![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)
PTSO Honors Student, Discusses Future Actions to Improve Mental Health of School Community
On Feb. 2, the PTSO and community members met in the library to discuss future actions to address mental health and recent school incidents.
Sitting around a table, the PTSO, Student Activities and Engagement Coordinator Annamika Hacikyan, and Principal John Duellman convene to review and devise a plan to move forward from recent incidents.
February 16, 2023
On Feb. 2, the PTSO met to brainstorm how to improve mental health within the Phoenix community in response to recent events.
They began their meeting with a moment of silence for the passing of Rock Ridge sophomore Myles Lytle-Gabbin.
The board then moved on to discuss IEP goals to meet the needs of IEP students. IEP stands for the Individualized Education Program, which is a “written statement of the educational program designed to meet a child’s individual needs.” Students who are in the special education program must have an IEP to help set individualized “learning goals that the school district will provide for the child.”
PTSO President Tiffany Ahmed proposed recognizing those who demonstrate meaningful inclusion within the Phoenix community and suggested for Student Activities and Engagement Coordinator Annamika Hacikyan to help make the final decision, as she has championed an inclusive culture.
During the principal’s report, Duellman expressed his disappointment and sadness in response to the events in the last couple of weeks, which included an increased amount of physical violence from fights that have broken out and a student’s death.
Duellman and the board spent a significant portion of the meeting pinpointing possible reasons for the events, as well as devising resources and student safety measures that could be provided and put in place to support the community. The PTSO board discussed conducting more mental health surveys and communicating mental health concerns with parents. “We are sitting on top of a volcano, and I’m not comfortable with this at all,” Duellman said.
The PTSO Board also discussed the possibility that the competition, high student academic achievement in Northern Virginia, and pressure being placed upon the students by the predominantly first generation immigrant families could have influenced such events. Duellman said that this topic is going to be the main focus of his upcoming parent breakfast.
The next PTSO meeting will take place on March 2.
![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)
