By Ella Franzman – Staff Reporter

In the week and a half leading up to Thanksgiving, Jonathan Law students participated in Spirit Week to get hyped up for the annual Powder Puff and Thanksgiving football games, along with a long awaited pep rally. 

The themes for Spirit Week and half this year were: Pajama, Jersey/Fan Gear, Twin, Anything But a Backpack, Color Wars, Lawnation Donation, Black Out and Law Gear. 

“We asked around with our friends and a bunch of the senior class about different ideas for the different days,” senior Makenna Sharpe said. “We got a bunch of ideas and we just picked out 8 based on past popularity, regulations and ideas that we thought would have the most participation.”

The pep rally this year was a bit different than in the past. This year it was hosted on the football field. There were a few activities, including a tug of war game between different grades, and a field goal kicking competition. 

“It is a way for everyone to show their school spirit and feel like they are involved in the community,” Senior Class Co-Advisor Ms. Russell said. “I feel like the vibe is a little happier when we have spirit week, we get to see everyone’s creative side and it is a way for students to connect with each other.”

The four senior judges (Sharpe, Aidan King, Maia Schwing and Jackson Warters), along with Russell, put together the themes for this Spirit Week. 

“My favorite day was anything but a backpack day, it was very unique and allowed for lots of creativity,” King said. 

Russell and the senior class are planning another Spirit Week leading up to midterms. 

“I also really enjoyed the pep rally, with it being my senior year, I was really pushing to have a pep rally,” Schwing said. “They’ve always been super fun and a great way to ramp up school spirit.”

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

“For future spirit weeks I would love to see new themes just like anything but a backpack day,” King said. “I love the days that allow students to be very creative.”

By Sydney Simpson – Editor-in-Chief 

The new school year has brought about many changes to the Jonathan Law community, including a new principal, Mr. Darcy, who commenced his new role on October 18.

In his short time at Law, Darcy has already made a positive impact on the Law community.  He has facilitated a COVID-friendly Homecoming dance for the student body, and has employed new rules and policies to help get Law back to pre-COVID procedures. 

“You can all expect that I’m someone who will work with all students to make sure you’re supported in every way,” said Darcy. “I also hope to continue planning fun events, like Homecoming, which is also something I want student input on.”

One of the most recent changes is a new attendance policy that went into effect on November 9. The policy includes consequences for repeated tardiness, including 10 and 20-minute detentions with a teacher and after-school detentions assigned by Dean of Students Mr. Ragaini.

“The new tardy to class policy is something that I hope will bring some common practices back to our school along with teaching students basic time management skills,” Darcy said. “We are trying to balance bringing back some basic procedures along with being fair to students.”

Another new policy employed helps to regulate the hallways in the morning before school hours start. Students who arrive before 7:10 a.m. must wait in either the auditorium or the cafeteria until that time to prevent wandering. 

A pass system was also re-instituted which requires students to have a pass to leave a classroom or study hall. 

“After a year and a half of focusing on just being in school, I think it’s important that we return to the way we used to track attendance and used to hold students accountable for their behavior during the school day,” English teacher Mr. Kulenych said. “These changes will help each day run smoothly and will provide some structure that we sort of lost during the pandemic.”

Students around the school have so far responded positively to the new policies and to Darcy’s leadership skills. 

“While we have not had Mr. Darcy as our principal for long, I respect that he is trying to better our school community and be his own individual,” senior Moira Staples said. “I admire that he is not simply trying to ‘people please’ and is rather putting in a genuine effort to better our school.”

Staff members are also in agreement that Darcy has made a positive impact on the Law community so far. 

“Mr. Darcy has been an awesome addition to our school community,” Kulenych said. “It was clear from his first day that he cares about kids and will do everything he can to help them succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.”

Ragaini said he appreciates how Darcy has sought feedback from all members of the Law community.

“It has been great working with Mr. Darcy,” Ragaini said. “He has taken the time to speak with many of the teachers and students to discuss any questions or concerns that they had.”

While Darcy has already done great things for our school community, there are still many issues that students hope to see addressed. For example, the parking lot in the morning has proved a common source of stress for many kids. 

“It takes a ridiculous amount of time to even turn into the parking lot in the morning and even longer to leave after school,” said Staples. “This issue needs to be addressed and rectified.”

Students hope that this issue, along with others, will be fixed soon, and Darcy has so far been very attentive and receptive to all student voices. 

“I have truly loved the honest feedback that I’ve received from students,” said Darcy. “This is your school and I’m here to listen, learn, and support all of you.”

By Ava Korkmaz – Sports Editor

Jonathan Law’s Dean of Students Mr. Ragaini and history teacher Mr. Zuraw helped to put together an Advisory activity for Veterans Day on November 11.

Since veterans could not come to to Law this year, students were given a virtual lesson about Veterans Day. Students completed a choice board that included links to podcasts and videos about Veterans Day, links to virtual field trips, information on PTSD awareness, and links to explore Veterans Day through a historical lens. 

Students used Padlet, Kami, Google Earth, and other apps to share their feelings with classmates. Special messages about Veterans Day from Law student Johnny Vaccino and Milford’s Poet Laureate, Joann Glass, were also included for students to explore.

Ragiani said the activity was a success.

“I usually judge the advisory activities by the feedback I get from teachers and students,” Ragaini said. “Students shared thoughtful and genuine reflections with me from the choice board options.”

Zuraw was impressed by the student responses he saw from the choice board.

“I think the students really took the time to reflect on what Veterans Day means to them and put a lot of thought and effort into their creations,” Zuraw said.

By Kaitlyn Goldberg – News Editor

Jonathan Law’s Homecoming dance was a rousing success. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Homecoming outside in a tent with heaters this year and over 200 students attended. Homecoming brought a sense of normalcy back to school that had been missing the past couple of years.

“In my opinion, I thought Homecoming was awesome,” Principal Mr. Darcy said. “Students have been through so much the past two years and to just see you all have fun and be kids was great to see.”

Homecoming was a fun experience for all, but especially for the seniors who were excited to have a normal event at the school.

“Other than having to go to Homecoming because I helped organize it and checked students in, I went because it was my last,” senior Sophie Maselli said. ”I knew I would regret not going to my last homecoming, and encouraged my friends and everyone in my grade to go because of this, I wanted to attend one last school event with all grades before I graduated.”

While Homecoming was not in its usual setting, that did not stop students from still having a good time. 

“My favorite part of Homecoming was definitely dancing with my friends and taking funny photos with them,” sophomore Kiley Sherman said. 

The dance exceeded students’ expectations of what a Homecoming would be.  

“It exceeded my expectations, and I had a great time,” sophomore Will Luxeder said.  

Overall, Homecoming was a success and students all had a great time.  

“It was super fun, and I’m glad I went,” sophomore Isabella Gecaj said.

By Katie Servas – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Music Department is stepping off on the left foot.

On Thursday, October 28, the Jonathan Law Band, Choir, and Orchestra had their Welcome Back to Music Night. It was their first concert since the COVID-19 pandemic started which led to a large crowd in the football stands.

The concert was held on the football field and highlighted the growth in the music department over the past few months.

The Choir sang: “Better is One Day,” “Three South African Songs,” and “Ise Oluwa,” while the Advanced Vocal Ensemble (AVE) sang “Sound of Silence” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?”

These songs were sung not only in English but in two other languages. This led to great diversity between the music selection of the night.

“It has been such an inspiration to watch our students continue to show their commitment and dedication to making this ensemble a valuable and meaningful place to learn and connect through music,” Choir Director Ms. Jones said. “It is so wonderful to have ALL of our students back in person so we have the ability to perform in a more authentic way.”

Jones has relished the opportunity to grow and strengthen the Choir with the help of her managers and choir board. She enjoyed the overwhelming feeling of preparation leading up to the emotional success of their first live performance.

The current COVID-19 restrictions, having to separate the ensemble into multiple classes created a contrasting case, leading to the construction of a new method of practice.

“Our ensemble had a few combined rehearsals during common times so we can improve as a whole, but a lot of the work that was put in was done separately in our individual classes,” junior Choir Manager Kalli Kinsman said. “I am especially impressed with our freshmen and other new members who were able to turn what would be a stressful day and make it an amazing and memorable experience.”

After the completion of the Choir’s setlist, many reflected on the success of the entire night.

The Band and Orchestra also performed set list’s of their own including the football halftime show.

“The Band and Orchestra have been incredibly perseverant,” Band Director Mr. Pelaggi said. “They have gone through some of the most strict COVID-19 restrictions and still continued to grow and improve.”

The Band played four show tunes: “Hey Baby,” “Blinding Lights,” “Hey Look Ma I Made It,” and “Industry Baby.”

The football halftime show granted the Marching Band the ability to perform, prior to the concert. They have been polishing each piece to perfection for upcoming football games and annual Thanksgiving football game.

“It was very exciting to perform for the first time after such a long break,” junior Michaela Bergami said. “I’m looking forward to playing more with the Band and teaching some of the newer members more traditions and shifting gears into the concert season once the football season is over.”

Many of the returning members have been educating the newest members on the traditions and culture that has been pasted down for many years.

This sense of community has caused many to continue to utilize their maximum effort into every song and performance they are included in.

Once the Band has their final football performance, they will be learning many concert-style tunes to execute during a concert in the upcoming months along with the Choir and Orchestra.

The Orchestra played two stylistically contrasting pieces during the concert: “G Force” and “Lullaby to the Moon.”

These pieces demonstrated the soft and tense sides of the string instruments and these pieces were chosen to advance their techniques and model the diverse composition of the composer’s piece.

 “It was amazing to be able to go out and play for everyone and be able to bond as an orchestra, and as a music department,” junior Elizabeth Westergard said. “Having all of our parents out to be able to see us play after a long time of working has helped with sharpening our skills.” 

The camaraderie of the music department has fabricated the family-like atmosphere that encourages underclassmen to join while pulling large audiences to watch multiple performances.

“We are going to dive into some fundamentals for the next few months to catch up on some lost instructional time.” said Band Director Dave Pelaggi. “Then we are going to start working on some concert pieces and even some combined ensemble pieces. Stay tuned!”

All of the departments will be planning to hold a concert in April, which is subject to change. They will be rehearsing new tunes to perform and unveil the continuous progression of the ensembles during the upcoming months.

By Maya Rosado – Staff Reporter 

Jonathan Law junior diver Olivia Coddington has concluded her regular season with impressive new accomplishments.  

The team went 7-8 during the regular season after defeating crosstown rival Foran High School on October 27 and are now preparing for states. 

It will be Coddington’s first time going to states and she is very excited about her improvement over this past season. 

“I don’t have a specific goal for states but I do hope I perform well and have a good score in the end,” said Coddington. 

Coddington is not just a diver; she often swims in a few events as well. She has made a huge impact on the team with the positive energy and talent she brings everyday.

“Liv brings a ton of energy to the team, she’s a hard worker and leads by example in practice,” coach Mr. Lui said. “This year we were fortunate enough to have two freshmen, Paige Kantor and Charlotte Rascoll join the dive team. Liv has done a great job being a positive role model for the underclassmen.”

The team has become like a second family to Coddington with the new friends and fun it brings daily.

“I think my favorite part about this season was how much the team bonded with each other,” Coddington said. “We were always hyped up and having a good time every meet and practice which is great.”

Coddington competed in the SCC girls 11-dive on October 20 and placed 13th with a score of 267.05. All four of Law’s divers placed in the Top 15: Makenna Sharpe took 1st, Emma Nelly was 5th, Coddington was 13th, and Paige Kantor was 15th. 

“Liv was an extremely reliable diver for us this season by consistently scoring points for the team each meet,” Lui said. “Liv had a fantastic performance against Lauralton Hall this season and scored a season high of 163.75 to qualify for state championships, she also placed 13th at SCCs which is an amazing accomplishment.”

Coddington is also a member of the Jonathan Law gymnastics team. Many gymnasts were also divers so she decided to take on the challenge. 

“Diving has made the transition into my gymnastics season very easy, especially with most of the girls staying together for both seasons so friendships were already there,” Coddington said.

By Olivia Hudak – Staff Reporter

Law’s Natural Helpers Club continues to spread positivity and kindness around the community. 

The Natural Helpers participate in events to help spread awareness or to help support a cause. Recently they hosted Start With Hello Week, in conjunction with the Sandy Hook Promise, appearing on Eagle Eye News with a motivational message each day and handing out green bracelets for suicide awareness.

This year, Natural Helpers is finally able to get back to going in person, which was put on hold last year due to COVID-19. 

“This year the club is back to being in person, which is very rewarding,” senior club member Alexa Darak said. “We have all been coming up with ideas to help out more around the school and to make everyone feel included.”

When spreading positivity and kindness there is a rewarding feeling that comes with it. Club members are able to see people’s moods and confidence change from simply saying “hello” or giving them a compliment.

“It is a very rewarding opportunity to help others,” club member Aislinn Burns said. “It’s so nice to know that you either brighten someone’s day or make a positive impact on their life”.

Darak said there is a rewarding feeling that comes with joining Natural Helpers. She said people don’t realize how impactful the feeling is when you make someone’s day a little brighter!

“Going up to someone and just simply saying ‘Hello’ can create a friendship that you never had before,” Darak said. “Helping others also helps yourself because now you both have that friend that you didn’t have before.”

Natural Helpers has noticeably helped the Law community whether it be through kindness or people simply going out of their way to help one another. 

“I wanted to be able to spread some of the inclusive messages as well as help make our school a better place,” club member Aislinn Burns said. “Others should definitely join the club because it is a great way to meet new people, and it’s also a great way to make a positive impact on our school and our community as a whole”.

Natural Helpers has done many impactful things and will continue to do so. If students like to make people’s days and spread kindness, Natural Helpers is for them.

By Lana Hanania – Staff Reporter 

Class elections were held at Jonathan Law on Friday, October 1, and for the Class of 2024, Talia Salanto and Hailey Russo tied for class president. 

Class office is an opportunity for students to get involved and make a difference in the school. Students are able to participate in decorating or planning events and create new events for the school calendar.

“This upcoming year, I am most excited to plan spirit week and try to create new events for the school,” Salanto said. “I am hoping to try to make this upcoming year as normal as possible.”

Due to COVID-19, Law was not able to have many school events last year. The Class of 2024 officers are hoping to change that and to increase school spirit. 

“I ran for vice president because I can help fix problems that other students want resolved,” sophomore Vice President Caden Simpson said. 

If students have questions or concerns, they can contact the class officers.

“Being secretary I will be responsible for taking notes at all meetings and reporting those notes to the council,” sophomore Secretary Samantha Chy said. 

Getting engaged with the school is an upward progression of responsibility. 

“I decided to be senator to be involved with the school and as senator I am responsible for asking questions and listening,” sophomore Senator Helen Chizmazia said. 

Being class officers will help these students learn leadership and learn how to work with a team. 

“I wanted to become prescient is because freshman year we didn’t have much,” sophomore  president Russo said. “We didn’t get any dances or as some people would say the real high school experience, so I am hoping I can change that.”

Overall, the members of the Student Council at Law are all very excited for this upcoming year. Officers are excited to plan events and make law Lawmazing again. 

By Reilly Hungerford – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Multicultural Club is back for the 2021-2022 school year.

The Multicultural Club that teaches students about different cultures. Over the years, the club has invited people to speak about China, Hong Kong, Nepal, Germany, and U.S. culture. 

The club is advised by English teacher Mr. Healy and the president is senior Berat Genc. The club meets every other Monday in Room 209. Their next meeting is on November 8.

“I’m endlessly fascinated with the world, so it stimulates my curiosity,” Genc said. “Plus I think it’s probably the most diverse club so I get to learn from so many different perspectives.”

The club is looking forward to many things this year.

“I’m looking forward to working with a new group of students this year and having some cool guest speakers,” Healy said.

Club members learn about many different aspects of each culture.

“We make presentations, try new foods, get guests to come over and have nice conversations with them, go to restaurants by the end of the year, and discuss about the differences between America and other countries,” Genc said.

The club is open and eager to learn about new cultures that they haven’t already discussed.

“It’s really nice to hear about other people’s cultures and traditions that are different from my own,” sophomore club member Gemard Guery said.

The club’s community is very accepting and welcoming.

“It is a really nice community and actually the community is what makes Multicultural Club more fun,” Genc said.

COVID-19 has taken a toll on this group and their plans in the last year.

“The biggest effect COVID had is not being able to share cultural foods, but hopefully we can get back to that soon,” Healy said.

By Zack Sulkis – Staff Reporter 

The Jonathan Law Ski Club is starting preparations for hitting the slopes for the first time since early 2020. 

The club attracts many students with a love of skiing. Amateur or advanced, the club accepts all and has a lot to offer to its members.

“It’s an opportunity to get outside and get some fresh air during the winter and have some fun with your friends, it’s good exercise,” said Ms. Turcotte, the advisor of the Ski Club. “I love to ski so I’m guessing that anyone who loves to ski would want to join.” 

The club has multiple day trips and is working on seeing if they will get their overnight 4 day trip to Smugglers Notch, a ski resort in Vermont. Other Skiing locations include; Stratton, Okemo, and Mount Snow, all of which are located in Vermont. 

Students who participate in winter sports can also join the club. Some who participate in both claim that it is difficult to balance school work, sports, and the club but if you do it right you can still participate and have fun.

“It’s hard to balance school, sports, and being a member of the Ski Club because sometimes school projects or sport events will fall on days we have a club trip,” said senior Gary Schulte, a member of the wrestling team and the Ski Club in the winter. “This causes me to have to move my schedule around, or sometimes have to miss a club trip entirely, but I still try to participate in the club as much as I can.”

The policy the club has is students are required to make it to at least two Saturday day trips.  

The club is pretty popular amongst students and typically fills up all of the seats in the coach bus they take on their trips. 

“Im looking into joining the club since I enjoyed the one they had back in middle school that we had at West Shore,” said sophomore Helen Chizmazia. “I just have to make sure that I have the time for it in my schedule and that I can actually make it to the various trips.”

By Marisa Laviano – Staff Reporter

Lights! Camera! Action! Jonathan Law High School is starting a new Film Club.

Jonathan Law is starting a new Film Club for students who are interested in the different roles needed to create short films. These meetings will be held Thursdays after school in the Teaching and Learning Commons.

“Film Club is a club for actors, cinematographers, directors, screenwriters, editors, and more,” said senior Co-President Ayesha Rana. “Anyone who’s interested is always welcome to join!”

The Film Club will produce a few short films during their meetings over the course of the 2021-2022 academic school year. They may also be entering these films into film festivals.

“I started the Film Club at Jonathan Law and I’m very passionate about acting, especially through film and wanted to express my passion through this club and spread it with the other students at Law,” senior Co-President Brianna Safyre said.

Jonathan Law’s Film Club will help give members opportunities to use their skills and interests in ways they’ve never been able to before.

“I am joining the Film Club because I’ve always had an interest in film and media studies, but never really got the opportunity to explore that interest before high school,” sophomore member Gemard Guery said. “I want to explore it more and see what fun things I can do.”

Many members are very excited to combine their interests and work together to create films.

“I’m most excited about submitting to film festivals, it would be very cool to gain some exposure through an outside source,” junior member Shruti Simhadri said.

By Harrison Fisher – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Fishing Club had its first meeting in Mr. Morazzini’s classroom on October 7 in Room 199B.

Morazzini, the advisor of the Fishing Club, has been running the club for several years. Fishing is his passion and he is excited to pass it on to the students at Law. Mr. Morazzini was also optimistic during the meeting and outlined several fishing opportunities to be had this school year. 

“We had a good turnout this year, and it is nice to have the fishing club back,” Morazzini said. “The thing I’m looking forward to most is getting outdoors to fish with all of the students. I really enjoy fishing with all of the students. One fish I hope everybody catches this year is the striped bass.  It would be nice for students to get an experience reeling in a striped bass fish.” 

This year’s first Fishing Club trip was on Monday, November 1. All students participating in the trip met at Anchor Beach in Milford. Each member had to bring their own fishing rod and bait to fish.

Morazzini reinforced the expectations during the fishing excursion. Of course, safety was a priority. 

In past years, there has been a mix of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors on these fishing trips.  This year, there are 10 students signed up for the club.  

Senior leaders Dan Folloni and Berat Genc have been out in our school community recruiting new members and advertising the club on Eagle Eye News.

Some of the current seniors reported catching a variety of fish on the first trip. They also reported that Long Island Sound is in good shape, the water is clean, and the fish are healthy.

Folloni said is excited to see what is in store for the club this year.

“I have high hopes fore the Fishing Club this year,” Folloni said. “We have a lot of kids, so it should fun. I’m looking forward to learning some new techniques, so I can catch more fish.”  

Genc is also excited to meet new members of the club.

“It is nice to have everyone back,” Genc said. “COVID-19 really affected the Fishing Club. Now, I am looking forward to more trips, meeting some new people, learning about the Marine life in our area, and catching a lot of fish.”

Genc said this year promises to be a great time and he encouraged students to “cast out” of their comfort zone and think about joining the Fishing Club.

By Madelyn Baranowsky – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Drama Club started rehearsals on October 27 for their upcoming showcase, “Opening Up: A Tribute to the Reopening of Live Theater.”

The showcase itself will take place on Friday, December 10 at 7 p.m. It will feature both solos and group numbers.

“The showcase will last around an hour-long, and will be live,” senior Drama Club President Sophie Maselli said, “We plan to have two or three ensemble numbers alike to a number from a musical, and many other singular acts showcasing our love for theatre.”

“Opening Up” will also be the first live performance Drama Club has done in almost two years, with their last live performance being in November of 2019.

The Drama Club is hoping to have a limited in-person audience in the auditorium for their showcase with some audience members streaming live from home.  

“Opening Up” will feature solos by Maselli, sophomore Hailey Russo, freshman Madison Frimpter, and more group numbers.  Since the announcement of a showcase, Drama Club members have been excited to get to work.

“Even though I am nervous about rehearsals I am very excited about the upcoming show and upcoming rehearsals,” Frimpter said.

Drama Club actors aren’t the only ones that are excited about rehearsals starting. Brianna Lenoitti is excited to put on her first show as the director of the Drama Club.  

Lenotti has been involved with the Jonathan Law Drama Club since she was a freshman, and has been the assistant director since she graduated high school.

“I’m looking forward to working with both old and new faces to put on a show that we are all proud of,” Lenotti said.  “Drama Club is a great way to build relationships, learn new things, and just have a good time.” 

Lenotti has been getting positive feedback as the new director.  The cast members feel like the directors are doing their best to make the showcase amazing.

“Brianna, our director, has been really great with blocking and giving helpful critiques to make sure our acts are the best they can be,” Maselli said.

By Olivia Augustine – News Editor

The National Math Honor Society is getting ready to have an eventful year. 

Throughout the year, the NMHS competes in competitions and hosts math-related activities. NMHS is a club where students learn math and help others learn math. 

“Our goals this year are to get more involved in helping with math throughout our school, to look into competing in math competitions online as well as within our state, learn more about math, host our annual April math month question of the day, and host Pi day activities,” math teacher and advisor Mr. Ruzbarsky said. 

The NMHS competes in a few competitions throughout the school year. 

“The National Math Honor Society is looking to compete in a few competitions this year,” senior president Diya Daruka said. “One is the Log 1 competition which is what our society sponsors every year, and we are also looking to possibly compete in the Rocket City Math League and the Mathematical Minutes Video Contest.”

Every school year the NMHS hosts Pi day activities. Last year they weren’t able to because of COVID. 

“We weren’t able to do Pi day last year so I’m not too sure but I know that in the past NMHS has done a pie eating contest, guessing how many M&Ms are in a jar, memorizing pi, and pinning the radius on the circle,” senior treasurer Nihitha Kothapalli said.

The NMHS hosts April Math Month question of the day. Winners are entered for the prize and later the winner is announced. 

“During the April Math Month question of the day, members of the National Math Honor Society submit different questions covering varying math skills and subjects,” senior vice president Lauren Davis said. “Last year, we put them on the news and students would submit their answers.”

Students can join the National Math Honor Society by emailing Mr. Ruzbarsky. There is an application process they have to go through and some requirements they have to meet.

Applications are being accepted until October 29th. Meetings are on the last Tuesday of every month.

By Bobby Black – Sports Editor

Science Club is up and running and anyone who wants to join should see advisors Ms. Turcotte or Mr. Stanton. 

Science Club is a STEM-based club that allows students of all grades to further their knowledge of science and use their skills to compete in events throughout the year. 

“Each event has 2-3 students competing and each student will compete in multiple events. Each group will work together to prepare in whatever way is necessary for that particular event,” Turcotte said. “Some events require researching and studying while others involve laboratory work. There are also building events that require students to build something (bridge, airplane, machine, etc.) and then collect data on its performance before competing with other teams.”

In Science Club, students build projects and do experiments based off of their assigned event or events. 

The competitions include all aspects of science such as biology, chemistry, physics, and others but can also include a lesson in teamwork. 

The team faces off against other schools in the country at prestigious colleges such as Brown, Yale, and more.

“We’re planning on doing Brown this year, ” junior Science Club member Shruti Simhadri said. “ We want to visit Yale but only if we hear that they’re doing it this year.”

The Science Club usually competes at one state and one invitational competition. This year they will compete at Brown University.

“Our goals this year are to win and get some recognition from the events in the competition,” Simhadri said.

The Science Club meets after school on Mondays in Room 212B. 

“Our main goal is to prepare for the competitions and have fun doing science together,” Turcotte said.

The Science Club, one of the many clubs and activities at Jonathan Law, is a way for students to advance their knowledge of science while applying the skills and concepts learned in science classes.

By Camrin A. Del Valle – Staff Reporter 

Arguments are being prepared for the exciting re-opening for the Jonathan Law Debate Club. 

The Debate Club’s first debate will be on the topic of gun violence. This debate will happen at the club’s meeting on October 19.

“My plans for this year includes teaching students how to debate respectfully and civilly,” Debate Club advisor Mr. Evanko said.

The Debate Club meets every on Tuesday in Room 193. 

Members of the club are excited for the upcoming debates.

“I want to learn how to argue different sides of subjects even if I don’t agree with them,” freshman Gavin Nett said.

The Debate Club has no deadline so anyone can join at any time during the year..

“I’m excited for Debate Club this year because i’ll be able to talk about current issues and see others viewpoints,” freshman Deepika Chitirala said 

The Debate Club will compete against each other in different forms of debating, including a mock trial, a Lincoln-Douglas debate, rapid fire debating, and traditional debating. 

”This year I am most looking forward to improving myself, I am pushing myself to participate. I don’t think I would have done it last year,” freshman Basel Chwiki said.

The Debate Club is still deciding on future debate topics and formats.

”Hopefully I can get the class in a more classic debate,” junior Shruti Simhadri said.

By Amaya Vargas – Staff Reporter 

The Jonathan Law choir is preparing for a fall concert this year.

It has been almost two years since the Jonathan Law choir has hosted a concert due to COVID-19 protocols.

“It is energizing to be back in action after what felt like a defeating year,” Choir Director Miss Jones said.

The choir is preparing with goal being to “Bring Music Back to Milford.” The exact date and time of the concert is still to be announced.

Junior choir member Marissa Laviano is excited to perform live again.

“It feels good to be together again after a year of separation,” Laviano said.

Many other choir members felt the same way.

“It’s a stress reliever,” junior choir member Eric Relucio said. “To bring back community and memories is heart warming.”

Senior choir member Amber Gulyban agreed.

“I’m excited to sing again,” Gulyban said.

Choir member Cathrine Caballero is ready for her senior year to begin.

“It is refreshing to be back and make my last year a memorable one,” Caballero said.

By Reilly Hungerford – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s Engineering Cub, started by senior Sarah Patel and advised by math teacher Mr. Walsh, will start meetings again on Thursday, October 7, after school in Room 198.

This year, the Engineering Club will be launching rockets.

“The kids want to build better and better rockets that fly higher,” Walsh said.

Patel started the Engineering Cub because there was nothing at Jonathan Law like it.

 “A few of my friends and I decided to start the Engineering Club because we were all interested in/involved in things that fell under the category of engineering and realized that JLHS didn´t have a club that fully encompassed those interests,” Patel said.

The club is also planning to do competitions and maybe even out of state and overnight trips. 

“Some of the things we plan on doing this year are rocketry and research-based competitions, as well as various engineering projects,” Patel said. “Competitions may involve out-of-state/overnight trips.”

The club is very excited for competitions.

“I want to try to enter some competitions, there’s so many amateur and high school level competitions that they can enter,” Patel said. “A lot of them are free, some of them are competitive, some of them are educational, so you can choose what you want.”

Members of the club are very willing to help other members with separate projects.

“We are usually pretty flexible; if a member wants to design and build something specific, we will try to help them do it,” Patel said.

COVID-19 has restricted a lot of the club’s plans the last two years, but they’re hoping some restrictions are lifted. 

“COVID-19 restrictions prevented us from doing a lot of things last year, but we are hoping that this year will be different,” Patel said.

The club holds meetings every Thursday unless announced otherwise.

Currently, the only students in the Engineering Club are seniors. They are hoping to recruit underclassmen. Students of all grades are allowed to participate in the Engineering Club. 

All new members are welcome. If students are interested in joining the club, all they need to do is show up to the first meeting on October 7.

By Lana Hanania – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Key Club meets in the Senior Cafe on Thursdays at 6 p.m. to discuss future events.

KeyCclub is an organization that helps the community by volunteering, cleaning up parks, collecting clothing, and arranging food drives. They are currently volunteering in Salvation Army and Trick or Treat for UNICEF.

¨This year for Key Club we hope to get back to as normal as possible and be able to reinstate our normal activities like trick or treat for UNICEF and Salvation Army,” junior Key Club President Caroline Doyle said.

Key Cub improves leadership skills by organizing meetings, planning projects, and serving in positions of leadership at the club, district, and international levels.

¨Key club has impacted my understanding of leadership and responsibility,” junior Vice President Hanna Keating said. “Key club has been an amazing opportunity to serve my community, since I became a part of key club I have had a strive to do more for my community.”

The first Key Club meeting of the year had over 70 people. Club officers and President Doyle are all very excited for this upcoming year and to teach the many new members. 

¨I’m most excited to get back to our normal volunteer activities and having meetings. We have a great group this year and I’m excited to see where we can take it,”  Doyle said. 

Members said Key Club is a positive and pleasurable experience for all. Everyone should get involved in their community since it can help them gain new skills and friends. 

“I joined Key Club freshman year because I wanted to get involved in the school community,” Junior Officer Maya Rosa said. “In the club I was able to get volunteer hours for graduation while also being able to represent our school in a positive way.”

Through Key Club, students can participate in a variety of service activities. This also contributes to volunteer hours. 

“I am most excited to see all the new members start volunteering and seeing what we can accomplish as an even bigger club,” Rosa said. 

Overall, the Key Club is well on its way to another productive year of assisting many people not just at Jonathan Law but also in the Milford community.

By Charlotte Hanks – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s American Sign Language Club has started up again for the new school year. 

In the ASL Club, students can learn a new language or expand on past knowledge. The club meets on F days during common time in Room 207. 

“Since this club began last school year in the middle of all the COVID restrictions we never were able to really dive into the club,” senior Co-President Alexa Darak said. “However, this year Katy Brewer (the other co-president) and I have a bunch of ideas and activities planned for the upcoming year.” 

The ASL Club is a place for students to meet new people and create new friendships. The club educates students on the importance of ASL and why it is needed. 

“ASL Club was started by students who wanted to learn and teach others sign language,” Brewer said. “It was created to spread awareness about this language and try to make it more accessible to learn.” 

ASL enhances children’s problem-solving skills, listening skills, increased academic achievement, and much more. ASL also promotes cultural awareness and improves spelling and fine motor skills. 

Sign language is very important and is a vital part of many people’s lives. More than 1,000,000 people in the United States are deaf, and around 10,000,000 are hard of hearing. 

It is so important to communicate with others, and sign language does just that. Around 71% percent of people over 70 have some type of hearing impairment caused by old age. 

Not just deaf or hard of hearing individuals can benefit from sign language. It can be a very useful tool for those on the autism spectrum and with other developmental disabilities. 

Sign language can help people with autism who are non-verbal or minimally verbal. Between 25-30% of children on the autism spectrum are non-verbal, and sign language has benefited them a great deal.

Signing is a very effective way for non-verbal individuals to communicate with others, especially so they don’t get frustrated. Actually, sign language can help generate verbal communication for those who are minimally or non-verbal. 

If students are interested in joining the ASL Club, they can email Ms. Kelly at kkelly@milforded.org.

By Maddy Gaillard – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s Interact Club is having a great start to the year.

The club holds their meetings on Tuesdays in Room 185 and anyone is welcome to join. 

“Interact Club is a service based club that works in conjunction with the Milford Rotary Club,” Interact Club advisor Ms. Burns said. “It is a great way to be involved with the community and receive volunteer opportunities and hours.”

The Interact Club gives students multiple volunteer opportunities. Additionally, students can be involved more in the community and can attend leadership conferences. 

“We will be having a toiletry drive for the Beth-El Center, wrapping presents at Barnes and Noble at the holidays, volunteering for the Christmas Tree Lighting on the green,” Burns said. “Students will be attending RYLA this year for a leadership conference.” 

Senior Rachel Sulkis, a former President and Treasurer of Interact Club, shared why she joined. 

“I joined Interact because I needed volunteer hours and wanted to get involved in the Law community as well as the Milford community,” Sulkis said. “Some of my favorite things the club does is volunteering at the Beth El center, Rotary events such as Irish Fest, and our involvement with Rotary and Rotaract.” 

Not only does the Interact Club offer volunteer opportunities, it also influences new members to get more involved with Jonathan Law and meet new people. 

Sulkis is excited to welcome new members to the club. 

“I would tell them to come to one of our meetings, we meet for about 20 minutes after school on Tuesdays,” Sulkis said. “We are also a small club so you become friends with everyone and it is a great way to get involved in the Law and Milford community.”

Former Vice President Maia Schwing mentioned how COVID affected the club and her hopes for the new year. 

“While COVID has placed a lot of restrictions on our activities and we haven’t been able to meet at the Bethel Shelter, I have been able to do this in the past,” Schwing said. “I love interacting with the people who come in to get a hot meal, and it is also very nice to be able to work alongside members of the Devon Rotary.”

The Beth El Center is one of the widely loved events that the Interact Club does. Junior Samantha Burns expressed her love for this event. 

“I enjoy Beth-El Drive because it is a great way for everyone to get involved,” Burns said. “For the Beth-El Drive, anyone can donate supplies to help those in need. I think it is the perfect way to help out our community.”

Another tradition the Interact Club does is wrapping gifts for the holidays at Barnes and Noble. 

“My other favorite event that the club does would be the Christmas wrapping at Barnes and Noble,” Burns said. “During Christmas time, members of our club go to Barnes and Noble to wrap books and other gifts that are purchased at the store. This volunteer opportunity is enjoyable, and truly brings out the Christmas spirit.”

Since the Interact Club is small, it provides the members more opportunities to participate in the club’s events. 

“Due to the size of the club, each and every member has an emphasized voice in the nature of the club,” Schwing said. 

Interact Club is a great way to get in touch with peers and become familiar with the Milford community. 

“Interact is a great way to get involved in the Milford community as a teen, and Interact provides a great amount of information on the Rotary club for consideration as an adult,” Schwing said. “All in all, Interact is a perfect opportunity for any high school student to acquire volunteer hours and give back to the community in a small way.”

By Maya Rosado – Staff Reporter 

Law’s Model U.N. club kicked off the new year with its first meeting after school on Friday, October 1. 

Model U.N. is an academic simulation of the United Nations where students play the role of delegates from different countries and research their point of view on a specific topic.

“Ultimately, students attend a conference with peers from around the world to debate and problem-solve in real-time using parliamentary debate,” Model U.N. advisor and history teacher Mr. Evanko said.

A typical Model U.N. meeting involves preparation for the conference. History teacher Ms.Burns and Evanko will walk students through the research process, how to debate using parliamentary procedure, and various other skills that students need to succeed.

“To prepare for the conference we write research papers on our committee topics and research our country’s issues,” junior Model U.N. member Caroline Doyle said. “Then while at the conference we did research based off of conversation in committees.” 

The conference is set in New York City where students will spend three days and two nights in a hotel with other students around the world. 

“When we went to New York in 2020 it was one of the best experiences I had ever had,” junior Model U.N. member Grace Baird said. “I met people from all over the world and learned more about how the United Nations works.”

The skills learned in Model U.N. are invaluable and every student should check it out if they are curious.

“The 2020 conference was amazing,” Evanko said. “As a long-term advisor to the club (eight years), I was so proud to see many of our former officers actually working at the conference as committee chairs and other leadership roles.” 

Members of the club have had nothing but good things to say as the conference in New York became one of their most prominent memories in high school so far.

“My favorite part about Model U.N. is being able to meet new people from all over and discussing world issues while hearing other points of views,” junior Model U.N. member Hanna Keating said.

Model UN encourages collaborative thinking and working together in a new environment.

“What I enjoyed most about Model U.N. was the conference in New York because I met a lot of cool people and we had a lot of freedom to experience new things,” junior Model U.N. member Angus Chang said. 

The Model UN club plans on having an amazing year and welcomes all new members. Evanko and co-advisor Ms. Burns hope to see all interested students at the next meeting on Friday, October 8.

By Marisa Laviano – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law band is back to live performances after 18 measures of rest.

The band is excited to make their return back to the Jonathan Law community after a year and a half of no performances due to COVID-19. They are in the process of showing off  their technical improvements at concerts and football games after the unanticipated absence from performing.

“I’m most excited for our students to have the ability to perform and present all of their learning to their friends and families,” said Law band Director Mr. Pelaggi. “Some of our students don’t even realize how much they have missed performing.”

Pelaggi is also working on having the band perform an outdoor concert in the near future. The date of this concert is to be determined since they are still waiting to be cleared by the Milford Health Department.

Even though the band hasn’t started performing concerts yet, they have started performing at Jonathan Law football games.

“The excitement and craziness of our first football game performance was great,” Pelaggi said. “It was awesome for the kids to put their uniforms on and present themselves so well.”

This year the band is planning to implement a new song called “Hey Baby” to perform at every home football game during the end of the first quarter. 

“It has a sing along part so hopefully we can get the student section and the crowd to sing with us,” Pelaggi said.

Because of COVID-19, many students have missed out on performance opportunities in the past couple years.

“I’m most excited to get back to performing in front of live audiences and football games, it is what a band is meant to do,” sophomore Christopher Rickard said. “The fun of playing in front of everyone is what keeps me going, and being able to hang out with friends at the games during third quarter break is worth the work we put into the shows.”

Upperclassmen have not performed since they were underclassmen, and underclassmen have not performed since middle school.

“I’m excited for the uniforms, they look so cool,” freshman Eli Gill said. “We never had a marching uniform in middle school because we never had a marching band.

This year with COVID-19 protocols decreasing, the band has new guidelines that they must follow compared to the past.

When practicing inside the horn section must be 6×6 feet apart and the percussion section must be 4×4 feet with masks on. When practicing outside, students are allowed to take off their masks as long as they are social distancing.

“It’s harder to hear what the people around you are playing so it makes it a little harder to play your part and to get help on a part,” junior assistant drum major Kayla Lembo said. “I do think overall though we have adjusted as well as we can to the protocols that have to be put in place.”

These protocols, even though less intense than last year’s protocols, make it difficult for the students to come together. However, the Jonathan Law band students continue to connect with one another and help one another.

“I’m planning on helping the band out with any questions they have, helping Mr. P with extra rehearsals, outside-of-school performances, and the general well being of the group,” junior section leader Katie Servas said. “Having the ability to be so involved has been the highlight of my junior year so far.”

Even with a few setbacks, the band is back and better than ever this year, giving great hopes for the group in years to come.

By Madelyn Baranowsky – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law Drama Club is hoping for a showstopping year.

This year the Drama Club will be welcoming a new director, assistant director, and updated COVID-19 protocols, but they are excited to start rehearsing.

“We were very excited about all of the applicants and think that we have found people that understand the direction and history of the drama department,” Interim Principal Mr. Marko said.  “We think that they will be a great fit and are looking forward to seeing the product on stage.”

While this is a big change for the returning Drama Club members, they are excited to see what the new director has in store for the Drama Club.

“I am excited to meet the new director and see what they have in store to make the Law drama club the best that we can be,” junior club member Marisa Laviano said.

Senior Drama Club President Sophie Maselli can’t wait to perform in front of a live audience again.

“I am most excited for a more ‘normal’ drama season,” Maselli said.  “I am very hopeful that for the spring musical we can have a live audience with the actors maskless.”

Besides having a new director and assistant director, this is the second year that the Jonathan Law Drama Club will be facing COVID-19 protocols.

While the Drama Club still has to follow restrictions, some restrictions are different from last year.  For example, it will only be required to keep three feet of distance between actors instead of last year’s six feet.

One restriction that is still the same, however, is that masks will still be required for rehearsals and meetings.

The club is waiting to hear back from the district with regards to whether or not they will be able to perform live this year.  Regardless of this decision, the members are still excited to be able to perform with fewer COVID restrictions.

“I’m really looking forward to Drama Club starting again and hopefully being able to do a play and a musical this year,” Laviano said.  “As a junior and going to Law during COVID-19 I have not been able to do a musical or a full-length play so we are all hoping for a real Drama Club experience this year.” 

Even with all of the new changes, members from all grades are looking forward to the Drama Club this year.

“What I am looking forward to most with the drama club is being able to meet a  wave of students who are new to the club while learning and performing alongside them,” senior Connor Richards said.

By Isabella Gecaj – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law will be starting a Law Nation Donation Day to focus on raising funds for a charity once a month.

Since September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, their first donation was to Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Donations could have been given during advisory on September 29, but for those who were too late to donate, they can search up the website and donate there. 

“It’s something new that we are doing to foster interactions in the school community while supporting great causes,” senior School Spirit Committee member Maia Schwing said. 

The Law community is coming together so they can support other communities and make a difference in other’s lives. Students are able to learn what it means to be a Lawman by participating in these charity events.

School Spirit Committee advisor Ms. Russell is the founder of the idea and the one who made this monthly fundraiser.

“We are hoping to be able to raise money for local charities that have special meanings for the law community,” Russell said.

Holding these charities can touch the hearts of students and their families.

Each charity fundraiser will be held in a different way. 

“Not only do students get to dress up in different fun and exciting themes, but they are also able to do something good and give a donation,” Schwing said.

In addition to the Law community coming together, they also get to have fun doing so. They can contribute and say they helped for a great cause and have more than one reason as to why they are happy they did. 

“I am also a huge supporter of leaving the opportunity open for students to submit causes that they want to help out,” Schwing said. “Overall, the Law Nation Donation Days are something that I am so thankful to be a part of.”

Students are able to suggest certain charities they would like to donate to. 

Jonathan Law’s sport teams will also play a major contribution in the process. 

“Our team thinks this is a great idea and is excited to help raise money for these kids,” Varsity football junior captain John Neider said. “We have done past fundraisers and raised a lot of money.”

This is not the first time the school’s sport teams have participated in charities, but it most certainly will not be their last.

“This fundraiser sticks out for us out of all the others,” Neider said. “We plan on raising as much money as we can while spreading awareness.”

Not only is the school helping by raising funds, but also by spreading the word. It is important that people know why they should donate and the significance of their help.

“This way, all students are engaged and participating in some way,” Schwing said. “Another great way that students could help out is by researching more about Alex’s Lemonade Stand and participating on their own.” 

By Gemard Guery – News and Editorial Editor

Jonathan Law’s Key Club has started again for the 2021-2022 school year.

Key Club, advised by Mr. Boynton, is a community service club that aims to provide members with opportunities to give back to the community, build character, and develop leadership skills.

The first meeting was on September 24 and had an amazing turnout with over 70 new and current members joining the club.

“Honestly, I was kind of shocked to see so many people,” senior Key Club President Caroline Doyle said. “I spent a lot of time handing out Key Club flyers, talking to the freshman, writing on whiteboards in classrooms, and posting on social media. I was kind of scared about recruitment after last year with COVID and I thought that would maybe carry into this year, but based on our numbers it didn’t.”

While last year definitely wasn’t typical, this year will be a far more normal experience for Key Club members.

“This year will be a more normal year, we are able to do a lot more activities and we can have meetings in person again in the senior cafe so I’m really excited for that,” said senior Key Club Treasurer Diya Daruka. “Although we still have to follow social distancing and mask guidelines, it will definitely be a lot of fun for members and they will still get to experience Key Club as they would in a traditional school year.”

They have many community service projects planned this year as well.

“We hope to kick off our annual Halloween UNICEF Drive during the month of October as well as reacquainting ourselves with our Builders club ,our junior Key Club at West Shore Middle School,” Boynton said. “During the months of November and December we will be planning our Holiday food drives with the Boy Scouts as well as those in need in Jonathan Law Community. We also hope to be ringing the bell for the Red Kettle Campaign for the Salvation Army in front of the local Stop and Shop Supermarket. These are just a few of the activities we are looking at at this time but the most important thing at this time is to  rebuild our membership base.”

If students would like to join, Key Club meets every Thursday in the senior cafe. Key Club is a great opportunity to get involved in the school community. 

“We are excited and optimistic to rebuild the club and restore all  activities we participated in before the pandemic,” Boynton said. “Key Club is a wonderful organization, we do many great things for our school and communities and we build some terrific friendships along the way so please come to a meeting to get involved in Key Club.”

By Kaitlyn Goldberg – News Editor

Jonathan Law senior Diya Daruka was recently designated a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program.  

Out of over 5 million students nationwide who took the 2020 PSAT, Daruka was among 34,000 chosen to be a Commended Student for showing exceptional academic promise. 

“It feels great to be a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship program because I am very lucky to be awarded this award and I’m very grateful to have achieved this accomplishment,” Daruka said.  

The Law community is very proud of Daruka and her accomplishment. 

“We are so proud of Diya and all that she has accomplished,” Interim Principal Mr. Marko said. “It was nice to see all of the hard work that she has put in over the years pay off with such a prestigious award. She is such a deserving student and we can’t wait to see the great things that she is going to accomplish in the future.”

Daruka said she was motivated to win this award in many ways.

“What made me want to strive to be a National Merit Scholar was that I had heard about it from my guidance counselor and my mom and it was something I wanted to accomplish.” Daruka said. “I also wanted to have a chance to earn the money scholarship money associated with the award.” 

Overall, Daruka is grateful she was able to become a Commended Student.

“I am very thankful for all the help I got along the way from my mom, my guidance counselor Mrs. Scarpa, Mr. Marko, Mr. Hoggatt and everyone else that helped me achieve this award,” Daruka said.

By Truman Martin – Entertainment Editor

The Support Center has returned for another year for the students at Law.

The Support Center is a resource that students can use if they are struggling with a certain subject. It is open every day and every period in the TLC. 

“I use the Support Center for help with my main classes,” junior Brenda Grunow said. “The teachers there can help in different classes than what they are mainly there for. You just have to ask.”

There is an English teacher and a math teacher in the Support Center every period. These teachers can help students with other subject areas as well.

“The Support Center is an excellent resource for students who need extra help in any subject area,” English teacher Mr. Kulenych said. “We have already seen so many students take advantage of the Support Center this year. It’s a one-stop shop for students’ academic needs.”

The Support Center is open for all students, not just students who are struggling.

“I would definitely recommend the Support Center for ALL students,” math teacher Mr. Frank said. “Some students stop in just to ask a question or two, while others go to the TLC and come see us for the entire period to go over concepts they are struggling with.”

The Support Center is also the only place at Law that has a live Google Meet, so students who are in quarantine can still get help from teachers throughout the day.

Math teacher Mr. Ruzbarsky can often be found in the Support Center giving help to many students at a time.

“Support Center not only helps you with your current struggles, but we can also help you make connections and show you real life applications of math,” Ruzbarsky said.

By Sydney Simpson – Editor-in-Chief

Jonathan Law’s new principal, Mr. Bryan Darcy, will begin leading the Law community on October 18. Darcy comes to Law from the Stratford school district, where his most recent position was Principal of Wooster Middle School. Darcy has 16 years of experience as an educator in Connecticut which includes roles as Business Teacher, Athletic Director, Department Head, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Advocate Editor-in-Chief Sydney Simpson interviewed Mr. Darcy about his upcoming transition to Jonathan Law. 

Sydney Simpson: Why did you decide to come to Jonathan Law?

Mr. Darcy: I decided to apply for the position of Principal of Jonathan Law because I heard there was a tremendous sense of community and support in the building. It seems to be a school where student voices are heard and staff works closely to ensure you get the best high school experience possible. It’s a family and community that I can’t wait to join. 

SS: Which Law traditions are you most excited to be a part of? 

MD:  I’m most excited to see and be part of the school spirit that is alive and well at Law. I want to be involved in activities, athletic events and extracurricular activities with the students. It’s great to see the support you provide for each other. 

SS: How will your past experiences in the educational field prepare you for taking on the role of principal here at Law?

MD: I’ve been a High School Business Teacher, Department Chair, Athletic Director and Assistant Principal – all at the high school level. I’ve also been a Middle School Principal over the past 6-plus years. These experiences have allowed me to see student growth and development during the middle and high school years. It’s also allowed me to build strong relationships with every stakeholder group. That is something I can bring to Law as well. 

SS: What is one important thing that the staff and students here should know about you?

MD: The most important thing all students and staff need to know is that I’m in this for all the right reasons. The most important thing is to support every student. I never give up on anyone and I’ll do whatever it takes to make all students feel heard and supported. 

SS: What is one message you would want to relay to the seniors at Jonathan Law?

MD: I want seniors to know that I’m dedicated to making their last year at Law the best I can given the current circumstances with COVID. I will listen and learn from you likely more than you’ll learn from me over the next few months. 

SS: What is one message you would want to relay to the freshmen at Jonathan Law?

MD: I want freshmen and all underclassmen to know that I’m here to support all of you. I want you to look back at your high school career 5, 10, 20 years from now with a smile on your face. I want you to feel that you are part of the Law family and understand the positive impact you will have in Milford and beyond. 

SS: What are some of your short term goals?

MD: The biggest short term goal is to build positive relationships with students and staff. I’m coming into a great school environment and I’m the “new kid in school” who has to absorb as much information as possible to support all stakeholders. I have an open door and an open mind, so I’ll need to learn and hear from everyone. 

SS: What are some of your long term goals?

MD: My long term goals are to set up supportive systems within the building that add to the already positive climate in the school. 

SS: What are some of your outside of school interests?

MD: My outside interests include spending time with my two girls, Cora (7) and Brea (5), along with my wife. We spend a lot of time outdoors and playing sports together as a family. I’m also a huge Yankees fan and enjoy watching games with family and friends. 

SS: To you, what does it mean to be a Lawman?

MD:  I haven’t started yet, but I think being a Lawman has a lot to do with growing into a positive person who has an impact on other peoples’ lives. It’s holding yourself and others to a higher standard. I start on October 18th and I can’t wait to have students like yourself define what it truly means to be a Lawman for me and our community. 

By Lily Forster – Entertainment Editor

Jonathan Law’s School Spirit Committee is back and better than ever.

For each football game this year, there will be a theme. Students are encouraged to dress for that theme during school on Friday as well.

“The Judges” – seniors Makenna Sharpe, Maia Schwing, Aidan King, and Jackson Warters – are the leaders of the student section this year. They, along with the senior class, will come up with the theme for the home games. 

“We want to get as many students at the home games to support each other,” School Spirit Committee advisor Ms. Russell said. “We want there to be a student section at all sports games (not just football) to show support to all of our student athletes. When everyone is sitting in one section and cheering, it helps the players feel supported.”

The student section is located on the far right side of the bleachers at football games and in the gym.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, Law can not host pep rallies right now, but the Spirit Committee is hoping that the spirit days will make up for it.

The committee is also starting “Lawnation Donation” Days this year.

“There is going to be a theme that correlates with a charity and during Advisory we are going to be collecting donations,” Sharpe said.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, so Law is going to have a “Gold/Yellow Day” on September 29. During Common Time, there will be a collection and all the money raised will be donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand. 

In future months, students will be able to suggest charities that they are a part of or that are meaningful to them.