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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

Charlie Reeves, Web Executive Editor

All content by Charlie Reeves

Fall Drinks

Charlie Reeves, Web Executive Editor November 27, 2022

It’s that time of year when it’s getting colder and sweater weather is turning into jacket weather. Luckily, fall and winter seasonal coffee drinks make up for it. I'm a barista, behind the counter...

September Spread

September Spread

Click here to read! Graphics by Ollie Braden, Mariel-Ayen Caldona, and Maisie Derlega

Spring Fling: Bop or Flop?

Charlie Reeves, Web Executive Editor June 27, 2022

The Student Government Association in conjunction with the Jackson-Reed administration hosted the Spring Fling dance on May 20, from 7-11pm. The dance advertised fun games and a photo booth, alongside...

Students need gender-neutral bathrooms

Charlie Reeves, Web Executive Editor May 26, 2022

Currently, there is not a single restroom at Jackson-Reed open to gender non-conforming students. Gender neutral staff restrooms exist, but students are not allowed to use them. Jackson-Reed High School...

Signage changes to reflect new name

Charlie Reeves, Web Executive Editor May 26, 2022

Signage with Woodrow Wilson’s name is starting to be replaced, as structural changes amounting to $1 million are slowly implemented at Jackson-Reed. Following the official name change in March, infrastructure...

Vandalismo en los baños causa respuetas estudiantiles

Vandalismo en los baños causa respuetas estudiantiles

El vandalismo antisemita y racista encontrado en el baño de niños del cuarto piso en diciembre provocó colaboración entre la Unión de Estudiantes Judíos (JSU), la Unión de Estudiantes Negros (BSU),...

Tips for the Holiday season

Sophie Reeves December 17, 2021

For many people, this time of year is the first holiday season since the start of the pandemic where the whole family is together again. It’ll be nice to see everyone, but it’s been a while, so here...

Hate symbols found in bathroom

Hate symbols found in bathroom

Four swastikas, the “n-word,” and the words “white power” were written in the fourth-floor men’s bathroom earlier this month.  And just this past Friday, a student reported seeing the phrases...

The growth mindset is veiled toxic positivity

The growth mindset is veiled toxic positivity

Sophie Reeves November 7, 2021

The narrative that a growth mindset is the only valuable and productive perspective is one that is helpful and reassuring for some people, but harmful and forced for others. A prominent feature of my...

New librarian aims to foster student collaboration

New librarian aims to foster student collaboration

Sophie Reeves November 6, 2021

Wilson recently hired a new librarian who plans to foster an innovative learning environment in the school library.  The new librarian, Daniel Catindig, who prefers to be called Mr. Cat by students,...

One size fits none for DCPS policies

One size fits none for DCPS policies

Sophie Reeves October 3, 2021

The creation of standardized policies for a school district with a wide variety of schools is ineffective. Instead, DCPS should grant schools the autonomy to create policies that can accomodate their respective...

Coach Dunham’s memoir revisits past struggles

Coach Dunham’s memoir revisits past struggles

Sophie Reeves May 24, 2021

Quarantine has posed insurmountable challenges for some. But for Wilson PE teacher and coach Desmond Dunham, it has provided the chance to finally write the book he had been thinking about for years. Writing...

Students complete virtual course selections

Students complete virtual course selections

Sophie Reeves April 25, 2021

The virtual course selection process for the 2021-22 school year has been completed. Through the Canvas Global Announcement feature, students received a link to the course request page on the Wilson...

Queer and proud: navigating a life of acceptance

Queer and proud: navigating a life of acceptance

Sophie Reeves March 24, 2021

Queer women’s connection to femininity and womanhood throughout history has always been complex. It’s often misunderstood, and by some, it has even been challenged.  Take it from someone who has...

New elective intends to empower students to take action

New elective intends to empower students to take action

Sophie Reeves March 18, 2021

A new elective, Activism in the United States, will be taught at Wilson next year. The half-credit course designed by history teacher Aaron Besser aims to educate students on activism and empower them...

DCPS needs more Holocaust education

DCPS needs more Holocaust education

Sophie Reeves February 9, 2021

My sophomore World History class at Wilson, until November of this year, proved insightful. So, you can imagine my surprise when I checked my Canvas to see a lesson labeled “Eastern Europe and the Holocaust,”...

Debate team amps up competition in the pandemic

Debate team amps up competition in the pandemic

Sophie Reeves January 17, 2021

The Speech and Debate team here at Wilson has had a successful fall season, even amidst the pandemic. Tournaments have transitioned to be virtual, and luckily for debaters, that has made the national debate...

The 4x4 schedule is failing

The 4×4 schedule is failing

Sophie Reeves December 17, 2020

In August, a letter to students and their parents from Principal Martin announced that a 4x4 schedule would be used for distance learning. This plan means that typically year-long classes span a single...

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