THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Mental Health Awareness Month

By: BHS Features Staff

April 30, 2025

If you struggle with mental health, you are not alone, and this is why May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Mental Health Awareness Month was founded in 1949 and is meant to highlight the importance of a person’s mental well-being and to promote support for mental health issues. Not only is this month when other people talk about mental health, but it is also the month when many look to help themselves or their loved ones.

Mental Health Awareness can also help reduce the stigma around mental health. Many people think that these issues stem from being weak-minded or sensitive, but this is untrue. There are many people in the world struggling with mental health issues due to environmental factors, bullying, genetics, etc.

Many mental health support systems, such as websites, set up campaigns to show people that they are not alone. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has set up a campaign with the theme of “In Every Story, There’s Strength.” This was chosen because hearing people’s stories may help someone else feel heard, and it could expedite the recovery process.

Many children and teens, unfortunately, struggle with mental health. Globally, one-in-seven 10 to 19-year-olds (14 percent) struggle with and experience bad mental health or some type of mental disorder. A large number of these cases go unrecognized or untreated. When it comes to mental health in children and teens, it is important that they are taught healthy coping mechanisms.

Suicide is a very sensitive topic, but it is very important when it comes to mental health. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in older teens and young adults, ages 15-29. For younger teens 10-14, it is the second leading cause.

It is important to look for warning signs. Changes in sleep habits, not wanting to do activities of interest, social isolation from family and friends, substance abuse, neglecting self-care, obsessing over death, problems with focusing, no response to praise, and many more are red flags. Everyone is different and will feel differently.

If you or anyone you know shows these signs or you think that they may be planning suicide, please call the suicide helpline at 988 or (800) 273-8255. The help line runs 24/7, so please call when needed. Do not hesitate! ❤️

Mental health is real and nothing to be ashamed of. It is important to seek recovery for anything you may be struggling with, and the faster you do, the better you will feel.

Take care of yourself.

{Information for this article sourced from NAMI, National Council, World Health Organization, and Johns Hopkins Medicine.}

May on the Way

By: BHS News Staff

April 29, 2025

May is on the way, and the excitement is evident amongst the staff and students. May is a big month for everyone involved with prom, post-prom, graduation, etc. And of course, May officially ends the school year!

To start, Brooklyn High School’s post-prom (May 16) will be held at Swings-N-Things Family Fun Park in Olmsted Falls. Tickets will be on sale this Friday, May 2, with a cost of $10. This event is open to all eligible BHS seniors and juniors, even if they do not attend prom. Those who plan to bring guests can bring them to post-prom only if the guest attends prom. All students and guests attending post-prom must ride the buses to and from, no exceptions. If you need a permission slip, the main office has extra permission slips.

Additionally, there are post-prom t-shirts available for purchase. Order forms are located in the main office.

Next, with the school year coming to a close, many things come to an end. However, this may not be the case for Dr. Caleris, who just recently started his own podcast. The first episode has already been uploaded and features the Technology Department (Mr. Wallis and Mr. Black) as they discuss how Brooklyn has impacted their lives. A new episode will feature select seniors and will be released soon.

As April comes to a close tomorrow evening, so do End-of-Course exams. In May, AP exams will begin. The full schedule for these exams is below.

Geometry (9-10): April 30-May 1
AP Chemistry and Government: May 6
AP U.S. History: May 9
AP Spanish: May 15
AP Psychology: May 16

Finally, there are currently 23 school days remaining until Summer for all underclassmen. Seniors only have 14 maximum days left. The end is near, so get your school work done well and turned in on time. Seniors, finish strong and then enjoy prom and graduation. No regrets!

Outside of the testing dates listed above, here is the upcoming May calendar.

May 2: Jazz Band & Choir Concert
May 14-16: Senior Internship or Final Exams for Seniors
May 16-17: Prom & Post-Prom
May 22: Senior Clap-out
May 23: Graduation
May 26: Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)
May 30: Last Day of School

We hope that you enjoy the final two days of April and look forward to the final month of school.

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

Senior Spotlight: Tyler Cox

By: BHS Staff Profiles

April 25, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Tyler Cox. After graduation, Tyler plans to go into the HVAC industry to work as a Service Technician. In his free time, he likes to hang out with his friends and play sports. A fun fact about Tyler is that he has five siblings.

Q: What is your favorite aspect about high school?

A: “My favorite aspect about high school is the opportunity to go to the Polaris Career Center and learn new things, daily.”

Q: If you could start high school all over, would you change your approach?

A: “Yes, I would. I would have taken more Advanced Placement classes and tried to earn more college credits.”

Q: What is one piece of advice that you would give to next year’s senior class?

A: “Have fun and live life to the fullest.”

Q: If you had your own holiday, what would it be titled?

A: “Cox Day. It is my last name, and people say I have a funny last name.”

Q: What country do you want to visit the most?

A: “Ireland! That is where my ancestry comes from, and the scenery is beautiful.”

Q: If you could go pro in any sport, what sport would it be?

A: “Basketball because that is the sport I have played my whole life.”

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: “People butting into conversations.”

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

A: “My Polaris teacher, Mr. Reitz. He helped me get my job and helped me through Polaris.”

Thank you for letting us interview you, Tyler. We wish you a wonderful future in the HVAC industry. Hopefully one day, you get to travel to Ireland.

Hurricanes Secure Sweep

By: BHS Sports Staff

April 24, 2025

As the weather heats up, so is the Brooklyn baseball team.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the boys had their season series against Chagrin Valley Conference rival, the Trinity Trojans. Right out the gate, in both games, the Hurricanes were dominant in all facets of the game.

On Tuesday, in the bottom of the first, the Hurricanes got a couple of hits to get on the board to take an early 4-0 lead. The onslaught continued in the second as they scored 10 runs on a flurry of walks. Brooklyn tacked on five more runs in the third and five in the fourth on more walks and more hits.

Sophomore Gio Garst tallied three RBIs, seniors Aiden Starr, Jadyn DeLuca, and Collin Flanagan each tallied two RBIs, along with juniors Dominic Pytel and Zander Rolon.

On the mound, Flanagan pitched a complete, five inning game, giving up three earned runs and striking out 10.

The Hurricanes took the opener by a final score of 24-6.

Yesterday in game two, in the first three innings, the Hurricanes continued their offensive dominance, jumping out to a 12-0 lead. They continued to add on, scoring one in the fourth and two in the fifth.

Freshman Mason Vega went 4-4 and knocked in four runs. Starr tallied three RBIs and Flanagan two RBIs. Garst and Rolon each had one run batted in.

On the mound, Garst pitched a complete game no-hitter, striking out nine Trojan batters.

Final Score: Brooklyn 15, Trinity 0.

Excellent sweep, boys!

The Hurricanes, now 3-7, will host Whetstone tonight to battle the visiting Braves. First pitch is at 4:30.

In other Spring sports, the softball team (2-5) hosts Bedford tonight to take on the Bearcats. First pitch is at 5:00.

Go Canes!

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

Maple Festival

By: BHS Features Staff

April 23, 2025

With April coming to an end and Summer nearing, it is time for the Geauga County Maple Festival! 🍁

The Maple Festival was founded in 1926, with the idea coming from Art Carlson. The idea for this festival was to introduce a competition between maple syrup and Vermont syrup, in addition to bringing awareness to the maple syrup industry. The first opening was a hit with over 15,000 customers. Ever since, it has become an annual tradition.

The Geauga County Maple Festival is the oldest maple festival in the United States. It commemorates the tradition of producing pure maple syrup for Northeast Ohio, typically held on the final weekend of April.

A wristband to access all rides costs $25, while a single ride ticket costs $1.25. Bulk packages are also available at $20 for 20 tickets and $40 for 40 tickets.

This year, the festival runs from April 24-27 and is located in the Chardon Square. There are numerous family-friendly activities to partake in such as crafting, amusement rides, tug-of-war, and more.

With many activities and rides, it will be nearly impossible to not find something to do. The Grand Parade, with the theme of Sweet Maple Magic, will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 3:00, showcasing nearby companies and businesses. The Chardon High School dance team will perform, alongside the King and Queen of the festival.

The parade will also include prizes that will be awarded to the winning floats. The winning floats must participate in both parades in order to qualify.

In addition to the activities, another great option is the baking contest. The baking contest is only $5 to enter and a great opportunity to show off your creativity. To ensure everything is fair, all food entries must be homemade without assistance from family members. All entries must be dropped off on April 24 (tomorrow) at the set location. If you are interested in this contest, register here.

The Maple Festival is an important tradition in Ohio, so take a ride out East (45 minutes from BHS) with family and friends. Make this your annual tradition, too!

{Information for this article sourced from Maple Festival.}

Prom at the Zoo

By: BHS News Staff

April 22, 2025

Have you ever danced with a tiger? Shared a meal with a giraffe? Swam with an alligator?

These questions may seem a little far-fetched, but this year’s senior/junior prom will be held at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and the endless entertainment possibilities will make May 16 memorable for all.

Spanish teacher and Senior Class Advisor Mrs. Jackie Holko has been in charge of Brooklyn’s proms for over 20 years. Her favorite part of organizing prom is being able to visit the venue with the prom committee on the morning of to get a sneak peek, and this year at the Cleveland Zoo will be a brand new experience.

Mr. Ryan Kelber, former BHS Athletic Director, recommended the zoo to Mrs. Holko because Cuyahoga Heights had their prom there, and the feedback was very positive. When the prom committee researched the venue, they said that it had some unique activities and was a very favorable location. This year’s attendees will be treated to a ride on the carousel, a thrilling zip line excursion, and a delicious dinner.

For those attending prom, show up before 6:00 for the full zoo/prom experience.

In other news, this is a reminder that the shoe drive continues to collect new and gently-worn shoes. All shoes are welcomed and needed, so please dig through your house or go shopping for this great cause.

As April comes to an end, so do End-of-Course exams. The schedule for these exams is below.

U.S. History: April 23
Government: April 24
Math 8: April 28-29
Algebra I (8-9): April 28-29
Geometry (9-10): April 30-May 1

Finally, there are currently 28 school days left until Summertime. Seniors only have 19 maximum days remaining, so get those post-graduation plans set in stone because your future is knocking on the door.

Finally, outside of the testing dates listed above, here is the upcoming May calendar.

May 2: Jazz Band and Choir Concert
May 16: Last Day for Seniors / Prom
May 23: Graduation
May 26: Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)
May 30: Last Day of School

Have a great, short week, Hurricane Nation.

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

Senior Spotlight: Miley Kegley

By: BHS Staff Profiles

April 18, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Miley Kegley. Miley’s plans after graduation have not yet been finalized, but she plans on going into the State Highway Patrol or something related to cosmetology. Some things she likes to do in her free time are reading, listening to music, and drawing. A fun fact about Miley is that she likes to be different and do different things that are not typically seen as “normal”.

Q: What is something you have recently learned that you found interesting?

A: “Most rap music. I did not understand it at first, but it fascinates me now.”

Q: Reflecting on your high school career, what is one memory that will stay with you forever?

A: “The play that was performed this year, The Wizard of Oz. It has to be my favorite memory from high school.”

Q: What is your favorite aspect about being a high school student?

A: “The extracurricular activities, especially the theater program.”

Q: Would you consider yourself an indoor or outdoor person?

A: “An outdoor person because I have always loved being in nature and outdoors since I was a kid.”

Q: What is your favorite way to spend a weekend?

A: “With ideal weather, I would say sitting outside with a good book. Just feeling relaxed.”

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

A: “I would change the way that I react to stressful situations. I would try to change myself to be more melodic and not snappy during every stressful situation that goes on.”

Q: What is your favorite day of the week?

A: “Friday because of how it feels to have the weekend ahead, and then just being able to relax once you have finished everything for the day. There is just something so relieving about it that I love.”

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

A: “Mrs. Cipriani and Miss Field. Mrs. Cipriani pushed me to try different things and to participate in The Wizard of Oz production this year. And, Miss Field made me enjoy her class.”

Thank you for letting us interview you, Miley. We hope you fulfill your future dreams. And of course, enjoy the upcoming, Easter weekend!

Hurricanes Shut Down the Patriots

By: BHS Sports Staff

April 17, 2025

Last Friday, the Brooklyn Hurricanes baseball team (0-5) went on the road to face the Open Door Christian Patriots (0-1). This was the perfect opportunity for the Hurricanes to tally their first victory of the season against a winless Patriots squad.

The Hurricanes’ first two batters went down in order, but senior Aiden Starr drew a two-out walk, followed by two stolen bases. With Starr now at third, senior Jadyn DeLuca flew out to end the frame. On the mound, senior Collin Flanagan struck out two and walked one in the bottom half of the first, but he managed to get out unscathed.

Both teams failed to score in the second after getting runners on, but both had runners caught stealing.

The Hurricanes went down in the third inning, but the Patriots had an opportunity with a runner on third base, but similar to the script of the first two innings, they failed to convert as the game remained scoreless after three.

The Hurricanes got on the scoreboard first in the fourth inning when junior Dominic Pytel hit into an RBI fielder’s choice. However, in the bottom half of the frame, the Patriots evened it up on an error to knot the score at 1-1.

The pitchers’ duel continued into the fifth as both teams went scoreless.

In the sixth inning, the Hurricanes broke through after DeLuca led off with a single and advanced to third on a single by freshman Mason Vega, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. DeLuca later scored on an error, and Vega advanced to third, giving the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead. After a Pytel walk and a stolen base, junior Zander Rolon hit a pinch-hit, two-run single to extend the Hurricanes lead to 4-1. Defensively, Flanagan kept the Patriots scoreless in the sixth, concluding his day on the mound. He pitched six innings, giving up one unearned run on three hits, while striking out 10 batters.

Starr relieved Flanagan and nailed down the save in the seventh and final inning, striking out two, as the Hurricanes earned their first victory of the season.

Final Score: Brooklyn 4, Open Door Christian 1.

The Hurricanes, now 1-7, will travel to Oberlin on Saturday morning to battle the Phoenix. First pitch is at 10:00.

In other Spring sports, the softball team (2-3) travels to Euclid tonight to take on the Panthers. First pitch is at 5:00.

Go Canes!

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

Happy Easter!

By: BHS Features Staff

April 16, 2025

As we all know, Easter is right around the corner. On April 20, prepare to have the Easter Bunny deliver lots of sweet treats.

However, Easter is not about a bunny. It is a holiday observed by Christians, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his crucifixion. Jesus was buried inside a tomb in Jerusalem, and the first ever recorded date of this celebration was in the second century. While the New Testament gives limited details about the three day period before Jesus’ resurrection, this shows how strongly Christians believe in their religion and how big of an impact Easter has on their lives.

There are many theories about where the word Easter originated. Many believe it originated from the German word “Ostern”. Others believe it originated from Eostre/ Eostrae, an Anglo-Saxon goddess known for Spring and fertility.

In the Christian calendar, Easter is right after Lent, which is 40 days of fasting, not including Sundays. Easter is the last day of Holy Week, which includes Maundy Thursday, the commemoration of The Last Supper; Good Friday, the remembrance of Jesus’ crucifixion; Holy Saturday, the period between the crucifixion and resurrection; and lastly, both Easter Sunday and Monday.

Vigil is celebrated after Easter, often being celebrated between the sunset on both Easter Sunday and Monday. Vigil was classified as a joyful holiday honoring the resurrection of Jesus. Later on, the celebration was moved to Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning in churches all around the world.

Although many Christians celebrate Easter, there are many different traditions they follow. For example, the Roman Catholic tradition for Easter is the celebration of lights, to remember the appearance of the lights when Jesus was resurrected.

Easter comes with all different types of unique traditions, with the biggest one being going on egg hunts for candy-filled eggs. Although it seems like a weird tradition, the eggs symbolize new life and rebirth. These egg hunts honor the resurrection of Jesus and have become an Easter tradition.

Easter is considered one of the greatest miracles in Christianity; it’s a day to be thankful.

Happy Easter, everyone!

{Information for this article sourced from Britannica.}

Shoe Drive

By: BHS News Staff

April 15, 2025

Well, the weekend was nice, but today is not. How can we go from 68 degrees and sunshine to 44 degrees with heavy wind and rain? 🤦🏻‍♂️

To start, today’s focus revolves around the Shoe Drive currently going on in the high school.

Intervention Specialist Ms. Spuzzillo was tasked with running this year’s shoe drive, which began in the beginning of April and will last until the end of May. The main purpose of this shoe drive is to provide shoes to those in need. As an added bonus, students can decrease the cost of their prom tickets in the coming years.

Currently, the shoes are being collected in Ms. Spuzzillo’s room (191), but there will be a location in the office for future donations. If you are interested in donating some shoes, please make sure that they aren’t falling apart. Any new or slightly-used shoe, including boots and sneakers, is allowed.

As the shoe drive progresses through the next two months, the leader of this service project hopes the number of donated shoes will increase.

“So far, 50 pairs of shoes have already been donated, but many more are expected to be donated as the drive continues. This is a great opportunity to help others,” stated Spuzzillo.

Anyone in the community can donate; it doesn’t have to be just staff and students. Spread the word and start bringing in shoes!

Moving forward, as April trots ahead, so do End-of-Course exams. The schedule for these exams is below.

Science 8: April 15 and 17
Biology (9-10): April 16
U.S. History: April 23
Government: April 24
Math 8: April 28-29
Algebra I (8-9): April 28-29
Geometry (9-10): April 30- May 1

Reminder, there will be no school this Friday (Good Friday) and next Monday (Easter Monday). The upcoming four-day weekend will be followed by a four-day school week.

Finally, there are currently 31 school days left until Summertime. Seniors, you only have 22 maximum days remaining, so get those post-graduation plans set in stone. The future belongs to you.

Have a great, short week.

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

Senior Spotlight: Jake Jakubson

By: BHS Staff Profiles

April 11, 2025

Chosen for this week’s Senior Spotlight is Jake Jakubson. After graduation, Jake plans on going to The University of Northwestern (Ohio) to major in Agricultural Equipment Technology. Something Jake likes to do in his free time is play his drum set. A fun fact about him is that he can blank-out on the most obvious questions, as evidenced by his recent performance in a class trivia contest. 😂

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

A: “More schedule freedom. Some students end up getting caught up too much personally, and if they have a boring and long schedule, then it can be hard for them to keep their grades up.”

Q: Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your freshman self?

A: “Pay attention more and do a better job with keeping up with work.”

Q: Have you taken any specific courses that have been particularly helpful for your career goals?

A: “My Automotive class at the Polaris Career Center.”

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

A: “Dependable, Smart, Resourceful.”

Q: Would you rather explore the world or stay in one country?

A: “Stay in one country.”

Q: What is your favorite way to relax?

A: “Play video games and drum.”

Q: Do you have any hidden talents?

A: “I can play the drums.”

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

A: “My automotive teacher at Polaris. He is helpful, reasonable, and I have learned so much from him.”

Thank you for letting us interview you, Jake. We wish you the best of luck in the future working with farm equipment.

March Madness Finale

By: BHS Sports Staff

April 10, 2025

Be honest, when was your bracket busted? For our fellow sports staff writer Aiden, his was demolished in the first weekend when St. John’s went down. However, our fearless leader Mr. Holko won the BHS work bracket, his family bracket, and this class’s March Madness challenge. Simply, he is a winner, and the rest of us are losers!

Since March Madness is officially in the books, it’s time to recap how the final two weekends of the madness played out.

The Elite 8 tipped last Saturday in the West Region where #3 Texas Tech faced off against #1 Florida. The first half was pretty back-and-forth with both teams trading leads with the Gators holding a three-point lead at the half. However, the Red Raiders got going in the second half and held a 9-point lead with under three minutes left. But, the Gators rallied in the final minutes to pull off a comeback and avoided a major upset with an 84-79 win as they advanced to the Final Four.

The next game saw two of the top-scoring teams in the country from the East Region with #2 Alabama against #1 Duke. The Blue Devils cruised through the entire game as they advanced to the Final Four with a blowout victory, 85-65.

The other set of games last Sunday saw #2 Tennessee against #1 Houston from the Midwest Region and #2 Michigan State versus #1 Auburn from the South Region.

The Volunteers could not get anything to fall in the first half as they had just 15 points. Houston’s defense dominated throughout the entire game en route to a 69-50 win.

The final Elite 8 game saw the Auburn Tigers dominate and hold a multiple-possession lead through the first half and that momentum carried into the second half, enroute to a 70-64 victory over Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans.

The Final Four was now all set with all number one seeds, the first time since 2008. Florida faced off against Auburn, and Duke took on Houston.

Florida and Auburn played a tight and energetic game, but it was the Gators who prevailed with a 79-73 victory to advance to the National Championship.

The next matchup saw heartbreak for Duke fans (Sorry, Dr. Caleris!). The Blue Devils jumped out to an early 14-point lead. They held this lead until the Houston Cougars started to show some fight. The Cougars went on a 15-3 run to take the lead in the final seconds to pull out a comeback win, 70-67. The Blue Devils blew a six-point lead with 39 seconds remaining.

The championship game was set between the Florida Gators and the Houston Cougars.

A heavily-fought game between arguably two of the best teams in March Madness history ended with a comeback win from the Florida Gators, 65-63. The Gators did to Houston what the Cougars did to Duke: Improbable comeback!

Will Richard led the Gators in the scoring column, totalling 18 points, while Houston guard L.J. Cryer led his team with 19 points. Gator star Walter Clayton, Jr. finished with 11 points from the second half of play. Florida’s dominance and aggression throughout the whole season paved their way to a trophy finish as National Champions.

The final scoreboard for this class’s challenge is as follows:

Mr. Holko – 17 (Stud!)
Collin – 13 (Overachiever)
Mr. Verba – 13 (Lord Basketball)
Aiden – 13 (Recovered Nicely)
Jacob – 9 (Embarrassing & Pathetic!)

Now, it is time to watch the Master’s and the Guardians.

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