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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

Isadora Groves

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief

  • 2021-23: Junior Editor
  • 2023-24: News Editor
All content by Isadora Groves

Students express shock, fear— and a few feel optimistic

Isadora Groves and Maddie Nusbaum November 25, 2024

After Donald Trump’s decisive victory in this month’s presidential election, many JR students and staff grappled with feelings of disappointment, despair, and anxiety for the future, while a few celebrated...

BROKEN IN - On Halloween night, the portable trailers were broken into. These doors were left unlocked.

Portables breached on Halloween

Isadora Groves and Gil Leifman November 25, 2024

On Halloween night, two unidentified costumed individuals broke into Jackson-Reed’s portable trailers. They left after a few minutes of tampering with school property, and nothing of significant value...

Los trabajos de estudiantes de JR

Atendiendo una escuela en una ciudad como DC, los trabajos son una actividad extracurricular común entre los estudiantes, con amplias opciones que se ofrecen en cada esquina. Desde trabajar en un restaurante...

CLUB FAIR - Students gather in the atrium to explore a wide array of student-run organizations. This year, clubs have faced new guidelines.

Student organizations face stricter guidelines

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief October 15, 2024

Starting this fall, student organizations will face new DCPS guidelines on club formation and operation. In a mandatory Club and Activities Advisory Meeting in mid-September, leads and sponsors were told...

LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES - JR phone policy leaves students responsible for monitoring their technology usage.

Phone ban? Not here.

Isadora Groves and Rohini Kieffer October 15, 2024

At the first senior town hall of the year in August, Principal Sah Brown addressed a packed auditorium. He emphasized Jackson-Reed’s position on a current trend across the DMV: phone bans.  “You...

FILM SHOWING - The ASU screens 5 Broken Cameras during lunch

ASU shows Palestine film after court settlement

Isadora Groves, Devan Mehta, and Gil Leifman June 11, 2024

After months of controversy, the Arab Student Union and the Jackson-Reed administration reached an agreement in federal court last month allowing the student group to screen a documentary about Palestine...

¡Sobrevivimos los exámenes AP!

¡Sobrevivimos los exámenes AP!

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief June 11, 2024

Ahora que se acercan las vacaciones de verano, los estudiantes de Jackson-Reed están dejando escapar un suspiro de alivio por haber sobrevivido a la temporada más aterradora del año escolar: los exámenes...

SPANISH EXCHANGE - students explore the city of Alicante before heading off to Madrid.

[Photo] From the plane to Spain: 2024 exchange trip

Noa Gordon and Kalpana Shipler June 11, 2024

SPANISH EXCHANGE - students explore the city of Alicante before heading off to Madrid.

Pro-Palestine protests upend culture night

Jackson-Reed’s culture night ended in turmoil after a small group of pro-Palestine protesters disrupted the annual event, which was meant to highlight student cultural diversity. The protesters—including...

BREAKING NEWS - A group dances at Palestinian culture night in the atrium hosted by the Arab Student Union. The event took place the night after the ASU filed a lawsuit against Principal Brown and the city.

Arab Student Union accuses Brown, DC of censorship in new lawsuit

Jackson-Reed’s Arab Student Union filed a lawsuit in federal court last Wednesday accusing Principal Sah Brown and the District of Columbia of censoring pro-Palestinian speech, including the school’s...

A poster by the Arab Student Union advertising the lunch-and-learn event on December 14th and 15th, before the posters were removed by Principal Brown.

Arab Student Union files lawsuit against DC and Principal Sah Brown, alleging censorship of pro-Palestine speech

Jackson-Reed’s Arab Student Union filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday accusing Principal Sah Brown and the District of Columbia of censoring pro-Palestinian speech, including the school’s...

Israeli students report feeling isolated, seek to form safe space

Natalie Gordon and Isadora Groves March 29, 2024

A group of students seeking to promote Israeli culture and discuss the Israel-Gaza War said they have felt uncomfortable and isolated at Jackson-Reed after the attacks on October 7. The students attempted...

Alumnos españoles participan en un intercambio en Jackson-Reed

Alumnos españoles participan en un intercambio en Jackson-Reed

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief March 29, 2024

En el mes de Febrero, la comunidad de Jackson-Reed dió la bienvenida a un grupo de estudiantes de Alicante, España. Durante una semana, los estudiantes de JR tuvieron la responsabilidad de mostrar a...

Israel-Gaza War rallies and divides community

Israel-Gaza War rallies and divides community

Simon Holland, Isadora Groves, and Rohini Kieffer February 13, 2024

Jackson-Reed students and staff are dealing with controversy surrounding discussion of the current Israel-Gaza War with accusations of censorship, threats of litigation, and complaints about curriculum. In...

Arab Student Union attempt to show documentary halted

Simon Holland, Isadora Groves, and Rohini Kieffer January 9, 2024

Editor’s Note: To read more about the current climate surrounding the Israel-Hamas War at Jackson-Reed, go here to read an article from our November edition. Jackson-Reed administration halted an...

El invierno y sus cualidades

El invierno y sus cualidades

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief December 18, 2023

Ya se está acercando el invierno, y es hora de decir adiós al otoño que ha sido especialmente resplandeciente este año. Puede ser que pronto las hojas coloridas que cubren la calle como una cobija,...

Academies begin transition to join national organization

Academies begin transition to join national organization

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief December 18, 2023

The oldest academy at Jackson-Reed, the Wilson International Studies Program (WISP), and the Academic Athletic Achievement Academy (AAA) have begun the application process to become part of the National...

STUFFY STAIRWELLS - Along with overcrowded hallways, students had to deal with crowded classrooms. According to administration, much of the overcrowding has been resolved.

School addresses overcrowded classes; problems linger for students and staff

Simon Holland, Isadora Groves, and Gil Leifman October 11, 2023

The beginning of the 2023-24 school year presented teachers and students with challenges from overcrowded classrooms, some containing over 60 students. Despite the issue being resolved in the following...

No Place for Hate contract canceled

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief September 7, 2023

Jackson-Reed will not be renewing its formal commitment to the No Place for Hate Initiative for a second year. Staff sponsors and the Student Government Association (SGA) are electing to instead increase...

Cap-and-gown exchange

Cap-and-gown exchange

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief June 28, 2023

This year’s graduating class of 2023 will have the opportunity to partake in a new cap-and-gown exchange organized by the PTSO. After graduation, seniors are encouraged to donate their attire to next...

BLASPHEMOUS BATHROOMS - Bathrooms throughout Jackson-Reed flooded due to a blockage within the city's sewage system. Improper use of products such as toilet paper have been left on the floors.

Flooding pushes for bathroom repairs

Natalie Gordon and Isadora Groves June 21, 2023

Despite recent improvements to Jackson-Reed bathrooms, a blockage of the main city sewage pipeline led to flooding throughout areas of the building.  On Friday, May 12, flooding occurred in the first...

Low water pressure prompts bathroom closures

A plumbing issue left all toilets in the main building and portable trailers unusable. Jackson-Reed students and staff remained in school throughout the dysfunction.  A blockage in the water filtration...

Inadequate ticket sales lead to dance cancelation

Isadora Groves and Kiley Hatcher March 18, 2023

Cupid’s arrows could not penetrate the hearts of Jackson-Reed students this February, leading to the cancellation of the Valentine's Day Bash.  The dance, originally scheduled for February 10, was...

Character or concern: a classroom review

Arden Luckett and Isadora Groves March 10, 2023

Welcome to room 320, where every whiteboard hangs askew and mold may or may not be growing within the ceiling, which only weeks ago had collapsed to the floor. This along with the broken AC and generally...

Classes transition to new trailers

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief March 10, 2023

Jackson-Reed began using portable trailers this semester to combat overcrowding. Several teachers volunteered to move their classes. “There were eight teachers who volunteered [to move to the portables]....

Testing logistics caused difficulties for students

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief November 12, 2022

Hundreds of students were unable to take the test after complications with PSAT and SAT testing occurred on October 12th. Students faced confusion regarding designated testing locations, disorganization,...

TRAILER TIME - Portable classrooms dropped into the school parking lot. An overflow of students created a need for more space.

Jackson-Reed adds portables as overcrowding worsens

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief October 5, 2022

Seven portable classrooms arrived in the faculty parking lot on September 28th, as a step to tackle overcrowding at Jackson-Reed. Their installation and preparation will continue until January, when they...

Portable classrooms to be used next year

Portable classrooms to be used next year

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief May 26, 2022

To address overcrowding at Jackson-Reed High School, DCPS has decided to install six portable classrooms in the faculty parking lot. However, they will likely not have access to power and water until the...

Teachers were high schoolers once too

Teachers were high schoolers once too

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief February 17, 2022

When asked about the high school experience, a few things may come to mind for Wilson students: jam-packed halls, the noisy atrium, lots of homework, and rowdy sports games. Or perhaps more recently, face...

Erin Palmer campaigns against Phil Mendelson in race for DC City Council Chairperson

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief November 18, 2021

Next June, Erin Palmer will challenge Phil Mendelson, current D.C. City Council Chairperson, for his seat. The winning candidate and future Chairperson will have significant influence over D.C. public...

Rummaging Through Relics

Rummaging Through Relics

Isadora Groves, Editor-in-Chief October 6, 2021

Sororities and fraternities: selective organizations unique to the college experience. Well, almost. As it turns out, in the middle of the last century, our very own Wilson High School had these societies...

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