• Important Dates -->
  • Sept 23: 1st Quarter Senior Breakfast
  • Sept 26: No School -- Teacher Work Day
  • Oct 5: No School -- Yom Kippur
  • Oct 10: No School -- Indigenous People's Day
  • Oct 12: PSAT Day
  • Oct 21: Homecoming Game
  • Oct 22: Homecoming Dance
The Student News Site of Rock Ridge High School

THE BLAZE
After volunteering to participate in the “Hungry Hungry Hippos” inspired pep rally game, freshmen Conner Bultema and David Lassissi attempt to collect the most balls in their laundry basket while competing against four other duos.
Freshmen Get the “Scoop”
President Tiffany Ahmed introduced herself and informed in-person and online attendees of the PTSO’s mission. The staff plans to incorporate more activities and events for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, while still hosting senior breakfasts and class-celebratory events for seniors. “Im glad to be back and be in community with folks,” Ahmed said. “There’s so much that goes on in this school, and for parents to see first-hand the student activities builds that connection.”
PTSO Holds First In-Person Meeting After One Year
As freshmen and returning students enter the building after summer break, they are greeted by teachers for the upcoming school year ahead. One such teacher is ASL teacher Elizabeth Bush, who was eager to greet students coming to her class. “Just come in with a good attitude and readiness to try something new,” Bush said.
New and Old Phoenix Rise For Flight Day
After weeks of hard work, members of the Rock Ridge debate team qualified for Nationals, placing in the top 100 teams. Sophomore Veer Sidhu worked for the most time on his research. “You need to know a lot about the topic before you can write your case,” Sidhu said.
Phoenix Debate Argues Their Way to Nationals
The Aluminum Falcons built their VEX robot last August, gaining new parts and assembling the robot throughout the year. “We’ve been working, testing several designs,” junior Krish Shah said. “If it doesn’t work, we restart, find a new design, and make sure it works.”
Aluminum Falcons Take the Stage at VEX Robotics Worlds
Volume V, Issue II: Winter 2022
Volume V, Issue II: Winter 2022
Return to The Rock
Return to The Rock
A collage of all of the students profiled. (All photos courtesty of the profiled students.)
Humans of Rock Ridge: Pandemic Profiles
Theater teacher Rebekah Hess has spent quarantine and summer break preparing her home office for the school year. “I ended up decluttering over 2,320 items in the last three months,” Hess said. Her office contains scented candles, an open window, a ginormous planner, and a special furry friend, Gibbs.
Teachers Prep Back to School Teaching Spaces
Wearing masks, Sophia (left) and Amelie (right) pose for photos.
Sisters Launch Mask Business To Help Loudoun Community Combat Pandemic
The U.S. Capitol on the morning of President Bidens Inauguration.
Road To The Presidency
A distorted image of an I Voted sticker from Loudoun County. (Photo courtesy of Katy Greiner)
What’s A Rumor You’ve Heard About The Election?
The general election, and final day to vote, will take place on Nov. 3. In Virginia, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
What To Expect On Decision Day: Ins and Outs Of Following A Major Election
President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 5, 2019. (White House/Shaelah Craighead)
Trump Agrees on New Spending Bill; Promises an Emergency Declaration
Junior outside hitter Sidney Powell jumps as she serves the ball over the net to the opposing side.
Phoenix Sweep the Vikings as Volleyball Wins First Home Game of the Season
Junior Maddy Springer attempts to swing at the coming softball, allowing her team to advance to further bases on the field. “We should go in expecting to win and we need to have high hopes and good spirits,” sophomore Emma Spielman said.
Phoenix Clash with Lightridge Lightning in Final Softball Game
Senior Ryan Buermeyer (22), mid-swing, aims to hit the ball and allow sophomore Dylan Neach (21) and freshman Nikhil Midda (9) to make it home from second and third bases respectively.
Phoenix Swing a Win for the Season
Boys Varsity Soccer started their season strong with their first win in 2 years against the Stone Bridge Bulldogs. Senior Prince Amarante scored 2 goals, giving the Phoenix the win 2-1.
Closing of a Chapter, Prince Hangs Up His Crown
The track and field team warms up together with laps at practice after school.
Seniors Race to the Finish Line
Junior outside hitter Sidney Powell jumps as she serves the ball over the net to the opposing side.
Phoenix Sweep the Vikings as Volleyball Wins First Home Game of the Season
Poised for the perfect strike, sophomore Grace Tucker aims to score. Tucker was a team star in the first set, scoring multiple set winning strikes. “I’m really glad we won the game because it was our Dig Pink game and we all came together as a team and played well,” Tucker said.
Phoenix Show Out For Pink Out
The Phoenix and Captains ready themselves for the next play after stoppage from the referee. “I got my first touchdown on friday and it was pretty nice; it was the first one of the season, you know, and Im still looking to get more,” junior Da’sean Mack said.
Loudoun County Captains Capture Phoenix Pink Out Game 45-6
Senior Calek Aguado protects the ball after rushing and completing the play. “Today we were focused… and we were ready to rock and roll,” head coach George Masten said.
Hoco or Go Home
Aiden Patel walks towards the golf hole to line up his next shot at the Brambleton Golf Course during the District Tournament.
Phoenix Golf Tees Off to States
Christian Djan (22) looks to pass while being double teamed in a Jan.6 game against the Dominion Titans.
The Heart of the Phoenix
Junior Ilias Cholakis stands on the podium at states on Feb. 18 holding his fourth place medal. ¨I did pretty well -- improved from last year, which was my goal,¨ Cholakis said.
Phoenix Wrestling Dominates At Districts and Soars to States
Varsitys junior Nick Canfield (23) looks around to find a teammate to throw the ball to as a Cougar plays tight defense on him. “We did a good job on defense communicating, that was something that we were really trying to work on this past game,” Canfield said.
Phoenix Pounce on the Cougars
On Jan. 24, Phoenix cheerleaders sophomore Isha Vepa, junior Tia Carter, freshman Almendra Del Aguila, and junior Prerana Telugu perform a cheer in unison at the basketball game against Tuscarora. “We almost got hit by a ball like two [or] three times, we just kinda stepped back and kept watching. We literally laughed about it afterwards -- it’s always fun to support with these wild things happening.” said Telugu.
Winter Cheer: The Highs and Lows
Senior Alexa Veneros (12) blocks a Captains player (5) from scoring, while Veneros’ teammates remain open, ready to receive the ball.
Phoenix Girls Basketball Falls to the Captains on Senior Night
Junior Maddy Springer attempts to swing at the coming softball, allowing her team to advance to further bases on the field. “We should go in expecting to win and we need to have high hopes and good spirits,” sophomore Emma Spielman said.
Phoenix Clash with Lightridge Lightning in Final Softball Game
Senior Ryan Buermeyer (22), mid-swing, aims to hit the ball and allow sophomore Dylan Neach (21) and freshman Nikhil Midda (9) to make it home from second and third bases respectively.
Phoenix Swing a Win for the Season
Boys Varsity Soccer started their season strong with their first win in 2 years against the Stone Bridge Bulldogs. Senior Prince Amarante scored 2 goals, giving the Phoenix the win 2-1.
Closing of a Chapter, Prince Hangs Up His Crown
The track and field team warms up together with laps at practice after school.
Seniors Race to the Finish Line
Seniors Atri Bathula and Advik Pasuparthi hustle their way through the field.
Head to Head: Lacrosse Double Header Showcases Phoenix Seniors
Some recommended Latino song selections from throughout this year include “Girl From Rio” by Anitta, “This Is Not America” by Residente, and “KI-KI” by YEИDRY.
Creation with Colors, Prides, and Pasts: A Review of Latino Artists from 2021 – 2022
Voces Virilis performs “Wellerman” by Nathan Evans and “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson. Both songs were popularized on TikTok last year, which led the group to choosing them.
Bittersweet Final Notes
Young Wabo’s “Mirage” was released on May 1, 2022, and was Wabo’s newest release since his previous EP, “Mid,” released in 2021.
A Look Into The “Mirage:” An Interview With Young Wabo
An advertisement for “Girls’” second season in Brooklyn.
‘Girls’ Tenth Anniversary: A Retrospective Special
Red Velvet, a third-generation Kpop group, is known for their vivid and bold concepts. With their song “Bad Boy,” they quickly hit the charts and rose on the Canadian Billboard Hot Top 100.
Hallyu: The Korean Wave that became a Worldwide Phenomenon
A carrion crow rests on a mossy branch, surveying the area for carcasses. While the albatross has quite the reputation, it’s infamy is dwarfed in the presence of any species of crow⸺they’re almost always depicted as omens of death, decay, and bad luck. Carrion crows, in comparison to other species, were particularly associated with death and sickness (as their name suggests), and their presence often foreshadowed catastrophic events.
Exploring the Implications of Attribution With the Help of the Albatross
We’ve all seen it: after the teacher has given out their lesson and passed out homework, some students finally catch up on the much needed rest they missed out on the night before. Some students may see it as a sign of them being hard working; I see it as a sign of being overworked and as not desirable.
Don’t Snooze on Student’s Sleep
An advertisement for “Girls’” second season in Brooklyn.
‘Girls’ Tenth Anniversary: A Retrospective Special
(Pictured in blue) I patch together what I can recall about my kindergarten graduation, a distant memory. However, my upcoming graduation may stay as a framed photograph, recognizing the growth I made throughout the years.
Butler Swan Song: Grown
Langsam Swan Song: Trust the Process
Langsam Swan Song: Trust the Process
The Student News Site of Rock Ridge High School

THE BLAZE
The Student News Site of Rock Ridge High School

THE BLAZE
The Latest from The Blaze
Some recommended Latino song selections from throughout this year include “Girl From Rio” by Anitta, “This Is Not America” by Residente, and “KI-KI” by YEИDRY.
Arts & Entertainment
Creation with Colors, Prides, and Pasts: A Review of Latino Artists from 2021 - 2022

The 2021-2022 school year saw many highlights and achievements created by artists all over the world. But some that hit close to home to some...

After weeks of hard work, members of the Rock Ridge debate team qualified for Nationals, placing in the top 100 teams. Sophomore Veer Sidhu worked for the most time on his research. “You need to know a lot about the topic before you can write your case,” Sidhu said.
News
Phoenix Debate Argues Their Way to Nationals

On May 28 and 29, three Phoenix debate teams went to Nationals, scoring in the top 100 out of 300 schools from around the country. They were...

Junior Maddy Springer attempts to swing at the coming softball, allowing her team to advance to further bases on the field. “We should go in expecting to win and we need to have high hopes and good spirits,” sophomore Emma Spielman said.
Sports
Phoenix Clash with Lightridge Lightning in Final Softball Game

On May 18, the Phoenix Girls Varsity Softball team played against the Lightridge Lightning. The game ended with the Lightning winning 9-1 against...

A carrion crow rests on a mossy branch, surveying the area for carcasses. While the albatross has quite the reputation, it’s infamy is dwarfed in the presence of any species of crow⸺they’re almost always depicted as omens of death, decay, and bad luck. Carrion crows, in comparison to other species, were particularly associated with death and sickness (as their name suggests), and their presence often foreshadowed catastrophic events.
Opinion
Exploring the Implications of Attribution With the Help of the Albatross

In psychology, particularly the work of Fritz Heider, attribution is an umbrella term relating to how humans perceive the causes of everyday...

News
The Aluminum Falcons built their VEX robot last August, gaining new parts and assembling the robot throughout the year. “We’ve been working, testing several designs,” junior Krish Shah said. “If it doesn’t work, we restart, find a new design, and make sure it works.”
Aluminum Falcons Take the Stage at VEX Robotics Worlds
Anik Mridha and Sudeepa Pasupuleeti • June 11, 2022

On May 3, teams from all over the world attended the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, Texas. The cut-throat competition, hosted at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention...

On May 1, the TSA team proudly stands outside the Hampton Roads Convention Center ready to take on the competition.
TSA Places Sixth Overall At This Year's State Competition
Aline Gonzalez and Rachel Adams
Ida Lee Park hosted a Discovery Walk in honor of Park Day. It lasted for 5 days, and consisted of a tour around the grounds of the site.
Ida Lee Park Hosts “Discovery Walk” in Honor of Park Day
Rishi Sundaram, Staff Writer
Through “Ask for Angela,” Leesburg restaurants have begun providing support for their employees and ensuring their safety at their workplace. In the program, used only in emergency situations where employees are at risk of assault, employees say a phrase to call for help and receive it from another trained staff member.
Leesburg Restaurants Protect Employees With “Ask for Angela” Program
Rishi Sundaram, Staff Writer
On Tuesday, May 24, the LCPS School Board met for their 2nd Tuesday of the month meeting and discussed a variety of topics including gun violence; the first Friday in June was proposed to be celebrated as national gun violence awareness day in LCPS schools.
School Board Honors National Merit Scholars, Recognizes Gun Violence and LGBTQ+ Awareness Month
Nanaki Bawa, Aarohi Motwani, Jackson Mitchell, and Rishi Sundaram
View All
Sports
Senior Ryan Buermeyer (22), mid-swing, aims to hit the ball and allow sophomore Dylan Neach (21) and freshman Nikhil Midda (9) to make it home from second and third bases respectively.
Phoenix Swing a Win for the Season
James Bowles, Bella Gerardi, and Nidhi Manchala • June 14, 2022

On May 16, the Phoenix baseball team had a successful win against the Loudoun County Cavaliers. The Phoenix maintained a lead throughout the game, and a winning hit by sophomore...

Boys Varsity Soccer started their season strong with their first win in 2 years against the Stone Bridge Bulldogs. Senior Prince Amarante scored 2 goals, giving the Phoenix the win 2-1.
Closing of a Chapter, Prince Hangs Up His Crown
Sarah Baig, Amelia Chen, and Tanishka Enugu
The track and field team warms up together with laps at practice after school.
Seniors Race to the Finish Line
Rachel Adams, Aline Gonzalez, and Pavani Aakarapu
Seniors Atri Bathula and Advik Pasuparthi hustle their way through the field.
Head to Head: Lacrosse Double Header Showcases Phoenix Seniors
Zain Khalidi and Alyssa Yoon
Senior Anish Nandyala prepares to serve during the doubles matches, with partner sophomore Aryan Dhiman ready to play.
Causing a Racket: Boys Tennis Reigns Supreme
Zain Khalidi, Alyssa Yoon, and Maddie Nyman
View All
Trending Stories
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Return to The Rock

Return to The Rock

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On Tuesday, May 24, the LCPS School Board met for their 2nd Tuesday of the month meeting and discussed a variety of topics including gun violence; the first Friday in June was proposed to be celebrated as national gun violence awareness day in LCPS schools.

School Board Honors National Merit Scholars, Recognizes Gun Violence and LGBTQ+ Awareness Month

3
Tone tags are beneficial for individuals who struggle to pick up social and emotional cues, especially through text. Tone tags can be viewed as simple labels at the end of text messages to clarify the voice or tone of the individual’s text.

The Internet Tool That Makes Conversations Click

4
Amazon’s sales skyrocket as profit increases two-fold.

Amazon’s Profit Doubles By Almost 5.2 Billion–Good for Them; Tough for Competition

5
Junior outside hitter Sidney Powell jumps as she serves the ball over the net to the opposing side.

Phoenix Sweep the Vikings as Volleyball Wins First Home Game of the Season

The Blaze on Instagram
Arts & Entertainment
Young Wabo’s “Mirage” was released on May 1, 2022, and was Wabo’s newest release since his previous EP, “Mid,” released in 2021.
A Look Into The “Mirage:” An Interview With Young Wabo
Jackson Mitchell, Staff Writer • June 8, 2022

Young Wabo is one of the most overlooked rappers in the east coast underground scene. With only 52,000 monthly listeners, he makes music that...

Continue Reading
An advertisement for “Girls’” second season in Brooklyn.
‘Girls’ Tenth Anniversary: A Retrospective Special
Zain Khalidi, Multimedia Editor
Red Velvet, a third-generation Kpop group, is known for their vivid and bold concepts. With their song “Bad Boy,” they quickly hit the charts and rose on the Canadian Billboard Hot Top 100.
Hallyu: The Korean Wave that became a Worldwide Phenomenon
Smrithi Balakumar, Video Editor
Junior Sneha Nekkanty, freshman Arjun Alagappa, and junior Joanne Ma play the flutes in Ralph Vaughan William’s fast-paced “English Folk Song Suite.” “We did well blending with each other during this concert,” Nekkanty said. “Our intonation was also better [compared to] the beginning of the year.”
The Final Band Concert of the Year Bids Seniors Farewell
Manika Porchezhian, Shaima Tora, and Anushka Goski
View All
Opinion
We’ve all seen it: after the teacher has given out their lesson and passed out homework, some students finally catch up on the much needed rest they missed out on the night before. Some students may see it as a sign of them being hard working; I see it as a sign of being overworked and as not desirable.
Don’t Snooze on Student’s Sleep
James Bowles, Opinion Section Editor

Everyone has been told by their parents time and time again to get the necessary amount of sleep. For teenagers, the CDC recommends getting eight...

Continue Reading
An advertisement for “Girls’” second season in Brooklyn.
‘Girls’ Tenth Anniversary: A Retrospective Special
Zain Khalidi, Multimedia Editor
(Pictured in blue) I patch together what I can recall about my kindergarten graduation, a distant memory. However, my upcoming graduation may stay as a framed photograph, recognizing the growth I made throughout the years.
Butler Swan Song: Grown
Dominika Butler, A&E Copy Editor
Langsam Swan Song: Trust the Process
Langsam Swan Song: Trust the Process
Megan Langsam, Editor-in-Chief
View All

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