![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)
New year, new course. Next year, the English department is adding to their cozy family with a new elective, Young Adult Literature. The class, taught by English teacher Shelby Whittington, focuses on how Young Adult Literature reflects real-world experiences. The class will read and discuss self-selected books, compare them with their movie counterparts, contact authors, and volunteer with the reading specialists and Rosa Lee Carter Elementary.
The idea initially came from English teacher Tyler Anderson. “I first heard about this class in August,” Anderson said. “The department chair at Briar [Woods High School] said she was running this class as a pilot.” Bringing the idea back home to his own English department, Anderson shared the idea with his co-workers. Whittington expressed interest in the class and stepped up to the plate to take on the job of teaching it.
While there are some logistics regarding which books will be allowed, and how to engage students, the class is meant to be fun-filled and open up more discussion where students can relate better to the books they are reading.
Units might not be broken up into specific books, but be more broad and take on several different genres, with a book picked from each genre. Most work will be completed in groups, as students are granted the freedom to select books that follow their interests. “The focus really is reading and talking about the books,” Whittington said. The discussions will focus on the themes, and aim to draw connections between the book and the real world.
Making the class more fun-filled, Whittington plans to follow student interest across as many genres as she can in the course. Another goal of hers is to find a way to incorporate films into the class. “We can read the book and watch the movie version and compare and contrast,” Whittington said.
Students were made aware of the class through teacher recommendations. Those whose English teacher thought they might be a good fit sent their names to Whittington and she reached out. After speaking with Whittington about the class, sophomore Mimtaaha Kader expressed interest in taking the elective. “It’s not like regular literature,” Kader said. “We can choose our own books, you’re not stressed out, it’s more relaxed.”
Creating a whole new world for students to discover, the Young Adult Literature elective is open for any rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors to take.
