• Pep rally on Friday 12/20 during 8th period
  • Winter Spirit Week from Dec. 15 to Dec. 20
  • Winter Break from Dec. 21 to Jan. 6
The student news site of Chantilly High School (Chantilly, VA)

The Purple Tide
The student news site of Chantilly High School (Chantilly, VA)

The Purple Tide
The student news site of Chantilly High School (Chantilly, VA)

The Purple Tide
Sixuan Wu

Sixuan Wu, Online Editor

Sixuan Wu is a senior and the Online Editor of The Purple Tide. As a 1.5 generation immigrant, she enjoys learning about different cultural experiences. Sixuan loves losing herself to the world of fantasy, and when she is not plotting her next storyline, she can be found goofing around with her family.

All content by Sixuan Wu
Culture shock is a feeling of disorientation many people feel when experiencing an entirely new way of life. Many international students experience culture shock following their transition into a different environment.

Podcast: Culture Shock

Sixuan Wu, Online Editor
June 4, 2023
Senior Srija Upadhyay works on a multiple choice practice on AP Classroom as senior Anna Dimaiuta annotates a reading passage on paper.

FCPS works to make the grade for digital AP exams

Sixuan Wu, Online Editor
May 1, 2023
The “Lady Sherlock” series is a gender-flipped retelling of Sherlock Holmes that features Charlotte Holmes, a young woman with unique talents for observation and deduction. Book seven of the series, “A Tempest at Sea,” will be released on March 14.

Review: ‘Lady Sherlock’ series investigates gender roles in Sherlockian adaptations

Sixuan Wu, Online Editor
March 12, 2023
Some of the proposed changes to sex education classes include combining genders in instructions, introducing gender identity discussions and revising new media usage.

Changes to FLE curriculum promote gender inclusiveness

Sixuan Wu, Online Editor
March 2, 2023
Hachi, a student’s beloved stuffed dog of ten years, lays swaddled on its owner’s bed. Special stuffed animals can earn a permanent place in one’s heart and household; in a Build-a-Bear survey, 72% of respondents said they planned to keep their favorite plush toy forever.

[Photo] Stuffed animals for teens soften stress, should be normalized

Megan Rudacille, Staff Writer
March 24, 2023
Several photo ops are located in the Holiday Village. Children can pose with the reindeers cut outs for their parents to capture a moment of joy under the iconic “Festival of Lights” sign.

Bull Run Festival of Lights illuminates holiday season

Sixuan Wu, Online Editor
December 20, 2022
Shimmering snowflakes and meteor shower lights welcome viewers into the Winter Wonderland section, which aims to create the effect of a snow-laced forest. “[The lights] look like it’s snowing and I love it so much,” Dimaiuta said.

Young children enjoy the excitement of the carnival by going on a ride of spinning tea cups.

Crowds line up before the food trucks to purchase hot dogs, pizzas and sodas. “I love the food there,” Upadhyay said. “The food is the only reason why I go to the carnival at the end.”

Everyone gets to experience the thrill of camel rides at the carnival for $10 per person. A photo op is also located at the end of the camel-ride court.

Families come together by the bonfire to savor the traditional winter treat of grilled marshmallows.

The carnival at the Holiday Village contains a variety of rides and food trucks, as well as a ferris wheel. Tickets for the rides need to be purchased separately at the Village. Single tickets cost $1.75 each; “ride all you want” wristbands cost $27 per person.

A row of leaping reindeers light up the driveway, guiding viewers to their final destination of the festival—the Holiday Village located at the end of the light show.

A Santa Claus waves goodbye to the viewers at the exit of the light festival, wishing all a good night. “I feel like in this generation, we are really separated,” Upadhyay said. “Having these rituals where we all come together to see something is just one way we can unify and socialize.”

Viewers of all ages gather before the “Break a Bottle” booth, hoping to secure a stuffed animal award by breaking at least two bottles. Other events at the carnival include hitting balloons for a prize, slides and various rides.

Many of the light displays are inspired by classic Christmas scenes, such as Santa Claus and his elves preparing gifts at Santa’s toy-making factory.

Other light displays also depict scenes from fairy tales and Disney movies, like Captain Hook chasing after Peter Pan.

Stars light up the dark night as a toy soldier in the Toy Land section blows them out of his trumpet. Viewers can count the number of toy soldiers scattered throughout the section and submit their answer to the Holiday Village at the end of the illuminated driveway for a prize.

Red and white, the classic Christmas color combination, can be found throughout both the light display and the Holiday Village. “It makes you feel Christmassy,” Dimaiuta said. “If we have family visiting from out of town, we come together to go visit it.”

Several rainbow archways are placed throughout the driveway as a bright transition between sections featuring different themes. Cars are required to maintain a minimum speed of 10 miles per hour and viewers cannot get out of the car while driving through the light display. “I feel like they could also do walking and biking paths so that it’s not just cars,” freshman Trisha Upadhyay said. “Even though it’s cold, I feel like people would still enjoy that.”

When applying to colleges, undocumented and visa-holding immigrants are considered the same as international applicants, which often brings them additional challenges.

Immigration status brings additional challenges to college applicants

Sixuan Wu, Online Editor
November 4, 2022
Social studies teacher Brittanye Mohrbacher explains the structure of the U.S. judicial system to her 2nd period AP US & Comparative Government class.

Brittanye Mohrbacher

Sixuan Wu, Online Editor
November 2, 2022
A student waves a pride flag through the air during the walkout on Sept. 27 in protest against the state's new model policies.

VDOE’s new model policies trigger protest from LGBTQIA+ groups, supporters

Rachel Neathery, Haley Oeur, and Sixuan Wu
October 17, 2022
Dr. Michelle Reid speaks with families from the Chantilly pyramid after the community conversation.

Superintendent plans to incorporate different voices in community

Sixuan Wu, Online Editor
September 22, 2022
During the summer, I went on several college visits. This picture features me following a student guide on a campus tour at Washington and Lee University. The tight-knit community the student guide has described adds an extra appeal to this liberal arts school.

Summer Diaries: Sixuan Wu

Sixuan Wu, Assistant Online Editor
July 18, 2022
The British fashion brand Superdry has its logo printed in both English and Japanese. However, the translation is not accurate and the Japanese part looks more like “(be sure to) dry your clothes to the utmost extent” rather than the intended “super dry,” according to native Japanese speakers.

Misuse of foreign languages in fashion reveals cultural inappropriateness

Sixuan Wu, Staff Writer
May 26, 2022
Notebooks stacked up on the shelves in social studies teacher Michael Kirk’s room keep track of how the course U.S. Virginia History has developed over the years. Some of them can date back to more than 10 years ago.

Materials, keepsakes stored over years assist teaching

Sixuan Wu, Staff Writer
April 3, 2022
There are more than 4000 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S., according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. The bulletin board outside the College & Career Center displays a few of the options on Oct. 13, 2021. “Don’t rule out [any of the possibilities],” college and career specialist Khristie Greiner said. “The world is your oyster right now.”

Juniors spring ahead for college

Sixuan Wu, Staff Writer
March 6, 2022
Because of their various colors and designs, surgical masks have become the choice of many students.

Masked beauty: face coverage heightens attractiveness

Sixuan Wu, Staff Writer
January 31, 2022
CHS is a diverse community with students from all over the world.

Please speak more slowly, I’m not a native speaker

Sixuan Wu, Staff Writer
December 29, 2021
English teacher James Steck grades assignments in his classroom after school on Tuesday, Oct. 12.

After hours: teachers prepare for work with the support of colleagues

Sixuan Wu, Staff Writer
November 5, 2021
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