THE RETURN OF THE EYE

Brooklyn Moving Into the New Age

By: Gino Pallotta, Ariana Rojak, and Danielle Shehee

January 31, 2020

Image result for stats of a student in high school that is able to use chromebooks in school

Many schools around the country have embraced technology and have become one-to-one; this means that every student has a Chromebook or a similar device. With so many classes using Chromebooks, is it possible for Brooklyn to join the movement?

Students will be able to keep track of school-work much easier, do missing work much quicker, and develop technology skills that colleges and career jobs require.

Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Michelle Kalish, who is leading the charge to make Brooklyn a one-to-one district, had plenty to say on this matter. The following is our sit-down interview with her.

How are Chromebooks useful in the classrooms?

“It is important for students to have access to technology because college and many careers have requirements for technology. Being able to develop those skills is important.”

What restrictions will the Chromebooks have?

“We will have firewalls and content filters. This will prohibit students from searching inappropriate sites. Nothing is foolproof, but we can see what students are searching. Chromebooks will be school only; students won’t be taking them home.”

What happens if a student breaks a Chromebook?

“That depends. There are different levels of device damage. There are accidental damages, and we will probably wave the fee the first time. Repeated damages, however, there will be a talk. Finally, there is the possibility of taking the Chromebook away.”

How much would it cost for Brooklyn to become a one-to-one school?

“It depends. There are many variations for one-to-one options. There is the technology backbone; can the Internet take everyone? The first part is upgrading the Internet. Then, buy the Chromebooks. That can vary because we want a more robust computer. We have to have conversations with students, staff, teachers, and parents.”`

She also wanted to explain the ideal plan for how students would get the Chromebooks. A freshman would get a Chromebook, and they would keep the same Chromebook until he/she graduates.

If there is community and school-wide support, our school could be the future of education.

The Honorable Life of Kobe Bryant

By: Normeze Rivera, Jessica Strimpel, and Anayah Flowers

January 31, 2020

Kobe Bryant lived a very honorable life with tremendous accomplishments in the world of professional basketball.

Unfortunately, his life tragically ended on January 26, 2020, in an unexpected helicopter crash in which nine people died, including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

In an earlier interview with The Washington Post, Bryant said this about his daughter Gianna: “On my hip from the day she was born until now, my second one, she’ll never leave my side. Never. She’s just always right there. Always, every picture.”

Bryant was drafted directly into the NBA right after high school at the age of 17. Kobe won 5 championships, had 18 All-Star Game appearances, 4 All-Star Game MVP awards, 2 NBA Finals MVP Awards, and a singular regular-season MVP award.

Kobe also had two Olympic gold medals as well.

His last game was in April of 2016, a 60-point farewell game in which both of his numbers were retired, 8 and 24.

He finished his career with 33,643 points.

Bryant’s accomplishments branched further than sports when his short film, “Dear Basketball” won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film. It was created based on a poem written by Bryant in 2015 and served as his announcement of retirement from his legendary basketball career.

Not only was Bryant a very significant figure in the NBA, but he also was an outstanding father to his four daughters. He prided himself in protecting and caring for his family at all times.

Reporter, Elle Duncan, said when meeting Bryant, he instantly started talking about her baby bump and said, “Just be grateful you’ve been given that gift; girls are amazing.”

When asked how Bryant felt about having more girls, he said: “I would have five more girls if I could..I’m a girl dad. I love the challenge of raising women.”

Kobe Bryant’s legacy as a father, NBA legend, Olympic gold medalist, and Oscar-winner has impacted the world greatly, and he will forever be remembered.

Kobe and Gianna Bryant will be missed dearly.

Wrestling Tri-Meets

By: Ella Fowler, Serena Barile, and Delaney David

January 24, 2020

Last Thursday and Friday, the wrestling team participated in two tri-meets; Thursday’s tri-meet was at Beachwood, and Friday’s meet was at Hawken.

This season has been very eventful as they have participated in many tournaments such as Cobos Insurance Classic, North Coast Classic, multiple tri-meets, duals, and invitationals. Although the lack of wrestlers on the team has set them back, they all have done well, and it helps to have the support of their captain, senior Eric Khay.

Five out of the eight wrestlers on the team participated in the tri-meet at Beachwood High School on January 23. The other teams were the Beachwood Bisons and the St. Ignatius Wildcats.

The Hurricane wrestlers for this event were Brandon Deighton, Joe Dennis, Eric Khay, Dylan Elliott, and Tyler Kebbel.

Freshman Brandon Deighton started out the meet with a 2-0 loss but is improving and is very hopeful for the rest of this season and beyond.

Freshman Joe Dennis took a forfeit due to the other team not having a 106 weight-class wrestler.

Eric Khay had an unbelievably-amazing 2-0 win in only the first period, ending with a pin.

Junior Dylan Elliott came out with a 2-0 loss.

In addition, freshman Tyler Kebbel lost, 7-4, but he stood out by showing his hard work later with a 6-2 win.

Joe Dennis later had a 2-0 loss, Eric Khay had a 2-2 pin loss, and Dylan Elliott ended with a 6-2 loss.

The losing match against Beachwood ended up with a team score of 45-12, and St. Ignatius beat the Hurricanes with a score of 54-6.

One day later, Joe Dennis, Dylan Elliott, Sofia Collins, Tyler Kebbel, and Eric Khay participated in another tri-meet at Hawken High School against the Hawken Hawks and the West Geauga Wolverines.

Eric Khay started off the tri-meet with a win of 11-6 and later a 4-1 win.

Unfortunately, the losses were Tyler Kebbel with a 2-2 pin, Joe Dennis 25-10, Dylan Elliott a 3-8 pin, Joe Dennis a 2-0 pin, Dylan Elliott a 7-1 pin, Sofia Collins a 14-0 pin, and Tyler Kebbel a 2-0 pin.

Thursday’s and Friday’s meets resulted in a very hopeful remainder of the season due to these wrestlers really showing their strengths on the mat. Even though the losses mounted up, improvement was made by every wrestler.

You can help support your wrestling team by cheering them on at the CVC championships at Cuyahoga Heights High School on Friday, January 31 (6:00) and Saturday, February 1 (TBA).

Staff Profile: Mr. Abramovic

By: Haley Schaldach

*Science/Math/AVID Teacher*

Why did you decide to be a teacher?

“Originally, I was an accounting major, but I was not happy. I decided I wanted to explore other options. I shadowed as a teacher for a week while in college and taught a couple of lessons. I really enjoyed working with the kids and discovered that’s what I wanted to do.”

How do you deal with a stressful day?

“First, I start off and pet my cat, Malibu. Usually, I would go home and talk to a colleague or anyone who will listen. Then, I reflect on how I can do something differently. I can’t change the way a student acts, but I can change the way I handle something.”

What is your most interesting, high school memory?

-“I’ve always been interested in learning different languages. During high school, I learned three different languages. First, I learned German, then Spanish, and then Japanese.”

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

“I love my job. If anything, I would stick with education. I would move to be a guidance counselor or a college professor to teach education.”

What is your funniest, teaching memory?

“When we used to have a transparency, I needed to tell an Intervention Specialist something without the kids knowing what I was saying. Without knowing, I grabbed something to cover my face as I talked. I did not realize that it was a transparency until afterward. They saw everything.”

What was your biggest setback in life?

“I didn’t really have any big setbacks. All the things that happened led me here. I did not have setbacks, but there were many learning experiences.”

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

“I am happy with how things are, but if I could change one thing, I would love to see students participating (100 percent) during school events.”

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.