THE RETURN OF THE EYE

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!

Black History Month: Bayard Rustin

By: Laila Schwin, Alisha Bains, and Brittney Corrado

February 18, 2021

Bayard Rustin was born on March 17, 1912, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He was an advocate for civil rights and stressed this in a non-violent manner. He was a mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr. and primarily wanted to avoid being in the spotlight. His achievements still went on to be well-known and extremely-influential, but his ultimate goal was to avoid being a public figure and endangering himself.

Rustin was born when his mother was only 16, so he was raised assuming that his mother was his sister and that his grandparents were his parents. His family raised him with Quaker beliefs, which started his life commitment to nonviolent action. He was also surrounded by influential leaders of black communities in his youth due to his grandmother’s involvement with the NAACP, which likely inspired him to play an integral role in this movement.

Rustin went on to get an education at two historically, black schools: Wilberforce University in Ohio and Cheyney State Teachers College in Pennsylvania. In 1937, he moved to New York City to study at the City College of New York. While there, he joined the Young Communist League (YCL). His main drive for joining them was not only for their basic beliefs but also because of their focus on racial justice and equality. Ultimately, he left the YCL as they shifted their beliefs away from the main focus of civil rights.

He later contributed to his nonviolent ideals by taking a trip to India and learning the Gandhian ideals of nonviolence within protest. He later taught these same ideals to Martin Luther King, Jr.

His nonviolent ideals, at one point, led to him being arrested for refusing to register for the draft. He was arrested several other times for participating in protests against segregated public transit in North Carolina as well as for living his life as an openly gay man.

Ultimately, Rustin was the framework for a large amount of work that Dr. King and other figureheads of the Civil Rights Movement are accredited for. Rustin was instrumental in organizing the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the 1957 Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom, multiple 1958 and 1959 Youth Marches for Integrated Schools, and most notably, the 1963 March on Washington D.C. for Jobs and Freedom. He also co-founded the A. Philip Randolph Institute, where he served as company president in 1965.

Bayard Rustin eventually passed away in New York City on August 24, 1987. While Rustin wanted to remain in the background and allow others to be the public figures and important leaders for the Civil Rights Movement, his contributions were undeniable, and the March on Washington D.C. may not have been as successful without him.

He is truly an unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement.

{Editor’s Note: Information for this article was retrieved from The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute and Biography.com.}

Lady Pirates? No Problem!

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

February 17, 2021

This past Friday evening, the girls basketball team hosted the Black River Pirates. The Lady Hurricanes came into this game with a hopeful mindset despite a 45-40 loss against the Keystone Wildcats the night before. This mindset resulted in their best overall performance of the season with a massive victory, 74-35.

In the first quarter, the Hurricanes came out strong with their eyes on the prize. Tenacious defense, timely passing, and clean shots set the early tone that found the Hurricanes leading 20-6 after one quarter of play. Sharing the ball and working together as a team is a big reason as to why they started out the game in such a dominant fashion.

Refusing to put on the brakes, the second quarter for the Hurricanes went exactly like the first as their effort, teamwork, and chemistry propelled them to a 41-12 halftime lead.

The Hurricanes knew that the Pirates were going to come out of halftime with a vengeance, so of course with everyone playing to their strengths, they came out on top at the end of third with a 31-point lead at 54-23. Senior role player Anna Haddad made some shots, and the route was on!

The fourth quarter was much the same as the previous quarters as the pressure defense would not allow the visiting Lady Pirates to come back, resulting in a dominant 74-35 victory.

Balanced scoring to pressure defense were the keys, and Coach Scott Urig could not have been more pleased with his team’s effort and execution.

“Everything worked tonight, and this was our best performance of the season,” stated a jubilant Urig.

From sophomore Delaney David’s defense to junior Savannah David’s sharp-shooting, the Lady Hurricanes played at a high level from start to finish, just the momentum needed to carry them into the final week of the season and for their upcoming playoff-run.

*The morning after their exciting win, the Lady Hurricanes put the work in at practice and even had a little fun!*

Tonight, the Lady Hurricanes will host Parma Senior High School and will honor senior Anna Haddad as she will play in her last home game wearing the blue and gold. Tip off is at 7:00.

Thank you Anna for your hard work and dedication.

Go Canes!

Snow Day!

February 16, 2021

Stay safe, healthy, and warm, BCSD community.

Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Woodruff

*Teacher: Science*

By: Morgan Blechschmid and Danielle Shehee

February 12, 2021

Mrs. Catherine Woodruff is a science teacher here at Brooklyn High School. Woodruff loves to mirror her motivation onto her students to help them reach their full potential. Her way of bonding with students is what brings the most joy from her job. Her advice has assisted her past students through high school, as well as in their adult lives. These are the reasons why Mrs. Woodruff was chosen for this week’s staff profile.

Q: How do you feel you have impacted your students since you started teaching?

A: “I think I’ve impacted my students in a positive way through being understanding, caring, and encouraging them to accept personal responsibility and sharing a love of a subject area that I’m passionate about, that is Science! I’ve seen many previous students go to college, trade schools, get into their family business, or even start their own business. I’m always humbled when they visit me to reminisce, tell me about the opportunities they have, and how their lives are shaping.”

Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?

A: “I became a teacher so I could help students become the best that they can be and for us both to learn more about science together.”

Q: What is your favorite aspect about the subject you teach?

A: “I call it the ‘A-ha! moment’,” it’s the moment of time that a student realizes that they understand the concepts that I’m teaching, they feel successful, and proud of themselves. Many will even help out their friends and break it down for them to understand as well. That makes you feel great!”

Q: How many more years do you have until retirement?

A: “I am currently in my 24 year in STRS, but if you look at the years that I tutored and received credit for in my college jobs (time I put in also, but with OPERS), it’s really my 27 year. STRS keeps changing the requirements (the goal line) for retirement, but I currently have 11 more years until I’m able to retire.”

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: “I grew up in Parma. When I went away for college, I spent about half my life in Youngstown, Ohio. What they don’t tell you is that wherever you go to college, it usually is where you relocate to.”

Q: How do you deal with a stressful situation?

A: “I come from a very mixed cultural and ethnic family background. I use a lot of what worked for my family members in my own life. For example, one way I handle a stressful situation is by making a cup of tea. First, tea is relaxing, and secondly, it’s a way of taking a break and putting some distance between you and a situation, so you can think clearer. When I can’t do this, I take deep breaths, tell myself to relax, and give myself a break to remove myself from the situation, so I can think more clearer. I’ll ask myself if this will matter a day from now, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now; this usually puts it into perspective! I usually keep my cool in emergency situations, but sometimes, I allow myself to vent, harshly. Not my proudest moments but I’m human and can only take so much. Also, I will try to reframe the situation as a challenge for me to overcome and to grow from. I remind myself that we all have challenges, and we define ourselves by how we handle them. The grass is always greener, but you never see the time people put into fertilizing, cutting, watering, and taking care of their “grass.” I try to look at problems as opportunities to grow and become a better version of myself. Breaks definitely help.”

Q: Where did you go to college, and what did you enjoy most about college?

A: “I went to Cuyahoga Community College for my Associates degree and Youngstown State University for my Bachelors degree. What I liked was being more in control of my life and taking on more responsibility. This started when I was in the summer after my 10th grade year. I was making my own school schedule, working, and balancing my time with these things along with family and friends. I felt like I was growing up and getting the foundation of my adult life created. I was blessed by having a Business teacher in high school that would tell us, ‘Sacrifice four years to set yourself up for the next 50.’ This is very true and great advice. Keep your eye on the prize, and go for it.”

Q: What are some of your hobbies?

A: “I love to garden, read, learn more about technology, use different apps/websites to do research with different organizations, do yoga/exercise, cook, go to car shows, do arts and crafts, and a few other things.”

Q: What is a piece of advice you would give this year’s senior class as they are about to transition into the next chapter of their lives?

A: “Don’t let senior year be where you max out. There is more to life besides senior year and all the activities that go with it. Enjoy it because it goes by quickly; get a plan together. Also, have a back up plan for what you want to do with your future. If you decide to change all of this, you aren’t a failure. You can always go back and get more education whether it’s at a college, trade/technical schooling, or apprenticeships. You don’t have to have all the answers, but you need to take the opportunities that present themselves; otherwise, you will not be happy, and you will live with regret. If it was easy, then everyone would have everything they wanted and wouldn’t have to work for it. Otherwise, in the end, you only have the person in the mirror to blame for not getting it together.”

Thank you for all that you have done for so many, Mrs. Woodruff!

Brooklyn’s First Round of the COVID-19 Vaccine

By: Valery Warner, Aiden Nelson, and Ariana Rojak

February 12, 2021

Next Wednesday, February 17, the Brooklyn City School District staff members will be getting the first round of the COVID-19 vaccination. The vaccine was not mandatory but highly recommended for each staff member.

With a good portion of staff members receiving the vaccine next Wednesday, students will not be zooming into their classes like they would on a normal, Wednesday schedule. Instead, they will be required to complete the assignments that their teachers provide for them in Google Classroom.

As of right now, the plan is to be back on a regular, hybrid schedule for Thursday, February 18, if the side effects of the vaccine are nonexistent or tolerable.

“It is very unlikely to have negative side effects with the first round, but if so, we will deal with it as it happens,” BHS Assistant Principal, Mr. Matthew Larson, said during a recent interview.

Staff is scheduled to get the second round of the vaccine on Wednesday, March 10. With the staff being vaccinated, the hope is for the school district to push forward with a more traditional, school setting.

If all goes well, BHS “could” transition back into having students in the building five days a week instead of the current schedule of four days.

If there are any questions about next week’s schedule, please contact Mr. Larson at (216) 485-8100, extension 8164.

Good luck, BCSD staff! Stay safe and healthy.