THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Let The Madness Begin

By: BHS Sports Staff

March 21, 2024

It is that time of year and college basketball fans are ready for March Madness to ensue. With 64 teams trying to win the national championship, it seems like any team can pull it off this year. So, who will cut down the nets?

Below are the top 4 seeds for each region, as well as teams who could make a Cinderella run.

Tipping things off is the East Region. This region is loaded with conference champions. The #1 seed in this region is the #1 overall seed in the tournament, a team that won 31 games; this team is the Connecticut Huskies, the defending national champions. UConn won the Big East title against Marquette. They are followed up by #2 Iowa State, who won the Big 12 Championship. Another championship team in this region is #3 Illinois, who won the Big 10 Championship. #4 Auburn rounds it out, and they won the SEC Championship and could be a very dangerous team to face. Keep an eye out for #10 Drake as they could be the Cinderella of the East Region.

Next is the West Region, with #1 North Carolina (who finished #5 overall in the NCAA) leading the way. Then we have #2 Arizona, who are led by Caleb Love, who transferred from North Carolina. They are ranked #9 overall in the NCAA. The #3 seed belongs to Baylor, who is ranked #14 overall in the NCAA with 23 wins. Lastly, the #4 seed is Alabama, ranked #19 overall. Don’t sleep on #7 Dayton and #8 Mississippi State, who had a huge run in the SEC tournament.

The South Region is the third of four regions in March Madness with #1 Houston leading the way, a team that finished #2 overall. Next is #2 Marquette, who has been very strong this year, finishing #8. The Kentucky Wildcats are #3. Even though they got knocked out in the SEC tournament pretty early, they are still ranked #12. Rounding out the top 4 are the Duke Blue Devils, a true college basketball blue blood. A team you do not want to face is #12 James Madison. Despite their low ranking, they finished their season with 31 victories, including a victory in East Lansing against Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans.

Last but not least is the Midwest Region. They are led by #1 Purdue, a team known for their first round elimination last year to #16 Fairleigh Dickinson. Can you really trust Purdue to make a deep run? Next is the #2 team, the Tennessee Volunteers, who finished #6 overall. The Creighton Blue Jays are the #3 seed, and they will face the Northeast Ohio and MAC representative, the Akron Zips. Go Zippy! Lastly, the #4 seed is the Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas has dealt with star players injured late in this season, and it will be a challenge for them to win it all. There are a lot of potential upsets that could happen in this region including #12 McNeese State, #13 Samford, #14 Akron, and #15 Saint Peters, who had a memorable Elite Eight run in 2022 as a #15 seed.

Well, last year’s staff predictions were a bit rough and forgettable, so we are going to try again this year. The Return of the Eye Sports Staff will make our Elite Eight predictions for March Madness 2024.

*Jacob: Pathetic picks from a year ago, including picking Kansas to win it all, a team that was bounced in the first weekend.

East: Connecticut, Iowa State
West: Alabama, Arizona
South: Houston, Kentucky
Midwest: McNeese State, Creighton

*Kayla: Knows nothing about basketball, let alone sports, so this should be interesting.

East: Connecticut, Iowa State
West: North Carolina, Arizona
South: Duke, Marquette
Midwest: Purdue, Tennessee

*Olivia: She laughs at nonsense and drinks too much caffeine, so we will laugh at her picks.

East: Connecticut, Iowa State
West: North Carolina, Baylor
South: Houston, Kentucky
Midwest: Purdue, Tennessee

*Jordan: Typically late to school, this guy has no prayer of doing well in this. I feel your words, bro.

East: Connecticut, Drake
West: Alabama, Clemson
South: Duke, Colorado
Midwest: Kansas, Oregon

*Mr. Holko: Picked Purdue to win it all last year, enough said. Thanks a lot, Mrs. Romano. Maybe your alma mater should be rebranded to PurDON’T!

East: Connecticut, Iowa State
West: North Carolina, Arizona
South: Houston, Kentucky
Midwest: Purdue, Tennessee

The first game of March Madness begins today at 12:15 with #8 Mississippi State taking on #9 Michigan State. It should be a fun weekend of basketball, and we will be watching closely.

Good luck with your brackets, everyone. And, Go Zips!

Senior Spotlight: Aidan Westerhold

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

March 20, 2024

Chosen for this week’s second senior spotlight is Aidan Westerhold. Aidan is calm, observant, and understanding. Aidan loves talking to his closest friends. He has also been playing baseball ever since his freshman year and really enjoys playing.

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: “I plan to join the Navy once I graduate. I am interested in going into the Navy for a trade school certification and college credits.”

Q: How has your circle of friends impacted your identity?

A: “My friends definitely impacted my identity a lot. Some of them are very judgmental and some of them are very accepting, so sometimes, I conceal things that I think people will judge me over.”

Q: Have you discovered any new passions during high school?

A: “I discovered my passion for baseball in my freshman year and have played it all four years. Playing baseball keeps me on top of my grades.”

Q: How do you manage your time with school and sports?

A: “Well, I usually go home for maybe 30 minutes before I go to baseball practice. Time management puts my education and sports before anything else. When I’m free, I like to hang out with friends and my girlfriend most of the time.”

Q: What impact did the global COVID-19 pandemic have on your high school experience?

A: “COVID affected me negatively because I am better at working in person and physically, rather than digitally.”

Q: What is something that you wish people knew about you?

A: “Something I wish people knew about me is that I have a side interest in learning about perspective and how other people think.”

Q: How do you learn to cope with change, and what advice would you give others about it?

A: “I still struggle to cope with change quite a bit, but I always have someone reminding me that the uncomfort of the situation will pass and things will get better. Even if I think it’ll last forever, it does change, especially when I least expect it.”

Q: What has been the most important aspect of your senior year, thus far?

A: “The most important part of my senior year is being able to manage my grades and to play my last season of high school baseball.”

Q: Describe senioritis.

A: “For me, senioritis is not wanting to be at school as much as I did at the start of the year. I used to stay at school all day, but I leave early pretty often, and then, I dread the days when I have to stay until 3:00.”

Q: Out of your entire school career, what teacher has been the biggest inspiration and/or influence to you?

A: “I would say Mrs. Campbell has had the biggest influence on me with all of the college and career fairs and field trips that she set up for her BCCA class. They all definitely helped me figure out my choice of going to the Navy. Mainly, it is because she led me to the connections with the recruiters and helped me look deeper into that field of work.”

Aidan, we hope that you have a great baseball season. No regrets!

Senior Spotlight: Amerie Williams

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

March 20, 2024

Chosen for this week’s first senior spotlight is Amerie Williams. Amerie is bright, successful, and courteous. This is Amerie’s second year at Brooklyn. In her free time, she loves to play basketball. Not only does she play basketball, she coaches fifth and sixth grade girls basketball, as well.

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: “I plan on attending Ohio State University and working towards my Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy.”

Q: In three words, how would you describe your overall high school experience?

A: “Impactful, Demanding, and Fun.”

Q: Who were your closest friends in high school, and how did they impact your life?

A: “Leanna Weimer, Alice Pham, Olivia Callahan, and Jayla Gilbert are some of my friends who changed my whole high school experience. They welcomed me with open arms and showed me what it’s like to have true friends who care about each other. I love you, girls!”

Q: How do you manage your time with school, sports, and life outside of school?

A: “I usually try to get my school work done before I leave school, so I have time outside of school for basketball and other hobbies. It’s important to have that balance between school, sports, and life.”

Q: What impact did the global COVID-19 pandemic have on your high school experience?

A: “Leaving eighth grade was rough because I didn’t have a thorough transition. I also didn’t have a traditional eighth grade graduation and was kind of just thrown into high school after that. As a freshman in high school, I didn’t have the usual freshman welcome, and I also didn’t have a homecoming freshman year. I ended up online for most of that year.”

Q: How have you learned to advocate for yourself and others?

A: “I have definitely found my voice coming to Brooklyn more than any other high school I’ve been to. I think it just comes with maturity and knowing when to speak up for yourself and others.”

Q: Looking back, what do you wish you knew at the start of high school?

A: “I wish I knew how to balance my in-school and out-of-school life. I was constantly doing work and studying when I first got into high school, but I’ve learned that relaxing is just as important as getting work done.”

Q: What advice would you give someone who is unsure about their post-graduation plans?

A: “There’s no rush in figuring out what you want to do. Find something that interests you, and if you believe you can pursue that interest, then pursue it with confidence.”

Q: Describe senioritis.

A: “Senioritis is the feeling of freedom for the first time; you know you’re almost out of here, so you feel relieved and like you don’t have anything to worry about, even if you have school in 10 minutes and you’re still in bed.”

Q: Out of your entire school career, what teacher has been the biggest inspiration and/or influence to you?

A: “This is only my second year at Brooklyn, so I don’t know many, but I’d say Mrs. Chrzan has been my biggest cheerleader this year, and I am so thankful for her. She has managed to turn my worst subject into my best and favorite, and even with all the problems that went on throughout this year with me being the only student in her AP Biology class, she still manages to teach me in a class full of other students. I could not imagine my time in Brooklyn without her.”

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, Amerie. We wish you the best with your future plans in Physical Therapy. We are glad that you came to Brooklyn and will soon graduate as a Hurricane.

A Cold Start to Spring

By: BHS News Staff

March 19, 2024

Today is the first day of Spring. It is difficult to believe that we are in a new season with all of the snow that fell yesterday; nonetheless, it is here.

As we continue the agonizing final days towards Spring Break, here are some regular updates and a special recap.

First off, the Drama Club wrapped up their performance of The Little Mermaid this past weekend. With four well-attended and magical performances, Hurricane Nation is proud of the cast, pit, and crew for all of their effort and hard work.

Also, a big congratulations to Mrs. Cipriani, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Kaspar, and Mr. Black for organizing and leading this musical. Your dedication to our students does not go unnoticed.

Next for seniors and juniors, this is a reminder that your prom deposits and Malley’s fundraiser money is due by this Friday, March 22. It will be the last day to submit $50 to reserve your ticket. Turn-in times to Mrs. Holko are below:

TODAY (3/19) – out of the building
Wednesday (3/20) – out of the building
Thursday (3/21) – at BHS all day
Friday (3/22) – at BHS all day (Deposits and Malley’s money are DUE by 3:00 this day!)

Turn your cash or money orders into Mrs. Holko, specifically. DO NOT give your deposit to another teacher!

Want to be a Hurricette? Auditions started yesterday, so if you missed the last audition, you still have a chance to become a part of the team. Show up well-dressed to dance, and bring your spirit.

This Thursday (March 21) is World Down Syndrome Day. This day is a national holiday dedicated to the awareness and support of those with Down Syndrome. This date marks the uniqueness of Trisomy 21, which represents the chromosome number that causes Down Syndrome. Show your support for Down Syndrome this Thursday by wearing silly socks.

Lastly, the Winter Sports Banquet is coming up this week. Congratulations to all Winter athletes on your successful seasons. This Friday, your efforts and achievements will be acknowledged at 5:45 in the high school gym.

Finally, here is your March/Early April calendar:

March 22: Prom Ticket Deposits/Malley’s Fundraiser Money Due
March 27: High School Jazz Band Concert
March 29: Good Friday (NO SCHOOL)
April 1-5: Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)
April 9: Classes Resume

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

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Schirhart

*Treasurer*

By: BHS Staff Profiles

March 15, 2024

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mr. Robert Schirhart. This is currently Mr. Schirhart’s first year in Brooklyn. He came from the Elyria Public Library and was the Fiscal Officer for four years. Before that, he was at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western University as the Accounting Manager. In his free time, he likes to golf, play the drums, and hang out with his family. A fun fact about Mr. Schirhart is that his long-distance relatives owned a castle in Ireland.

Q: What is a typical day like for you?

A: “Coming in, answering questions, doing payroll stuff, working on a 5-year forecast, working on the accounting, and doing business stuff for the district.”

Q: Out of all of the roles that Brooklyn offers, why did you choose to be a treasurer?

A: “My background is in Accounting, so I have an undergrad in Business from Baldwin Wallace College. I also have a Masters from BW, and I have done Accounting since I graduated high school. I just enjoy it. I like the challenge, and when it works out, it is really enjoyable.”

Q: What is the most difficult aspect of being a school treasurer?

A: “I would say funding because we have local funding, which are the levies, and we have state funding, and the state funding can change every two years. Honestly, it is hard to tell what is going to happen next year as far as the money we get from the state, whether we get it, get less, or get more.”

Q: What are some of your favorite aspects about Brooklyn?

A: “I like everybody! They are easy to talk to. The staff here seems good. Everyone I have talked to, I have enjoyed working with.”

Q: Do you prefer breakfast or dinner?

A: “Dinner. I usually do not eat breakfast. I think there is a wider range of selection with dinner.”

Q: What are your hobbies?

A: “Playing the drums, hanging out with my family, golfing, watching TV and movies, and going out to dinner with my wife.”

Q: Favorite pet or type of animal?

A: “Dog.”

Q: Where would you relocate if you were forced to leave the country?

A: “I would probably say either Paris or Nice, France.”

Thank you for letting us interview you, Mr. Schirhart. Your hard work never goes unnoticed, and we are blessed to have you as a part of Hurricane Nation. We wish you all of the best throughout the rest of this school year. As the weather turns for the better, go hit the links! Remember, the less shots, the better.

Baseball Preview

By: BHS Sports Staff

March 14, 2024

As the temperature begins to rise and the clocks Spring forward, America’s pastime is right around the corner, and today, we will preview the Hurricanes baseball team.

The Hurricanes team is led by head coach Kevin Sedlacek.

Last season, the Canes finished 5-16 but ended their season strong by winning three of their final four games. They defeated Parma, John Hay, Oberlin, and Bedford. They also had a sectional victory against Bard Early College.

This season, Coach Sedlacek is aware that there are some questions with his pitchers, but he is determined to find answers.

“We will have a lot of questions as we enter into this Spring season. We should have a solid team defensively but a lot of questions with our pitching staff. Just about every player on the team can pitch, but we don’t have that dominant starting pitcher that will shut down opponents. If we can get our pitchers to throw strikes and let opponents put the ball in play, we will be able to get outs and prevent runs from being scored. We should have consistent hitting which will help us score 3-6 runs per game. I expect senior Jackson Diller to be our spark and junior Aiden Starr to build upon his .456 batting average from last Spring. As a point of interest, Starr was voted by Northeast Ohio coaches to second team All Northeast Ohio.”

Coach Sedlacek likes how his schedule has panned out and hopes to have a respectable record by the end of the season. The Canes will play 26 games with 14 of them at home and 12 on the road.

He is also expecting big things from other returners and is optimistic about his first-year varsity players.

“Our two leaders are playing in their third season of varsity: CF Diller and SS Starr. I expect big improvements by second-year players such as OF Miguel Veloz, C Jadyn DeLuca, and OF Tyler Morgan. I’m also optimistic about first-year varsity players in 3B Collin Flanagan, Utility Infielder Steve Bartczak, 1B Zander Rolon, and freshman 2B Gio Garst. It will be interesting to see them grow, and their progress could make a major impact for more success this season. Phil Banaszak, Diego Colton, Shamus Harper, and Blake Baker will also contribute this season.”

Their season will begin on Saturday, March 23, at C.C. Sabathia Field facing John Hay. Then, they will travel to the famous League Park on Monday, March 25, to face Villa Angela-St. Joseph. Three of their first five games will be played on turf fields.

We are anxiously-awaiting the beginning of Hurricanes baseball and will root this team on all season long.

Good luck, boys!

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

Senior Spotlight: Dylan Smith

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

March 13, 2024

Chosen for this week’s second senior spotlight is Dylan Smith. Dylan is energetic, humorous, and athletic. Throughout all four years of high school, Dylan has kept himself busy in the Fall with football and wrestling in the Winter.

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: “My plan is to attend Cleveland State University for four years and to major in Business.”

Q: What is something that every high school student should do during their senior year?

A: “I think it’s important to spend time with your classmates, especially with this probably being the last time we will all see each other.”

Q: Who is your hero?

A: “LeBron Raymone James because he is just a kid from Akron who brought us (The Cavs) our first championship. He is the G.O.A.T.”

{Editor’s Note: False, the G.O.A.T. is Michael Jordan!}

Q: What is your funniest memory of high school?

A: “I don’t know if there’s only one specific memory but probably some film sessions after football games.”

Q: What impact did the global COVID-19 pandemic have on your high school experience?

A: “COVID-19 forced us to go online, which caused my grades to drop.”

Q: What is the most difficult decision you have had to make?

A: “The most difficult decision was probably on Madden, whether I should punt on 4th down or go for it.” 😂

Q: What are ways that you have changed since your freshman year?

A: “I would say I have improved my grades and most importantly, matured.”

Q: What are the most important characteristics for CSU?

A: “It’s important for CSU to be filled with events and other things to do, other than just school.”

Q: Describe senioritis.

A: “When you hit senior year and you get accepted to college, you just don’t care about high school or sports anymore.”

Q: Out of your entire school career, what teacher has been the biggest inspiration and/or influence to you?

A: “Mr. Holko because he has helped me the most with his college classes and the advice he has given me.”

Dylan, we hope you finish off your senior year strong, and we wish you the very best at Cleveland State University and beyond. Go Vikings!

Senior Spotlight: Alice Pham

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

March 13, 2024

Chosen for this week’s first senior spotlight is Alice Pham. Alice is intelligent, hardworking, and outgoing. Alice has spent her four years of high school playing basketball and soccer, along with three years of track and field. She also attends the Polaris Career Center for Construction Trades.

Q: What are your plans after high school?

A: “My plans after high school will be to enlist in the Navy and pursue my education through there. I chose this path because I can do multiple things like gaining experience and earning a degree. Hopefully, I’m able to start an engineering firm sometime in the next 20 years.”

Q: When you look back on your senior year, what will you remember most?

A: “I think I’ll remember my friends, teachers, and my experience playing sports. I’ll always remember my friends for the endless experiences I had with them. I’ll remember the impact my teachers had on me, whether I enjoyed their classes or not. My experience playing sports will be a forefront since it’s what I dedicated myself to in my free time. It taught me to respond in tense situations.”

Q: What advice would you give your freshman self?

A: “I like to think that I would tell my freshman self that you shouldn’t care what people say, don’t let people’s opinions hold you back, and choose what’s right for you, not what others think is right. This realization that people’s opinions didn’t matter all along had a huge effect on how I carried myself from junior year to now.”

Q: How do you manage your time with school, work, and sports?

A: “I didn’t manage anything because it was more of a sacrifice I made doing all of these things at once. Sports and work were voluntary commitments I made when I started; they had priority over schoolwork, sometimes. I was lucky enough to not have to work until senior year when I really had no classes. But, it was my mentality to push through all the stress of schoolwork because I loved doing sports. Those late night games meant I had to stay up late and work on assignments the day they were due.”

Q: What impact did the global COVID-19 pandemic have on your high school experience?

A: “COVID-19 had a major impact on my attention span and my inability to focus during class. It was worse when I contracted the virus. It changed my work ethic and the way I did school for my sophomore year. But, I had my support system to get me through it, making it feel like the pandemic didn’t hold me back too much.”

Q: If you could spend a whole day with any celebrity, who would it be and what would you do with them?

A: “If I could spend a day with one celebrity, it would definitely be Stephen Curry. He was the reason I had gotten into basketball, and his story is so amazing as well. I would golf with him, as it is his second sport, which he didn’t go pro in. I would ask him lots of questions like, ‘How did you overcome the major injuries and make a comeback to build an amazing legacy?’ Or, ‘What was it like being doubted, and how did it feel overcoming those doubts?’ Questions that he answered to get where he is today and questions that could help me carve a path like his, successful and a lasting legacy through charity works and foundations.”

Q: Describe your scariest encounter.

A: “Definitely the scariest encounter was when I had contracted COVID from a certain uneducated person on the safety of spreading the virus. It felt like death was taking over my body from head to toe. I was in an all-time-high stressful state. I missed serious schoolwork and was on the verge of failing classes. I felt so guilty then for also spreading it to my friend because I was unaware I was exposed to the virus. Definitely one of the top three worst moments of my life.”

Q: Of which of your accomplishments are you most proud?

A: “Of all my accomplishments, I’m very proud to have been a part of the Cleveland Clinic as part of my internship. They shaped me into becoming more social and more aware of people, other than myself. I befriended people who were different in terms of age and professions. There, I was really able to gather information about what were my options after high school since I was at a standstill. I will always remember being there, even on my bad days. My coworkers and the people around me made sure I left with a smile.”

Q: Describe senioritis.

A: “Senioritis for me is the need or feeling to be done, to be excited for leaving high school, and moving towards the next chapter of my life. I don’t want to be stuck doing homework and tests. I want to stay home, work more, and start preparing for what’s next, whether the next is more school, vacation, or just going to work.”

Q: Out of your entire school career, what teacher has been the biggest inspiration and/or influence to you?

A: “My biggest influences were easily my construction teacher, Mr. Busser and my English teacher, Mrs. Sullivan. Mr. Busser had given access to many amazing opportunities like my Summer internship and my current one with Lakeside Supply. He helped me make important decisions on my future after school, he was always there to help, and he made the class not feel like your typical class. Mrs. Sullivan was the same way; she wasn’t the typical teacher. She was someone who cared, and she gave us leniency on work that was past due in case we had an emergency. For her, it wasn’t grades but learning in an inclusive and engaging environment. These types of teachers and their actions teach you to slow down and to not stress over the little things in life.”

Thank you for your time, Alice. Have a great rest of your senior year, and good luck with your future in the Navy and in engineering.

It’s Showtime

By: BHS News Staff

March 12, 2024

The Little Mermaid is finally here! We dedicate the beginning of this article to the continuous efforts of the cast for this year’s production.

The upcoming production is filled with Disney magic and a lot of singing, dancing, and entertainment. This musical would not be possible without those involved in these productions since they were underclassmen. Today, we honor some of the seniors who will be performing one last time on the stage that Elvis Presley built.

Senior cast members Amber Rice (Ariel), Nasan Bruce (King Triton), Rebecca Fagiani (Scuttle), and Desiree Gailes (Ursula) share their thoughts on this year’s musical, along with other memories and advice.

*Amber Rice: Ariel

Favorite memory – The feeling of getting the role!
Exciting part of playing your role – Being able to really become the character and have fun with it.
What the audience should look for – All of the colorful and exciting costumes and sets.
Advice for the next theater generation – Stay focused, put your all into the play, and cherish the memories and the people around you because eventually, it will be your last year.

*Nasan Bruce: King Triton

Favorite memory – Playing Mr. Wormwood in the production of Matilda two years ago.
Exciting part of playing your role – Getting to act with my huge trident and the other cool props.
What the audience should look for – My deep voice and the random yelling!
Advice for the next theater generation – Don’t let your nerves get the best of you.

*Rebecca Fagiani: Scuttle

Favorite memory – Last year’s musical was definitely the best and also all the fun times in the dressing room singing songs, laughing, and just getting to become good friends with everyone else.
Exciting part of playing your role – Definitely my costume this year! It is very funny looking. I also love how loud and obnoxious my character is.
What the audience should look for – The Crew did an amazing job designing everything this year, so definitely pay attention to the background sets and props. I think they’re really amazing.
Advice for the next theater generation – Do not be afraid to get out there! Have confidence in yourself and really get into character when you perform. Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

*Desiree Gailes: Ursula

Favorite memory – Opening night of Sister Act last year.
Exciting part of playing your role – I love that I can be mean, and the costume is also really fun as well.
What the audience should look for – Lookout for the cool set and props. as well as the song “Poor Unfortunate Souls”.
Advice for the next theater generation – Don’t miss out on doing shows because you don’t know what they are about.

Congratulations to all of the cast of The Little Mermaid for their tireless efforts. We encourage everyone to see the full show this week on March 14-16 for $10 a ticket.

Good luck to our senior cast, crew, and pit members in their final show. Break many legs!

In other news, juniors and seniors, Prom deposits are due by March 22 to Mrs. Holko. Here is an update on the available times to drop off your Malley’s money and deposits:

TODAY: All day at the beginning or end of class period times or anytime during I.C.E. Block
Wednesday: 1:45-3:15
Thursday: NOT AVAILABLE
Friday: 12:00-3:00

Please adhere to these specific times, and remember, DO NOT give your money to a substitute or any other teacher!

Lastly, if you are a senior who would like to complete any of the local seals including the Community Service Seal, Fine/Performing Arts Seal, or Student Engagement Seal, you need to complete the google form below by May 1. If you have any questions or need descriptions for seals, please see Mrs. Bir.

Seal Reflection Form

Lastly, here is your March/Early April calendar:

March 14-16: Drama Club’s Production of The Little Mermaid
March 15: Teacher Records Day/Inservice (NO SCHOOL)
March 18: Hurricette Auditions
March 22: Prom Ticket Deposits/Malley’s Fundraiser Money Due
March 29: Good Friday (NO SCHOOL)
April 1-5: Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)
April 9: Classes Resume

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

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Wendling

*4th Grade Teacher*

By: BHS Staff Profiles

March 8, 2024

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Emily Wendling. This is currently her third year teaching in the Brooklyn City School District. Right out of college, she was a substitute teacher in Medina, Cuyahoga, and Stark Counties. As for her first teaching job, she worked at a behavior school in Lorain. She then taught at a charter school in Parma for four years before coming to Brooklyn. In her free time, she enjoys reading fantasy novels, playing with her dog and four cats, completing puzzle games with her family, and renovating her house with her husband. She is also trying to travel more. One fun fact about Mrs. Wendling is that she grew up in Illinois and did not move to Ohio until she was an adult.

Q: What strategies do you use to create a positive learning environment in the classroom?

A: “I like to start the year by getting to know each of my students and building that connection with them. Throughout the year, I continue to build a rapport with my students. I then try to incorporate their interests into my lessons and classroom.”

Q: How do you ensure that all students are engaged and participating in class activities?

A: “I am a very hands-on teacher. I work hard to build a relationship with all of my students, so they can feel comfortable asking for help as well as participating in class. I enjoy letting students have time to collaborate, which then allows me to see how my students both interact with their classmates along with the material.”

Q: What is your favorite part about teaching?

A: “I enjoy seeing my students grow into individuals as well as seeing them be able to grasp concepts they previously struggled with.”

Q: What do you think is the most important skill for a fourth-grade student to learn?

A: “I feel the one skill that will help my fourth graders be successful in life is knowing that it is okay to ask for help and that making a mistake is part of learning. It is all about how to be in a situation and what to take from that situation.”

Q: What gets you up in the morning?

A: “My adorable fur babies and their excitement in the morning, along with a nice cup of coffee.”

Q: Who inspires you?

A: “My mom inspires me. She is the most nurturing woman I know. She loves her family more than anything. She has always been there for my brothers and me throughout all of our struggles in life. She has shown me through her relationship with her mother how no matter what, that bond of a mother and a child is always there. I hope to be as wonderful of a mother as she is one day. Besides being there for others, my mom is a very wise and creative person. She is always there to talk as well as listen. She is full of ideas and loves to share them to make life better. She shows me every day how to look at life positively and grow from my experiences. I love my mom, and she is my hero.”

Q: Do you have a favorite memory?

A: “I have recently gotten married, and my wedding day was one of the best memories of my life, thus far. I got to marry my best friend, surrounded by all the people who I love.”

Q: Are you a coffee or tea person?

A: “I enjoy both, but I like to start my day with coffee (with a lot of creamer), and I like to have tea later in the day.”

Mrs. Wendling, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all of the best throughout the rest of this school year. Congratulations on your recent marriage, too.

Winter Sports Recap

By: BHS Sports Staff

March 7, 2024

After grueling months of blood, sweat, and tears, the Winter sports seasons have come to an end with a lot of team and individual accomplishments. Now, it is time to recap how each team’s season unfolded.

Boys Basketball

First up, the boys basketball team finished with a record of 14-9. They had two impressive winning streaks this season of five games or more. One huge highlight from this season was a Jaiden Ramos three-point buzzer-beater to defeat Trinity on the road. Another highlight was a season-sweep of the Cuyahoga Heights Red Wolves. Unfortunately, their season came to an end with a 61-56 loss to Independence in the sectional semi-finals. Key returners next season include Devin Hardwick, Tyler Cox, Aiden Starr, and Muhammad Manigat. Great season, boys!

Girls Basketball

Next up is the girls basketball team that tallied an overall record of 5-18. New head coach Bryce Brown and his team picked up an early season victory against Garrett Morgan and also picked up four more wins against Lawrence Upper, Beachwood, Medina Christian Academy, and Lincoln West.

But, it was senior Ashlyn Dyson (a future Marietta Pioneer) who stood out for this team with many accomplishments. She recorded her 1000th point, a 4-time CVC Athlete of the Week, fifth in Northeast Ohio averaging 22.4 points per game, Second Team All-District, CVC First Team, CVC All-Star, and a record holder for most points in a single game. She broke the record, not once but twice. The previous record was held by current freshman standout Shariah Gailes, who is currently playing Division II college basketball at The University of Illinois Springfield.

Congratulations, Ashlyn!

Coach Brown is excited for what’s to come in the offseason and for next season.

“I’m looking forward to getting incoming players into the gym this Summer. I’m excited for the incoming freshman who will be the heart and soul of this program for the next four years. I want to hit the ground running next season, so any girls interested in playing next year, let’s put in the work all offseason.”

Hockey

The hockey team ended their season with a 1-19 record. They got their first victory in four seasons defeating Cleveland Heights, 2-1. It was a very energetic game, and it was a well-deserved win for the Hurricanes. Juniors Jeffery Helmick and Phillip Banaszak both scored goals that helped the Hurricanes earn the victory. Sophomore Rocco Spiewacki and Banaszak both were named Second Team and Honorable Mention for the GCHSHL Blue All-League. Key players to look out for next season include Jadyn DeLuca, Spiewacki, Banaszak and Nick Supinski.

Bowling

The varsity bowling team finished with a record of 4-7, and the JV team tallied a record of 2-9. The varsity finished in fifth place in the CVC Tournament and tenth place at the OHSAA Sectionals.

But the real leader for the team was sophomore Adam Cowper. He achieved many things this season such as a Second Team GCIBL All-Star, First Team All-CVC, Division II Sectional Champion, Division II District Runner-Up, and 2024 OHSAA Division II State Qualifier with a Seventh Place Finish, earning him Second Team All-Ohio.

Congratulations, Adam!

Coach Steven Prusak is happy with how this season went and is excited for next season.

“Adam did really great this season. Also, for still being a new sport team, the team has improved a lot. JV did well and plans on moving up to varsity next year. During the sectionals, three of our bowlers Masen, Ryan, and Adam bowled a score of 1559 for three games. In the offseason, I hope the word gets out to more girls. We would like to get a girls varsity team built. Plus, I would also like to build up the JV team.”

Wrestling

Finally, our Winter sports recap ends with wrestling. Starting off with senior Dylan Smith who finished in second place at the Maple Heights Holiday Tournament. Also, Angela Ameres finished in first place in the OHSAA District Girls Wrestling Tournament. She became a 2024 Regional Qualifier.

Congrats, Dylan and Angela!

Congratulations to all of the Winter Sports teams and athletes on good seasons. Your hard work paid off, and you represented Hurricane Nation in fine-fashion.

Stay tuned for a Spring Sports Preview next week!

Go Canes!

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

We Salute Women

By: BHS Features Staff

March 6, 2024

March is Women’s History Month, and it is important to celebrate and honor all of the women who have gone through their personal struggles and sacrifices to make this world a better place.

In years past, the Features Staff selected certain female role models (nationally-known) by acknowledging their contributions to society. For this year, however, we decided to highlight the strong women in our lives, including a section from Mr. Holko.

*Angelina honors her mom, Milagros Santana.

“My mother is one of the strongest people I know. She has become someone I look up to because of what she has been through. The reason why she is one of the strongest people I know is because she has dealt with abuse and messed up relationships, but my mother was able to grow from her mess-ups and traumas to raise me the best she could. Yes, she wasn’t the perfect parent, but at the same time to me, she is the best person for me. No matter what she is dealing with, she is still able to wake up in the morning with a smile on her face and work to make sure we are in a good place. She has taught me to use my own mess-ups and traumas as fuel to grow and become stronger. She is someone I look up to as a hero. She still manages to be the best mother anyone can ask for. For that, I love my mother, and I love the person I’m becoming because of what I have learned from her.”

*Chloe R. honors her mom, Crystal Williams.

“My mom has been through many things in the last few years, and I would like to show her how much I appreciate her. She has been through many doctor appointments such as eight total chemotherapy appointments, which would be every other week. Then, she would have to go through radiation for four weeks, Monday through Friday. She was already at high risk of getting sick because she basically had the immune system of a child, so it didn’t help that it was during Covid; this was just a scary experience, all around. This took a big toll on me because I was scared of losing her, and I don’t quite know what I would do if I would’ve lost her. It was just a lot to handle because I was doing school online. I was barely up for my classes, and if I was, I would eventually go back to sleep, so my grades really weren’t the best. I really think going through that really made me realize how bad I was doing in school, and that’s not like myself. Before that, I usually passed with A’s, B’s, and C’s, most of the time. She always mentioned my missing assignments over and over again for me to even do them. Now, she doesn’t even check ProgressBook everyday like she used to. I am now doing better than ever with straight A’s, while closing out the third marking period. My mom has been cancer-free ever since, but she still has some side effects from the chemo and radiation. I help more around the house because I know when she comes home from work, she’s already tired and has to cook for us, so I always make sure the dishes are clean and put away just how they are supposed to be. She has done so much for me and our family, so this is my way of saying Thank You!”

*Bella honors her grandma, Joyce Akiyoshi.

“My grandma is one of the biggest role models in my life, and I look up to her everyday. She has gone through a lot in her life to make her the strong woman she is today. Not only have her struggles made her incredible, but also, her kind heart defines her, too. Although we don’t see each other often, some things we enjoy doing together are getting coffee, going on walks, and shopping. My grandma inspires me to be a better person everyday; she has always put others first because that is just the kind soul she is. She always knows how to put a smile on my face and brighten my day. I cherish every moment spent with her knowing it’s not often we get to see each other. She is very important to me. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t even be close to the person I am today. I do everything for her and always try to make her proud.”

*Chloe P. honors her mom, Stephanie Pawul.

“My mother is the one person I have looked up to my entire life. Growing up, my mom had a harder life, and she made sure that her kids never had to live the life she had to. She has always made me and my brother her first priority and has always done everything in her power to make us happy. Despite all of the personal battles my mom faces, she never lets it reflect onto me or anyone else around her. My mother has been my biggest inspiration throughout my entire life, and I would not be where I am today mentally without her. My mother has taught me so many different life lessons throughout my life, even if they were things I didn’t want to learn. My mom has always been a shoulder to lean on for me, and she has never judged me or made my feelings go invalidated. My mom has been by my side through the good, the bad, and the in-between, and I appreciate her more than words could ever explain.”

*Mr. Holko honors his mom and his wife.

“My mom is the definition of what a true mom is: Loving, kind, selfless, and others-centered. Throughout my life, I could and can always count on her for love, support, and guidance. She was a teacher, a stay-at-home mom, and my biggest fan. She has taught me how to work hard for what I want, to focus on the positives, and to take care of my family. I inherited a stubborn gene from her, but what I have learned over the years is that stubborn people are rarely taken advantage of, and this is true for my entire family. I love my mom so much, and I thank God that I am fortunate and blessed to call her Mom.”

“Another woman in my life who has meant the world to me is my wife. Meeting her for the first time at Baldwin Wallace College (now University) in 1999, there was something about her that I latched onto. Her smile, laugh, and personality are contagious. I knew that I wanted her to one day become my wife. Fast forward to 2005, we both said ‘I do!’ and the rest is history. Approaching 19 years of marriage and raising a wonderful, energetic, and athletic little boy, I love this life that we live. Simply, she is a saint to put up with all of my shenanigans, but she has no idea the impact that she has had in my life. Once again, I am blessed to call her my wife and the mother of my son.”

Without all of these women in our lives, we would not be who we are today. They all mean the world to us, and we are so thankful for them.

To all of you mentioned above and to all of our women subscribers, Happy Women’s Month!