![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)
Homecoming: SCA sets the Scene for a Night in the Cities
From Oct. 17 to Oct. 22, SCA worked hard to create a memorable Homecoming Week and dance, aiming to make a unique “night in the cities” for all to enjoy. Scenes of New York, Paris, Tokyo and Los Angeles decorated the main hallway and cafeteria inside the school, all set up by the hard work of the SCA the morning before.
Student Council Association (SCA) members decorate a large arch for the Homecoming Dance before students arrive. The front entrance, gym, and cafeteria were transformed into city themed attractions on the morning of Oct. 22.
November 15, 2022
On the morning of Oct. 22, while many students were getting beauty rest before Homecoming, the Student Council Association (SCA) came to school at 8 a.m. to start setting up for the rest of the school to enjoy the dance. The event allowed students to enjoy food and games, take photos at a photo booth, hang out with friends, and join the party created by DJ Mario. The SCA was responsible for setting up the event, turning the main entrance, cafeteria, and gym into the main attractions.
Preparations for Homecoming started at 8 a.m., and continued until 2 p.m.. The theme for Homecoming this year was “A Night in the Cities.” To start, SCA moved the hallway decorations each grade made to the main entrance. Themes of Paris, Tokyo, New York, and Las Vegas were combined to form a glittering walkway that represented each grade’s hard work over the course of Homecoming week.
Last year, SCA held the dance outside because of COVID concerns. This year, the city setup stretched inside the school. Junior Naolee Majonnen, an SCA member, helped to to set up decorations in the library walls by taking decorations from the grade-level hallway decoration competition.. “Each grade [was given] a different city, so each library wall is going to be a different city,” Majonnen said “We just really want it to be based around the theme, getting decorations, and colors for a matching color scheme so that nothing looks out of place.” Tapestries and other decorations showed the main themes of each city: hanging planes that traveled through each of them, lanterns to represent Tokyo, dice and slot machines for Las Vegas, arches for Paris, and tall skyscrapers for New York.
After the main entrance was completed, SCA decorated the cafeteria. Tables throughout the room were adorned with tablecloths and lights, while a large row of tables that lined the back were used as a snack and drink stand. A miniature cardboard replica of the Eiffel Tower that the sophomores, led by sophomore Ginny McGee, had created was placed near the front for all to see. Lights were wrapped around the Eiffel Tower, tables, and the room as a whole to give a calming atmosphere to those outside the dance floor.
The gym was transformed into the star attraction of Homecoming: the dance floor. The bleachers were pushed back to give space for a crowd. A photo booth was positioned in the back of the gym to give students a chance to get a memento of this occasion. The middle of the gym had a large rubber mat placed on the ground for the dance floor. Lastly, the DJ booth was equipped with lights, speakers, and everything needed to make this night in the cities something students will never forget.
Sophomore Dorsa Baghaei enjoyed that the dance was held inside. “I just like the amount of space we had [this year on the dance floor], because last year we were outside and there was not enough space [at the dance],” Baghaei said.
Tickets for Homecoming started at $20, before increasing to $25 as the dance date approached. The SCA sold 1250 tickets in total, and around 1200 people attended the dance. For freshman class’s first Homecoming, the event came with newfound excitement about getting ready, dancing with their friends, and singing to their favorite songs. Freshman Laya Lyun had an “iconic time” dancing with friends and she thinks that events like homecoming are great to connect the student body together and “make sure that everyone has a great time.”
Even guests not attending Rock Ridge enjoyed the event and loved the SCA’s decoration. Former Phoenix and current sophomore at Independence High School Mokshita Mannan came to homecoming at Rock Ridge with Phoenix friends and loved seeing the school again and being able to experience homecoming here. “It was amazing, the music was great, all the organization, all the snacks, everything was amazing,” Mannan said.“I really loved it!”
![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)
