THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Jenna Young Shines at State Tourney

By: Ella Fowler, Kelsey Bruzek, Tyler Elzholz, and Jaiden Basinger

March 9, 2021

This past Saturday, BHS sophomore Jenna Young competed in the OATCCC indoor track, state championship representing the Blue and Gold.

Young finished second in the high jump out of the 24 girls who were competing across the state.

She and her newest rival, who placed first, have been competing against each other since eighth grade. Even with the rivalry, finishing in second place as a sophomore is a feat that she is proud to have accomplished.

Although she did not meet her personal best, she still beat all of the competition, minus one competitor.

After finishing her indoor season, she plans on taking part in this Spring’s track season, which is right around the corner. Aside from increasing her jumps, she is looking forward to helping the newcomers on the track team and mentoring them as they grow in their own skills.

Young stated that she wants to be a high jumper in college and continuously follows her motto for success: “Don’t sike yourself out; do what you can, and be confident in yourself.”

Congratulations, Jenna! We are excited to watch you and the rest of your BHS teammates compete this upcoming season.

Go Canes!

Women’s History Month: Shakira Ripoll

By: Brittney Corrado, Laila Schwin, and Alisha Bains

March 9, 2021

Shakira Ripoll is a Colombian singer and songwriter. She was born on February 2, 1977, and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia. She gained a passion for music and performing at a young age as she was influenced by her family and from multiple, cultural musical and dance styles. She was also influenced by her father, who often wrote stories. She used this as encouragement to write poetry and to get a typewriter in order to further her craft. Much of her poetry would later become an inspiration for her songwriting.

Shakira is known as the Queen of Latin Music, and despite a rough start to her musical career, she has achieved international success. She made her musical debut under Sony Music Colombia at the age of 13. Her first two albums, Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993), were failures in terms of commercial success, but these setbacks did not deter her drive.

In Hispanic countries, she started to gain popularity for her next two album releases, Pies Descalzos (1995) and Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998). Shakira then began catering to a wider audience as she released her first English album, Laundry Service, in 2001. Laundry Service sold over 13 million copies worldwide and led Shakira toward a career of international success.

Shakira at the 7th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards | LatinGRAMMY.com

Who is the female, Latina artist with the most-sold albums? Answer: Shakira! She has also received numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards, twelve Latin Grammy Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards, thirty-nine Billboard Latin Music Awards, six Guinness World Records, and she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the early-to-late 2000s, she was named as the Top Female Latin Artist of the Decade by Billboard on two different occasions.

At 18-years-old, Shakira co-founded the Pies Descalzos (Barefoot) Foundation, which is currently providing education and nutrition to more than six thousand children in Columbia; this foundation is spreading to other countries, as well. She is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has been since 2003. She was chosen to become ambassador because of her great involvement and passion towards global issues and her commitment to helping children.

Shakira has used a lot of her fame and money to help others. She also donated forty million dollars to Nicaragua for the Hurricane ETA Relief Fund.

Overall, Shakira has had an extremely successful, musical career and has used her fame and money from this career for extremely good purposes. She has defined a generation of music and diversity within musical styles in a way that most artists have not been able to do.

Just last year (2020), she performed the Super Bowl LIV halftime show with Jennifer Lopez, and if you watched it, you will know that her “Hips Don’t Lie”.

{Editor’s Note: Information for this article was retrieved from Biography.com.}

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Jones

*Teacher: Interventionist*

By: Morgan Blechschmid and Danielle Shehee

March 8, 2021

Mr. Jeffrey Jones is an intervention specialist here at Brooklyn High School. He is best known for his ability to help students better understand what they are learning, especially in math. He knows how to have fun while learning but also knows when it is time to get straight down to business. Jones has been an intervention specialist here at Brooklyn since 2009 and continues to greatly-impact the students he works with on a daily basis. Being a great advocate, these are just a few of the many reasons why he was chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight!

Q: Why did you decide to become an intervention specialist?

A: “When I was in school, I struggled throughout my education. Fortunately, I had an excellent support system with family and friends to help push me in a good direction. I knew I wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn’t until I was at the Ohio State University when I realized I wanted to be an intervention specialist. Ultimately, I wanted to be that support system for students that I had and show them that achieving their goals can be done.”

Q: Where did you go to college?

A: “I always wanted to go to the Ohio State University. I didn’t have the grades and accomplishments to enter my freshman year. The Mansfield branch for OSU was set up similarly to a community college, and I had recognition as a student at Ohio State. I did this for my first few years but ultimately transferred to The University of Akron as the intervention specialist program at Ohio State was highly competitive and only accepted 30 students per year.”

Q: What is your favorite subject to teach?

A: “Math. As I said earlier, I did not do well in math when I was in school. I struggled, and I love being an example for students that even though it seems hard, you can keep trying and get better in it with practice and getting help. I was too immature in high school to realize this, though. I hope students can learn from my mistakes when I was their age. Since I struggled with math, I also feel like it gives me a better understanding of how to connect and teach students who do not love math or feel like they are not good at it.”

Q: What is your life like outside of school? What are some of your hobbies?

A: “Honestly, I have a very simple life outside of school. I have been married for six years to my wife, Jessica; she’s a superhero and high school science teacher. I actually met her at Brooklyn High School in 2010 as she was completing her student teaching for college. We have two sons: Cooper (five- years-old) and Harrison (four-years-old). Most of my time outside is spending it with my family. We walk our chocolate labrador, Darwin, ride bikes, go hiking, and camp. When I’m not doing things with my family, I enjoy golfing, playing video games, exercising, and learning new things (coding, home construction, etc.).”

Q: What is your favorite type of music to listen to and why?

A: “Hip-Hop/Rap. Growing up in the 90s, the hip-hop culture became mainstream. I loved sitting in my room at my stereo, disconnecting in the lyrics with hearing about struggles and how people overcame them. Even though I grew up in the suburbs, my family had to hustle to make a better life. There are many positive lessons (Unfortunately, they get overlooked by other messages.) within the music that you can apply to your life, and I have always loved that aspect of it.”

Q: If you could listen to one musician/singer the rest of your life, who would it be?

A: “This is pretty much impossible to nail down as one musician/singer. I guess Drake just because of his versatility. He’s not even my favorite artist, either.”

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration? Why have they inspired you?

A: “My parents and family have been the biggest inspiration for me. They helped provide the necessary resources and taught me important lessons that helped mold me into the man I am today. I also am very thankful for my friends and colleagues who I have been surrounded by and the positivity they bring.”

Q: How do you deal with a stressful situation in school?

A: “I like to disconnect and be productive. When time passes and the stressful experience is over, at least I made progress with something I want or need to do.”

Q: If you had the opportunity to fly out of the country, where would you go?

A: “Without a doubt, I’m flying to Spain.”

Thank you, Mr. Jones, for spending some time answering these questions. BHS loves having you on board as you are great for students.

By the way, Mr. Holko has an equation for you: Tupac > Drake.

Music Preview: Freaky Friday

By: Valery Warner, Ariana Rojak, and Aiden Nelson

March 8, 2021

Last week, we previewed everything that Mr. Kaspar’s crew was preparing for the upcoming musical, Freaky Friday.

Today, we will preview the musical aspect of Freaky Friday with band director Mr. Sean Sullivan.

To set a timeline, similar to the crew and cast, this year’s musical pit has been rehearsing for a little over five months. With the play being performed at the end of this week, there is much excitement for all of the practice and preparation to pay off.

Sullivan is no Spring chicken when it comes to preparing his pit for shows, but his energy level and expectations consistently remain high.

“I say the same thing every year. I am the most excited about the process of getting from day one to opening night. Watching and hearing the improvement over time of musicianship, character development, set construction, stage/lighting design, vocals, acting, etc., is what really makes this exciting. It’s all about the process of getting the show up and running.”

In a year of expecting the unexpected, Brooklyn High School’s drama and musical departments rose to the challenge yet again. Teachers and students, alike, had decisions to make, and because of these decisions, hard work, and commitment, the group persevered and is ready for opening night this Thursday, March 11.

The musical pit is ready to perform the music from Disney’s Freaky Friday, and Sullivan believes that they are ready for the bright lights.

“This week is our final preparation, but we are ready. It’s an exciting week when all of this comes together.”

It is time to hear the pit rock out to Freaky Friday classics such as, “I Got This” and “Today and Everyday” along with many more hits.

This musical debuts on Thursday, March 11, and concludes on March 13. In-person viewing is limited, but Freaky Friday will be streamed live online.

Good luck, Mr. Sullivan; your pit will do great. Now, rock out!

Spring Sports Preview

By: Ella Fowler, Kelsey Bruzek, Tyler Elzholz, and Jaiden Basinger

March 2, 2021

This past week, the baseball, softball, and track teams have been putting their teams together and starting up practices in order to get ready for their upcoming seasons.

The sports department, here at The Return of the Eye, reached out to the Spring coaches and asked them a few questions regarding their seasons ahead.

*Baseball*

Head Varsity Baseball Coach Kevin Sedlacek is heading into his ninth year at the helm, and after last season getting shut down, he is super-excited about his team and their progress.

“I’m most excited about having a season. There is no place better to be than at a baseball game on a warm, Spring afternoon in front of students and parents. Our primary goal is to learn about the game. We also need to master the art of swinging and hitting like a baseball player. We are doing a lot of teaching and mastering of the fundamentals.”

Coach Sedlacek constantly reminds his players that mistakes are not always bad just as long as they learn from them. The team is young but explosive with potential from a very strong, sophomore class.

*Softball*

First-Year Head Varsity Coach Nicolette Kunnath is excited to be a part of the Hurricane softball family.

“I am most excited to be a part of Brooklyn softball this year. This is my first year as a coach, and I am excited to work alongside Coach Field and Coach Joe. Play, practice, dedication, and a positive attitude will put you above and beyond your competition. Our softball team [currently] works hard in practice to make those key plays that matter on the field.”

One of the team’s goals this year is to have a dedicated group of girls who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the game and most importantly to treat each other like family. Culture will determine their on-field success, and Coach Kunnath is determined to establish this chemistry early.

“For me, personally, building connections with our players is where I truly shine. It takes building connections and having trust in our players, and the players having trust in me will bring out the best that our team can be.”

*Track*

With the track season quickly approaching, Head Coach Kyle Akins is eager to get back into the flow of things.

“With it having been two years since we’ve competed, we’re excited to see all the improvements our upperclassmen have made as well as all the new faces in their first year of high school track. We plan on spending the early part of the pre-season getting in shape and getting the basics down with the extra number of first-time participants this year. Then, after initial pre-season training and conditioning, we will work with our athletes at an individual level on techniques and instruction to maximize their abilities. Being more individually-focused than many sports, we strive to help each of our athletes enjoy the sport while maximizing their individual potential.”

Having Spring sports canceled last year, it sure will be nice watching these Hurricane athletes competing again on the diamond and on the track. All seasons are scheduled to start at the end of March/early April, so be sure to check the Athletics page on the school website for updated schedules.

Good luck to all Spring coaches and athletes.

Go Canes!

Women’s History Month: Naomi Osaka

By: Brittney Corrado, Laila Schwin, and Alisha Bains

March 2, 2021

Naomi Osaka is a Japanese tennis player who, in the last few years, has created a professional record that sent her straight to the top of the tennis ranks. She began her professional career in 2013 at age 15, skipping over junior tournaments and going straight to professional tours.

Osaka was born in Osaka City, Osaka, Japan, on October 16, 1997. Her parents, Leonard Maxime Francois and Tamaki Osaka, met in Sapporo, Japan, in the 1990s. Naomi grew up in The United States but holds Japanese citizenship and represents Japan on the tennis court. She started playing tennis at the age of three-years-old along with her sister, Mari. She was the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam title and became the first Asian tennis player to hold the world’s #1 ranking.

Her father was inspired by Serena and Venus Williams’ performance at the French Open in 1999 and decided that he wanted his children to follow the same path. Both Mari and Naomi played tennis from the age of three, coached and taught by their father, Leonard Francois. Naomi has remarked on how the greatest moment of her career was when she was finally able to beat Mari in a tennis match after losing to her so many times during their childhood.

Right-handed Osaka is currently 23-years-old and is five feet, eleven inches tall. As of February 22, 2021, her world ranking was #2. Equally impressive, in 2020, she earned $37.4 million which earned her the richest sportswoman of 2020. Playing tennis and having sponsorships with Nike and Mastercard helped her to accomplish this feat. Osaka has consistently been one of the highest paid female athletes in the world for several years now.

Naomi had her first major win at a World Tennis Association (WTA) tour event in Indian Wells, California, in March of 2018. Shortly after, in September of 2018, she won the U.S. Open, making her the first Japanese tennis player to have a Grand Slam title. She then went on to win the Australian Open in January of 2019, becoming one of the first players to win back-to-back major titles. Her win at the Australian Open gave her the #1 ranking in the world for women’s tennis, a first for any Asian tennis player, male or female.

Overall, Naomi Osaka has created an amazing reputation for herself at a fairly young age and is bringing a completely new level of tennis to the WTA. Her reputation is sure to be an inspiration for many young girls who aspire to learn the sport of tennis.

Would you want to return a Naomi Osaka serve clocked at 120 miles per hour?

{Editor’s Note: Information for this article was retrieved from Biography.com.}

Crew Preview: Freaky Friday

By: Valery Warner, Ariana Rojak, and Aiden Nelson

February 26, 2021

This year’s Brooklyn crew squad is relentlessly-working on the set for the upcoming play (the week of March 8), Freaky Friday. They have been working hard and building the sets since the beginning of November, which is later than usual as they awaited a final green light that there would be a performance this academic year.

By limiting the number of students per session, the crew has been under a lot of stress with meeting deadlines, but crew leader Mr. Chris Kaspar believes that this group will be ready because of their ability to perform under pressure and because of their determination to persevere.

“We are a much smaller group than in years past, but this group is special and is determined because of the leadership provided by over 15 seniors,” stated Kaspar. “They are the glue that holds us together.”

This year’s Freaky Friday sets will resemble a classroom, a backyard, a kitchen, and a counselor’s room; there will also be a scene in a high school hallway surrounded by lockers.

After last year’s cancelation of Newsies (on opening night – March 12, 2020), Kasper is very excited for this year’s play to be performed in front of limited audience members as well as online. He believes that every set, neatly and creatively built, will be ready to go.

“Having to shut down last year’s play on the day that it was to be performed was a punch in the gut. But, that was last year, and this year, we are ready and excited to present Freaky Friday.”

Thank you Mr. Kaspar and all of the crew members for dedicating your time to make this year’s play happen!

Now, break a leg, not a set.

Staff Spotlight: Miss Field

*Teacher: Mathematics*

By: Morgan Blechschmid and Danielle Shehee

February 26, 2021

Miss Kristen Field is a mathematics teacher here at Brooklyn High School. She is best known for not only being a great teacher, but she is also known for coaching sports, such as basketball and softball. Field is excellent at what she does. She is always willing to help students with lessons that are difficult to understand, and she individually helps struggling players. She is a great mentor and an even better person, and this is why she was chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight!

Q: What are some of your hobbies?

A: “I like being outside, as does my daughter. We like to hike and bike. I also like to golf. I love to travel, but COVID has limited those opportunities lately!”

Q: How have your high school teachers influenced you?

A: “I remember all of my high school math teachers. I think more than anything else they encouraged my interest in mathematics, which obviously turned into my career path.”

Q: What’s your favorite sport?

A: “Basketball (college level and below as I’m not a fan of the NBA) is my favorite to watch and coach. The strategy behind the game appeals to my mathematical mind. I enjoy playing softball and golfing.”

Q: What advice would you give to a student who has never had you as their teacher?

A: “It depends on what the student is coming to me for advice about! If it’s about succeeding in a math class, I would tell them to ask questions as soon as they’re starting to get confused. If it’s about succeeding in school (high school or college), I would tell them learning how to prioritize their time is essential.”

Q: What do you feel is most important about math?

A: “The most important thing that a student can learn from a math class has absolutely nothing to do with what math class they are taking. Learning mathematical concepts takes perseverance, problem solving, critical thinking, and logical/sequential reasoning. These are valuable skills for any student to learn and can be applied to any subject/discipline.”

Q: Where did you go to college? Why did you choose it?

A: “I got my undergraduate degree from Miami University (Ohio). I had a short list of schools that I wanted to go visit, and when I went to Miami, it just felt like the right fit.”

Q: What is your favorite inspirational quote? Why is it your favorite?

A: “I don’t know if I have one particular quote that I look to or remember, but one of my first years as a basketball coach, I brought in a motivational speaker to talk to my team. A lot of what he said has stuck with me all these years later. His general message was about not fixating on negative memories or worrying about things that you have no control over. If you can fix it, do it! If it’s out of your control, let it go. To paraphrase one of his favorite mantras, “Manure occureth, get over it!”

Q: If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be?

A: “I would change the amount of standardized testing. While I understand the intent of them, I lose so much instructional time preparing and talking about them. There are so many more interesting math topics that I would love teaching; I just never have time.”

Q: Do you have any goals as a teacher?

A: “Survive! This year has definitely been a challenge, and the use of remote instruction has been difficult. As we start to get back to “normal,” I hope to take some of the new instructional practices/resources that I have learned and mix them in with some of the traditional things to make my classroom a place where all students can be successful.”

Thank you Miss. Field for all that you do! You are loved and respected by many, and you truly make math as enjoyable as possible. Trust us, this is not easy to do, but you have accomplished this feat.

Senior Signing Day Spotlight: Joe Boreako

By: Ella Fowler, Kelsey Bruzek, Tyler Elzholz, and Jaiden Basinger

February 23, 2021

Senior Joseph Boreako signed the next four years of his life to Ohio Northern University to further his academic and football career.

Joined by all of his closest family and friends, Boreako took this day to appreciate the past four years and all of the support that he received.

Boreako reflected on how much his former coaches and teammates have influenced his football career.

“Past coaches and teammates have been the ones who have pushed me to my limits to get the absolute best out of me as an athlete.”

He explained that the reason he chose Ohio Northern University was due to this: “Throughout the entire recruiting process, all of the coaches were very kind to me and made me feel like family. They were much more inviting to me than other colleges.”

Boreako has faced some challenges in his young life but has used football to overcome them to persevere.

“Dealing with my father’s death during the second half of my sophomore year was without a doubt the biggest obstacle I had to overcome. I felt like I just had to bust my tail, day-in and day-out, to make him proud. I made sure he would never be disappointed in me because I know he watches every game, every practice, and every workout.”

Boreako encourages many young players to take the work in the classroom seriously and to focus on their education; this will then translate to success on the football field as well.

“For any athlete trying to play at the next level, keep your head in the books and your body in the gym. Success stems from hard work.”

Congratulations, Joe! The Hurricane family wishes you the best of luck with the continuation of your upcoming academic and football career. ONU is very fortunate to have you on board.

You earned this!

Black History Month: Mae Jemison

By: Laila Schwin, Alisha Bains, and Brittney Corrado

February 23, 2021

Mae Jemison was born October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama. She is a physician and the first African-American woman to become an astronaut. She was also the first African-American woman to go to space.

When Jemison was three-years-old, her family moved to Chicago, Illinois, for better educational opportunities. While there, she was introduced to different sciences by her uncle, which led to her lifelong interests in all fields of scientific study but primarily anthropology, archaeology, evolution, and astronomy.

While in high school, she decided that she was going to get her degree in biomedical engineering. After graduating, she went on to Stanford University, where she ended up getting her dual degrees in chemical engineering and African-American studies.

In 1977, shortly after her graduation from Stanford, Jemison entered medical school at Cornell University. She focused primarily on international medicine and spent time in both Thailand and Kenya, volunteering and studying medicine. She graduated from medical school in 1981, and shortly after a short tenure with a Los Angeles medical group, she became a medical officer with the Peace Corps in West Africa. While there, she worked on research projects, one of which was for the development of a vaccine for Hepatitis B.

Jemison joined NASA’s astronaut corps in 1986 as one of 15 people selected from over 2,000 applicants. Jemison completed her training as a mission specialist at NASA in 1988 and went on to process shuttles for launches and verify shuttle software at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. She then assisted in the first successful United States/Japan joint space mission in September of 1992, which was the STS-47 mission she had been selected for, during which she orbited the Earth in 1992 for nearly eight days. She served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour and became the first African-American woman to travel in space.

Mae Jemison left NASA because she wanted to pursue her other interests in teaching, mentoring, health care, science, and technology. Even though she only went on that single mission aboard the Endeavour, she still made history.

{Editor’s Note: Information for this article was retrieved from Britannica.com and Biography.com.}

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Chernushin

*Teacher: History and Government*

By: Morgan Blechschmid and Danielle Shehee

February 19, 2021

Mr. Nikolas Chernushin is a World History and Government teacher here at Brooklyn High School. Chernushin’s unique personality is just one of the many reasons why his classroom is often filled with excitement. His passion for teaching prevents dull moments because he is always ready to jump in. Chernushin has a bright sense of humor, his attempts to make his students smile never fail, and he truly has a passion for his content area. These reasons combined are why he was chosen for this week’s staff profile.

Q: Why did you choose to become a history teacher?

A: “I love history, and I love teaching. It’s all-around a pretty good job for me!”

Q: What got you interested in U.S. history as well as politics?

A: “My family had a pretty specific background and story about how they came to America that illustrated how complicated the world can be. There were also some interesting characters in the family tree. I suppose that started it along with a set of history books that I had in my house that I compulsively read as a child.”

Q: What are your favorite hobbies?

A: “I like snowboarding and playing guitar.”

Q: What is your favorite inspirational quote? Why is it your favorite?

A: “I don’t have one.” {Editor’s Note: Boring, Nush!}

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: “I would go snowboarding in the Himalayas.”

Q: How has the coronavirus pandemic affected your everyday life?

A: “I miss meeting up with friends and letting our kids run wild.”

Q: What other subject(s) do you enjoy?

A: “Gym!”

Q: Are there any historical events that schools don’t teach that you wish they did?

A: “I don’t think it’s a question of events not being taught. It’s more of having the time to get in depth about certain issues.”

Q: What are some goals you want to accomplish this year?

A: “One major goal I want to accomplish this year is to get as many students, as possible, to succeed on the Government end-of-course test and the AP Government exam.”

Thank you, Mr. Chernushin! We appreciate you and your “dad” jokes.

Vaccination Round One = Success!

By: Valery Warner, Ariana Rojak, and Aiden Nelson

February 19, 2021

This past Wednesday, the BCSD faculty and staff received the first round of the Covid-19 vaccine at the Educational Service Center in Independence. The vaccination was administered by Giant Eagle pharmacists.

With round one in the books, Superintendent Dr. Ted Caleris was very pleased with the staff feedback, especially with the minimal side effects.

“I would say that some staff had some minor reactions to the vaccine but nothing that caused any major issues,” stated Caleris.

The vaccinations were made possible by Caleris and his organized leadership. The BCSD was given numerous compliments by the healthcare workers at the ESC for their promptness, professionalism, and humor. There were even a few open spots for walk-up staff who did not sign up in advance.

The BCSD will receive the second vaccination on Wednesday, March 10. On this day and the following day (March 11), students will be responsible for independent learning as teachers will post assignments online. The main reason for this is that the second dose tends to have greater side effects, and this schedule will allow for staff to recover before meeting with students again on Friday, March 12.

If all goes as planned, after the second round of the vaccine, Caleris envisions bringing students back with a five-day, hybrid schedule, starting the week of March 15.

Thank you, Dr. Caleris and the BCSD faculty and staff. Now, we all must do our part, too.

Stay safe and healthy, everyone!