THE RETURN OF THE EYE

The Stress Students Face In The Education System

By: Daylun Armstrong, Valery Warner, and Jaden Majewski

January 27, 2020

In today’s world, stress, depression, and anxiety are the leading, negative factors for high school students. We surveyed a number of Brooklyn High School students about the pressures and stresses of school.

The main, recurring issues these students were identifying with were the excess amounts of homework, teaching styles, difficult course work, and testing.

This is not uncommon. According to a new NPR poll conducted with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health, homework was a leading cause of stress.

We talked to Mr. Brian Hare (Assistant Principal at BHS) about the stresses that students are feeling and asked how we as a new generation can try to create changes to benefit our education system.

Hare recognizes that mental health is an important issue that should be focused on. According to studies done by the National Institute of Mental Health, “Adolescent depression in schools is on the rise.”

Programs introduced at BHS in order to promote a more positive and open environment for students are the Leadership Program, AVID, Freshman Seminar, and new social groups where students can express themselves and talk about issues (school and home-related).

To combat the issues with certain teaching styles, Hare stated, “We [administration] go into classrooms and provide feedback on instruction, student involvement, and the styles of teaching that are most effective for all students.”

Another resource that is available at BHS is the “Stay Safe. Speak Up!” campaign. This campaign allows students (anonymous or not) to voice their concerns and ask for help about issues they are having. There is a link on the Brooklyn City Schools website if you feel that you need to speak up.

So many teenagers experience these difficulties in school, and fortunately, our administration values students’ opinions and tries to strive to make BHS a stable and enjoyable environment for all.

If you or someone you know wants to talk about the issues they/you are experiencing, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center. You can also text MHA to 741741 at the Crisis Text Line.

Additional communication can be made to 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 at the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline.

Finally, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

Even though it may not be easy, always remember you are never alone in any struggle that you may be facing. Help is readily available!

SPOTLIGHT OPENING AT THE SCULPTURE CENTER

By: Izabella Hotz and Destiny Cannon

January 27, 2020

On Friday, January 24, the Sculpture Center opened two new galleries, featuring artists Nate Riccuto and Lisa Walcott. Their collections are named Sitting Flesh (Riccuto) and Sink in (Walcott).

The reception included drinks and snacks, along with a relaxed atmosphere and other artwork.

At their openings, they spoke about their collections and how to interact with them. The first to speak was Riccuto on Sitting Flesh.

Riccuto is a native of Dayton, Ohio, and is the current Instructor of Glass at Ohio State University.

In his words, his collection is for him, “… a way for me to play with materials and space. And I think it means a lot to actually be able to use a gallery space like this and to throw all these things out there… they have all these specific intentions that I put in them but then other people get to walk around and discover things and come up with completely new things.”

The goal of this collection was to create a playful and homemade environment, as well as to make people think about how they interact with the world around them, using curious surfaces and seemingly mobile installations.

His advice for aspiring artists was, “Take personal connection seriously because people will help you if they like you and if you’re generous and sincere with them… and apply two as many things as you can. That’s a really important thing to just make a priority of getting your work out there.”

Walcott is a Holland, Michigan based artist and a graduate from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. She used not just stationary art but moving art as well as water installations.

In her own words, her collection is, “… about the composition of everyday life. It’s the mark that maybe your socks make on the floor. Or that your sleeve makes as it falls out of the dresser and reminds you of maybe water falling down. I like to try to imagine sometimes what an object would look like animated and what it would look like in kind of a surreal or imaginary manner, so that’s what I kind of played with in this work.”

She mentioned to us that in this collection, she often attempted to display a mood that is nearly impossible to capture and explore the things that someone may overlook and show it in a fantastical way.

She tries to portray a world where everything you do makes a mark, almost like your entire life is a drawing.

Walcott’s advice to aspiring artists is, “Allow yourself to fail because you learn a lot when you don’t make exactly what you wanted to do or when things don’t work out as you expected. Continue to show up and make the work because it can be easy to give up, but continuing to have an art practice causes good things to happen.”

Overall, these two collections were extremely immersive, with many installations to walk through and ideas that would not necessarily come up without a prompt.

These galleries will be up until March 20, and we recommend visiting them.

A Hard Loss for the Hurricanes

By: Morghan Blechschmid, Jonathan Drake, and Lexi Jenkins

January 23, 2020

Coming off of a win against Stow in their previous game, the hockey team was looking to carry momentum into their match against Lakewood. Unfortunately, the momentum was short-lived.

The Canes started Jason Edmonds, Aaron Wrost, Jacob Peña, Colin Pope, Ian Krall, and Derek Wrost.

In a back-and-forth defensive battle, both teams struggled to score in the first period. However, Lakewood managed their first goal on a power play near the conclusion of the period, leading 1-0.

In the second period, Aaron Wrost scored the tying goal for the Canes, but the tie did not last too long as the Rangers scored two more goals before the period was over, bringing the score to 3-1.

The third and final period was not favorable to the Canes as the Rangers outscored them 7-0, winning the game 10-1.

The Hurricanes did their best, as they were down a very valuable player. Their defense wore down and the offense struggled.

Senior Riley Beni said, “…We’ve had our ups and downs, but we work as a team, so I think we will get better.”

Coach Mike Wrost stated, “When we scored a goal, our team kinda let up a little bit, and Lakewood did not. We couldn’t get the puck past our blue line and that’s what led to them scoring the other seven goals.”

The next game will be on Saturday, January 25, against the Stow High School Bulldogs.

The match will begin at 6:45. Good luck, Canes!

Staff Profile: Mr. Sullivan

By: Jaden Majewski

*Music and Band Teacher*

*Why did you decide to become a teacher?

“My parents were both music teachers. My dad was a band director, and my mom was also into music. They both went to the same college; that’s where they met. It’s kind of like destiny. I grew up with it, and it was in the family.”

*How do you deal with a stressful day?

“I would say that the days aren’t stressful; they are just busy. I love my job! There can be stress as far as getting something together to have it ready to perform, but I also look at it as it’s not necessarily stressful; it’s just there’s so much going on that you don’t really have any time to think about it or stop. It just goes from one thing to the next. There’s no downtime. So, I look at it as being busy and hectic. But if there’s any kind of stress or pressure, I just go and run ten miles.”

*What is your most interesting, high school memory?

“Marching down Main Street (Disney World – Magic Kingdom) down in Orlando, Florida, and the band playing the fight song with Cinderella’s castle on the horizon.”

*If you could change your career, what would it be?

“I think I made the right choice because I love what I do. If I ever considered doing something else, I would maybe like being able to perform more. But once I started taking conducting classes and getting involved with running rehearsals and other stuff, I knew that this is what I wanted to do.”

*What is your funniest, teaching memory?

“Years and years ago, I was running a jazz band rehearsal, and some of the students in that group climbed on top of the school with a ladder. So, I came out, and I moved the ladder. I didn’t realize that some of the students were on top of the school. They were standing there {stranded}. Then, I told them I called the police, and they were freaking out.”

*What is your biggest setback in life?

“I don’t look at things like that. I don’t think of things as being a setback. You have to just move forward and get past it. It is what it is. There are things you can’t control that happen to everybody in life, whether that’s somebody who has health issues or a family member who gets sick. Just move forward, and keep doing what you do. So, I don’t really look at setbacks as something that knocks you down, and then, you can’t recover from it. Just have a positive outlook, and things will work themselves out.”

*If you could change one thing about our school, what would it be?

“I wish that more kids understood the importance of tradition and the Alma mater. All the people who came before them paved the way and created those traditions that we hold so dear. If there’s a tradition that the band does, a lot of those traditions were here before me. I don’t think everybody necessarily realizes that. I think that a lot of the kids embrace it, but they think it’s their own. They don’t realize that there’s a whole process and arc to that. You should feel honored to be a part of the timeline.”

Blood Drive Results

By: Savannah David, Alaysia Curry, and Haley Schaldach

January 24, 2020

On January 21, Brooklyn High School hosted the first blood drive of the new year.

Those who were 16 years or older were able to donate blood for many, great causes.

Around 40 people signed up but only 26 were able to donate. However, three students (Anthony Thomas, Nick Mendenhall, and Adam Coyle) were able to donate doubles.

In totality, 32 pints of blood were donated by BHS students.

Those who donated two pints are considered Power Reds. This means that they donated two units of blood cells while The American Red Cross returned the plasma and platelets back to the students.

When asked how this blood drive compared to the last one, coordinator and teacher Jacinta Bader stated, “Our winter one is usually a struggle because if you have a sniffle or cough, they [The American Red Cross} will turn you down. So this year, 26 people donated 32 pints which was three less pints than the year before.”

This year, Bader created an online registration instead of doing it on paper.

Successful blood drives like these are very important to those in need. Donating blood helps keep blood supplies in hospitals to ensure that when needed, patients will be able to receive blood transfusions.

On Friday, May 8, there will be another blood drive. Junior Amari Stevens is working with the coordinator of The American Red Cross to host a blood drive during the summer as well.

If you have any questions or would like to donate blood in the future, contact Mrs. Jacinta Bader at jacinta.bader@bcshurricanes.org.

Feel free to stop by during upcoming drives to help those in need.

Are You Brr-ave Enough to Take the Plunge?

By: Delaney David, Serena Barile, and Ella Fowler

January 24, 2020

The Cleveland Polar Plunge will take place on Saturday, February 29, at Edgewater Beach to help raise money for the Special Olympics.

Intervention Specialist Mr. Hans, who is in charge of the event, stated, “This event is important to me because it helps support Special Olympics, and it’s for a good cause. It also helps kids in Brooklyn participate in the Special Olympics.”

If participants do not want to take the plunge into Lake Erie, registering as “Too Chicken to Plunge,” they can participate by raising money/pledges to earn incentives and to be part of the fun!

The top fundraiser will receive a prize package that includes the following: a Polar Plunge blanket, a Dunkin Donuts gift card, and a Buffalo Wild Wings gift card.

“The first year we raised $1000, and the second year we raised $4000,” said Hans on the success of the fundraiser.

So far, the amount raised this year is $7,263 (for Brooklyn), which is only eight percent of their overall goal of $90,000 (for the entire event statewide).

By registering for this event, you will be helping 22,000 Special Olympic athletes in Ohio by providing year-round sports training and competition for those with disabilities.

If you would like to donate to the cause, contact Mr. Jack Hans at jack.hans@bcshurricanes.org.

Come “chill” out at the Cleveland Polar Plunge, and show your support!

Not A Good Night

By: Anayah Flowers, Jessica Strimpel, and Normeze Rivera

January 22, 2020

The varsity girls basketball team played the Independence Blue Devils on Wednesday, and unfortunately, the Lady Canes were defeated by a score of 80-34.

Image result for brooklyn hurricanes

The Canes went into this game with optimism and prepared to play their best.

From the very beginning, however, the Blue Devils asserted their will and dominance leading 28-10 after the first quarter.

The second quarter was not much different as the young Canes were outscored 24-9 increasing the deficit to 52-19 at the half.

The second half was a little more balanced, but the hole was too deep for the Canes to climb out of as the host Blue Devils took an easy CVC victory.

Even though the varsity team is very young, they were outmatched and played against an experienced Blue Devil squad.

Freshman Genesis Caraballo stated, “We need to focus on the game and continue to do all of our plays correctly. Tonight, we didn’t do that.”

Coach Urig also added the following: “I thought we played hard throughout the game. This team had a lot of challenges, and I believe we learned and got better throughout the game as well.”

“Transition defense and press breaker needs to be worked on; once we focus on that, I think it’s going to help us as we close off the season.”

The girls hope to use this game as a way to improve for the remainder of the schedule. The team has already seen great improvement but are looking for consistency.

The Lady Canes’ next game will be on Saturday, January 25, at Fairport Harding High School against the Lady Skippers.

JV Canes Run Out of Time

By: Danielle Shehee, Gino Pallotta, and Ariana Rojak

January 21, 2020

The junior varsity basketball team played an intense game against Cuyahoga Heights, losing 45-29.

Starters were Raymeir Cogburn (freshman), Ryan Cutright (junior), Gogo Simitcievski (freshman), Alex Chiclana (freshman), and Anthony Starr (freshman).

They played a tough first quarter and only trailed by four points, 9-5.

However, in the second quarter, the young Canes started to fall behind by a greater deficit. The team tried catching up to the Redskins but still found themselves trailing at the half 21-11.

In the third quarter, the Canes refused to give up. Even though the team got strong defense from Cogburn and eight points from Chris Wilkowski, the score at the end of the third quarter was 37-15.

In the fourth quarter, Brooklyn decided to shine. They had great offense and defense, scoring 14 points while only allowing the Redskins to score eight.

Unfortunately, the Canes still lost 45-29, but the team showed their potential as the game progressed.

“Execution is the best way to balance wins and losses. When we play our best brand of basketball and do everything we’re coached to do, I think we could be one of the scariest teams in the league. It just takes effort. I believe if we put the work in, we can finish strong,” stated sophomore Alex Hernandez.

The boys’ next game is on Friday, January 24, at Wickliffe High School.

ART OPENING AT THE 2020 WEST SCHAAF GALLERY

By: Izabella Hotz and Destiny Cannon

January 18, 2020

The opening night for the 2020 West Schaaf Gallery, owned by Mike Gutierrez (the artist and art lover), was a major success. He has many paintings of his own, but he also displays and sells art of many other local artists like Celeste Stauber and Eileen Dorsey.

The opening was Saturday, January 18, with the newest display being a work by local artist, Celeste Stauber.

The atmosphere was relaxed and casual, but the buzz of passion was definitely present. Although the gallery is on the smaller side, there were still plenty of things to look at, and the layout was fantastic.

Gutierrez shared some of his thoughts on his most recent collection of paintings.

“It means I’m healing, it means that I’m better now… it means I’m choosing to care about how I feel and what I’m doing… my well-being instead of masking it or blinding it, or trying to just cope.”

We asked Gutierrez why he chose such a tucked-away gallery spot, and he told us, “… You’d be surprised at how many artists live in Old Brooklyn and show in other places, so the creative center is in this area…”

A few of his paintings are below.

The art that was shown in this gallery was incredibly diverse, from oil and acrylic paintings to lacquer and poured paintings to even wooden paintings that were done entirely with wood stain.

The whole experience was super fun, and we even interviewed one of the showing artists, Jon, a featured artist who creates cloth works using photosensitive dye and various objects and even people.

We asked what his work meant to him and he told us, “They are experiences I can look at, and they’re tactile, and they really relate to different periods of my life, and I have started to realize I have been working more with light… I think it’s about fun and the human connection.”

This gallery is a fun place to go to experience many different types of art in a smaller venue. it also possesses many talented artists and a ton of good messages.

Stop by; you won’t regret it!

Hurricanes Sweep Stow off the Ice

By: Morghan Blechschmid, Jonathan Drake, and Lexi Jenkins

January 16, 2020

The hockey team’s last match on January 9 didn’t go as smoothly as they would have liked, losing to the Orange Lions, 7-2.

However, they made up for that loss in their game this past Thursday night when the Stow Bulldogs came to town.

The starting line-up for the match was made up of Ian Krall, Nick Baldwin, Aaron Wrost, Alan Fernandez, and Gavin Supek. Jason Edmonds (illness) was back in goalie for the Canes.

In the first period, Supek scored a total of three times (having made the first goal of the night as well), and Wrost scored once. Stow scored one goal as well.

Two of these goals occurred because the Bulldogs received a hooking penalty. During this two-minute power-play, the Hurricanes scored twice making the score at the end of the first period, 4-1.

The Hurricanes put up a good fight and had great defense in the second period keeping the puck on Stow’s side of the ice and maintaining their three-goal lead.

The third period was uneventful as neither team scored.

Coach Wrost stated, “The first period of the game was a good game of hockey, but after that, there was nothing interesting, and the game was kinda blah.”

Nick Finn said, “I feel pretty good about it [our team’s performance], but you never know what is going to happen.”

The next game will be on Thursday, January 23, against Lakewood High School. The match will be at 7:30, and it is a home game, so be sure to come out and cheer the boys on!

Helping Hand For Cleveland’s Youth

By: Ariana Rojak, Gino Pallotta, and Danielle Shehee

January 21, 2020

Brooklyn community members Joanne and Nick Maroulis have been hosting events like City Life, Campus Life, Thrive, and many more for several years now. These programs have helped students get in touch with religion, as well as to help keep them off of the streets.

The couple has helped many students who struggle with drug addiction and gang violence to turn their lives around; it became a full-time job for them.

“We are noticing less suicide, healthier relationships, a religious purpose, and less domestic violence in homes,” stated Joanne Maroulis.

Thrive, City Life, and Campus Life are clubs hosted at the City Life Center in Cleveland, as well as the Ridgewood United Methodist Church.

At these clubs, kids can play sports, video games, instruments, and receive meals and peer assistance in a safe and positive environment.

Participants who live in the Brooklyn area meet at the Brooklyn Reformed Church and are driven to the Ridgewood United Methodist Church.

City Life meets every weekday at 6:00, while Thrive meets only on Thursdays at the same time.

To get more information, go to https://www.yfccleveland.org and http://www.yfc.net/ministries/.

These programs are life-changers!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

By: Daylun Armstrong, Valery Warner, and Jaden Majewski

January 20, 2020

On the third Monday of every January, a man who was an outspoken leader who fought for justice in the Civil Rights Movement is celebrated; his name is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, and by 1955, King was leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott (a social protest against segregation on the public transit system).

However, before he was known as a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement, he was a minister at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church.

Due to King’s teachings at the church and his inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi (a respected leader in India who taught non-violent practices), MLK, Jr. made it known that any protest he led would be a non-violent one. During this time, he met Bayard Rustin (African American civil rights and gay rights activist) who became a main organizer of the March on Washington (1963).

There were many protests that were led by King that sparked change during the Civil Rights Movement such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Albany Movement, the Birmingham Campaign, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and Bloody Sunday (the march in Selma, Alabama).

Dr. King’s fight for justice inspired so many, and in 1983, a bill was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan which helped to create Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a federal holiday honoring the legacy of Dr. King.

Sadly, the world had lost a prominent Civil Rights activist when Dr. King was assassinated on March 29, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

The legacy of MLK, Jr. still lives on; through his activism, he inspired a world of change that we see in today’s world.

Other Important Facts: Helped to create the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, received a Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among several other honors.

It is important to fight for change, make a difference, and remember that “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” Martin Luther King, Jr.

For more detailed information of Dr. Kings’ Life, visit https://www.biography.com/activist/martin-luther-king-jr.