![Junior Diya Arun stares out a window. For Arun, the winter season brings out the holiday blues. “ I think [the winter] has a negative effect on my mental health because I feel like the cold weather and people around me are also sadder [and] that affects me,” Arun said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_8047-1200x800.jpg)
![French teacher Marieme Toure serves a plate of the Senegalese food she prepared for her AP French Language and Culture class, to senior Faiza Syed. “I never had Senegalese food before,” Syed said. “I thought it was so cool that she was able to bring a part of her culture [and] background to us.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_0798-1200x906.jpeg)
![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)
On Feb. 15, parent volunteers in the library welcomed the class of 2024 with the scent of coffee filling the air and a mouthwatering assortment of donuts laid out for the seniors to savor during their quarterly breakfast. The spread offered a variety of flavors, from classic glazed to indulgent chocolate and strawberry-sprinkled delights. Accompanied by cups of coffee, the seniors were treated to a delicious start to their day.
Organized by senior class sponsors Liz Grainger and Brittany Thomas, the breakfast allowed seniors to spend quality time with their peers and those they haven’t gotten the chance to catch up with as they near the end of their high school journey. “I get to check up on the seniors that I don’t share any classes with or those that missed a lot of school,” senior Hatoon Abdulrahman said. This echoed the sentiment of many as they seized the opportunity to reconnect with classmates, reinforcing the sense of unity that defines their class.
Toward the end of the breakfast, principal John Duellman announced the graduation speaker. Seniors had weeks to vote for their choice of the top five nominees: science teacher Mithra Marcus, English teachers Sean Heron and Samuel Colston, marketing teacher Ben Stodola, and former history teacher and current Student Activities and Engagement Coordinator Brad Burzumato.
Burzumato won the most votes, securing his role as the graduation speaker, and recognizing his impact and connection with the class of 2024. “I am very honored to be the senior speaker; it means a lot that the students have chosen me to give them their final words of wisdom as they leave high school and head out into the real world,” Burzumato said.
As the announcement echoed through the library, cheers and applause erupted, marking the conclusion of a morning filled with surprises, connections, and anticipation. The aroma of coffee lingered, the sweetness of donuts still in the air, serving as a backdrop to the shared experiences and the palpable excitement for the bright future awaiting the class of 2024. This quarterly tradition exemplifies the spirit of the school and leaves a legacy of camaraderie and memories that will be remembered fondly by graduating classes for years to come.
