![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)
Last Spirit Week of the School Year Comes to an End
May 16 marked the last spirit week of the school year, and students went all out for their last time to express school spirit. Students showed their spirit with trendy spirit days such as Adam Sandler Day and Anything But a Backpack Day.
“Anything But a Backpack Day” brought out the creativity in senior Alexa Kim, who brought her mini remote controlled Range Rover to school. “I really loved today’s spirit day, because it [was] a chance for me to be absolutely ridiculous,” Kim said.
June 6, 2022
Although admittedly nervous about how Adam Sandler Day and Anything But a Backpack Day would go, Principal John Duellman was happy with how the final spirit week of the year turned out. “It was an outstanding spirit week,” Duellman said. “The goal is always to maximize participation and our SCA has done a great job this year.”
Monday: Denim Day
Denim Day kicked off the last spirit week of the year, with the SCA encouraging students to wear as much denim as they could. Even though jeans are a typical everyday article of clothing, Counseling Secretary Jackie Sanabria wanted to make sure she participated, since it is the last spirit week of the school year.
Tuesday: Pajama vs. Professional Day
For Pajamas vs Professional Day, students wore their favorite pajamas or their most professional attire. Even though most students wore their pajamas to school, some sported their most professional attire. “It was a chance for me to dress cute, even though I had to sit in study hall for three hours,” sophomore Haley Sutton said, referring to the testing schedule for the day.
Wednesday: Anything but a Backpack Day
This spirit day had students planning in advance as they schemed about what creative items could hold their belongings for the day. This spirit day also saw the most participation from students.“I really appreciate how [the SCA] went out with a bang,” senior Alexa Kim said. “[The idea of Anything But a Backpack Day] is something interesting and new and a trend,”
Thursday: Adam Sandler Day
For the fourth spirit day of the week, students dressed up as Adam Sandler in baggy clothes. Some went all out wearing socks and sandals, with some girls even wearing their brothers’ or dads’ clothes. “I love the school spirit, I like to participate in spirit weeks because it’s fun to do,” sophomore Manasvi Sharma said. Sharma wore a long white shirt with a collar and swim trunks that belonged to her father.
Senior Tanyka Matthias also participated in Adam Sandler day. “The people that I have seen so far went all out, it looks really good,” Matthias said. She paired her baggy clothes with sunglasses and a cap.
Friday: Class Colors
For the final spirit day of the school year, each grade represented their class by wearing their assigned color. Freshmen wore black, sophomores sported gray, juniors wore white, and seniors wore red in the form of their senior class t-shirts.
![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)
