December Issue 2017 by The Hawkeye

INSIDE: Q&A WITH MR. BRAZLE see 7

INSIDE: ZOO LIGHTS REVIEW see insert 19 INSIDE: STAR WARS REVIEW see insert 16 Bloomfield Hills High School

school news Blackhawk spirit shop opens

INSIDE: 25 DAYS OF KWASNY see insert 20

ONLINE: COLUMN ON JUNIOR YEAR

Volume V-Issue III

December 2017

HONORING

giving back

Ingrid

by SARAH QURESHI Staff Writer The Black Hawks Spirit Shop is selling items and apparel on Fridays during all lunches in the main commons. To get Black Hawks Spirit wear, students and parents can order online, shop in person at sales, or email orders to kelly72@mac.com. Sales for the store are announced on Twitter (@BHBLACKHAWKS), Facebook (Black Hawks Spirit Shop), and in the daily announcements. Don’t miss out on the chance to get your Black Hawks apparel on sale during the month of December. For more information go to blackhawkspiritshop.com.

Leadership hosts lotto by ANDRES QUIROGAELIZONDO Staff Writer As a form of staff and student appreciation, Student Leadership is hosting the Black Hawk Lottery. On the first Friday of every month, those wearing Black Hawk spiritwear are eligible to enter a free raffle during A, B or C lunch. The winners of the raffle will receive a variety of prizes ranging from $5-50 including gift cards from Tropical Smoothie, Starbucks, Amazon, Chipotle, Target and many more. Winners are announced at the end of the day on Friday.

Collage Concert by BHSD

The BHHS music department will present the Collage Concert on December 19 and 20, at 7:30 p.m. This performance will include all band, choir and orchestra students. To accommodate a historically large attendance, the same concert will be offered both nights and it is kindly requested attendees are considerate and attend one performance only. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable canned food donation for Gleaner’s Community Food Bank to the concert. Go to bloomfield.org to reserve a ticket.

STUDENT VOICE Classical Music: An emotional window Senior discusses the genre’s zeal For this story and more, go to our website

BhhsToday.org

Former School Board President Ingrid Day embraces district mom Jan Frank

Ingrid Day tear Cer emo s up ny at h er S ch

ool

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Main Commons named after Board President by KAITLYN LUCKOFF Staff Writer

fter many years of serving nearly every board positwion on the school board in the Bloomfield Hills School District, Ingrid Day retired in June. “I was elected to the BHSD Board of Education in June of 2007. I won reelection in November of 2012 for a six year term. However, since my husband retired and we decided to move up north, I vacated my seat at the end of June, 2017.” said Ingrid Day about her time serving on the school board and helping with the building of our new high school. “I have served in every capacity on the school board, every officer position, have chaired both standing committees and several other committees as necessary, sat on the Foundation board and most proudly served as president of the board for six years. It was truly an honor.” Superintendent Dr. Rob Glass explains the impact that Ingrid Day has had on our district, supporting the decision to name the Main Commons at BHHS after Day. “She has been a remarkable leader on the school board, serving as president for all but one of my years that I’ve been here. She was great at bringing groups together and she believed in

community,” said Glass. “We felt that the commons was a great place because it’s important for everyone who goes there to be able to know when you put a name there, it honors what they have done for that ich wh place and community.” ers mons t t e l om While serving various lled ol C o sta ly in h Sch w positions on the school e ig n H the Hills at d board, Day bonded with zes mfiel a g o ay lo many colleges who feel id D the B Ingr e honored to have had the op- renamer honor h portunity to work with her. in “Throughout the years of c o m munity discussion around the consolidation of our two high schools, Ingrid was always a constant reasonable voice. Once the community approved the bond to build our new building, Ingrid actively served on the Building Committee with our educators, architects and builders to participate in the zillion decisions that needed to be made to make the vision come A cake is d eco S to life,” said Cynthia von chool Main Craomtedm depicting the ons

continued page 2

on campus Unplanned lock down occurs

by RIYA DOSHI Managing Editor

During what seemed like just another ordinary lunch period, suddenly hundreds of students and staff bolted towards the front doors, urged on by the monotone voice repeating “Lockdown, lockdown…” “Once we realized what was going on, we kind of went into shock mode,” said history teacher Anita Coffman. “As teachers, we were trying to figure out Dear Editor, On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 we accidentally activated the school’s blue point alarm. Chris and Jaylen were horseplaying, and Jaylen’s backpack caught the alarm and triggered it. Mo witnessed the event happen. None of us came forward at that point; we were scared of getting in trouble. We now realize that had we spoken out immediately after triggering the alarm, we would have spared students, staff and families from experiencing fear and anxiety. We also realize that there are times and places to play around; school is not the place or the time. We also made many people’s jobs harder to do by not speaking out immedi-

if it was real or if it was a drill. I went into a bit of panic because I realized that this wasn’t something that was planned and thinking that it could potentially be something dangerous.” Students and faculty had their first unplanned lockdown during lunch, resulting in hundreds of students leaving the school, while others hid in hallways and classrooms. “There was a lot of confusion, no

continued page 2 ately. We are deeply sorry for having inconvenienced staff and police, and for having created fear, confusion and anxiety in the Bloomfield community. We take responsibility for the harm we caused and have learned from this experience We encourage others to learn from this event, too. Be aware of how you are acting at school---be your most mature self-- and be willing to speak out and take responsibility. Please read our individual reflections on this experience at bhhstoday.org Christopher Jamison, Jaylen Caldwell and Mohammad Mohsin

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Officer regifts to children by JAKE FOGEL Staff Writer

When life gives you Kanye West’s Yeezys for five dollars, use the money to buy gifts for kids.At least that is what Police Liaison Officer David Vankerckhove did. After winning the recent Yeezy Raffle run by student leadership, Vankerckhove chose to exchange the thousand-dollar shoes to buy Christmas presents for young kids through the giving tree program at the Bloomfield Township Library. “I know a lot of kids really want those shoes. I actually felt pretty bad winning the raffle. I just wanted to support the senior class, but I’m glad I had the extra cash to do what I was able to do,” explained Vankerckhove. According to Vankerckhove, he found out that he won the shoes at home while on a Facetime call with Mrs. Schultz and a group of seniors. He explained that he was “pretty shocked because I only bought one ticket, but I was excited at the same time.” After winning the raffle, Vankerckhove realized he “could do something good with that money instead of wearing

continued page 2

Holiday food drive initiated by ALI RANDEL Staff Writer

The World Language Department is currently hosting a food drive just in time for the holidays. All of the food will be donated to an organization in Pontiac called the Hispanic Outreach Organization to help families who are in need during this time of year. They are collecting non-perishable foods like granola bars, rice, pasta, peanut butter, and more. Any donations can be given to a world language teacher or dropped off at their workroom at E206. Additionally, the class that brings in the most food will win a celebration.

SPORTS feATURE Poms team adopts girls by DARBY KRUGEL Staff Writer

shopping and spend quality time that way, but then we’re also getting a chance to help someone To add extra spirit to the holi- else. It’s a good learning experiday season, the JV and Freshman ence, a bonding experience, and Poms teams adopted a 9 year old just a humbling experience.” Sophomore Mari Lynn, captain and a 12 year old girl. Working through a church in Pontiac, the of JV, echoed the statement that poms team will be donating holi- this was a worthwhile experience. “I liked adopting a girl for Christday gifts to these girls in need. mas because it really “After poms one uplifts the person’s day, we all went to spirit because she Old Navy. We were knows that somegiven a list of likes one out there cares and dislikes from two for her. It makes girls and their ages me happy to know and a little informathat we just made tion about them, said freshman poms teamPoms team goes shopping with newly adopted girls. someone’s holiday better by giving member, Riley Shapiro. “We each donated $10 and them a couple of gifts,” Lynn said. The team has enjoyed conwe had to find certain pieces of clothing or little things that we tributing to the holiday spirit thought the girls would like.” this season through helping Jenna Williams, Freshman those in need, hoping to conand JV poms coach, thought tinue this tradition for years to that this was the perfect holi- come and continue building imday activity for the team. portant bonds among the team. “I think this was a really posi“I think it reiterates how lucky we all are, and I think being able to do it together is a bonding continued page 2 moment,” Williams said. “We’re able to come together and go

NOVEMBER NEWS

Policeman wins Yeezy Raffle (from 1)

positive experience for the poms team. I feel like it like brought us closer together and we got to help someone out in the community,” Lynn said. “I hope we’re going to continue to make it a tradition for next year because it’s really fun and I like knowing that we made some little girl’s day better.”

Southern California

Local and World News Local Reactions: Students and Social Media

Tweets: “Over 700 firefighters from 10 states are on the front lines of the fires in Southern California.”

-CAL FIre, via Twitter

“

-Jada Samuels, Sophomore

Wildfires have continued to destroy everything in their path in southern California. There have been over 98,000 evacuations with more than 400 homes destroyed, these numbers still expected to rise.

For more information about the wildfires, vist bhhstoday.org

“

Similar to the water issue our community faced, both communities had something vital taken from them. BHHS students could form a fundraiser and collect clothes and food to donate to the people that were effected by the fires.

Just like with the Flint water crisis, there’s more people in need than there is support avaliable, which is why it is so important for everyone [students at BHHS] to pitch in.

“

Poms adopts girls (from 1)

Top Story: Wildfires continue to ravage

-Andrea Wegner, Senior

“

around a pair of shoes that I didn’t know existed” and decided to buy presents for kids in need. After reading kids’ requests at the library, Vankerckhove has gladly bought a pair of Minnie Mouse roller skates, an indoor tent, a scooter, and even a fireman costume, and has been giving presents since he won the raffle in the end of November. If you would like to contribute to the giving tree program like Vanckerkhove, stop by the Bloomfield Township Library and pull off a few names from the giving tree to buy presents for children in the district.

The Hawkeye Highlights

Ingrid Day (from 1) Oeyen, who had worked with Day for many years within the District. During her time spent serving on the school board, Ingrid had a reputation of being a fun, caring, and social individual, making it apparent why the main commons to be named after her. “Ingrid spent so much time working on the development of our very unique high school,” said school board secretary, Jackie El-Sayed. “She was a very social person, so we thought that the commons would be the perfect part of the building to be named after her.” Although she has enjoyed her time in the district, Day mainly hopes that her impact on Bloomfield Hills Schools will inspire students to serve their community. “While I know there will come a time that no one will remember me directly, what I do hope is that when they see the Day Commons that it might cause students to be curious how they might someday serve their community. Our communities have a much better chance of remaining strong when people give back.”

President Trump Sued for Reducing National Monuments

U.S. Athletes still to attend Winter Games Despite North Korean Threats

After stating a 85% land reduction in the size of Utah’s newest national monument, Bear’s Ears (pictured above), President Trump is being sued by five indian tribes living on the land that was proclaimed protected by President Barack Obama in 2016. Under the Antiquities Act (passed in 1996), the president has the power to designate national monuments, however, the tribes claim that this act does not give the president the power to revoke them. The trials will begin in the coming weeks.

Even though tensions between the U.S. and North Korea continue to rise, the full USA Winter Olympic Team will still be attending the winter games in Pyeongchang in South Korea, which will begin in February 2018. As Pyeongchang is only 50 miles from the zone that separates the North from the South, the United States United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley stated that the safety of U.S. citizens are in the government’s best interests. The government will be going to many measures to make sure the team is kept safe.

Hurricane Maria Destroys Puerto Rico

Completely devastating Puerto Rico with high winds and extreme flooding, Hurricane Maria has had many drastic effects on the area, the death toll rising to 64. The Puerto Rican government, which was already facing multiple economic problems prior to the hurricane, has called for assistance from the United States as the country struggles to repair the damage to their homes, office buildings, and roads. Federal assistance is suspected to arrive within the coming weeks, including a visit from President Trump. http://www.dailynews.com/2017/12/05/apocalyptic-conditions-lead-to-wildfires-destruction-across-southern-california/ https://www.dayafterindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2018-Winter-Olympics.jpg https://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_1484w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2017/12/06/Editorial-Opinion/Images/

Lockdown (from 1)

For more of The Hawkeye, visit our website at bhhstoday.org

one really knew where to go or what to think,” said sophomore Brooke Lady, who left the building after the alarm was pulled. “I remember my friends texting me asking what was going on and asking if I was okay. I was outside so I decided to livestream [on Instagram] for the kids inside and I remember people leaving campus and talking about how they saw a guy with a vest go into the school.” According to principal Charlie Hollerith, the alarm was activated in C200, where a few students engaged in a scuffle, getting one of the students’ backpacks stuck in the system. “Two students were horseplaying with each other and one of the student’s backpacks came into contact with the Blue Point system and got his backpack caught in it which activated the alarm system,” Hollerith said. “We’re looking at

putting on covers on some of the Blue Point pull stations, very much like if you see over the fire alarms, called screechers. They’ll sound an alarm once they’re pulled down. It will help [the alarm] from being accidentally activated.” The Blue Point system is an alarm system meant to notify the students, faculty and police when a lockdown is put in place. “What the [Blue Point] system does, especially during instruction time, is that it seals off areas of the building,” said Officer Dave Vankerckhove. “It shuts and locks the fire doors in the learning communities and seals the G wing and serveries off with a gate that comes down from the ceiling. The purpose is to seal off where a potential threat is located and protect the rest of the students.” In order to recognize what needed to be fixed, the administration held

a debriefing with the entire faculty to receive feedback regarding how the lockdown procedure could be improved. “I think that there are things that we think about as teachers that we want to have planned. We’re always planned since that’s what we do for our profession,” said Coffman. “It was nice to actually hear from other teachers, administrators and the police that there isn’t always a set answer to what we need to do and that that’s okay and sometimes we need to use our instincts.” Hollerith said that the lockdown offered his administration the opportunity to reflect on the lockdown and decide upon adjustments that need to be made. “The lockdown voice that comes over wasn’t loud enough; both students and staff said that they didn’t hear it in some areas. We are going to make sure that we turn the

volume up,” said Hollerith. “We may change the message on the system so that people can understand what’s going on. In some pockets of the building, there were places where there weren’t speakers or strobes. We have identified parts of the building and we’re going to put those additional devices to help the staff.” Hollerith describes the lockdown as “a good wake up call for all of us.” “It’s important to prepare and should those situations happen where we have an intruder or a student with a weapon, we want to make sure that we minimize any potential harm to ensure the safety of all students and staff. Safety and security is our number one priority.”

DECEMBER NEWS

Choirs perform with DSO Jills and Chorale sing in Detroit by LARA JANOSZ Section Editor Selling out shows every year, the Jills and Chorale choirs will be performing at their annual holiday concert with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and the Grosse Pointe South choirs as a part of the DSO’s Home for the Holidays Program, which is to be directed by the DSO Principal Pops Conductor, Jeff Tyzik. “To be invited to sing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an honor. Our juniors and seniors get the opportunity to sing along with professional musicians,” said choir director Jessica Riley. “They are experiencing music on a higher level when working with the DSO musicians and the guest conductors, and they are also learning how to collaborate with another choir and their director.” The experience also serves as a bonding experience for both choirs, allowing new members to the Jills and Chorale to be a part of something that both groups do every year. “I feel like I am a part of a small family that are all so close and there for me. It is so [much] fun to bond over our common love for choir,” said junior Jills member Sydney Woods, who will be performing in the concert for the first time this year. “From what I have heard, this type of concert is super special and is something that not all school choirs get to experience. This is one of the most amazing things that the Jills and Chorale are a part of. I’m super excited to be able to be onstage and sing all of the songs that we have prepared so much for.” In addition to the experience that this concert provides to the groups, the choirs will be performing a multitude of different songs, according to Riley. “The pieces that he has chosen for the choral half of the concert include his own arrangements of ’Silent Night,’ ’O Come All Ye Faithful,’ and a gospel ‘Hallelujah.’ We are also singing a lovely arrangement of ’The First Noel,’ and ’We Wish You A Merry Christmas.’” For more information about the DSO’s Home for the Holiday’s program, visit dso.org.

Members of the business club DECA meet to take a test

Unique clubs come to BHHS Influx of student groups by MAYA ALHUSEIN Staff Writer From Water Sports Alliance to the DECA Club, Bloomfield Hills High School has had an increase in new clubs that are exclusive to the BHHS extracurricular program, as many of the new clubs created this year are not often found in other high schools. “I think we have one of the most unique and diverse student population that I’ve ever dealt with. Some clubs are related to academics but some are related to student’s backgrounds outside of school,” said Associate Principal Larry Goralski, who is in charge of getting clubs approved at Bloomfield Hills High School. “One of the most important things is having another reason besides just the academics to be in school.”

To create a club at BHHS, students must meet certain requirements in order to get their club approved by administration. “Almost any club will get approved. In order for a faculty sponsor to get a stipend you have to have 12 members coming on a regular basis, you have to meet twice a month,” explained Associate Principal Margaret Schultz, who has helped to approve many clubs in the past. “We only have a limited number what we can pay stipends for and once we hit that number it’s first come first serve. Once we hit that number we can’t pay stipends (a regular pay for sponsoring a club) anymore but we can still have clubs.” Founder of the competitive business club Kasra Raffi explains his inspiration for starting DECA and the sponsor for his club is Associate Prin-

cipal Larry Goralski who is in charge of approving clubs. “I have noticed the spike in interest in business from students and not having any business competitive programs was a detriment to the students. I knew that if I took initiative this year, I could start it up and make sure it runs smoothly in the future years of BHHS,” explained Kasra Raffi, a senior who is the founder of DECA. In addition to DECA, another one of the new clubs created this year is Watersports Alliance, which is a club that allows students from different social groups to come together to enjoy a host of different water activities. “Water Sports Alliance is a place for everyone to come together and enjoy nature and the natural world. It’s a good stress relieving activity for

everyone who needs a break from the stress of everyday life,” said Watersports Alliance President Max Lessins. “We have members from all different social groups who have come together to participate in a variety of different activities like kayaking, fishing, swimming and boating.” Many students have enjoyed the expanding roster of clubs at BHHS, including Lahari Vithala, who is a member and leader of IASA. “I’ve always participated in clubs that I am passionate about and I don’t just do it for the sake of doing a club,” said Vithala. “Yeah, it’s a big part of getting into college but for me, I like to be involved within school and I think clubs are an important way to do that.”

District committees formulate new school calendars Days oﬀ and holiday breaks are decided by various groups by GEORGIA ZIMMERMAN Staff Writer As anticipation for winter break heightens, some students may question why the school calendar has break occurring relatively later than in past years. “It [winter break] starts a little late, especially because we aren’t off until Christmas Eve technically, but if they started just little later we could have finals before break so we wouldn’t forget everything,” said sophomore

Olivia Sim, who is skeptical about the new calendar. According to Phillip Laliberte, history teacher and negotiating member for the school district’s contract with the union (Bloomfield Hills Education Association or BHEA), the calendar is formulated in part by a Calendar Committee of representatives from the school district and union that meets during contract negotiations, who helps to set parameters, make suggestions, and oversee the process. It’s then turned over to a full table of all the negotiators from both

the administration and the teacher’s association to be voted onto finalization by the school district and union. “Early in the negotiation process, a subcommittee is formed, maybe four or five individuals, and then they’ll meet a number of times in order to work on the calendar throughout the school year,” said Laliberte, “Contract negotiations usually start around October, and usually finish around June, so it’s an entire year process.” Major elements of the calendar are predetermined before the influence

of the committee. According to Mary Blair, BHEA President, who was part of the said Calendar Committee at the last round of contract negotiations, “We are limited in terms of our calendar options. We are also required to be in school a certain number of days/ hours per another state law. Finally, we have an Oakland County calendar that we have to follow in terms of breaks (Winter Break, Spring Break, etc.).” While obviously the calendar isn’t met with unanimous positivity, it’s sub-

ject to few changes year to year due to the aforementioned restrictions, which bodes well amongst the community, especially when planning winter vacations. “The calendar does remain pretty consistent, the community appreciates that, teachers appreciate that, they know what to expect. One of the things that could cause some changes is when holidays fall . . . But generally, we try to keep it consistent,” said Laliberte.

2017-2018 Important Calendar Dates December 23-December 7: Winter Break ~ January 15: Martin Luther King Day January 23-26: 1st Semester Finals ~ February 5: Half Day February 19-20: No School ~ February 26-27: Half Days March 17: THE Dance ~ March 22: Early Release March 29: Half Day ~ March 30-April 8: Spring Break May 3: Early Release ~ May 25: Half Day May 28: Memorial Day ~ June 12-15: 2nd Semester Finals

DECEMBER OP/ED Letters to the Editor

Holidays are not about the

GIFTS Adviser Christina Hammitt Print Editors-in-Chief Brynn Elder Anish Tamhaney Web Editors-in-Chief Maximillian Helfman Jessica Kim Print Managing Editors Habib Bello Vivian Harber Jake Weitzman

Dear Editor,

Section Editors Caitlin Finerty Lara Janosz Sadie Kirshner Brendan Lynn Jenny She Maddie Wein Justin Yaker

Commercialization of the holidays continues to grow

Production Managers Ally Heath Lilly Swanson

What we think

Graphics Manager Sydney Kalt Photographers Kaylie Brooks Skylar Raitt Social Media Managers Sarah Kenkel Maddy Moskus Sammi Trepeck Staff Writers Carly Armstrong Jake Fogel Hannah Halstead Darby Krugel Kaitlyn Luckoff Elena Ofiara Sarah Qureshi Andres Quiroga Ali Randal Alexis Rillema Ava Singer Max Wittenberg Georgia Zimmerman Guest Writers Chiara Abiadal Maya Alhusein Adrian Ashtari Sophie Jackson Caelan Jansen Steven Krivitsky Vikram Lakshmanan Debra Moraitis Ben Mutz Connor Renusch Erin Schwartz Sophie Sherbin Nick Spinale Sydney Stearns

I am writing a response to the tennis state champions section from the newspaper by Steve Krivitsky. I was very impressed on how good the story was about the undefeated season. I was most impressed about how well the journey to the undefeated season was described. Interviewing a player from the tennis time like Vikramjit really gives me a great perspective on the season and the team. I also didn’t know five players on the team won states individually which is huge! I play soccer for the school and winning a state championship has always been a dream of mine so when Vikramjit talked about the feeling of winning the state championship and how it was unreal it was I could relate to it because I really want that feeling. This informs me to know what happened at States and how insanely good the boys tennis team was during the season. Steve you did a great job keep up the good work! -Jacob Werthmann (11)

Web Managing Editors Riya Doshi Evan Stern Jonah Stone

Illustrators Ember Stuart

Dear Editor,

Illustration by Sydney Kalt

Over the course of history, the holidays concluding the calendar year have progressively transformed into a weekslong ritual of perpetual gift-giving, with millions flocking to shopping malls and purchasing gifts amounting to billions of dollars in value. In our highly materialistic society, the holidays have become defined by this tradition of gift-giving, with physical objects representing our celebrations with family and friends. In fact, with the proliferation of these conventions of celebration has come the rapid decay of the true value of these observances, eating away at the traditional value of these customs. The truth is, this December trend must rapidly be reversed completely, as we at the Hawkeye believe. Celebrating the holidays shouldn’t be about the grand, the visible, the tangible; now is perhaps the consummate time of the year to let go of the distinct materialism American culture effuses and instead aspire to the smaller, more frequent interactions we share with each other. We commend those who actively give back, like Officer Vankerckhove, and

those who self-reflect, after the police alarm was activated prior to Thanksgiving Break. The smallest acts of empathy have a seasonal tendency to spread and signify more than their face values, and whether discussing an issue as nationally encompassing as the harms of vaping to a most local lock down incident, this month presents a time to reflect on our ongoing concerns and draw from the strength of others to solve them. Most of all, the holidays cannot encompass gift-giving to the degree it currently does, for the power of a physical object cannot amount to one percent of the value of our relationships and community. With the cascade of issues afflicting everything in our world, it is imperative that we as a community set aside trivial materialism and embrace something that will truly leave a mark on the holiday season forever. So next time you ponder this holiday season as the snow falls outside, consider, even if for a split second, what you can do to genuinely benefit our community, before running to the mall again.

What students think

I have recently read the article titled “What does it mean to disrespect the Anthem” and I am writing in order to share my opinion on it. This article was very intriguing as it brought up a very controversial topic that has many view points. All in all I really enjoyed this, the historical evidence mentioned in the article of America’s past wrong doings and what the anthem actually means really sold this for me. It made me actually think about the other sides of this and that many people have different perspectives whether they support the protesting or not. Not only did it show me different perspectives, but it also emphasized the importance of educating one’s self on a topic so that someone can truly understand what’s going on without blindly following or misjudging others. Overall, it was a really great educational read and I enjoyed the experience. Great writing! -Jeramiah Johnson (11)

Dear Editor, Where’s the “poll” in political? I am reaching out because I feel it is important to have a large community input regarding opinionated articles. Do not be mistaken, I am not writing because of the lack of-- rather due to the quantity of. The newspaper is supposed to be of the people, by the people, for the people. Without a large student voice in the newspaper, it’s truly black and white (more than it already is!). Whether is be online polls sent out in mass email regarding articles being written, or having more drop in interviews with passing students. I beg you to consider the idea of accepting more student polls and random, in-hall, opinions. Use the voice of the people, who wouldn’t want to listen to themselves? -Mickey Margosian (11)

Dear Editor, I appreciate the variety in types of stories you include in the newspaper, but it might be helpful to add more varied thoughts or opinions towards things like sports and current events. I think that it could allow more kids to be involved in their school and community as well as get their opinions across. Sometimes the more variety there is in a story, the more interesting it can be. Although certain stories may be better candidates than others, such as talking about people’s opinions of a certain sports team or club rather than something political or too personal. -Sydney Crawford (11)

We want to hear what you think. Write a 100-200 word letter to the editor and send it to us, bloomfieldhawkeye@gmail.com

For more letters to the editor, see page 22 of the insert, or visit our website,

“To me the holiday season is all about spending time with family and friends. I don't even celebrate Christmas, but just being with family makes this time of year special to me.”

"I value spending time with my friends and family way more than getting gifts because there's nothing more valuable than being able to be with the ones you love."

-Nadia Plemons (12)

-Lexie Finkelstein (10)

BhhsToday.org

DECEMBER FEATURE

U MATTE R E S S AY CO NTE S T! Any length, genre, and style! Contest winner will receive a cash prize sponsored by UMatter

USE THE PROMPT ... AND THAT'S WHY I MATTER ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

BHSD teacher recognized in state Honeyman has taught Language Arts at West Hills for over 30 years by EVAN STERN Managing Editor West Hills Middle School Language Arts Teacher Mark Honeyman recently was an Excellence in Education award recipient after one of his eighth grade students submitted his name for nomination. “I was thinking of my favorite teachers, and thought about what I could do to make them happy. I looked up [the] best teacher awards in Michigan and found this one,” WHMS eighth grade student Sydney Harker said, a student of Honeyman’s and a member of his Book and Count Me In clubs. Of the recognition, Bloomfield Hills Schools explained that “The Excellence in Education Award recognizes outstanding K-12 teachers and staff who are making a significant impact in the lives of Michigan students through demonstrating excellence, dedication, inspiration, leadership and effectiveness. Recipients receive a $1,500 cash prize and a $500 grant. Honeyman is in the running for the Educator of the Year

Award and a $10,000 grand prize.” Honeyman, who has taught in the Bloomfield Hills School District for over thirty years, explained that “the spirit of the students is what drove [the award].” “Learning is an incredible leap of faith, and an act of courage,” he said. “An award like this is a testament to the support and engagement that thousands of kids who have walked into my room have given me over the years. I couldn’t have done any of the things I’ve done if it wasn’t for the love and incredible trust that my students have graced me with every day.” Honeyman’s students, such as eighth grader Lindsey Zousmer, echoed the sentiments of Harker. “I’ve never had a teacher like Mr. Honeyman,” Zousmer said. “I could be having the worst day, and I walk into his class, and I automatically get a smile on my face. He genuinely shows that he cares about us more than anything. Every day when we walk out of class, he tells us that he loves us. I’ve never had a teacher that makes me feel so special, and that I belong.”

Honeyman sits with two eigth grade students at a desk in his classroom.

Economics students compete by HABIB BELLO Managing Editor

Mark and Mary Honeyman accept reward money for the “Excellence in Education” award.

For more district coverage, go to our website:

On December 8, the Advanced Placement Economics class, taught by Randall Odom, attended their second field trip of the school year. The students are competing in the Detroit Economic Challenge and they presented their proposals and claims to the members of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago-Detroit Branch. The competitors were given the task of evaluating a district in Detroit and creating new ideas and plans on

how to improve and revitalize Detroit from an economic standpoint. With topics such as commercial/ residential real estate, education, and consumer retail, there was a variety of ones to choose from. Out of seven groups competing, the trio of Jacob Weitzman, Aaron Zelmanov, and Becca Hancock won the 1st place award with their proposal on re-purposing Mack Avenue. It was an enlightening experience.“ said Aaron Zelmanov, a senior AP Econ student. “We worked hard on the project and I’m glad it all paid off.”

New advisory formed by RIYA DOSHI Managing Editor The National Honors Society (NHS) is creating an advisory for its officers and small group leaders. “Our NHS advisory has many purposes,” said Nicole Toussaint, the chapter president of NHS. “First and foremost, it gives group leaders time to plan their group leader community projects throughout the year and gives the NHS Officers time to plan our school’s chapter project. This year we have a lot of great group leader projects in the works, such as

volunteering at Gleaner’s Food Bank and Friendship Circle, as well as organizing a district wide book drive.” Small group leaders, such as junior Isabella Bonito, will be able to work on their community projects during this hour. “I feel like it’s helpful because we can actually collaborate face to face with the advisors and the other group leaders,” said Bonito.

read the full story online at bhhstoday.org

Vap v

Learn About this D

What are Students Using to Vape?

In high school, you’ve probably heard all sorts of words associated with vaping, but what are they and what do they mean? Here are a few examples.

JUULs are a popular vaping device characterized as being small and portable. Starter kits running for about $50, the JUUL is advertised as smoking alternative. It is now the #1 vapor product in United States of America. JUULs get their nicotine from JUUL salts which come from the leaves of Tobacco plants. JUULs are also commonly associated with their variety of flavors. Many schools are fearful of the product due to its small size.

The typical vaporizer became popular in 2007. It was created to be an alternative to smoking or a tool to help smokers quit. It solved the second hand smoke problem using vapor over smoke. However, this has brought new health threats to teens specifically in high schools. Many available, have customizable nicotine levels, and a battery.

Suorins are a relatively new advancement in the vaping world. They are a sleak, square device. Suorins contain two separate parts. The device is refillable and doesn’t resemble standard vapes or e-cigarrettes.

With the exploding popularity of vaping, new contraptions have popped up. One of which is the “Weed Vape Pen”. This vaporizer contains cannabis, but most isn’t from the Marijuana plant, but from hash oil concentrates containing very high THC rates. With no scent, this is usually hard to separate from a regular vape or a pen.

Mental Effects

Emotional Effects - Can cause chronic depressionww - Kids are commonly pressured into vaping

- Affects the frontal cortex of the brain -Alters behavior of brain - Causes appetite loss and weight loss - Nicotine vaporizers can become addicting - Withdrawl symptoms from vaporizers with nicotine

Physical Effects

“I think (vaping) is bad and people shouldn’t do it.”

- Can alter the activity of genes - Can cause reproductive harm in males - Can cause a heart disease gene - Can cause new health risks that are different from cigarettes - Can cause birth defects - Can cause dehydration - Can cause dry eyes - Can cause nose bleeds - Can cause your heart to race - Can cause appetite loss and weight loss - Contains cancer causing chemicals - Irritates lungs - Can cause one to start smoking cigarrettes - Can worsen athsma

Photographs by Ali Randel, Maddie Wein, Jake Fogel Health Effects Captions by Caitlin Finerty Graphics by Jake Fogel

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Damaging Trend Vaping: Authorities and administrators provide the facts By Sarah Qureshi Staff Writer

Vape. A word spoken in hushed tones repeatedly through the hallways by students, teachers, and administration. A word that has been spreading immensely throughout the community making it an increasingly significant issue. But why vape? “I began to realize this year that vaping in the middle schools is more prevalent than I originally believed. The younger the person is, the easier it is for them to become addicted,” said Dave VanKerckhove, the high school police liaison officer. VanKerckhove explains the current laws regarding vaping both inside and outside of school. “Michigan law requires you to be 18 to purchase e-cigarettes, and complies with FDA rules because Michigan has not adopted its own e-cigarette laws,” said VanKerckhove. “Because Michigan follows the FDA guidelines, there is no vaping on school property at all.” High school students, such as Senior Srisarada Vithala, have noticed an increase in vaping. “I think it’s surprising that, even though it’s illegal, I see kids vaping everywhere even at school,” said Vithala. “Seeing people vape so casually, genuinely concerns me as it makes me wonder if they really know the repercussions. Maybe it’s not as bad as the other drugs but it still has a big affect on your body and others around you, I hope people think about that the next time they “take a puff ”. According to VanKerckhove, vaping has “detrimental effects that are often hard to grasp” for high school students that contribute to this recent surge in vaping. “If young people are vaping THC, it can affect the brain dramatically,” said VanKerckhove. THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical compound in cannabis responsible for a euphoric high. VanKerckhove explains that “THC oil in vape is usually 85%-90% THC. It is scientifically known that brains are still devolving into the early 20’s and the long term effects can be significant the earlier someone starts vaping.” Natalie Finerty, a parent on the PTO, elaborates on the health risks of vaping explained by VanKerckhove as well as explains her own knowledge about the risks of vape.

“Vaping is highly addictive, so I think it would affect [a student’s] school and social life quite a bit because of the addictive nature. The student or child would have to find ways to do it without anybody noticing, especially at school where there are strict rules against it,” said Finerty. “I attended a PTO meeting where the police liaison officer described the school’s zero tolerance policy on vaping, which I am definitely in support of.” Finerty continues to explain her stance on the matter. “Unfortunately, I’ve been hearing more and more about the prevalence of vaping in our community especially within the high schools and middle schools,” said Finerty. “I am very upset that there’s another way for children to have access to nicotine and I am disappointed that this is such a big problem in our schools.” In a report by Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the US surgeon general, he stated that the use of e-cigarettes among high school students has increased by 900% from 2011 to 2015. Margaret Schultz, an associate principal at BHHS, describes how she sees this increase in vaping reflected in the school. “We have had more students that have been caught with vape in school,” said Schultz. “We have definitely seen an increase over the last couple of years as it has become more available. One of the big things that we have noticed over the past year is that there are many different types of vape devices. So, they are not always easy to recognize, as new ones are constantly being developed.” Schultz elaborates on how the school combats the expansion of vaping at school and the consequences of it in comparison to other drugs. “We work on making parents and staff aware of what is going on, and also making sure that we hold students accountable for their actions if they are using vape in school,” said Schultz. “We do not allow any nicotine or paraphernalia on school property and students can receive consequences just for being in possession. It depends what the vape is. Generally, it would be treated the same as nicotine. Since vape could also contain THC, it would then be treated as having illegal drugs which would carry more severe consequences and potentially police intervention.” For more information on the health effects and consequences of vaping contact Officer Dave VanKerckhove.

4,000,000 middle and high

schoolers are current vape users(CDC)

Percent of high schoolers who vape

Currently, it is illegal to vape as a minor after the FDA banned it in May of 2016. This applies to 48 out of 50 states. Since vaping is now labled as a tobacco product which is illegal for minors, any minor caught vaping is eligable for an MIP.

Sources: Multiplr pages on CDC.gov, https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/teen-vaping-soars-past-cigarette-use, https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/teens-e-cigarettes, http://fortune.com/2016/04/15/e-cigarette-report-teenagers/, https:// www.theverge.com/2017/10/23/16520216/e-cigs-nicotine-concentrations-teens-youth-vaping-smoking-habit-health, https://vaping.com/blog/ data/how-many-people-vape-around-the-world/

DECEMBER FEATURE

Technology and social media affect teen minds

Students struggle from new problems surrounding social media by SAMMI TREPECK Social Media Manager

Q&A with math teacher David Brazle

by CAITLIN FINERTY Section Editor 11 years ago, he started teaching. But he isn’t just any math teacher, he has one part of him that makes him so different. For over 4 years, David Brazle has been riding his bike to school, and he doesn’t just do it in the months of warm weather, he does it 12 months out of the year. But he does have a car. Q: Why do you ride your bike to school? A: Because I can. I like to think that I am getting in touch with my Belgian roots because I grew up riding my bike to school every day and because it’s cheaper and because it creates a challenge in everyday and you get to get the heart rate up on the way to school. Q: How has that positively affected you during the school day? A: I think it wakes me up without a morning cup of coffee, even though right now I’m drinking a afternoon cup of coffee. It allows me to be awake once I get here. Depending on how I ride, it’s a very calm way of starting the day, and ending the day, it’s relaxing, and it gets me exercise when I otherwise wouldn’t get exercise. Q: How do other teachers and students respond when they hear that you do this? A: They think I’m crazy or they ask how far away I live. They ask what I do when it rains or when it snows. Q: When you started, did you expect to continue doing it for so long? A: When I first started it was sort of a social experiment for our family. I will keep doing it as long as I can. I like to live life as efficiently as possible so that nothings goes to waste. I didn’t know if we could “survive” without the 2nd car. Most Americans see a 2nd car as a necessity and I wasn’t sure if we would find that to be true.

Toxic shock syndrome affects many by SARAH KENKEL Social Media Manager While current statistics are not available, researchers, doctors and educators are clear one thing: it is very dangerous and it needs to be discussed. “TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome) is a very unfamiliar disease which explains why many don’t know the consequences that come from it,” science teacher Lindsey DeLuca said of this disease caused by the common bacteria Staphylococcus aureus which normally lives harmlessly on the skin and in the nose, armpit, groin or vagina of person; however, one in every three individuals carries certain strains of bacteria that can produce poisonous toxins. Read more at bhhstoday.org

Teacher plays trumpet for the musical by SOPHIE SHERBIN Guest Writer Much like the rest of the students in this district, middle school band and orchestra was the first time government and history teacher, Frank Laurinec, was given the chance to play an instrument. “I picked up the trumpet and started to play [in middle school band] and I’ve played ever since,” said Laurinec. The Broken Leg Theater’s production of A Chorus Line was not only Laurinec’s fifth production with Bloomfield Hills High School, but also a chance for him to use his experience somewhere other than the classroom. Read more at bhhstoday.org

Sitting in class during advisory freshman Ella Siddur looks at all of her classmate’s screens open to different websites and applications. “I’ve found that a lot of people these days care more about how many likes they get and how pretty they look for social media than they do about good grades and studying hard,” said Siddur. “Social media is taking over and soon it’s going to be affecting more than just a few high school minds.” While social media allows us to constantly know what is happening in the world, these constant notifications from every app possible are negatively affecting the brain. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health said, “86 percent of students visit social media sites daily and about 16 percent spend five hours or more on social media per day. “We know that the more time spent on social media sites, the greater the risk of cyberbullying and related mental health issues.” While social media has lots of mental and emotional effects it also physically affects the makeup of the brain. In the article, “Dealing with Technostress” published in Psychology Today on August 22 2017, Alex Korb, an assistant neuroscientist at UCLA said, “Technostress, the stress caused

by technology, is problematic because the body only has one stress response (activation of the sympathetic nervous system), and too much chronic stress is bad for your physical and mental health.” “[Technology and social media] sends off the reward system in the brain causing you to want to look at it more,” said anatomy teacher Noelle Collis. The brain is being rewarded by technology, some students feel the opposite way when working with it for school “Every teenager experiences the pressures

Graphic by Sydney Kalt

related with social media, specifically the constant comparison between your life and others,” says senior Erika Folbe. In school today it is sometimes hard to work on projects with other students because they are solely focused on their devices. The use of technology is causing people to have pressures that they might not have had without it. According to Siddur, “Social media may be affecting me and my peers but it is also something that we have to adapt to as society changes.”

Students open up about gender pronouns Students and staﬀ share their views around pronouns and human respect by ERIN SCHWARTZ Guest Writer His button says it all. “I’m wearing a button right now that says ‘use he/him pronouns’ because people call me by she/her so much,” said Junior Aaron Murray who was born female but transitioned during the summer of his junior and sophomore years. “I was given this button because people noticed that I became increasingly uncomfortable when people used the wrong pronouns. I felt like I needed to put it on myself because it’s so important to me. ” Murray is one of the several students who are “reteaching” the BHS community about the importance of respecting one’s pronouns. According to Sophomore Donnie Wilbur, a transgender male, because he, she, they, him, her, and them are words that are utilized to address others thus this is an important conversation to have because “a pronoun is something that’s used to represent you and how people address you other than an actual name.” Agreeing with Wilbur, Senior Ember Stuart said that pronouns are “really important because they are taking place of someone’s name. It’d be like if someone was calling you the wrong name all the time and that would just be weird. You don’t just change someone’s name and yell ‘Sylvia I hate you’ when their name is Steven. You wouldn’t do it with anyone who’s not trans or nonbinary, so why would you do it with someone who is? It just boils down to being a good person.” American Literature teacher Vanessa Rose explains that part of the pronoun problem isn’t always based on a person’s personality (whether they are a good person or not) but based upon conventional teaching.

“It all goes back to tradition, fearbased mentality, and people thinking it’s ridiculous to do such a thing, just not understanding,” said Rose about the stigma around changing use of the pronouns “they/them” and the importance of respecting students’ identity. “I really think we need to pay attention to empower students, giving them the power to authentically express themselves because that is the key to so many different avenues of their life.” District English Teacher Leader, Liza Lauter supports Rose’s thoughts and believes that because “the English language is ever-changing, and new words and grammar rules are constantly be-

ing added it has become acceptable to use pronouns like they/them in new ways.” Unfortunately The Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook doesn’t address the topic of gender pronouns. According to their website MLA leaves “the finer points of grammar to the writer’s discretion, so this omission isn’t particularly surprising.” According to East Hills sixth grade English teacher Kenneth Gechter, sometimes the issue with having the conversation about pronoun usage isn’t just about the content but when to start having it. “Sixth grade is a bit young to start the conversation,” he said. “These are kids who are just entering the middle school and [some] don’t yet have the maturity to have a serious conversation about the topic. I don’t think bringing the topic up is a bad thing, but eighth grade seems more appropriate

age-wise as well as maturity level. Kids are definitely ready to have this conversation at this point as they are preparing for high school and the different world they will be entering.” Another reason why many people like Rose believes individuals need to be cognizant of the pronoun conversation is because she has discovered a connection between pronouns and the personal identity in history. “Just like we watched the film 12 Years A Slave, when Solomon was put into slavery, they took his name away on purpose, to strip him of all humanity,” she said of an activity in American Literature class. “So, I think that’s a way that people identify and feel needed and feel valued and respected is by hearing their name addressed by someone that’s supposedly an authority figure in their lives.” Murray added that he believes that people who do not use the pronouns that an individual would like to associate themselves with, it’s invalidating the individual’s identity. Stuart agrees saying that using pronouns incorrectly or refusing to use the one an individual prefers “is dehumanizing” and people need to be more sensitive. “Pronouns are just another way to show general human decency,” she said. Although he is passionate about pronoun usage Murray says that his reaction has changed over time. “At first, I just let it happen and I wouldn’t correct people. Eventually, that just made the problem worse. It wasn’t being solved and I was still being called by the wrong pronouns. If the situation isn’t right, I won’t feel comfortable correcting somebody which really sucks because then they keep doing it. I just wish people would learn that disrespecting identity is personally damaging.”

DECEMBER FEATURE

K-9 Dogs Help Police in Schools Cops bring in drug dogs by STEVE KRIVITSKY Guest Writer Every day, police dogs help protect and find possible sources of danger. They are used as a resource to keep the school safe and drug-free. According to administrator Margaret Schultz, the school uses dogs as a way to protect the students and inform them of the dangers of drugs. “We try to be proactive just to let kids know that it matters, and that we are paying attention,” said Schultz. The school has searches anywhere from one to four times a year. Schultz went on to say that she “feel[s] having drugs in the school is a risk to our students’ safety.” While we have all noticed when dogs come to search our school, there are many other valuable services that the dogs provide for us and the police. In fact, the dogs can help for drug searches, tracks, evidence recovery, and building searches, as reported by Officer David VanKerckhove, the school liaison officer. Moreover, “The dogs depending can help for on the situation, police drug searches, officers evaluate whethtracks, evier to bring dence recov- in a dog. ery, and build- s u“Ifs pwei chave ion ing searches” of drugs in a car, or a driver gives -Officer Dave consent, we can bring VanKerckhove in a dog to search the vehicle. They are way better at locating drugs than us human cops,” said VanKerckhove. “In other situations, like a robbery or home invasion, we will usually bring in a dog to do a track to see if the dog can find a path of where the suspect ran to. Either we can find where they are hiding, or if we don’t locate the suspect, we can look for evidence along the path of travel.” The dogs must be well trained before they are ready to become American police dogs. They usually come from Europe and are given basic training before being purchased by an American kennel for police departments. Once they arrive at police departments, the K-9 handlers begin more advanced training for the dog. During the dogs’ training, trainers look for something called ball drive, or prey drive. “Think of the most hyper dog you can think of that wants to play fetch, and that is the type of dog we look for,” said local K-9 Handler, Officer Jason Fullman. “At times during the training of the dog, it does come apparent that the dog does not have enough ‘drive’ to do the work.” “We start by having the dog smell the odor of the drug we want them to find. When they smell it we teach them to sit or scratch the item. After they alert on the drug, we reward the dog with a toy and play with them. We repeat this process over and over to make a learned behavior to have the dog think that when he smells the drugs he gets a toy,” said Fullman. This kind of basic K-9 training only takes five to six weeks, but the handlers continually train the dogs one to two hours daily with an eight-hour training day a week. Overall, the dogs work hard to perform their jobs to help the community and keep it safe.

Graphic by Vikram Laksmanan

Twenty pets and counting Junior has passion for animal caretaking by ANDRES QUIROGA-ELIZONDO Staff Writer While owning a dog may be overwhelming for some, to junior Debbie Wogaman, 20 pets still isn’t enough. From pulling a bird out of their chimney to tweezing a rock out of a fish’s mouth, caring for pets has been a prominent responsibility -and passion- in Debbie’s life. “It was really intimidating at first, since I’m fully responsible for all of them,” said Wogaman of their nine birds (four zebra finches, four society finches, one green cheek conure), seven fish (two bettas, two guppies, three fancy goldfish), one dog (mini-schnauzer), and three snails. “They’re all well taken care of and are in better condition than when I got them,” said Wogaman. “It’s a lot of work and sacrifices have to be made with other activities and time management, but it pays off.” Michele Wogaman explained that when it comes to her youngest child Debbie, their care for animals has proven to be more of a gift than a hobby. “Debbie has an incredible, extraordinary rapport with animals,” said Michele, “At one point there was a mourning dove that had gotten stuck in the chimney. It was going to be impossible for the bird to get out without some kind of help, and of course you can’t see anything. It’s dirty and dark and the bird is struggling, but Debbie was able to calm the bird, and just with their hand and talking to the bird, they were able to reach the bird, pull it out from the chimney and release it outside. They sort of just have a gift. We don’t ask ques-

tions, we sort of just stand back and let it happen.” Fellow junior Sydney Tognetti, a friend of Debbie’s, described how much she admires Debbie because of their care for so many pets. “Debbie is very responsible, which obviously is an important trait in an animal caretaker. They’re also very kind and caring, and able to work with their pets in a gentle way, making a strong bond between them and their animals,” said Tognetti. “It never ceases to amaze me how they manage to keep so many amazing animals so healthy and happy. Debbie has created an amazing bond with all of their pets and I think they shouldn’t ever stop caring for them. ” Looking back on the past four years, Debbie explained that being responsible for so many animals has been really rewarding. “I’ve learned a lot of life lessons from caring for them that I wouldn’t have gotten any other way,” said Debbie. “They’ve helped me empathize with people and have made me a really caring person. My personality wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t have [my pets]. There’s a lot of intrinsic value and satisfaction out of caring for so many animals.” Concurring with her child, Michele says that she has seen how caring for pets has been an important outlet for Debbie. “The kinds of relationships that they have with their pets is really kind of extraordinary and that’s been a really fulfilling part of their life. I don’t think they’d be able to imagine their life without pets.”

Birds: 9

- 4 Zebra Finches - 4 Society Finches - 1 Green Concure

Fish: 7

- 2 Betas - 2 Guppies - 3 Fancy Goldfish

Dogs: 1 - 1 Mini Schnauzer

Snails: 3

Carson conquers stress Model teacher brings in therapy dog for students by SYDNEY STEARNS by SOPHIE JACKSON Guest Writer Guest Writer

Owner, Cindy Wiengarten, helps Carson around Model

English students welcomed a new classmate to their class; Carson, a two year old labrador retriever. Literature and Social Connections teacher Kathleen Conklin said that everyone fawned over their new furry friend. According to Conklin, Carson did more than just look cute. As a therapy dog, trained to reduce stress levels, he provided an authentic learning opportunity for the students to see the psychology behind Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). According to Tori Rodriguez a licensed professional counselor and writer for Psychiatry Advisor, “The growing field of animalassisted therapy (AAT) is associated with numerous health benefits for people of all ages in a variety of settings.” “AAT can benefit a person’s “physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning,” adds Pet Partners. Dr. Hal Herzog, Ph.D confirms in Psychology today that “the overwhelming majority of published studies have reported that animals make excellent therapists.” Agreeing with the outside professionals, Bloomfield Hills High School psychology

teacher Marlowe B’sheart explained that the reason that dogs like Carson benefit one’s mental health is because they release “Serotonin, a neurotransmitter in our brains that, among other things, impacts mood. The more serotonin you create, the better your feel. Petting dogs, and other animals, increases serotonin production,” she said. “Recent research suggests that it also increases the amounts of prolactin and oxytocin, some of our other ‘feel good’ hormones.” Conklin saw these positive impacts first hand. “The times that Carson went over and sat next to students and was engaged with them I could visibly see the stress leaving their bodies. It definitely helped take their minds off of whatever was distracting them that day. They just became very calm around him.” After spending time with the therapy dog, students in Conklin’s class agree that the the next time they are stressing about that lab report (pun intended) or getting ready to retrieve work from Google Classroom they will consider investing in some animal therapy by finding a puppy to love.

DECEMBER SPORTS Body Builder. Female Thriller. Staﬀ member trains and competes by BRENDAN LYNN Section Editor Janitor Angie Queen initially didn’t have the idea of being a bodybuilder or anything like it, but an unlikely cause lead her to a muscular profession. “I didn’t start off to be a bodybuilder, what happened is I gained a ton of weight in my early 20’s and one day I decided that I just needed to lose weight,” said Queen. So, that’s where it started and I used to weigh 200 pounds. So, I started to lose all of the weight and once all of the weight dropped, I started to do a lot of cardio,” Queen described her little sister as one of the early inspirations for her to be a bodybuilder. “It was my little sister who was training and lifting weights, then I began lifting weights with her. Eventually I did it alone and I built muscle up. I had gotten married and my husband was in the gym a lot, so I started lifting with him,” said Queen. Queen has been in many competitions as a bodybuilder including several recently and has inspired herself to compete. “I have inspired myself to become a bodybuilder. I did two competitions, in May of 2016, I did the John Simmons competition at Hazel Park High School. In September of 2017, I did the Ironman competition in Fleshing. I am currently training to do my last competition coming up soon.” There are many different stages and steps for Queen to follow depending on how close in time a competition is. “It’s a strict diet and the training regimen is hard. Training for it [Competitions] goes in stages and I am already training for spring shows. Through the winter months you go through something called the bulking phase and that’s when you put on a whole lot of mass or muscle. As it comes three to four months before the show, you go through the cutting phase. Where you start cutting the fat and leaning the body down. So, I eat a lot of good carbs

to put on the weight and muscle, but when it comes time you eat a lot of lean proteins and no sugars,” said Queen. Being a bodybuilder comes with many lifestyle changes. For Queen, that has meant changing her diet and having a training routine to maintain the physique needed for the sport. “It’s a very strict regime. Now I am lifting heavy weights seven days a week. On Saturday and Sunday I do cardio in the morning and lift at night. When it comes close to the competition I lift at four in the morning and four in the afternoon,” said Queen. Queen’s longtime close friend, Bess Thomas, has been inspired to work out more by Queen’s achievements as a bodybuilder. “I started to work at Lahser in the 1990’s and she was working there as well. That is how we met and became friends. Angie switched departments and came back as a new person, as a bodybuilder. I was so surprised to see her like this and she is an awesome young lady. She should inspire all of you [Students] to eat healthy and workout. Not to be lazy. Angie has inspired me to keep working out,” said Thomas. Another one of Queen’s longtime friends and co-workers Mia Williams has been around to witness the health changes Queen has made. “She has taught me determination and Angie was tired of being overweight. The goal for her was to get the weight off and that evolved to bodybuilding. The bodybuilding helped her stay healthy. I know her regimen and it’s in her blood and her veins. If she doesn’t workout on a daily basis it’s hard for her. Working Out is apart of her daily lifestyle,” said Williams. Emotionally, bodybuilding has taught Queen discipline and many other traits to help her become a better bodybuilder and person. “It has taught me discipline and it will show you that you have a lot of strengths within yourself that you didn’t know you had before. I’m 47 years old right now, I will still train after I’m done bodybuilding and stay fit. But, I hope to help others by being a personal trainer.”

Boy, Boy, Boy, Girl! On a wrestling mat with all boys, Abiadal breaks gender barriers by BEN MUTZ Guest Writer They doubted her. “The coaches didn’t think I would make it the whole season,” Abiadal said. “I had to prove to the coaches that I could make it. I had to prove to my teammates that I could make it because the first two weeks nobody talked to me. When I asked questions nobody really helped me. I had to figure it out on my own.” Abiadal, the soul female wrestler on an otherwise male team wrestles in the 171-pound weight class and had a 32% win rate last season. However, according to Abidal, she still feels a gender barrier while wrestling. “I knew that I was going to face stereotypes when I started. The biggest one being that girls can’t wrestle. I just try and focus on how to be myself, and try not care about what other people think,” said Abiadal. “You don’t have to be the biggest, baddest guy in the room; it’s about learning the techniques and putting in the hard work.”

Still, Abiadal is stereotyped by parents that watch her wrestle. “One meet I was talking with one of my teammate’s moms. I said ‘Hey, [your daughter] wants to join, you should let her wrestle.’ She told me that girls shouldn’t wrestle because guys can hurt them and it’s a dangerous sport. My coach had my back and stuck up for me. He just told me to ignore her, which I did. I never take comments like that to heart. If I did it would distract me from wrestling. It’s upsetting that people have that mindset, but I use it as inspiration to keep wrestling and prove that girls can make it in the sport,” said Abiadal. Despite the challenges Abiadal faces, according to district Athletic Coordinator R.J. Guizzetti, she is treated as any other member of the team. “She just wants to go in and be a member of the team. She’s going to go work just as hard as the boys, and she would want to be treated the

exact same way that everyone else is treated,” said Guizzetti. “To [our coaches] these kids are wrestlers. I don’t think they hold them to a higher or lesser standard and that’s the way it should be. When she goes out there, she’s all business.” According to Guizzetti, even though Abiadal has an urge to wrestle, in certain cases, boys refuse to wrestle girls. “What you see around the state, around the country really, is getting boys that simply refuse to wrestle girls, and sometimes it’s coaches too,” said Guizzetti. “Old school coaches that believe in their minds that wrestling is a boys sport and they haven’t moved forward with the times that girls are able to wrestle too.” According to Abidal, this is one of the factors that has motivated to wrestle for three years. “I remember wanting to quit was when I was at practice hunched over a trash can, crying, and trying not to pass out or vomit. It was my first

year on the team, and we had been alternating from wrestling and sprinting. I was trying not to let anyone see me because I didn’t want to be seen as weak. I went home that day barely able to walk up the steps due to the pain I was in,” said Abiadal. “What motivated me to go back not only the next day, but for the rest of the season was the fact that everyone didn’t think I would make it the entire season. It was moments like that, that I knew if I pushed through the pain it would only make me stronger.” According to Abiadal’s teammate Ben Schuster, she has an overall positive effect on the team. “There’s a lot of women wrestlers out there, some even place in states. If they work hard and train hard, then they’ve earned their spot on the team,” said Schuster. “Chiara pushes other people that wrestle with her; she pushes people to work harder, train better and win matches. She makes the team better.”

Little Caesars Arena attracts fans to Detroit by JAKE WEITZMAN Managing Editor Little Caesars Arena. The new kid on the block. The state of the art home for the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons, and future concerts and shows. Little Caesars Arena is an incredible addition to the improving city of Detroit. Housing around 20,000 seats, the arena can be easily filled for concerts and events. The seats are comfortable with soft, plush cushions, unlike the cold, hard seatbacks at the Joe Louis Arena, which would always give me back pain. The food game has also been given much needed advancements. With multiple new restaurants like Kid Rock’s Made in Detroit, District Market, or Mike’s Pizza Bar which is open to the public throughout the day. With multiple choices such as pizza, grilled cheese, and tacos, the food exceeded my expectations. They also are a bit pricy, but not too bad for spectators. At the end of the day, the food gives my taste buds as much excitement as my eyes as I watch the games taking place. The suites have improved greatly with the ability to order food with an iPad on the wall,

more open space to walk around and be comfortable, quality furniture, and the best part of all, they are way closer to the floor than they were in the Joe or the Palace. The rooms give buyers the night of their lives with all of the insane incentives they receive, but at the ridiculously high price of $350,000 for one year! Somehow they are sold out entirely for the next ten years, so kudos to the Ilitch Family. A popular aspect about the new arena is the jumbotron in the middle of the room. The quality of the game is phenomenal, but there is also a little twist. On the inside from the bottom, there are team statistics for the game that is currently going on. a can only be seen by people sitting in the lower bowl of the arena. It’s a fun way to know the numbers, while being able to watch the game at the same time. The venue has tons of positive reviews and is loved by fans and spectators. Overall, the new arena is an amazing building, and will only bring many positive outcomes for the city of Detroit.

“It’s a fun way to know the numbers, while being able to watch the game at the same time.”

For more, go to our website

BhhsToday.org

Photo by Jake Weitzman

DECEMBER SPORTS

WINTER SPORTS Update Girls Basketball

By: Brendan Lynn

The Bloomfield Hills High School girls’ basketball team has won game and lost one game in the early part of the 2017-2018 season (As of December 11th). The team lost a game to Royal Oak High School 37-35. The team came back strong against rival West Bloomfield Hills High School with a score of 57-35. The team hopes to get farther in the state playoffs after losing to Marian High School 47-45 last year. Varsity Girls’ basketball player Junior Gracie Getz said, “I think our team is working and playing hard this year. I think we will have a good season this year.”

Boys Basketball

By: Ben Mutz

To open the 2017-18 season, the men’s basketball team held on to defeat the Plymouth Christian Eagles at home in a 59-48 victory, the first victory under new head coach Phil Kurajian. “Our guys did a great job of coming together as a unit and getting stops defensively,” said Kurajian, The Hawks are now 1-0 on the young season, and are looking to improve on that heading as they go into an away-game against number two state-ranked Cass Tech. The game is on Tuesday, December 12th at 5:30. (Note: This photo depicts the student section of the audience at a game.)

Boys Swimming and Diving

By: Georga Zimmerman

The Boys Swimming and Diving team began practice on Monday, November 20th. Currently, the Swimming and Diving team comprises of 38 team members. In addition to being in the red (upper) division of the OAA League, the BHHS team is a Division One State team, meaning they have the most challenging qualifying time in the state. “The captains, Noah Ziegler, Sean McGowan, Eric Shenouda, Tommy Paulson, and I are very excited for the season to begin,” says sophomore varsity swimmer Ben Mashburn.

Wrestling

By: Brendan Lynn

The Boy’s Wrestling has two wins against three losses. Sophomore Varsity wrestler Ben Perry said, “We have beaten a good North Farmington High School wrestling team. The team hopes to improve on what we did last year.” Perry currently has four against one loss and Varsity Junior wrestler Andrew Faber had three wins and two losses. The team already participated in the Waterford Mont High School tournament and hopes to get a superior result in their next tournament.

Girls Hockey

By: Elena Ofiara

Though there have been a lot of new changes made to its roster, the varsity girls’

hockey team is getting back into the swing of things. Their record is 0-1 (as of December 7), the girls’ varsity team, under the coaching of Mick Singelyn, will be ready to play at their next home hockey game on January 21. It is against Pioneer High School at the Southfield Sports arena. “The BHHS girls’ hockey team is improving a lot”, said Brooklin Bekolay, a player on the team. “We are helping each other out and are aiming to make this season great.”

Boys Hockey

By: Nick Spinale

The Boys Hockey team are two months into their 2017-2018 season. The team is currently in third place in the OAA red division (as of December 11th). “We are blessed with a good team speed this year and some pretty skilled guys so I think that is one of our big pluses this year”, said coach Bruce McAlister. The Boys Hockey team’s next game is Wednesday January Tenth against Troy Unified at the Troy Sports Center.

Competitive Cheer

World in Sports College Football Playoffs: Earlier in the month, The College Football Playoff committee gave their final rankings, following championship weekend. The final rankings had Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma and Alabama in the semifinals with a chance to play for the finals. Georgia plays Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl, while Clemson and Alabama play in the Sugar Bowl. As there is every year, there were many critics about the rankings. Ohio State won the big ten, yet they were left out of the top four, which led to disagreement and argument from their fans. Tiger Wood’s Return: After a ten month absence from the sport of golf, Tiger Woods has returned, and did not disappoint at all. The golf legend finished 8-under par at the Hero World Challenge, brushing off critics and doing better than most expected. Woods recently had his back surgically repaired, just another bump in the road for him in his rough last few years. There has been scandals, arrests, and injuries, so for Tiger Woods to be back to where he started is a huge step back on the right path. The golf pro still has to discuss where and when he wants to play in 2018, but many expect him to make strides back to being a top tier golfer once again. Giancarlo Stanton Trade: Reigning National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton has been traded from the Miami Marlins to the New York Yankees. This trade pairs Stanton with Aaron Judge, effectively making the two one of the most powerful, dangerous duos in all of baseball. Controversy has surrounded this trade, as the orchestrator of the trade and owner of the Miami Marlins is Derek Jeter, former Yankee legend. Many fans are accusing collusion between the owner and his former team, however this is disputed because he offered the trade of Giancarlo Stanton to two other teams the week before. This trade makes the New York Yankees one of the most exciting teams in baseball, and fans cannot wait to see their home run totals for next season.

By: Sadie Kirscher

Competitive cheerleading practices every Tuesday and Thursday from Six-Eight PM and they also have gymnastics training on Wednesday’s from Seven-Nine PM. Their first competition out of seven total competitions for the whole season, takes place on December 16th at Cousino High School. Kimberly Edwards is the team’s head coach and she has coached for a total of seven years, making this her first with the Black Hawks. Sophomore, Ani B’sheart stated, “Coach Edwards is an amazing coach. She’s tough, but she pushes us to work harder and do better than we thought we would be.”ashburn.

Photos: Kaylie Brooks

For more sports coverage, go to our website

bhhstoday.org

The Hawkeye

Cover by Sydney Kalt

Holiday Contents 15

4 5 6 Holiday Hawkeye Music 7 Crossword 8 Pro/Con 9 Playlist Winter Gift 11 Versus 12-13Guide 10 Year in Review

Staff Columns

Holiday Highlights

Editorial

18 24 8

14 Month in Movies

16 Cookie Recipe

25 Days of Kwasny 20

Star Wars Review

21 20 19 Letters to Gift Wrap: 22 Editor 23 How To 24 Holiday Reviews

Staff Sweaters

Candy Cane Reviews Flat Charlie Holiday Shopping

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

In the World Series, the Houston Astros beat LA Dodgers in a Game 7 victory with a score of 5-1. (cnn.com) In the finals of March Madness, North Carolina beat Gonzaga 71-65. (ncaa.com) In the NBA Finals, The Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 games. (nba.com) In the Superbowl, The New England Patriots beat Atlanta Falcons 34-28. (sbnation.com) In the NHL Stanley Cup championship, the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Nashville Predators 4-2. (espn.com)

o F

d o

The three biggest trends of 2017 were slime (telegraph.co.uk), fidget spinners (forbes.com) and pop sockets (independent.co.uk.) These fads were popular with anyone from age 5 to 105.

s d n e r T

A Year In Review

Breaking news! This year, Princess Kate Middleton became pregnant with her third child with husband Prince William. In addition, the other royal brother, Prince Harry got engaged to soon to be Princess, Meghan Markle. Also, Justin Verlander, Kate Uptonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boyfriend and former pitcher on the Detroit Tigers got traded to the Huston Astros, and as soon as the trade happened, his new team won the World Series. (People.com)

Po p

The top food trends include overnight oats, edible cookie dough, poke bowls, rolled ice cream, kale salad, avant-garde avacado toast and donuts with yummy fillings. Information found on http://www.restaurant.org/

ltu

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

Giving Back for the Holidays: Local, National, and World News Local: Detroit Toys for Tots Local charity known as Toys for Tots is giving back to kids in Detriot this holiday season. With 97% of all donations going to young boys and girls in need, Toys for Tots is one of the highest ranked charities in the world. This season, Toys for Tots will taking donations from people all over Michigan at collection centers within Oakland County. To donate a toy to a child in Detroit in need this holiday season, visit novi-mi.toysfortots.org

the [holiday] hawkeye highlights Who is Giving Back this Holiday Season?

National: St. Jude Children’s Hospital

World: UNICEF

Prior to the holidays, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is participating in giving back to kids who are trying to enjoy the holiday season, despite being either terminally ill or struggling with cancer. To give back to these children, St. Jude has set up a page within their website where people can go to purchase e-cards to send to kids in the hospital. Ths program is intended to help brighten the spirits of kids who must spend the holidays in bed, rather than with their families. To purchase and send an e-card visit shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog

Known for helping families and children in need all over the world, UNICEF is also participating in the holiday season this year by setting up a shop on their website for donors to purchase holiday gifts for friends and family. The proceeds from the gifts will go towards UNICEF to buy supplies for those less fortunate. Donors can purchase a variety of different gifts at a variety of different prices, with gifts varying from hand-made jewlery to men’s and women’s clothing. To purchse a gift off of the website, visit market.unicefusa.org/

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY Embracing diversity during the holiday season

“The holidays are a nice way to relax and get away from school responsibilities for a while.” -Alan Yang (10)

Illustration by Ember Stuart

“They mean a lot to me. It’s a good time when our family comes together and it’s just happy all the time.” -Tanya Bhardwaj (12)

“The holidays are a fun time with a very festive environment and there’s a more lively spirit in the air.” -Brody Mayoras

Christmas. Hanukkah. Kwanza. This time of year, the holiday spirit, no matter where one ventures, is clearly omnipresent, whether it be in America or Australia, in the shopping mall or at home in front of the fireplace. With all of the entangled customs and traditions encompassing the vast number of observances across the globe, it is clear that a large proportion of the world’s population is celebrating something. But in fact, despite this significant and overt commonality, we indeed, as a community, have our fair share of differences, disagreements, and disputes that continuously drive each other apart, diverging us along distinct paths. It is clear to see. Just open up the newspaper, or click along online to the latest headlines. You already can predict what you will see: war, the latest despicable acts of violence, and, most of all, events feeding off of our differences. And in this time of celebration for many, this is, as we at the Hawkeye believe, the complete opposite, contradicting everything in our human exis-

tence, of what is right. To the largest extent, the holidays are about friendship. As is highlighted by the momentous number of differences surrounding us, we all are distinct human beings, but the holidays should revolve around what is similar about each and every one of us, something that promotes friendship. This holiday season, as we embrace everything good and exciting that comes into our lives as the snow falls outside, we must stop for a second and think: it is in fact time to be a good community member and truly embrace our similarities. We are a more loving, embracing, and powerful community when we leave our differences behind, reject our prior, negative sentiments, and work toward promoting positivity between ourselves and all others, whether it be in our home, school, or nation. It is the best thing we can do this holiday season, the greatest gift.

(10)

Print Managing Editors Habib Bello Vivian Harber Jake Weitzman Adviser Christina Hammitt Print Editors-in-Chief Brynn Elder Anish Tamhaney Web Editors-in-Chief Maximillian Helfman Jessica Kim

Web Managing Editors Riya Doshi Evan Stern Jonah Stone Section Editors Caitlin Finerty Lara Janosz Sadie Kirschner Brendan Lynn

Jenny She Maddie Wein Justin Yaker

Photographers Kaylie Brooks Skylar Raitt

Production Managers Ally Heath Lilly Swanson

Social Media Managers Sarah Kenkel Maddy Moskus Sammi Trepeck

Illustrator Ember Stuart Graphics Manager Sydney Kalt

Staff Writers Maya Alhusein Carly Armstrong Jake Fogel Hanna Halstead Sophie Jackson

Steven Krivitsky Darby Krugel Kaitlyn Luckoff Debra Moraitis Ben Mutz Elena Ofiara Sarah Qureshi Andres Quiroga Ali Randal Alexis Rillema Sophie Sherbin Ava Singer Nick Spinale Max Wittenberg Georgia Zimmerman

Guest Writers Chiara Abiadal Adrian Ashtari Caelan Jansen Vikram Lakshmanan Connor Renusch Erin Schwartz Sydney Stearns

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

Holiday Crossword Challenge yourself to the Hawkeye Holiday Crossword Puzzle! ACROSS 2. Wooden rowing vessel 4. ”___ Jones Industrial Average” 5. Deeply complicated mystery 8. Compete (for) 9. See 1 down 10. # of protons in a hydrogen atom

1. 2.

DOWN 1. With 9 across, an impersonator 3. Backwards, at sea 4. Director Chazelle 6. Wax-winged son who flew too high 7. ”____ off!” (remark of approval)

4. 5.

For more crosswords, go to our website

9. 10.

bhhstoday.org

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

Listening to Holiday Music: When is it acceptable?

Limit it to December

Enjoy it all year

By ANISH TAMHANEY Editor-In-Chief

By VIVIAN HARBER Managing Editor

Music, that emotionally and intellectually versatile, peculiarly human medium which breathes life into our auditory motions succeeds for its ability to not only grant vitality to our sense of hearing, but to transcend sound itself. Meaningful music manifests not in it catchy rhythms or cyclical tunes, but in its causal reverie, its immediate onset of nostalgia or revelation. Music empowers, eludes, inspires, clarifies, mystifies the shared human experience in a way that brings us closer to each other and more perceptive to our surroundings. How, then, can dragging the appropriate time frame for listening to Christmas music enhance the genre? The charming gravity of those chiming bells, yuletide croons, and jolly lyrics are in their temporal exclusivity. The more we violate the unspoken yet crucial practice of waiting for the commencement of the holiday season to listen to Christmas music, the less palpably these songs ring in our ears. Endless loops of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” or any tinsel-y tune can have a psychological impact known as the “mere exposure effect” according to Victoria Williamson, Ph.D, who conducts research on the psychology of music at Goldsmiths, University of London. While holiday songs are universally cheerful, listening to them chronically by extending the current accepted period causes “a U-shaped relationship between the amount of times we hear music that we like and our subsequent reaction to it”, she says. This notion has economic derivations too: greater consumption of a product yields decreasing marginal utility. That is, we receive less satisfaction from each additional unit of a good we consume. Conversely, Christmas music most effectively elates winter spirits when it plays solely during the winter, defending a basis for alternative normalcy for the remainder of the year. Moreover, the religiously formal roots of Christmas reside in the brevity of their intermutual unity. Starting as early as the 17th century, one a single night, the Winter Solstice, local and noble choirs would gather for their respective communities, and express in sang melodies the emotional resolve and collective solidarity of the holiday. If those carolers had performed every night of the year, their each spectator wouldn’t have so much as batted an eye, let alone renewed by the seasonal sentiment in the air. How may each successive generation internalize the pointedly seasonal, momentary nature of the holiday season if Christmas music becomes a yearlong obsession? How will any music listener, avid or casual, comprehend the especial significance of Mariah Carey’s husky warbles if he or she never stops listening to it? Beyond the sonically charged, sappy atmosphere of the winter months, the most savory aspects of life are those which do not last. Our ability to cherish in retrospect is what gives memories meaning.

The months leading up to December have become a deprived call for help, a desperate wait to hear the jingle of Christmas bells. It seems that we have collectively agreed to make Thanksgiving the unofficial cue to begin listening to Christmas music. But since when do we, United States citizens, ever do what is accepted? Our history is filled with renowned individuals who have changed the world by diverging from what is accepted. Who says we can’t defy what’s “accepted” and listen to Christmas music early? Facts prove that, for Christmas lovers, Christmas music has a positive effect. “Many of us associate [Christmas] music with childhood and a happy time of presents and traditions and all the specialness that happens around that time of year,” stated Dr. Rhonda Freeman, a clinical neuropsychologist. “When the brain makes these associations with something very positive and pleasurable, the rewards system is being activated [which triggers] a number of chemicals including dopamine.” Simply, we are depriving ourselves of something that makes us happy. Now that doesn’t make any sense, does it? Christmas music is being scrutinized and segregated to only one month of the year when it deserves much more than that. There will always be some who despise the genre, just like some wither at the sound of country music; but it doesn’t make the genre worse for the ones who love it. With Christmas music comes Christmas spirit, and with Christmas spirit comes Christmas spending. So, the earlier the music; the earlier the well-loved holiday rituals. According to the National Retail Federation, a fifth of all retail sales occur in the year’s last two months. Regardless of your preferences towards Christmas music, the economic impacts of the holiday are hard to deny; and hypothetically, the earlier you start to listen to it, the longer the phase of economic prosperity. Whether you’re a Christmas music lover or hater, the sound of Mari ah Carey’s voice will no doubt remind you of the holiday. Christmas is a holiday that I love to be reminded of. Al though I love the seasonal consumerism of the holiday, Christmas isn’t about the presents, the annual visit from Santa, the cookies, or the lights; Christmas is so much more. The commercial version of Christmas brings materialistic EMBER STUART cheer to our lives, but the holiday is also a source of pure hope. At its religious roots, the simple meaning of Christmas is that a Savior is coming. Illustrator So to all those who need a reminder of the hope that comes with the holiday, Christmas music is a great way to do so, no matter the time of year.

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

From the Staff

The year begins perfectly

Holiday traditions stifled

Christmas cuts family ties

College football is great for entertainment and a way to relax with family and friends

The solution to cultural diversity is not avoiding diﬀerences

Kids with divorced parents don’t experience holidays the same

by MAX WITTENBERG Staff Writer

by LILLY SWANSON Production Manager

by MADDY MOSKUS Social Media Manager

The day will consist of two words: College football. That is not true for my family and I. On one day a year, the best teams face off against each other in the best Bowl games of the year. The main focus of the bowls are the College Football Playoff. There is no day like this the other 364 days in the year. There is no other event that causes so much excitement and has so much anticipation. There is no other thing you should be doing other than watching these games. This day is January 1st. From noon until midnight, games after games are played, and the meaning of those games to me have deep sentimental value. Football has always been a way for my family to bond and spend time together that usually doesn’t occur. The College Football Playoff is exactly how it sounds. The top college athletes jump on the gridiron competing at the highest level for glory, victory, and accolades. That is what I call entertainment. Having the holiday season begin to conclude, these football games bring the spirit back as it is another time for me to celebrate with with the people I love. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show, because I know I will.

Enough of the Bells with Holly and the Giant Man dressed in red, can’t we bring out the other holiday celebratory decorations, or should we hide them all together? Within my diverse group of friends, I’ve always loved the opportunity to learn and celebrate different holidays aside from my families traditional Catholic rituals. Throughout the calendar year, I’ve had opportunities to celebrate and learn about holidays ranging from Hanuka with my Jewish friends, to Diwali with my Hindu friends. The opportunities to expand my religious knowledge in our global community has been something I have greatly enjoyed throughout the years. Consequently I’ve wondered why we can’t we do the same within our larger, school community. The common response to this question is very simple, “We can’t celebrate just one so how do we celebrate them all?” However, the solution is simple as well- don’t stifle them. While I do believe the manner in which we approach the opportunity needs to be suggestive rather than forceful, I think it’s important to allow students to have the outlets within our school to teach others about their beliefs. I have been able obtain knowledge of these celebrations and religions through conversations with friends, however not everyone has the opportunity to learn about the diverse

religions due to their analogous “cliques”. We do however have this opportunity within our classrooms, it’s the only school setting where we are involuntary organized with people of different cultural backgrounds. As a school that labels itself “multicultural” it should be expected to offer students the chance to learn about religions outside of their own. Due to the dominant population of Christians, when stifling the conversation in classrooms due to “controversy”, we are in reality just stifling the opportunity to learn about non Christian religions For example, Santa and the importance of his religious meaning within Christianity is a very well known figure throughout American culture, however very few people can tell you how many lights are on a Menorah- both symbols are equivalent in simplicity and importance to understanding the given religion but both are not equally as well known. While Christianity is clearly the dominant religion in terms of numbers with 75% of Americans identifying themselves as Christians. With just some minimal, strategic planning from faculty, it doesn’t need to be a dominant part of the education process within classroom conversation. Rather than plaguing our school with redundant and abundant snowflake decorations we can enhance our school’s halls with decorations of different religious figures (each in equal moderation) that pose an opportunity to learn.

I have yet to experience a very merry Christmas. While I enjoy the gifts, the giving, and the break off of school, the hassle of the holidays always seems to override the joy. And no, I’m not talking about fighting over shopping deals or battling it out over who hosts Christmas dinner. For me and many other kids with divorced parents, the holidays are a reminder of the division between families. What’s worse is that in situations like mine, all communications happen through the kid who is stuck in the middle. Each year during the holidays, the same he-said-she-said ritual begins, both sides wanting more time with me. After a while, time with the family becomes more of a burden than a gift. I know so many kids caught in the crossfire of feuding parents, and the intensity of the push and pull is so much so that comfort is found most in chosen family. This is not to say that I don’t appreciate my parents. The only reason they battle this out is because of how much they love me, and growing older has given me that perspective. Looking back, I may not have had the same experience as other children did, seeing as my parents divorced when I was two, but I did get a head start on maturing. The more I’m faced with the inner workings and politics of my family, the more I learn about what it is to love and the sacrifices that must be made. Sometimes, I wish I hadn’t grown up so fast. But maturity was given to me without a gift receipt.

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

Snow-much fun by CARLY ARMSTRONG Staff Writer Winter pessimists step out of the way and hear me out. For as long as I have been alive to acknowledge the silver winter season, it has been my favorite. And why? Well there are countless reasons. Maybe it’s because of the charming sight of the first snowfall and the crisp, fresh air. Or maybe it is because of the festivity, beautiful lights, and holiday season creeping just around the corner. First, SNOW DAYS!!!!! Even winter pessimists, you know you love a good snow day. Being able to

sleep in without the wake of a 6:00 alarm, meeting up with friends, and enjoying the whitely coated outdoors puts a sparkle in my eye. The snow festivity options are endless-you can go sledding, snowboarding, or ice skating instead of sitting in a boring classroom. The food! I mean… Hot chocolate and warm chocolate chip cookies sum up winter better than anything else. Building gingerbread houses and sipping on eggnog is a common tradition and part of my life every winter. Being able to sit by the crackling fire and dunk a cookie into whole milk simply gives me the best holiday feelings. Snowflakes are fundamentally a miracle of sci-

ence. In the summer, you cannot catch them on your tongue. Building snowmen, making snow angels, and snowball fights! And don’t forget the snowsports! There are countless things you can do in the snow. Campus Martius! The annual tradition of ice skating at Campus Martius is one that I love. Downtown Detroit it’s stunningly beautiful. You might even say majestic. Whether it’s daytime… or nighttime, the D looks even more enchanting blanketed in snow. So what are you waiting for? It is winter! Get outside and enjoy the holiday fun.

Winter: not snow-great?

A Total Blizzaster by HABIB BELLO Managing Editor Regardless to the overplayed holiday cheers, “It’s the most… HORRIBLE time of the year!” I, along with many other warm weather enthusiasts, do NOT like the cold. The idea of skiing, sledding, or any of the other snow related activities makes my stomach churn. Those golden days of tossing the pigskin with your friends GONE. The days of taking a walk (unless you are adamant on wearing a full blown parka) GONE. Not to mention that driving will be a hassle. Be ready to chalk on 10 more minutes to whatever

time it takes when going to places because the snow is too risky to drive normally in. According to SafeWinterRoads.org: “Each year, 24 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy or icy pavement and 15 percent happen during snowfall or sleet.” Despite all of the dangers snow and winter cause, it’s warm enough to have school, but it’s cold enough to not play outside. In addition, the seasonal occurrence of the “Bloomfield Plague” arises and takes students out of the classroom at an alarming rateーONE. BY. ONE. Winter and snow together by far make up the worst season each year has to offer. And forget about saying that drinks like hot

chocolate are “better in the winter”, HOT CHOCOLATE IS THE BEST YEAR-ROUND HANDS DOWN. And, just to say, the winter-time music that magically appear after Thanksgiving every year can be listened to not only in the winter-time. Those songs have not only been released for that time period only. A sunny June afternoon lounging is just as perfect of a time to listen to Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is You” as a snowy December evening. And for every time I hear someone say: “Snow is the best!”, I ask in response: “Who brainwashed you?”

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CAUSEBOX CAUSEBOX SUBSCRIPTION - $55 This quarterly subscription service sends a curated box of 5 to 7 products and brands that are doing amazing things for the world, such as empowering women, providing jobs, meals, education, clean water, and so much more.

COMMUNITY MADE COMMUNITY MADE UNISEX FOOTWEAR - $185.00 With every product of your purchase, $10 is given back to a local community effort to support the Arts, Education and Ending Homelessness. Specifically, money is distubuted to street poets, mental health care, and student-mentor services that provide the resources youth need to reach a productive, conscious adulthood.

BEATS BEATS PILL (RED) - $179.95 Every (RED) purchase of Solo3 Headphones and Beats Pill directly contributes to the global fund to fight AIDS. Each dollar can provide three days of live-saving medicine. Money raised goes to fund prevention, HIV testing, treatment, counseling and care services to those who need it most across Sub-Saharah Africa.

By: Maddie Wein

LUSH CHARITY POT

Love your melon

LUSH CHARITY POT - $7.95 Lush invented a lotion called the “Lush Charity Pot”, 100% of the purchase price (every single penny minus the taxes) goes towards supporting humanitarian, environmental and animal rights causes locally and around the world.

LOVE YOUR MELON - $35.00 Buy beanies. Fight Cancer. With every purchase, Love your Melon gives a hat to every child battling cancer in America as well as supporting nonprofit organizations who lead the fight against pediatric cancer.

swell S’WELL WATER BOTTLE - $35.00 Through 2018, a portion of S’well’s proceeds go towards supporting water programs across Madagascar – a country where nearly 50% of the population lacks access to clean drinking water.

PENNY BOARDS

Holiday Gifts That Give.

PENNY SKATEBOARDS - $60-$120 “Penny for a purpose” brings hope and support to rural communities. partners with global non-profits and iconic artists by raising money for affordable education and providing skateboards to camps with at-risk kids in urban enviornments.

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

A HOLIDAY RECIPE: CITRUS SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Ingredients:

• • • • • • • • •

2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1 tablespoon grated orange zest, or more to taste 2 cups sweetened dried cranberries, chopped

Steps:

1 Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; set aside. Beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts and orange zest. Mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the cranberries; mixing just enough to evenly combine.

2 Divide the dough into 2 equal portions, then roll into logs about 7 inches long. Wrap each log in wax paper or plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

3 Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

4 Remove wax paper, and cut the cookie dough into 1/2-inch slices. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet about 1 inch apart.

5 Bake in the preheated oven until firm but not browned, about 10 minutes.

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

25 Days of Kwasny

with Science Teacher Dennis Kwasny

25. Tripping and Killing Himself

12. Cheesy Smiles

24. Environmental Club Meetings

11. Science Memes

23. Random Science Facts 22. Quizbowl Tournaments 21. Sailing Trips 20. Transparencies 19. Hippie Days 18. “GUYS” 17. “Oh Dennis” 16. Insulting your Itelligence 15. Colored Pens 14. 5 Mile Runs 13. Science Olympiad Competitions

10. Goofy Diagrams 9. Chemical Reactions 8. “That’s Dicey” 7. Snazzy Sweaters 6.0 x 10 to the 23rd 5. Days of School 4. “What do you think, Shminks” 3. Different Sciences 2. Old School Projectors And A Shirtless Pic of Albert Einstien

by CAITLIN FINERTY Section Editor

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

This month in Oscar season starts to ramp up by CONNOR RENUSCH Guest Writer While many sports fans are preparing to wrap up their fantasy football season, movie lovers are just getting started on their favorite time of year: Oscar season. For just about 90 years now, the Academy Awards have been nominating and awarding the best of the best of film yearly in categories such as Best Picture or Best Leading Actor/Actress. And now, it’s come time for experts and regular filmgoers alike to begin viewing the so-called “Oscar Movies” and throwing together predictions for what will take nominations and what will walk away with the golden statue. As the Golden Globes, SAG Awards and BAFTA Awards all rapidly approach, there’s no better time to talk about Oscar contenders than right now. Two of the most talked about and relevant Oscar films that have been released center around the same topic: Britain during World War II. The first of those two was the highly regarded and box-office smash, Dunkirk. Christopher Nolan’s newest since 2014’s Interstellar certainly didn’t disappoint audiences or critics alike. With completely unbelievable practical effects and jaw-dropping sequences of war, Dunkirk has remained in talks for awards such as Best Picture and Best Director since it’s ridiculously early release date back in July. However, the Academy has been known to shut Nolan and his films out of their roster. Whether it be the lack of a Best Picture nomination for 2008’s The Dark Knight or getting completely shafted out of a Best Director nomination in 2011 for Inception, there’s no true telling as to whether

or not he’ll redeem himself. One thing is certain however; this is the best shot he’s ever had at Oscar gold. The other movie centering around this topic is Joe Wright’s Darkest Hour. Revolving around the Prime Minister as opposed to the events of Dunkirk itself, this picture has more leniency in being dramatic through it’s screenplay and performances than did its predecessor. With beautiful direction and a wonderfully clever screenplay, there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll be seeing the cast and crew of Darkest Hour at the Kodak Theater come March. More often than not, each year, there will be one shoe-in to win one of the large awards. This year, it’s looking to be Gary Oldman for his portrayal of Churchill. He completely embodies the iconic figure of Winston, dedicating every mannerism, speech pattern and emotion to becoming him in each and every way. There’s almost no competition for him to lose (possibly a sneak in from Timothee Chalamet for Call Me By Your Name but unlikely) and, if you’re looking to put down some money for your Oscar pool this year, Oldman is likely the best bet you’re going to get. Another large contender that has emerged in recent months is Get Out. Having made a ton of noise when it was released back in February, Jordan Peele’s directorial debut made a huge impression on audiences nationwide. Boasting a brilliant screenplay and visionary direction, the odds for Get Out to appear heavily continue to grow each and every day. On top of this, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the film seeing as it was nominated for “Comedy or Musical” at the Golden Globes. Seeing as it touched on many racial issues with a strong dramatic

tendency, many went against the idea of the picture being nominated in this category including Peele itself, who Tweeted, “‘Get Out’ is a documentary”. It is likely the Academy may be looking to capitalize on this issue along with the idea that the production company behind the film may campaign even harder for their Oscar nominations, resulting in the film likely popping up everywhere. With strong chances in Best Picture, Director and odds heavily leaning in their favor for Best Original Screenplay, Get Out is a must see for Award Season fanatics and anyone at all who enjoys watching brilliance unfold on screen. While I’ve only managed to squeeze in two talking points, there are so many other films that are up for massive categories at the 90th Academy Awards. From Call Me By Your Name to The Shape of Water and Steven Spielberg’s The Post to Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, there are many films out now and coming up to see. Many find it difficult to believe that statistics can be involved with the entertainment world, but think again. This time of year proves to be very competitive for many experts, competing to get the most amount of wins and nominations predicted down to the tee. As the coming months continue to fly by, keep an eye out for the film releases and articles from the many outlets like Variety or The Hollywood Reporter. And most importantly, get ready for the biggest show of the year on March 4th, 2018, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel for the second year in a row where more snubs and surprises are guaranteed to occur.

the hawkeye

Reviews For these reviews and more, visit our website

BhhsToday.org

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

THE LAST JEDI: A NEW TAKE ON STAR WARS by MAXIMILLIAN HELFMAN Editor-in-Chief What can I say about Star Wars that hasn’t been said already? It is the quintessential science fiction/ adventure film franchise. Kids from all around the world grew up and are growing up with these characters. Star Wars changed the film industry when it was released. And now, with the release of the highly anticipated, multi million dollar film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, more kids get to go home from the theatre high off the fact they just went on a new adventure with Luke Skywalker and escaped into a galaxy far far away. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the eighth “Episode” of the main Star Wars storyline, starring the likes of Rey, Finn, General Leia, and who fans have been waiting for, Luke Skywalker. The Last Jedi follows the Resistance continuing the struggle against The First Order, picking up from where The Force Awakens left us. Rey searches for Luke Skywalker, the last jedi, to learn the ways of the force to defeat the notorious sith lord Kylo Ren. This film was shrouded in mystery, the trailers full of misdirection, something that director Rian Johnson intended to do. With Rian Johnson adding his very unique voice to the already established franchise, The Last Jedi was a fresh chapter, answering many questions and expanding upon the Star wars universe. From the opening title card of “A long time ago in a galaxy far far away” I was ecstatic. Sitting in the theatre at 10:30 p.m opening night surrounded by my friends who know nothing about Star Wars I was ready to be blown away. To hopefully see the Star Wars film that was NEW and INVENTIVE and UNIQUE. Something unconventional, something no one has seen before. And dear reader, was this movie ever enjoyable, entertaining, and something truly new. The Force Awakens set up the new trilogy, reintroduc-

ing new and old fans to the Star Wars world, but The Last Jedi had to take it one step farther. Rian Johnson’s job was to take the world to the next step, because they couldn’t keep recreating the original trilogy (something The Force Awakens is often criticized for). The unique direction and voice from Rian Johnson is what made this film feel new. If you ever seen Johnson’s Looper or Brick his mark is apparent all over this film. No wonder Kathleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm, is giving Johnson his own new trilogy, set to release sometime after Episode 9. The cast of this film is full of new and old characters. Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, shines again as our new heroine. Finn, played by upcomer John Boyega, paired with

newcomer Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) offer a fresh pair of eyes through this film. General Leia Organa, played by the magnificent Carrie Fisher, has much more a role in this film, allowing Carrie Fisher to have the last performance she deserved. As set up by the cliffhanger in The Force Awakens, Luke Skywalker, played by the powerhouse of Mark Hamill, is arguably the best part of this film. This version of Luke Skywalker is Mark Hamill at his best. Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver, is turning out to be one of

the best villains of this decade, his story arc continuing to surprise me, two films into this trilogy. Some of the most iconic parts of Star Wars is the score, and The Last Jedi isn’t an exception. John Williams’ masterful score creates the tone for the middle installment, lending itself beautifully to some of the film’s best scenes. The score is currently sitting at #3 in iTunes. The Last Jedi, simply put, takes what you knew and what you expected from the new installment and shoves it down the drain. It burns the already predetermined idea of the Star Wars universe, and lays ground for a new forest to grow. But there will always be a few bad apples. One of the storylines in the film is quite unnecessary, often pushing the film off course and disrupting the pacing. With the film being a total of 2h 33m pacing is something that should be fast, consistent, and carefully planned. While the first act had me on the edge of my seat, the second hit the brakes. Hard. Another complaint I have is with the character of Rose and her writing. With being as ambiguous as possible, I believe the film would have been better without her character entirely. But when I think of my experience with The Last Jedi I remember the sheer enjoyment I had with the film, the great amount of entertainment the film offers. Whether you are a longtime fan of Star Wars, or this is your entry into the universe, The Last Jedi will surely have you walking out of the theatre as if you had just entered another world. One in which people can move things with their minds and fight with laser swords. One where space is not a boundary, but an avenue of discovery. And I urge you to go out the theatre and immerse yourself in this world. I give this film my highest recommendation, and cannot wait to go see it again. Star Wars: The Last Jedi opened on December 15th, 2017 worldwide.

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

Elene Ofiara

co Hot Co

Pic kle

nab on

Spree is a candy creation by Wonka and certainly reminds me of something straight out of the Chocolate Factory. The candy cane explodes with sweet, fruity, and sugary flavors. The appearance of this candy cane is nothing less than beautiful. Its colorful stripes of orange, red, green, and yellow will brighten up any stocking they are stuffed into.

Alexis Rilemna

Bacon

Sr ir

Cin

Spree

Coffee

ac ha

Kudos to the candy cane companies who have found the secret formula to turn any food into a candy cane flavor. It isn’t always the best idea to do that, however, they somehow sold out of these disgusting novelties. Exhibit A, pickle flavored candy canes. When I eat a candy cane, I want something sweet to treat my taste buds. Overall, pickles are not the best option when choosing a candy cane flavor to consume.

Sarah Qureshi

When I think of the seasonal, refreshing peppermint flavor that winter is acclaimed for, I am reminded of wrapping presents and spending time during the holiday season with my loved ones. P As I lick my traditional, pep- epp erm permint candy cane while int snuggling up to a movie with hot chocolate, the red and white stripes blend in my watering mouth and invigorate the holiday spirits of giving and thoughtfulness. Peppermint will always be my favorite candy cane flavor!

I order a peppermint mocha at Starbucks all year around. In my eyes, there is no better juxtaposition than the chilly sweetness of peppermint and the bitter warmth of coffee. This is why it is no surprise that coffee candy canes are my new favorite holiday treat. Not only does it pep me up with the taste of coffee, it wraps me in the comforting taste of holiday cheer. The candies are cheap, but the innovative taste is priceless.

Jake Weitzman

The hot cocoa flavor initially delighted and subsequently disappointed. My first couple licks were packed with a yummy chocolate flavor. However, once the marshmallow flavor began combining with the chocolate on my tongue, they started to taste like a piece of cardboard oversaturated with sugar. I would not recommend purchasing this product.

Sophie Sherbin

Ava Singer

Chiara AbiAdal

A taste test of the nine most interesting, exotic candy cane flavors sold this holiday season. Hit or miss? Read more about the experiences of the student-guinea pig taste tasters.

Oreo

Sophie Sherbin

Pallooza

Maddy Moskus

Candy Cane

Peeling back the wrapper of my Oreo candy cane, the smell of Oreo cookies filled the room. However, after the first lick, I was utterly disappointed because it didn’t taste anything like it smelled. As I continued eating, it tasted like plain sugar with occasional hints of chocolate. Oreos live up to their slogan and will forever be “Milk’s favorite cookie”, but they will never be my favorite candy cane flavor.

Ever had a bacon candy cane? You probably don’t think it’s a thing, but trust me it is. Peppermint candy canes are just so overdone. But bacon? That’s the coolest thing ever. So thanks to Santa’s little piggy elves up at the North Pole, they’ve delivered little bacon candy canes. They taste just like bacon but don’t contain bacon bits. It’s a Christmas miracle.

As a lover of spicy and weird foods, I am disappointed with the Sriracha candy cane. I felt it was offensive to call this a Sriracha candy cane as it did not captivate the flavor of my favorite sauce at all, in fact, it had a very processed flavor. They should consider renaming the candy to something more simple like, “Mildly Spicy Candy Cane” or “ Spicy Plastic,” because it definitely does not deserve the title of Sriracha.

I am have had my fair share of different and somewhat unconventional flavors. As soon as I heard there was a cinnabon-flavored candy I immediately bought a pack of 12. Peeling back the wrapper, I was instantly greeted by the sweet-smelling, mouth-watering aroma of cinnamon, sugar and icing that made me excited to try this treat. However, it tasted very stale and not at all like the decieving name. Stay away from these cinnabon flavored candy canes to spare yourself the disappointment.

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

Reviews Holiday Edition the hawkeye

Detroit Zoo Wild Lights

Houses throughout Bloomfield Hills have begun the annual competition of neighborhood Christmas lights; however, the Detroit Zoo lights outshine them all. Throughout the zoo, more than five million LED lights will illuminate buildings, trees, and more than 230 animal sculptures; outdoing even the legendary Clark Griswold. Despite the substantial crowd, the event was organized so that there was minimal wait. With the pre-purchased parking ticket, we were able to easily find a parking spot, and they gave

certain time slots for ticket scanning so the wait was bearable. The lights were rather impressive and created a pathway for guests to follow. They also had a large variation between the different light “exhibits” so it was hard to get bored. Walking around looking at Christmas lights may not seem like the most exciting activity, but with good company, the walk is leisurely, fun, and will immediately put you into the holiday spirit! In addition to the dazzling light display, there was ice skating and lots of food including hot chocolate and

popcorn. But my favorite part was the delicious funnel cakes; they definitely make the cold weather bearable. The Detroit Zoo hosts the Wild Lights event from November 18th to December 31st. Tickets range from $10-$16 for adults and parking is $7 per car. With an additional purchase of $18, you can see Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer in 4-D.

by VIVIAN HARBOR Managing Editor

Ellen’s Twelve Days of Giveaways

I love Ellen. And there are a million reasons why. Her hilarious jokes. Her kind-willed heart. And of course, her dancing. That is just the beginning of my list. There are her interviews. Her endless attempts to scare guests. Her games. And of course, her dancing. But what I love the most about this fifty-nine year old CoverGirl Spokesmodel in the middle of her 15th season is her endless thoughtfulness. After over 2,000 episodes Ellen has donated more than her dancing. Every October, she supports breast cancer by giving donations to the Red Cross. In 2016, she teamed up with Lowe’s de-

partment store and donated $500,000 to Spain Elementary-Middle School for new technology, a music department, and a new roof over the facility. In 2017, she donated $75,000 for hurricane Harvey devastation. The 59 Daytime Emmy Awards winner has surpassed the record of Oprah Winfrey when she won six Grammys for Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment. To further portray her thoughtfulness during the holiday season, Ellen holds a special contest each year called “Ellen’s Twelve Days Of Giveaways.” Beginning on November 20th this year, she started her twelve days of giveaways. Ellen’s giveaways were a fantastic idea in

order to unify people all over the country while emphasizing thoughtfulness and reiterating that it is the giving season. The holidays are meant to be relaxing, however, not everyone can afford such nice gifts and buying them can be rather stressful. The successful comedian took the opportunity to utilize her respect from the American community to ease this stressor while remaining her delightful self. Through activities such as her giveaways, Ellen eases the anxiety of spending money on gifts for many families. By motivating and promoting people to give back, Ellen spreads cheerful spirits while accomplishing amazing fundraisers to help those in need of her happiness. She inspires everyone to donate and be the best person that they can be. That is why after a rigorous day at school I relax and watch Ellen. I love Ellen.

by AVA SINGER Staff Writer

For more, visit our website

BhhsToday.org

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

WHO WORE IT BETTER? Holiday Sweater Edition

To vote, visit bhhstoday.org! Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Helfman’s sweater is from the movie The Night Before!

6 5

4 2

7 Staff writer Elena Ofiara’s sweater lights up!

1. Maddie Wein 2. Elena Ofiara 3. Maximilliam Helfman 4. Vivian Harber 5. Erin Schwartz 6. Chiara AbiAdal 7. Brynn Elder

Editor-in-Chief Brynn Elder’s sweater is straight out of the nineties!

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

Traveling Charlie

Participate in the Hawkeye tradition by taking this picture of Mr. Hollerith wherever you go on break. Whether you are laying out in the sun, hitting the slopes, or cozying up on the couch, submit a picture with our esteemed principal. The winner, receiving a special prize, will be chosen by Mr. Hollerith himself. Submit via Twitter: @thehawkeyenews or Instagram: @bloomfieldhawkeye

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

Letters to the Editor Stress and Social Media Dear Editor, I am writing in response to “The Increased Stress Caused by Technology” article. As a constant user of technology, I feel the stress and temptation to constantly check social media. It is impossible to escape the constant texts and social media posts, even when the phone is on vibrate. I agree with the article, that as a society we are way too plugged in and cannot avoid the temptation. Electronics are destroying our ability to relax and separate from our devices. Therefore, we should choose to engage with each other instead of being slaves to our phones. The article was great, but I think they needed to focus more on ways to avoid the stress of electronics. Jenna Hart, Junior

Singling Out the Sports Section Dear Editor, Once again, your latest newspaper issue has succeeded in providing ample amount of information that serves as both informative and interesting topics, as well as being well written and professional. Most notably, your section titled “Winter Sports Update” appealed most to me, and captured my attention immediately through the formatting decisions and content in whole. Being a huge sports fan, I am constantly keeping my ears open for any information about dates and statistics of our stellar athletics program at the high school. This specific article written by numerous of talented writers did this perfectly. In addition, the formatting of blurbs and and photos had me reading about the sports that wouldn’t have normally received as much attention from me. Keep up the amazing work! Adrian Wilen, Junior

Evaluating E-Pals Dear Editor, I am writing to you in response to the article, “Spanish students connect through e-pals.” As a student in Spanish 300, this article connects with me as I have taken part in the e-pal opportunity in Mrs. Toma’s class. In my opinion, the article regarding the e-pals does an amazing job at capturing the beneficial impacts of the assignment. By including Mrs. Toma’s opinion on our assignment, it gave the article an extra perspective as to why this program is so important. The student I have been talking to is very talented at English, and it really shocked me to see how much they have learned as a class just like mine. Being able to see the similarities and differences in our cultures has taught us a lot about the importance of learning a foreign language as a whole. Angelina Curti, Junior

Suggestions for Sports Stories Dear Editor, I’m writing to express my concern about the limited sports coverage. As I have seen in previous editions, the sports section is small and only features few people. It would be great to see a wider horizon of sports and possibly other attention grabbing topics. Some examples are “What it takes to be a Varsity athlete” or “Road to State Champs”. Increasing the sports sections will allow students at Bloomfield Hills High School to stay knowledgeable about their peers’ accomplishments and allow them to connect over school matters, which helps students relate and build relationships. Nevertheless, the newspaper is a great source of information for all of the Bloomfield students. Justin Mathis, Junior

HAWKEYE HOLIDAY

Festive Places To Go

Sights worth seeing this winter season by DEBRA MORAITIS Staff Writer

Campus Martius, Detroit

Glide through Detroit’s most awarded public park, Campus Martius, lit up by a colossal Christmas tree and other festive, ambient scenery. Outdoor skating rink open seven days a week, including the holidays, and closes on March 4th - times vary from day to day. Admission is $8 per adult - for elders and children 12 and under admission is $7. “Going to Campus Martius is so much fun; it is such pretty place to enjoy the holiday season.” said junior Megan McManus, “I was really impressed with all of the detailed decorations and I felt very safe. I would recommend bringing your own skates because on a busy day the line could take up to an hour & a half to get skates. If you have the time I’d suggest to go with family or friends!”

Downtown Rochester Light Show

Bundle up and explore the glimmering restaurants, service stores, and plethora of different shops and boutiques in downtown Rochester. From 5:00 pm to midnight until January 7th, the strip buildings will be decked out in more than one million holiday lights. Most stores are open Monday - Saturday, until 9 pm. “The lights in Rochester are mesmerizing!” said junior Ashley Bailey, “The only problem is the cold weather, but to solve that, there’s so many great places to stay warm and look at all the lights. My favorite part was just driving around in the car and taking in the scene. I would definitely go again. My friends and I had a great time wandering through all the cute little stores and places to eat downtown.”

Greenfield Village

Experience a blast of the past at “Holiday Nights” in Greenfield Village, Dearborn. There, you can indulge yourself in the historical aspect of the holiday season with activities like caroling-filled rides in horse-drawn carriages and Model T’s, ice skating, as well as visits with Santa Claus and live reindeer. The village also offers a multitude of live performances, skilled artisan demonstrations, and a firework show. “I went to Holiday Nights for a caroling performance with the Jills and Chorale.” said junior Max Rosenzweig, “It was such a sweet experience. Greenfield Village looks beautiful when its decorated for an old fashioned Christmas. There is so much to do - if you go you definitely won’t get bored!” Holiday Nights is open throughout December from 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm. General admission without a membership is $26.

HOLIDAY SEASON 2017

BY THE NUMBERS

24.3%

54.2%

SPEND LESS THAN

GIFTS PEOPLE WANT

LAST HOLIDAY SEASON

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

SPEND THE SAME AS LAST HOLIDAY SEASON

21.4% SPEND MORE THAN LAST HOLIDAY SEASON

CLOTHING

BOOKS

TOYS

61%

44%

41%

HOLIDAY SPENDING

54% OF PRESENTS RECIEVED ARE EITHER RETURNED OR EXCHANGED

WAYS PEOPLE CELEBRATE

HOLIDAY SHOPPING START DATES

THE HOLIDAYS NOV 35.5%

NOV 19.3%

31%

45%

50%

ATTEND

DECORATE

MAKE

RELIGIOUS SERVICE

HOMES AND YARDS

Information: https://nrf.com/resources/consumer-research-and-data/holiday-spending/holiday-headquarters

FESTIVE TREATS

DEC 32%

BEFORE THANKSGIVING

BLACK FRIDAY

DURING DECEMBER by Hanna Halstead