The Blaze, 43460 Loudoun Reserve Drive, Ashburn, VA (2025)

12/10/2025

On Dec. 2, the Rock Ridge boys varsity team took on the Justice High School Wolves and won 51-30.

The game started off heated, with the Phoenix scoring the first field goal and two consecutive three-pointers by junior Daniel Cho. Despite the Wolves efforts to end the quarter close, the Phoenix still held the lead going into the second quarter. The first quarter ended with a score of 15-5.

During the second quarter, the Phoenix continued their pressure on the Wolves by scoring a few field goals. The Wolves started to push back, scoring several of their own. The Phoenix responded by scoring a series of baskets, with junior Dylan Chemoiwa leading the first half with a score of 28-11 in the Phoenix’s favor.

The second half of the game had a slow start, with the Phoenix feeling the intensity of the Wolves. “We did a walkthrough through the drills, and we had a scouting report to just see what would happen,” sophomore Shawn Makassi said. “So, we really prepared mainly through rebounding our defense and [practicing] how to break defense.” The Wolves continued to push back, scoring some points, but the Phoenix didn’t falter, ending the third quarter with a score of 38-17.

The final quarter was the most intense, with both the Wolves and Phoenix clashing with one another. The Phoenix retaliated by going on the offensive against a continued assault by the Wolves, ending the game with a final score of 51-30 with a Phoenix win and Dawson Boupha being awarded MVP of the game.

The Phoenix will play against the Falls Church Jaguars on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

To read the full story, visit The Blaze, link in bio!

✏️ by Dhruvsood Singh
📷 by Dhruvsood Singh and Noah Wilkins

12/09/2025

Make sure you check out our award-winning podcast, Rundown Politics. In our most recent episode, we’ll be discussing the government shutdown of 2025 with guests Caden Goodhart and junior Siyona Gupta.

This episode dives deep into how the shutdown started, how it ended, and, more importantly, the impact it had on millions of Americans, including federal workers, Loudoun County citizens, and Rock Ridge families.

To listen to the full episode, visit The Blaze, link in bio!

🎤 by Samantha Chang, Kaushal Kalluri, and Zack Miller

12/08/2025

For many Rock Ridge teachers, their journey starts long before they step into the building. Their mornings start on highways and back roads across the DMV – thirty-minute drives, hour-long treks, and the same, tiresome commute repeated each day.

Yet, a problem teachers around the country face – low salaries in high-income areas, leading to long commutes, less connection with students, and inevitable exhaustion – does not seem to deter teachers from providing the best education possible at Rock Ridge.

89.4% of the teachers who work at Rock Ridge do not live in communities zoned for Rock Ridge, 28.8% have a 30-minute to hour-long commute, and 7.6% have more than an hour commute. Yet, 56.1% of teachers disagree that their commute impacts their ability to sponsor clubs and extracurriculars.

Physics teacher, debate co-sponsor, and Science National Honor Society co-sponsor Rama Srinivasan doesn’t live nearby because of the lack of affordable housing, but still manages all her responsibilities, and more. “I used to live in Aldi before, so I wanted to live closer,” Srinivasan said. “And then we looked [at houses close to Rock Ridge], and we didn’t like any property that really was worth the money and also the cost.”

Yet Srinivasan’s 30-minute commute doesn’t stop her from dedicating more time to her students. She willingly stays after school a few days a week to host debate practice, believing that time well spent isn’t time lost – and for her, the joy of mentoring debaters outshines any long car ride. “I have seen the growth of many kids who are afraid to speak in person [and] actually develop confidence to speak in front of a lot of people [and] overcome other inhibitions, and I think that’s actually, for me, very rewarding – I do debate for that,” Srinivasan said. “I really think that in the big scheme of things, [the long commute] is what it is, and we have to face the practicality of the situation because of the real estate prices and everything else.”

To read the full article, visit The Blaze, link in bio!

✏️ by Sanvi Challa, Aj Aluko-Apata, Devika Goureddy
📷 by Gavin Fortuno

12/05/2025

Starting this 2025-2026 school year, Rock Ridge adopted a new attendance policy to mitigate chronic absenteeism – the issue when a student misses 10 percent or more of a school year. After a quarter of data analysis, the verdict is clear – the new policy is definitely improving attendance.

Two LCPS School Board policies, Policy 8140 and Policy 8350, are the driving factors behind the success. Policy 8140 addresses student attendance requirements and procedures, concerning absences, tardiness, and truancy by enforcing accountability in parents and students and upholding administration intervention. Policy 8350 furthers that by classifying interscholastic sports as a privilege, which can be revoked in the absence of good attendance. At Rock Ridge, tardies may lead to a student’s inability to participate in an after-school event.

Chronic absenteeism has been a widespread struggle for many schools throughout America since the pandemic, with Rock Ridge being no exception. In Quarter 1 for the 2024-2025 school year, the attendance rate was 95.81 percent, there were 4273 tardies, and 13.4 percent of the student body was considered chronically absent. In Quarter 1 this year, however, the attendance rate was 96.76 percent, there were 3694 tardies, and only 10.7 percent of the student body was considered chronically absent – an almost three percent decrease from last year.

Principal John Duellman believes that this improvement puts Rock Ridge on track to minimize absenteeism. “691 students are here every single day,” Duellman said. “To me, that is a fantastic number – it’s about 40 percent [of the student body]. That’s exactly where we would want to be, and I’d love to see that number get even higher.”

To learn more about the attendance policy, visit The Blaze, like in bio.

✏️ by Arnav Mahajan, Josiah Anderson, Zach Miller
📷 by Gavin Fortuno

12/04/2025

On Nov 5, 2025, chorus students were met with shock as chorus teacher and Rock Ridge Sings founder Jordan Markwood not only informed them of his promotion to Loudoun County Performing Arts Specialist, but also of his departure from the school. “This senior class is very close to me, and I didn’t want to leave during the middle of their senior year, but this job also has opened up very rarely,” Markwood said.

At the beginning of his career, Markwood taught at Stone Hill Middle then joined Rock Ridge in 2014, where he started the music program Rock Ridge Sings. He taught several courses, such as United Sound, Musical Theatre, Phoenix Chorale, Cantus Avem, Vox Femina, Voces Virilis, and Chamber Choir.

Markwood achieved various awards during his 12 years at Rock Ridge, such as becoming chair of the Fine Arts Department, being the winner of the 2022 Teacher of the Year Award from the Washington Post, the Virginia Region 4 Teacher of the Year in 2023, and Loudoun County’s Teacher of the Year in 2022. Markood was also a massive contributor to the music program as a whole, as in 2017, his Chamber Choir had the opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center.

Markwood was always known for his positive impact on numerous students’ lives, through uniting voices and building community. Although Markwood’s students are sad to see him go, they are proud and happy for him. Markwood’s last day at Rock Ridge was Nov. 24, 2025, the day before Thanksgiving break. While he’s sad to leave his students at Rock Ridge, he’s looking forward to expanding and impacting countless LCPS schools through his new job.

To watch the full video and student reactions, click the link in our bio or go to theblazerrhs.com!

🎥 by Megan Marr, Samantha Chang, and Gavin Fortuno

12/04/2025

On Nov. 4, Amy Riccardi was elected as the new Sterling district representative of the Loudoun County School Board. With her new position, she is responsible for managing the interests of schools with varying needs – focusing on increasing Title I resources for Park View High School and implementing higher-rigor education for Rock Ridge through International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, while keeping political differences out of the space of education.

“As far as program priorities, I also want to take a look at the IB program, the AOL programs, especially the higher performing tech-related ones, and really see if we can expand some of those programs and opportunities,” Riccardi said. “Early on, [I] want to hear from the community and figure out what [students] want and then move accordingly [to] the budget and align the budget to the needs of our students.”

For her term, Riccardi has goals of increasing communication with students and parents through advisory groups, modifying policy 8040 to keep bathrooms separate based on biological s*x, and staying actively involved in Rock Ridge community events.

“I don’t know that [students are] going to see a whole lot of changes necessarily in policies,” Riccardi said. “What [students] are going to see is a lot more communication. I think parents, taxpayers, and students are going to have a lot more opportunity to interact with me directly and share with me what [they] all are looking for. I really want to get into the community and start really talking to people about what the key issues are for [students] and how I can help support that.”

To read the full Q&A article and learn more about Amy Riccardi and the changes she will make, visit The Blaze, link in bio!

✏️ by Sanvi Challa and Madelyn Tucker
📷 courtesy of Amy Riccardi

12/02/2025

Commemorating the end of the fall sports season at Rock Ridge High School, 10 Phoenix athletes have been recognized for their excellence through the title of Dulles All-District athlete. Senior Xavier Smith was honored with the All-District first team for football, and the following athletes were all awarded the All-District second team. From cheer, juniors Hannah Fawzy and Angelica Batac were recognized, field hockey included juniors Daniela Rojas and Lily Omo, and freshman Nandita Shaju. Senior Kenidy Nguyen was also awarded with the second All-District team for volleyball, and so was senior David Lassisi for football.

Click the link in our bio or go to theblazerrhs.com to read more about athletes’ reactions to earning the award!

✏️ by Lucinda Eskandar, Zahra Hameed, Aakash Vivkek, Kaushal Kalluri
📷 by Zahra Hameed

12/01/2025

On Nov. 21, the Student Council Association (SCA) hosted the tenth annual Student vs. Staff Volleyball game. The staff won with a score of 31-28, beating the students for the first time in four years, bringing the overall series to 6-4 with the students in the lead.

After three years of losing to the students, the staff sought to win. “I feel like we’re going to dominate the game, obviously,” assistant football and track coach Kabryn Williams said before the game began. “We’re going to be more disciplined.” Teamwork for the two teams was key to making the game enjoyable for those playing and watching. “We just had team chemistry,” Earth science and biology teacher Veer Patel said. “We communicated well. We had our positions, and everyone played well. It was exciting to see everyone get involved.” “

Nurse Steve Park was crowned MVP – whether he was setting or blocking, his performance and energy helped lead the staff team to victory. “He’s just great all around, just a solid setter and always getting the ball where he needs to go,” Patel said.

Over the years, the annual student vs. staff game has become more than just a game at Rock Ridge. “I think it’s a great tradition to have students versus staff games because it fosters a good community spirit between the staff and the students, and volleyball is the sport that a lot of people play, and it’s definitely something that a lot of people love to watch,” SCA executive president Shaun Sahayadarlin said.

Whether someone is participating or watching, the games bring a sense of camaraderie to Rock Ridge. “It helps bring the entire community together, not just the students, not just the staff,” Patel said. “It’s just a way to rally behind the school overall.”

✏️ by Zahra Hameed, Tanvi Challa, Sriram Chiripurapu, and Kaushal Kalluri
📷by Zahra Hameed, Tanvi Challa, Sriram Chiripurapu, and Kaushal Kalluri

11/24/2025

On Nov. 12, the Rock Ridge Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) team held their second Speaker Series event with speaker Teddra Thomas Burgess. Throughout the event, Burgess spoke about her career, from working at HP to Google, to now working at her own consulting firm and multiple non-profit organizations. Burgess came to inform students on how to grow and find their place in a heavily male-dominated field. “[You may] feel like you’re not in the right place, but you can’t lean into those things. First and foremost, it’s always understanding what you bring to the table and knowing you belong in every place –every space that you choose, every room [that you enter],” Burgess said.

The goal behind the speaker series was to give DECA members more opportunities to gain real-world insights from professionals and the knowledge they’ll eventually need long after graduation when building up their own leadership skills and entrepreneurial skills.

Burgess’ main goal was to provide students with strategies to continue their professional and entrepreneurial careers. She described her experience as being a woman of color within a male-dominated field and how that could make people feel like an outsider. She encouraged attendees to value themselves despite the obstacles that may be holding them back.

Later, the floor opened up for a Q&A session with Burgess. One common question from most of the students was about work-life balance and how to stay in control of their schedule. Burgess explained how there is no true balance between work and life because when you’re truly committed to your work, the line is near non-existent. “I [agreed] when she said that there is no work-life balance when you’re working and you’re striving towards something, especially when you’re an entrepreneur,” senior Sheyda Hossaini said.

As the Speaker Series continues to grow, with another event planned for December, the DECA team hopes that it will keep giving members practical, experience-based advice that can’t just be taught, but most of all help grow the mindsets.

To read the full article visit the Blaze!

✏️ by Sriram Chiripurapu
📷 by Divitha Mathe and Sriram Chiripurapu

11/19/2025

On Nov.11, veterans and their families gathered for a dinner at the Rock Ridge cafeteria in appreciation for their hard work and service. The event offered a space for military-connected families to share a nice meal, connect with the community, and enjoy music from the guitar students.

Many different groups helped this event come together, such as military-connected counselor Ashlee Erestain, college and career specialist Tiziana Merchante, and the Oscar Mike Military Connected club. Student volunteers also contributed to the setup, greeted families, and created a welcoming atmosphere.

For the first time ever, this event was a collaborative effort, with numerous Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) present. “Doing a cluster banquet with all the other schools in the cluster was what we came up with,” Erestain said. Moorefield Elementary, Elaine Thompson Elementary, Stone Hill Middle School, and Rosa Lee Carter Elementary were among those present.

The event featured families enjoying a buffet filled with dinner and desserts, with students and families from all over LCPS coming together and relating over a similar cause. Many families in the military move frequently, including Jason Santos, who serves in the army and recognizes the impact each move has on a family. “If you have the opportunity to thank family, I would always recommend doing that because when we go away, we’re doing a job,” Jason Santos said. “It’s the families that have to bear the brunt of us not being there.”

With the success of the event, this tradition is likely to continue, with its main focus of bringing families together. “It’s a good gesture in helping them have a little bright light with their families,” Erestain said.

To read the full article, visit the Blaze link in bio!

✏️ by Lia Davis
📷 by Lia Davis, Noah Wilkins, and Tyla Simpson

11/16/2025

On Friday, Nov. 7, Rock Ridge Theater Arts (RRTA) showcased “Footloose the Musical,” the first show of the year, under new RRTA Director Ann Devine. The show took on a modern twist of the 1984 classic film “Footloose,” featuring senior Ryan Hart, playing Ren McCormack, who moved from Chicago to the small town of Bomont, UT.

In Act 1, McCormack makes quite an impression on the town through his singing and dance moves that quickly gets stifled, leaving McCormack dumfounded as he discovers that dancing and rock music are completely banned in Bomont by the Reverend following a town tragedy. An entwined love story between McCormack and Ariel Moore (sophomore Emersyn Moskal), the Reverend’s daughter, meets a high-stakes mission, as Act 1 ends with McCormack getting inspired to throw a party for his senior class, leading him to ultimately fight against the Reverend to change the law in Act 2. The show ends with the iconic song “Footloose” as everyone comes together and celebrates their newfound freedom at their senior dance.

The performance of “Footloose” not only marks the start of RRTA’s new year, but it symbolizes the start of a new era of Rock Ridge theater. “It’s a new teacher, so that means it’s a new program,” Devine said. “It’s also been 10 years, so it was just time for a little bit of a revamp. So when I came in, we just did a full rebrand from name, to look, to logo, to our mission statement. Everything has kind of changed.”

While “Footloose” may have ended, Rock Ridge Theater Arts is already working to put on their next musical of “Hades Town,” which will take place in January.

To read the full article visit The Blaze. Link in bio!

✏️ by Sanvi Challa
📷 by Sanvi Challa, Dhruvsood Singh, and Rachel Bhardwaj

10/29/2025

On Friday, Oct. 24, prior to the senior night football game, the Student Council Association (SCA) held a pink-out tailgate. As the last tailgate of the school year, everyone was encouraged to show up in pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As students arrived, SCA kept the attendees in high spirits with a variety of activities. A painting station allowed students to design their own mini boards, using various shades of pink, while another table was set up with face painting supplies. The biggest hit of the night, however, was the cotton candy station, where SCA handed out freshly spun pink cotton candy.

Junior Akanksha Kakarlapudi especially loves it when there is a large turnout for games and tailgates. Her favorite part of tailgates is the cotton candy machine. “I really like that this [tailgate] is for a cause, obviously to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s so easy to dress up and everyone is so pink and bright,” Kakarlapudi said. As a co-communications officer, she was a part of making the posters supporting the football team and promoting the pink out.

Tailgates like these ones bring awareness not only to the game but to an important cause. For students who didn’t arrive dressed up in pink, SCA set up a table offering pins and necklaces, so anyone who wanted to could take part in the pink out.
Junior Sana Rao loves doing the different activities at tailgates, even if she can’t stay for the full game. “I would recommend tailgates to freshmen, as the first is always the most special, and you get to hang out with friends, and it’s an experience that I loved as a freshman,” Rao said.

Although the pink out tailgate was a successful start to gathering spirit for the senior night and last football game of the season, the game ended with the Phoenix not being able to outplay the Vikings. The final score was 67-6, Vikings up.

✏️ by Divitha Mathe
📷 by Sophia Dabre and Tanvi Challa

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