![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)
![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)
Located in room L508, right next to the central staircase in the academic wing, is this year’s classroom for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) course. Family and consumer science teacher Shannon Hunter has been teaching both gourmet foods and all courses involved with ECE – which includes Intro to ECE, ECE I, and ECE II – for a year now.
Hunter has aimed to evolve the classes from last year; wanting to learn from her first year in Rock Ridge to make the course more informative and hands-on for her students. “The nice thing is last year I had very small classes,” Hunter said. “This year I have two decent-sized classes.”
While the curriculum has evolved and been polished by Hunter, a majority of the course from last year remains.
Similar to last year, the intro to ECE class is where new students start. Intro focuses on the basics of childhood development like caring for little ones and workplace skills related to career fields in ECE; giving students a chance to learn about the different careers that handle early childhood education like teachers and childcare center workers.
After students complete a year in the intro class and have learned the basics, they’ll move on to ECE I to focus on more hands-on experience; at the same time, they’ll continue developing the skills they learned in the intro class. Lastly, after they complete ECE I, they’ll finally be a part of ECE II.
Senior Lily Weems is in her second year in the ECE course. After wanting to join since freshman year, Weems has witnessed firsthand how the course has evolved from last year. “It’s structured pretty much the same,” Weems said. “[But], I feel like it’s a little more organized this year.”
The most noticeable change from last year to this year is that ECE students can get more hands-on experience working with the Head Start program.
An integral part of what separates ECE from other classes is the experience it provides to its students. The Head Start program, which is provided by Rock Ridge, is located at one end of the L500s hallway; close to the new ECE classroom. It’s a miniature preschool, filled with students ages three to four, that works in partnership with the ECE kids to provide them with field experience with kindergarteners.
Different from last year, the course this year is being rearranged to allow more time for students to interact and get exposure to the little ones. The block schedules were changed from first and fifth blocks to second and sixth blocks respectively; fitting in Head Start’s schedule to give ample time for ECE students. “We’re playing this game of trying to figure out when is correct or the best time to go in,” Hunter said. “We’re not perfect, but we’re going in during times where we’re able to be more participatory in lessons [versus] outdoor play.”
Hunter has stated that their goal with the block schedule is to give students time to cover Head Start’s morning routine and to get her students more experience. “Right now they’re rotating every six classes, so they’re maybe getting three hours a month at the most in there,” Hunter said. “ I would like to see them get six to ten hours a month in there.”
While the kids who make up the Head Start program are one of the main reasons students take ECE like Fisher; others like Weems, have mixed feelings about the little ones. “Observing the way they act is very weird because they [definitely act their age],” Weems said.
Looking back at the course’s main content, students have continued to find the course useful in learning skills that can be applied outside of the classroom. “I actually used a lot of the skills that I have here in my job that I just got in a school,” Fisher said. “It’s a preschool, so I’ve been using a lot of the skills and it’s helped me a lot in certain situations.”
Even though Hunter now has a year of experience under her belt, she wishes to continue improving the course to allow for more hands-on experience with the little ones, create new material to teach her students new workplace skills and give students who are passionate about teaching the younger generation the skills and knowledge necessary for them to succeed. “If you have any desire in any capacity to have children in your life, it’s applicable to you,” Hunter said.
