THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Staff Spotlight: Ms. Barber

*Teacher: English Language Arts*

By: Morgan Blechschmid and Danielle Shehee

December 4, 2020

Ms. Jamie Barber has been a teacher at Brooklyn High School for six years. She teaches English Language Arts 9 as well as Reading and Sports Literature. Barber is well-known by her past students and fellow teachers for having a fun and outgoing personality. When it comes to her students, she makes it a top priority to try and assure that her students are understanding information and are in a comfortable, learning environment.

Q: Who has been your biggest inspiration?

A: “I think my mom has always been my biggest inspiration. Things didn’t always come easy for her, but she has worked really hard for her entire life, and I know that she is where I got my drive and determination.”

Q: What is the favorite part about your job?

A: “I love how different each day is. I can plan my lessons, but I can never truly anticipate what students will say or do…which could be a positive or negative, depending on the day.”

Q: How would you describe yourself as a teacher using only three words?

A: “Caring. Honest. LOUD!”

Q: If you could choose another career, what would it be and why?

A: “I’m a full on cliche here…I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, BUT I think I would love to have a career as a travel guide. I think it would be so fun to learn about other cultures and share that knowledge with tour groups (Plus, just think of all the great food I’d get to eat!!).”

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: “Oh…I have so many…currently, I am annoyed by having to say, ‘Please pull your mask over your nose’ 9,246 times a day (an estimate-that number could be much higher!).”

Q: How do you think you’ve affected your students in the past?

A: “I hope they would say that they felt like they mattered and always felt heard in my classroom…and, maybe even, that they learned a thing or two as well!”

Q: How do you go about getting through a stressful situation?

A: “I’m a people-person, so I really rely on my community of friends to help me through everything. I do a lot of venting to them, and if that doesn’t work, there’s always raw cookie dough.”

Q: What will you decide to do once you’re ready to retire?

A: “It seems so far away, but I hope retirement finds me spending a lot of time on a beach relaxing in a place where the sun is *usually* shining! Maybe, I’ll open an outdoor coffee stand and just sip and tan all the rest of my days away.”

Thank you, Ms. Barber for all that you do. We appreciate you!

The Greater Cleveland Aquarium Is Going Remote

By: Laila Schwin, Aiden Nelson, and Ariana Rojak

December 1, 2020

Due to the constant spread of Covid, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium is going remote by using Zoom. By doing this, people can see and watch the different types of fish in the aquarium right in their own homes.

The event is primarily a shark exhibit, but it also will explore other related species kept at the aquarium. It focuses on the care and keeping of the fish, their different habitats, and their place in individual food chains for different species which includes sharks, eels, stingrays, and other unique ocean fish.

Currently, available dates for this event are December 4, December 10, December 11, December 17, December 18, and December 31. This is an alternating schedule of Thursdays and Fridays for whichever day fits your preference. All shows begin at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets for these Zoom events cost $18 at a base level and $12 for aquarium pass holders. The event lasts approximately 20-25 minutes and will certainly be an interesting and engaging learning experience for anyone who “zooms” in. Make sure to come prepared with questions because staff personnel and experts will be answering them throughout the event.

Tickets can be found on the aquarium’s website.

Once a ticket is purchased, you will receive an email with a zoom link on the day before your scheduled time.

Greater Cleveland Aquarium | Venue, Cleveland | Price it out

Do not miss this awesome opportunity to see the different types of creatures in the ocean, right here in Cleveland, Ohio.

Along with this event, the aquarium also offers live views of their aquarium through its website, primarily of the shark exhibits. If you just cannot get enough of the sharks after this event, you can click on the Aquarium’s Website or their YouTube page and spend some more time watching the sharks and learning a bit about how they live and interact on your own.

The aquarium also offers other activities through the Events page on their website, such as the stingray and coastal fish exhibits.

With everything going on, we hope that you all stay safe and can still find some fun and family time with these aquarium events.

In the words of Dory, “Just keep swimming!”

Ice Hockey Preview

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

December 1, 2020

The Brooklyn varsity hockey team is ready to roll. Head Coach Mike Wrost is returning for his second season, following in the footsteps of former Brooklyn legend, Ryan Kelber. Alongside him are assistant coaches Josh Dress and Jason Supek.

The team is coming off of a 5-14-1 record with a 3-9 conference mark, but there is a lot of excitement with the new players joining the squad as well as the returners growing in their skills.

Senior Jed Williamson is hopeful for a memorable and successful season while fellow senior Luke Ridenour is simply hoping that hockey games will be played this year.

Not only are these players looking to be better as a team, but they also know that individual improvement will lead to greater team success.

“I want to become a better goalie and try my best to be better each and every practice/game,” stated Williamson.

According to Williamson, the strengths for this year’s squad will be chemistry and confidence. Also, Ridenour believes that teamwork and communication will be keys.

“The more we practice and learn how our teammates play, the better we will get,” added Ridenour.

This year, players are optimistic about doing well in the Blue South Division, which is a division that many Hurricanes believe that they can compete in.

The team lost a big core of seniors from last year. One of those seniors, Aaron Wrost, is currently continuing his hockey career at Trine University, located in Indiana. With losing Wrost and other key seniors, this year’s team also gained some newcomers, especially on defense.

As Coach Wrost believes, “Defense is our main strength with seniors Jacob Pena and Alan Fernandez and freshman Matt Nicholson.”

Coach Wrost is looking forward to many aspects of this season but mainly watching the new players learn the game and their continued improvement throughout the season. Additionally, he is excited to see how the returning players grow into leadership roles by becoming less dependent on seniors. With smart and improved play, the coaching staff and team believe that they can indeed be Baron Cup qualifiers.

With hopes the season will start back up soon, the health of the players (on and off the ice) is most important at this point in time. Only time will tell when this pandemic permanently goes away, but all the information you will need on this year’s hockey season will be provided as soon as possible.

The Hurricane family wishes good health to all of you during these uncertain times.

Dig deep and press on!

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Goodwin

*Teacher: Automation/Robotics, Medical Detectives, and Design/Modeling*

By: Morgan Blechscmid and Danielle Shehee

November 20, 2020

Mr. Ronald Goodwin is a well-rounded teacher and person here in the Brooklyn City School District. Goodwin teaches seventh and eighth-grade students how to design functioning cars and robots, create models, how to 3D print different objects, and much more. He is a wonderful asset to the BCSD.

Q: What was your very first job?

A: “My very first job was being a paperboy for the Cleveland Press; the newspaper went out of business in 1982.”

Q: What hobbies are you interested in outside of work?

A: “Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, gardening, and playing golf.”

Q: What do you like most about your job here at BHS?

A: “The thing I like most about my job is working with kids. Usually, something funny happens everyday!”

Q: Where were you born, and where did you grow up?

A: “I was born and grew up in Berea, Ohio.”

Q: Where did you go to college, and why did you choose that school?

A: “For undergraduate college, I went to The University of Akron and earned a bachelor’s degree in English. I [then] earned my teaching license at Cleveland State University. I [also] have a master’s degree in Instructional Technology from Baldwin-Wallace College [now University].”

Q: What influenced you to become a teacher?

A: “My father, aunt, sister, and brother were all teachers at one time or another, so it runs in my family. But mostly, it would be my father [who] influenced me most in becoming a teacher.”

Q: How would you describe yourself as a teacher, using only three words?

A: “Humorous, strict, and flexible.”

Q: If you could go back in time and choose any other job/career, what would it be?

A: “If I could choose another career, I would be a superintendent at a golf course. I have worked summers at golf courses on the grounds crew for most of the past 30 years, and I really love that job. I enjoy working outside all summer long.”

Q: How do you go about getting through a stressful situation?

A: “To get through a stressful situation, I try and examine the problem and then come up with a workable solution.”

Thank you, Mr. Goodwin, for your time. It was a pleasure interviewing you and getting to know more about you. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

BHS Blood Drive

By: Valery Warner, Alisha Bains, and Brittney Corrado

November 20, 2020

Do you want to help others out, especially during the upcoming holiday season? Now is your opportunity to donate blood.

This year’s blood drive, run by The American Red Cross, will be held on December 2, 2020, in Brooklyn High School’s main gymnasium from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Anyone who is older than 16 years of age may sign up to donate blood. If you are exactly 16-years-old, you are still able to donate but only with a parent’s consent.

Before donating blood, there is a list of requirements that need to be met. The basic requirements are as follows: No cold or flu symptoms, moderate levels of iron (the common reason why many students are turned away), your weight must coincide with your height, and all tattoos must have been done professionally.

For a complete list of requirements, click here: Blood Donation Requirements.

Your blood gives to people in need, and it also helps earn community service hours and scholarship opportunities. For every 25 pints of donated blood, Brooklyn’s Student Council will receive a $500 scholarship for a senior who has either successfully donated three to five times.

Additionally, this year with the pandemic, hospitals are in dire need of blood, so The American Red Cross is giving out $10 gift cards along with T-shirts to anyone who donates.

For anyone interested in donating or participating in this year’s blood drive, please contact Mrs. Jacinta Bader (216-485-8100, ext. 8503).

It is the holiday season, so please donate your blood help others out. Remember, someone is always in need.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cleveland Winterfest 2020

By: Laila Schwin, Aiden Nelson, and Ariana Rojak

November 17, 2020

Starting on Saturday, November 28, downtown Cleveland will be merry and bright once again with its annual Winterfest; the tree lighting will start off the fest at 7:00 p.m. To avoid major crowds and risks, you can also watch the tree lighting through WKYC, Channel 3 News.

The events will continue until January 10, ending with ice skating at the Cleveland Foundation skating rink through Merwin’s Wharf. With a capacity of 50 percent, buy your tickets ahead of time because they will be gone quickly!

This year’s Winterfest boasts just as many events as prior years but on a bit more of a set schedule to keep social distancing and safety precautions in place. Many events require reserving spots or buying tickets in advance to ensure a safe time for any event you choose to participate in.

One of the main parts of the festivities is Riverfest at Merwin’s Wharf. This will be the place for events and activities such as ice skating, a festive garden with fire pits, festive light displays, shopping, and an igloo village. Admission is free; however, there are fees for ice skating ($5-$7 plus $3 for skate rental) and for igloo rentals (starting at $50 for two hours).

Holiday light shows will be going on daily in Public Square three times every hour from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. through January 3. There will also be horse and carriage rides on Saturdays through December 19 on a first-come, first-serve basis. Ticketed rides are also available for the horse carriages for $40 on select dates through January 2. Ticketed rides are longer and more scenic than free rides, and they provide a fun opportunity to see our beautiful city. Advanced reservations are required for both options though, so be sure to schedule early if you are really wanting to experience everything at Winterfest.

Winterfest Kicks Off the Holiday Season in Downtown Cleveland | CoolCleveland

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will also be holding Winterfest events with family-friendly outdoor events that includes live music, extended museum hours, shopping, food and drink specials, and more. This will take place on every Saturday night from 5-8 p.m. throughout the month of December.

Additionally, there will be virtual visits with Santa (through a Zoom call) from the North Pole to help keep safe, social distances from other people. The free, online sessions will feature question/answer sessions, sing-alongs, and an opportunity to take a selfie with Santa. The calls will take place on November 28, December 12, and December 19 at 11 a.m. Advanced registration is required.

There are plenty more events that will be popping up throughout Winterfest, so we suggest that you check it out for some fun, Winter days this holiday season.

On the note of safety, Winterfest is being presented by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, which states that all events will be conducted in accordance with CDC guidelines. Simply, safety is a priority amongst all of this. For more information on the guidelines, how they will be enforced, and a schedule of programming/events, go to winterfestcle.com.

Have fun, stay safe this holiday season, and be sure to check out Winterfest this year!

We all need a little brightness in our lives.

Boys Basketball Preview

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

November 17, 2020

Coming off a 4-18 record, the boys’ basketball team is looking to bounce back this year as they begin their 2020-2021 season.

The coaching staff this year includes Mr. Jerrod Karl, who is returning for his fourth year as the head coach of the varsity team. Alongside Coach Karl is Mr. Matthew Mesuga, who is returning as the head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach.

With a lot of returning players and a little momentum from the end of last season, Coach Karl has high hopes for this upcoming season.

“We are looking to build off our two-game win streak that ended last season by continuing to play with intensity and that chip on our shoulder,” stated Karl. “Practices to begin the year have been very competitive, and there is an attitude present in the gym that has been absent over the past few years.”

He added, “I believe one of our strengths this year is going to be our athleticism and length. We plan on using this to our advantage in our press and half court defense. Our hope is that this will create a lot of turnovers and fast break points. Biggest thing we need to focus on right now is getting into basketball shape to be able to run a press and intense half court defense for all 32 minutes.”

The varsity team consists of three seniors, seven juniors, and one sophomore, and the majority of the team has varsity experience. Two of these seniors, Ryan Cutright and Stephen Chhan, have high hopes for this season and are looking to keep the positive, preseason vibes alive.

Cutright, a returning role player, stated, “I am looking forward to getting back on the court and playing the sport I love most. I am optimistic about trying to have fun this year as a senior and try to win as many games as possible.”

Chhan, also a returning role player, added that he’s looking forward to the victories and memories this season.

“Our strengths are going to be our energy; I can enhance it by always keeping a high intensity.”

The first look at this year’s squad will take place on December 4 at Cuyahoga Heights High School for the season opener against the Redskins.

With optimism that the season will go on during this pandemic, the Hurricane family hopes for a healthy, successful, and memorable 2020-2021 campaign.

Go Canes!

Power of the Pen is Back

By: Valery Warner, Alisha Bains, and Brittney Corrado

November 13, 2020

The Power of the Pen is a creative writing group for grades 7-8, run by Mrs. Kathleen Mack and Mrs. Jacinta Bader. A group of student writers create stories to use in competitions all over the state of Ohio. Brooklyn has won several competitions in the past and looks to continue this trend of success.

In an interview with Mrs. Mack, coordinator of the 7th-grade Power of the Pen team, she mentioned that she began coaching this team at Brooklyn Middle School in 2013. For historical purposes, Power of the Pen began here in the Brooklyn City School District in 1985.

This year, because of the ongoing pandemic, many organizations have been canceled or altered. With Power of the Pen, students are no longer able to write stories on paper; instead, everything is now completed on a google document.

The first competition of this academic year will be completed virtually through a secure browser on Saturday, February 6, 2021.

As of right now, Brooklyn has not started competing. Last year, Brooklyn came in fourth place out of fifteen Ohio districts. The top writer from the middle school last year was Elias Perez, and he finished fifth overall. Perez (pictured below) will be returning this year, as an eighth-grader, to compete with the hopes of bringing home the title.

Everyone is very excited to see Brooklyn’s best writers compete in this year’s Power of the Pen competition(s).

For anyone with questions or interested in participating, please contact:

Mrs. Mack (7th Grade): kathleen.mack@bcshurricanes.org / (216) 485-8100, ext. 8436
Mrs. Bader (8th Grade): jacinta.bader@bcshurricanes.org / (216) 485-8100, ext. 8503

Winter Lights Festival

By: Aiden Nelson, Laila Schwin, and Ariana Rojak

November 10, 2020

As the winter season approaches, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is preparing for its annual, holiday-light special, and you have the opportunity to drive through or walk through the festival in a safe and socially-distanced way.

The themes for this year are Candyland, the Enchanted Forest, Conservation Trail, and Santa’s Workshop.

For the Drive-Through Events, the festival is happening on various dates from Tuesday, November 17 to Sunday, January 3. For the Walk-Through Events, the dates are Thursday, November 19 until Wednesday, December 30. For both options, you can schedule various times between 5:30 PM and 9:30 PM to experience the magic of the season.

Tickets are all available for those dates through the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo website and are expected to be in high demand, so make sure you buy them soon if you are looking to experience the festival this year. Due to the coronavirus, there will be a limited number of people who are allowed to be in the zoo at once. It is strongly-advised for you to buy your tickets early.

With pricing, the cost (for the walkthrough experience) is $18 for zoo members and $20 for non-members; you can also purchase a 4-pack for $54 (members) and $60 (non-members). Children under two-years of age are free. For the drive-through experience, tickets are $54 per car for members and $60 per car for non-members.

For the walkthrough experience, masks and social distancing are required for zoo patrons, and the number of people will be limited. For the drive-through experience, masks are suggested for interactive parts of the experience with staff members but not required. This will help keep the events safe and fun for everyone, despite the presence of the virus.

To help animals around the world, you can donate Christmas lights and/or extension cords to support the protection of lions and cheetahs in Tanzania through the Lights for Lions program as well.

Enjoy the lights!

Girls Basketball Preview

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

November 10, 2020

With the Lady Hurricanes’ season quickly approaching, there is a lot to look forward to in the upcoming season.

Leading the Lady Hurricanes as head coach in his third year is Mr. Scott Urig. Alongside Coach Urig, Miss Rebecca Byndas, a BHS alumni, is the new assistant varsity coach and junior varsity coach.

Although this season may be complicated with the current pandemic, the team is ready to prove the naysayers wrong and have a memorable (and safe) varsity campaign.

Last season, the Lady Hurricanes finished the year 10-13 overall and 7-9 in the CVC (Chagrin Valley Conference). With veteran experience mixed with a barrage of athletic youth, this team is poised to improve on last year’s 10-win mark.

Senior Anna Haddad stated, “I’m looking forward to seeing the team improve as a whole.”

Haddad believes that if they work together and put in all of the work at practice with a positive attitude, they will be able to accomplish their goals.

Senior Destiny Cannon, who is a returning player after not playing her junior year, believes that the excitement level for this team is real.

“I’m looking forward to the excitement. We have a lot of new freshmen with different skills and sophomores who are still developing. Everyone wants to get out there and give it their all, so I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the energy and determination that it creates. Should definitely be exciting,” stated Cannon.

This team has speed, athleticism, shooting, and high basketball IQs. With all of these positives, Coach Urig simplified the keys for success.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the returners develop, how fast the young ones pick up the system, and how we can implement them into the rotation.”

He also stated that playing good defense, getting rebounds offensively as well as defensively, shooting the ball consistently, and taking good shots is critical for their success.

According to the team, they believe that success will only occur with chemistry. A unified team will produce the desired results when every player does not care who receives the accolades. If this chemistry develops quickly, this team could indeed accomplish a lot this year.

The Lady Hurricanes open up their season on Saturday, November 21, at Keystone High School (Lagrange).

Good luck, girls! Start fast, stay fast, finish fast.

Go Canes!

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Holko

*Teacher: Spanish/AVID 12*

By: Morgan Blechschmid, Danielle Shehee, and Ryan Pepera

November 6, 2020

Mrs. Jacalyn Holko has been a teacher at Brooklyn High School for 18 years. She teaches AVID 12 as well as Spanish II, Spanish III, Spanish IV, and AP Spanish. Holko has a great reputation when it comes to her students; her bright personality always brings her classroom a positive atmosphere for learning and interacting with others.

Q: Where did you go to college, and why did you choose it?

A: “I studied at Baldwin Wallace and La Universidad de Alcalá in Spain. I fell in love with Baldwin Wallace when I visited on a senior, overnight campus stay and knew it was the right place for me. When I studied abroad, I chose Alcala because it was a small town outside of Madrid.”

Q: Where were you born, and where did you grow up?

A: “I was born in Parma, moved to Brunswick for a few years, and then spent elementary school through high school years in Parma.”

Q: What hobbies are you interested in outside of work?

A: “I love watching Cleveland sports, spending time with my son and husband, baking, and watching tv shows like General Hospital and The Amazing Race.”

Q: What influenced you to become a Spanish teacher?

A: “I initially went to college to be a math teacher. I spent three days in calculus class during freshman year at BW and that was enough for me! I always enjoyed Spanish and made a switch to Spanish education, thanks to an influential teacher. My high school Spanish teacher is hands-down the best teacher I encountered in both high school and college.”

Q: How would you describe your experiences of learning and traveling abroad?

A: “Learning abroad as a student was the most challenging experience I have had, but it made me the person I am today. I learned a lot about myself during that time, and I encourage students to study abroad regardless of their major. Traveling abroad with students is a fabulous experience! It is so rewarding taking Brooklyn students on these trips and watching them grow. For many students, it is the start of their traveling journey, and I’m so happy to be a part of that.”

Q: If you could go back and relive/redo a previous trip, which one would it be?

A: “Wow, that’s a really difficult question. Every trip has its highlights. Barcelona is my favorite city to visit. The most beautiful places I have been are Cinque Terre, Lake Como, and Capri (Italy). My favorite excursions were running down sand dunes in France, riding a gondola in Venice (Italy), and traveling up the Swiss alps (Switzerland).”

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?

A: “Aside from traveling with students, I like that each day is different as a teacher. I look forward to the day when all the students are back here, and we can go back to normal activities!”

Thank you, Mrs. Holko, for all that you do for BHS. You are a major reason as to why students love Spanish and traveling. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.

How Much School Spirit Do You Have?

By: Ariana Rojak, Laila Schwin, Aiden Nelson, and Alisha Bains

October 30, 2020

With the main event of Homecoming, Brooklyn High School is continuing a tradition of spirit week, even if the only event this year is the crowning of the king and the queen. The events for spirit week were color wars on Monday, twin day on Tuesday, talent day on Thursday, and blue and gold day for Brooklyn pride on Friday.

We asked Mrs. Bader, the head advisor for Student Council, some questions about the history of spirit week and her personal opinions about it.

Regarding the history of spirit week, “I believe it was happening prior to eighth grade being at the high school. I’ve been in charge of the Student Council for seven years and that’s been our tradition, but I’m pretty certain it was [here] for many years prior as well,” stated Bader.

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She also added: “I love promoting school spirit and making Homecoming week big! I love seeing everyone participate and showing school unity. It makes coming to school so much fun! The positivity I see in staff members and students during spirit week is contagious! I just love to see everyone in the school participating in something that emphasizes school spirit! It’s so fun to see all the creativity and involvement!”

Spirit week is a definite highlight of school for a lot of people who are still worried and stressed about the current situation and looking to have a bit of normalcy and fun in their school day. Throughout the week, so many students and staff have shown their spirit in plenty of fun ways through this event, and we are looking forward to more things like this in the future.

BHS has plenty of school spirit and pride.

Go Canes!