Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Lowe-Fleischer

*Health & Physical Education Teacher*

By: BHS Staff Profiles 

February 24, 2023

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Melanie Lowe-Fleischer. This is year 21 for her in the Brooklyn City School District. Prior to working at Brooklyn High School, she taught for two years in another district. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes and watching movies with her family. She also likes to bake and has recently found interest in doing Qigong. A fun fact about Mrs. Lowe-Fleischer is that she is the oldest sibling of eight.

Q: Where did you go to college?

A: “I went to Ohio State University for my undergraduate degree. Growing up, I was a fan of the culture and the athletics. As a kid, my dad always took us to football games and basketball games. I loved the atmosphere and the freedom of a big school. I remember knowing from a young age that I wanted to go there.” 

Q: What inspired you to become a health and physical education teacher?

A: “I went into the major wanting to be an elementary Physical Education teacher. I wanted to give kids a good experience with Physical Education. One thing I figured out along the way is that I like to teach high school health, too. I always liked it because it was a fun outlet, and it can always be constructive.” 

Q: What are some of the activities that you like to do with your health class students?

A: “For health, I love doing the CPR unit. I also really enjoy the discussions and the conversations that happen in health between the kids with improvement and self discovery. I also love the organ donation unit, too.” 

Q: What is your favorite sport?

A: “To play would be volleyball and to watch would be specifically Ohio State football. I also love walking and hiking as well.” 

Q: How do you motivate your students to participate?

A: “For physical education, I try to encourage their friends to encourage them because most students don’t want to look like a fool in front of their friends. I tend to rally through peers. Another way is just simply showing them how to properly do the activity. They eventually realize that it isn’t the end of the world to participate.” 

Q: Describe your family. 

A: “I have three kids. My two sons are in college, and my daughter is a senior in high school. My mom is a big part of what we do. She lives close by. I’m really close with two of my brothers who live in Columbus. When we get together, we like to play board games, cards, and jackbox. Sometimes, we go hiking at Hinckley, and we also like to watch Marvel movies!” 

Q: Orange juice or apple juice?

A: “Apple juice goes with more, but I do like orange juice when I’m in the mood.” 

Q: What are some of your favorite, healthy foods?

A: “I love raspberries, cherries, oranges, honey crisp apples, broccoli, and tomatoes.”

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: “The constant arguing with students. I realize it’s how students communicate, but it drives me crazy! I also have a lot of respect for people who own up to their mistakes, so I suppose another pet peeve of mine is when people don’t own up to their actions and take responsibility for what they do.” 

Q: What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics?

A: “Badminton or volleyball.”

Thank you so much, Mrs. Lowe-Fleischer, for your responses as well as allowing us to interview you. It was a pleasure talking with you. By the way, Mr. Holko took issue with some of your answers, but he said that he would take the high road this time. 🤣

NBA All Star Weekend

By: BHS Sports Staff

February 23, 2023

Taking place in Salt Lake City Utah, expectations were high for this year’s NBA All Star Weekend.

Starting off the All Star festivities was the Ruffles Celebrity Game. The Celebrity Game rosters included the Miz (WWE superstar), Calvin Johnson (former NFL player), Albert Pujols (MLB player), Jesser (content creator), DK Metcalf (NFL star), 21 Savage (rapper), and many more.

DK Metcalf was the star of this celebrity game with multiple explosive dunks and leading Team Dwayne with 20 points and 10 rebounds. There were also good laughs out of this game when Richard Jefferson played and also refereed. Another comical moment was when Guillermo Rodriguez (ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live Correspondent) took his best shot of the night, which resulted in a Wedgie.

With a couple seconds left, Team Dwayne was up 81-78, but the Miz sank a half-court shot to tie the game, but it was quickly waved off and did not count.

Right after that came the Jordan Rising Stars contest with these four teams: Team Pau, Team Joakim, Team Deron, and Team Jason.

In the first round, Team Pau got an easy victory against Team Deron, and Team Joakim got the victory against Team Jason. Team Pau kept their momentum going in the finale against Team Joakim led by Jose Alvarado, who hit the game winning three-pointer. Because of Alvarado’s amazing performance, he won the Rising Stars MVP Award. 

The first event of the NBA All Star Saturday was the Kia Skills Challenge. The teams for this year were Team Jazz consisting of Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton, and Walker Kessler; Team Antetokounmpo with Thanasis, Alex, and Jrue Holiday; and finally Team Rooks featuring Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith, and Jaden Ivey. The Antetokumpos could not manage to win a single game, ending in last place with zero points.The Rooks were only up by one game, and Team Jazz (the home team) took first place with 400 points.

Going into the second round, the elite three-point shooters were left. Portland Trailblazer star Damian Lillard took care of business as he had a rhythm with every shot. He put up and ended with 26 made baskets, beating out Buddy Hield from the Indiana Pacers. With all the pressure on Tyrese Haliburton, he was up next and he could not find his rhythm, and Damian Lillard won the three-point contest.

Next was the 2023 NBA Dunk contest. The dunk contest roster was Trey Murphy III (Pelicans), Kenyon Martin Junior (Rockets), Jericho Sims (Knicks), and Mac McClung (76ers). The contest started off with Murphy III who got his ball stolen by teammate Jose Alvarado, who then threw him an alley-oop off the glass to complete a 360-dunk. Next was Sims who completed a self alley-oop off the glass and dunked it with half of his arm in the hoop. Martin was next and received an alley-oop off of the side of the glass with a reverse dunk. Then McClung, who jumped over two people, did a reverse dunk to finish the first round in major fashion. 

In the second round, it was Martin’s turn, and he did a double-clutch, reverse dunk. Murphy III was up next and did a fake, two-handed, reverse dunk, which was pretty cool. Sims followed this up with practically the same dunk, but this time, he grabbed a paper net with the numbers “50” for his score. McClung finished the second round with a 360-reverse, moving the ball up then down. It is no wonder why he received some high numbers from the judges because he was quickly becoming a crowd-favorite.

Murphy III started off the third round with a between the legs alley-oop followed by a windmill. McClung was up next, and he jumped over someone, double-clutched, and reverse dunked. The crowd went absolutely crazy! Murphy III then went again and did a 360-reverse windmill, getting the crowd on their feet. It was McClung’s turn again, and he decided to throw on his high school jersey for his last dunk. He did a 450-reverse dunk, and the crowd could not handle it anymore. They went crazy, and everybody was on their feet for this once-in-a-lifetime dunk. Even the announcers said, “It’s over!” After his dunk, the winner was decided, and it undisputedly went to the 76ers’ very own, Mac McClung. 

Finally, what we have all been waiting for, the All Star game. However, instead of drafting a few days before the game, the NBA decided to go playground basketball style and draft right before the game. It was Team Giannis versus Team Lebron this year, and the Greek Freak came prepared with an entire book of notes, while James just had a piece of paper. Here were the results of the draft: Team Lebron had some great picks, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic paired together, along with Kyrie Irving. Team Giannis also got who he wanted, having three-point winner Damian Lillard and his teammate on the Bucks, Jrue Holiday. He also got our very own Cleveland Cavalier Donovan Mitchell and Boston Celtic Jayson Tatum.

After a great performance from Post Malone and 21 Savage, the 2023 All Star Game started. “Head Coach” Giannis Antetekumpo got an early dunk to start off but quickly fouled Doncic to go to the bench, as his wrist was injured, and he did not want to risk further injury. 

The first quarter was back-and-forth with some highlight plays from James and Tatum. The opening period ended in a tie, which meant each team received $50,000 to their charities. 

However, the second quarter was different, as Team Giannis took charge of the game, easily cruising by Team Lebron for a second quarter win. 

Throughout the entire first half, there was little-to-no defense played, allowing for high scoring from both teams, with Team Giannis leading 99-92 at the half. 

The halftime performance showed famous Nigerian artists including Burna Boy, Tems, and Rema doing an Afrobeats-themed crowd-pleaser.

After a stunning halftime performance, the all stars were ready to finish the game, and Tatum, especially, was electric, scoring 27 points in the third quarter, breaking the All Star record. Team Giannis went on to easily earn $100,000 dollars towards their charities. The third quarter was also filled with highlight plays but still little defense. 

The fourth quarter is where Team Giannis closed out the game, but Team Lebron had one last run in them. The first team to score 182 points was the winner, and by the time Team Giannis was three points away, Mitchell and Tatum tried lobbing halfcourt shots, but it was a three-pointer dagger by Lillard who ended the game. 

The All Star game ended with Tatum being the MVP, shattering the record with 55 points. Other great performances were from Mitchell, who had 40 points, and Boston Celtic Jaylen Brown, who dropped 35.

This was a great All Star weekend from Salt Lake City, Utah. 

(For up-to-date events and schedules, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.)

Black History Month: Kizzmekia Corbett

By: BHS Features Staff

February 22, 2023

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is an African-American immunologist. She is an Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Shutzer Assistant Professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. Dr. Corbett is considered one of the medical heroes from the Covid-19 pandemic, helping to create one of the very first preventative vaccines for the virus. 

Dr. Corbett was born on January 26, 1986, in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina. She was raised by her mother, Rhonda Brookes. She grew up in a very large and extended family with step-siblings and foster children. 

At the age of 9, “Kizzy’s” knowledge was advanced, and her middle school teachers began placing her in advanced classes that continued all throughout her schooling. In high school, Dr. Corbett realized that she wanted to pursue a scientific career, and as part of an American Chemical Society-sponsored program called Project SEED, she spent her Summer breaks working in research laboratories, one of which was at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan Labs with organic chemist James Morkin.

Finally in June of 2004, she graduated from Orange High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

After high school, Dr. Corbett was an intern at Stony Brook University in Gloria Viboud’s lab where she studied Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis Pathogenesis.

Later, she attended the University of Maryland where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences (2008) and Sociology (2014). She also received a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina. 

Dr. Corbett has 15 years of expertise studying the Dengue virus, the Respiratory Syncytial virus, Influenza viruses, and now, the Coronavirus. 

With many degrees under her belt and a wealth of knowledge, Dr. Corbett led one of the top research teams for the recent Covid-19 pandemic. She was among the first team to begin researching and studying the virus’ bacteria.

Dr. Corbett was the scientific leader of the National Institutes of Health Coronavirus Vaccines and Immunopathogenesis team at the Vaccine Research Center. Her team can be acknowledged and credited for their discovery of the Covid-19 vaccine, marking one of the biggest turning points in the global pandemic.

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is a hero and an inspiration to all who aspire to work in the medical profession. With all her achievements as an African-American woman, she gives hope to women and children of all colors, ethnicities, and backgrounds that any dream can be achieved with tenacious effort. 

We hope that you enjoyed our features for Black History Month. Next month, we will feature women as we celebrate Women’s History Month.

[Information for this feature can be located at Harvard.edu and Wikipedia.]

New Art for the Littles

By: BHS News Staff

February 21, 2023

In the past couple of years, Brooklyn High School has turned into a mural haven. Now, the Brooklyn School finally has its first mural.

The Brooklyn School PBIS committee asked the National Junior Art Honor Society to paint a Kindness Tree in their main hallway. Although the mural is not fully-completed, its appearance is a welcoming sight.

This Kindness Tree is used to recognize students who show kindness towards one another; this echoes the theme for the school year: Kindness.

Brooklyn students will be given “leaves” of recognition to place on the Kindness Tree throughout the remainder of this school year. 

The NJAHS students who worked on this mural are seventh graders Calissa Schillinger, Jackie Rodriguez, and Maryam Al-Baghdadi. The eighth graders include Kendall Lewis, Maryam Raad, and Gracie White.

Students were also asked to do their own versions of the Kindness Tree on smaller pieces of paper. Their creativity is terrific, and the multiple colors bring light and energy to the hallways.

Nice job to everyone involved.

In other news, for students entering Kindergarten in the 2023-2024 school year, the Kindergarten Informational Meeting will be on Wednesday, March 15, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Brooklyn Field House. 

Parents can park in the Blue Lot located off of Behrwald Avenue and enter the building through door #5. For information regarding Kindergarten Registration, please visit the New Student Registration page.

Finally, mark your calendars! BHS’s Drama Club will present Sister Act to the school and community from March 23-25. Tickets will be sold in the auditorium for $10 per.

See you next week for more updates, Brooklyn. Have a great week!

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

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Tome

*Student Aid*

By: BHS Staff Profiles 

February 17, 2023

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mr. Darren Tome. Aside from Brooklyn, Mr. Tome has worked in education for a number of years. His previous stops include Cleveland and Lakewood, totaling fifteen years all together. Some hobbies he enjoys doing in his free time include hiking, exercising, bike riding, and keeping up with TV shows. A fun fact about Mr. Tome is that he did theater as a child and acted in many plays. 

Q: What do you enjoy most about working with children who have special needs?

A: “It’s very rewarding to try to help them because they need a lot of assistance, so I just try to help along in the learning process as much as possible, making sure their goals are met.”

Q: What is something that is most misunderstood about working in your position?

A: “A lot of people think that working with special education kids is easier than it really is. Also, maybe the challenges aren’t what they think they are or even how hard it can be if their learning process is different than other students. Most people know schooling from their own experience. They see it differently and don’t necessarily realize the type of challenges these children have.”

Q: What kind of working environment do you work best in?

A: “I like to be in a fun-working environment; we have Ms. Kay, and she’s fun. Mrs. Marsico is a lot of fun, too, and these kids are great. They love to joke around which really helps.”

Q: How do you go about helping your students?

A: “You have to understand what it is they’re trying to accomplish, so you need to know the end goals before you even start.”

Q: What is the most challenging part about being a student aid?

A: “The unexpected challenges when kids are having a rough day. Their behavior is gonna be a little off. Sometimes, the technology isn’t cooperating, and other days where everybody is a team, maybe you’re just not all on the same page.”

Q: What are you looking forward to the most about this upcoming Spring?

A: “I love Spring, and I also love to be outdoors. I’m looking forward to the weather because I love when it gets warm out. I love baseball, and I love going to baseball games. I look forward to going to some of the Guardians’ games. We have some rental houses in New York right now. I will probably take a few days off.” 

Q: What is your favorite fast-food restaurant? 

A: “I don’t eat a lot of fast food, but I think probably Chick-fil-A. Even though you have the line (it’s always very long), I think it’s worth it. I try to limit the amount I eat, not more than a few times a year. When I don’t feel like cooking, I get it.”

Q: Are you happy with the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl?

A: “I was rooting for Philadelphia only because the Chiefs are kind of one of our rivals. Philadelphia really isn’t. Honestly, other than that, I really didn’t care. I watched it, but I just want to see a good football game. It’s not like your hometown team where you are devastated when they lose.” 

Q: If you had the power of teleportation right now, where would you go? 

A: “A Caribbean Island for sure. I would go to Fiji, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Hawaii.”

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

A: “Probably the bottom of the ocean, just from all the videos I’ve seen on the Discovery Channel. All of the interesting species and creatures and the shipwrecks that they haven’t even discovered yet I find to be pretty cool.” 

Thank you for letting us interview you, Mr. Tome. It was great getting to know you and getting to know a little more about you, especially about your ideal vacation destinations as we deal with this frigid, Cleveland weather. Enjoy your three-day weekend! 

Lady Canes Cruise Past Indy In Playoffs

By: BHS Sports Staff

February 16, 2023 

Last night, the Brooklyn Hurricanes hosted the Independence Blue Devils in the first round of the OHSAA state playoffs. 

The Lady Canes were the 11-seed coming into this matchup, and the Lady Blue Devils were the 13-seed, so this matchup was perfect for prime time. Both teams split the season series, 1-1. The most recent matchup between these two teams was played at Independence two weeks ago where the Lady Canes were defeated, 47-34.

Coach Jon Holko and the Lady Canes had the perfect game-plan and came into this game confident, and the Student Section was filled with “Beat Indy” shirts. The atmosphere was electric!

Brooklyn started by winning the tip-off, but Independence managed to recover the ball for the first points of the game. The Blue Devils had multiple turnovers thanks to a tenacious Brooklyn defense, and the Lady Canes used this to their advantage as senior Shariah Gailes scored the first basket and shortly after recorded an And-1 bucket to tie the game at 4-4. Fellow senior Genesis Caraballo later hit a three-pointer and was fouled, completing the four-point play. Independence, though, quickly bounced back to regain the lead at 10-8 as the first period concluded.

The Lady Canes started off the second quarter with another Caraballo three pointer, but Independence went on a 7-0 run to take a 17-11 lead. The Lady Canes needed a response as they trailed by six, and they did just that with a layup and a big three-pointer to cut the deficit to one. This caused Independence to call a timeout with the score being 17-16. The stoppage in play did not stop the Lady Canes’ momentum because with collective team effort, they took a 28-21 lead with just seconds to go before halftime. A miracle buzzer-beater for the visitors gave the hosts a 28-23 lead with half of the game in the books.

All game, Brooklyn’s and Independence’s student sections went back and forth, so when the girls came out of the locker room, fans from both teams were fired up and ready to see how this clash unfolded.

Coming into the third quarter, Independence looked like they had early momentum, but Brooklyn quickly shut down any chance of momentum with several free throws and a steal/layup from senior Delaney David to give the Lady Canes a 35-25 lead. Gailes then hit a driving layup to respond to a previous bucket from Independence. The Lady Canes were getting it done inside; however, the Blue Devils ended the period with a mini 5-0 run. After three, Brooklyn led 37-32.

The final quarter: Who had eight minutes left with effort and execution? Answer: The Lady Canes!

Gailes scored right away, and the stifling defense held the Blue Devils in check. The Lady Canes ran a very patient, motion offense and hit timely baskets, including an And-1 from sophomore Jade Riedel. When the final buzzer rang, the gym erupted with the Lady Canes defeating their rival by a score of 49-37.

Brooklyn knocked Independence out of the playoffs and ultimately won the season series, 2-1. Gailes led with 21 points, Caraballo had 11, and David added 10. 

What a great team win for the Lady Canes in front of an electric crowd. 

The Lady Canes will now advance to the sectional final and travel to Keystone High School to take on the Lady Wildcats this Saturday, February 18. Tip-off is at 1:00.

Travel out to Keystone to watch our Lady Canes attempt to earn a district birth.

Go Canes!

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

Black History Month: Victor J. Glover 

By: BHS Features Staff

February 15, 2023

Victor Jerome Glover is an African-American astronaut from the NASA class of 2013. He was also the pilot on the first international flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. Simply, Glover is known to inspire many with his brave and unique space missions. 

Raised in Pomona, California, Glover was born on April 30, 1976. He graduated from Ontario High School (California) in 1994 and then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in General Engineering at California Polytechnic State University in 1999. After college, in 2009, he became a member of the Air Force, where he earned a Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. 

Glover always knew he wanted to be an astronaut, so he began preflight training in Pensacola, Florida, and completed his advanced flight training in Kingsville, Texas, earning his wings of gold on December 14, 2001. 

He was selected in 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class. In 2015, he completed Astronaut Candidate Training, including scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalks, robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. Very extensive training but he was successful in reaching his goals.

Finally in November of 2020, the now NASA astronaut Victor Glover launched his first spaceflight and became the first black astronaut to live on the International Space Station as part of a long-duration mission. 

Glover married Dionna Odom in 2014, and they now reside in California with four children, all girls. 

Glover inspires students from all over to chase their dreams. He is a great example of determination. Through all of the struggles and trials, he accomplished his dreams and nothing less. He continues to spread his message all over, showing people that dreams are possible when the effort exceeds the initial thought. Astronaut Glover even spoke to students from space about how to stop issues like racial discrimination, domestic violence, and drug use to reassure them of a better future on planet Earth.

Victor Glover is just one of the many African-American inspirations. He reached for the stars and so can you!

[Information for this feature can be located at NASA.gov.]

A Day of Love and Art

By: BHS News Staff

February 14, 2023

Happy Valentine’s Day! Now, let us catch up on the past week.

Last week, there was a “Guess The Staff Member Contest” with old pictures of teachers throughout the high school. This encouraged students to be more involved with school activities while also having fun guessing which staff member was whom.

Each student had the opportunity to fill out a form with their best guesses. The top three students to guess the most correct staff members would receive a $10 Starbucks gift card.

The winners of this contest were announced last Friday: Gianna Kos (8th grade), Grace Paul (8th grade), and our very own, Malak Chafki (9th grade).

In addition to the contest, recently, some of Mr. Kasper’s Murals class finished the main pillar in the front entrance hallway. 

“Mr. Hare gave us a request that we decorate the pillar with phrases of support for the students who walk into the building,” stated Kasper.

Sophomore Brianna Boone and freshmen Anisha Monger, Yasmeen Issa, and Chassidy (Cody) Wilson each worked on one side of the pillar.  

Boone worked on the sports side of the pillar and knew that its completion would take time: “It took a lot of time because I had to make sure the stripes looked good. I had to make sure it looked like an actual sports ball. It was very tedious but worth it.”

Monger worked on the side with the multiple suns: “First, I made my preliminary sketch, and I worked out the sizing for everything. I played around with the sizing and next, I showed Mr. Kasper for approval, and he helped me with everything. I love the final product.”

Issa worked on the cheerleaders’ side: “I freehanded and it took a lot of patience. The cheerleaders were almost identical, and I had to make sure the lines were straight. I introduced the idea of drawing the cheerleaders, and it turned out great.”

Wilson worked on the side with band instruments: “I did it based off of the band instruments and off of what Mr. Hare wanted. I worked really hard to try to incorporate the school’s pride, and I believe that I succeeded in this feat.”

The students’ work is admired by their peers and the staff. Next time you walk by the pillar, you will fully be on board, too.

Have a great week, Brooklyn!

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

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Mills

*Grade 4 Teacher*

By: BHS Staff Profiles 

February 10, 2023

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Laura Mills. Mrs. Mills has been a teacher in the Brooklyn City School District for 28 years and also did two years of substitute teaching, prior. Some of her favorite hobbies are spending time with her family, watching TV shows and movies, and growing flowers in her garden during the Summer. A fun fact about her is that she has been on Air Force One (2006), due to her husband knowing the navigator of the presidential aircraft. Colonel Holland invited Mrs. Mills and her husband on an Air Force One tour after stopping in Cleveland with former president, George W. Bush. 

Q: What is a typical day like for you? 

A: “It’s a lot different now that all three of my kids are at college! Coffee, teach, eat, watch a show with Mr. Mills, cuddle time with my cats, sleep, and repeat.”

Q: How has being a teacher impacted your life?

A: “Being a teacher has taught me that some days, you just have to do the best you can. Always know that tomorrow is another day and another chance. You can always try again tomorrow!”

Q: What are the different methods to make social studies more entertaining for your students?

A: “I love all the game programs that are available to help students practice vocabulary words — Quizlet, Blooket, and Word Wall! I do a lot of group work and watch videos to keep it as entertaining as possible! Fourth grade social studies is all about Ohio, so that is fun to teach.”

Q: As a teacher, how do you manage the different learning levels of your students?

A: “That’s really tough to do. Luckily, I have great teachers I work with who offer suggestions and advice to help meet all the different learning levels in my classroom. A variety of activities and different approaches on different days helps to try and meet the various levels in my classes.”

Q: How do you plan out your lessons?

A: “I try to use a variety of resources, both print and digital. I try to find interesting ways to learn information. I plan a lot of group work and discussions. I also love using games in the classroom. I try to plan my lessons so they move fast and stay interactive.”

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration?

A: “My mother was very active in my school growing up. She was the PTA president and very actively involved. She always put her family first. She is (or was) a big inspiration on how I wanted to raise my own children.”

Q: How do you deal with a stressful situation?

A: “Deep breaths, find some positivity, and think happy thoughts. Listen to music. Reach out to others if you ever need help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when it’s needed.”

Q: What was your biggest setback in life, and how did you overcome it?

A: “Being diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2013 was something that totally changed my life. I have found that the best way to overcome setbacks is to keep a positive attitude. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. My Brooklyn family was a great help during my cancer treatment; they sent lots of positive energy to me and my family! After surgery, Chemotherapy, and 10 years of medication, I am proud to say that I am a cancer survivor.”

{Editor’s Note: AMEN!}

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be? 

A: “I think I’d like to be able to go back in time; I could fix some mistakes that I have made along the way.”

Q: Chiefs or Eagles? 

A: “Let’s go, Eagles!”

Thank you for taking the time to respond to our questions, Mrs. Mills. We are so happy that you are cancer free; what an inspiration you are to many!

A Tribute to Our Senior Hoopsters

By: BHS Sports Staff

February 9, 2023

This past Saturday, Brooklyn High School held their senior day/night for both the boys and girls basketball teams. 

The boys’ basketball team hosted the Clearview Clippers. The Hurricanes came in with an 11-7 record after a nice win against Independence for a season sweep of the Blue Devils. The Clippers, on the other hand, came into the game after a win against Black River and an overall record of 8-10. 

In the first quarter, Brooklyn started off with an early spark, playing great defense and allowing just five points, leading 12-5.

Clearview made some adjustments in the second quarter by cutting Brooklyn’s lead to just one point, but the Canes gained their seven-point lead right back with forcing turnovers and scoring transition buckets. At the half, Brooklyn led 26-19.

Out of halftime, the Hurricanes struck first in the second half with a quick basket, but the visiting Clippers went on a 10-0 run to take a one-point lead with a couple minutes remaining in the third quarter. All of a sudden, Brooklyn woke up and reclaimed the lead and refused to lay off of the gas. The Hurricanes finished the quarter outscoring Clearview 17-11 and took a comfortable seven-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. 

The fourth quarter belonged to the Hurricanes as they led by as much as 15 points. The Clippers tried to knock down some deep balls to get them back into the game, but they could not get it done as Brooklyn prevailed with a 65-52 victory. 

Senior Jaiden Basinger led the way with 23 points followed by senior Randall Fields who scored 11.

A great team victory on Senior Night for the boys! 

The boys host Cuyahoga Heights on Friday night and Columbia on Saturday night to conclude their regular season before the postseason.

Come out and support our boys this weekend!

The girls’ varsity team, on the other hand, had a difficult time against the Cuyahoga Heights Red Wolves. The Lady Canes, who have been playing well this season, came in with a record of 12-6. The Lady Red Wolves came into the contest with a 14-5 record, similar to the Lady Canes. 

In the previous encounter, the Lady Canes came home with a road victory, 44-40. This time in Brooklyn, though, the script would be flipped. 

The Lady Canes won the tipoff and started the game with an early lead, thanks to three-pointers from seniors Delaney David and Shariah Gailes. The Red Wolves started to come back with timely shooting and were able to take a 15-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Cuyahoga Heights stayed consistent in the second quarter, holding onto their lead and playing well on the defensive end. The Lady Canes struggled offensively making shots, helping the Red Wolves head into the locker room with a seven-point lead, 23-16.

To start the third quarter, the Lady Canes began with a quick 5-0 run, cutting the Red Wolves lead to just two, but Cuyahoga Heights turned things around as they started knocking down most of their shots on time-consuming possessions to get their seven-point lead right back and more. 

After the third quarter, Cuyahoga Heights led 37-25.

The Lady Canes did not give up in the fourth and kept battling, but it just seemed like nothing was falling for the most of the fourth quarter. Cuyahoga Heights had a seven-point lead with a minute and a half remaining, but the host Lady Canes just could not find any consistency offensively, thus they fell short in this tough matchup, 47-39. 

With the loss against the Lady Red Wolves, both Cuyahoga Heights and the Lady Canes tied for second place in the CVC Metro with Richmond Heights winning it all this year. 

The girls responded last Monday with a dominant victory over Clearview, 56-24. The 13-7 Lady Canes will finish off their regular season tonight as they host Garrett Morgan at 6:15 p.m. 

Come and support the girls as they get ready for next week’s playoffs!

Go Canes!

(For up-to-date schedules and events visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.)

Black History Month: Kobe Bryant 

By: BHS Features Staff

February 8, 2023

{1978-2020} 

To begin this year’s Black History Month, the BHS Features Staff will start off with Kobe Bryant and all of his influence and accomplishments. Bryant is someone who stood up for what he believed in and touched the hearts of millions. No matter their race or age, he was an inspiration to all, especially avid basketball fans.

Kobe Bryant was born on August 23, 1978. He was known as the Black Mamba. He was a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, a father of four beautiful children, and a husband to his wonderful wife, Vanessa Bryant. An incredible feat is that he was the youngest NBA player to ever start a game; he was 18-years-old.

Bryant wanted to be a professional basketball player from a very young age. His father was a basketball player in the NBA, and he was Kobe’s inspiration towards wanting to become one as well. Bryant played basketball at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, where he earned multiple MVP awards and broke numerous records. After high school, he passed on college (with numerous scholarship offers) to enter his name in the NBA draft. He was the 13th pick in the 1996 draft but was later traded to his dream team: The Los Angeles Lakers.

Kobe Bryant is a five-time NBA champion, and he also took the Slam Dunk title in 1997. Additionally, he has scored more points than any other guard in NBA history, including Michael Jordan. Hands down, he is one of the top 10 players of all time. To the younger generations, he is a top 5 player.

With all of his fame, stardom, and influence, Bryant’s life came to a sudden and tragic end. On January 26, 2020, he and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, along with others, were flying to a girls basketball tournament when their chartered helicopter crashed into the mountains West of Los Angeles. Fog was plentiful, and federal safety officials blamed pilot error for the crash.

Why is Kobe Bryant inspirational? He was dedicated to basketball, his main passion. Also, he was and still is a true icon, and his story of perseverance is an inspiration to people all over the world. He also had a tremendous work ethic and frequently answered the call when necessary. 

These are just a few of the many reasons to be inspired by the Black Mamba.

[Information for this feature can be located at Illuminerdi.com and at NBA.com.]

Heritage Parade

 By: BHS News Staff

February 7, 2023

To celebrate our different cultures here at Brooklyn, the high school held a heritage parade to show off all of its students’ diverse backgrounds.

There were roughly 27 different countries that were represented in this parade.

The committee that organized past cultural events used the previous International Festivals as an inspiration for this year. 

The world language teachers, Mrs. Velez (Spanish) and Mrs. Huang (Chinese), put the cultural celebration together with the spirit week leading up to the day of the parade.

Mrs. Velez said, “I think this parade went well. I think people got to represent who they are. I represented the Dominican Republic. We have a committee that comprises elementary and high school teachers. Mrs. Huang and I were the parade sub committee. We took ideas from the old parade and tried to put a little twist on it.”

Students volunteered to help make posters and to walk in the parade, and each group representing a country held a flag or a poster representing their country. Some students even brought their culture’s clothing and customs to feature in the parade. 

Overall, the parade was able to bring multiple cultures together and create new memories. The students and teachers seemed eager to show their appreciation for the many different cultures that make up BHS.

Well done, everybody!

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

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