THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Senior Spotlight: Dominic Pytel

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

January 19, 2026

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Dominic Pytel. Dominic has been a Hurricane since kindergarten. Outside of school, he works at BMW in Westlake. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family. A fun fact about Dominic is that he can ice skate and rollerblade.

Q: What is one of your biggest accomplishments that took you a long time to complete?

A: “Growing into the person I am now.”

Q: What is the best time of the year for you?

A: “Summer when I can golf consistently.”

Q: What have you improved on since the beginning of your high school years?

A: “I have improved my kindness towards people I don’t know.”

Q: What career path after high school interests you the most?

A: “Automotive to become a mechanic.”

Q: What is something that you are good at?

A: “Basketball, football, baseball, and golf.”

Q: How do you define success?

A: “Small victories and not giving up.”

Q: How have your friendships changed or evolved throughout high school?

A: “My friendships have changed in the people I talk to but also have evolved by getting closer to other people.”

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

A: “Mr. Holko has had the biggest influence in my school career, giving good advice.”

Thank you for your participation in this week’s Senior Spotlight, Dom. We hope you enjoy the rest of your senior year, and good luck with becoming an automechanic.

Rapid Fire: Mr. Kaspar

*Art Teacher*

By: BHS Staff Profiles

January 16, 2026

Q: What is the last craft you made?

A: “Paper Mache.”

Q: Money or happiness?

A: “Happiness.”

Q: Driving or flying?

A: “Driving.”

Q: Would you ever skydive?

A: “Sure.”

Q: Have you ever traveled abroad?

A: “Yes. I have travelled to the Northern Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland.”

Q: What is the best compliment you have received?

A: “That I’m kind.”

Q: City life or countryside?

A: “City life.”

Q: Pancakes or waffles?

A: “Savory waffles.”

Q: Hiking or swimming?

A: “Swimming.”

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment in one word?

A: “Artist/Educator.”

Stay tuned for weekly rapid fire interviews and future podcasts. Have a wonderful weekend, Brooklyn!

Trojans Shock Hurricanes

By: BHS Sports Staff

January 15, 2026

On Tuesday, the boys basketball team (5-4) went up against their CVC rival, the Trinity Trojans (2-9). The Hurricanes were coming off of a loss one week prior against West Geauga, while the Trojans lost two consecutive games against Cuyahoga Heights and Andrews Osborne Academy.

Typically when Brooklyn and Trinity square up, there is a lot of energy and chippiness. This battle was no different.

The first quarter was back-and-forth with both teams trading made buckets. The Trojans clung to a one-point lead after the first, 13-12.

The visitors down I-480 held a steady lead in the second quarter, but the Hurricanes refused to go away, responding to Trinity runs. At the halfway point, the Trojans held a four-point lead over the Hurricanes, 28-24.

In the second half, junior Jose Mateo was issued a technical foul, and the momentum kept shifting in favor of the Trojans, as they went on a 12-1 run in the third quarter to take an 11-point lead, which was trimmed to nine by the end of the quarter, 43-34.

With one quarter to go, would the Hurricanes have enough fight in them to pull off the comeback?

The Trojans grabbed their largest lead of the night at 47-35, but the Hurricanes responded, going on a 6-0 run and cutting the lead in half. The intensity of the crowd was starting to amp up, as both teams traded buckets in the final minutes.

With less than a minute to go, the Hurricanes with a chance to tie the game with a three-pointer, went for two to make it a one-point game, but they could not convert the final shot with the game on the line as the Trojans escaped with the victory.

Final Score: Trinity 55, Brooklyn 53.

The game narrative consisted of intensity, trading runs, technical fouls, a lot of missed free throws, and a ton of emotion.

The Hurricanes, with the loss, drop to 5-5, and they will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon against Medina Christian. Tip-off is at 12:45.

Below is the upcoming schedule for Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics:

January 15: Hockey vs. NDCL
January 16: Girls Basketball @ Medina Christian
January 17: Bowling @ GCIBL
January 17: Boys Basketball vs. Medina Christian
January 17: Girls Basketball @ Fairport Harbor
January 18: Bowling – North Olmsted Tournament
January 20: Boys Basketball vs. Beachwood

Go Canes!

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

How to Start a ’70s Band

By: BHS Features Staff

January 14, 2026

Imagine starting a rock band with all of your friends. Wouldn’t that be amazing?

At Cleveland’s Playhouse Square from January 6-25 is the play, Stereophonic. Set in a 1976 studio with a British rock band in the process of recording their new album, the band begins as an unnamed group with Simon, the drummer, serving as the manager. Along with Simon, he is accompanied by Peter, Diana, Holly, and Reg. Together, the band consists of a drummer, a bassist, a vocalist, a keyboardist, and a guitarist.

Aspiring to make their second album, they work with Charlie, the sound engineer, to kick off their rise to fame. As the play goes on, the audience gets time to really know and understand each member of the band and how they interact with each other. The band is frequently seen spending their time together, even if it is eating junk food or play-fighting.

As creator David Adjmi was writing this play, he intended to make the characters as authentic and complex as he could, to give the play a more realistic feel. He wanted to make an emphasis on how important and intentional the creative process and brainstorming were for the band, really showing all the emotions that the members felt, both negative and positive.

Writing this play for Adjmi was an emotional rollercoaster. He considered quitting multiple times, even almost scrapping the whole play. But before he did, he realized how beautiful it was, even stating, “I wouldn’t trade this masterpiece for anything else.”

Some mention that the band loosely reminds them of Fleetwood Mac with some playwrights expressing that they took inspiration from a few 70s bands.

Nothing else feels more like home than Playhouse Square. With January 25 creeping up, this wonderfully thought-out play will be leaving town in less than two weeks, so do not miss out on the fun.

Want more proof of this play’s success? It is known as the most Tony Award-winning play of all time.

Rock on!

{Information for this article sourced from Playhouse Square, NPR, and Clevescene.}

Clubs Galore

By: BHS News Staff

January 13, 2026

With the new year in full swing, there are numerous ways to make new friends and connections in Brooklyn. Some of the ways are through various clubs and organizations that are mainly student-led. Brooklyn has numerous clubs, and each week going forward, a different club will be under the spotlight to inform the student body of possible opportunities.

Moving along, with February coming up, Heritage Week will soon be underway. Start preparing for the heritage parade, and be ready for something new this year. There is going to be a panel run in the auditorium, and stories will be heard from many who have come to America and what life is/was like in their home countries.

Next, Student Council will be decorating the hallways once again. Be ready for all of the colors, and remember to represent your grade level. This year, each grade level gets a different continent, and if you take a picture with each continent set up and show Mrs. Bader, you will receive a prize. Stay tuned for more information.

Did someone say Prom? With the new year here, preliminary talks about prom are already beginning. The confirmed prom date is May 22 at Windows On The River. Interested in helping plan it? Mrs. Holko is hosting a prom committee meeting on Wednesday, January 21, at 3:05 in room 271. Also, make sure to check the senior and junior Google Classrooms for the Malley’s chocolate fundraiser coming up to help earn a discounted ticket.

Lastly, all W.I.N. blocks are starting independent reading. Make sure to have your books ready, and do not forget your bookmarks. Each Tuesday will have a teacher’s favorite book. Today is Mrs. Bader’s, whose favorite book is Sunrise on the Reaping.

Here is the upcoming schedule for January

January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)
January 21: Prom Committee Meeting with Mrs. Holko (3:05 – Room 271)

Have an amazing week, Hurricanes!

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

Senior Spotlight: Jarianny Dominguez Calderon

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

January 12, 2026

Chosen for this week’s senior spotlight is Jarianny Dominguez Calderon. Jarianny has been a student in Brooklyn for four years and currently works part-time at McDonald’s. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, as well as participating in Track and Field and Flag Football. A fun fact about Jarianny is that she is the youngest student in her senior class, currently only 16-years-old.

Q: What do you want to do after you graduate from high school?

A: “I want to become a nurse. Seeing my baby brother born sick motivated me to want to become a nurse and work with sick children.”

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: “People having negative opinions on me while still pretending that they want to be friends with me.”

Q. What advice would you give to a freshman as they start the school year?

A: “Don’t take these years for granted. Time moves so fast, and the year will fly by. Take advantage of the opportunities given to you, don’t get lazy, and stay on top of your work.”

Q. Which year of high school was the most challenging or stressful for you?

A: “Junior year because I had the most tests for Polaris and had to study for all my quizzes and exams very thoroughly.”

Q. What is your favorite book?

A: “The Outsiders.”

Q. What is your favorite childhood memory?

A: “My favorite memory is going back to the Dominican Republic after I moved away. I missed my family and my mother, so seeing her made me so happy.”

Q. Your favorite childhood show growing up?

A: “Dora The Explorer.”

Q. Out of your entire school career, what teacher has been your biggest inspiration and/or influence?

A: “Mrs. Holko. She gave me the most genuine and best advice any teacher could offer. Every time I asked for something, she would tell me straight up if it was wrong or right or simply tell me what I should do.”

Thank you for your participation in this week’s Senior Spotlight, Jarianny. We hope you have a great rest of your year, and good luck with your future nursing career.

Rapid Fire: Mrs. Huang

*Chinese Teacher*

By: BHS Staff Profiles

January 9, 2026

With the new year comes a new change for staff profiles. No more feel-good questions and answers; it is now rapid fire!

To get to know the faculty differently, one staff member will be interviewed per week to help us explore his or her fun side. Chosen for the first rapid fire is Mrs. Huang.

Q: What is your favorite word in another language?

A: “There are so many words, but recently, I was reading a book, and there’s a term that really stuck into my mind. It’s called Psychological Richness.”

Q: If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?

A: “I would make it simple and say Ling. It would be easier for people to remember.”

Q: Salty or sweet?

A: “Salty.”

Q: Night in or Night out?

A: “Night in. I’m the early bird.”

Q: Your favorite age so far?

A: “Forty.”

Q: Beach vacation or mountain retreat?

A: “Mountain retreat.”

Q: Slightly late or super early?

A: “Super early.”

Q: New experience or familiar comfort?

A: “Familiar comfort.”

Q: What color would you be if you had to choose one?

A: “Light blue.”

Q: Favorite day of the week?

A: “Friday.”

Stay tuned for weekly rapid fire interviews and future podcasts. Have a great weekend, Brooklyn!

Strong Second Half Leads to Victory

By: BHS Sports Staff

January 8, 2026

Last Saturday, the Hurricanes opened up their newly-renovated gymnasium with a boys and girls basketball doubleheader against the Cuyahoga Heights Red Wolves.

Both teams knew that they were up for a challenge as the boys and girls teams for Cuyahoga Heights posted records above .500. It was sure to be a great night in Brooklyn.

The girls team started off hot with freshman Zoe Schultz hitting the first shot, a 3-pointer in the re-opening of the gymnasium. There was excellent defense in the first half by both teams, but the Red Wolves clinging to a three-point lead at the half, 12-9.

The Canes kept up a similar offense in the second half, but the Red Wolves eventually caught fire as they defeated the Lady Canes, 39-16.

Even though the girls have struggled this year, keep in mind that roughly 80 percent of the team is comprised of freshmen. The future outlook is positive, and they need the support from Hurricane Nation.

As for the boys game, the Red Wolves jumped out to an early 11-6 lead after three straight triples from long range. The Hurricanes closed the quarter on a 6-2 run to trail by one after the first eight minutes, 13-12.

The second quarter was more back-and-forth, but the Red Wolves had a seven-point lead that was trimmed to four after a late three-pointer by junior Jose Mateo to close out the first half with the score being 27-23 in favor of the visitors.

The Hurricanes caught fire in the second half, grabbing the lead and solidifying it by taking a seven-point advantage into the fourth quarter. They proceeded to go on a 12-0 run, stemming back from the third quarter, to take a 46-33 lead, their widest margin of the game.

Coach Shepherd’s team would then close out the game, playing dominant on both sides of the floor to earn the victory in their first home game of the season.

Final Score: Brooklyn 58, Cuyahoga Heights 37.

Senior Devin Hardwick led the team with 20 points, junior Braelyn Gardner added 14 points, and freshman Shaddai Givens added 13 points.

Coach Shepherd saw some excellent strengths in this game that led to the conference rivalry win.

“Our younger players Givens and fellow freshman Tyler Hardwick played really well, and I think our youth and depth was our strength. Plus, we played better defense in the second half, holding them to 10 points and getting the win,” stated Shepherd.

We would also like to give a special shout-out to the Brooklyn Community for making this grand re-opening possible.

Congratulations, Hurricane Nation! Your commitment and dedication to the Blue and Gold made this evening a memorable one.

Below is the upcoming schedule for Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics:

January 8: Hockey vs. Cleveland Heights (7:30)
January 9: Boys Basketball @ Independence (6:45)
January 10: Wrestling @ Maple Heights (9:00)
January 10: Boys Basketball vs. Lakeview (10:30)
January 10: Girls Basketball @ Medina Christian Academy (1:00)
January 11: Bowling @ St. Ignatius (9:00)
January 12: Girls Basketball vs. Christian Community School (6:00)
January 12: Hockey @ Nordonia (7:00)
January 13: Boys Basketball vs. Trinity (6:45)

Go Canes!

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

When Culture Meets Fashion

By: BHS Features Staff

January 7, 2026

Many cultures have differing and unique traditions, fashions, foods, etc. It can feel overwhelming for some to try learning about other cultures, but visiting the Kent State University Museum is a great opportunity to learn more about North-African culture and its many contributions.

KSU’s exhibition will be one of the first universities to display North-African culture, specifically among contemporary fashion designers in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.

The theme of this exhibition is “Disruptors, Threads, and Our Land”. These themes help bring designers from different backgrounds together to discuss how to preserve the cultural aspects of North-African fashion.

With the rise of the streetwear style, the theme of “Disruptors” becomes prevalent. This theme illustrates how designers can preserve their culture while breaking free from traditional constraints.

When it comes to the designers themselves, they focused more on utilizing local materials through repurposing and upcycling. The theme “Threads” incorporated the raw materials used, tedious techniques, and the region in which they developed. It also helps the designers connect to techniques passed down from generation-to-generation.

Finally with regions, the last theme is “Our Land”. This section is important because it helps connect the fashion designers on a personal level. This theme can help express and grasp inspiration from the landscape, art, architecture, and culture to specific North-African regions.

No matter what your background may be, everyone is unique and special. Working together to learn more about people’s backgrounds is crucial in bringing us all together. Simply, fashion has a way of doing this.

We highly encourage you to visit the Kent State University Museum to witness the fashion of North-African culture. This unique exhibit will be available until May 10, but why wait?

{Information for this article sourced from Kent State University Museum.}

New Year, Fresh Start

By: BHS News Staff

January 6, 2026

Happy New Year, fellow Hurricanes! With 2025 in the books, it is time to welcome in 2026 with the hopes of a new year full of opportunities, memories, health, and success stories.

Speaking of health, as the current trend of seasonal sickness spreads like wildfire, make sure to stay safe by practicing good hand-washing skills. Additionally, use hand sanitizer whenever possible, as there should be a bottle available in every classroom. Finally, avoid sharing drinks or food with someone, especially if they are not feeling well. Good grades are reliant on good attendance, so take care of yourself and be in school.

Next, be sure to listen to the morning announcements for upcoming class meetings/dates/times with Mr. Larson and Mrs. McGhee. Class meetings outline important information and are sometimes held to show appreciation for those who have achieved great attendance. So, be sure to take advantage of the third quarter (46 days ending on March 12) and use it to your full advantage because eligibility can make-or-break participation in Spring sports and for the school musical, The Addams Family.

Regarding the Spring musical, the cast, pit, and crew members have all been rehearsing and building the sets/props. Soon enough, the curtain will be pulled to watch this performance unfold.

Even though there was not a lot of news for this week, rest assured that there will be much more going forward for this month and beyond. Be sure to subscribe to The Return of the Eye for current updates and information.

Here is the upcoming schedule for January (more to come).

January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)

Have a great, healthy, and productive first week back, Hurricanes.

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

The Traditions of Christmas

By: The Return of the Eye Staff

December 17, 2025

It is hard to fathom that Christmas is basically one week away. For some, this spiritual holiday brings sadness and grief, but for most, it brings joy, happiness, excitement, and celebratory traditions with family and friends.

Whether it is decorating the tree, opening meaningful presents, baking cookies, or celebrating this Christian holiday, every family has their own Christmas traditions. As famous musician Andy Williams once said, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

The Christmas spirit provides joy and love, and watching classic Christmas movies is a staple for most households.

For the final article of 2025, each journalist shared their Christmas traditions and their favorite Christmas movie. Take a look at what follows below to compare your traditions with ours.

AMIR

Tradition: Every year, my grandma comes and visits from Florida to watch us open presents and to come sledding with us. She always makes a wonderful Christmas breakfast that varies from eggs, pancakes, bacon, etc.
Movie: Elf is my favorite movie because my mom and I love the jokes in it.

DEVIN

Tradition: My family and I sleep in and wake up to my mom making a delicious breakfast.
Movie: Home Alone is my favorite because of the family comedy and thrill.

JEREMIAH

Tradition: Every year on Christmas, my family does Secret Santa, mainly just the adults. But, they do it because most adults really don’t get presents, so with the Secret Santa, we get a random gift from someone in the family.
Movie: My favorite Christmas movie has to be The Gremlins. This movie is one of my childhood movies and has always been my favorite ever since I was seven-years-old.

ANKITA

Tradition: During the week of Christmas every year, my family goes downtown to see the decorations and lights. We take pictures to capture the memory of our family being together during the holiday.
Movie: My favorite Christmas movie is The Polar Express. It brings back a lot of memories from my childhood when I was still in elementary school.

BEN

Tradition: Nearly every year, I go sledding with my family or friends. This year, I went with my friends, and let’s just say that my jeans were soaked by the afternoon.
Movie: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is put on every year and is always a good laugh.

RAYNA

Tradition: I love to bake Christmas cookies with my mom. We spend the entire afternoon baking cookies, chatting with each other, and discussing the gifts we are giving to others.
Movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas. I do not like Christmas movies much, but this is something my mom and I always watch together.

JUSTIN

Tradition: My favorite Christmas tradition is opening gifts with my family. On Christmas Eve, my household goes to my uncle’s house, where we exchange gifts. Once Christmas Eve is over, Christmas morning is when all the gifts under my tree get opened.
Movie: My favorite Christmas movie is, without a doubt, Home Alone. I do not care how original it is; every year, I enjoy sitting on my couch watching Home Alone on repeat.

NICOLLE

Tradition: My favorite Christmas tradition is cooking with my family. The morning of Christmas Eve, my family and I get together to cook some food for dinner later that day. It is a very important tradition for me since it brings my family together, and it allows me to catch up with family members whom I have not seen in a while.
Movie: My favorite Christmas movie is The Grinch. Although my family does not watch movies together very often, it is a movie I enjoy watching, no matter what.

SUMMER

Tradition: On December 23, my two cousins and I go to their Aunt Amy’s house. We get to pick out what we want for dinner. Then, we watch a movie. We go to bed, and then on Christmas Eve, we receive all of our gifts, open them, and then we cook breakfast. This breakfast usually consists of sunnyside-up eggs, toast or bagels, bacon, sausage, and usually something sweet. Later in the day, my aunt and uncle come over, and we have dinner together. Then, we go back home with all our gifts. On Christmas, we usually have breakfast as a family and then open our gifts from our other family. We then bake and start dinner that night. This three-day tradition has been the same for roughly 15 straight years.
Movie: My favorite Christmas movie of all time will always be A Christmas Story. Ralphie will always be my favorite character.

JACOB

Tradition: My family’s traditions aren’t usually big. We just usually have a little get-together and watch either basketball or football, eat delicious food, and hang out.
Movie: I would definitely say National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is my favorite because it’s a classic and very hilarious.

What are your favorite family Christmas traditions and go-to Christmas movies? Please share them in the Leave a comment section below.

Whether it’s Home Alone, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf, A Christmas Story, The Polar Express, or The Grinch, there is always something classic to enjoy with all your friends and family. Keep these traditions alive.

Merry Christmas, Hurricane Nation!

Senior Spotlight: Saevonh Holton

By: BHS Senior Spotlights Staff

December 12, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Saevonh Holton. After high school, Saevonh wants to start his own clothing brand and be an entrepreneur. He can be found on free days either playing basketball or spending time with his family, any chance he can get. A fun fact about him is that he has seven siblings.

Q: What do you hope your classmates will remember about you?

A: “I am always going to be here until I am not. They know who I am. If they need me, I will always be here.”

Q: Using only three words, how would your teachers describe you?

A: “Kind, Helpful, Team-oriented. I think I work well in a team, I am a nice person, I have a good attitude, and I am a helpful person.”

Q: If you were the principal, what would be the first policy you would change?

A: “The hoodie rule.”

Q: How would you say you have grown as a student throughout high school?

A: “I have very much improved since the start of high school with grades and attitude.”

Q: If you could trade lives with anyone in the world, who would it be?

A: “I do not think I would want to. I would have to live up to someone else’s expectations, and I do not want to do that.”

Q: What is the strangest Christmas gift you have ever received?

A: “Weird clothing items.”

Q: If you were the best at doing something, what would it be?

A: “Talking people through their problems.”

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

A: “Mrs. Velez. She has always made school more fun, since I honestly do not like school, whatsoever. She has made it more enjoyable for me.”

Thank you for your time, Saevonh. We hope you have a great rest of your senior year. Remember us when you become a famous designer.