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The Student Newspaper of Jackson-Reed High School

The Beacon

The Student Newspaper of Jackson-Reed High School

The Beacon

The Student Newspaper of Jackson-Reed High School

The Beacon

All content by Benjamin Chait
Senioritis is a symptom of a broader problem

Senioritis is a symptom of a broader problem

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief June 21, 2023

It’s a historically odd phenomenon that in our current academic system, the most consequential year is your junior year of high school. You’re expected to work the hardest you may ever work at ages...

A farewell from the chiefs

Hadley Carr and Benjamin Chait May 12, 2023

It’s that time of year. When seniors ditch responsibility and say their farewell. Without further ado: We want to say thank you to everyone who has made this process possible. To Beacon staff, to...

D.C. Youth Deserve Data-Driven Policy

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief January 30, 2023

D.C. police began enforcing a longstanding youth curfew last month, restricting the nighttime activity of those under 17. Considering that in its 30-year history it has yet to be proven effective, the...

Fairly Odd Advice

Fairly Odd Advice

Benjamin Chait and Hadley Carr January 30, 2023

Q: There’s an alien in my kitchen! HELP! A: We appreciate that you took the time to check our Instagram story amidst a potential universe-altering event. Funnily enough, one of us had the exact same...

An ode to life with COVID

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief May 26, 2022

I find myself writing this at 12 p.m., in my bed, on a school day. I woke up an hour ago. I’m wearing pajamas and have no intention of leaving my bed any time soon. Life is good.  How, you might...

Vaccine mandate to be enforced next year

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief March 30, 2022

The DC Council student COVID-19 vaccination mandate recently went into effect, but will not be enforced until the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. However, Jackson-Reed has yet to take any action...

As the pandemic evolves, our policy should too

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief February 27, 2022

It would be naive to think that Omicron will be the last wave of the pandemic. If DCPS truly remains committed to staying open through the next one, it needs to update its COVID policies to reflect reality...

Let juniors eat lunch off campus

Let juniors eat lunch off campus

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief October 3, 2021

Given the massive enrollment in tandem with the pandemic, this year the Wilson administration has had all hands on deck trying to reduce the density of students during STEP, including implementing the...

Dolan's Uyghur restaurant in Cleveland Park

Dolan’s Uyghur restaurant in Cleveland Park

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief May 19, 2021

Despite having walked past it countless times, I never really thought to go into Dolan Uyghur; and in retrospect, that was a big mistake. Located a block from the Cleveland Park metro station, Dolan Uyghur...

Bring back private messaging on Teams

Bring back private messaging on Teams

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief March 28, 2021

What do I miss most about in-person learning? Organic social interaction. Cracking a joke to your partner and having conversations with ‘school friends’ or acquaintances who you enjoy, but aren’t...

We spend too much time on Teams

We spend too much time on Teams

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief January 4, 2021

Whether you love it or you hate it, virtual school is here to stay. But even after months of this new learning format, there’s still one thing teachers have yet to get down: class timing. Teams classes...

I’m on team Teams

I’m on team Teams

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief September 18, 2020

Recently, DCPS has made the change from Zoom to Microsoft Teams in online school. People seem to be under the impression that Zoom is superior. This is a blatant falsehood, here’s why. A key feature...

Graphic by Sarah Morgan

Quarantine: the life reset we needed

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief June 24, 2020

Obviously, no one likes quarantine. We’re stuck inside, doing online learning and staring into the eternal abyss that is the internet. Covid-19 is going to be one of the defining traits of our generation....

Impeachment looks good on Trump

Impeachment looks good on Trump

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief November 12, 2019

Donald Trump has been committing impeachable acts for the past three years and it’s finally catching up to him.  The most recent offense is the Ukraine scandal. It all started with Paul Manafort,...

Graphic by Max Wix

Wilson should make FAFSA mandatory

Benjamin Chait, Editor-in-Chief October 10, 2019

The class of 2018 lost an estimated $2.6 billion in Pell Grants, need-based federal aid for college. Why? Because they didn’t submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  It is...

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