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OCTOBER 2011
Volume 51 Issue 1 Jonathan Law High School Milford, CT October 2011
THE ADVOCATE
A Forum For Student Opinion
Opinion Section - Pages 2-3
News Section - Pages 4-11
Entertainment Section - Pages 12-13
Columns Section - Pages 14-16
Sports Section - Pages 17-20
Free
Bernie Smigel
Editorial Editor
Last year, students and
teachers were introduced to
advisory, a program that was
periodically held during home-
room.
Now, advisory is back, but
with a completely new twist.
Instead of a special home-
room, students now report to a
different teacher for an advisory
period.
Each teacher was assigned
freshmen, sophomore, junior,
or senior students.
Teachers were abl e t o
choose six students to be in
their group. They also received
fve or six students chosen at
random.
There will be a 30-minute
long advisory period every
other Wednesday.
The director of the program,
vice principal Mr. Swan, is
confdent that the program will
succeed in improving school
climate and providing 21
st
cen-
tury skills to the students.
The goal of advisory is
to ensure that every student at
Jonathan Law High School has
a personal relationship with an
adult in our building, Swan
said.
The general belief is that all
students should feel they have
a teacher in the school to rely
on if they have questions or
concerns.
I like the idea behind it,
but I think it might take us a
little while to get there, Eng-
lish teacher Mrs. Napolitano
said.
Some students are not par-
ticularly excited about the pro-
gram, but realize the importance
of it.
I think its useless for se-
niors, but pretty important for
freshmen and sophomores,
senior Mallery Breban said.
With students being more
comfortable, this could ulti-
mately lead to higher grades and
standardized test scores.
The program at Jonathan
Law is going to do what it can
to encourage friendly discus-
sion between the teachers and
students.
These discussions include
sharing each others likes, dis-
likes, goals, and hobbies.
So far weve talked a lot
about goal setting and trying
to get students to set goals for
themselves in and out of the
classroom, English teacher
Mr. Kulenych said.
Weve had some great dis-
cussions so far and the goal is
for that to continue throughout
the rest of the year.
Some are talking about col-
lege plans and others are talking
about life in general.
There are teachers who
want to make their advisory
students feel comfortable and
do so by providing snacks or
baked goods.
Advisory is actually not re-
quired, but rather recommended
by the New England Asso-
ciation of Secondary Schools
(NEASC).
When asked if Mr. Swan
thinks the program will con-
tinue for future years, he says
he hopes and believes the pro-
gram will improve the academic
achievements of students and
will continue in the future.
I dont think it will go
away, Swan said.
Scan this with your
SmartPhone to go to
The Advocate Online!
Mrs. Rowley leads a discussion with her advisory class.
(photo by B. Smigel)
Law Institutes New Schoolwide Advisory Program
Thompson Excited To Lead Jonathan Law
Cody Roy
Editor-In-Chief
Jonathan Law is in for a bit
of a change this year.
While the old principal,
Ms. Garagliano, has retired, a
new one has taken her place.
Mr. Fran Thompson will be
taking the helm and leading
Jonathan Law.
Thompson is entering the
school year with many innova-
tive and progressive ideas for
the students at Law.
My goal is to create a
school where each student
strives to maximize their po-
tential, Thompson. I want
students to try the AP courses,
take the high level work, and
really push themselves.
Academically isnt the only
place Thompson wants students
to excel. In his short time here,
he has been working toward
making Law a more sociable
and more accepting place to
be.
For example, he tweaked
the cell phone policy to allow
students to use their phones in
the cafeteria.
Before, students werent al-
lowed to use their phones at all;
the new policy allows their use
during all lunch waves.
Additionally, Thompson
advocates the newly appointed
advisory program at Jonathan
Law.
The idea is to create a safe,
warm place where every student
feels like he or she has a place,
Thompson said.
Ive seen it work well at
other schools, and it will re-
ally help change the school
here.
He went on to say that advi-
sory is an amazing way to help
improve the school.
I love the questions and
comments students give me;
the more info I have the more
helpful I can be.
Thompson also has started
more seriously enforcing the
student dress code.
I want to stress what were
doing is in the student hand-
book, and always has been,
Thompson said. The only
thing were doing differently is
enforcing it.
Student reaction to the new
principal and his policies is
generally very warm.
Many returning students
are enjoying the change in
pace.
Senior Eugene Yap said,
In the past, Ive always had
female principals; its good to
see the different methods of a
male one.
As for Thompson, he just
appreciates the cooperation of
both staff and students.
It should be our goal to-
gether, as students and teachers,
to raise the bar education-
ally and socially, Thompson
said.
St udent s, facul t y, and
Thompson are all looking for-
ward to an exciting new year
under new management.
This year marks my 36
th

year teaching and the start
of this year has been one the
best starts weve ever had,
English teacher Mrs. Reshenk
said.
Thompson is also happy
with the way the year has started
and he cant wait to put his mark
on the Law community.
Im just grateful for the
opportunity to work here,
Thompson said.
Im going to work hard to
make it a source of excellence,
both socially and academi-
cally.
Mr. Thompson, the new principal at Jonathan Law, is excited to start his frst year.
(photo courtesy of C. Roy)
THE ADVOCATE
Cody Roy
Editor-in-Chief
Emily Bolcer
Alexis Christy
News Editors
Phylicia Prince
Bernie Smigel
Editorial Editors
Bryan Creevy
Kim Legen
Melissa Nelson
Entertainment Editors
Nick DePascale
Jesse Doucette
Columns Editors
Kyle Kandetzki
Kevin Langan
Sports Editors
Mr. Kulenych
Advisor
Advocate Staff Reporters
Jonathan Law High School is a community that exists to maximize the
intellectual, the social, and the emotional growth of each student in a safe, stable,
supportive environment. We believe that a positive, collaborative atmosphere fosters
high expectations and recognizes individual differences.
In partnership with students, parents, and the community, we are committed to
developing the skills necessary for educational, career, and life choices.
Jonathan Law High School Mission Statement
Page 2
OPINION
October 2011
The Advocate is the offcial student-run publication
of Jonathan Law High School. The opinions
presented in The Advocate are solely those of the
students. As journalists, the members of The
Advocate staff are committed to upholding the core
of our code of ethics: objectivity, integrity, and truth.
The staff endeavors to report the news
without editorializing, include a diversity of opinions
in our coverage, and present sound, corroborated
information. We welcome letters to the editor as well
as issue-based commentaries. If you are interested
in contributing, please submit your writing to: The
Advocate, Room 211, Jonathan Law High School, 20
Lansdale Avenue, Milford, CT 06460.
THE ADVOCATE
VISIT
ONLINE!
Read the Full E-Edition on LawShare or go to
www.jlawadvocate.wordpress.com.
Alex Baluha, Thomas Bolcer, Sean Cameron,
Bhaswati, Chattopadhyay, Connor Falaguerra,
Mathew Ferraiolo, Kevin Foley, Olivia Herman,
Andrew Herrick, Bhavani Jaladanki,
Tarah Kelly, Jaclyn Kochiss, Anisha Manglani,
Tayree Martin, Rachel Mezzoni, Marisa Perce,
Adriana Petrucci, Emily Pitney, Brigitt Rees,
Jillian Russo, Hayley Soulier, Matthew Telker,
Jason Vancho
Republicans Still Searching For 2012 Nominee
Welcome Back
From The Editors
As a new school year be-
gins, The Advocate returns to
welcome all members of the
Jonathan Law High School
community, old and new.
The staff, editors, and Mr.
Kulenych, the advisor, of The
Advocate, are looking forward
to providing the Jonathan Law
community with reliable, trust-
worthy, and accurate news, as
well as lively and signifcant
opinions, features, and col-
umns.
The 2011-2012 school year
is coming with exciting new
features to both the newspaper
and the school itself, and The
Advocate is ready to give stu-
dents and faculty as many de-
tails as possible concerning the
new events at Jonathan Law.
One of our major new
features is the addition of
The Advocates new website,
jlawadvocate.wordpress.com,
where there will be an elec-
tronic version of the paper, as
well as additional up-to-date
news to complement our tra-
ditional seven monthly issues.
The editorial staff has re-
ceived 12 iPod Touches to
use for the new website and
provide the readers with new
stories as they occur.
The Advocates staff edi-
torials, much like the one you
are reading, will represent the
opinion of our staff, and our
commentaries will provide
often unconventional perspec-
tives on current controversial
issues. Our articles will be fair
and balanced and our staff is
devoted to maintain objectiv-
ity, integrity and truth.
After 51 years of upholding
the highest standards of effec-
tive reporting and ethical jour-
nalism, The Advocate staff will
continue to strive to provide
the same excellent quality of
school, local and national news.
We will try to meet your
expectations for this paper, as
they should be high. We will
aspire to include all viewpoints
to ensure that our entire student
body is represented in our pub-
lication.
In May, we will publish
Blink, Laws literary magazine.
In the spring, The Advocate staff
will publish a senior supple-
ment inside the June issue. The
supplement, as per tradition,
will include information about
the senior class post-graduate
plans along with the graduates
most memorable high school
moments and bequeathments.
We indeed strive to include
a diverse selection of opinions
that so fttingly refect the vari-
ety of perspectives at Jonathan
Law. Without the desire to
satisfy and inform our read-
ers, our passion for creating
a great newspaper would be
short-lived.
We not only accept, but
encourage, feedback by invit-
ing all readers of The Advocate
students, teachers, faculty
members, parents or commu-
nity leaders to contribute let-
ters to the editor for publication.
Letters should be submitted to
either the main offce at Jona-
than Law or to Mr. Kulenych
in Room 211.
We sincerely hope that our
practice will live up to our the-
ory that The Advocate will
competently serve as a forum
for student opinion. As former
editorial editor, Justin Marge-
son, once said, The Advocate
is not a high school newspaper,
but rather a newspaper based in
a high school.
Phylicia Prince
Editorial Editor
The 2012 election
campaign has already started,
and the candidates running for
election are ratherinteresting
at the least.
Earlier this year,
Republicans were at a tailspin
over who they would want to
be the Republican nominee
for president. Even though
Mitt Romney announced his
candidacy, Republicans were
determined to have anyone but
him be their nominee.
Republicans turned their
eyes to New Jersey Governor
Chris Christie as a candidate,
but Christie was determined
not to run.
Christie was courted by a
group of top Iowa Republican
campaign contributors who
tried to persuade him to change
his mind and run against
President Barack Obama in
2012.
But after traveling all the
way to New Jersey, the donors
and party loyalists heard the
same response from Christie
that others have heard before
them: Thanks for asking, but
no thanks.
While some Republicans
were courting Christie, others
were gaining media attention.
Such was the case with Donald.
From firting with the
possible ability to run for
president, to questioning
President Obamas birth
certifcate, Trump caused quite
a stir. At some point in time,
Trump was leading in the poll
numbers. Some could say he
did all of this for publicity for
his show the Apprentice.
Well, that tactic failed.
After Obama released his birth
certifcate, Trump plummeted
in the polls, and announced
that he was not running for
president.
Another person who was
not running for president, but
made headlines either way was
Sarah Palin.
Palin went on tours
promoting her book and movie,
all the while hinting at running
for president. The media was in
a frenzy wondering for months
whether Palin would run for
offce. Of course this attention
upstaged candidates that were
actually running for offce,
such as Michelle Bachman.
This was to Palins delight.
It was rather silly that the
media would actually have
thought that Palin would
run, when she quit her job as
governor of Alaska, in order
to have her own reality show.
Palin is a celebrity now, not a
politician.
Now Republicans have
to force their attention to the
actual candidates running for
offce. From Michelle deer
in the headlights Bachman,
to Mitt copy the presidents
ideas while disagreeing with
the president Romney,
Republicans saw these two
candidates as their front
runners for the Republican
nomination.
Unfortunately for those
candidates, Rick Medicare
is a Pansy Scheme Perry
through his hat into the ring.
Once he did, it seemed clear
that he was front runner for
the nomination.
If Obama plans on winning
the election, he better hope
Perry gets the nomination,
because Perry has dug himself
into many self-implicated
holes these past months.
Obama can sit back and watch
Perry self-destruct before his
eyes by pulling out Perrys
infamous book, and reading the
book out loud to Perry, as he
struggles to defend his gaffs.
All Obama needs to do is
play his cards right, and avoid
another debt ceiling catastrophe
and he should be fne next
November.
(Some information courtesy
of Fox News.com.)
All President Obama
needs to do is play
his cards right, and
avoid another debt
ceiling catastrophe,
and he should be
fne in the 2012
general election.
Page 3
OPINION
October 2011
Obama Battles Republicans On Taxes...Again
Phylicia Prince
Editorial Editor
Another round of
Republicans versus President
Obama took place after the
president announced his new
tax proposal.
President Obama pitched
recently his $3 trillion defcit
reduction strategy, promising
to veto any proposal that fails
to raise revenues by asking
wealthy Americans to pay
their fair share.
We are not going to
have a one-sided deal that
hurts the folks who are most
vulnerable, Obama said.
With that statement, Obama
sounded like the Obama of the
2008 elections.
Obama said his plan would
seek $1 in new revenues for
every $2 in cuts. At its core
is a plan to raise $1.5 trillion
in new revenues through an
overhaul of the tax code.
Of that, $800 billion would
come from the expiration of the
George W. Bush era tax cuts
for upper-income Americans;
the other $700 billion consists
of revenue increases achieved
by closing loopholes, limiting
deductions for those earning
more than $250,000 a year and
getting rid of tax breaks for oil
and gas companies.
The president is right about
this subject. Why should the
middle class stay poor while
the rich get even richer. Those
who can afford to pay more
taxes should, while those who
cant afford to pay high taxes
should pay less.
Obama rejected Republican
arguments that his proposals
amount to class warfare,
saying it comes down to
math.
It is wrong that in the
United States of America
a teacher or a nurse or a
construction worker who earns
$50,000 should pay higher tax
rates than somebody pulling in
$50 million, he said, adding
that anyone who opposes that
principle should be called
out.
It comes down to this: We
have to prioritize, he said.
Both parties agree that we
need to reduce the defcit by the
same amount, by $4 trillion.
Either we ask the wealthiest
Americans to pay their fair
share in taxes or were going to
have to ask seniors to pay more
for Medicare. We cant afford
to do both.
As per usual, Obamas
proposal is met by Republican
opposition, whose slogan
is say no to anything the
President puts out.
Veto threats, a massive
tax hike, phantom savings
and punting on entitlement
reform is not a recipe for
economic or job growth
or even meaningful defcit
reduction, Senate Minority
Leader Mitch McConnell said.
The good news is that the
joint committee is taking this
issue far more seriously than
the White House.
Pitting one group of
Americans against another
is not leadership, House
Speaker John Boehner added.
The joint select committee
is engaged in serious work
to tackle a serious problem.
Unfortunately, the president
has not made a serious
contribution to its work today.
What Mr. Boehner needs
to realize, though, is that it
will not help this country
if 95 percent of people go
broke because the rich dont
want to pay their fair share of
taxes. Some of the wealthiest
people do not even pay taxes.
The country could see itself
become a third world country
if the wealth disparity between
the rich and poor increase.
The president will propose
that those earning more than
$1 million annually pay at
least the same rate as middle
class earners. The idea is likely
to be strongly opposed by the
Republicans.
The strong Republican
opposition means the
millionaire tax proposal,
which the White House has
dubbed the Buffett rule after
billionaire investor Warren
Buffett, is unlikely to pass
Congress. But it promises
to become a highly charged
centerpiece in the battle over
defcit reduction and job
creation that will be a focus of
the 2012 election.
Democratic Senator from
Illinois Richard J. Durbin
showed the approach his party
might take when he criticized
Republicans for not supporting
Obamas $447 billion jobs bill.
I think his team put
together a positive, good plan,
Durbin said Sunday on CNNs
State of the Union. Whats
the Republican alternative?
Do nothing and protect the
millionaires.
This is not the frst battle
for Obama and the Republicans
this year. During the debt
ceiling negotiations this
summer, Republicans refused
to go along with any tax
revenue increases. In the end,
Obama met the Republicans
demands for budget cuts to
secure an increase in the debt
ceiling and avoid a possible
U.S. default.
But with the 2012 election
campaign heating up, Obama
is pushing his defcit reduction
plan again, but is hoping that
the new proposal will give him
a win against the Republicans,
and the middle class.
(Some information courtesy
of the LA Times)
(photo courtesy of politicalhumor.about.com)
us yu
stut
vr tr r
t w
prst
yurs
vrs r y
vrt z
tvw
y st rt
s!
r ppr!


You. Yes, you. The
good looking student
over there from
Jonathan Law.
Do an old president,
and yourself, a big
favor. Please read my
favorite magazine,
National Review. Oh,
golly, I almost forgot:
Go Eagles! Win one
for The Gipper!
National Review is Americas premier conservative magazine and website. For intelligent commentary on
current events, do the right thing: visit www.nationalreview.com.
Page 4 October 2011
NEWS
The Advocate Interview: Mr. Thompson
Cody Roy
Editor-in-Chief
Each month, The Advocate
will sit down with a member
of the Law community and
discuss important topics and
events. This months interview
is with Laws new principal,
Mr. Thompson.
Cody Roy: Hi, How are
you?
Mr. Thompson: Im doing
great, and you?
CR: Amazing, as always.
MT: I actually refer to you
as Cody The Amazing One.
CR: I like that, thats go-
ing in. So what brought you to
Jonathan Law?
MT: Well, I was very happy
at my last school, but I saw this
opportunity, and Ive heard so
many amazing things about
Milford and Jonathan Law that
I was excited to put my hat in
the ring!
CR: What are some of your
academic goals for Jonathan
Law?
MT: My goal is along with
all the teachers to raise that
bar academically; to get every
student as prepared as they can
be for life after high school. For
most kids thatll be college, for
others it will be some type of
vocational training and others
still will go straight to work I
want them to have the skills
necessary to succeed.
CR: What about some of
your non-academic goals
sports; social life here at Jon-
than Law?
MT: Its my hope that ev-
eryone will fnd a place here at
Johnathan Law; so people will
remember that this is their com-
munity, their school, so we want
to provide as many opportuni-
ties as possible for every student
to feel safe and supported and to
accel here whether its in the
class room, on the feld, on the
stage, or in the band.
CR: How do you think Ad-
visory helps achieve these?
MT: Advisory is a wonder-
ful thing, I ran it at my previous
school, and its a wonderful re-
source that gives every student
to connect with an adult in the
building. It may be a teacher
youve had or a coach, or some
one brand new, but its another
face that continues the tradition
at Law of students and teachers
really connecting.
CR: There has been a small
uproar since you got here in-
volving the dress code; any-
thing youd like to say about it?
MT: As far as dress code
goes; Im very pleased with the
conversations that have ensued
about them. Were just asking
kids to dress for success. Id
also like to assure everyone
Mr. Thompson is hard at work at his new job at Jonathan Law.
(photo courtesy C. Roy)
Matt Telker
Staff Reporter
The Jonathan Law Key
Club expects to help the area
in new and innovative ways
throughout the school year.
Key Club is the largest high
school volunteer organization
in the world. Members work
at various community and
school events to help better the
community as a whole.
There are no words to
describe the amazing things
these kids do throughout the
year, Jonathan Law Key Club
advisor Mr. Boynton said. At
the end of the year we will
have volunteered for over 50
projects.
Key Club has been working
at many of the same projects
for 14 years. The most well-
known project is work for the
Salvation Army. Members ring
the bell outside of local stores
to collect donations.
Additionally, members
work at the tents at Saint
Marys Carnival.
Groups such as these
rely heavily on Key Club
involvement for the success
of their events. The Key Club
is recognized as one of the top
clubs each year.
I participate because I
like helping others and having
a good community service
activity to put on my college
resume, senior treasurer
Freddy Hanania said.
This year, Key Club has
some new projects on its
agenda.
We have just been asked
to participate in Pumpkins on
the Pier, an event being held
for the frst time, Boynton
said.
This will be a Halloween
extravaganza located on
Walnut Beach. Key Club will
assist the committee setting
up on Friday the 14
th
and
volunteer all day Saturday.
President Cody Roy said,
I do Key Club because I like
making a difference in peoples
lives and in the community.
Roy is essential to Key
Club in that he encourages
student involvement and
participation as the president.
I like the interaction
among people and the
intangible reward I get for
doing something good, Key
Club member Austin Chaves
said,
Key Club has also sparked
member interest in pursuing
other volunteering activities.
Since I have joined, I have
started doing solo volunteer
work, and I have also started
volunteering for Interact,
secretary Ben Marus said.
Members are also excited
for the annual Key Club
Convention.
Convention is a large
scale event where all the key
clubs come together, Hanania
said. While there, upcoming
offcers are instructed and
awards are given. It is a lot of
fun.
Key Club is currently
accepting new members.
The meetings are held every
Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the
senior cafeteria.
(photo courtesy kiwanisone.org)
Key Club Looks Forward To
Another Year Of Volunteering
There are no words
to describe the
amazing things these
kids do throughout
the year.
- Key Club advisor
Mr. Boynton
that I have not changed any of
the policies from the district,
but it is my job to adhere to
them. The correct kind of yoga
pants are alright, we wont be
doing uniforms, but you cant
look like a Kardashian, you
cant look like Snookie from
Jersey shore they dont go to
Law. If I had my preference, Id
wear cargo shorts a T-shirt and
fip fops every day. I cant do
that because there is a profes-
sional expectation, and when
kids are in school its not the
beach. So there is a personal and
professional expectation from
students as well.
CR: Do you have any words
of wisdom for the incoming
freshmen?
MT: Get involved, connect
with your advisors, and connect
with your teachers. Remember
the importance of your grades,
and lay the foundation for a
great four years at Jonathan
Law.
CR: Anything else youd
like to say to the Jonathan Law
community as a whole?
MT: Just that Im so hon-
ored and grateful to be here
and Im going to get up every
morning and do everything I
can to be a center of excellence
for every student, teacher, and
community member thats my
ultimate goal.
Page 5 October 2011
NEWS
Law Begins New
Grading Policy
Emily Bolcer
News Editor
Whats worse than not
doing your work? Getting
zapped!
Jonathan Law has changed
its grading policy this year
to ft each grade with certain
requirements.
I like ZAP and I hope
it works, said sophomore
science teacher Ms. Bartow.
Each grade has certain
requirements that need to meet
with doing work and getting
credit.
For freshmen, no zeros are
allowed to be given initially,
but as they become older,
the policy becomes stricter.
Students have two to three
days to make up the work with
a maximum of a 10 percent
penalty.
If a certain amount of
time has gone by, a student is
zapped. They are sent to the
ZAP room where they spend
their time completing all their
unfnished work.
Students who take a test
and receive an 83 or worse are
also allowed to retake it under
the new grading policy. The
catch is that all the homework
must be completed to have the
option of a retake.
ZAP gives students
more opportunity to achieve
provided they put in their own
effort, said history teacher
Mr. Iacono.
As students move
throughout high school,
the policy changes year to
year. What might have been
acceptable as a freshman is no
longer okay for a sophomore.
Sophomores get one fewer
day, for example, to make up
work.
The policy helps students
out in certain respects.
I have always counted
homework as 10 percent, said
Bartow, if assignments were
not done, then a zero was given
after a certain amount of time
passed.
For some teachers, the
grading policy does not change
anything.
The new grading policy
really doesnt differ too much,
said French teacher Mrs.
Almonte. If students ask to
do something over I let them,
and if they received below a
70 on a test or quiz, they can
correct their mistakes for half
credit.
Students also enjoy the
new grading policy.
If I do poorly on a test
I can redo it, said junior
Amanda Smith. Its good for
me because I can get a better
grade in the class and I am
able to learn what my mistakes
are.
Jonathan Law Welcomes New
Dean Of Students, Mrs. Fortney
Mrs. Fortney, the new Dean of Students.
(photo courtesy B. Jaladanki)
Bhavani Jaladanki
Staff Reporter
Even though she is new
to the school, Mrs. Fortney
is already making a major
impact among the students and
teachers at Jonathan Law.
Shes strictly enforcing
the dress code, making sure
students get to class, and
ensuring that the students
get the best of the education
being offered to them.
Fortney, who came from
Woodland High School in
Beacon Falls, has made
a successful transition
into Jonathan Law.
So far incredibly busy,
mostly kids are nice, teachers are
fantastic, Fortney said.
Fortney also voiced
her opinion on the dress
code and how everyone has
been reacting to it.
She said that she did not
come up with the new dress
code, but is only strictly
enforcing the dress code
rules found in the handbook
from years before.
I feel like the dress code has
been super clarifed and uber
clarifed, said Fortney.
Not only did she talk
about the dress code, but she
also shared some information
on advisory, which she
has been working hard
with to run effectively.
Advisory will be a positive
change, said Fortney. Its a
great opportunity and well
see how it plays out.
She wants to tell those who
think advisory is unnecessary
that it will take time to get
used to the program.
Fortney said advisory
will allow kids to develop
friendships and relationships.
Mr. Thompson, Laws
new principal, is very
excited to have Fortney
at Law and to work with
her on a daily basis.
She handles all of
student management and
works very closely with
the assistant principals,
Thompson said.
Thompson said that the
decision to have a dean was
not his; it was the Board of
Educations choice.
The principal said the dean
was given the job of taking
care of schedules, attendance,
truancy, cutting, etc.
He was more than happy
with the boards realization
of an importance of a
dean to the school.
She is consistent,
honest, and I couldnt be
happier with the work shes
doing, Thompson said.
Since the dean mostly
works to get the students on
track, the students themselves
have a lot to say about her.
Shes keeping
everybody in line and
doing a good job, senior
Olivia Anderson said.
Sophomore Bonnie
Bonnanzio agrees.
Shes very nice and
likes to joke around,
Bonnanzio said.
Senior Finch Shows Off Pet Cow At Big E
Marisa Perce
Staff Reporter
Not many people spend
their weekends hanging out
with cows.
Senior Lea Finch has
been showing cows since she
was in middle school. She has
attended many fairs including
the Big E, North Haven Fair,
Durham Fair, and the Berlin
Fair.
Finchs dads family owns
a farm in Durham where Finch
spends most of her weekends in
the fall prepping and showing
her cows.
Its fun to do, but
sometimes I miss my friends. It
gives me time to get away but
I always love coming back to
Milford, said Finch.
There are two parts to a cow
show: breed and showmanship.
Breed is based on judging the
actual cows. Showmanship is
based on how well the cow is
presented, how well-trained it
is, and the overall knowledge
of the owner.
On September 10 and 11,
Finch attended the Big E to
show her cow. Overall, Finch
won Supreme Champion and
Grand Champion.
The Big E was my most
successful show. All my hard
work paid off and I was so
happy for myself and my cow,
said Finch.
Finch has earned many
other titles showing her cow.
On September 24, Finch
showed her cow at the Durham
Fair and received sixth
place out of eighteen other
competitors.
Finch is not alone while
showing her cows every
weekend. She has very
supportive friends and family
that travel around Connecticut
to watch her compete.
Its really cool to watch.
I love Leas cow and its
interesting to see my friend do
something out of the ordinary,
said senior Amanda Awwad.
Awwad has attended the
Big E and the Durham Fair to
watch Finch show her cow.
The cow shows are very
interesting. You see the cow
owners walk their cows around
a rink Its interesting to see
which cows actually listen, and
funny to see some freak out,
said senior Taylor Zullo.
Zullo has also attended the
Big E cow show to support her
friend.
Finch has become very
successful showing cows and
plans on sticking with it.
I love my cow and I enjoy
spending time with her, said
Finch. I get to do once in a
lifetime things with this.
On September 23, Finchs
cow was milked on News
Channel 8. Finch also showed
her cow this year at the Berlin
Fair and the North Haven Fair.
This is a hidden talent
that will continue with Finch
forever.
Its just something that
people dont expect, said
Finch.
Senior Lea Finch has showed her cows at the Big E, the North Haven Fair, the Durham Fair, and the
Berlin Fair. (photo courtesy L. Finch)
I love my cow and
I enjoy spending
time with her.
I get to do once in
a lifetime things
with this.
- Law senior
Lea Finch
Page 6 October 2011 NEWS
Law Welcomes Many New Faculty Members
Ms. Rosner
Ms. Friday Ms. Bedard Ms. DeMatties Ms. Gaetano
Ms. Cox Ms. Tesoro Ms. Murphy
Brigitt Rees
Tom Bolcer
Staff Reporters
A new year is underway
at Jonathan Law and there are
several new staff members.
Two of the new teachers
are interns in the building. The
math department and English
department each have a new
teacher, as do art, science,
family and consumer science,
and special education.
The new staff members for
2011-2012 are:
Anne Cox
Special Education
Ms. Cox is a graduate
from University of Northern
Colorado and received
her Masters degree from
Manhattan College. This year,
she is teaching the special
education students literacy at
Jonathan Law.
She came to Law after
teacher at Foran High School
for three years.
I am very happy to be
here, said Cox. I am very
fortunate to be here.
So far, Coxs experience at
Law has been a positive one.
I cant complain about
the students here at Jonathan
Law, she said.
Cox developed a passion for
skiing while in Colorado and
often fnds herself at the beach,
playing tennis, windsurfng, or
paddle boarding.
Cox can be found in the
Media Center in Room D.
Kelly Murphy
Intern
Ms. Murphy graduated
from Albany University, and
after her internship at Law, she
plans on becoming a middle
school math teacher.
I have a lot of fun
teaching, she said.
Murphy loves it here at
Jonathan Law and says that
she is having a lot of fun and
that the students are very
respectful.
The students act just like
high school students should,
she said. They are very
respectful.
Murphy had personal
experiences that made her
future career decisions for her.
I hated math in middle
school because the teacher
made the class unenjoyable,
Murphy said. And now Im
going to be a math teacher.
Samantha Friday
Math
Ms. Friday graduated
from Nyack College in New
York. She teaches geometry,
trigonometry, and numeracy at
Law.
She previously taught at the
Grove School in Rhode Island.
Being here at Law is a
good change of pace, she said.
Friday is excited about
what Law has to offer. In
particular, she feels that the
new grading policy will not
affect her classes.
I used a similar grading
policy in the Grove School,
she said. Its nothing new to
me.
Laura Tesoro
Intern
Ms. Tesoro is a graduate
of Fordham University in
the Bronx, New York, and is
now at Quinnipiac University
studying to become a biology
teacher.
She said she would also
like to coach a sport at Law in
the future.
So far, she has enjoyed her
experience at Law.
The students are very
nice, and are very welcoming,
Tesoro said.
Her favorite part of Law
is being able to have the
experience of teaching high
school students, as well as
how nice and welcoming the
students are.
Vera Gaetano
Family & Consumer Science
Ms. Gaetano has a
Masters degree from Southern
Connecticut State University
and an undergraduate degree
from Vermont University.
She was very happy to
be back in Milford since she
taught at Foran in the past.
I feel it is a good idea to
keep kids motivated and not
let them fall behind. She said
about the new zap program?
In her spare time Mrs.
Gaetano is an avid reader, is
big on gardening, loves taking
photographs, and enjoys
skiing.
Molly Rosner
English
Ms. Rosner, who was an
intern at Law two years ago,
is back at Law this year as an
English teacher.
Last year she interned at
West Shore Middle School.
She is thrilled to be here at
Law this year.
I like Law because it gives
kids opportunities, she said.
With teaching she also
coaches boys and girls swim
teams here at Law.
She also enjoys running in
her free time.
Sharleen Dematties
Art
Ms. Dematties spent
13 years at Law teaching
cartooning before she relocated
to West Shore Middle School.
She is back at Law this
year as an art teacher.
Dematties graduated from
Southern Connecticut State
University and now shes
teaching art for seniors.
Whats not to like about
Law? she said.
I know most of the
students I taught from West
Shore. It makes me feel like I
belong.
In her free time, Ms.
Dematties spends time with
her beloved German Shepard,
Dakota.
Not only does she spend a
lot of her time with her dog,
but she trains other dogs as
well.
Danielle Bedard
Science
Ms. Bedard graduated from
University of New Haven and
she said that she loves Law.
She teaches freshmen
science and meteorology.
She seems very fond of the
new grading system and the
ZAP program here at Law.
Its good, itll be
effective, Bedard said.
Danielle said that she is so
busy with her job that she has
no free time.
She said she couldnt be
happier with the students she
has here at Law.
Freshman Class Adjusts To Life At Jonathan Law
Adriana Petrucci
Staff Reporter
As the new school year
comes along, so too does the
new freshman class at Jonathan
Law High School.
With many new rules and
regulations to follow, the Class
of 2015 has a lot of adjusting
to do.
They are in a new school
with new administrators like
principal Mr. Thompson and
dean of students Mrs. Fortney.
Theyre also being introduced
to the new programs,
activities, rules, regulations,
and punishments that are now
being enforced. For the most
part, freshmen said they are
adjusting well to high school.
Timothy Edson, who is on
the football team this year and
who is senior Cody Edsons
younger brother, said that is
enjoying his frst month at
Law.
Its alright. Theres a lot
more work but its fun, Edson
said.
One of the big changes
for freshmen this year is the
grading policy. There is also
the new ZAP program.
Whenever a student does
not do their work and gets
a zero, their teacher has the
option of zapping them,
which means they get taken
out of study hall and taken to
a ZAP room to do the missing
assignment.
Mark Santiago, who is
also on the freshman football
team, likes the ZAP program.
I think its good for when
students didnt complete their
homework. I havent been
zapped though, Santiago said.
Coming into high school,
its always diffcult to adjust
to the new schedule of classes
and waking up earlier than
middle school.
This is no different for this
years freshman class.
Ive adjusted well, but its
hard to wake up in the morning
now, said Edson.
Santiago also said he
likes his teachers and said his
favorite class is modern history
with Mr. Dooley.
He makes the class hyped
up and helps us get our work
done, Santiago said.
Dooley, who teaches many
freshman classes said, I feel
the new (ZAP) rules are giving
students a chance to succeed.
Dooley also said, Its
giving the kids more guidance
and help to cope with stress,
work, and time management.
Laws freshman hallway,
which was introduced last
year, is back this year.
It eased the burden on
traveling and crowding in the
hallways; its a new route to
take, said Dooley.
Overall, this freshman
class is excited for what Law
has to offer and they plan on
taking advantage of those
opportunities over the next
four years.
A freshman class works diligently. (photo courtesy A. Petrucci)
Page 7 October 2011 NEWS
Dr. Barbiero Assumes New Position At Law
Jesse Doucette
Columns Editor
Over the summer, long-
time Jonathan Law history
teacher Dr. Barbiero, was
appointed as Laws new vice
principal.
After Mr. Kramer retired
at the end of last year, Dr.
Barbiero, who had never
worked as a vice principal
before, was very interested in
seeing what the position had to
offer.
I was ready to be more
of a leader, Barbiero said. I
felt like I could help better our
school as well as the students
too.
As vice principal,
Barbiero is now responsible
for observing art and social
studies, appointing interns,
and attending sporting events.
Barbiero is also in charge of all
the sophomores and juniors at
Jonathan Law.
I feel like Im more
involved with the school now,
said Barbiero. I look at it like
this, instead of having just
one classroom of students,
the whole school is now my
classroom.
Although Barbiero doesnt
teach history at Jonathan Law
anymore, he still teaches night
classes at the University of
Bridgeport and Housatonic
Community College.
Barbiero is also one of the
head administrators of the new
city wide grading program
known as, ZAP. ZAP stands
for Zeros Arent Permitted.
This program encourages
kids to do their work instead of
getting a zero, said Dr. B. Its
my job to make sure who and
what should be ZAPPED.
Jonathan Law has been
making a lot of changes not
only to the staff, but to its
physical appearance and its
curriculum. Barbiero is excited
for all of these changes.
He is also excited to answer
any questions that students
have.
I want the students to think
of me as someone they can talk
to if something is wrong or if
something is bothering them,
said Barbiero. Im always
open to hearing what people
have to say about our schools
new programs and appearance
too.
Barbiero is always roaming
the halls or in the caf when
students are eating lunch.
He always does so with his
trademark smile on his face.
Being the vice
principal is a lot of work and
its a lot different, but I like the
job a lot so far, said Barbiero.
Im looking forward to
spending the rest of this year
with everyone as the new vice
principal.
Students are also excited to
have Barbiero as an assistant
principal now.
He is a remarkable teacher
and the perfect candidate for
vice principal, senior Alexis
Christy said.
Former history teacher Dr. Barbiero is excited for his new role as assistant principal.
(photo courtesy J. Doucette)
I was ready to be
more of a leader.
I felt like I could
help better our
school as well as
the students too.
- Assistant principal
Dr. Barbiero
Laws National Honors Society
Puts Its Brains To Good Use
Anisha Manglani
Staff Reporter
Getting accepted into
the National Honor Society
(NHS) is a feat to be proud of,
but making this school year a
success for the organization is
an even bigger spectacle.
Jonathan Law High
Schools NHS is a service
organization that is comprised
of students who have proved
their excellence in academics,
leadership, and volunteer
involvement.
Senior president Freddy
Hanania said he hopes to
communicate with the entire
NHS and establish great ideas
for further charitable projects.
He also wishes to leave
[new members] with a great
understanding of the National
Honor Society and high
expectations to follow.
The NHS enacts several
fundraisers throughout the
year to beneft the American
Cancer Society such as Relay
for Life, The Giving Tree,
Welcome Back Graduates, the
Brainbowl, and the Halloween
Costume Contest.
There will be other
successful projects as the year
goes by, Hanania said.
The students in Jonathan
Laws NHS raised $1,800 for
the American Cancer Society
on Saturday, September 10.
The head of NHS, Ms.
Turcotte-Mottas, said, Were
always looking for new ideas,
so Ive been encouraging the
kids to come up with new
ideas.
Close to the month of
December, NHS organizes
a Welcome Back Graduates
event in which students who
have graduated from Jonathan
Law can return to give advice
to current juniors and seniors.
Senior Bhaswati
Chattopadhyay, a member of
the NHS is looking forward to
Welcome Back Graduates.
I think all of the juniors
and seniors at Law can beneft
from hearing what college is
like from a Milford students
perspective, Chattopadhyay
said.
Annually, the NHS sets
up a Giving Tree in the main
lobby where Christmas
presents can be collected for
underprivileged children.
Senior secretary Shelja
Patel is determined to keep the
group on track this year.
I see NHS as a group of
students who are trying to
fnd a way to give back to our
community in return for all the
community gives us, Patel
said.
The NHS traditionally
organizes the Brain Bowl
which is a competition
between students and faculty
at Jonathan Law to raise
money for cancer patients.
Senior treasurer Colleen
Mair said, The one [event]
Im most excited for would
probably be the Brain Bowl,
because a lot of work goes into
it, but the outcome is really
great.
As treasurer, Mair is ready
to help with organization to
make sure the NHS can spread
its effect on as many charities
and causes as possible. She
knows that the NHS is looking
for ways to expand its funds.
Junior and senior students
are invited to apply based on
their grade point averages
which must be above a 3.6,
leadership positions, volunteer
service, involvement in school
activities, and character
references.
Upon flling out an
application, the student must
explain why he or she fts the
criteria to become a member
of the NHS.
I think its an honor for
students to be selected, said
Mrs. Reeves of the guidance
department.It gives them a
chance to work together in a
different way. Theyre chosen
based on personal integrity,
and thats always a good
thing.
Though colleges use
academics as a main criterion
for acceptance, leadership
roles can make a student
look even more appealing to
a college; NHS offers that
opportunity.


Administration Cracks
Down On Dress Code
Tarah Kelly
Staff Reporter
The dress code has been
decrypted.
The brand new year has
brought along a new dean, and
a more enforced dress code.
Short shorts, tank tops, and
spandex yoga pants are no
longer permitted.
The policy was far less
strict. Before it was just a
principal and two assistants,
dean of students Mrs. Fortney
said. This year its just being
more enforced.
Some students believe
that the new year has brought
along a new dress code, when
in reality the dress code is just
being more enforced.
Teachers and administrators
have begun to bare down and
enforce the dress code more.
The dress code is now too
hard on people, junior Alyssa
Perugini said.
I had to buy new clothes
to be able to ft the dress
code.
Last year, the teachers told
students to change their clothes
if they were inappropriate.
This year, students dont have
an option; people must change
or they will be sent to ISS until
they change.
The dress code has made
a difference this year by being
more enforced, but it may not
be in the best interest, junior
Sam DaSilva said.
As teachers begin to
enforce the dress code more,
they believe this will stand
as one less distraction for the
school day.
The dress code has made
a difference already, Fortney
said.
Some seniors fnd it unfair
that the dress code is being
more enforced after three years
of wearing what they want.
Its stupid, we didnt
have to follow it as much for
three years, and now we have
to, senior Amanda Viscount
said.
When the freshmen came
in they were expecting the
same dress code as last year,
but now its more lenient.
In middle school we
werent allowed to wear
fip fops, and now we can,
freshman Justine Bannon
said.
The freshmen seem to be
the only ones who now agree
with the more enforced dress
code.
I bought a lot of clothes
before school started, and
then I had to go out because I
couldnt wear any tank tops,
Perugini said.
Kids believe they are
enforcing the dress code more
to hurt them, administrators
insist they just trying to make
our school a better place.
With the new dress code,
Law will be portrayed as a
high quality school, Fortney
said.
Page 8 October 2011
NEWS
College Application Process Goes Paperless
Bhaswati Chattopadhyay
Staff Reporter
A new school year at
Jonathan Law brings with
it a new, paperless college
application process.
Law seniors have been
completing their applications
online for a while, but this
year they fnd that even their
transcripts and letters of
recommendations must be sent
electronically.
The process hasnt
actually changed much for
students as they still have to
apply using Common App or
by flling out applications on
the colleges websites, said
College and Career Assistant
Mrs. Lindsay. Its more
streamlined for the teachers
and counselors.
Law is utilizing Naviance,
the web-based college research
and planning tool, more
extensively this year.
Log on to Naviance and
become familiar with all the
tabs and directions, said
school counselor and Director
of Guidance Mrs. Reeves.
Students are also urged
to take advantage of the new
online tools and the resources
at the College and Career
Center.
The purpose of the
College and Career Center is to
create a place for the seniors to
come and fll out applications,
discuss essay topics, and
work on their resumes, said
Lindsay. Its a great place
to brainstorm idea, look up
colleges, visit with reps, and
utilize the resources provided.
Law seniors are making
great use of the College and
Career Center. Even when
there are no college visits,
the Center is flled all seven
periods of the day, including
during lunch.
Im always in the College
and Career Center working
on the Common App and
supplements said senior
Olivia Anderson.
Senior Shelja Patel feels
similarly about the College and
Career Center and its benefts.
I always pick up a chance
to go to College and Career.
said senior Shelja Patel. I
feel more focused there.
The college research
and application process is a
source of both excitement and
frustration for students who
are beginning to step towards
the independent world of post
-secondary education and
employment.
Mrs. Reeves advises
students to try to work on their
time management skills during
this process and fnd out the
deadlines and supplementary
work required for each college.
It is the students responsibility
to register for the upcoming
SAT and ACT exams.
Senior Alexis Christy sees
the application process as way
to refect on the last four years.
My favorite part of this
process was working on my
resume because it shows
whats going to make me stand
out, said Christy.
Christy feels differently,
however, on the online teacher
recommendation requests.
The online system is
effcient and saves postage,
said Christy. But I feel that if
I cant see it on paper, Im sort
of blindly jumping into it.
Most seniors rate the
college application essay as
one of the most diffcult aspects
of the application process.
The essay deadlines make
me nervous. said Anderson.
Mrs. Lindsay and Mrs.
Reeves both urge students
to have the essays drafted
out soon and proof-read by
an English teacher. Students
should be flling out the
biographical information and
essays on Common App at this
time.
The Guidance Department
respectfully requests at least
ten days notice prior to each
college deadline, said Reeves.
Students should get the
bulk of their application done
between Thanksgiving and
Winter Break.
Dont panic. Prepare.
Plan. And Stick to the Plan,
said Reeves. Dont forget to
ask for help.
Senior Katie Labozzo,
who has fnished applying to
some colleges, feels relieved.
It taught me what to
expect from each college,
said Labozzo. It was more
exciting than stressful.
Mrs. Lindsay helps students in the College and Career Room.
(photo courtesy B. Chattopadhyay)
Natural Helpers Off To Nice Start
Kevin Foley
Staff Reporter
The Natural Helpers
are back for another year at
Jonathan Law.
The Natural Helpers is an
organization which is dedicated
to helping other classmates in
being a good friend.
Being a Natural Helper
gives me the ability to help my
friends and classmates help
themselves, said senior and
president of Natural Helpers
Olivia Anderson. As Natural
Helpers, we are trained in peer
mediation, and have special
training to do so.
Natural Helpers have been
doing numerous activities at
Jonathan Law.
Some of the projects
they have done are a mural
representing the hands of Law
to show the equality of every
student, giving tours of campus
at Law to show new coming
students what Jonathan Law
has to offer, volunteering at
homecoming and marching
band home show to make sure
everything runs smoothly, and
many other activities.
Natural helpers helps out
at freshmen orientation, and
helped Students for Peace with
their student faculty basketball
game, Anderson said. Were
essentially a community
service organization for the
school community.
Natural Helpers also isnt
the average club.
In other clubs, we help our
local community and the world
by volunteering and raising
money for specifc things,
said senior and vice president
of Natural Helpers, Bhaswati
Chattopadhyay.
At Natural Helpers, we
try to improve the world by
starting with the very place
where students spend most of
their day.
Natural Helpers show
students how to be a better
friend towards others.
After I was trained to be
a Natural Helper, I was able
to actually confront someone
who seemed to be acting
differently, or carefully listen
and help someone resolve an
issue, said senior and member
of Natural Helpers, Freddy
Hanania.
Being a Natural Helper
has improved my attitude
towards others.
The Natural Helpers also
helps students develop other
important life skills.
I learned different ways
to handle situations and to
mature in serious conversation
with others, said senior and
member of Natural Helpers
Michael Walker.
Many people have not
heard about Natural Helpers
before, but it has actually
become very popular.
Our numbers are
growing, said science
teacher and Natural Helpers
advisor Ms. Bartow. We
are becoming a voice in the
community now.
Natural Helpers also go to
Camp Hazen for training new
members on being a natural
helper.
The members of Natural
Helpers are hoping for another
good year.
I hope we will have a
great trip to Camp Hazen, gain
new members, and leave the
club in good standings for the
years to come, said senior and
member of Natural Helpers
Danielle Novak.
Applications to join
Naturals Helpers are always
being accepted in Room 199A.
This is also the room
where Natural Helpers meet in
homeroom.
We are becoming
a voice in the
community now.
- Law science teacher
and Natural Helpers
advisor Ms. Bartow
New Captains Council
Rallies For School Spirit
Emily Pitney
Staff Reporter
Leadership is the prominent
goal for the newly formed
Captains Council of Jonathan
Law High School
This new councils goal
is to get all student sports
captains involved in ways to
promote more school spirit.
We need to get these kids
excited to attend the pep rallies
and games that follow them
with entertainment, Beler
said.
The council met Thursday,
September 22 with marketing
teacher Mr. Beler, who
discussed his expectations for
the council.
The idea for this council is
to have students be leaders in
helping to change the culture of
the school and take ownership
for the spirit in their school,
Beler said.
Student captains from all
fall, winter, and spring sports
attended the meeting in which
both Beler and new athletic
director Mr. Hoggatt spoke
with ideas to get these captains
interested and involved in
participating in the weekly
meetings.
Hoggatt mentioned that all
the captians will have another
activity to put on their resumes.
I believe this council will
make a signifcant difference
this year involving school spirit
and getting students to come to
the games and will hopefully
carry on for years after our
class., varsity baseball captain
Sean Cameron said.
The council is in the
process of planning the frst
pep rally of the year with
a date set for October 21.
Ideas for food drives around
Thanksgiving and clothing
drives around Christmas are
being discussed in the council
as well as bringing back the
annual bonfre at Walnut
Beach, which also asked for
canned food donations to help
in the community.
Hoggatt announced that
MSG Varsity will be piloting
a program donating $500
to Jonathan Law Captains
Council to start the council
off on their frst fundraiser
of their choice. Also, MSG
Varsity will donate $1,000 to
a charity in Jonathan Laws
name because of this council.
Im excited to get involved
with this council, I believe we
can really make a difference
with the fundraisers we plan on
running and the pep rallies will
be great, girls cross country
captain Rachel Mezzoni said.
Page 9
October 2011
NEWS
Law Band Marches
To Hopeful Beat
Mathew Ferraiolo
Staff Reporter
Band director Mr. Marino
is preparing the Jonathan Law
marching, jazz, and concert
band for their annual Fall
Festival of Music held here at
Jonathan Law on October 29.
The band is looking to
improve from last years
season in which they did not
win any major competitions.
Our goal is to compete
competitively in Class Two and
hopefully win championships,
said senior and drum major
Kevin Foley.
The last championship the
band won was two years ago.
The majority of the band
is underclassmen said senior
and drum line section leader
Mike Walker.
With the band being
young, achieving the goal
of a championship will be
challenging.
Our goal is to be good. I
dont like to talk about winning
or losing, said Marino.
I want the band to play
and march to the best of their
ability.
The goal of the band as a
whole seems to focus around
satisfying competition
I really want to win
championships for my last year
but if were at least competitive
Ill be fne with whatever
outcome, said senior and
section leader of the clarinet
players Collen Mair.
Each band member
seems to express personal
goals geared towards self
improvement.
As a band member, my
goal is to exceed my playing
ability, said senior and
percussion section leader
Freddy Hanania.
Hanania, along with Foley
and Mair, has been a part of
the band for all four years now.
This year will mark Walkers
third consecutive year.
Considering the experience
of long serving seniors, the
underclassmen will defnitely
have strong leadership to
follow.
With last years senior
class graduated, the band has
signifcantly dropped in size.
The pressure now, will lie on
this years seniors whom have
many shoes to fll.
The underclassmen
will need this leadership to
compete in competitions every
Saturday, that can sometimes
be overwhelming.
Annually, the main
competition the band competes
in is the Championships in
November.
The band is extremely busy
during their season before
Championships.
Practice is the only way to
get better. The band practices
every Tuesday and Thursday
from 6:30 - 9 p.m.
Not only are there
competitions and practices
throughout the week, but
there are football games every
Friday as well.
We treat these games as
another pressure-less practice,
said Foley.
Without a doubt, the band
is putting in the effort and
hard work, individually and
collectively, to better itself.
Through the stress of
preparation however, they do
no fail to maintain a positive
outlook.
If I work hard during
practices, then well be actually
good, said Hanania. Easy to
say, hard to do.
Alex Baluha
Staff Reporter
While most people are still
getting adjusted to the new
year, one group of students
has already started making a
difference.
Led by Mr. Ullman and
senior club president Nova
Comisar, the Interact Club
organizes and participates in
various events to raise money
and beneft others.
Weve gotten off to a
pretty good start this year and
plenty of new students have
joined, said Comisar.
On Sunday, September 24,
members of the club helped out
at the Oktoberfest in Milford
by selling raffe tickets.
Their help was much
appreciated.
Greta Stanford, a member
of the Devon Rotary who acts
as a liaison between Interact
and the rotary said, The rotary
was overwhelmed.
Those who attended the
event were thankful as well.
Ever since Mr. Ullman
began the club at Jonathan
Law in 2006, it has beneftted
the local and international
community in a great way.
Junior Hayley Soulier
said, Mr. Ullman is a great
guy. He cares a lot about
the needs of people all over,
and he shows it through his
actions.
Last year Ullman helped
Interact raise money for water
flters, one of which can supply
water for two underprivleged
families for up to 20 years.
Enough money was raised
to provide for all the water
needs of a small village in the
Dominican Republic.
This year, the club plans
to help out their fellow
countrymen by sending aide
boxes to families that have been
affected by natural disasters
such as Hurricane Irene.
Senior Casie Holveck said,
I am excited to see what we
can accomplish over the course
of the school year.
Everyone is eager to help
in any way possible.
A few other plans Interact
intends to take part in, include
a senior prom for members of
a senior center, a Halloween
party, and candy grams in the
school during the Christmas
season.
This club does not fail to
leave its mark far and wide,
and its members enjoy and
pride themselves in every
moment of it.
Being part of Interact
makes me feel really good
about myself and the things we
do, senior member Rachel
Mezzoni said.
Seeing that people
appreciate what we do makes
it all worthwhile.
The club is full of very
enthusiastic people and is
rapidly growing.
I encourage anyone
to come join our club, its
defnitely worth it and its a lot
of fun, Holveck said.
Interact meets afterschool
every Wednesday in Room
126, and is open to anyone
interested in joining.
Law Interact Club Ready
For Successful School Year
Interact members face the new year with a smile.
(photo courtesy A. Baluha)
Friends Forever: New Name,
Same Dedication For Helping
Jackie Kochiss
Staff Reporter
They used to put the best
in Best Buddies, but now
theyre calling themselves
Friends Forever.
Some students at Jonathan
Law High School have in the
past been a part of a group
called Best Buddies, where
students are interacting
with intellectually disabled
students.
Now the program, which is
run by Mrs. McNulty, will be
considered Friends Forever -
with a new twist.
We were frst involved in
the organization called Best
Buddies that required a lot
of student/paper work. I felt
that it was taking away with
the actual development of
friendships, McNulty said.
I decided to start this
organization on my own
instead.
McNulty is not alone. She
has a great paraprofessional,
Ms. Kish, to help her out.
I just love the excitement
of the kids once they are
participating in a certain
activity while they participate
hands on, paraprofessional
Kish said.
The partners mean so
much to them, they brighten
their day.
The group plans on having
all sorts of activities.
In the past weve gone
together as a group to the
movies, Sound Tigers games,
bowling, and dances, said
McNulty.
For the upcoming year she
also plans on trying to have a
Halloween party on October
27.
Not only do the participants
love it, but the peers seem to
enjoy it also.
I loved being a friend to
Kristin and the other kids, were
supposed to be brightening up
their day, but I feel like theyre
brightening up mine, said
president Katalin Kappel.
In order to become the
president, Kappel had to attend
a fve hour session to learn
more about how the program
works.
My partner and I became
really close friends, I love
when the kids come up to me
in the hallway and start up
a conversation, said Junior
Chloe Hudd.
Junior Victoria Catendella
agrees.
Our relationship grew
more and more, Im happy to
have them as a friend, said
Catendella.
This group has a lot more
in store, including working in
the Eagles Nest.
The members of Friends
Forever and the special
education students are taking
on the responsibility on
running the new school store
this year.
They plan on selling all
essential items such as food,
school supplies, and water.
We are hoping to get
locker decorations also for
birthdays, holidays and sports
teams, said McNulty.
The school store will open
in early October. McNulty said
her students are extremely
excited to get started.
The Jonathan Law marching band will hold its annual
Fall Festival of Music at Law on October 29.
(photo courtesy facebook.com)
Page 10 October 2011
NEWS
came together at an incredibly
fast speed.
The projects main purpose
seems to be mostly for visual
purposes, along with allowing
more room for Laws security
offcers. The tiny phone booth
sized station will be replaced
by something more spacious.
The lobby features a lot of
new architecture. New lighting
and various shapes go into the
much more appeasing ceiling.
The walls offer a well
balanced mix of Jonathan
Law yellow paint, and bricks
to cover other spots. The foor
also balances yellow and white
tile, with a Jonathan Law
insignia placed in the middle.
Though the lobby
previously was functioning
well, I saw this visual
improvement as something
well needed, said Thompson.
Law Excited For New Lobby
Kyle Kandetzki
Sports Editor
Following the debut of
the new wing to Law in 2010,
2011s visual changes will take
a much smaller role.
Members of a small
construction crew recently
went through the fnal stages
of introducing a redesigned
main lobby to Law. After
construction began weeks
before the new school year, it
is due to be fnished at the end
of September.
Besides the physical
needs for it, the new lobby will
provide a great sight for staff
and students at the beginning
of their day, said principal
Mr. Thompson.
Students walked into
Jonathan Law on September
6 to a surprising sight: the old,
forgettable lobby was torn
apart. The ceiling was non-
existent; the foor was only
dried cement.
As weeks passed, the
student body has watched a
construction project take form
on a daily basis. Minor changes
go on during the school day,
while major differences, such
as the installation of the tiling,
have come over just one night.
It was a bad circumstance
for the company to begin
working in, said assistant
principal Mr. Swan. But I
was happy to see the project
Im glad that it looks so
improved before it has even
been completed.
The construction has been a
part of a several change made to
Milfords high schools. Laws
biggest change ever came with
the new wing, which opened
in 2010. Foran also open a
whole new addition earlier this
spring, adding classrooms, as
well as a new parking lot.
As of the frst week in
October, the addition has
rapidly come together.
Im excited to see
the fnished result, said
Thompson. It will be another
reason for students to be proud
of their school.
Some students are already
impressed.
It shows a lot of school
spirit, sophomore Caseyanne
Viera said.
The almost-fnished product of construction on Laws lobby.
(photo courtesy C. Roy)
Community Unites, Walks For Common Cause
Alexis Christy
News Editor
Walking laps on a sultry,
Saturday afternoon, to most,
sounds a bit unappealing at
frst, but cancer offers every
good reason to wake up early
on the weekend.
From Saturday, September
10 to Sunday, September 11,
The American Cancer Society
hosted its 26
th
annual Relay
for Life event at Jonathan
Law High School.
Relay for Life is a
community celebration of
life and cancer awareness,
said Christina Owczarek, this
years event director.
Relay has become a
support system and an event
that joins together all those
who have been touched by
cancer to turn the anger and
sadness cancer brings, into
something positive.
The event began with an
opening ceremony which
included an introductory
speech by Mayor James
Ritchitelli and a collective lap
for cancer survivors.
Its so heartening to see
all generations come together
for one common cause: to give
thanks, celebrate, and give
money to fnd a cure one day,
said Ritchitelli.
The large community of
survivors, supporters, and
volunteers, did not hesitate
to do just that. As the day
progressed, various high
school and volunteer groups
utilized unique ways like face
painting, selling raffe tickets
and baked goods, and holding
creative games and a talent
show to fundraise for cancer.
Most participants, as well
as being grateful to be a part of
something so important, were
impressed by the events close-
knit, comfortability.
I feel great because I feel a
part of it this time, said senior
Aleksandr Chandra, an
attendee for the Jonathan Law
National Honor Society.
Relay gives you the
opportunity to actually be a
part of a cause like this instead
of hearing about it at home
television or the internet.
Students seemed to offer
only positive comments on the
advantages of the affair.
You get to spend it with
the people who survived
cancer or have experienced it
through the loss of a relative,
said junior Anna Zupo.
Saturdays concluding
Luminaria and Fight Back
ceremonies were perhaps the
most poignant moments of
the night. Together, adults and
children hugged one another, as
a tear-jerking, candlelit display
honoring cancer victims and
survivors, illuminated the
overall signifcance of the day.
In those silent moments
we are one community with one
light and one hope in the fght
against cancer, said Owczarek.
As all participants joined
in one final lap of remem-
brance, organizers offered
thanks and teams prepared
for t he l at e ni ght ahead.
The event ended at sev-
en oclock Sunday morning
with a brief ceremony of
gratitude and goodbyes, well
worth the sleepy, early morn-
ing grogginess as participants
packed for home.
Although not yet calcu-
lated, the total for the Law
Relay event, Owczarek said,
is well over $50,000 this year.
Ov e r t h e c o u r s e o f
2011 itself, Relay for Life
has rai sed $382 mi l l i on.
We hope to increase each
of these numbers by 2-5 percent
each year, said Owczarek.
2012 will be our 10 year an-
niversary so we hope to go big!
In the meantime, anyone
interested in becoming a part
of Relay for Life or the can-
cer movement in the future,
can visit www.milfordrelay.
com and/or www.cancer.org.
Local cancer survivors take the frst steps at last months Relay For Life at Law.
(photo courtesy A. Christy)
Almonte Steers French
Club In Right Direction
Tayree Martin
Staff Reporter
Twenty-seven years ago,
Mrs. Almonte was a senior in
Law school and was asked, If
money wasnt an object, what
would you do?
Id be a teacher, was her
response.
Ever since then, Almontes
life has changed quickly.
She attended the University
of Bridgeport, Sorbonne-
University of Paris, Fitchburg
State University, and Southern
Connecticut State University.
She went back to school and
received three bachelors
degrees and one masters
degree for her certifcation.
Almonte started off
teaching Russian history and
some French at both Joseph
A. Foran High School and
Jonathan Law. She started off
teaching two classes at Foran
and three classes at Law.
I didnt expect to be a
French teacher, Almonte said.
.Five years ago, Almonte
became a full-time French
teacher and is now also the
advisor of the proclaimed
French Club.
Members of the French
Club say that the club is very
exciting. Senior president
Lillie Aronson said, People
who cant take French still
experience the culture in
French Club.
The frst meeting of French
Club was held on September
21 and the club plans to travel
and learn more about the
French culture.
In past years, the club has
traveled to many exciting
places. Two years ago, they
went to Quebec; four years
ago they went to New York
City to see Les Miserables.
They also went to the Hilstead
Museum in Farmington where
they looked and examined the
fne art such as the Mona Lisa,
work by Pablo Picasso, and
more.
The club raises money
for each trip by selling candy
bon bons. All of the money is
handled by junior secretary
Kendra Walker.
The club is really fun and
interesting, Walker said. I
keep track of all the money
that goes to the club.
Depending on how many
people are in the club each
year, the price of the trips vary.
Junior Samantha Heenan
loves French Club as well.
The French club is very
fun and relaxing, Heenan said.
I love going on the feldtrip to
the Hilstead Museum.
Page 11 October 2011 NEWS
Law Unifed Sports Team
Ready For Soccer Season
Hayley Soulier
Staff Reporter
The Jonathan Law Unifed
Sports Team is very excited for
the upcoming season.
The Unifed Sports program
was brought to Law six years
ago and pairs special eucation
students with volunteer student
partners.
The main goal is to have
students with intellectual
disabilities play on the same
team with student without
intellectual disabilities,
program director Mrs. Daniels
said.
The Unifed Sports team
started off very small at Law
but has grown substantially
over the years.
The athletes and partners
gain defnite friendships they
might not have had and skills
for each sport, Daniels said.
The team participates in
many sports including soccer,
basketball, volleyball, track
and bowling.
Participants have the
opportunity to develop and
improve sport-specifc skills.
I love all the kids and
the atmosphere, along with
the good mood it puts me in,
senior Jackie Kochiss said,
My main goal is making sure
the kids are always smiling and
having fun.
During practices and
games, the partners help the
athletes follow the rules and
understand the skills of the
game.
Athletes beneft in a
variety of positive ways when
participating in competitions
organized by the Unifed
Sports Program.
My favorite part is
participating in the games and
teaching the athletes how to
succeed, Kochiss said.
Every year, there are two
tournaments for each sport and
the team plays three or four
games against other schools in
the area.
Unifed Sports is so fun
because we talk and I like
playing with my friends,
junior Jenna Levesque
said, I have received lots of
medals.
A main goal of the team is
to develop friendships on and
off the feld. Unifed Sports
helps carry out and fulfll the
missions of Special Olym-
pics.
I just love physically
working side by side with
intellectually challenged kids,
junior Erica Criscione said,
I feel that the athletes gain
sportsmanship and friendship
through Unifed Sports.
The Unifed Sports
program is important for the
community, as well as the
athletes because it expands
sports opportunities for the
athletes and partners.
I joined Unifed Sports
because I wanted to be a friend
to the special needs, junior
Katalin Kappel said.
Jonathan Law is also
continuing its Unifed Art
Program in November. The
artwork from the program will
be displayed at the Special
Olympics.
Law will be one of 15
schools in Connecticut to
participate in Unifed Art.
Unifed Sports meets
Mondays and Thursdays from
2-3 p.m. and is still looking for
partners to join.
The Unifed Sports team is playing soccer this fall.
(photo courtesy P. Daniels)
Jillian Russo
Staff Reporter
The new school year has
only just begun and yet the
Keyettes are already making
big plans.
The Keyettes are a group of
students who help to organize
school events and volunteer
their time.
I joined because I felt
I needed more volunteer
service, junior vice president
Anisha Manglani said.
Some of the events the
Keyettes plan during the year
are the 8
th
Grade Orientation
and Mr.JlHS.
The advisor of the Keyettes,
Mrs.Jaekle, said that the next
event for Keyettes is going to
be the Blood Drive, which will
be held on October 31.
In the past, the blood drive
has been very successful and
the Keyettes are looking for this
year to be just as successful.
I love the blood drive.
Its a fun day to hang out with
friends and still help people and
at the same time save lives,
said junior Emma Johnson.
Another very successful
event the Keyettes put together
this year is the 8
th
grade
orientation.
The 8
th
grade orientation
is my favorite event we
organize,said junior Valerie
Coleman.
During the 8
th
grade
orientation the Keyettes show
the incoming Jonathan Law
freshman all they need to
know about their frst year.
We do the freshman and
grade eight orientation and
we pretty much organize tours
and introduced the kids to the
school, said Manglani.
Other events for this year
are going to be collecting gifts
for AIDS inficted families and
comfort bags for Golden Hill
senior citizens.
The gift bags really make
me feel good to give to Golden
Hills because I know it can
really make a difference and
make someones day so much
better said Johnson.
Everyone seems to be
happy with how this year is
going to go for the Keyettes.
I really love doing
Keyettes and our presidents
really know what theyre
doing, said Manglani .
This years presidents are
senior Priya Kaur and senior
Bhaswati Chattopadhyay.
The presidents are really
organized and hopefully
we can do more events this
year that are even better than
before, said Johnson.
Presidents were selected by
a unanimous decision by all of
the Keyettes this year.
As president my job is
mostly to get the info out to
people about new events and
what we are doing this year
said Chattopadhyay.
Keyettes Begin Volunteer Work
The next event for the
Keyettes is going to
be the Blood Drive,
which will be held
on October 31.
Eagle Eye News
Back For Season 3
Kim Legen
Entertainment Editor
And this is Eagle Eye
News!
Jonathan Laws morning
news, Eagle Eye News is
back for their third season.
Broadcast live from the TV
Production room, Eagle Eye
News informs Jonathan Law
about what is going on in
school and sports.
Eagle Eye News does
everything from The Pledge of
Allegiance to announcements
to sports news. They do
interviews with faculty,
teachers, and sport captains.
Eagle Eye news is run by
the TV Production Class and
English teacher Mr. Kulenych.
Eagle Eye News was made
possible two years ago when
a grant from Cablevision,
gave Law two video cameras,
tripods, and video making
equipment.
MSGVarsity has since
donated fve HD cameras that
the students use to produce
news stories and features for
the show.
This year on Eagle Eye
News they want to keep the
show interesting and fun while
informing Jonathan Law of all
of their school news.
Our goal is to inform
students about what is going on
at Law and also to keep people
entertained in the morning,
Kulenych said.
We also try to highlight
student achievements that
would otherwise go unnoticed.
There are a lot of great things
going on here at Law and we
like to spotlight the kids that
are doing these great things.
Only students enrolled in
the TV Production class are
able to be anchor men and
women on the show. Seniors
Joe Piselli and Danielle
Novak were anchors for week
one of Eagle Eye News. Other
hosts have included Andrew
Stein, Marisa Perce, Kevin
Foley, Matt Telker, Emily
Pitney, and Vinny Viera.
It is a fun environment
to be in, and everyone gets
along, said Piselli. The
news lets us be in control of
something that everyone in the
school ends up seeing.
This year the TV
Production class has 21
students enrolled and they all
help to contribute to the show
in any way possible.
Pitney is a new up and
coming anchorwoman and this
is her frst year on the show.
It is exciting to have the
opportunity to be on the TV and
interview fellow classmates,
said Pitney.
Foley and Telker are now
the producers of Eagle Eye
News. They are the lead people
in the control room, where they
control everything off screen.
They control the music people
hear and the videos people see.
Mike Santiana and Kat Blair
have helped produce as well.
This is personally my
third year doing the news
and it looks like this will be a
good year, said Foley. Many
people have come out to join
the news and everyone is
getting along well. This will be
the best year of news we have
had.
Page 12 ENTERTAINMENT
October 2011
Michael Grant Starts His
Gone Series Off Strong
Bryan Creevy
Entertainment Editor
It was just a normal school
day for 14 year old Sam Temple
in Perdido Beach, California
when, in the blink of an eye,
all the teachers, cops, doctors,
parents, and everyone age 15
and over just disappear. Gone.
At that same moment, an
impenetrable barrier forms
around Perdido Beach and all
its surroundings trapping all
its remaining residents inside
and, if there is still anyone out
there, the outside world from
getting in.
Kids are suddenly gaining
incredible powers that should
be impossible for humans to do.
Even Sam learns of his ability
to shoot light from his hands,
burning anything in its path. But
the kids arent the only things
mutating inside and around
Perdido Beach.
Amidst all this chaos, Sam,
along with his best friend Quinn,
Astrid the Genius, and his new
Honduran ally Edilio, tries to
make sense of this new world
kids began calling the FAYZ.
And what does Astrids autistic
little brother, Little Pete, have
to do with this madness? What
are all the snotty rich kids from
Coates Private School doing by
cooperating with us? What are
they planning?
Gone was written by Mi-
chael Grant and published June
24
th
, 2008. It was his frst pub-
lished book and hes working on
the rest of the series now.
Gone is that kind of book
that has something people have
never seen before. Just the
idea of young teenagers being
trapped in their town, living on
their own without parents, and
developing amazing powers
grabs the reader immediately.
Gone is that kind of sci-
ence fiction book where the
reader can picture the events
on a movie theater screen inside
their heads. With pictures of the
kids on the front and back cover
of the book, it makes it really
simple to see Sam right in the
middle of the burning building
trying to save that little child.
The reader can picture it as be-
ing a 3-D movie with his light
shooting right out of the screen.
The storyline is amazing,
as well. It tells about the things
happening in Sams past that
he later learns is affecting him
here in the FAYZ. Also, its one
of the novels where it goes back
and forth between character
points of views to learn their
side of a story or something
important that they were doing
at the same moment another
important event was occurring.
It helps the reader fully under-
stand every part of the book. Its
also a fun and creative way to
learn all the mysteries and see
all the twists and turns.
Michael Grant has created
the beginning of a marvelous,
suspense-flled, action packed,
sci-f book series. Not all the
mysteries are solved or even
revealed in Gone, but it has
enough insanity and craziness
to keep a person locked into
reading the entire series.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
One of the Gone covers
showing the main character, Sam
Temple, and others.
(photo courtesy of fantasticfc-
tion.co.uk).
Melissa Nelson
Entertainment Editor
The long awaited collabora-
tion album produced by Jay-Z
and Kanye West has fnally been
released.Jay and Ye, as they
call themselves, started working
on Watch The Throne back
in November of 2010.Kanye
West and Jay-Z have been in the
game for a while now.
West started his career with
The College Dropout (2004)
then Late Registration (2005)
followed by Graduation
(2007). Last two albums, 808s
and Heartbreak (2008) and
My Beautiful Dark Twisted
Fantasy (2010) were not as
successful however.
Shawn Corey Carter, or
Jay-Z, has been around in the
game for a while now. His most
famous albums have been In
My Lifetime Volumes: 1,2,3
and The Blueprint: 1,2,3.
Both artists have been
around hip hop their entire lives,
incorporating different styles as
they produce their own music.
The track list of the al-
bum includes two top charting
singles: Otis featuring Otis
Redding and In Paris.
The albums main focus is
the wealth of West and Jay-Z.
Both rap about their high ex-
penses, which are essentially
Kanye West, Jay-Z
Share The Throne
mocking the state of our econ-
omy in this current recession.
The lyrics in Otis are
genius. West tells about the
luxury of their music: Couture
level fow, its never going on
sale, luxury rap, the Hermes of
verses, sophisticated ignorance,
write my curses in cursive
Lift Off features Jay-Zs
wife, well known Beyonce
Knowles. This adds a different
feel to the rap on the album.
She sings, We gon take it
to the moon, take it to the stars,
how many people you know
can take it this far? Im super-
charged; Im bout to take this
whole thing to Mars.
Watch the Throne debuted
at the top of the Billboard 200
albums charts, selling 436,000
copies its frst week. Most ex-
perts expected it to sell at least
half a million copies.
The album cover is a gold
plated embossing design that
resembles a crown, though
neither deserve a crown with
this album.
Despite the overall success
of the album, there are just a
few top songs. Others are only
mediocre. With all the hype of
this collaboration between the
top artists in hip hop, much
more was expected than this.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Nick DePascale
Columns Editor
The movie, Rise of The
Planet of the Apes that came
out in movie theatres on Au-
gust 5, was a spectacular im-
pression of a vaccine that could
take over the world, not only
by humans but by apes.
The flm starts off with
Will Rodman (James Fran-
co) a scientist who works in
the shiny Gen-Sys labora-
tory where scientists come up
with ideas that human minds
dont usually think of.
In this case, Will is trying
to come up with a vaccine to
cure Alzheimers. Although he
may be trying to do the right
thing to cure Alzheimers, hes
also creating something he
never thought would happen.
A chimpanzee with green-
ish light eyes also known as
Bright Eyes was a chimpan-
zee of his own. One afternoon,
he throws a tantrum running
throughout the Gen-Sys lab
and into a room where he fnds
Will giving the cure to his boss
(David Oyelowo).
The frst look on Wills
eyes told himself right away
and decided that he should
take Bright Eyes and have
him as his own infant out-
side of Gen-sys but in his
own house and the environ-
ment around him.
Over time, the chimp
grows up very quickly becom-
ing faster, smarter, and more
curious. Almost like Will,
when he decides to do the un-
thinkable. As he notices his
fathers Alzheimers starting
to worsen he acts as God and
tries to cure his father.
As the movie goes on, Cae-
sar, also known as Bright Eyes,
now ends up getting in trouble
and gets locked away in a facil-
ity with the other bad chimps.
In addition, Caesar
wants to get revenge and
thinks of something to
take over the world.
Overall, Rise of the
Planet of the Apes, was
a great movie depicting a
vaccine that was meant to
cure but ended up turning
into an enhancement drug.
For example, when
Caesar decided to get pay
back he thought of a genius
idea not for him to only be
on the vaccine but for the
rest of the apes to have the
same mind as Caesar.
As the movie goes on
Caesar gives all the chimps
the vaccine and you can see
the effects it does to them
making them feel superior to
humans. Therefore, the apes
escape there so called pris-
on and are now trying to
take over the world.
Ever since the start of the
movie it caught peoples atten-
tion to view what this ape went
through and almost giving the
viewers a reason why not to
dope up the animals anymore.
If that happens all
the animals on Earth
A chimpanzee examines a bottle in the movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
(photo courtesy of imdb.com)
New Planet Of The Apes Movie Rises Up
might decide to take over the
world.
The movie caught the
viewers attention and was
so interesting because it
showed an ape from an in-
fant transforming into a hu-
man with a smart techno-
logical brain to control all the
apes. It is an entertaining,
must-see action movie.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The movie caught
the viewers
attention
and was so
interesting because
it showed an ape
from an infant
transforming into a
human with a smart
technological brain
to control all
the apes.
Page 13
ENTERTAINMENT
October 2011
Kim Legen
Entertainment Editor
Ever since 1997 American
rap artist Lil Wayne has been
producing hit albums.
Tha Carter IV is Lil
Waynes ninth studio album.
Tha Carter IV was released on
August 29. The frst week that
the album was released it sold
964,000 copies. It also debuted
at number one on the Billboard
Top 100. It was Lil Waynes
third chart topping album of
this career.
Before the release of Tha
Carter IV, Lil Wayne released
a mix tape entitled Sorry 4 the
Wait. He titled it that because
he wanted to say sorry to his
fans for the wait of the release
of the album Tha Carter IV.
On May 26, the hit song
How to Love was released.
It appeared on iTunes top 10
purchased songs soon after.
How to Love appears on the
album Tha Carter IV and is
a huge hit.
At the 2011 MTV Video
Music Awards Lil Wayne closed
out the show with this hit songs
from his new album Tha Carter
IV. He performed the songs
How to Love, then fipping
the script and rapping his hit
song John assisted by Rick
Ross.
Other top songs on Lil
Waynes new album are ..
Blowin, which is the top song
sold on iTunes for the album
Tha Carter IV. Also, the song
MegaMan is another hit and a
top song on iTunes.
Drake is featured on the al-
bum, and the songs are big hits
and played all over the radio.
The most popular song is She
Will featuring Drake. Drake
also assists Lil Wayne and Ja-
Tha Carter IV
Finally Arrives
(photo courtesy dropthevibe.com)
dakiss in the song Its Good.
Drake adds another great rapper
to the list included on the album
Tha Carter IV.
The albums lead single
6 Foot 7 Foot, featuring
Cory Gunz was released on
December 16, 2010. The song
peaked at number nine on the
Billboard top 100. The video
for the song, is inspired from
the movie Inception, and
consists of numerous similes
and metaphors about what Lil
Wayne raps about. The video
was released on March 3, 2011.
The song Dear Anne,
which isnt included on the
new album, will sure to be a hit
when released. It was originally
supposed to be on Tha Carter
IV album, but Lil Wayne said
he wasnt a fan of the song and
he needed to record a new one.
On March 29, in an inter-
view with Hot 97s Angie Mar-
tinez, Lil Wayne who is now
28 announced that he would
retire at the age of 35, because
he has four kids and wants to
be around for them. Also, in an
interview with XXL, Lil Wayne
hinted that Tha Carter IV,
would be his last album.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Before the release
of Tha Carter IV,
Lil Wayne released
a mix tape entitled
Sorry 4 the Wait
because he wanted to
say sorry to his fans
for the wait of the
release of the album.
Irrational Games Hits It
Big With Bioshock
Bioshocks main character faces off with a Big Daddy.
(photo courtesy of springfle.com).
Bryan Creevy
Entertainment Editor
Irrational Games (also
known as 2K Boston) had been
making video games for years,
but none had hit it bigger than
Bioshock.
Bioshock was released on
August 21
st
, 2007. Its a frst-
person shooter game in an
alternate 1960 where the gamer
plays as Jack, a plane crash sur-
vivor, who fnds this structure
in the water. He gets inside a
capsule and plummets down to
the city of Rapture, a fctional
dystopian city.
Andrew Ryan is the man be-
hind the creation of Rapture. He
envisioned it as a sort of laissez-
faire utopia where people were
free from law and from God. All
was looking well for Ryan when
the city was built in 1946 except
when a man named Frank Fon-
taine comes along and created
a black market inside the city.
Things went even further
to hell when Dr. Bridgette Te-
nenbaum discovered a new sea
slug. Using the slugs stem cells,
Tenenbaum was able to extract
ADAM from them which,
when injected into someone,
could give a normal human
super-human powers such as
telekinesis and shooting an
electric shock out of your hand.
This ADAM was harvested by
Tenenbaum and Fontaine to
create plasmids, the super-
human powers.
To meet the demand for
ADAM, Tenembaum found a
way to embed the slugs in the
stomachs of little girls from
Fontaine Orphanage, thus creat-
ing Little Sisters that produce
large amounts of ADAM.
Fontaine was later killed
in a battle to take control from
Ryan, and Ryan took over
the Fontaine industry. Later a
man named Atlas rose up and
started stealing little sisters for
ADAM. To protect these sis-
ters, Big Daddies, (plasmid-
enhanced humans in diving
suits) were created to fend off
Atlass forces.
Because of this chaos, a
complete breakdown of Rap-
tures society occurred on New
Years Eve of 1959. Most of
its citizens were wiped out in
an all out battle against Atlas
and his forces versus Ryans
new plasmid-enhanced soldiers
nicknamed Splicers. Those
that survive hide out while the
Splicers, now deranged because
of overuse of plasmids, wander
Rapture killing Little Sisters.
One year after this war,
Jacks plane crashes down and
he discovers the underwater
city. Atlas soon befriends Jack,
and Jack himself starts using
plasmids. Fighting Splicers all
the way through the city, Jack
tries to fnd Ryan and kill him
in order to liberate the citizens
of Rapture.
The game was very creative
for its time period. When the
game came out, most games
were straight shoot-em-up
games like Call of Duty. How-
ever, Bioshock brought in the
use of plasmids to help aid in
your fght. This changed ways
gamers fought by changing
their tactics to stunning, freez-
ing, or burning foes before
shooting or meleeing them.
The storyline was also
amazing. Depending on how
the gamer dealt with the Little
Sisters, either harvesting their
ADAM or rescuing them by
sucking a small amount of
ADAM out of them to turn them
back to normal, the story could
change. The game had all sorts
of decisions you had to make.
Hacking was also a very
fun part of the game. Irrational
Games took the idea out of their
earlier game System Shock,
and it was a very useful tactic
in the game. You could hack
security bots, turrets, safes for
cash and supplies, vending
machines, and more to aid you
as you fght through Rapture.
One thing that makes the
game frustrating, however, is
that the gamer doesnt always
know where to go. The arrow
that guides you is sometimes
there and sometimes not, and
they fnd themselves wander-
ing aimlessly around the entire
map until a half hour later they
fnally fnd the right spot to go.
It can make some just give up
on the game.
However, giving up would
not be smart. Bioshock is an
excellent frst person shooter
that any gamer who likes blow-
ing up bad guys and frying them
to a crisp while following an
objective into the pits of hell
and back should buy.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Page 14
COLUMNS
October 2011
Stop & Smell The Roses:
Welcome Back To Jonathan Law
Whats In Your iPod?
THE ADVOCATE
VISIT
ONLINE!
Read the Full E-Edition on LawShare or go to
www.jlawadvocate.wordpress.com
Sophomore: Tiani Britt
Senior: Jackie Kochiss
1. The Climb - Miley Cyrus
2. Toot And Boot It - Tyga
3. Dirt Road Anthem -
Jason Aldean
4. Pumped Up Kicks -
Foster The People
5. Wakka Wakka- Shakira
Junior: Kelsey Rivera
(photo courtesy N.DePascale)
(photo courtesy J.Doucette)
1. Should Have Kissed You -
Chris Brown
2. You And I - Lady Gaga
3. Love On Tap - Beyonce
4. Next To You - Justin Bieber
5. Take Over Control -
Afro Jack
(photo courtesy J.Doucette)
Junior: Terrence Lewis
Emily Bolcer
News Editor
Welcome back to another
year at Jonathan Law!
To all the incoming
freshmen, Welcome to
Jonathan Law! There are so
many great opportunities
here that you should take
advantage of. The school has
a tremendous amount of clubs
and sports teams to join.
Some of the more popular
fall sports are football, soccer,
and volleyball. Other fall
sports include the swimming
and diving team and cross
country.
Many students in the Law
community participate in the
sports offered.
Law also has many
clubs for students to join.
The amount of clubs seems
endless, but each has its own
special qualities. Two clubs
notable for their community
service are the Key and
Keyette clubs. Each club
is active in and outside of
school, but they both come
together for an annual blood
drive held in October.
Many students in the Law
community enjoy helping out
and donating blood.
It is so important to be
involved in your high school
community. Not only will it
be valuable for your college
resume, but it will allow for a
fulflling four year experience.
Congradulations to all
the sophmores this year for
successfully surviving your
freshman year. Now you will
take on a larger work load and
responsibility, but do not stress!
With hard work, success is
possible.
Also a note to all the
seniors, it is time to start getting
ready for college! I know that
it is a stressful and seemingly
endless process, but eager and
early preparation will enable
you a breezy senior year.
On the plus side, earlier
applicants tend to receive more
funding from colleges. Lets
face it; it is really a win-win
situation.
Filling out the application
is a gruesome task, but if it is
possible, take advantage of
Mrs. Lindsay, our wonderful
College and Career counselor.
She guides you through the
college application gracefully,
and soon it seems just like any
other assignment.
It seems like a lot to take
on, seeing as it is still the
beginning of the year and the
regular application deadline
is not until January for many
schools.
The outcome most
defnitely outweighs the stress
you put into it. But, enough
about college, it is time to get
focused on our time here left
at Law.
We only have a few more
months here in high school,
and I hope that you will all
make the most of it.
There is still so much to be
done and so much ahead of us.
Dont get big headed now;keep
oworking hard in your classes
and stay on track.
These last few months may
not mean much to colleges,
but it does not mean that you
should not put in all your effort
and try hard.
And while you are all
on the way to working hard,
getting used to the school, or
just trying to get through this
day by day, do not forget to
stop and smell the roses.
A note to all
seniors, it is time to
start getting ready
for college! I know
that it is a stressful
and seemingly
endless process,
but eager and early
preparation will
enable you to have a
breezy senior year.
1. The Thrill - Wiz Khalifa
2. Analog - Tyler The Creator
3. No Church In The Wild -
Kanye West And Jay-Z
4. Megaman - Lil Wayne
5. Party Rock Anthem -
LMFAO
1. Headlines - Drake
2. Marvins Room - JoJo
3. Bring It Back - Tyga
4. Party Rock Anthem -
LMFAO
5. Someone Like You -
Adele
(photo courtesy J.Doucette)
Page 15
COLUMNS
October 2011
L
a
w

D
r
a
w
s
!
:
T
h
e

A
d
v
o
c
a
t
e

s

M
o
n
t
h
y

F
o
c
u
s

o
n

A
r
t

S
e
c
t
i
o
n
Nerissa Duanny
(Top)
Carol Phillips
(Bottom)
This Months
Artwork:
Cody Roy
Editor-in-Chief
8-Bit GreatNES is a
new monthly column that
will be reviewing some of the
greatest 8-bit games from the
NES era. Each month, it will
give readers an inside look at
just what made each game so
memorable and fun.
***
Thirty-fve years ago, in
1986, Konami released what is
still considered to be one of the
greatest games in all existence:
Castlevania for the original
Nintendo Entertainment
System (NES).
Castlevania is a horror
game produced by Konami. It
puts you in control of Simon
Belmont, a legendary vampire
hunter on a mission to kill
Dracula - a pretty simple story
line with a brilliant execution.
To truly appreciate the
beauty of the game, all the
factors in making the game
must be taken into account.
Something often
overlooked by newer gamers
is that even in the eighties,
the replay value and length
of a game were big issues.
Games were expensive even
back then, (roughly 30 dollars)
and companies had to make
sure players were getting their
money worth.
Most dealt with this
problem by giving games an
unreal diffculty (see next
months Ghosts and Goblins).
This is the frst, and most key,
factor that makes Castlevania
such a memorable game.
Unlike many other
companies, Konami took the
source of its diffculty away
from impossible to defeat
advisories, focusing instead
on strategic enemy placement.
Their idea was that most kids
just run through a game, not
really taking it in - just trying
to get the quickest play time. In
response, they set up the whole
of Castlevania with enemies
set up to impede the path the
player would take if they just
ran through it.
This, though it may not
seem it, was revolutionary at
the time. It forced the players
to take their time, think out
the level design of the room
and approach each challenge
with a degree of thought.
Castlevania was one of the
frst few games to force players
to do this.
There was also this
interesting (though by todays
standards basic) mechanic
with your attack. When you
tell Belmont to attack theirs
roughly a full second that
elapses before the actual attack
goes out. This delay forced
players to strategize their jumps
and attacks. Its most important
contribution, however, was the
way the game played.
Castlevania claimed to
be a horror game, however
with limited graphics (8-bit
technology) and limited to
chip music for its sound track,
Konami, like all developers at
the time, had to use the game
to set its tone.
What will probably stand
out the most to new-school
gamers is the lack of an avatar
strength system.
Avatar strength is when
the in game character gets
better, through level ups
or upgrades or other such
bonuses, but the player himself
does not.
Castlevania doesnt
have this, and it is key to the
games memorability. You
werent winning because your
character has the strongest
whip, but because of actual
skill.
The lack of this system
links all the other cool
features and quirks of the
game together, giving players
a truly satisfying experience
every time they beat a boss and
advanced to the next level
Castlevania is a classic
game, entertaining even by
todays fancy polygonial
standards.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
(photo courtesy of tumblr.org)
8-bit GreatNES: A Look At Castlevania
Page 16
COLUMNS
October 2011
Undercover Radio: To Brighten Your Fall
Its that time of year again:
crisp autumn leaves, hot cups
of tea, and a new Brighten
EP? Yes, thats right. Theres no
band better for brightening
the start of every season and this
one, has not yet failed to deliver.
Their new EP, Ill Always
Be Around, is one of four
since the bands formation,
seven years ago. Consisting
of members Justin Richards
(guitar/vocals), Jimmy Rich-
ards (drums/vocals), and Alex
Draper, Brighten is an indie
rock trio, emerging from the
suburbs of Chico, California.
Since the start of their ca-
reer, the band has released four
EPs including Ready When
You Are in 2005 and Early
Love in 2008. Last year, their
third entitled Be Human left
satisfied fans eagerly await-
ing more. Ill Always Be
Around, therefore, was music
to their ears (no pun intend-
ed) and hit the digital shelves
this summer on August 8
.
Anyone who actually gave
Be Human a listen last spring
went through at least one box of
tissues. OKtwo. Lets face it:
Brightens the band issuing frst
class tickets to journeys of sen-
timent and introspection.
I r oni c, eh? But t hese
three, emotional or not, al-
wa y s y i e l d b r i l l i a n c e .
The EP opens with the al-
bums title track, soft chords
of guitar building towards a
steady, mellow rhythm. Justin
insists, Dont know why I do
the things I do, but Ill always
be around. Everything about
this song offers promise: the
consistency of melodic guitar
from start to finish, the un-
wavering key of Justins vo-
cals, the steady lyrics of each
harmonic verse, everything.
A nice, simple start promis-
ing too, for a good album.
Your World raises the
tempo just slightly, and may
have you asking, Is this thing
on shuffe? No, its just not
typical Brighten. The crawling
beat of drums and guitar leads
the song to Justins the train is
coming, oh the train is coming.
If thats the case, then
Brighten is taking you Home,
perhaps on the scenic back-
roads on a football Sunday
or maybe hopping the train
across state to the stability of
a good life. With its carefree
swaying guitar, this upbeat,
positive track gives no reason
for tears, unless they are of joy.
Next stop: Pelican Park.
Brighten must have a thing for
trains this time of year. The
song itself is a very casual,
front-porch acoustic showcase
of what one may associate with
a chilly evening around a camp-
fre: simple, sad, but still quality.
Once more, rolling steady
drumbeats briefy hype listen-
ers up with There for Me,
until the next conclusive tracks.
OK, tissues may now be a
necessity. Brighten is notorious
for that one track on an album
you may consider a trigger.
This is it. Forever in Love
begins with a soft, gradual
build of slow guitar to Justins
captivating vocals of defini-
tion: Love is a river that foats
through the soul, straight to
the heart of man/ and our love
forever lives deep in the palm
of Gods hand. Listeners have
probably pictured themselves
in the scene of a romance:
running towards the arms of a
lover, a dramatic reunion, hap-
pily ending in tears. The song
ends with the same gorgeous
acoustic with which it began,
and everyones left breathless.
But wait, theres more.
Whoever You Are, is the
fnal track of the EP, the fnal
stop on the journey. Ill never
grow tired of you/ Ill walk
across the fre for you/ once I
find you/ whoever you are,
Justin sings. Apart too, from the
nicely crafted parallel of prom-
ise seen at the start of the EP,
this song is a stunning display
of poetic masterpiece, a dedica-
tion to, well, whoever she is.
As the train pulls to the sta-
tion with the last strings of acous-
tic, wrapping up both the song
and album, you may be crying
over the music, but more likely,
the fact that there isnt more.
Yes, the ride is over, but
with Brightens refusal to
displease, the ticket proves
to be well worth the change.
Alexis Christy
News Editor
Undercover Radio is a
new monthly column provid-
ing you the latest on all that
is currently and brilliantly,
musically obsure.
From left to right: Justin Richards, Alex Draper, Jimmy Richards
(photo courtesy facebook.com)
Whats APPening?: 5 Apps To Download Now
Bryan Creevy
Entertainment Editor
Whats hAPPening? is a
new monthly column that will
be reviewing the hottest, most
popular, and newest apps that
are out there for the ipod touch,
iphone, and ipad. Each month,
it will have fve different apps
that have the highest ratings or
have just recently come out.
***
Fruit Ninja
Fruit Ninja is one of the
most popular apps out there
right now! Its all about slicing
fruit with your fngers. What
happens is fruit fies up onto
your screen and you must slice
every piece by sliding your
fnger across the touchscreen.
Watch out for bombs and
dont let the fruit drop and you
should be fne all throughout
it.
Fruit Ninja is defnitely a
fun game to play in your free
time. It takes precision and
great hand-eye coordination.
Besides, whats more fun than
slicing up fying fruit?
Sky Burger
Another big hit out there is
the app called Sky Burger. It
basically turns you into a chef
in midair!
What happens is you are
given an order that you need
to fll. It lists all the ingredients
you need to complete the
order, and as the sandwich
stacks up into the sky, random
ingredients fall from the sky
that you must get to land on
top of the sandwich.
You get money and ratings for
each completed order and you
can stack up against players
worldwide!
This is yet another
very entertaining game to
play. Having a leaderboard
also increases the fun and
competition. This time, its
cloudy with a chance of
hamburgers.
Siege Hero Age of
Discovery
This app is more of a
strategy game and resembles
the very famous app Angry
Birds. What you do in this
app instead of hitting pigs or
monkeys, you hit part of the
structure in the background.
The objective is to kill all
the medieval looking knights
standing within the structures
without harming any of the
angel-looking girls. Even-
tually, youll even get to kill
the king himself. You can
use weapons such as bombs,
grappling hooks, rocks or
burn the structure down. Its
all about hitting the right spot
and hoping to keep the angels
safe.
Those who like challenges
and strategizing in games
should look this one up. Also,
those who like blowing things
up would enjoy this game.
Down with the king!
Unblock Me
The ipod touch is full of
strategy games that will really
get you thinking. Unblock me
is one of the best! The objective
of the game is to get this one
red block from one side of the
screen to the opening on the
other side. In its way are several
wooden blocks that you need to
slide to the sides, up, and down
in order to ft the little red block
through to the other side. Each
time you beat a level, a more
challenging one is unlocked to
test your mind.
Unblock Me will keep you
thinking all day long. It can get
frustrating when you get stuck
on a level but clearing one of
the higher ones gives you so
much joy. Nothing will block
me from playing this game!
Bloons Tower Defense 4
Who out there has never
heard of Bloons? Well if you
havent, youve been missing
out on so much fun! Tower
Defense starts you off with
only one weapon, a monkey
that shoots arrows, but as you
level up, you will unlock much
cooler ways to defend yourself.
What you need to do is position
any of your defense weapons
around this track that balloons
(bloons) will travel along. You
need to pop all the balloons
before they reach the end of
the track. For each balloon
you pop, you earn an in-game
currency that you can spend
on more defense weapons. As
you go farther levels get harder
with camo bloons (weapons
cant see them) and bloons that
are near impossible to pop!
Bloons has always been a
popular game out there, both
on computers and ipods, but
Bloons Tower Defense has
always been the most exciting.
These games can instantly be
anyones favorite to play. Just
got to keep on shooting until
the last bloon goes pop!
Page 17 October 2011
SPORTS
Connor Falaguerra
Staff Reporter
He just keeps running and
running and he will never stop
until he makes states.
Senior captain Evan
DeLorio is one of the key
members of the Jonathan Law
cross country team and he
enters this season with a great
chance of getting to states.
He has been running for
four years in the 5K and fnally,
it is his year to be the leader.
He was the only one to
make captain, Coach Phillips
said, It was because of his
work ethic.
DeLorio has been running
close to an 18 minute 5K and
he is looking to get down to 17
minutes.
He is currently the only
member of the team to run
under 20 minutes.
He has been an amazing
and great runner, senior co-
captain Jonathan Warzel
said. The young guys look up
to him as a leader.
A lot of DeLorios
teammates think he will match
or maybe get be better than
Andrew Fowlers historical
time from last year.
He has been having great
times, senior Matt Telker
said. and he will be at the top
of every meet and that will
help us as a team too.
His teammates also think
he will make states and the All-
SCC team.
He will make All-SCC
this year, junior Zack Toto
said, He shows how hard
work pays off.
DeLorio Leads Boys XC Pack
Hiller Outruns
XC Competition
Olivia Herman
Staff Reporter
For junior Valerie Hiller,
running isnt just a sport or
hobby; its her life.
One day in eighth grade I
was told that I was to run in our
school track meet, Hiller said.
I wasnt a runner back then.
After placing frst in that
meet, Hiller decided that she
enjoyed running. She realized
she could become good at it if
she worked hard enough, and
having a goal to strive for was
fun and made her feel confdent.
Running is part of my daily
schedule, Hiller said. I run
about forty miles or more each
week.
Hiller is involved in two
sports that involve running;
cross country in the fall and
track in the spring.
Cross country coach Mr.
Phillips said that Hiller gets
along with everyone on the
team.
We enjoy her company;
she gives great advice and tells
them to keep going, Phillips
said.
Hi l l er s mot i vat i on i s
strong, and shes a good sport.
During the winter when every-
one is inside, Hiller is outside.
Instead of waiting for the snow
or cold to go away, Hiller stays
in shape by running.
When it comes to running, it
seems that nothing can stop her.
Since freshman year, she has
been running and competing in
many races, including the Labor
Day race. Hiller placed second
in the 20-mile race within the
age group thirteen to nineteen.
Hiller practices every day
with her fellow teammates.
Sophomore Maryann Loner-
gan said that Hiller is easy to
get along with.
Val is nice to everyone,
and she keeps us motivated,
Lonnegan said. We enjoy her
company, and she gives us great
advice.
Some of Hillers cross coun-
try teammates believe she will
olny get better as time goes on.
I believe she has a defnite
future in running, senior track
captain Rachel Mezzoni said.
Mezzoni also said that Hill-
er keeps the team motivated.
She is really easy to get
along with, and she dedicated
to running, junior Julia Mauer
said. She is fast and she is a
hard worker.
Hillers times have im-
proved from freshman year to
now. When Hiller was a fresh-
man at Law, her mile time was
5:49. But now with all her hard
effort and training, she broke
her previous record, which is
now 5:35. She also fnishes a 3.1
mile run in 21 minutes.
Junior Valerie Hiller is Laws top XC runner.
(photo courtesy Rostrum Yearbook)
She gives great
advice and
tells (the girls)
to keep going.
- Law XC coach
Mr. Phillips
DeLorio faces all of the top
runners in the state and every
team is very competitive so he
has to be just competitive as
them.
DeLorio has been working
hard to get to this point, in the
offseason he would run so he
can get in shape to compete at
the top of his game during this
cross country season.
I have been practicing
over this summer to get in
shape earlier, DeLorio said.
Earlier this year when
DeLorio heard that he got
captain he was surprised and
he was happy.
He never thought that
he would become captain
until Phillips announced the
captains for this year.
DeLorio is a three sport
athlete and he is a captain in
all three sports: cross country,
wrestling and track.
Evan has been working
extremely hard, Phillips said,
The test of his determination
is being a three sport captain
and he has accomplished a lot
in a short time.
Law Cross Country Team
Sprints Into New Year
He has been an
amazing and
great runner.
The young guys on
the team look up
to him as
a leader.
- Law senior XC
co-captain
Jonathan Warzel
Jesse Doucette
Columns Editor
With the loss of many
seniors last year, the boys
and girls cross country team
hopes to bounce back and have
another great season.
The girls as well as the
boys have been training and
practicing since the end of
summer to prepare themselves
for the season.
We ran almost every
day towards the end of the
summer, said Zack Toto, a
junior runner. We continue
to run hard and practice every
day during the school year so
that we can have another good
season.
Mr. Phillips, the boys head
coach, and Mr. Schulte, the
girls head coach, has the boys
and girls run different routes
around Milford. Some places
that they frequently run to are
Laurel beach, Silver Sands
beach, St. Anns School, the
downtown library, and Fort
Trumbull beach.
The girls cross country
team, led by senior captains
Rachel Mezzoni, Colleen
Mair, and Karina Escobar,
have set a few goals in order to
push themselves as a team.
As a team our goal this
year is to run as best as we
can, said Catie Miller, a
junior runner. Our main goal
is to try and beat our teams
record from the 2009 season.
Currently the girls have
an impressive record of 5-1.
The girls top runners, Valerie
Hiller and Catie Miller, have
fnished in the top 10 in most
of the races.
Everyone contributes and
we focus more on our team
effort instead of just 1 person,
said Miller. We have a great
team and Im happy with our
progress right now.
The boys cross country
team, led by senior captains
Evan Delorio and Jon
Warzel, have also been
pushing themselves in every
race to beat last years record.
We have been working
really hard and pacing
ourselves during the races,
said Delorio. We need to keep
up our effort and determination
and we will continue to see
progress as a team.
As of October 1, the boys
have a record of 3-2. The boys
lost a lot of very key seniors last
year, including, Andy Fowler,
Dave Griffn, Rob Lockwood,
and Aaron Gambordella.
The loss of our talented
senior runners last year,
inspires us to work even
harder, said Delorio. We
want to make them proud and
continue to have a good cross
country team.
With only a few races left,
the girls and boys continue to
push themselves every day in
practice to keep themselves
prepared and ready for the
races to come.
Julia Maurer is one of the three high performing juniors on the team.
(photo courtesy rostrumyearbook.com)
Page 18 October 2011 SPORTS
Melissa Nelson
Entertainment Editor
The Jonathan Law swim
team is diving into their 2011
fall season.
Last year, the swim team
ended their season with a
2-9 record and are looking to
improve this season. Through
their frst three meets, the team
was 1-2.
The team looks great this
year, said head coach Ms.
Paolini. We are trying to
prepare ourselves to have most
of the girls qualify for the SCC
Championships.
So far, there is one swimmer
who has qualifed for the Class
M State Championship, and
several girls who qualifed for
SCCs.
Experience comes from
their three senior captains
Abby Shackett, Jill Russo,
and Emily Bolcer.
Freshman Angelica Jamie
Loma impacts the tream
greatly. She has qualifed for the
Class M State Championships
in four events, as well as
breaking a new school record.
We havent had a swimmer
qualify for states in about four
years, said Shackett. This
year we have already had one
freshman qualify.
Sophomore Elizabeth
Gregorio and junior Amanda
Smith have also qualifed for
SCCss.
We have a lot of strong
underclassmen on our team,
said junior Sam Rebentisch.
If they continue to work
hard for the next few years,
their futures in swimming and
diving look promising.
Russo has qualifed for
SCCss in three events.
My one personal goal,
other than qualifying for
SCCs, is to qualify for states
in the 50 meter freestyle
event, said Russo.
The diving team lost diver
Madeline Thornberg last year
and was looking to Shackett to
lead the team this year.
However, Shackett is
out for the season due to a
concussion injury.
Losing Abby Shackett is a
huge loss, Paolini said. She
has qualifed for SCCs and
states every year that she has
been on the team.
Due to the fact Shackett
is out for the season, she
is helping Rebentisch and
freshman Justine Bannon get
adjusted on the diving board.
The big meet that always
brings out the best in the
swimming team is the meet
against Foran High School.
This year Jonathan Law
will meet against Foran on
October 26

at 6 p.m. at the
Foran Pool.
I am looking forward
to the rest of the season and
seeing all of the girls beat their
own best times, said Smith.
Girls Swimming Dives Into Their Season
The team looks
great this year.
We are trying to
prepare ourselves to
have most of the
girls qualify for
SCCs.
- Head coach
Ms. Paolini
The Law girls swim team beat Kennedy earlier this season. (photo courtesy Rostrum Yearbook)
Girls Soccer Team Hits Field
With New Coach, Lofty Goals
Nick DePascale
Columns Editor
The girls soccer team is
hoping to improve this season
with the help of the new coach
Mr. Rhode.
As of the frst week in
October, the girls soccer team
has a record of 1-4-1, with a
win against Platt Tech and a
tie against rival Foran High
School.
Hoping for the best the
team is still working hard to
achieve their goal to make
states.
This year we would like
to qualify for states and come
out with a better record than
last year, said senior captain
Gabby Novak.
What makes the team
bond so much better than
before is that our practices are
hard and fun at the same time,
said senior captain Amber
White.
Some key players that
hold down the feld this year
are senior Marissa Morazes,
senior, White, Novak, and
junior Kasey Butts.
The team has a couple
strong forwards such as
Morazes and Butts and have a
strong defense, letting no one
behind them at sweeper.
I feel like the team is
starting to become stronger
with new skills and advice
from our new coach, said
senior Olivia Noyes.
Rhode has a strong
background knowledge of the
game as he was an All-State
back when he was in high
school while playing for one of
the top teams in state.
I have a very good
knowledge for the game and
passion, said Rhode. I like
to keep the standards and
expectations high.
The teams practices now
consist of ball control, passing,
and sprints to become more
skilled then the rest of the
teams they play.
The reason I offered to
take the job as girls soccer
coach the golden lights
fickered and said to my self I
can make a difference to help
this team, said Rhode.
One valuable player on
the team is Morazes, who has
a strong kick and nice crisp
passes. She will contribute
towards the team replacing
former All-State player Taylor
Rotella.
I work very hard in and
out of practice juggling with
the soccer ball at home for 30
minutes and doing cardio at
home to keep me in shape,
said Morazes.
There are many young
players on the team that Rhode
hopes will make them a strong
team in years to come.
Rhodes players are excited
for the future of the program
and where they are right now.
Hes a great coach who
knows what hes doing on the
feld and makes us work on
strategies during practice for
the when the game comes,
said White.
The girls soccer team beat Platt Tech earlier this season.
(photo courtesy Rostrum Yearbook)
Page 19 October 2011 SPORTS
Volleyball Team Serves Up New Season
Kevin Langan
Sports Editor
With the loss of six key
seniors, the Jonathan Law
volleyball team stares adversity
right in its face.
Senior tri-captains Jackie
Kochiss, Olivia Herbert and
Tiffany Nantel look to bring
the Lady Lawmen back to the
glory of last season.
The Lady Lawmen fnished
last season with a record of
16-2 and made a deep run in
the state playoffs that was cut
short by Joel Barlow High
School.
Its really different
(playing without last years
seniors), said junior Hayley
Soulier. There have been a
lot of changes made, but weve
all learned quickly to play well
together and work as a team
and we improve a little each
game, which is great.
After dropping their frst
two games against Branford
High School and Sacred Heart
Academy, the Lady Lawmen,
as of October 5, had won fve
in a row.
That winning streak got
the team refocused on their
season-long goals.
Our goals this year are to
beat Foran, make SCCs and
eventually make states, said
junior Tarah Kelly.
After beating Foran twice
in the regular season last year
and once in the SCC, the
Lady Lawmen look forward to
keeping the streak alive when
they face Foran for the second
time on October 20
th
.
I am so proud of how the
girls are coming together, said
Kochiss.
Its a lot to ask of a young,
inexperienced team but we are
doing well and surprising other
teams.
As their season gets into
full swing, the girls are hoping
to keep the winning streak up
and make the state tournament
to pick up where last years
team left off.
This group of girls is
working just as hard as the
Stapletons, the Abbotts and
the Dulins of that past, said
head coach Ms. Loch.
Lochs players said they
can already sense that the team
is getting better.
Coach Loch has really
pushed us this year and
is making us better and
better,said Kelly. She makes
us feel like were ready for the
next step.
Last years game changer,
Caitlin Stapleton, who is now
a volleyball player at Fairfeld
University, will be a tough
player to forget if the Lady
Lawmen hope to make it
further than last years team.
Its been a very challenging
adjustment losing six seniors
and pretty much starting a
new team, said junior Rachel
Hannan.
We are working together
and improving every game.
I am so proud of
how the girls are
coming together.
Its a lot to ask of a
young, inexperienced
team but we are
doing well and
surprising other
teams.
- Senior Tri-Captain
Jackie Kochiss
Sherrick Leads Law
For Another Season
Sean Cameron
Staff Reporter
Senior tri-captain Justin
Sherrick plans to make the
most out of his last year
playing soccer.
Sherrick is a senior utility
player for the Jonathan Law
boys soccer team this year.
Justin always hustles and
keeps us focused, said senior
tri-captain Ryan Clark.
Sherrick was a part of an
0-16 soccer season last year
and looks to improve.
Playing most of his minutes
at forward Sherrick uses his
explosive speed to track down
the soccer ball and push it
toward the goal.
Justin is a very aggressive
player, he relies on his speed
to succeed, said senior tri-
captain Alex Baluha.
Soccer is not the only sport
at Law that Sherrick excels in.
He is a star athlete on the track
and feld team in the fall.
Sherrick participates in the
long jump, 4 x 100 relay race,
and the 100 meter race.
He is a natural athlete
when it comes to track, he is
physically faster and a more
talented jumper than most
of the states competition,
Baluha said. He is always
a competitor at the SCC and
State tournaments.
Sherrick does not plan
on pursuing these sports in
college, so he plans to leave
his heart on the feld and track
during his senior year.
I love soccer because it
is such a fun sport that I have
been playing all my life, said
Sherrick. I also love being a
captain but I understand the
responsibilities.
Senior midfelder Ben
Marus has been playing with
Sherrick since freshman year.
He leads by example
during practices and games,
said Marus.
Junior goalkeeper Jack
Campbell has had Sherrick as
a captain for his whole soccer
career at Law.
He makes me hold myself
to higher expectations, said
Campbell. Justin always
hustles and takes good frm
shots.
Sherricks expectations this
year are to win a few games.
East Haven, Sheehan and
Foran are winnable games this
year, said Sherrick.
A freshman on the soccer
team, Jon Costa, also looks up
to Sherrick.
Justin helps me boost my
confdence, he is a vocal leader
and nice guy, said Costa. Him
and Ryan are good captains as
well as role models.
As a senior, Sherrick
is instilling values in the
younger players so they can be
successful in the future.
Sherrick will look to push
himself hard throughout his
last soccer season and has a lot
higher expectations for himself
on the spring for the track and
feld season.
Law Boys Soccer Squad
Looks To Improve In 2011
Andrew Herrick
Staff Reporter
The Jonathan Law boys
soccer team is looking to
rebound from a tough season
last year behind the leadership
of three returning captains.
The team went 0-16 last
season and scored just six
goals. As of October 1, the
soccer team is 0-7, but has
shown signs of improvement.
We have good ball control
and communication, senior
midfelder Ben Marus said.
In order to grow this season,
we must fnish.
The team benefts from
having senior captains Ryan
Clark, Alex Baluha, and
Justin Sherrick back for their
second year of captain duties.
These captains were able
to grow and become much
more comfortable with their
teammates.
The team did not have
to adjust to new leadership
because they were already
used to their captains from the
previous season.
This helps us because we
know the players better, and
we are able to establish our
leadership over two years,
Baluha said.
The younger members of
the team also are able to beneft
from this leadership.
The captains this year
are helping me and the other
freshmen adjust to varsity
soccer so that we can be
successful in the future,
freshman Jon Costa said.
The soccer team hopes to
put together a winning season,
and even make it to the state
tournament this year.
We defnitely have
a chance against Foran,
Sheehan, and East Haven this
season, said Sherrick. These
are games we should win.
The boys played cross-
town rival Foran High School
on September 26 and will play
them again on October 19.
I want to win both games
against Foran this year, said
Clark. They are much more
vulnerable.
Junior goalkeeper, Jack
Campbell, also has high hopes
for this upcoming season.
I would love to go
undefeated this season, but
realistically, a few wins would
be great, said Campbell. As
long as we improve from last
year, I will be happy.
Their toughest matchups
will likely come against
Guilford High School and
Daniel Hand High School.
Guilford and Hand
are always our toughest
matchups, said Baluha.
They are highly ranked every
season.
The team will rely on help
from the underclassmen as
well.
Freshman Herbie
Pritchard, Mike Chodziutko,
Jon Costa, and Medo
Radoncic will all see time on
varsity this season.
The freshman will be
good once they develop, said
Baluha.
They have a great chance
down the road.
Justin Sherrick is one of Laws captains.
(photo courtesy Rostrum Yearbook)
The volleyball team huddles during one of their games.(photo courtesy of facebook.com)
Volume 51 Issue 1 Jonathan Law High School Milford, CT October 2011
SPORTS
THE ADVOCATE
Free
New-Look Lawmen Tackle Tough Schedule
Quarterback Timmy Maher looks for the play call. (photo courtesy milford.patch.com)
Kyle Kandetzki
Sports Editor
Law football will be rolling
into the 2011 season with a lot
more than a new look.
Following a 3-7 campaign
in 2010, the team has
undergone many changes to
attempt to reach success that
has passed them up the last few
seasons.
With a new attitude and
a huge willingness to work
hard, I see us as a completely
changed team this season.
said Junior George Knoth
This years schedule will
feature a typical serving of
SCC opponents. Law will face
Sheehan, Wilbur Cross, Lyman
Hall, Branford, and rival Foran
this year at home, along with
Fairfeld Prep, Hillhouse,
Guilford, and East Haven on
the road.
One new addition to
the schedule was the teams
September 30

matchup against
Woodland High. Though a
disappointing 48-10 loss met
the Lawmen, the team enjoyed
new scenery on the schedule.
Its always interesting to
see how teams play outside of
the SCC. said Knoth. Going
up to Beacon Falls (wasnt) an
exception.
Up front for Law comes
a change in guard in team
captains. Wide receiver
Connor Falaguerra and
Knoth will replace recently
departed stars Josh Patterson,
Tyler Marchetti, and Teddy
Kostopoulos.
Falaguerra plans to use his
prestigious position to help
players on and off the feld
Im trying to make all
of the guys positive and keep
everyone together as a family,
said Falaguerra. But I also
always make sure everyone is
keeping up their efforts in the
classroom.
Falaguerra has already
gotten off to a fast start through
four games, tacking on a few
hundred yards, a 61 yard TD
in the season opener, and a
MaxPreps Player of the Week
award.
The teams other main
offensive components are led
by sophomore QB Timmy
Maher in his frst season
starting the position following
Falaguerras departure from
the position at the end of 2010.
This season features yet
another dual running attack,
this year from senior Joe
Piselli and junior Dan Ziebell.
Our biggest strength
this season is defnitely our
offense, said Falaguerra.
The depth we have at several
positions, like running back,
will certainly work in our
favor.
The defensive side of
the ball is led by Knoth at
cornerback, along with other
junior defensive fxture Jimmy
Marron.
Law has had plenty of
losses on both sides of the ball
this year, and a few notable
additions, but Knoth says there
is still plenty of work to do.
The team has a lot of
things that they can make
much better, said Knoth. But
this team has the will to work
hard and win big this season.
Rachel Mezzoni
Staff Reporter
People see them at every
football game, cheering on the
mighty Lawmen as the crowd
gets pumped in the stands.
The cheerleaders not only
cheer at football games, they
have their own competitions.
They started their season
energetic and ready to win.
Our team is looking a lot
better than last year, senior
captain Katie Labozzo said.
Were ahead of the game.
Although a lot of seniors
graduated last year, there have
been plenty of new comers.
The freshmen are very
impressive, senior captain
Nicole Wasson said. They do
everything that is expected.
Seniors have been lost, but
the team has 27 other talented
girls.
Under classmen have
really stepped up, flling in
their shoes, Coach Bonnie
Etense said.
The cheerleaders will
be attending Regionals in
December. This competition
will determine whether they go
back to nationals or not.
Last year, Law cheerleading
went to nationals down in
Florida and placed third. They
plan on going again this winter.
I think we have a good
chance winning nationals this
year, junior captain Chloe
Hudd said. Were going there
knowing what its like and
were well prepared.
Nationals are in Florida, so
its an expensive trip and they
go for fve days.
A lot of fundraising has
been going on to help them
make their way down to
Florida.
Weve been fundraising
since June, Etense said.
Were hoping to lower the
cost for nationals.
They have been collecting
donations at the Bridgeport
Flyer Diner and are going to
be doing a Yankee Candle
fundraiser with the holidays
around the corner.
The Cheerleaders also
raise money for stuff the sports
association cant pay for. They
use their money wisely so they
have enough.
We raise money every
year to pay for signs, music
and other fees, said Etense.
Fundraising for themselves
is not their only priority. The
cheerleaders and football
players got together for the
Relay for Life.
We raised about $3500 for
Bill Coelho, junior Miranda
Edson said. Hes a football
players father.
At the
At the Relay for Life,
the football players and
cheerleaders got the Rookie
of the Year Team award.
The two teams have
become close this season. At
their combined pasta parties
before games, everyone brings
canned food.
We donate the cans to
the Connecticut Food Bank,
Wasson said. It feels good
to help out with the football
players.
Junior captain Miranda Edson
cheers at Relay For Life.
(photo courtesy facebook.com)
Cheerleaders Eye Nationals Trip
Law Welcomes New
Athletic Director
Kevin Langan
Sports Editor
As the fall sports season
gets into full swing, Jonathan
Law welcomes a new athletic
director.
Mr. Hoggatt took
over the job this year after
longtime athletic director Mr.
Luysterborghs retired after last
spring.
I am excited to be able to
have an impact on every athlete
at Law, said Hoggatt. I am
looking forward to working
with the athletes, parents and
coaches over the next few
years.
Hoggatt, who coached the
girls soccer team in the fall
and the boys basketball team
in the winter, was to relieve his
duties upon taking the job as
the athletic director.
I wanted to be in charge of
the athletic program, Hoggatt
said. And be involved in
every sport.
As coach of the girls soccer
team, Hoggatt led them to a
season sweep of Foran while
just missing out on the state
playoffs. As the coach of the
basketball team he led them to
a record of 4-16, a year after
going 16-8 and earning a trip
to the state quarterfnals.
Having Hoggatt as the
athletic director should be cool
but we sure will miss him on
the basketball court, said
senior Jason Bindner.
Hoggatt has many duties
as the athletic director; he
must stay in touch with all the
other athletic directors in the
SCC along with making sure
everything is OK for away
games.
Also, he must decide if
felds are playable in the event
of a rain storm or if roads are
safe enough to travel during
the winter.
I think Mike will make a
great athletic director, said
swim coach and physical
education teacher Ms. Paolini.
Student-athletes around
Law are happy to see that
Hoggatt was awarded the
athletic directors job.
I was happy when I heard
Hoggatt got the job but it meant
that he wouldnt be coaching
soccer anymore, said senior
Michelle Smith.
Law will begin
interviewing new basketball
coaches soon and they hope
to have a new coach named by
October 17
t.