• Important Dates -->
  • 1/20 MLK Day
  • 1/24 End of Q2
  • 1/27 No School (Teacher Work Day)
  • 1/28 No School (Teacher Work Day)
  • 1/29 No School (Lunar New Year)
The Student News Site of Rock Ridge High School

THE BLAZE
Biology teacher Anshu Jaiswal speaks animatedly with a parent about the different science courses available for the grade levels.
Parents Get a Crash Course at Curriculum Night
Hanukkah is celebrated with many things, such as the menorah with eight lit candles to represent the eight days of Hanukkah, a dreidel used for games, and Sufganiyots, which is a traditional food eaten during this time.
Dreidel, Latkes, and Sufganiyots: Celebrating Hanukkah in the Winter Time
Seniors Faiza Syed, Gabby Anderson, and Siri Amperayani eagerly decorate their gingerbread cookies.
From Laughter to Sweet Treats: Seniors End the Year with a Winter Breakfast
Sophomore Camille Conner, junior Marian Lindsey, and senior Ruth Gemechu sing “Carol of the Bells.”
Rock Ridge Sings Warms Audience with “Blizzard Beats” Winter Concert
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.
Searching for Cheer at the End of the Year: RRHS Supports Students Navigating the ‘Holiday Blues’
Sophomore Betsy Polanco fights to break free of her opponent's grasp during the “King of the Rock” tournament.
Fighting for More Than Pins: The Impact of Women’s Wrestling
Freshmen Sriram Chiripurapu (left), Bhavagnya Pallaki (center), and Sudhiksha Gudimettla (right), all Latin III students, pose with Roman-inspired props during their class’s celebration of the Roman festival, Saturnalia, on Dec. 19.
‘Labor Omnia Vincit’: Rock Ridge Latin Students ‘Conquer All Through Hard Work’
Classroom Conversations: The Struggles of a Teenage Immigrant
Classroom Conversations: The Struggles of a Teenage Immigrant
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.”
Marieme Toure Celebrates Culture Instead of Conjugation in the Classroom
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.
Searching for Cheer at the End of the Year: RRHS Supports Students Navigating the ‘Holiday Blues’
Sophomore Betsy Polanco fights to break free of her opponent's grasp during the “King of the Rock” tournament.
Fighting for More Than Pins: The Impact of Women’s Wrestling
Ready to wrestle, sophomore Jermone Barclay and his opponent square up and listen out for the referee’s whistle.
Phoenix Soar to New Heights in King of the Rock
Senior Akash Kulkarni passes to senior William Beck through a Lion’s defensive player to shoot at the hoop.
Phoenix Boys Basketball Swipe Away Win from the Lions’ Paws
Sophomore Eryn Chamoiwa (14) shoots a free throw after getting fouled.
Phoenix Resilience Shines in a Fierce Battle Against Bulldogs
Phoenix/Heritage players meet at the bench to discuss the upcoming play with Coach David Bultema.
Phoenix/Pride Fight Down-to-the-Wire Against Panthers/Titans
Freshman Anshika Atluri charges for the ball on the wing as a Titan player sprints to catch up on the defense.
Titans Attack Phoenix Field Hockey in 8-0 Loss
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.
Set, Spike, Win, Repeat: Phoenix Serve The Huskies
Senior Aiden Patel swings his club aiming to get close to the hole. He ended the season undefeated and qualified for the All-State Virginia golf team. Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Virbickis
Phoenix Golf Hits Into Green This Season
Junior Xavier Smith, a wide receiver/defensive back, breaks a tackle. Smith ended the day with 59 rushing yards and six receiving yards.
Annual Homecoming Football Game is Out-of-this-World
Senior running back Shamar Ferrell celebrating in the endzone after narrowly avoiding a Patriot player.
Phoenix Football Proves Patriotism Against Patriots During America Out
Sophomore Betsy Polanco fights to break free of her opponent's grasp during the “King of the Rock” tournament.
Fighting for More Than Pins: The Impact of Women’s Wrestling
Ready to wrestle, sophomore Jermone Barclay and his opponent square up and listen out for the referee’s whistle.
Phoenix Soar to New Heights in King of the Rock
Senior Akash Kulkarni passes to senior William Beck through a Lion’s defensive player to shoot at the hoop.
Phoenix Boys Basketball Swipe Away Win from the Lions’ Paws
Sophomore Eryn Chamoiwa (14) shoots a free throw after getting fouled.
Phoenix Resilience Shines in a Fierce Battle Against Bulldogs
Phoenix/Heritage players meet at the bench to discuss the upcoming play with Coach David Bultema.
Phoenix/Pride Fight Down-to-the-Wire Against Panthers/Titans
Senior Kaushik Muskari: “This might be my favorite season out of all four years because we’ve been winning a lot and I’ve been spending a lot of time with the team and on the court. When we don’t have a match, we usually have morning practice, and it’s a really good time for team bonding and working on everything that we need to on the court. My favorite part of the season has been when I won region doubles with my partner so now we’re progressing to states. I’m planning to continue tennis at George Mason University and major in computer engineering, so I’ve got a long road ahead of me.”
Tennis Triumphs: An Insight Into the Champions
Junior Lilia Jones has exemplified what it means to be a Phoenix. Although she partakes in many activities, she still finds a way to juggle her personal life with her school life -- and on top of her busy schedule, she also holds the title of all-state athlete. Photo courtesy of Lilia Jones, graphic by Rodrigue Gomado
Lilia Jones Leaps Over Hurdles of High School
Senior Teyany Kleiner looks to take the lead away from a Huskies runner and a Wolverines runner. Kleiner became the regional runner-up after racing in the 100 and 200 meter.
Phoenix Leave a Blazing Trail for Track Regionals
With his eyes on the ball, senior Aryan Dhiman swings his racket hard in order to get an advantage over his opponent.
Phoenix Tennis Teams Take the Title at Districts
Seniors Sierra Bell and Ashi Akula advance upfield with the ball.
Phoenix Girls Lacrosse Displays Impressive Effort Against Briar Woods
“Kraven the Hunter” follows themes of violence and righteousness. The plot starts with Kraven as a boy who avoids death just barely after swallowing a magical solution that gives him superhuman strength. Fueled by his fathers wrongdoing, Kraven sets out into the world to eliminate “bad” men. Promotional Courtesy of Sony Pictures
‘Kraven the Hunter’ Has Claws but Lacks a Bite
The art of the album is a piece of art created by Takashi Murakami, a legendary contemporary artist, commemorating Juice WRLD and his legacy. Courtesy of Grade A Productions and Interscope Records.
The Final ‘Goodbye:’ Juice Wrld Releases His Final Album
FIT’s Campus in Midtown, Manhattan. Ajay Suresh via Wikimedia Commons
Fashion Students Inaugurate Their Craft in FIT’s “Beyond” Showcase
Swift looking out at the audience, sharing a heartfelt moment during the surprise song segment of “The Eras Tour”.
The Top Five “The Eras Tour” Mashups That Shake It Off
On Nov. 22, Kendrick Lamar released an album with no warning titled “GNX.” The album is an intense narrative of Lamar’s perspectives of the music industry and culture in general. Photo Courtesy of pgLang
‘GNX’: The Cherry Atop Kendrick Lamar’s MVP Season
An example of formal cursive incorporated with the writing style of calligraphy.
A Fading Art: Cursive Provides a Path through History
Many restaurants and fast food chains do not clearly label their menu items as vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Additionally, staff members are sometimes unaware of the ingredients and whether the food is vegetarian or not.
Vegetarian or Not: The Urgent Need for Better Menu Transparency in Dining
Various toys and books can be donated by people within the community and distributed to families in need during the holiday season.
The Season of Giving: The True Meaning of Giving Back During the Holidays
A new data center operated by STACK Infrastructure, a major fiber carrier, is being constructed on Lockridge Road in Sterling, and it will be a key part of Loudoun County’s data center alley. The center will take up 72 megawatts of power and hold three buildings of up to one million square feet.
Data Center Danger: Uncontrollable Growth Harms Loudoun County
FIT’s Campus in Midtown, Manhattan. Ajay Suresh via Wikimedia Commons
Fashion Students Inaugurate Their Craft in FIT’s “Beyond” Showcase
Rundown Politics: Bidens’ Legacy
Rundown Politics: Bidens’ Legacy
Classroom Conversations: The Struggles of a Teenage Immigrant
Classroom Conversations: The Struggles of a Teenage Immigrant
Students roast marshmallows over the fire pit, ready to make smores and watch “Home Alone 2” during the Frost Fest.
Freezing Fun: Annual Winter Frost Fest Brings Chilly Cheer
Rundown Politics: Trump 2016, 2020, and 2024
Rundown Politics: Trump 2016, 2020, and 2024
Classroom Conversations: All About the College Route
Classroom Conversations: All About the College Route
Students roast marshmallows over the fire pit, ready to make smores and watch “Home Alone 2” during the Frost Fest.
Freezing Fun: Annual Winter Frost Fest Brings Chilly Cheer
‘X-traterrestrial’ Homecoming Week Celebrates X Years at the Rock
‘X-traterrestrial’ Homecoming Week Celebrates X Years at the Rock
Senior Pranjal Deshmukh carefully applies paint to the outline of her name on a Barbie box parking spot design. At the annual parking spot painting event, rising seniors got a chance to claim a parking spot; brainstorm a personal design; come equipped with gallons of paint, various brushes, and rolling pins; and have fun coloring the asphalt with friends and family.
Class of 2025 Makes Their Mark in the Parking Lot
At the U.S. Air National Guard stand, two guardswoman talk to interested students and parents about participation and college programs offered. Other divisions of the military, like the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force attended the event as well, spreading information about their various scholarships and military programs.
Making Connections and Seeking Opportunities: Over 1000 Students Attend the Annual Summer Job Fair
SPED Dean Jesse Hudson fist bumps sophomore Keira Bacas as she steps out of the school bus to begin her first day of school on Aug. 24. Teachers and students were excited to return back to school for Rock Ridge's 10th year and were looking forward to starting the school year with new projects.
Welcome Back, Phoenix!
The Student News Site of Rock Ridge High School

THE BLAZE
The Student News Site of Rock Ridge High School

THE BLAZE

Rundown Politics: Bidens’ Legacy

Samantha Chang
Byline photo of Samantha Chang
Byline photo of Aline Gonzalez
Samantha Chang and Aline Gonzalez • January 19, 2025

Welcome back to Rundown Politics. In this episode we’ll examine President Joe Bidens’ legacy through a timeline of his tenure at the White House. We’ll explore his policies, achievements as president, and public opinions. Joining us today are senior Jayden Muschette, junior Anna Gonzalez and sophomore Natalia Wallis.

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Ready to wrestle, sophomore Jermone Barclay and his opponent square up and listen out for the referee’s whistle.
Phoenix Soar to New Heights in King of the Rock
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.”
Marieme Toure Celebrates Culture Instead of Conjugation in the Classroom
A new data center operated by STACK Infrastructure, a major fiber carrier, is being constructed on Lockridge Road in Sterling, and it will be a key part of Loudoun County’s data center alley. The center will take up 72 megawatts of power and hold three buildings of up to one million square feet.
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About the Contributors
Samantha Chang
Samantha Chang, Multimedia Editor
Samantha Chang is a junior and in her third year on staff along with being a co-podcast editor for The Blaze this year.  Currently, she is looking forward to helping the new staffers and spreading the knowledge about Newspaper, including the podcast and video section. Furthermore, this year she wants to get the multimedia SNO badge and push for more video and audio pieces. Other than The Blaze she is very interested in politics and wants to join a club relating to that. She also dreams to also be a criminal prosecutor and help promote women  rights. On any day, you can find her at the Rock Ridge Lit Mag or drawing pictures and expressing her artistic ability. 
Aline Gonzalez
Aline Gonzalez, Multimedia Editor
Aline Gonzalez is a senior and the Multimedia Editor for The Blaze. This is her fourth year on staff, and her passion for journalism started in third grade after joining her elementary paper. On the staff, she enjoys writing impactful opinion pieces to give a wider perspective on various topics. One of her proudest accomplishments was writing a piece on pronouns and the way schools use them now. Her goal in newspaper this year is to fulfill her editor position by having a video or podcast up every month. In the future, Aline wants to pursue law and criminology, as well as eventually go into journalism. She plans on joining the Mock Trial club at Rock Ridge this year to fuel her passion for law as well as the Hispanic Latinx club to connect with her heritage. Her other hobbies include reading, pet-sitting animals, and staying active by going to the gym.