THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Glow Tubing

By: Valery Warner and Laila Schwin

January 13, 2022

Snow Trails in Mansfield, Ohio, is bringing a new light to Winter activities this year. During the day, they offer the traditional options such as skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. By nightfall, their slopes are lit up and ready for a light show and glow tubing.

Glow tubing is exactly what it sounds like. It is snow tubing but glowing. They offer seven different tubing lanes with varying surface conditions to choose from to impact your trips down the slopes. The snow tubing lanes at their Vertical Descent Tubing Park are 1,100 feet long. The experience starts with a 100-foot vertical drop with a continued 500-foot downward slide before 600-feet of straighter ground to slow down before making your way back to the top. A conveyor carpet ride will take you right back to the top of the lanes, so there is no worry about making long, uphill treks for this tubing experience.

Because the glow tubing experience is set up differently from the base tubing experience, it is only offered Thursday through Sunday, unless there is another peak day within the week. Glow tubing will be offered regardless of weather conditions and may be supplemented with fake snow to ensure that the experience is up to high standards.

Glow tubing is an all-ages experience, and there are tubes offered in both child and adult sizes to accommodate for this range of ages. However, a waiver must be signed by all tubing guests as a safety precaution for this experience.

Glow snow tubing offered at Snow Trails in Mansfield, Ohio

Tickets for glow tubing must be purchased online at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled visit time. Tickets can be found here. No tickets will be offered at the facility. Tubing and glow tubing tickets are $28 per person for a two-hour experience. An additional hour of tubing time can also be purchased.

More information for the glow tubing experience can be found through the Snow Trails website.

Even when it is not snowing, glow tubing is definitely something everyone needs to experience if you are looking for a fun, Winter activity. Make sure you check it out before this year’s season ends!

New Happenings at BHS

By: Alaysia Curry and Daylun Armstrong

January 11, 2022

It is a new week, and there is information available for Brooklyn High School students and staff.

First, the Blood Drive that was scheduled for January 14 has been postponed to a further date; more information regarding the newly-scheduled Blood Drive will be found on Google Classroom in the very near future.

Secondly, with the rise of Covid-19 cases in Cuyahoga County, the Brooklyn City School District has issued a temporary mask mandate in order to ensure that students and staff are safe and taking precautionary measures to help stop the spread.

Lastly, depending on the amount of Covid-19 cases in the area, there may be a Spirit Week starting on Monday, February 7. Additionally, there is a scheduled pep assembly on Friday, February 11, followed by a possible Winter Formal (dance) that evening. Tickets will be available for purchase from February 1-10. Many are excited for these events to occur, but safety is first and foremost.

There is a lot ahead and a lot to look forward to in the near future, so please, wear your mask over your mouth and nose.

Hurricanes Ground the Eagles

By: Tyler Elzholz, Jaiden Basinger, and Jose Nazario

January 11, 2022

Last night, the Lady Canes traveled to North Olmsted High School and played one of their best games of the season, thus far.

In the first quarter, the Hurricanes started off slow, facing an early 7-0 deficit. However, the girls stormed right back playing pressure defense and running an efficient offense. On the defensive side, it was one shot and done for the Eagles, as the Hurricanes asserted their dominance on the glass. After one quarter of play, the visiting Hurricanes led the Eagles, 15-10.

The second quarter was back-and-forth with both teams trying to gain momentum. After giving up a few Eagles’ buckets early on in the quarter to bring the game within two points, the Hurricanes began to, once again, play lockdown defense and converted big plays on the offensive side by forcing turnovers. To cap off the quarter, the Hurricanes’ defense forced a turnover under eight seconds to play, and after some quick passes, junior Genesis Caraballo splashed a buzzer-beater, three-point shot to close out the half with the Hurricanes leading 28-22.

The third quarter is when the Hurricanes began to work the ball into the paint. Junior Shariah Gailes was able to frequently get to the free-throw line, to which the Eagles had no answer. Once the post-game was established, the outside shooting then followed suit. Penetration and kicking out became the key focus for this quarter; the ball movement was at a season-best. The Hurricanes added 16 points to their overall score and led the Eagles at the end of the third quarter, 44-37.

In the fourth quarter, fouls became a problem for the Eagles, and the Hurricanes were able to convert the majority of their free throws. The girls went seven for eleven at the line. The defense did not stop swarming and prevented the Eagles from making one final run. When the final buzzer rang, the visiting Hurricanes came out on top, 61-48.

Gailes led the Hurricanes with 20 points and double-digit rebounds. Caraballo added 18 points. Even though the two juniors were the primary scorers, the entire varsity team contributed to this team victory.

The win propelled their overall record to 5-4 (3-3 in the CVC).

The girls will be back in action tomorrow night as they host conference foe Cuyahoga Heights at 7:00 p.m. Good luck girls!

Go Canes!

For Winter sports schedules and more information, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.

Staff Spotlight: Miss Merriman

*Intervention Specialist*

By: Morgan Blechschmid and Chloe Rojak

January 6, 2022

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Miss Kerry Merriman! Miss Merriman is an Intervention Specialist here at Brooklyn High School and has occupied this post for the last nine years. Previously, she spent time working in retail at Old Navy and Target. She also has a love for reading and spent some time working at Books A Million in Rocky River before becoming a teacher. Miss Merriman also loves to travel; one of her favorite places to visit is Hilton Head, South Carolina. She is well-known by her previous and current students for encouraging them to strive for their best and to reach their goals.

Q: What is your favorite part about being an intervention specialist?

A: “I think my favorite part is working with smaller groups of kids and helping them to meet their goals.”

Q: If you were not a teacher, what would your current occupation be?

A: “I would probably still work in retail, possibly still be working at the bookstore.”

Q: What are some of your coping mechanisms for a stressful day at work?

A: “I tend to read a lot in general, but specifically, when I encounter a stressful day at work, one way I like to cope is to read. Reading fiction can take you away from the stress of everyday life. Outside of work, one way I like to cope with a stressful day is to work out. I work out a few times a week with a personal trainer.”

Q: What is your favorite part about working with the students and staff here at Brooklyn High School?

A: “Brooklyn is such a small school, so it tends to be easier to really get to know the kids. The staff here is also very supportive and easy to connect and work with.”

Q: Outside of Hilton Head, where else would you like to travel to in the future?

A: “I’m starting to talk with my parents about going on an Alaskan cruise two years from now for their 50th wedding anniversary. In the next three years, my parents, my brother and I are also going to Iceland. I also really want to go to Ireland and Scotland in the future.”

Q: What is your favorite reading genre?

A: “I would say Romance. I can also really fall into the Paranormal area.”

Q: What was one of the most significant life lessons ever taught to you?

A: “Follow your gut! If something doesn’t feel right, then change what you’re doing.”

Q: What were some of the highlights of your Winter break?

A: “It was a very low-key Winter break, but one thing I did do was spend time with my grandma as she just turned 90-years-old!”

Thank you, Miss Merriman. BHS is blessed to have you.

Disney On Ice

By: Laila Schwin and Valery Warner

January 6, 2022

Disney On Ice returns to KeyBank Center January 2022

As they enter year 41 of performances, Disney on Ice is coming to Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage Field House. From January 7-16, you will have an opportunity to watch all of your favorite Disney characters in a live and memorable experience.

This event in downtown Cleveland is Mickey and Friends, a performance featuring characters and scenes from Disney movies such as Moana, Finding Nemo, Toy Story, and more. And of course, this event will also feature Mickey Mouse and all of his friends, especially crowd favorite, Donald Duck.

The show times vary depending on the date. Most performances will begin at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. Tickets for these performances must be bought online and presented in digital or printed form upon entry, as none will be sold at the box office. Tickets can be bought here with more information found on the Disney on Ice website.

Disney On Ice presents Mickey's Search Party Tickets | Event Dates & Schedule | Ticketmaster.com

All attendees for Disney on Ice above the age of two-years-old are required to wear a mask at all times. One exception allowed for not wearing masks is when an attendee is consuming food or beverages.

This is definitely a must-see show for the whole family! If you have the opportunity, head downtown and soak in the magic of Disney on Ice.

Hurricanes Basketball Rundown

By: Tyler Elzholz, Jaiden Basinger, and Jose Nazario

January 4, 2022

With the halfway point of the season approaching, this year’s basketball programs are off to a hot start.

For the boys’ program, the veteran-led squad started off 3-1 with wins over Hearts for Jesus, Brookside, and Clearview. After a tough, four-game stretch, the boys regrouped with a dominating win over Garrett Morgan, evening their record to 4-4 (0-2 CVC).

Senior Jacob Sullivan has been a key player for the team as a motivator, demanding that the team plays to their full potential on both sides of the court. Also, senior transfer Luke Mackovjak has been a big addition to the team from his three-point shooting ability to being able to finish around the rim.

With 14 regular season games remaining, it is imperative for the boys to continue to improve as conference play begins tomorrow evening as the Hurricanes host the Independence Blue Devils.

The girls basketball team is also off to a hot start. The Lady Canes started the season off 3-0 with wins over Brookside, Richmond Heights, and Grand Valley. After back-to-back losses to Lutheran West and Keystone, the girls showed no mercy on Cardinal High School by blitzing the Huskies 48-11. The girls’ record currently stands at 4-2 (3-1 CVC).

Junior Shariah Gailes has been a key player, averaging a double-double with 12.0 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per game. What is great about this team is that every player can score and contribute in numerous, statistical columns.

Defensive intensity is the driving force behind this team and will continue to be the focus tonight as the Lady Hurricanes travel to Independence High School.

Good luck, basketball teams! Stay the course, improve daily, play together, stay healthy, and finish strong. Continue to make Hurricane Nation proud.

Go Canes!

For Winter sports schedules and more information, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.

Welcome Back, BHS!

By: Alaysia Curry and Daylun Armstrong

January 4, 2022

Hurricane Nation is back from Winter break and here are some upcoming events happening at Brooklyn High School.

The school musical (Matilda) will be premiering in March, and there is a lot of work and preparation for the cast, crew, and pit band to complete before the curtains open. Presently, the crew portion of the musical will be holding a meeting today after school in Mr. Kasper’s room to start planning and building the set(s) and props. All involved are excited for this show.

Additionally, the Murals class along with members of the National Art Honor Society will continue to paint the school walls with outstanding art to show creativity, artistic expression, and school spirit.

Finally, there may be a possible Blood Drive occurring on January 14 in connection with the BHS Student Council. More information will be coming soon (dates, sign-up sheets, etc.) via each grade level’s Google Classroom. As a reminder, Student Council meetings are still on Mondays after school in Mrs. Bader’s room.

There will continue to be more events in the near future. As of right now, BHS is glad to welcome back students and staff from, hopefully, a great break!

Holiday Gardens

By: Laila Schwin and Valery Warner

December 16, 2021

If you are looking for a unique, holiday experience, look no further than the Cleveland Botanical Garden’s current event: A Garden Holiday. The event began on November 20 and will conclude on January 2. A Garden Holiday is full of festive cheer for people of all ages.

This year’s holiday garden features a wide variety of holiday plants and decorated trees to match the Christmas spirit. Some highlights are their various colors of poinsettias, decorated evergreen conifers, and gingerbread house displays made by various local bakers. The event will also highlight the herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables that are popular throughout the winter season.

There are also outdoor events to pair with this holiday garden experience such as hot cocoa story time, marshmallow roasting, and community crafts. When you are done enjoying these outdoor events, you can also tour the regular, indoor parts of the gardens as well as a few indoor, holiday decorations. The lobby of the gardens currently contains a 16-foot decorated Christmas tree that guests can take family photos with for the holiday season.

The gardens are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 12:00-5:00 p.m. on Sundays. While they are usually closed on Mondays, they will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both Monday, December 20 and Monday, December 27.

While tickets are available inside the garden, it is highly recommended to purchase tickets ahead of time online. Adult admission is $16, children between the ages of 3 and 12 are $12, and anyone under the age of 2 is free.

If you are interested in the plants of the season and a new holiday experience, the Cleveland Botanical Garden and its holiday display are something that you should definitely check out.

Happy holidays, everyone!

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Campbell

*Teacher: Special Education*

By: Morgan Blechschmid and Chloe Rojak

December 16, 2021

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Brenda Campbell! Mrs. Campbell has been teaching for 16 years and is currently a Special Education teacher here at Brooklyn High School. She is best-known for her welcoming personality, her sense of humor, and her ability to make connections with all of her students. Mrs. Campbell strives to provide the very best for her students by teaching them valuable, life-long skills and by helping them in areas where assistance is needed.

Q: What inspired you to become a special education teacher?

A: “I grew up with a special needs person on my street, and I really enjoyed working with her. I figured the only way I was going to make an impact was going into education.”

Q: What levels and subjects have you taught in the Brooklyn City School District?

A: “I have taught all levels, K-12 (except 4th grade). I’ve taught anywhere from inclusion to self-contained. I’ve switched around to probably every room!”

Q: How would you best describe your classroom environment?

A: “I try to make my classroom as welcoming as possible. I also think I’m strict, but I do like to have a good time. I feel like my kids know that I try to get a lot of work done during the day because I don’t like giving homework.”

Q: How do you feel, as a teacher, when you reflect on the growth of your students?

A: “It can definitely be an all-around challenge. When I don’t see much growth inside of the classroom, I feel like I see a lot of growth outside of the classroom. For example, if one of my kids comes and tells me that they got a job interview, I feel like that is so much more important than getting an ‘A’ on one of my tests.”

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: “I actually grew up in Brooklyn, Ohio!”

Q: What is your life like outside of school?

A: “I have a four-year old so that takes up a lot of my free time. But, I typically hang out with friends and family!”

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: “When people are dishonest!”

Q: What was the most significant life lesson ever taught to you?

A: “Hard work pays off! My dad was a very hard worker, and he was definitely an advocate for saying that dedication and persistence pays off!”

Thank you, Mrs. Campbell. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Holiday Doors and Much More

By: Alaysia Curry and Daylun Armstrong

December 14, 2021

Snowflake Partner Network Includes 2 New Partner Types

The week leading up to Winter break will be an eventful one for Brooklyn High School from holiday door decorating, reindeer games, a students versus teachers basketball game, and a pep assembly.

Many fun activities have been done this year during I.C.E. block to help encourage participation and to create an inviting space for people to not only learn but to have fun as well.

This week, Mrs. Jacinta Bader hosted a Holiday/Winter door decorating contest between all of the I.C.E. blocks. Students and teachers were encouraged to show their creativity by coming up with themes, bringing in/using materials around the school, and trying to come up with the most creative door design, while also having fun working with their friends.

In addition to the door decorating, the last three days of school before break (December 20-22), there will be a spirit week, hosted by student council.

*Monday – Pajama Day

*Tuesday – “Ugly” Sweater Day

*Wednesday – Color Wars (Seniors – Purple, Juniors – Red, Sophomores – Orange, Freshmen – Yellow, Eighth Grade – Blue, and Staff – Black).

To wrap up the festive month and activities on Wednesday, December 22, there will be a pep assembly where teachers and students will participate in reindeer games and play the long-awaited students versus teachers basketball game.

{Editor’s note: Early Vegas betting lines show the teachers as massive favorites in the game.}

This month has been a lot of fun, and BHS looks forward to more fun ahead.

Enjoy the festivities, BHS. Have a wonderful Winter break!

Great Start, Wrestlers!

By: Tyler Elzholz, Jaiden Basinger, and Jose Nazario

December 14, 2021

The Brooklyn Hurricanes wrestling team hosted a quad meet last Wednesday, December 8, and it was a solid start for some notable wrestlers.

The participating schools were James Ford Rhodes, Twinsburg, Brookside, and BHS.

Some of the team’s individual victories that night were senior Sofia Collins, sophomore Dylan Smith, and freshman Adam Bartow.

Collins took part in two matches, being able to come out on top in the first one. Unfortunately, she lost the second match.

Smith won all three of his matches with the first two being pins. The third match lasted the entire time, and he came out on top with a close and hard-fought victory.

Barttow was able to take part in only one match, but this one match came out in victorious fashion.

This Hurricanes trio worked hard, prepared well, and set their individual bar’s high for the remainder of this season and beyond. The likelihood for more pins and wins is something Hurricane Nation should look forward to.

Keep up the great work, Hurricane wrestlers!

The Hurricanes next meet will be this Saturday (December 18) at Keystone High School. Time is still to be determined.

Go Canes!

For Winter sports schedules and more information, visit Brooklyn Hurricanes Athletics.

Christmas Caves

By: Valery Warner and Laila Schwin

December 9, 2021

The White Gravel Mines in Minford, Ohio, has created a new and unique holiday attraction that adds a twist to the normal, holiday light experiences. The mines are already well into their sixth year for this Winter season and are expanding the displays for an even more festive experience.

The White Gravel Mines host several holiday events throughout the year in their caves with varying light displays and experiences. Their Christmas display is the most extensive and features an expanding light display that is nearly a mile long. The display has various decorations as well as informational light displays about the origins of Christmas. They also offer live Christmas caroling shows.

The mines are an all-ages event, and it is encouraged to bring children for the fun and educational experience. It is, however, a self-guided tour that requires a large amount of walking.

Admission to the mines is completely free, although they encourage guests to make a small donation to help out with maintaining and expanding the light show for future years. The only real cost is parking, which is $2-$5 per car depending on size. The mine light display also contains a gift shop full of ornaments and souvenirs.

The mines are open every Friday and Saturday during the Winter season prior to Christmas. The current remaining dates are December 10, 11, 17, and 18. Their hours are 4:00-10:00 p.m.

Given that this experience is free, there are no reservation requirements for touring the caves. Knowing this, it is recommended that if you are looking to avoid the crowds, you should attend at an earlier time rather than during their peak hours, which are 6:00-8:00 p.m.

You do not want to miss out on this year’s holiday, cave light display! It is well worth the drive and fun for the whole family.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season!