![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-1200x800.jpg)
![Senior Fatima Qaderi grew into the person she wanted to become when she was younger and continues to work towards growing more confident in using her voice when it matters. “I didnt get treated the way I wanted to be treated, and I realized that it wasnt just them treating me the wrong way, it was me treating me the wrong way,” Qaderi said. “I forced them to like to look at me in a way where Im someone who needs to be respected; they cant just disregard me, they cant just look over me because I have a different opinion, because Im a woman, because Im Afghan, because Im Muslim, or whatever. It just took going through different experiences to figure out how [I wanted to] be heard.” Photo courtesy of Fatima Qaderi.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3870.jpeg)
![With the energy and effort the Bolts were bringing to the game, the Phoenix had to step up and match them to make it through their first game of the season. Many of the girls on the team, including freshman Nazly Rostom, have been playing soccer since their childhood and have grown a love for the sport as a result. “It was fun to see how we actually played in a [real] game,” Rostom said. “Even though the outcome was not what we were hoping for, I’m still happy we got to play together.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0154-1200x800.jpg)
![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)
![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.
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.
![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-600x400.jpg)
![Senior Fatima Qaderi grew into the person she wanted to become when she was younger and continues to work towards growing more confident in using her voice when it matters. “I didnt get treated the way I wanted to be treated, and I realized that it wasnt just them treating me the wrong way, it was me treating me the wrong way,” Qaderi said. “I forced them to like to look at me in a way where Im someone who needs to be respected; they cant just disregard me, they cant just look over me because I have a different opinion, because Im a woman, because Im Afghan, because Im Muslim, or whatever. It just took going through different experiences to figure out how [I wanted to] be heard.” Photo courtesy of Fatima Qaderi.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3870-600x471.jpeg)
