![Junior Diya Arun stares out a window. For Arun, the winter season brings out the holiday blues. “ I think [the winter] has a negative effect on my mental health because I feel like the cold weather and people around me are also sadder [and] that affects me,” Arun said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_8047-1200x800.jpg)
![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)
Team Spirit Reignites
On Oct. 7, the Phoenix field hockey team faced the Loudoun County Captains, and suffered a 6-0 loss. The team reflected on their growth as the season began to close.
Freshman Saihaj Kaur and junior Deeksha Borra clash with the Captains in an attempt to score a goal. A few moments after the attempt, Kaur suffered an injury to her ankle and toe. “When I first joined, I was like ‘oh my God, I can’t do this,’ but now, it might be a little hard, but I can do it,” Kaur said.
October 26, 2021
At the second to last field hockey game of the regular season on Oct 7, the Phoenix lost to the Captains 6-0. During the last few minutes of the second period, freshman Saihaj Kaur injured her ankle and toes, but was able to finish the game. Junior Harshroop Singh took control of the play, coming close to scoring several times in the game. Although the Captains left the field in victory, the Phoenix hope to win in their last game of the season on Oct 12 against the Lightridge Lightning.
The Phoenix reflected on the progress they have made along with mistakes they wish to fix in the future. “It is the end of the season, and for a beginning team, we all are starting to understand how to play a little bit better,” team co-captain junior Harshroop Singh said. They hope to improve their communication on the field in order to play better as a team.
![On Friday, Dec. 19, seniors filled the library for the winter senior breakfast event, put together with the help of administrators and parent volunteers. Excitement and joy filled the atmosphere as the Class of 2025 filed into the school library to celebrate their four years of accomplishment as students.
The menu for this breakfast was an assortment of sweet treats: donuts, apple and orange juice, coffee, hot chocolate, and gingerbread cookies. Students were able to decorate their own gingerbread cookies with a variety of different icing and sprinkles to choose from. The tables were decorated with blue tablecloths to celebrate the winter season. Plates and napkins also followed the holiday theme.
Senior Blessing Amuga attended the event for her friends and the food. “This time [the breakfast was better because] there were many activities,” Amuga said.
In the midst of the festivities, students were provided with the opportunity to vote on one of four designs on the front and two designs on the back for their senior class shirt design. They are able to submit their designs by Dec. 18 for a chance to be selected as the winning design.
✏️ and 📷 by Ryan Desiderio, Rachel Bhardwaj, Sitwat Mian](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)