A once bright and bustling program is now reduced to the sole class of 2022. This year’s seniors will be the final Arts Magnet students to have the full experience and complete their Arts Magnet education with the Senior Capstone class — a right of passage where students spend a quarter perfecting and showcasing something they created. Three seniors of the Arts Magnet Senior Capstone class share their thoughts on the end of Arts Magnet and the impact it had of them throughout the years.

Sophia Dreveky

Q: Do you have any plans for your Senior Capstone project?

A: My 9th grade Capstone project was a stop motion animation, it was mainly about a character and their aspects of dealing with mental health, in a strange and surreal world. I’m hoping that my capstone will be a game preview or trailer. So I’m very, very excited to work on that, I’ve got some concepts already started, so then I can get a bit of a head start on my project.

Q: How do you feel about being in the last Senior Capstone?

A: It makes me a bit bummed because I really feel like Arts Infused Kids learn differently from others. So having this sort of system where we’re able to learn in a more creative and flexible environment than perhaps other classes is amazing.  It’s unfortunate that there’s less participation not enough people signing up and less of a budget. It’s quite sad, but nothing good less forever. So at least I could be there to enjoy.

Q: How do you feel about Arts Magnet as a whole ending?

A: It makes me really sad, but I understand that like there’s a lot of things out of my control when it comes to the fact that it’s ending. I just have to learn to live with it. It’s my senior year and at least I get to participate. Q: What does Arts Magnet mean to you?

Q: What are you going to miss most about Arts Magnet?

A: I’d say just spending time with people who share similar interests with me.  We all have different aspects of our being artistic, whether it’s interests in music or it’s interests in forms of art, but it’s really nice. Just being able to bond with these people because unlike Advisory, I feel like I’ve actually developed a connection with these people that I’ve been with ever since 9th grade.

Kohl Borski

Q: Do you have any plans for your Senior Capstone project?

A: No, I don’t. I think I’m going to do a very large painting of something. I’m not sure what, but I know it’s going to be amazing.

Q: How do you feel about being in the last Senior Capstone?

A: It hurts me because I know a lot of other underclassmen still were supposed to be in Arts Magnet and since they cut us that, they don’t get to graduate with the full experience that me and the classes above me got. It makes me sad that it just dies.

Q: How do you feel about Arts Magnet ending?

A: I think it’s shouldn’t. It was a great experience for a lot of kids like me, who needed that extra artistic ability to get projects done. And now that it’s ending, a lot of kids won’t get that.

Q: What does Arts Magnet mean to you?

A: To me, it is a family. People will comfort you and you don’t have to worry about never not seeing them because you know that you’ll always have them.

Caitlyn Seidel

Q: Do you have any ideas for you Capstone project?

A: I’m gonna animate something. It’ll probably be something sentimental, like it did for my first showcase piece when I was a freshman. Probably something’s a bit more effort and has a bit more style.

Q: How do you feel about being in the last Senior Capstone?

A: It’s extremely emotional and a lot of aspects like it’s great reaching that final part and doing this big project with all of these seniors that I’ve, you know, been in multiple classes with who I have connections with the same time. It’s really sad knowing that we’re the last ones that the year behind us don’t get to experience it.

Q: Are the Arts Magnet Student Council doing anything for the last Senior Capstone?

A: All we do is get to plan it as sort of our last Arts Magnet event. Other than that is just planning artsy connections in the library during Base Time, there’s not a whole lot that we can do anymore. I’m trying to keep together some sort of arts activity council but nothing is set in stone. I feel like we don’t really have a place and I’m just trying to find some nook that I can put my guys in.

Q: What does Arts Magnet mean to you?

A: It’s a way to express my knowledge, creativity, create art, and to find new branches of not only my artistic ability, but how I research and show what I know. I’ve learned that I’m way more socially driven because of Arts Magnet. I learned that I am capable of expressing my self, and my knowledge in ways I didn’t think possible.

Q: What would you want to say to the kids who could have been in Arts Magnet but won’t get the chance?

A: I’m sorry. I’m sorry that you don’t get the experience that we get. I’m sorry that there’s nothing I could have done to give that to you. I hope that they’re able to find other creative ways to express yourself, but overall, nothing will compare to what Arts Magnet was.

As they turn in their final work they, grab a couple of cookies Sommers brought for the as a treat.

“Mr. Sommers knows we’re working our asses off and it’s just kind of a way of recognizing that I think,” one student commented.

She, like most students in this class, has spent long days and even longer nights annotating, researching, and revising a trend analysis paper for six weeks.

“It’s a good way to keep morale up,” Senior Amelia Anderson said, “and sometimes you just need a cookie after writing a ten-page paper.”

Although these cookies might seem like a small thing in the grand scheme of things, the fact that  Sommers cares enough to reward his students for simply turning in their paper brings a smile to the students’ faces.

The cast and crew have converted the Performing Arts Center to the setting of a magical and musical journey.

This year’s tech department is full of talented teens like Megan Estrada and Oskar Carlson. Estrada is very excited about the musical coming up and even shared a sneak peek on set updates. For this year’s musical not only will there be colorful trees and Rapunzel’s tower, but there will be actual flying houses. With the strategic use of ropes and the rigging system, the audience will see houses fly off the stage. Another thing to look forward to is Zoe Donofrio’s stunning castle painting set-piece and Carlson’s favorite stump.

The show will be November 18 – 20 at 7:30 pm or November 21 at 2:00 pm.

While there has not be an updated mural in the last four years, multiple students have expressed the desire to leave their mark on the Bison hallways. Art teacher Jon Gunderson said that the process is more demanding than most people imagine. He’s supervised the creation of several of the murals currently lining the hallways.

Gunderson said that before anyone begins painting, the art piece needs to get approved by him. Most students will give up at that point, he said, not wanting to plan out their painting and instead just “go with the flow.”

If the student manages to create a plan and get it approved by Gunderson, the student needs to find time to paint.

“It takes about 100-500 hours of supervised painting outside of school hours,” Gunderson said. “They usually ask me to supervise them, and I say no, I’m going to my daughter’s game, not sitting and watching you paint.”

Most students say it’s too hard to find time since the school no longer allows people to paint murals for a senior study and has ended most independent study blocks. Art teachers are not paid to supervise artists after school.

If anyone finds the time, resources, supervision, and gets approval, they can paint a mural in our school.

#5: Red Ball

Everybody’s favorite bouncing buddy! Red Ball is a game that quite a few students like at BHS. Originally developed By Eugene and published by PoopingFartingBall but you can find it easily at CoolMathGames.com. You play as this wonderful red ball who’s just trying to save the earth from the evil black squares, who want to squeeze the poop into a toilet tube. With its colorful style and bathroom-based gameplay, Red Ball bounced into the hearts of many students at BHS.

#4: Duck Life

Duck life is an online racing adventure game, complete with your own cute little ducky friend. You can spend time training them until they are the ultimate champion, feeding them until they burst, or even customize your little friend to your heart’s desire. When asked why they love this game so much, students reported it was “Very addicting and nostalgic.” Wattle your way to victory and entertainment with this classic game.

#3: Fire Boy and Water Girl

Next up, one of my personal favorites, Fire Boy and Water Girl! This is one of the few games that you can play alone or with a friend! Students say it’s one of their favorites because “Trying to solve a simple puzzle with a friend when you both suck and die constantly was always fun.” So if you want to spend time goofing off with your friend, or even enjoy the challenge of using both of your hands, Fire Boy and Water Girl is the game for you.

#2: Run

Second place for all-time favorite Cool Math Games goes to…Run! A series of platform games about aliens traveling through space. You can play as a little grey alien just trying to map out the expansive universe, and even unlock other funky aliens the further you go. If you’re ever bored during class, or simply need to space out for a little bit, then this game is for you! Go and enjoy the fun colors and speedy paths of a game students love.

#1: Papa’s Games

Last but certainly not least, our top game from Coolmathgames.com is the Papa’s Games! Specifically, Papa’s Pizzeria and Papa’s Freezeria. Play as an employee at many different shops and scramble to please the customers with the different styles of food. These simple but busy games have stolen the heart of the student body of BHS. People love these restaurant games, whether you are making scrumptious pizza, delicious donuts, or even extremely edible ice cream.

Honorable Mention: There Is No Game

One of my personal favorites, a game that tells you that there simply is no game. It’s not the most traditional not-game to play but it’s very interactive and tells you a good story. If you want to try and play this not-game and any of the other actual games, head on over to CoolMathGames.com.