![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)
![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)
School Board Adds Asynchronous Days to Nov. Calendar Following End of Quarter
In his Superintendent’s Report, Superintendent Scott Zeigler announced the addition of two asynchronous learning days on Nov. 3 and 5 and the introduction of halal and vegetarian lunch options in cafeterias around the county. A proclamation officially declaring October as LGBTQ+ History Month was passed 5-2 by the school board.
On Oct. 12, the LCPS School Board met to discuss the school schedule for the week following Oct. 28, the end of the first quarter, new menu options in the cafeteria, and the proclamation declaring October LGBTQ+ History Month.
October 27, 2021
On Oct. 12, at the LCPS School Board Meeting, Superintendent Scott Zeigler announced a change to the LCPS calendar. Nov. 3 and 5 will now be asynchronous learning days for students and planning days for teachers, a change from the previously planned regular school days. This revision means that the entire week of Nov. 1-5 will either be a holiday or an asynchronous learning day.
Before this adjustment to the schedule, students and staff would have been at school only on those two days out of the week, with staff development and planning days on Oct. 29 and Nov. 1, respectively. Students and staff are also scheduled to have Nov. 2 off for Election Day and Nov. 4 off for Diwali.
“We have endeavored throughout our return this year to prioritize in-person learning,” Zeigler said as part of the Superintendent’s Report, item 8 in the school board meeting. “We continue to make in-person learning a priority, but we do have to realize and recognize when we have hardships that will impede that effort.”
Zeigler cites a main challenge that LCPS is currently facing is not having a sufficient number of substitute teachers accepting positions, which led to the decision to add the two asynchronous days to the calendar. Only about 500 out of the 4000 substitute teachers in LCPS accepted roles this school year according to Zeigler.
While Zeigler says that LCPS is working on strategies to encourage substitutes to pick up jobs, he believes that “if we have a shortage [of substitutes] on these days of this week, it would mean combining classes, doubling up classes, and we don’t think with our COVID mitigation efforts that would be the safest environment for our schools.”
In an email sent to LCPS teachers, Zeigler acknowledged the struggles that students and staff are facing this year, and “hope[s] that by making these planning days available to [staff], we can allow dedicated time for collaboration across teams and preparation for classroom instruction as we enter the new quarter.”
Staff and students alike are grateful for these extra days of work and planning time. “I am really looking forward to the week off from school,” senior Rohan Mathur said.
Halal and Vegetarian Options Added to Lunch, LGBTQ History Month Made Official
Along with the changes to the schedule, the school board is planning to implement a more inclusive lunch menu. Kicking off National School Lunch week, which takes place from Oct. 12-16, halal and vegetarian options will now be regularly offered in lunches in LCPS.
The culturally-diverse food tasting for this county-wide change was conducted at Rock Ridge over the past few weeks. During the week of Sept. 14, students in A and B lunch had the opportunity to sample chana masala, a dish originating from India made with a variety of chickpea called chana, to gather student feedback on new vegetarian lunch options.
In addition to the samplings during lunch, the cafeteria held smaller group tastings that students interested in halal and vegetarian lunches could attend. “We talked about other [vegetarian] foods that we would want to see… some people mentioned samosas,” senior Mihika Bangarbale said.
The school board also officially passed the LGBTQ History Month proclamation 5-2, declaring October as LGBTQ+ History Month. The month of October is specific to LGBTQ+ because it recognizes “the first LGBT National March on Washington [in Oct. 1979 urging] Congress to pass protective civil rights legislation; and increasing visibility, raising awareness, and teaching LGBTQ+ history fosters a welcoming climate where LGBTQ+ students, families, and educators can live their authentic lives and be treated with dignity and respect,” the proclamation reads.
The next school board meeting will take place on Oct. 26.
![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)
