The Day The World Changed

By: BHS Features Staff

September 11, 2024

Today during the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorists attacks, we honor the memories of those who sadly lost their lives, a devastating event in American history.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, four commercial airlines were hijacked by terrorists; those airlines were Flight 11, Flight 175, Flight 77, and Flight 93. The terrorists crashed Flight 11 and Flight 175 into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center, located in New York City. Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, and Flight 93 was forced to crash land in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, due to the passengers and crew on the airline regaining control and causing the plane crash.

The World Trade Center nicknamed the “Twin Towers” eventually ended up collapsing due to the damages from the planes and the fires caused by them. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the attacks, and more than 6,000 people were injured. 

The Pentagon lost 125 service members, as well as all 64 people on the airplane. The Pentagon Memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to honor those whose lives were lost that day.

Just four minutes after Flight 93 departed (due to a 25-minute delay), the first tower was struck by hijacked Flight 11. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered all aircraft to land at the nearest airport, which was the first time any order like that had been given out by the FAA in its history. Sadly, Flight 93 was not responding to the order. Flight 93 was 46 minutes en route through Pennsylvania when the terrorists aboard took control of the cockpit, changing its course from their original destination to Washington D.C. The passengers and crew members aboard Flight 93 used airfones to reveal the hijacking. The passengers realized that they were a part of a large attack on America. 

The realization caused the passengers and crew members aboard the flight to regain control by any possible means. Due to this action and bravery, the terrorists crashed the plane instead of letting the passengers regain full control. Because of these heroic actions, the attack on the U.S. Capitol building was thwarted. 

At the Flight 93 crash site, there is a beautiful memorial. Information can be found on the National Park Service website.

The attacks on 9/11 caused so many deaths that the estimated number of rescue dogs was over 300. They were used to help find the bodies of survivors or ones who sadly lost their lives throughout Ground Zero. The dogs began getting depressed whenever they found multiple victims’ corpses, so many rescue dog handlers decided to start hiding themselves in the rubble, so the dogs could get a sense of joy by rescuing someone alive.

There were so many unfortunate deaths on September 11. The youngest person who died was a two-year-old girl named Christine Lee Hanson, who died with her parents, Peter and Sue. The oldest deceased person was an 82-year-old man named Robert Norton. He was on one of the planes with his wife, Jaqueline, ready for their upcoming marriage.

BHS ELA teacher Mr. Ken Rademaker remembers exactly where he was during this national tragedy.

“I was here in Brooklyn High School on the first floor in the old English wing, teaching class. I first thought when the principal (at the time) came over the PA talking about a plane crashing into the World Trade Center that it was a small plane, the ones that hold one to two people. I didn’t think it was a big deal since we didn’t have TVs in the room, so we didn’t know how bad the event really was.”

Today, take a moment of silence for those who tragically lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorists attacks. We give our gratitude to those who risked their lives saving others. 

Never Forget and “Let’s Roll!”

{Information for this article sourced from Naval History and Heritage Command, U.S Department of State, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Pentagon Memorial, and Flight 93’s Call to Action.}

Homecoming Festivities

By: BHS News Staff

September 10, 2024

Does everyone have their dresses and suits ready for the 2024 Homecoming Dance? If not, you better quickly take care of this as BHS’s Homecoming is less than two weeks away.

After having a tough time electing this year’s court, Student Council is excited to announce the senior students who will be participating.

The 2024 Homecoming candidates for Queen are as follows: 

  • Brianna Boone
  • Jessica Byrnes
  • Cierrah Jackson
  • Ali Millin
  • Belma Veljak

The 2024 Homecoming candidates for King are as follows: 

  • Philip Banaszak
  • Nate Hernandez
  • Jaylen King
  • Aiden Starr
  • Nick Supinski 

If you would like to better know the senior candidates for this year’s court, the “Meet the Court” assembly will be held this Friday, September 13, in the auditorium at 9:15 a.m. 

In addition to the court, Homecoming Spirit Week was just announced. This is a week-long celebration of school spirit and fun. See the flyer below for more details.

We encourage everyone (staff and students) to participate next week by showing off your Hurricanes Spirit.

Spirit Week will end on Friday, September 20, and transition right into the varsity football game against Crestwood High School. On this night, the Homecoming Queen and King will be announced. Also during this evening will be the recognition for all of the Hall of Fame Inductees. This will be a night to remember for Hurricane Nation. 

In other news, after having three very relaxing, four day weeks, students and staff will be going back to the five-day-a-week routine. Staying organized and keeping up with classes will be an essential part of these next few weeks, so make sure to get good sleep to keep the mind fresh. 

Finally, here is the upcoming event calendar:

  • September 13: Meet the Homecoming Court
  • September 16-20: Homecoming Spirit Week
  • September 20: Homecoming Football Game (vs. Crestwood High School) & Hall of Fame Recognition
  • September 21: Homecoming Dance
  • September 21: Fall Fest (Memorial Park)

Have a wonderful, Homecoming season, Brooklyn!

{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, make sure to click here.}

Senior Spotlight: Nicholas Supinski

By: BHS Staff Profiles

September 6, 2024

Nicholas Supinski was chosen for this year’s first Senior Spotlight. One of his plans after high school is to attend college to pursue his dream career in Anesthesia, while being able to live life to the fullest and not having to worry about much stress. Something he likes to do in his free time is work out. He has always been heavily-bettering himself, and working out helps him with this; it is a great way to lift any stress off of his shoulders. A fun fact about him is that he is always hungry.

Q: Who has been your most inspiring teacher throughout high school?

A: “My most inspiring teacher has to be Mrs. Sullivan. Going into high school, I had high expectations for myself and was looking into college classes. Although I was unsure if I could pass them, Mrs. Sullivan gave me the push I needed to get to where I am now, despite my past doubt.”

Q: Have you played any sports or participated in any extracurricular activities throughout high school?

A: “I have played hockey since my freshman year, and I have been playing football since my sophomore year.”

Q: What is your favorite subject? Least favorite?

A: “My favorite subject, despite probably despising it simultaneously, is math. The way math always has a rhyme and would always work out was interesting, and I guess it was fairly simple. My least favorite subject would have to be English for obvious reasons: There are way too many words.”

Q: What is your favorite memory as a student?

A: “My favorite memory as a student was taking part in the various Spirit Week activities that brought everyone together.”

Q: Using only 3 words, how would you describe yourself?

A: “Driven, Optimistic, Attentive.”

Q: Where can you see yourself in ten years?

A: “I can see myself in ten years being on a beach in the sun, sipping on a coconut next to my wife.”

Q: What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?

A: “My favorite thing to do over the weekend is to spend time with the people who mean most to me, so that I can just let loose and be more of myself around them.”

Q: How would your friends describe you?

A: “My friends would probably describe me as considerate, athletic, and someone who is always hungry. I eat any food I can get my hands on.”

Nick, we hope that you have the best time throughout your final year of high school. Dream big, and go after your future!

Friday Night Victory

By: BHS Sports Staff 

September 5, 2024

Last Friday, the Hurricanes football team traveled to Oberlin to face the Phoenix, a rematch of last year’s affair in which the Hurricanes came out on top, 28-6. Fun fact, the game was played on turf at Oberlin College, a great experience for both squads.

Brooklyn was coming off of a shutout loss against Brookside in week one, while Oberlin also got blanked 31-0 against Plymouth. 

The Phoenix struck first as they were able to take the Hurricanes down in their own endzone for a safety, but Brooklyn quickly answered back with a 33-yard rushing touchdown by freshman running back, Lennox Atanacio. The ensuing two-point conversion failed, making the score 6-2. 

After a quick end to the Phoenix’s next drive, the Canes got another rushing touchdown, this time for 49-yards by senior Aiden Starr. A similar script, another two-point conversion failed, making the score 12-2. 

The Phoenix answered with a rushing touchdown of their own in the second quarter, and just like the Hurricanes, they were not able to convert their two-point conversion either. On their next drive, the Hurricanes got another Atanacio touchdown, this time a 10-yard burst. Their extra point was no good. As the Phoenix started their counter possession, senior Kevin Nguyen forced a safety to make the score 20-8. 

Right before the half concluded, the scoring would not stop as Oberlin got another touchdown with another failed two-point conversion. With only a few seconds remaining, Starr took the kickoff all the way to the house for a touchdown. On top of that, they were able to add the two-point conversion (Finally!), giving them a two touchdown lead at halftime, 28-14. 

The third quarter was relatively quiet until under three minutes to go when the Phoenix got into the red zone and capitalized with a touchdown to cut the lead to 28-20. 

In the final quarter, freshman quarterback Mason Vega got a rushing touchdown of his own, followed up with another rushing touchdown, this one by Nguyen. Ultimately, these back-to-back touchdowns would slam the door shut, making the score 42-20. 

In garbage time, the Phoenix added one final touchdown to close out the game as Brooklyn prevailed and earned their first victory of the season. 

Final Score: Brooklyn 42, Oberlin 26

With this win, the Hurricanes evened up their record to 1-1. They will travel to Black River tomorrow night, kickoff is at 7:00.

In other Fall sports, the girls soccer team (0-4) will be back in action at home tonight at 7:00 as they host the Wellington Dukes. They will also be in action on Saturday against VASJ at 12:00 and next Monday against Brookside at 7:00.

The boys soccer team (0-4) will also take on VASJ on Saturday at 2:00, right after the girls game. Additionally, they face off against the Cuyahoga Heights Red Wolves next Tuesday at 7:00.

Lastly, the girls volleyball team (0-7) will travel to Richmond Heights tonight for a 6:00 start. They will also travel to Cuyahoga Heights next Tuesday for a 6:00 start.

Good luck to all teams. Go Canes! 

{For up-to-date events and schedules, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.}

HalloWeekends

By: BHS Features Staff

September 4, 2024

Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends are coming up next week on September 12 and will conclude on November 2. This is always a time for families to get together to have some fun with the not-so-scary Fall activities, favorite rides, and main attractions.

HalloWeekends is celebrating its 28th anniversary this year with multiple haunted attractions including haunted houses, haunted mazes, new merchandise, and more food items. Some of these attractions are not advised for younger children as they can be too frightful. However, the entirety of Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends is perfect for a spooky, little weekend escape for everybody who would like to attend. 

When visiting Cedar Point for HalloWeekends, there are various family-friendly activities and attractions to take part in, such as Trick-or-Treating for ages 12 and under. There are a total of 10 different Trick-or-Treat locations. Another great activity to participate in is the Magical House on Boo Hill. This event is for children ages 12 and under as well.

If visitors prefer more frightening attractions, make sure to visit Cedar Point when the sun goes down for some of the indoor mazes and the outdoor scare zones. Some of the indoor mazes include Bloodbath, Midnight, Slaughter House, and more. To see live shows, make sure to check out the times that they are in operation.

Ticket prices for Single Day Admission are between $55 and $65. Funday Passes are $85, and Gold Passes (for 2025) are $100.

Be ready for some scares because on September 12, Cedar Point is getting spooky. Make sure to bring your family and friends for an entire day’s worth of fun and fright. 

Cedar Point is only an hour away, so make sure not to miss out on this annual event so close to home. 

We will be there! Will you?

Labor Day Week News

By: BHS News Staff

September 3, 2024

After a long and hot week at Brooklyn High School, the weather finally started to cool down, and the news staff hopes that everyone had a fun, long weekend.

This past week, BHS students experienced temperatures up to 98 degrees Fahrenheit in the high school. Because of the heat, students and teachers had the day off last Tuesday (August 27). Simply, most students (if not all) will prefer four-day weeks over five-day weeks, so this day off was a nice, early school year bonus. 

Additionally, there may have been another day off due to the heat last Friday, but students and staff had their pictures taken for the yearbook. This was an absolute success for everyone involved. Equally important, the football team won 42-26 on the road against the Oberlin Phoenix to improve their record to 1-1.

Yesterday, the BCSD had the day off to celebrate Labor Day and to enjoy the amazing air performances featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Coming up is the Hall of Fame ceremony that will be held on Thursday, September 19 in the auditorium. The H.O.F. inductees will also be honored on the following evening during the Hurricanes football game against Crestwood High School. It is always something to look forward to when honoring those who greatly-contributed to the Brooklyn community.

As a reminder, Homecoming guest passes are due on Monday, September 9. If you want to bring a guest to Homecoming this year, bring your pass to the office or turn it in to Mrs. Bader.

Upcoming event schedule:

  • September 4: Preschool Picture Day 
  • September 13: Meet the Homecoming Court
  • September 16-20: Homecoming Spirit Week
  • September 20: Homecoming & Hall of Fame Football Game (vs. Crestwood High School)
  • September 21: Homecoming Dance

Have a wonderful, short week, Brooklyn!

{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, make sure to click here.}

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Zofka

*Athletic Director*

By: BHS Staff Profiles 

August 30, 2024

Chosen for this year’s first Staff Spotlight is Mr. Mark Zofka. This is Mr. Zofka’s first year in Brooklyn as he is our new Athletic Director. Outside of Brooklyn, he was a teacher, and he also coached football and baseball for 16 years in Bedford. In his free time, he likes to golf, watch baseball, walk, hike, and hang out with his grandkids. A fun fact about Mr. Zofka is that he loves to go to music festivals because he loves heavy metal music.

Q: When did your passion for athletics begin?

A: “When I was three or four-years-old, my dad was very much involved, and I was one of those kids who played all of the sports.”

Q: What do you like most about being an athletic director? 

A: “There is a lot that goes on; there is a lot of variation, which is something that I like. And honestly, every day could be different. Not every day is the same.”

Q: Why did you choose Brooklyn High School?

A: “I am a member of the community, and it was honestly a great opportunity that I took. I know the facilities are great, and I followed the various sports throughout my playing and coaching years.”

Q: What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

A: “Time management. Some things need to be done throughout the day, such as meeting with coaches, players, and those sorts of things.”

Q: Where is your ideal vacation spot?  

A: “I love going to Florida. I was possibly looking at buying something down there. I would say ideally somewhere with warm weather, where I can golf daily. But, I have also been looking at new places with lakes and mountains.”

Q: What was your best sport as an athlete? Worst?

A: “I would say my best sport was baseball; I mean that is what I played in college. I went to Cleveland State, and I am in their Hall of Fame for baseball. I was a head baseball coach for 16 years at Padua and Holy Name and a 6-year coach at Cuyahoga Community College. Last year, I was the coach at Normandy. My worst is basketball; I was athletic and a good defender, but when it came to shooting, I was not the best. I played baseball, football, and hockey, but I was not much of a basketball player.”

Q: What is your go-to meal?

A: “Steak, prime rib specifically. If I could, I would have that every day. I love a good steak or maybe some prime riblets. I also grill and smoke meats a lot. I am more of a propane type of guy when I am grilling. I know I should be on the charcoal side of things, but there is just a big difference in taste. I use charcoal when I go camping, which is another thing I like to do.”

Q: Cleveland Browns Super Bowl victory or a Cleveland Guardians World Series title?

A: “Ah boy, good question. I mean the Indians have won something already, so I would like to see a Browns Super Bowl victory over a Cleveland Guardians World Series title.”

Welcome to Brooklyn, Mr. Zofka. Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to let us interview you. We hope you experience many amazing things this year and a lot of success for our Hurricanes sports.

Rough Start on the Gridiron

By: BHS Sports Staff

August 29, 2024

The Fall sports season is underway, and last Friday, the varsity football team opened up their season against the Brookside Cardinals. This would be a rematch of last year’s season opener in which Brooklyn fell victim to a 35-0 defeat. 

Last season, both teams concluded their seasons with similar records with Brookside finishing 3-7, while Brooklyn sported a 2-8 record. 

The visiting Cardinals got off to a hot start in their first drive with a 38-yard reception, capped off with a four-yard passing touchdown to go in front, 7-0.

After a rough return on the Hurricanes’ first possession and backed up on their own six yard line, their first drive ended relatively quickly. After a punt to the Hurricanes 48-yard line, this put the Cardinals in good field position to take a two-score lead. However, a big sack by junior defensive end Jonny Treska put a stop to their opportunity.

After going back and forth, the first quarter came to a close with the Cardinals still in front, 7-0. 

To begin the second quarter, the Cardinals hit a 32-yard field goal, extending their lead to 10-0. The Hurricanes were not able to get anything going on the offensive side, but the defense was holding up pretty well and prevented another Brookside score with an interception to end the first half.

The Hurricanes started with the ball in the second half but ended up being pressured in their own endzone, which eventually led to a safety. Brookside followed that up with a 56-yard touchdown to pad their lead to 19-0.

With still no score on the offensive side, the Cardinals were looking to slam the door shut, and with a couple fourth down conversions, the Cardinals added another touchdown to end the third quarter. 

In the fourth, both teams let the clock run out, giving the visiting Cardinals a victory to start their season for the second straight year.

Final Score: Brookside 26, Brooklyn 0 

The Hurricanes will look to bounce back tomorrow night as they travel to Oberlin College for a 7:30 kickoff.

In other Fall sports, the boys soccer team kicked off their season with a 6-1 loss to Lincoln West. They will face off against Wellington at home tonight at 7:00. 

The girls soccer team is off to a 0-3 start to their season but will look to get their first victory as they travel to Beachwood tonight for a 7:00 start.

Lastly, the girls volleyball team has lost six straight games to begin their season. They will look to turn around their misfortunes tonight against their CVC rival, the Independence Blue Devils. Start time is at 6:00.

Go Canes! 

{For up-to-date events and schedules, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.}

Labor Day

By: BHS Features Staff

August 28, 2024

Labor Day is The United States’ way of recognizing the contributions of workers and the history of labor in the U.S.

The first celebrations of Labor Day were in the 1880s. These celebrations were normally organized and held by workers and unions. As for the reason why we celebrate Labor Day in September, it is because Labor Day was normally celebrated in the picnic season at the end of Summer. 

So, why do we celebrate Labor Day? It is because most workers do not get the opportunity to reflect on why they do their jobs in the fashion that they do. Additionally, we all learn where the current workers’ rights come from and the prices past workers paid to secure those rights.

In the 19th century, there were many labor movements. One was called the Haymarket Affair. It took place in Chicago, Illinois, and it was a brutally-violent protest against the lengthy hours needed to work. During this protest, many workers were killed or injured, so it is important to memorialize those lives on Labor Day.

There were numerous and violent strikes in Chicago as well, especially for the coal miners. The coal strike of 1913-14 that was along the Front Range was where the Ludlow Massacre took place that resulted in 20 deaths. There was another coal strike in 1927-1928 that led to the death of eight workers, which included six coal miners who were unfortunately shot by the Colorado State Police at a mine in Boulder County, Colorado. This came to be known as the Columbine Mine Massacre.

Many of our country’s institutional structures, cultures, and political legacies have something to do with labor and labor movements. The United States of America is a country of workers built by the workers.

On September 2, it is more than acceptable to celebrate Labor Day with family and friends. Grilling, yard games, and different celebrations will ensue, but take a moment to reflect on the history of this holiday and to show gratitude to those who paved the way for the workers of this generation.

Happy Labor Day, everyone.

{Information for this article can be located at The University of Colorado Boulder.}

Welcome Back, Hurricanes!

By: BHS News Staff

August 27, 2024

We welcome Hurricane Nation to the 2024-2025 school year, hoping that everyone had an enjoyable Summer. We also wish the very best for a successful, safe, and memorable school year.

What is new to the school district, specifically in the high school? To kick off the changes for this school year are the class schedules, as students have transitioned from a four block schedule to a seven period schedule. In addition to the changed class schedule, brand new bathrooms are officially completed, and the difference is noticeable.

Another exciting difference are the new technology tools at BHS, with many students being provided with new chromebooks as well as many teachers receiving new computers and Promethean boards.

Outside of the aesthetic upgrades, the Brooklyn City School District has had a lot of exciting events during the first week back with more to come. 

First, the Welcome Back to School Community Rally was an absolute success for the Brooklyn Hurricanes community. In this rally, Fall sport teams along with the seniors participating in them were introduced. There was also a beautiful performance from the band and the Hurricettes. The Cleveland Browns mascot, Chomps, also made an appearance. 

The BHS football team also welcomed in the new school year with a home game against the Brookside Cardinals. Even though the Hurricanes did not prevail last Friday evening, the school spirit was very present with fans, cheerleaders, the marching band, and the Hurricettes.

We encourage everyone to come out and support the football team for their next game on this Friday, August 30, against the Oberlin Phoenix. The game will be played at 7:30 at Oberlin College.

The beginning of the school year is always busy, so here is the upcoming schedule for events:

  • August 30: Picture Day
  • September 4: Preschool Picture day 
  • September 13: Meet the Homecoming Court
  • September 16-20: Homecoming Spirit week
  • September 20: Homecoming Football Game 
  • September 21: Homecoming Dance

Have a great week, Brooklyn! Stay cool and hydrated. 

{To stay updated with the Brooklyn City School District, make sure to click here.}

Summer Freedom

By: The Return of the Eye’s Staff

May 31, 2024

Can this year be over already? Yes, it is!

This school year brought about some wonderful moments, lasting friendships, great successes, and lifelong memories.

With today being the final day of the 2023-2024 academic year, The Return of the Eye’s staff would like to share some parting words with our audience on why students should take Publications, shoutouts to our loyal subscribers and readers, and of course, Summer plans.

Why Students Should Take Publications

*Summer: “There are many reasons why students should take Publications. Some reasons are that you can improve your writing skills, you can boost your confidence in regards to writing, and you can also become a better writer, overall. This class also motivates you to want to write more. I have been a Publications student for two years, and I have not once been tired of it. I joined this class because I thought it would be a normal writing class, but it is way more than that. I have improved my writing, I have shared a lot of memories in this class, and it is genuinely my favorite class that I have taken all year long. In all seriousness, if you are looking for a great writing class, I suggest this one. You will not regret taking it.”

*Olivia: “Publications is a smart class to take during your high school years. It has so many benefits to your writing. I appreciate being motivated to take this class because it has improved my writing skills so much. I had a great experience being in this class because I have learned to be more independent in my work. It is most definitely more enjoyable, in my opinion, to have people that you are close to because it keeps you motivated. I’m really looking forward to taking this class again in my senior year. I am very grateful that I had this opportunity, and I know that it will really benefit my writing skills.”

*Caydin: “Students should take Publications because it could help them find something they could be good at that they didn’t know they were good at. Using myself as an example, when I was first put in this class, I thought I wasn’t going to do well in it. When I got assigned to a group and was shown how to complete our articles, I got the hang of it, and it has become my favorite class. This class has helped me improve my writing skills and helped me get to know people I wouldn’t have talked to otherwise due to having to work in groups. I highly recommend taking Publications if you want to either improve your writing or if you want to try getting into writing because this class is fun. Overall, I think students should take Publications because it could possibly help them discover new talents that they have.”

Shoutout to Our Subscribers

*Jacob: “I greatly appreciate each and every single subscriber for reading and keeping up with the newspaper every day. Being in this class for two years, I’ve really seen the growth that this newspaper has gotten, and I’m looking forward to seeing more growth in the next two years. People constantly support the articles and that gets me more motivated to continue writing and growing in my journalism skills. Once again, I appreciate the subscribers who keep me and the entire class motivated to write articles every day, and I’m excited for more to come in the future. We wouldn’t have this if it wasn’t for all the subscribers, so thank you very much.” 

*Liliana: “Thank you for all the support, and I hope you keep reading the newspaper. I have only been in this class for one year, but I really enjoyed this class and hearing how many people read the newspaper. When I first started taking this class at the beginning of this year, I thought no one would read it, but you guys proved me wrong. I hope you keep supporting us and pushing us to move forward. Even though I am not taking this class next year, I hope you all support the student journalists who will be writing the articles next year.” 

*Kayla: “I would like to thank the subscribers who keep reading and liking our articles. For the two years I’ve been in this class, I have noticed the growth of subscribers and the amount of attention our newspaper has received. I am looking forward to coming back my senior year to see how much the newspaper and the amount of subscribers have grown. The subscribers are very motivating to each of the groups, and they keep us on our toes. I appreciate people constantly liking and reading our articles. I don’t think our class would be this far without our loyal subscribers and viewers. So, I thank you all for the constant support.”

Summer Plans

*Summer: “Well, I was supposed to move to North Ridgeville this Summer, but I believe plans have changed a lot. I was supposed to move out there with my best friend and her family, but I suppose I am staying here. My little brother’s birthday is on June 11, so I will be celebrating that. Then, we have a city wide garage sale that my family participates in every year. On June 14, I will be going to my first concert, which will be New Kids On The Block. A day after the concert, I think we are going to take my little brother to see live wrestling, so that should be fun. July 23 is my mom’s birthday, so at some point, I will hopefully be able to take her out to eat somewhere. After all of that is done, I have to start getting my stuff packed for a trip to Michigan for the bowling final championships. Some time this Summer, I also plan on getting my first tattoo and getting my hair dyed as well. I am just hoping that this Summer plays out the way that I want it to, and everything goes as planned. To say I am excited does not even begin to describe the feeling.”

*Olivia: “This Summer, my family and I are planning to go on a vacation because we haven’t been on one in a really long time. We are looking at Virginia Beach because we went there one year and had a really good time. We all mainly agreed to have a vacation that involves a beach. Something else that I will be doing this Summer is focusing on soccer. I want to improve a lot next season because last season wasn’t so great. I’m really looking forward to this Summer because of the long break from school.” 

*Jacob: “I have a lot of things to look forward to this coming Summer. First thing is Summer baseball, and since this was my first year playing high school baseball, I wanted to continue to learn and grow more with the sport I love by playing more. I am also looking forward to a weekend trip to Philadelphia in July to knock off another MLB ballpark in my goal to visit all 30 MLB ballparks. We’re also going to visit many other things around Philly. I also cannot wait to be able to get my permit and be able to drive soon. This is gonna be a very fun summer and I am super excited.” 

*Liliana: “Over the Summer, I will be doing a lot of things and traveling a lot. Once school gets out, I plan on staying at my cousin’s house in Florida for a little bit since she is far away, and I don’t get to see her a lot. I also plan on learning how to surf because it looks interesting and a fun activity to do while at the beach. I also plan on going back to Aruba where my dad is from; even though it is really hot down there, it is a good place to go. When I am in Aruba, I plan on seeing the flamingos on the beach. When I’m not traveling or out of state, I plan on going to Cedar Point with my friends and family. I have a lot of fun stuff to look forward to, and I hope you guys do, too.” 

*Kayla: “For this Summer, I have a lot of soccer games and practices to look forward to. We are looking to improve our team this year with incoming freshmen and returning players since we weren’t very good last year. I’m also looking forward to hanging out with my friends. At the end of Summer, I’m also looking forward to going to the Polaris Career Center. I will be going to Cedar Point a couple of times with my friends and family as well. We were originally planning to take a trip to the Outer Banks but plans changed, so we are saving that for another year. My birthday is also coming up, so I will be celebrating that, too. Overall, I’m very excited for this upcoming Summer and the plans I have for it.”

*Caydin: “For the Summer, I am unsure about what my plans are going to be; I will most likely make them up as the Summer goes along. But I am certain that I am going to be celebrating my birthday with family or friends, depending on their plans at the end of June or in the beginning of July. I’m going to be spending more time outdoors, too. It’s boring, but it’s what I normally do every Summer.”

We would like to sincerely thank all of our subscribers and readers for making this student-led newspaper possible and a growing success. Our audience means a lot to us, and our annual goal is to increase our followers. Thank you for being avid readers and supporters. 

As Summer arrives, stay safe, have fun, make lasting memories, and recharge the batteries. The Return of the Eye will be back in action next August.

In the meantime, there is a pretty good baseball team located in downtown Cleveland, so get down to the ballpark frequently. Go Guardians!

Happy Summer, everyone!

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Burtzlaff

*Intervention Specialist*

By: BHS Staff Profiles 

May 24, 2024

Chosen for this year’s final Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Dana Burtzlaff. This is currently Mrs. Burtzlaff’s 24th year in the Brooklyn City School District. She graduated from college in 2000 and came right here to Brooklyn. In her free time, she likes to watch her kids play sports as she is very family-oriented. 

Q: What are some of your favorite highlights/memories from working here?

A: “I liked watching the new school being built. We were able to watch the old building be torn down and this current building we are in right now be built. It was kind of fun.”

Q: How do you think that you have positively impacted your students?

A: “I think that I develop a good relationship with the kids who I work with. I like to learn about the kids and the things that they do, and I get to know them as people. I want them to feel like they can come to me if they have any issues going on in different classes.”

Q: How do you go about helping your students?

A: “I find out where they are at and try to take them to the next level. I find out where those struggles are and try to address them.”

Q: What do you like most about what you do as an intervention specialist?

A: “I get to know kids in a small group, and they get to ‘let their hair down’ as I call it.”

Q: What advice would you give your past self?

A: “Slow down, take it all in, and do not rush anything.”

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration?

A: “Mrs. Giambetro! She taught kindergarten years ago. She had a way with kids, and she was always calm. There was just something special about her.”

Q: Would you rather explore outer space or the bottom of the ocean?

A: “Neither! They are both terrifying to me.” 

Q: Dunkin’ or Starbucks?

A: “Dunkin’ all the way.”

Q: Summer plans?

A: “Going to my son’s travel baseball games. Travel baseball games are my life.”

Thank you for letting us interview you, Mrs. Burtzlaff. We wish you the best Summer of fun, heat, and yes, baseball. 🧢⚾

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