![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)
PTSO Motions to Fund Students’ Requests
The PTSO made a motion to fund for author Amy Reed’s travel fees, new table tennis tables, materials for the new courtyard, and four new couches in the entrance.
![The PTSO agreed to fund travel fees for a speaker at English teacher Jessica Berg’s women’s summit that will be held on Mar. 26. “It was so amazing to have [the PTSO’s] support,” Berg said. “I was on cloud nine.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/RRHS-PTSO-1-900x900.jpg)
The PTSO agreed to fund travel fees for a speaker at English teacher Jessica Berg’s women’s summit that will be held on Mar. 26. “It was so amazing to have [the PTSO’s] support,” Berg said. “I was on cloud nine.”
February 2, 2022
On Jan. 12, the PTSO held their January meeting virtually to discuss and approve various funding requests. The meeting consisted of updates on the courtyard survey results and a motion to fund the travels of author Amy Reed, writer of “The Nowhere Girls” and “Beautiful,” who will speak at English teacher Jessica Berg’s “Rise to Summit” in March. In addition, they made a motion to fund new table tennis tables and four new couches for the lobby.
The environmental club and its sponsor, science teacher Michael Clear, are co-leading the effort to design the courtyard along with the PTSO. The club has requested students and teachers to provide input regarding how the new space should be used. According to the survey, teachers and students both want the courtyard to be a stress free mental health area. The main goal of the courtyard project is that it is a student driven and collaborative effort between various departments. For example, Technical Education students will create garden beds, science and CTE will grow food, and CTE might cook items and/or sell them for scholarships. The courtyard is set to be complete by early spring.
Following the discussion of the courtyard survey, English teacher Jessica Berg spoke about hosting a women empowerment event called “Rise To Summit,” which has the main goal of engaging and empowering students to take note of issues affecting the community, connecting with mentors, and forming networks through which they can get involved. A variety of speakers will attend the event including author Amy Reed; upon Berg’s request, the PTSO agreed to fund Reed’s travel and accommodation fees.
Additionally, history teacher Joshua Dobbs requested two tennis tables for the Table Tennis Club and their upcoming community club tournament. These tennis tables will also be used by the P.E. department.
Finally, the PTSO will fund the purchase of four new couches in the main hallway at the entrance of the school for students to eat away from the crowd of the lunchroom.
The next PTSO meeting will be held on Feb. 2.
![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)