![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
The First Taste of Senior Traditions
With their final year in full swing, the class of 2022 gathered in the library for their first senior class meeting Thursday morning.
![Seniors Esther McPalmer and Maryam Nabih eat Chick-fil-A breakfast sandwiches in the library during senior breakfast. “[Senior year] is going OK, it’s not bad, and I’m enjoying early release and [taking] less classes,” McPalmer said. McPalmer looks forward to prom and future senior breakfasts during her last year of high school.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Copy-of-DSC_0428-900x630.jpg)
Seniors Esther McPalmer and Maryam Nabih eat Chick-fil-A breakfast sandwiches in the library during senior breakfast. “[Senior year] is going OK, it’s not bad, and I’m enjoying early release and [taking] less classes,” McPalmer said. McPalmer looks forward to prom and future senior breakfasts during her last year of high school.
October 3, 2021
On Sept. 23, the class of 2022 gathered for their first senior breakfast and official senior class meeting.
At 8:30 a.m., seniors filed into the library to enjoy Chick-fil-A sandwiches along with Starbucks frappuccinos, Bai flavored waters, and bottled water provided by parents.
Seniors gathered in groups at tables and booths throughout the library, spending time with their friends and peers before heading into the auditorium for the mandatory senior meeting at 9:15.
Led by career center counselor Mary Barnes, Assistant Principal Dawn Dickerson, head of counseling Kevin Terry, and SCA student officers from the senior class, the senior meeting discussed Homecoming on Oct. 9, an asynchronous day on Oct.13 while the rest of the school takes the PSAT, information explaining how to set up the senior meeting with counselors, and the reveal of the class t-shirt.
Dickerson also described some of the changes to Homecoming this year. These included a senior kickball game that every senior can participate in replacing the usual powderpuff game, and electing a “royal court” instead of homecoming king and queen to make the event more inclusive with the introduction of policy 8040. In addition, to meet COVID-19 safety standards, the homecoming pep rally and the homecoming dance will be held at the football stadium. At the homecoming pep rally, the first Rock Ridge pep rally in over 18 months, the seniors are encouraged to reveal their class of ‘22 t-shirts to the rest of the school.
Seniors can check the class schoology page and their weekly emails from Barnes and Principal John Duellman for more information on upcoming senior events, scheduling their senior meeting with a counselor, submitting transcript requests for college applications, and more.
The next senior breakfast will take place on Dec. 14 in the library.
![In a historic presidential election, voters nationwide turned out to make their voices heard. Virginia’s 10th congressional district had three key national positions up for election: president, senator, and representative.
In the race for the House of Representatives seat previously held by Democrat Jennifer Wexton, the Republican Party nominated Mike Clancy, while the Democratic Party put forward Suhas Subramanyam, a former Virginia General Assembly Senator. Subramanyam won the seat with a 52% majority.
For one of Virginia’s Senate positions, Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine and Republican challenger Hung Cao faced off. Kaine took the position with a 54% majority.
For the White House, current Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump fought to obtain the 270 electoral votes needed to get the bid. News outlets worldwide tracked the results live, with close attention to seven key battleground states: Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Wisconsin, Georgia, and North Carolina. Trump ultimately crossed the 270-vote threshold early on Nov. 6, with the swing states playing a pivotal role in his campaign’s success.
This election was the first presidential race for many Gen-Z voters, who entered a sharply polarized environment. Adela Booth, mother-in-law of Representative-Elect Subramanyam, traveled from Connecticut to support his campaign, encouraging young voters to engage in the political process. “Vote,” Booth said. “Get involved in politics. Even [if] you don’t think it applies to you, it applies to you. You will carry this debt. It will affect your grandchildren and you have to do something about it. You can’t sit back and watch anymore.”
✏️ and 📷 by Shivu Sathe](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)