School News

Robotics display brings community together

Art and engineering provide a new avenue for Baldwin students

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Arts and robotics were on full display at Baldwin High School during this year’s budget vote on May 17. Underclassmen from the high school, along with middle school and elementary school students in the district showcased their work while members from the community placed their votes.
The display capitalized on the foot traffic at the high school due to the budget and board of trustee election. Baldwin High School principal Susan Knors has used this atmosphere for events like this ever year during her current tenure.
“We’ve done the displays for the entire 20 years that I’ve been here,” said Knors. “We’ve added things here and there since the beginning such as the robotics team and other things that the kids are doing. We try to keep it fresh and new.”
Technology education teacher Vincent Leis has been a part of Baldwin High School’s robotics program since 2005. He has seen the curriculum grow steadily to the point that their robots have competed in both local and international competitions. Leis attributes the programs success to the diverse areas of studies that students are involved in.
“Students are being exposed to mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, and coding—all those types of things where they might not be introduced in other high schools, said Leis. “Here with this program, they’re being introduced to college career paths before they’re in college.”

Leis helps his students create their robots by taking mathematical and scientific concepts and applying them to the construction of the machines.
“It’s where math and theories hit the road,” he said. “Everything just materializes directly in front of them.”
He attributes his students’ success to their willingness to run the program and to be self-motivated.
“There isn’t any necessary need to have the students buy in because it’s totally ran by the students,” said Leis.
Leis is interested in seeing the continued growth of his students as they prepare themselves for college and the real world.
“Just to see my kids move on to the post-secondary level and succeed and become engineers, nothing beats that.”
Whether it’s art, robotics, or something that involves and mixture of both, Baldwin High School will continue build upon their districts’ success in those areas of study.

Artistic pride
Director of Fine and Performing Arts, Andre Poprilo said that he felt honored to see the great turnout for Baldwin’s students. Many of them, he said, are putting their work on display for the first time.
“I think anytime that there’s any opportunity to share what we do here in school with the community, we try to seize it,” said Poprilo. “Having many people from the community come to the building for the purpose of fulfilling their civic duty, we want them to also get a glimpse of the great work that our students are doing. “
Poprilo also explained that the high school is in the process of renovating their art labs. They will be adding new software, equipment and computers as well as updating the art courses. Principal Knors stated that her students are already developing portfolios for art schools and technology schools, opening new doors for opportunities down the road.
“You have to think about where the kids want to go to college and what careers do they want.” “We want you to leave high school and eventually become a successful and happy person.”
With these things in mind, Knors said that she is preparing her students for jobs that may not exist yet, but will be present once her students finish college and begin their careers.
“That’s how fast the future is moving and evolving,” she said.
As for future events that Baldwin High School will host, Knors foresees her students becoming more familiar with new media and one day, showcasing their finished products.
“If anything expands, it would be a little more technology to showcase what the new media academy is doing as well,” Knors said.
Poprilo envisions that technology will have a great influence on future art shows as well.
“I think in the future, as early as next year, you’ll see different types of work,” he said. “You’ll see more digital work in addition to the fine art productions. I’m looking forward to that and seeing how that changes the format of everything.”
Leis is interested in seeing the continued growth of his students as they prepare themselves for college and the real world.
“Just to see my kids move on to the post-secondary level and succeed and become engineers, nothing beats that.”