THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Top 2023 Spring Break Destinations

By: BHS Features Staff

April 5, 2023

Spring Break is finally here, and if you are like us, you want to get away, clear your mind, and relax in a destination not titled Brooklyn.

So, if you are looking for a place to enjoy this year’s Spring Break, check out these top four destinations rated by some of the most popular travel websites.

Panama City Beach, Florida

Rated #1 in 2022 for best Spring Break destination
Sandy white beaches and refreshing ocean water
Sunshine State with temperatures in the upper 70’s in March and April
Only a two hour plane ride from Brooklyn, Ohio

Miami, Florida (South Beach)

Warm, sunny days with temperatures in the 80’s
Miami is known for its strong Cuban Influence and great Cuban food
Pristine beaches and some of the best diving sites
Only a three hour flight from Brooklyn, Ohio

San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan is almost always sunny with some occasional cloudy days.
Daily temperatures upper 70’s / lower 80’s
Beautiful beaches surrounded by an amazing ocean
San Juan is one of the most affordable Caribbean islands with hotels ranging from $150-$300 per day.
San Juan is a six hour plane ride from Brooklyn, Ohio.

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun is a tropical location with weather ranging from mid-70’s to upper 80’s between December and April.
Cancun provides a fantastic party scene, pristine beaches, local culture, nature, and adventure.
Fantastic, cultural cuisine
Cancun, is about a six hour plane ride miles away from Brooklyn, Ohio.

Since the weather is trending towards warmer temperatures here in Brooklyn, a Summer to remember is quickly approaching. However, you might as well take advantage of the time off now and travel to one of these top four destinations.

If not, go somewhere else. Enjoy Spring Break as it is well-earned.

Stay safe and have some fun!

{Information for this article can be found at USAToday.com and HGTV.com.}

Winter Sports Banquet

By: BHS News Staff

April 4, 2023

Typically, the BHS News Staff produces articles on content related to the Brooklyn City School District that has nothing to do with athletics. However, for this week, we are crossing over to celebrate the many athletic and academic accomplishments of our Winter sports student-athletes.

Last Thursday on March 30, the BHS Athletic Department held the annual Winter Sports Banquet. Many awards were given out to numerous student-athletes, so for today, we will recognize three seniors and one freshman who stood out this year in their respective sports. In addition to providing their honors and awards, we will include a question/answer session with each recipient.

Shariah Gailes – Senior Basketball Player

Shariah placed First Team All-CVC and First Team All-District. She broke four records at Brooklyn High School: Career Rebounds (1,101), Game Rebounds (29), Season Rebounds (388), and Game Points (43).

Throughout her four years, she was able to score 1,020 career points while also maintaining a 3.5 GPA. To top off her awards, she was named Special Mention All-Ohio.

How do you mentally prepare for a game? “I usually spend the whole day watching film and just getting my mind into game mode. Before warmups, I like to listen to music, and I always try to get a productive warmup in.”

What skill would you say improved the most? “My shooting is something that I have been struggling with for four years, and I think this year there was a significant improvement.”

Did you expect to hit the 1000 point and 1000 rebound milestone in your high school career? “I did not expect to hit either of these milestones. I didn’t even think I was close.”

How did you manage school, work, and basketball? What were the challenges? “Balancing my time was the most important part of this past season. Luckily, my teachers, coaches, and boss understood what I had going on and made it so much easier.”

After your last high school game was over, what was your reaction? “After that last game, there were some tears shed in the locker room, but they were a mix of happy tears and sad tears. Sad that the season and my high school basketball career is over. But, I’m happy that I can start looking forward to my next chapter.”

Shariah will continue her basketball and academic career in the Fall. She is still undecided on her college destination but will be making her final decision soon. We wish Shariah nothing but the best!

Jaiden Basinger – Senior Basketball Player

Jaiden is an excellent basketball player, even though his main focus is football. This past season, he had 1,115 total points as well as he was one of the best players in the CVC. Jaiden was awarded First Team All-CVC, Second Team All-District, and Special Mention All-Ohio

How do you mentally prepare for a game? “Napping and then getting food gets all the tiredness and negative energy out and helps me relax.”

What skill would you say improved the most? “People said I wouldn’t be able to dunk, so that’s one thing I can do now.”

How did you push yourself to be better throughout the season? “I was thinking about my last year, and I was like I should go all out but not think too hard about it and just have fun.”

After your last high school game was over, what was your reaction? “I didn’t have any emotion really because I consider myself a football player.”

Did you expect to hit the 1000 point milestone in your high school career? “Yeah I did expect it, just earlier in the season.”

Jaiden will be attending Notre Dame College in the Fall and major in Sports Management. Good luck, Jaiden.

Naomi Tarver – Senior Bowler (pictured right)

The Bowling team came back this year, and the amount of initial success was terrific; Naomi was a big part of it. She won an award for the highest pins average. She accomplished this in addition to her 3.0+ GPA.

Why did you join the bowling team? “This was something to keep me busy and give me something to do. It is my senior year, so I thought why not?”

How have you improved throughout the season? “I improved on my mistakes as well as grew as a player over time.”

What is the hardest bowling skill to learn? “Finding the best way to play that suits your abilities.”

Congratulations, Naomi!

Ryan Hilcu – Freshman Bowler (pictured fourth on the right)

Freshman bowler Ryan Hilcu impressively earned a Gold BHS Scholar Athletic Award for a 3.5 GPA or higher; the Gold award is the highest honor given to student-athletes here at BHS.

Why did you join the bowling team? “I used to bowl a lot when I was a kid, so I just decided to join.”

How have you improved throughout the season? “I practiced more and more, and it paid off.”

What is the hardest bowling skill to learn? “Probably to throw the ball and keep it outgoing where you want it to.”

Great start to your high school career. Congratulations, Ryan!

There was a great turn out to celebrate all of the Winter sports student-athletes, the teams, the coaches, and all of the accomplishments. It was a nice evening with good food (Antonio’s), great families, and numerous honors to prove that hard work, in-and-out of the classroom, does indeed pay off.

We wish all of the seniors the very best in their soon-to-be new chapters. We also hope that the underclassmen continue to have success throughout their athletic and academic journeys.

Great job, Hurricane student-athletes!

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

Staff Spotlight: Dave Scott

*Custodian*

By: BHS Staff Profiles

March 31, 2023

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mr. David Scott. Working here as one of the Brooklyn City School District’s custodians, this has been his only job. He has been in this post for 44 years. When Mr. Scott is not working, he can be found spending time with his grandkids. Something interesting about him is that he went to Brooklyn High School and has worked here since his graduation. In total, he has been a part of Brooklyn as both a student and an employee for 58 years. This is crazy, right?

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: “I get to do different things on a daily basis. I don’t always have to do the same things everyday.”

Q: If you come across something that you cannot fix, what do you do in that situation?

A: “I call someone who knows more about it than me, and they can take care of it.”

Q: How do you stay motivated throughout the day?

A: “I just look forward to the end of the day. I keep going, and I know that my day is going to be over soon.”

Q: What are some of the most important skills for your job?

A: “Just being knowledgeable about different areas and being able to work with other people.”

Q: What is your most difficult task?

A: “The most difficult thing to do is working on plumbing.”

Q: What are you most grateful for?

A: “I’m most grateful for my family and my health.”

Q: What is the best piece of advice ever given to you?

A: “Always do your best.”

Q: If you could have one wish granted by a genie, what would it be?

A: “Just to have a healthy, long life.”

Q: What is the scariest thing that you have ever experienced?

A: “The scariest thing I ever experienced was flying on a plane.”

Thank you for letting us interview you, Mr. Scott. You do so much work here to benefit all of the staff and students, and your efforts and dedication are commendable and greatly-appreciated. Happy Spring!

This Has To Be Rigged

By: BHS Sports Staff

March 30, 2023

This year’s March Madness was horrendous for people who thought that they had a chance to win their bracket challenge(s), as nobody in the BHS Sports Staff had any prediction correct for the Final Four. Hopefully, our National Championship predictions will be better, which at this point could not be any worse than our previous predictions.

Now, what actually happened last weekend on this chaotic journey to the Final Four?

Starting off with the West Region, #8 seed Arkansas took on #4 seed Connecticut, a matchup most people expected. The favored Huskies easily cruised past the Razorbacks into the Sweet 16, 88-65. On the other end was the more anticipated matchup, #3 Gonzaga versus #2 UCLA. It did not seem like that in the first half as UCLA led by 13 points heading into halftime. However, Gonzaga flipped the switch in the second half making this game a lot more competitive. It came down to the final shot when Bulldog stud Julian Strawther hit the game winning three to send Gonzaga past UCLA and into the Elite 8. However, Gonzaga’s magic would run out against the Huskies as they would get blown out in the Elite 8 matchup, 82-54. This victory sends UConn back to the Final Four for the first time in nine years.

Getting into the East Region, the #9 seeded Florida Atlantic University Owls were the underdogs, but they pulled off a major upset against #4 seed Tennessee. It was a long night for Tennessee defensively as they could not handle Johnell Davis as he dropped 15 points and secured the victory, 62-55. On the other hand, #3 seed Kansas State was expected to beat #7 seed Michigan State, which they ended up doing by an overtime score of 98-93. Marquis Nowell went for a career night putting up 20 points and dishing out 19 assists, setting a new NCAA tournament record. Finally, it was the underdog Owls versus the favorite Wildcats. And guess what happened? FAU pulled off the upset with a final score of 79-76, earning their first-ever Final Four appearance.

In this Midwest Region, at least this side was not so crazy, or was it? All of the games went true to the seed rankings minus one. The Miami Hurricanes and Houston Cougars faced off in the Sweet 16, and the Hurricanes had no trouble dethroning the top-seeded Cougars by a score 89-75. The Hurricanes were led by guard Nijel Pack who cooked the Cougars for 26 points. In the other matchup, second seeded Texas beat third seeded Xavier to meet Miami in the Elite 8. After blowing a double-digit, second half lead, the Longhorns could not handle the Hurricanes’ momentum down the stretch, falling 88-81. Guard Jordan Miller had a career night for the Hurricanes going for 27 points. They are set to face the Connecticut Huskies in the Final Four. Noteworthy: This will be Miami’s first Final Four appearance in school history.

For the South Region, the #5 seed Aztecs from San Diego State University took on #1 seed Alabama. The Crimson Tide had all the odds going into this one, but senior guard Darrion Trammell had other plans, scoring 21 points leading SDSU to an upset win, 71-64. In the other matchup, #15 seeded Princeton faced the #6 seed, the Creighton Blue Jays. The Tigers had all the momentum going into this one and came to play with a 24-point game from forward Tosan Evbuomwan and a 26-point game from guard Ryan Langborg; however, the Blue Jays were not losing this game, having three players with 19+ points. Center Ryan Kalkbrenner led with 22 points followed by Baylor Scheirerman with 21 points and Trey Alexander with 19 points. For the Elite 8 matchup, the Aztecs battled the Blue Jays and what a game this was. SDSU managed to get it done with a one-point victory and earning their first-ever Final Four appearance.

So with the Final Four matchups set and ready to tip off this Saturday, April 1, it is time for the BHS Sports Staff’s predictions for the National Champion.

*Youssef: Florida Atlantic

*Jacob: Connecticut

*Anthony: San Diego State

*Ayman: Miami

*Jaiden: Miami

*Mr. Holko: San Diego State

And that is a wrap for the Final Four preview, the first ever Final Four in March Madness history to have zero, top three seeded teams. What else could happen?

We are about to find out.

(For up-to-date information and schedules, go to Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.)

Women’s History Month: Chien-Shiung Wu

By: BHS Features Staff

March 29, 2023

Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese American physicist. During the Manhattan Project, she worked at Columbia University, helping to develop the process for separating uranium metal into U-235 and U-238 isotopes by using gaseous diffusion. She also developed improved Geiger counters for measuring nuclear radiation levels. She is believed to have been the only Chinese person and one of the few women working on the Manhattan Project.

Wu was born on May 31, 1912. She grew up near Shanghai, China, in a small city with her mother, Fanhua Fan, who was a teacher, and her father Zhong-Yi Wu, who was an engineer.

During most of her childhood, school was uncommon for women, but this did not stop her from learning. At the age of five, she began going to a school managed by her father who had strong beliefs that girls should earn the same education as boys.

After graduating high school in 1929, Wu went on to college to study Physics. In 1934, she graduated with a degree in Physics from the National Central University in Nanking, China (now known as Nanjing University).

After college, she became a research assistant when her supervisor encouraged her to pursue advanced education in The United States of America. Two years after graduating from NCU, Wu arrived in San Francisco with some financial assistance from her uncle. She enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where she completed her Ph.D. in 1940.

In 1942, she married her husband Luke Chia-Lu Yuan, a physicist who she met at UC. They went on to have two children.

Unable to find a research position at a university, Wu became a physics instructor at Princeton University and at Smith College. In 1944, she joined the Manhattan Project at the Substitute Alloy Materials (SAM) Lab at Columbia University, focusing on radiation detectors. Not long after, she was making historical breakthroughs.

In 1956, she conducted the “Wu experiment,” testing the parity conservation theories of fellow Columbia physicists Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen Ning Yang. Wu’s experiment proved their theories correct and contributed significantly to particle physics and the development of the Standard Model. While it was her experiment that proved the theories to be correct, she was not credited for it, and the following year, physicists Lee and Yang won the Nobel prize.

Her work was not recognized until years later. But, Wu continued to work hard, and by 1966, she received at least seven Nobel nominations and won the inaugural Wolf Prize for her role in her initial discovery.

Not only was Wu one of the first women in STEM but can also an advocate for women. Speaking at a symposium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1964, Wu said to her audience, “I wonder whether the tiny atoms and nuclei, or the mathematical symbols, or the DNA molecules have any preference for either masculine or feminine treatment.” In addition to speaking out against gender discrimination, Wu also advocated for human rights issues, especially in China.

On February 19, 1997, Wu passed away at the age of 85 in New York City. She lived her whole life following her passion, and she never allowed any challenges to get in the way of her dreams.

Our world will forever be changed because of her.

{Information for this article can be located at nps.gov, womanandtheamericanstory.gov, and atomicheritagefoundation.org.}

What Spring Brings

By: BHS News Staff

March 28, 2023

That is a wrap for Sister Act! The cast, crew, and pit put on a great performance, and the play was well-attended all three evenings. The BHS News Staff is proud of the time, energy, and hard work put into making this play.

There were also a few successful fundraisers during this play for the BHS Drama Club, including Krispy Kreme donuts and 50/50 raffle tickets. All money raised will go towards future productions.

Speaking of future productions, we are anxious to hear what next year’s performance will be. Stay tuned!

In other news, on March 16, the 8th Grade Robotics Team competed at the 2023 Polaris Palooza Robotics competition held at Strongsville Middle School.

BHS students competed against nearly 100 other students from neighboring schools including Strongsville, Olmsted Falls, North Olmsted, and Fairview Park.

So, how did the young Hurricanes perform?

*Mad Grab Event: Students constructed a remote controlled robot that scooped up balls and placed them into containers.

1st Place, Grim Grab: Dennis Harte, Gio Garst, Ryan Howard

3rd Place, The Gripper: Eddie Colon, Austin Adkins, Donovan Johnson

6th Place, Zimbabwe: Aiden Villani, Jayden Torres, Johnny Patta

14th Place, Kie: Ariana Taylor, Kadance Szmahlo, Avalinh Yun

*Dragster Event: The second event required participants to build a car that was measured for distance and accuracy while moving on a course.

5th Place, Barbie: Ariana Taylor, Kadance Szmahlo, Avalinh Yun

10th Place, Martha Stewart: Eddie Colon, Austin Adkins, Donovan Johnson

11th Place, Kerchow: Dennis Harte, Gio Garst, Ryan Howard

13th Place, Sleepy Car: Aiden Villani, Jayden Torres, Johnny Patta

Great job, competitors! You represented BHS in fine fashion, and Mr. Goodwin and Mrs. Romano are very proud of you.

Next, Family Literacy Night is this Thursday, March 30, from 5:30-7:40. This year’s theme is “The Giving Tree”.

There will be a dinner, Hula Hoop Science Assembly, and Activity Stations.

Also this week is “Right to Read Week”. This week is inspired by Shel Silverstein, the author of the popular books Where the Sidewalk Ends and The Giving Tree. Silverstein’s works are enjoyable for young readers as well as adult readers. He is a very well-known, award-winning author as well as a singer-songwriter, cartoonist, screenwriter, and actor.

The purpose of “Right to Read Week” is to continue to encourage students to read as well as help teachers explain the importance of reading, learn different perspectives, and help students see how others think and feel.

Below is this week’s schedule.

*Monday, March 27 is “Colors” – Make yourself colorful head to toe. Go on a color scavenger hunt, write in rainbow, or make a colorful picture.

*Tuesday, March 28 is “Backwards Bill” – Be like Bill and wear your clothes backwards, read backwards, or write a poem backwards.

*Wednesday, March 29 is “Bear in There” – Dress in your favorite animal print or wear animal ears, bring your favorite animal to snuggle with while you read your favorite book, or listen to a guest reader.

*Thursday, March 30 is “The Pirate” – Argh! Dress like a pirate, wear a bandana, read about pirates, or write a pirate adventure.

*Friday, March 31 is “Rock and Roll Band” – Dress like a rockstar, wear your favorite band or music shirt, or write your own song lyrics.

Happy Reading!

Finally, Spring Break will be here soon (April 10-14). However, the Spring OSTs are also quickly approaching. Please keep the following dates in mind: April 3-7 (ELA), April 24-28 (Science and Social Studies), and May 2-5 (Math).

Stay tuned for more updates and testing tips next week.

Have a great final week of March, Brooklyn!

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

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Mullally

*7th Grade Social Studies*

By: BHS Staff Profiles

March 24, 2023

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Georgeann Mullally. Mrs. Mullally first started her teaching career at Saint Thomas More where she worked for five years before coming to the Brooklyn City School District. She is currently a Social Studies teacher and has been teaching in the district for 24 years. In her free time, she likes to bike ride, read, shop, hang out with family and friends, and watch college sports. A fun fact about Mrs. Mullally is that she is terrified of birds!

Q: What do you think is the most beneficial aspect of children coming to school?

A: “It’s a combination of many different things. Obviously, the education part of it is super important to their growth. I also think socialization in school is very important as well because they get to put themselves out there and learn about each others’ differences. Going to school helps kids find their path in life. I think it’s good for the kids to experience different subjects to find their strengths. I think the practical arts are important for kids as well as all the extracurriculars the school offers. The more opportunities offered, the more it gives the kids a sense of who they are as they’re growing up.”

Q: What are your views on homework?

A: “That’s a tough question. I feel like some homework is important to reinforce what we’re learning in school just so students have the practice. I personally don’t give a lot of homework. I feel like we need to pick and choose what we give as teachers. Encouraging students to read on their own time is a big one. So, homework is important to a certain extent.”

Q: What is your favorite unit to teach?

A: “My favorite is a tie between Ancient Rome and the Middle Ages. I love ancient Rome probably partially because I’m part Italian. I like teaching about the Gladiators and Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, and all the Roman achievements. On the other hand, I love the middle ages with the castles and knights. There is just so much of it. Roman mythology is another unit I really like to teach as well.”

Q: As a teacher, what are your strengths?

A: “I think my strengths are forming relationships with the kids. I think I get along with a lot of the kids; I also think I relate to a lot of kids. I also think I have a lot of patience. Even though my humor is kind of dorky, I also try to bring humor into the classroom: Dorky humor! I feel like the biggest part is getting along with the kids. It’s a big plus when you can make that connection with the students.”

Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?

A: “I honestly became a teacher because I have memories of my family. Both my aunt and uncle were teachers, and three of my cousins were teachers as well. I would say my family was my inspiration. Just listening to their stories about school and their experiences is what made me interested.”

Q: How do you deal with a stressful situation?

A: “I deal with a stressful situation by letting off some steam by talking with my friends, going for a walk or bike ride, or talking to my husband. Other times, honestly, just buying a large hot fudge sundae from Dairy Queen is also a guilty pleasure of mine, but it helps with the stress!”

Q: What’s your favorite music genre?

A: Country! I just love the sound, and I like to listen to it. The stories of country music, too, are just interesting. I’ve been to Nashville, Tennessee, a few times as well. But, I don’t have a favorite singer because I like so many.”

Q: What are you most passionate about?

A: “Living a good clean life, taking care of my health, and making healthy choices. I’m passionate about traveling and seeing the world. I’ve been to many places, but there’s many more on my bucket list. I’d like to travel to Greece, Italy, Ireland, and the East Coast of the United States. I would definitely say I’m passionate about my job, too. Making sure the kids get what they need, not just the academic part of it, but mental health and physical health is important to me as well.”

Q: If you could have dinner with any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be?

A: “Queen Elizabeth, she had a fascinating life and was a fascinating monarch. The stories that she must have. The changes that she had to have seen in her lifetime. The lessons she could teach, the things she’s learned, both good and bad changes she’s seen in the world.”

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: “My biggest pet peeve is sloppiness. I like everything neat. I don’t like piles, and I don’t like random stuff everywhere. I can’t stand when there are papers everywhere or binders are a mess and look like they’re going to explode. I like order in my life. Everything has its place. Not that it never gets out of place, but everything does have a place.”

Thank you for letting us interview you, Mrs. Mullally. Spring is here, so continue those bike rides and have a terrific finish to the school year.

March Madness Mayhem

By: BHS Sports Staff

March 23, 2023

Beware the Ides of March, and if this past weekend is any indication, the Sweet 16 and beyond will be full of unpredictable and unprecedented upsets.

Kicking things off with the West Region, #1 seed Kansas, #2 UCLA, and #3 Gonzaga got first round victories; however, Kansas got knocked out in the second round against #8 Arkansas. Both UCLA and Gonzaga got victories in the second round and will face off against each other in the Sweet 16. The other Sweet 16 matchup will be between #8 Arkansas and #4 seed Connecticut. Other than Kansas losing in the second round, there were no upsets in the West Region.

With the East Region, the #16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson (FDU) upset #1 seeded Purdue. This was an embarrassing loss for Purdue (Better luck next year, Mrs. Romano!) but a major, feel-good story for FDU. With the other games in the East, #7 seed Michigan State beat number #2 Marquette, edging them out 69-60. The rest of the games, however, were mostly predicted, but FDU beating Purdue ended every perfect bracket left in March Madness, including Mr. Holko’s. The two Sweet 16 matchups are #9 seed Florida Atlantic University taking on #4 seed Tennessee while the other matchup consists of #7 Michigan State facing off against #3 Kansas State.

In the Midwest Region, #1 seed Houston secured two wins and moves onto face #5 Miami. The Pittsburgh Panthers upset #6 Iowa State before falling to #3 Xavier. Texas won both of their games and will meet the Musketeers in the Sweet 16. For the rest of the Midwest, almost all of the other matchups went as predicted without any major upsets, but big games such as Xavier against Texas and Miami versus Houston are bound to bring major drama to the Final Four.

In the South Region, #13 seed Furman sent #4 Virginia home in the Round of 64, similar to the time UMBC defeated #1 seed Virginia in 2018 in one of the biggest upsets in March Madness history. Furman defeated the Cavaliers exactly five years apart from when UMBC did it. Alabama, Maryland, San Diego State, Creighton, Baylor, and Missouri advanced to the round of 32. However, #15 seed Princeton, an Ivy League school, defeated #2 seed Arizona 59-55. They’re still dancing to the sweet 16 where they’ll take on #6 seed Creighton. In the sweet 16 for the south region it’ll be #1 seed Alabama vs #5 seed San Diego State.

Since most of our initial brackets are in the garbage, we decided to repick our Final Four teams. Below is the Return of The Eye’s BHS Sports Staff’s updated Final Four predictions:

*Youssef:

West: UCLA

East: Kansas State

Midwest: Houston

South: Alabama

*Jacob:

West: Gonzaga

East: Kansas State

Midwest: Texas

South: Alabama

*Anthony:

West: UCLA

East: Michigan State

Midwest: Houston

South: Alabama

*Ayman:

West: UCLA

East: Michigan State

Midwest: Texas

South: Alabama

*Jaiden:

West: Arkansas

East: Kansas State

Midwest: Texas

South: Alabama

*Mr. Holko:

West: UCLA

East: Tennessee

Midwest: Houston

South: Alabama

The Sweet 16 games start today and end tomorrow. Then, the Elite 8 will conclude on Sunday with the Final Four intact.

To keep up with the matchups, scores, and game times, visit March Madness.

Chances are, your brackets are in better shape than ours, so tell us, who are your Final Four picks? Leave them in the comment section below.

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

Women’s History Month: Toni Morrison

By: BHS Features Staff

March 22, 2023

Toni Morrison is one of the world’s best and most celebrated authors. She has written everything from children’s plays to award-winning novels. Her work has inspired a generation of female writers to follow in her footsteps.

Morrison was born on February 18, 1931, in Lorain, Ohio, the second of four children. Although she grew up in a semi-integrated area, racial discrimination was a constant threat, but this did not deter her from chasing her dreams. She turned her fears into something she could use for good, reading and writing. Morrison turned her attention to her studies and became an avid reader, which ultimately led to a future in writing.

She graduated from Lorain High School in 1948. After high school, she enrolled at Howard University in Washington D.C. There, she graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor’s degree in English and went on to later earn a Master of Arts from Cornell University in 1955.

After Cornell, she received her first job at Texas Southern University teaching English from 1955-1957. She then went on to teach English at Howard University for the next seven years. While teaching at Howard, she met Harold Morrison, a Jamaican architect, who she later married in 1958.

Their first son was born in 1961, and she was pregnant with their second son in 1964. After the birth of her son Slade in 1965, Morrison began working as an editor for L.W. Singer, a textbook division of Random House in Syracuse, New York. Two years later, she transferred to Random House in New York City, where she became their first black woman and senior editor in the fiction department.

Morrison played a vital role in bringing Black literature into the mainstream. One of the first books she worked on was the groundbreaking Contemporary African Literature (1972). It was not until she was 39-years-old when she wrote and published her very own book, The Bluest Eye. Three years later, Morrison published her second novel Sula, which was nominated for a National Book Award.

In 1993, Morrison became the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Three years later, she was also chosen by the National Endowment for the Humanities to give the Jefferson Lecture and was honored with the National Book Foundation’s Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. In 2000, she was named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress. She also wrote children’s books with her son until his death at 45-years-old. Two years later, Morrison published the last book they were working on together and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in that same month.

In June of 2019, director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders released a documentary titled “Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am”. Morrison passed away two months later from complications with pneumonia.

Toni Morrison’s work continued to influence writers and artists, especially women and people of color at the time, to continue to follow their dreams in reading and in writing. She will forever be remembered as an inspiration.

{Information for this article can be located at Womenshistory.org.}

Jam With The Band

By: BHS News Staff

March 21, 2023

Sister Act is here! This Thursday, the curtains open, and the many personnel in the cast, crew, and pit will put all of their hard work to the test.

The last couple of weeks, we previewed the crew and the cast. Now, it is the pit’s turn. Our pit band has been practicing for months preparing for Sister Act.

So, what are a few of the pit band members looking forward to when this play officially opens up?

Percussion: Amir Green (freshman) – “First year members just do the minor stuff, and the seniors do the majority. My favorite song from the set is the ‘Take Me To Heaven’ newscast. This is my first year in the pit. The parts of the music are interesting but a little harder to play.”

Trumpet: Zander Rolon (freshman) – “My favorite song from the set is ‘Take Me To Heaven’. This is my first time in the pit. It’s just helpful for me to improve. The environment is alright, being around people who I know. I didn’t have to audition for it; all I had to do was sign up for it.”

To the director, cast, pit, crew, and everyone else affiliated with Sister Act, may your hard work and efforts pay off. Break a leg!

Next, prom deposits and Malley’s chocolate fundraising money are due to Mrs. Holko by tomorrow. Make sure to also reserve a prom ticket for the big bash on May 19.

Additionally, this serves as a reminder to all BHS Winter sports students-athletes and families: The Winter Sports Banquet is Thursday, March 30. Please return your completed banquet meal form to the Athletic Office by this Thursday, March 23.

Finally, today is March 21, and it is World Down Syndrome Day. People all around the world are coming together to celebrate this day by wearing brightly colored, mismatched socks. This style of socks was chosen because of the karyotype of the Ds Chromosomes. May all of those who have Down Syndrome know that they are loved and valued, not just today but always!

Finish the third quarter strong, fellow students, and have a great week.

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

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Swecker

*Head Cook*

By: BHS Staff Profiles

March 17, 2023

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Natasha Swecker. Before working in the Brooklyn City School District, Mrs. Swecker worked at a nursing home. In 1994, she started working here and has been cooking here for the past 29 years. She is currently the head cook. In her free time, she likes to shop and spend time with her two dogs, Stella and Mia. A fun fact about Mrs. Swecker is that she frequently forgets items, hence she later finds them in odd places at work and at home. Most of us can relate to this. 🤣

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

A: “I just enjoy my job. I enjoy coming to work; I’m probably the only one in the district who wishes that we have no snow days. I want to come to work.”

Q: What inspires you?

A: “I just love people. I don’t like snow days or being at home.”

Q: What is your favorite aspect regarding your coworkers?

A: “We all get along, and we all joke. We’re all very caring and giving towards each other. Miss Toni is pretty funny; she really is like a breath of fresh air.”

Q: What is your favorite meal to cook?

A: “Spaghetti and meatballs! It’s fun to cook.”

Q: What do you like most about this school district?

A: “How small we are. I really like that we are a small-knit community.”

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: “Nothing really bothers me. But if I had to choose, it would probably be people who aren’t polite.”

Q: What is one of your biggest goals in life?

A: “To retire! I’m definitely looking forward to retiring.”

Q: If you could do something over again, what would you do?

A: “I’d like to go back to school. I started college, but I was young, and I thought I knew everything. I just thought I knew all the answers back then. If I knew then what I know now, I would definitely go back to school. I’m not too sure what I’d go back to school for, but I’d do something.”

Q: If you could instantly pick up a new skill, what would it be?

A: “I would like to learn how to sew. I love to watch TV, so if I could do something productive while I watch TV, that would be awesome!”

Q: What inspirational quote resonates the most with you?

A: “I would choose the quote: ‘Nothing is impossible, the word itself says it’s possible’ by Audrey Hepburn. I think nowadays we need to be reminded of all of the possibilities in life.”

Thank you for allowing us to interview you, Mrs. Swecker. We appreciate all that you do for both the students and the staff here and wish you all the best throughout the rest of your career and moving forward.

It’s Bracket Time

By: BHS Sports Staff

March 16, 2023

March Madness is finally here, and college basketball fans are ready for the craziness to ensue. With 64 teams vying for six wins, March Madness is sure to bring a lot of shockers and entertaining games.

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

In the West Region, leading the way is #1 seed Kansas, who finished fourth in the Top 25 NCAA men’s basketball standings. The Jayhawks also won the national championship a year ago. Coming in at the #2 seed is UCLA, who finished seventh in the Top 25 and a popular pick to reach the Final Four. Finally, the #3 seed, led by Drew Timme, is the Gonzaga Bulldogs. They are coming into the tournament on a nine-game winning streak. Cinderella watch: Don’t sleep on Arkansas and VCU.

Next up is the East Region, and the #1 seed is Purdue, who finished third in the Top 25. The Boilermakers also won the B1G regular season and tournament titles. They are led by All-American center Zach Edey. The #2 seed is Marquette. The Golden Eagles come into the tournament riding a nine-game winning streak and a whole lot of momentum. Lastly, the #3 seed is Kansas State, who is ranked 15th in the Top 25. Cinderella watch: Keep an eye on Oral Roberts who had a great run in 2021 (Remember Buckeye fans?) and USC.

Next is the Midwest Region with the #1 seeded Houston Cougars, ranked second in the Top 25 and the overall favorite to win this year’s tournament. Coming in as the #2 seed is Texas. The Longhorns can be a very tough team to take down as they are ranked #5 in the Top 25. Coming in at the #3 seed is Xavier, but the Musketeers are coming off of a loss against Marquette in the Big 12 tournament. Cinderella watch: Watch out for Texas A&M and the MAC tournament champions, the Kent State Golden Flashes.

And lastly, we have the South Region with Alabama leading the way as the #1 seed and ranked #1 in the country. The #2 seed is Arizona, ranked #8 in the Top 25. FInally, the #3 seed is Baylor, ranked #11 in the Top 25. The Bears won the title in 2021. Cinderella watch: Charleston, who won 31 games this season, is primed for a deep run as is North Carolina State.

Now the moment you all have been waiting for. The Return of the Eye’s Sports Department will make their March Madness Final Four predictions.

*Youssef:

West: UCLA

East: Purdue

South: UCSB

Midwest: Houston

*Jacob:

West: Kansas

East: Oral Roberts

South: Alabama

Midwest: Texas

*Anthony:

West: Gonzaga

East: Marquette

South: Alabama

Midwest: Houston

*Ayman:

West: Kansas

East: Purdue

South: Alabama

Midwest: Texas

*Jaiden:

West: Kansas

East: Kansas St

South: Baylor

Midwest: Texas

*Mr. Holko:

West: UCLA

East: Purdue

South: Baylor

Midwest: Indiana

Those are our picks. So, what are your Final Four predictions? Leave it in the comment section below.

The first game starts today at 12:15 with #9 seeded West Virginia and #8 seeded Maryland. To keep up with the final scores and game times, visit March Madness.

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