Every year, India’s biggest holiday of the year, Diwali, is widely celebrated for both its religious and cultural importance. Based on the...
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On Thursday, Nov. 16, the Phoenix girls basketball team went against the Annandale Atoms for their first home scrimmage, kicking off the preseason....
![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-1200x823.png)
![Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and its a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5383-1200x897.jpg)
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![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-300x206.png)
![Every job has a “why:” a purpose that motivates one to complete their tasks and accomplish their goals New Student Activities and Engagement Coordinator Brad Burzumato’s “why” is giving students their “why.” “My driving force is finding those kids that wake up in the morning and ask, ‘Why do I go to school?’” Burzumato said. “I want to help give them a reason to come to school and help them find that club or organization that they get excited about, even if they’re not necessarily excited about class.”
As the new academic year rolled around, a position for the Student Activities and Engagement Coordinator opened up, previously held by Annamika Hacikyan. Burzumato, former history teacher, stepped up to fill the role and had significant aspirations for what he wanted to accomplish. “My goal in this role is to increase student participation in clubs and activities and extracurricular organizations,” Burzumato said. “We do that through a variety of means: [we want to] continue to improve upon our activity block, connect teachers and students who want to sponsor clubs and organizations by putting them in touch with each other so that they can have these cool opportunities, and help clubs do cool things and carry out events.”
Burzumato is optimistic about his future vision and believes Rock Ridge can be taken to new heights of excellence. “We’re already a fantastic school, but when Mr. Duellman and I lay out our vision for this school, we don’t have to deal with a lot of the things that most schools have to deal with,” he said. “So rather than sitting back and saying ‘Oh, man, isn’t life so great?’ we want to use that opportunity to go above and beyond and take Rock Ridge to a level that other high schools wouldn’t even dream of.”
Click the link in our bio to learn more about Rock Ridge’s newest Student Activities and Engagement Coordinator.
✏️ by Ananya Karthik and Maddie Nyman
📷 courtesy of Brad Burzumato](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
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