The
Bloomfield Hills High School
Volume VII - Issue II
December 2019
School News Now in 3D
Art department adds new makerspace to their resource center RYANNE LEONARD Staff Writer The visual arts department recently purchased a 3D printer and laser cutter through a grant from the Bloomfield Hills Schools Foundation in order to provide students the opportunity to use the innovations the art world has forged, according to visual arts teacher Matthew Beauchamp. “Some people think that when we are thinking about the arts, we are thinking about the past. But artists also look to the future and these are the tools that our kids in the industry in the future will be using in creative ways,” said Beauchamp. A 3D printer allows a student to design sculptures on software called Sculptris and output it in a physical object made of thin layers of plastic. The laser cutter is used for cutting, scoring, or even etching in pictures. Using this technology, students can print a sculpture of eight inches in about two days compared to the week long projects with traditional ceramics. “It’s more efficient with the 3D printer because you can do things over again if [the sculpture] doesn’t turn out right. When you fire it in a kiln, that’s it,” said senior student Donnie Wilber. With this efficiency, there is also an ability to make more detailed sculptures with digital tools. “You can work and create characters and
continued page 2
Watson
District news
TO
Moonbeams for pediatric patients
Bloomfield
Bringing light to patients through Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams JANE ROSETT Staff Writer For the past three years, community members have gathered in the parking lot of Beaumont Hospital throughout the month of December to support children who are hospitalized. Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams is a community event that began so that patients could feel supported and less alone throughout the holiday season. This event was created by the Beaumont Children’s Pediatric Family Advisory Council with the hope of offering more support and hope to children who have a long-term illness at Beaumont. According to their website, “Children can feel isolated in the hospital, with many unable to leave their rooms due to severe debilitating diseases.” Each evening at eight p.m., participants gather directly outside the children’s wing of the hospital. Children in the hospital begin shining their flashlights through their windows and look for community members to be shining lights back to them. Volunteers direct the public to move their flashlights in a right to left pattern that the patients follow from inside the hospital. The boys hockey team recently attended Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams. Junior Lucas Solomon explains his experience and reasons for attending. “Moonbeams [for Sweet Dreams] was a great
continued page 2
District chooses Patrick Watson to become BHSD’s next superintendent JAKE FOGEL Managing Editor
F
ollowing the conclusion of a national search for a new superintendent, the Board of Education voted on November 20 to select Patrick Watson, current principal of West Bloomfield High School, to step into the role on January 6 this coming year. From a pool of 60 applicants, Watson stood out to school board members as well as student representatives, staff members, and residents of the Bloomfield Hills community. “[Watson’s] interactions with educators, students, and community members in general was very powerful,” said Paul Kolin, president of the Board of Education. The process of searching for the new district leader began earlier this year after former superintendent Dr. Robert Glass announced he would be mov-
ing to New York. The Board of Education reviewed dozens of applications to find the best candidate.” “First we hired a search firm, [which] got all of the applications and narrowed it down to our top nine. So, after…we, as a board, went through and decided to narrow it down to our top four,” said Kolin. “After, we had our first round of interviews, it went down to our final two candidates. Each had a day to meet [with various community groups] and went to every building in the district. Then, we had a second round interview and after all of the feedback, we decided on our superintendent.” From a student perspective, Board of Education student interns Lexie Finkelstein and Kiersten McCollum, both seniors, agreed that Watson would bring a necessary perspective to the district.
See more stories at
Editorial Policy
bhhstoday.org
The Bloomfield Hills High School Hawkeye newspaper is a student publication whose content is chosen by students. Members of The Hawkeye staff such as the editors-in-chief, managing editors, photography managers, and section editors oversee the work created for every publication, both in print and online. The adviser and the Editors-in-chief make the final decisions on all content. Opinions expressed in any publication of The Hawkeye do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BHHS, BHHS staff, faculty, or administration.
“Immediately when meeting Mr. Watson, he was so eager and excited to come into the district and meet the students, faculty, and staff. He had a really incredible presence in his interview and did a great job answering questions,” said Finkelstein. “I’m just really excited to see his place in our district and for him to get to know the students and for us to get to know him.” Echoing the sentiments of Finkelstein, McCollum believes Watson stood apart because of his unique experience as a principal from a school outside of the district. “Watson is someone who has never been in Bloomfield Hills School District. Therefore, he is an outside source and I think that’s exactly what we need right now,” McCollum said. “I’m excited about everything. I truly think Pat Watson is going to redefine what it means
Submit Letters to the Editor Write a 200-300 word letter to the editor and send it to us: hawkeye@bloomfield.org
to be a part of the Bloomfield Hills Schools community.” Looking forward to his superintendence in January, Watson has expressed interest in gaining insight about the communities at Bloomfield Hills Schools by shadowing students. “It was unique [that] once [Watson] starts work, he wants to have a half-hour meeting with every administrator across the district,” said Kolin. “In every building in the district including elementary schools, middle schools, and this high school, [Watson] will pick a student that has a unique experience and shadow that student all day to get that perspective from a student for what a day in the life is like. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anyone at a superintendent level do that.”
continued page 2
Follow us: @bloomfieldhawkeye @thehawkeyenews