Holiday Edition 2024

The Student Newspaper of Jackson-Reed High School

Vol LXXXIX No. IV

www.jrbeacon.com

Farewell, Mr. Bargeman!

‘Life of the building’ did it all during his long career at JR Isadora Groves Editor-in-Chief

The current Jackson-Reed student body has only heard the legend of DJ Barge.

Every Friday during lunch, Assistant Principal Gregor y Bargeman, equipped with a record player and some old vinyls, filled the atrium with sounds of pop, R&B and blues.

For more than 20 years, Bargeman has done it all— lunchtime DJ, library and media specialist, head JV football coach, assistant principal, and twice, interim principal. Now he is beginning a new chapter.

Bargeman officially retired from JR this month

and will be joining his wife in North Carolina.

He will be remembered fondly by students, staff, and the community.

“He is probably one of the most professional, nicest gentlemen that I have come across here in DC Public Schools,” 12th-grade counselor Patrice Maites said.

Bargeman arrived in DC in 1988, and served as an elementary school librarian and a public library manager before arriving at JR, then known as Wilson.

“I had the opportunity to apply to come to Wilson.

And so I applied for the PHOTO BY JADEN JONES library media specialist position and I got it in SAYING GOODBYE - Assistant Principal Gregory Bargeman poses in front of 2001,” he said. his office door.

see RETIRE on page 2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024

Are you smarter than a Santa Claus?

Javier Thompson Sarah Wiesenfelder Opinions Editor Section Copy Editor

Welcome to “Are You Smarter than Santa Claus?” In this game, we take one random teacher and put them head-to-head with Santa Claus!

Today, our contestants are physics teacher Ma r i a D e l o s Santos and Santa Claus himself, who we strangely found on the side of the highway, hitchhiking a ride to the North Pole.

Each contestant

answers a set of 10 questions about holiday and winter-related subjects. They are also provided with one lifeline of their choice.

Without further ado, let's find out who’s smarter!

GRAPHIC BY FRANCES LEIBOVICH

see SANTA on page 4

Some students lose Boys’ basketball finds success a 5-1 start, boys' varsity to play service hours amid After in local tournaments over the break administrative mixup Rohini Kieffer Edith Corrigan Conaty Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor

DCPS Central Office removed community service hours on many high school students’ Aspen accounts earlier this month due to what JacksonReed counselors described as a documentation error.

During a district-wide evaluation of community service forms, Central Office found that many uploaded hours lacked proper documentation. “If there’s not any documentation, it did not happen,” said Shyra Gregory, the Director of Scheduling, Transcripts, and Academic Records Support.

For students to regain their removed hours, they must recreate or resubmit their community service forms. This includes re-obtaining a super visor’s signature from the location of service. Senior Francesca Krevat expressed frustration, especially because she was “not made aware of the situation.”

“I don’t remember my community service hours from

three years ago,” she said. Krevat added that she didn’t know which hours she had lost, posing an obstacle when choosing which hours to resubmit. Krevat reported that her total hours dropped from 68 to 44.

However, sophomore Silas Groves, whose hours were also erased, said he hoped he would not be as heavily impacted because he “took pictures before submitting them so they wouldn’t get lost.”

This is the first time that hours have been removed from Aspen. Before COVID, forms were physically brought to the Central Office rather than digitized. Since COVID, DCPS has gradually returned to requiring students to complete community service hours. As a result, the process for monitoring forms was briefly halted.

“We noticed there was a huge issue last year when we began to do verification,” Gregory said.

She said the problem prompted Central Office to begin the process earlier this year. “Rather than waiting until the end, we [have] see SERVICE on page 2

Justin Glenn Sports Editor

When playing shorthanded, it takes contributions from everyone to win. After two weeks with only nine players, the boys’ varsity basketball team holds a 6-1 record as of December 17, and are in position to be near full strength come January.

“After the season opening loss to St John’s, we turned around our season,” said senior forward JJ Massaquoi. “We reset, bought into Coach [Tee’s] plan of humility and grace through each moment, and began to win.”

When the season began, the roster was down by four players: two players due to non-academic eligibility reasons after transferring, and two due to injury. Coming off of the opening loss to the Cadets, the Tigers went on a six game win streak. They beat St. Albans, won three conference games, and became 2024 Xaverian Classic champions after beating Glenelg Country see BOYS on page 6

PHOTO BY IDA STEINBERG

SLAM DUNK - Senior JJ Massaquoi dunks during the varsity boys' basketball home opener vs. St. Albans.

Girls' basketball looks to regroup Landon Green Contributor

The varsity girls’ basketball team has officially kicked off their season, fluctuating on a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs.

“I think as a team we’re growing and learning how to play together,” said freshman guard Afia Hunt.

As of December 16, the Tigers are 2-3. To start the season, the team suffered back-to-back losses to out-of-conference

private powers Bishop O'Connell, 60-41, and Georgetown Visitation, 56-30.

H o w e v e r, s i n c e o p e n i n g conference play, JR has secured see GIRLS on page 6

The Beacon

NEWS

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DCPS enrollment at an RETIRE all-time high for 2024-25

from page 1

Gil Leifman News Editor

Total enrollment in DCPS for 2024-25 is the highest ever recorded. The recently released data from DCPS showed 99,770 students enrolled in district public and charter schools, an increase of 1,121 from last school year.

DCPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Antoinette Mitchell told FOX 5 that the rising numbers show that families are confident in public schools. Additionally, she added that many of the new students appear to be high schoolers, "which is very exciting to us because our high schools are in the midst of a renaissance in some ways. With career and technical education, we have new standards,” said Mitchell.

However, the final enrollment numbers and data are expected in the spring, so DCPS currently doesn’t know exactly at which schools the student populations are increasing.

As enrollment rises, Mayor Muriel Bowser has invested roughly $350 million dollars in education for the 2025 budget, a 12% increase since last fiscal year. “An investment in schools is an investment in the city. It really speaks to families finding the opportunities that we have in the DC school system attractive," commented Mitchell.

SERVICE from page 1

started doing a massive cleanup so everyone is clear about the status of students,” Gregory said.

In the first few years following COVID, specific JR administrators were assigned the job of filing community service hours, not counselors. During those years, hours were uploaded that did not have the attached documentation file. When DCPS Central Office then reviewed those hours this year in early December, they discovered the incomplete submissions, which then caused them to remove hours from students’ Aspen.

A sp e n ’s i n f ra st r u c tu r e allowed JR administrators to submit hours without attaching the file, enabling submissions that lacked evidence. “Moving forward there will not be the option to enter community service hours without documentation; it will not save in the Aspen student information system,” Gregory said.

This year, the task falls under counselors’ responsibilities. Each form must be manually entered from the physical document into Aspen, which takes up to 15 minutes. “It is painstaking,” 12thgrade counselor Patrice Maites said.

The counselors are now sorting through each student’s folder to ensure all forms in their

Mitchell said that the data also points to a downward trend in chronic absenteeism and chronic truancy, which has been a significant obstacle for DCPS in the past.

Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President of the Washington Teachers’ Union, told FOX 5 that public school enrollment in other big cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles have been down post-pandemic, thus DC's numbers are a positive sign and a testament to the quality of our educators.

While enrollment in DCPS dropped for the 2020-21 school year, this year is the third straight year of increases, with the current enrollment surpassing 2020’s by almost 6,000 students.

Director of the Education Policy Initiative at the nonprofit think tank DC Policy Center Chelsea Coffin agreed that the enrollment increase is great news for both the school district and the city as a whole. However, Coffin explained that increases in specific grade levels could mean implications for school budgets later on. For example, "high schools may see higher levels of funding if enrollments are higher at the high school level and that elementary schools may start to have more of a pinch if indeed that is where enrollment is decreasing," said Coffin. • possession are uploaded. Due to the large number of forms, some have been lost in the past four years. Maites said she believes there should be a different process for uploading hours, such as having students electronically submit their hours. “Aspen has that opportunity but it’s not been further investigated,” she said.

Gregory noted that this removal is the first step of a longer process, where Central Office will review all documentation to ensure that the forms uploaded align with the hours entered in Aspen and are properly filled out. •

GRAPHIC BY FRANCES LEIBOVICH

S o o n a f t e r, B a r g e m a n created the Academic Athletic Achievement Academy, and assumed the position of academy coordinator. “I was also the head JV football coach. I’ve done a whole bunch of stuff,” he added.

In 2008, Bargeman became assistant principal.

Ki mb e rly Ma r t i n , w h o was principal from 2015-21, reminisced that Bargeman would recommend ridiculous recipes to cure any sort of ailment, a joke among her admin team.

“Even if you sprained your ankle, he would be like, I know what you need to do: you need to take some fish skins, wrap it around your ankle, do ten sit-ups, and I promise you by tomorrow it's gonna be fine,” said Martin, now DCPS instructional superintendent for JR and other high schools.

On a more serious note, Martin said Bargeman "loved this school so much that his love was infectious. Students around him—especially when he was supervising the senior class—would just automatically gravitate toward him.”

Senior Henry Brylawski agreed, noting that Bargeman was “always the nicest guy around. He really treated kids with the same respect he did with adults.”

Maites, the 12th-grade counselor, said she first met

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024

Bargeman when she arrived at JR as a graduate school intern.

And, at the end of that year, when a position for a counselor opened up, Bargeman hired her. Maites said that she and Bargeman had a great friendship over the years.

Maites also praised Bargeman’s talent for interior design. “In every office I’ve been in, he’s come in and told me some suggestions for colors, types of pictures, and style,” she said. “I think the best thing about Mr. Bargeman is he’s always positive.”

“He has been the life of the building over the years that I’ve been here, and I know for myself,” Maites added. “I will absolutely miss him.”

In North Carolina, Bargeman’s home state, he plans to take some time off before looking for a new job. “I don’t know if it’s gonna be in public education, but I want to use my skill set and find something interesting,” he said.

But Bargeman said there is so much about JR that he will remember.

“The thing that I’ve always

liked about Jackson-Reed, this is what everybody says, is diversity.” He said that JR is a stark comparison to the small town he’s from. “I feel like I am part of the world when I am here,” he said.

Bargeman said he will never forget the community that he was a part of for so many years.

“Students and staff bring me joy, which is why I’m motivated to come to work every day,” he said.

Senior Danye Dunston Irving said that Bargeman’s presence in the building will be missed. “He was a leader for our senior class, and it is sad that we won’t see him around in the hallways anymore.”

Principal Sah Brown said that Bargeman has “demonstrated unwavering commitment, a collaborative spirit and a passion for education. He has influenced the lives of many students, staff and families and has worked countless hours to fulfill our mission.”

As a parting message, Brown added: “We extend our gratitude for his tireless effort and wish him the best in the future!” •

GRAPHIC BY FRANCES LEIBOVICH

Freshman advisory class is a hit Grace Harscheid Contributor

Last year, Jackson-Reed introduced a mandatory freshman advisory class with the goal of providing freshmen additional time and guidance to adjust to high school. According to Principal Sah Brown, the advisor y classes playe d a major role in the class of 2027’s successful promotion rate of 95% from freshman to sophomore year.

To plan the advisory class, the selected teachers are given a basic curriculum, while also having the flexibility to incorporate their own content based on their goals for the class. “We support our teachers with supplementing material that they feel like is something that resonates with the class or the topic they want to cover,” said Brown.

For math teacher Nicole Bellerice, advisory class works to advance students’ social and developmental needs. Students in her class start with a mini lesson, then they complete a graded check-in, where they can talk to Bellerice about missing assignments or their grades. The rest of class is used for completing individual work, with the encouragement to help others. “If you don’t have anything to do, I like [it] if you’re

helping someone else,” Bellerice explained. “ We h a v e t i m e f o r everything, work and socializing with our friends, it’s perfect for the last period because you get work done and get more free time at home,” said freshman Curial Sala Espachs. Freshman Caiden Dohawk shared that “since Ms. Bellerice is also a math teacher, she helps with my math homework. She’ll break down anything that’s difficult.”

Araceli Lobato Darias, ESOL teacher who leads two advisory classes, focuses on enhancing students’ responsibility and ownership of their own learning.

To do this, she has weekly check-ins where she goes over their grades and asks the freshmen “what can you do to make it up?” and “do you want me to help you write an email to your teacher?” So far this year, Lobato’s classes have been exploring study habits, professionalism, and money management, after students filled out a survey on their interests.

Freshman Reese Erdman said, “While we still have to do the required work, [Lobato] also lets us have time to do our [other] work and usually makes the lessons we do have engaging.”

As the year goes on, Lobato will continue to improve the class, finding methods that work

best for herself and her students.

“I’m constantly thinking about how to teach it.”

The differences in the advisory classes have raised conflicted feelings between freshmen. Some want more freedom in how they spend their time, while others believe that stricter course plans would improve the class. Freshman Madasyn Harris said the class is “a waste of time. I feel like advisory should [only] be about you doing work from other classes, so basically like a study hall.” Other freshmen like Julian Durbin feel that “a consistent curriculum would make the class better” and the lack of structure makes it a “hard class for both the teacher and students.”

The material also widely varies between every class. Freshman Nora Freed shared, “[my advisory teacher's one of] the JROTC teachers and he gives us the work he gives to his cadets. We had to do a CER that he gave to the cyber security kids.”

Despite their diverse approaches to the class, advisory teachers share something in common: “teachers who are great at connecting with students [and] building relationships tend to excel. So, I think all of our advisory teachers can do extremely well in that class and are doing well in that class,” said Brown. •

The Beacon

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024 Jackson-Reed High School 3950 Chesapeake St. NW, Washington DC, 20016

https://jrbeacon.com/ beaconchiefeditor@gmail.com ISADORA GROVES and ROHINI KIEFFER Editors-in-Chief EDITH CORRIGAN CONATY and DANI WALLACE Managing Editors

VISUALS STAFF SAMUEL LEE, FRANCES LEIBOVICH, and ELI SCHWARTZ Directors of Art and Design beaconvisuals@gmail.com Assistant Director of Art and Design: Griffin Belghachi Photo Editor: Desmond Parsons Staff Photographer: Jaden Jones Visual Content Contributors: Ida Steinberg, Jane Wallace, Carys Gray, Jax Downey, Linh Nguyen, Malik Murray

EDITORIAL STAFF ADLER AMOLSCH and NORAH CAPLAN Directors of New Staff SAMARA CUARESMA Copy Editor GIL LEIFMAN and DEVAN MEHTA News Editors

OPINIONS

Lofthouse: overrated? Abraza el it, and the first thing you notice is the consistency. It’s way too soft and cakey, and it catches you off guard because cookies have no right to be so soft. It’s Oh, the holidays, the most a cookie. The next thing you notice is wonderful time of the year. Colorful how insanely sweet it is. A vanilla cookie lights, Mariah Carey, and low-budget under vanilla frosting with nothing else Hallmark movies. But with good comes to balance it out (with almost 16g of sugar, but who’s counting?). Well, bad, and with bad comes overrated you manage to swallow the cookie, desserts. There are many (guys… and the last thing you notice is the don’t even get me started on cheesecake), but one ultimately takes aftertaste. It leaves a seemingly chemical the cake for most overhyped, which I'm flavor in your mouth that tastes sure will be on every table this winter. somehow worse than the actual dessert.

Seems pretty bad, right? I will Lofthouse cookies. As I'm sure you’re familiar, these cakey, frosted sugar admit, though, that these cookies are cookies seem to have everybody’s heart. fairly cheap and convenient. At Whole Foods, you can buy 10 for only five But do they live up to the hype?

Contrary to popular opinion, these dollars. But still! We have Wawa, Whole cookies are trash. Picture this: you’ve Foods, CVS, and Target, so we have so never had a lofthouse cookie before, and many better cookie options! Don’t settle someone offers you one. You bite into for lofthouse! • Alex Oh Contributor

Gift giving is not a gift to the environment Maria Joyce-Johnson Junior Editor

Written Content Contributor: Grace Harscheid

AVA SERAFINO and JAVIER THOMPSON Opinions Editors Written Content Contributors: Alex Oh, Ben O'Toole, Miles Green

HENLEY KAMINSKAS and ALICE PATTERSON Features Editors JOSEPHINE CAPLAN and MAYA ROSKES Spread Editors CLARA DURANTE and ARDEN LUCKETT Spanish Editors JUSTIN GLENN and NOA GORDON Sports Editors Written Content Contributor: Idan Kumin, Landon Green

GRETA BRADLEY-MEAL and JESSICA MCCALLUM Style Editors SIMONE MEISNERE Games Editor WRITTEN CONTENT EDITORS Isabelle Posner-Brown, Cole Zich

SECTION COPY EDITORS Sonja Boser, Ben Holland, Sarah Wiesenfelder

JUNIOR EDITORS Sam Bigge, Elizabeth Block, Padget Bowers-Shreve, Andrew Dellabella, Tessa Frantz, Willa Frillici, Alex Frommer, Cecelia Grant, Miles Greenberger, Maria Joyce-Johnson, Georgie Ley, Riley MacCellan, Willa Marks, Elsa McIntyre, Emely Mejia, Esme Nooruddin, Maddie Nusbaum, Meredith Page, Sasha Pala, Daniel Raviv, Caroline Reilly, Samantha Shapiro, Kalpana Shipler, Peyton Shum, Jordana Sloane, Eva Solomon, Dani de Prado Oritz

MEDIA STAFF

LILY CARR Web Executive Editor CLARA DOYLE Web Technical Editor GRIFFIN BELGHACHI Public Relations and Communications The Beacon is published monthly by students of Jackson-Reed High School.

Unsigned editorials and cartoons are the views of the staff; personal commentaries reflect the opinions of the writers. Our mission is to provide an accurate representation of the diverse views, opinions, and concerns of the students of Jackson-Reed High School. Advertising and subscription rates are available by emailing beaconchiefeditor@gmail.com. The Beacon welcomes all student and guest contributions; articles, photographs, art, commentary, and letters to the editor. All submissions can be sent to beaconchiefeditor@gmail.com, and become property of The Beacon. Advised by James Kelly.

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Picture this: it's 3:00 AM and you're lying in bed, doomscrolling through TikTok. Suddenly, your mindless trance is interrupted by a white woman “packing her Stanley” for her ten minute walk, complete with $15 hand sanitizer and a mini deodorant. You are finally motivated to go to bed but, alas, it's too late. Now, you’re forced to stare at your ceiling and try to forget the fact that someone actually invented a backpack for a water bottle (not even, it literally leaks) and even worse, people are actually buying it.

Humans have always been massive consumers, and the technology we have today has only amplified this this dangerous practice. Material consumption peaks every year from late November to early January. America's holiday consumption has increased annually for over a decade, and it is predicted that holiday retail sales could reach up to $989 billion in 2024. While Americans’ driving need for material goods is concerning enough on its own, holiday consumption has an enormous negative impact on our planet, further expediting the climate crisis we are in. Online shopping, travel, and mass production of goods have huge CO2 emissions that heavily contribute to global warming.

However, today's gift-giving culture is far from the worst part. With the holidays come parties, and with the parties come useless inflatable decorations on people's lawns and plastic silverware at Christmas parties. These and many more single-use products cause the 30% increase we see in household waste during the holiday season. Nevertheless, it is difficult to combat these problems when much of what is trending encourages wasteful shopping habits; for example the “burr baskets” that went viral last winter seemed sweet but largely consisted of cheap plastic items that will be forgotten within the week.

None of this is to discourage giftgiving or celebrating the holidays, but rather to urge you to be more mindful when doing so. This year, focus on buying second hand gifts, giving experiences instead of material goods, and reusing decorations and party supplies from last year. •

GRAPHIC BY FRANCES LEIBOVICH

invierno

Alex Frommer Editora junior

En años anteriores, siempre odié el invierno: manos secas, nariz que moquea, electricidad estática en el aire, y, por supuesto, el clima frío.

Recuerdo una ocasión, hace unos años, cuando necesitaba atarme los zapatos durante mi camino a la escuela.

Me arrodillé y ya qué mis manos estaban tan secas y frías, apenas podía agarrar los cordones. Cuando finalmente terminé de atarme los zapatos, noté que mis pantalones se pegaban a mis piernas debido a la estática y no pude quitárselos. Ya estaba enojado porque iba a ir a la escuela, por lo tanto, estas condiciones simplemente me pusieron furiosa.

Pero creo que lo que realmente me molestaba era la ropa extra. Yo odio usar chaquetas. No sé exactamente por qué, pero casi siempre que uso una, simplemente no me siento yo mismo.

Este año decidí hacer algo diferente. Si no hace bastante frío afuera qué mis manos se congelen, simplemente salgo con una camiseta. ¿Tengo frío? Sí. Pero, ¿soy feliz?

También sí.

En mi opinión, cuando empiezas a abrigarte mucho, estás tratando de esconderte del frío, temblando con los brazos cruzados. Intentar evitar el frío sólo lo empeora.

Así que lo que he hecho es intentar abrazarlo.

Cuando salgo por la mañana, claro que al principio tengo frío.

Pero, después que unos minutos, me acostumbro y me doy cuenta de algo importante: es el mismo mundo.

Recuerdo el verano, cuando nunca bajaba de 80 grados y jamás considerarías usar una chaqueta. Estás caminando por las mismas verdaderas y calles donde hace solo unos meses estabas en camiseta. Lo único que ha cambiado es la estación del año.

Es el mismo mundo.

No estoy diciendo que el invierno sea la mejor estación, ni tampoco que no sea la peor. Mi mensaje es qué si odias los elementos que el invierno te trae, te sugiero que, en lugar de esperar a que pasen y quedarse enojado por ellos, los enfrentes y abrazarlos.

Y una vez que haces eso, ¿qué te queda? Días de nieve, vacaciones de invierno, la temporada navideña. Tal vez el invierno no sea tan malo después de todo. •

The holiday gift no one asks for (but everyone wants) shining armor of unnecessary app upgrades. For just $3.99 a month (lowkey adds up), your loved ones can unlock features like… seeing how many times their stories were rewatched. So, Ah, the holidays are upon us; a time no more guessing if your ex is lurking or for giving, receiving, and pretending if your best friend genuinely found your you will read all those books your snap funny. It’s the detective you didn’t grandparents gave you. But this year, know you needed.

This extension will help you filter forget the car, Airpod Pros, or new phone — give the gift of Snapchat Plus! out those fake friends. You will now see Nothing says "I care" like a subscription who your best friend really is by viewing to a premium version of an already free your ranking on other best friends lists.

Now, you can surround yourselves with app.

Snapchat Plus is the knight in those who spend their screen time on Ben O’Toole Miles Green Contributors

you.

Still not sold? When your situationship half-swipes you, they will be caught lacking. Snapchat Plus is the gift that keeps on giving. Litawaly.

You’re locking your loved ones into a monthly subscription. It’s like a gym membership but for selfies, streaks, and questionable filters.

So, this holiday season, forget traditional gifts and embrace the future.

With Snapchat Plus, you’re not just giving a subscription. You’re asserting someone as a digital alpha. And isn’t that what the holidays are all about? •

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THE BEACON • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024

To p 1 0 t hi n gs w e’ r e NOT b ri n gi n g i n to t h e N ew Y ea r 1. Bargeman 6. Confiscating (We love you) eyelash curlers 2. Wawa sizzlis

7. PE as a senior

3. Half-swiping 8. AI checkers 4. Instagram notes

9. “Working” at the help desk

5. Dunkin’ no donuts

10. Tiktok...

SANTA

SAN T A C L A

US

Norah Caplan Director of New Staff

.D Ms

e lo s Sa ntos

1. Name three of Santa’s reindeer Delos Santos: Rudolph Santa Claus: Donner, Blizten, Rudolph 2. What did Frosty the Snowman do when a magic hat was placed on his head?

Delos Santos: Melt Santa Claus: Came alive 3. How many nights of Hanukkah are there?

Delos Santos: Oh my god…I need ChatGPT for that question…Eight (Used three lifelines.)

Santa Claus: Eight 4. In the 12 Days of Christmas, what was the gift on day five?

Delos Santos: Counted her fingers and, with some hints, concluded: gold rings Santa Claus: Gold rings 5. What is the candle holder in Kwanzaa called?

Delos Santos: Takes a sip of water and shakes her head no Santa Claus: A Menorah 6. What is Santa Claus’s real name?

Delos Santos: Lord Jesus Christ Santa Claus: St. Nicholas Claus 7. What is the traditional game played during Hanukkah involving a spinning top?

Delos Santos: Is it…a Beyblade?

Santa Claus: Dreidel 8. What is the name of the Grinch’s dog?

Delos Santos: Dipsy…Tipsy?

Santa Claus: Santa’s Little Helper?

9. When is the Winter solstice?

Delos Santos: It’s near Winter, of course, around November?

Santa Claus: December 21 10. What is Santa’s most famous way of entering a house to

deliver gifts?

Delos Santos: The hoo hoo hoo…? Entering the…chimney? The hoo hoo hoo!

Santa Claus: The chimney!

The winner of “Are You Smarter than Santa Claus?” is…Santa Claus!! With a score of eight, he came out on top with more correct answers than physics teacher Ms. Delos Santos.

Keep up with your facts.

Who knows, you may be the next contestant!

See answer below. • Answers: 1.

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph (any 3 of these 9) - 2.

Came to life - 3.

Eight - 4. Five gold rings – also acceptable five golden rings. 5. A Kinara - 6.

St. Nicholas - 7.

Dreidel - 8. Max 9. December 21 10. The chimney

from page 1

There’s more than just Christmas!

PHOTOS BY JAVIER THOMPSON

SANTA VS. SANTOS - Santa Claus poses in his suit on the side of a highway with a bell in hand and science teacher Maria De Los Santos smiles in the halls of JR. Santa knows when you’re awake and knows if you’ve been bad or good, so it was no surprise he knew the most correct answers!

Within the first few seconds of December, holiday cheer is in full swing. As the temperature drops even further, people get swept up in holiday music, food, and family tradition, and are blind to the many other holidays December has to offer. During this time, it’s important to recognize and celebrate other, often overlooked, cultural traditions.

Let’s learn about all the holidays that this season brings.

Bohdi Day: Celebrated by Buddhists, Bohdi Day celebrates the moment “Historic Buddha” (aka Siddharta Guatama) achieved enlightenment. As legend has it, the Historic Buddha was a privileged prince who was sheltered from the injustices of the world until he ventured out into his kingdom. Much to his shock, Buddha encountered the sufferings of his people and realized something had to be done. To find an answer, Buddha meditated for weeks and, when he awoke, he was enlightened to the root of human suffering. This momentous occasion is celebrated through prayer, meditation, and decorations of colorful lights and beads.

Yule: As one of the oldest winter solstice festivals, Yule has been celebrated long before Germans practiced Christianity.

The festival uses light, fire, and feasting to celebrate the winter solstice—the shortest day of the year. Traditionally, the holiday was marked by a large log that burned throughout the multi-day festival,

and this tradition is still seen today through many families’ tradition of serving a wood shaped cake on Christmas.

Saturnalia: One of the most popular Roman festivals, Saturnalia celebrates the Roman god of farming and harvest, Saturn. The god is honored by the suspension of work and the making of wax candles, fruit, and statues.

The week-long festival originally began on December 17 and directly contributed to the creation of two distinct holidays: Christmas and New Years. Additionally, the custom of hanging Christmas wreaths began from the Saturnalia tradition of decorating one’s house with nature and greenery.

Las Posadas: Observed throughout Mexico and Guatemala, Las Posadas is a Christmas celebration deeply rooted in Latin culture. The festivities span nine days, where groups of people go door to door, singing songs and asking for lodging that is refused each night. Then, on Christmas Eve (the last night of the festival), the group reaches the designated house. There, the travelers finally enter to an evening of prayer and song that ends with a star-shaped pinata.

The winter months bring more Christmas trees and Chanukah candles. Holidays and festivities are celebrated across the globe that you may not be familiar with.

So this holiday season, take time to acknowledge different cultures while keeping true to your own winter traditions. •

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024 • THE BEACON

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The best (and worst) holiday specials from our childhood ¡Corteza de Menta deliciosa!

Jordana Sloane Peyton Shum Junior Editors

As the temperature begins its steady descent into freezing, the desire to snuggle into the couch with a soft blanket and hot chocolate in hand increases.

While watching Hot Frosty is great, binging prime Disney Channel era holiday episodes is even better.

Here are some great (and some awful) Disney and Nickelodeon episodes to bring on the nostalgia this holiday season.

Austin & Ally and Jessie: “Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year” This two episode crossover was a bit peculiar. The first episode was just an Austin & Ally episode with Jessie slapped on it for promotion purposes. It starts with Austin and friends’ lengthy journey to perform at Times Square on New Year’s Eve, while the second episode features a fully grown woman stealing a song from an eight year old. Overall, this was a flop and a waste of time.

Hannah Montana: “It’s the End of the Jake As We Know it” (Season 4, Ep 5) Another flop, Hannah’s season 3 holiday episode could be described as a regular episode with a dash of Christmas spirit.

However, we couldn’t give up on our favorite teen pop sensation, so we tried a different season.

The season 4 episode “It’s the End of the Jake As We Know it,” was like we were transported to a different planet, one that actually recognized that Christmas was a holiday. Hannah’s Christmas is stomped on repeatedly when she learns that her boyfriend is cheating on her. Why, Jake, why?

Hannah beats him up on live TV, while her dad steals Jake’s clothes. #GOALS

Victorious: “A Christmas Tori” (Season 2, Ep 13) Featuring a Secret Santa and Cat’s brother’s Christmas beef, this Victorious episode was pure gold. However, we did experience some brain cloudiness with all the presents gifted between the cast.

How did Robbie rent a cotton candy machine that came “WITH

A MAN” and where can I get one?

Can my Secret Santa please get me a good grade like the one Tori gave to André? And if so, can they give it to me in Biomed?

KC Undercover: “Holly Holly Not So Jolly” (Season 2, Ep 22) Featuring our queen Zendaya, this episode tackled some serious topics. KC hides that she is going to therapy from her family. She feels like she doesn’t know who she is anymore and reflects back on her glory days in the spy industry.

If you’re feeling a bit lonely and sad over the holidays, or perhaps missing your days as a spy, this episode is a great way to feel acknowledged, but also get in a good laugh.

Elmo’s World: Happy Holidays To end our trip down memory lane, we have to end with the show of our childhood: Sesame Street.

We had high hopes for the hour long Elmo’s World special, which said it was going to teach kids about Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Yay education! Sadly, it was very Christmas centric and the quality was fuzzy, to say the least. Plus it featured some “odd moments”, like when Elmo kept making out with a door under the mistletoe or doing a very suggestive dance. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable watch that should keep your little cousins entertained, and make you go “did he just do that?” when you have to babysit over the holidays.

If you still have a concerning obsession with Disney Channel and Nickelodeon shows like us, turn on your TV, and snuggle up because “You’re watching Disney Channel!”•

How to give back during the holidays Maddie Nusbaum Junior Editor

‘Tis the season to be jolly and there is no shortage of ways to spread holiday cheer in the nation’s capital. From donating coats, to wrapping gifts, to planning caroling at elderly homes, DC has a wide variety of ways to give back to those in need! Not sure where to start?

Here are a few ideas…

J. Crew Coat Drive: Already doing holiday s h op pi n g i n G e o rg e to wn ?

Donate a new or gently used coat to J. Crew and get $25 off your next purchase. J. Crew, located in Georgetown, has partnered with One Warm Coat, a non-profit organization that provides coats to children and adults. The aim of this drive is to collect winter and distribute them around the city to ensure everyone stays warm during the holiday season. Donations last from now until December 31st!

Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program: The Angel Tree holiday assistance program through the Salvation Army allows

individuals to sponsor a child and purchase new toys, clothes, shoes, or gift cards on their wishlist. All across the US, families struggle with holiday gift expenses, so this program makes sure every kid has something to unwrap under the Christmas tree. Sponsor “elves” can either bag items directly and bring them to the Angel Tree warehouse, or purchase online and ship them to that location!

G o o d Karma Holiday Program: A Wider Circle is well known as a donation center in Silver Spring, but during the holiday season, their donation drives expand to cover many different areas. Throughout December, A Wider Circle is hosting a drive where individuals can drop off unwrapped toys, books, educational games, and gift cards as a way to help families during the holidays, giving children something special to enjoy this holiday season. A Wider Circle is also collecting non-perishable foods, as well as grocery store gift cards so every family can have a nice holiday meal!

Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center:

Every year on Ch r i st m a s day , t h e Edlavitch DCJCC organizes its largest volunteer event of the year, providing many different ways to participate and spread holiday cheer. Volunteers can deliver gifts to families in need, s i n g

carols at homes and hospitals for the elderly, serve meals, donate blood, and so much more. It costs $20 to volunteer, and all funds go toward holiday gifts for those in need! Edlavitch DCJCC’s goal is to make each holiday season extra special. •

GRAPHIC BY LINH NGUYEN

Noa Gordon Kalpana Shipler Editora de deportes Editora junior

Ya ha llegado el invierno, y debido a la bajas temperaturas, estamos pasando todo nuestro tiempo dentro de casa. Esto nos ha dado la oportunidad perfecta para experimentar con nuevas recetas. Después de un día largo y difícil, nos encontramos con una receta fácil de preparar y absolutamente deliciosa: Corteza de Menta. Aunque el proceso fue largo, valió la pena completamente.

Al comerlo, el calor refrescante de la menta se extendió por nuestro cuerpo, haciéndonos sentir un calorcito muy agradable. ¡Nos que damos más que satisfechos y definitivamente te lo recomendamos!

Ingredientes: • Chocolate blanco • Chocolate semi dulce • Aceite neutro. Bastones de caramelo triturados.

Necesitarás entre 2 y 3 bastones de caramelo Processo: Cubre el fondo y los lados de un molde para hornear con papel pergamino o papel de aluminio, alisando las arrugas para facilitar el desmolde. Resérvalo.

Capa inferior: Derrite 6 onzas de chocolate blanco en una taza medidora de líquidos. Agrega 1/4 de cucharadita de extracto de menta. Vierte el chocolate blanco derretido en el molde preparado y utiliza una espátula o cuchara para esparcirlo en una capa fina. Coloca el molde en el refrigerador durante 10 a 15 minutos o hasta que esté casi firme.

Capa intermedia: Coloca el chocolate semidulce en un recipiente pequeño resistente al calor o en una taza medidora de líquidos. Agrega 1/2 cucharadita de aceite. Derrite.. Una vez derretido, agregue el 1/4 de cucharadita restante de extracto de menta.

Vierte todo el chocolate semidulce sobre la capa de chocolate blanco y extiéndalo suavemente con una espátula.. Devuelve a colocar la bandeja en el refrigerador durante otros 10 a 15 minutos.

Capa superior: Coloca el chocolate blanco que queda en un tazón pequeño o en una taza medidora de líquidos. Agregue la última 1/2 cucharadita de aceite.

Derrita. Vierte sobre las capas de corteza y extiéndalo hasta formar una capa suave. Espolvorea con bastones de caramelo triturados.

Congela la corteza, aproximadamente 1 hora. Una vez endurecida, quita el papel de aluminio o el papel pergamino y rompelo en trozos. •

The Beacon

SPORTS

6

JR athletics take on Bermuda Dani Wallace Managing Editor

Much like many collegiate athletic programs, Jackson-Reed athletics has made it a priority for student-athletes to experience culture, community, and their respective sports outside of the United States. This year, members of the cross country team and varsity volleyball team traveled to Bermuda from December 5 to December 9.

“Bermuda was amazing. The opportunity to travel to a warmer place during winter and go to the beach felt unreal,” said senior cross country captain Alvaro Orlove Rodriguez. “It was a culture shock to us; they drive on the left and have strange traditions like tea time at 3:30 since it is a British colony.”

The JR athletic department is experienced in travel: varsity baseball makes a yearly trip to the Dominican Republic for friendly competition and community service.

“Traveling overseas enhances a sports team’s athletic development, cultural understanding, and sense of camaraderie, preparing athletes for challenges both in sport and life,” said Athletic Director Patrice Arrington.

For a second year in a row, the cross country team competed in the third annual Bermuda XC Challenge.

The course spanned a traditional 5k race, where athletes took three laps through Bermuda’s Botanical Gardens. JR was one of three mainland teams that competed.

GIRLS

from page 1

wins over Ballou and School Without Walls, while losing to Eastern.

Although facing some adversity to start the winter, the team is attempting to find its footing.

“The girls have bought into what we’ve talked about: development, play and work hard, making sure that we’re disciplined, and giving 110 percent in everything that we do,” said head coach Stephon Seraile. “I’m very pleased with the corrections that the girls have made in practice and in games. I just want them to continue their winning habits, but overall, I’m very proud of them.”

BOYS from page 1

and Iona Prep just over a week ago.

Although seven new faces joined the program this year, the team feels they are building steps toward contending for city and state championships.

“We have a fight first mentality,” head coach David “Tee” Johnson said. “I tell the players all the time [that] no matter who’s on the floor, if Jackson-Reed loses, nobody cares. No matter the condition, at the end of the day JR still lost. If we have guys out

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024

Sledding spots in DC Idan Kumin Contributor

PHOTO BY JANE WALLACE

BERMUDA BADDIES - The cross country and varsity volleyball team traveled to Bermuda during the first week of December.

However, the race did impose challenges for the Tigers. “The course was made up of steep hills,” noted Orlove Rodriguez. “The competition was very solid and definitely pushed the pace.”

Early one morning, the volleyball team chartered to one of the island’s high schools and returned victorious, defeating the 16U and 18U Bermudian national teams in straight sets.

“We didn’t know what to expect going into it but it was definitely some great competition [and] really interesting to see how international teams play,” junior captain defensive specialist Blake Gessert said. “The trip was also amazing and a great way to end our season.”

JR’s team and their level of competition “inspired and solidified the organizers to add a volleyball component to the competition moving forward,” said varsity volleyball head coach Perette

Arrington.

Out of uniform, the teams made the most of their time on the the island. Both teams enjoyed a ferry tour, cliff jumping, and eating delicious food.

The teams made sure to support one another during the trip. “It was nice to have another JR team with us, to be able to support them while they were there,” said cross country head coach Tia Clemmons. She joined the volleyball team and showed serious Tiger pride during their games, while the girls took to the course to cheer on the runners a few hours later.

“With the ocean in sight, it is easy to get carried away and think about Bermuda as just a vacation,” noted Orlove Rodriguez. “But with Coach TC watching and the volleyball team coming out to support, we were quickly reminded that we were athletes there to compete. No matter the race, you always gotta sprint at the end!” •

“I think we’re just trying to build our momentum as a team and figure out our strengths and weaknesses,” said junior guard Lucia Nawar. “It’s been up and down as of recently, but we’re trying to get right for the rest of the season.”

In practice, the Tigers have worked on communicating better with each other on the court.

Players said they hope that will feed into later success.

“We’ve been able to correct our mishaps by going harder in practice. We’re instilling a positive mentality and being 100 percent locked in going into each game,” added Nawar. “Communication has also been a huge thing for us, just talking out our issues and knowing where everyone is mentally, so we can all be on the same page.”

Along with Nawar, the team is built around their junior class core of Ava Piotrowski, Aminyah Muhammad, and The Beacon’s very own Noa Gordon. Blended in are newcomers senior center Arisemma Okrah, junior forward Jordan McClusky, and Hunt.

The team understands it will take time to reach their full potential after losing key graduates.

However, with a blend of new and old players, the Tigers are looking to gel so they can contend for the DCIAA championship and make a run in states. That starts with their games during the holiday break.

On December 20, the Tigers will play against Friendship Collegiate High School at home.

Following that, JR will compete at Frederick Community College for the IAABO Holiday tournament

of the lineup, it’s a next man up mentality. That’s our motto we preach in our program.”

That mentality has come from the help of younger players stepping up.

“Coach Tee preaches that nobody's minutes are guaranteed, so guys are working hard which helps us be ready whether we are down a couple guys or not,” said junior guard Dawit Abraham, who stepped into a starting role.

“We are starting to find out what our identity is as a team and play better together.”

That identity is defense. In five contests, no team has scored over 60 points against the Tigers since

opening night at St John’s.

“Coach Tee harps on defense, finishing possessions, boxing out for rebounds, playing as a team and communicating with one another,” said guard Amir Brutley, the team’s lone freshman who has seen significant playing time.

“I try to do my best to help my team through defense, energy, and playmaking by getting my shooters open.”

The team hopes to carry these sentiments on the road to conclude the month.

“We are very confident about our team right now,” said sophomore guard Lane Mahan, another young player who’s started

Every winter, thousands of people go sledding across DC; the bitter wind rushing toward your face and the snow getting inside your jacket is every kid's dream. This winter we are expecting more than one foot of snow, which will make sledding conditions excellent! There are many sledding spots throughout DC, but only some deserve elite recognition.

Fort Reno Park Just a five-minute walk from Jackson-Reed, Fort Reno Park offers excellent sledding. The steep slope next to the tennis courts offers an exhilarating rush while sledding speedily down the hill.

US Capitol The US Capitol Lawn is another one of DC’s amazing sledding hills. It is a very popular spot and will be a great hill to visit this winter.

W h i l e sledding, you also get a lovely scenic view of the Capitol Building.

Battery Kemble The next location, Battery Kemble, is one of DC’s hidden

gems. From its steep hills to its nice hikes, Battery Kemble provides a wide range of winter activities, namely sledding. The large park, found in Northwest DC near the Palisades, is full of greenery and nature which allows for a nice experience when sledding.

Fort Dupont Park Our last location is Fort Dupont Park. This sledding hill is very great for all ages and will be very accessible this winter.

Situated near the Anacostia River, this unique spot is perfect for your different sledding related interests.

Fort Dupont is a very large park, with great trails and hills, making it great for all activities this winter.

To conclude, Washington DC offers a variety of sledding spots for you. Whether you like the calm slopes at Fort Dupont or the steep hills at Fort Reno, these parks will provide all the fun you need this winter. With this

diverse b l e n d of hills, DC will truly offer something for everyone. So, gather up your sleds, and make the most of this winter! • GRAPHIC BY FRANCES LEIBOVICH

PHOTO BY MALIK MURRAY

IN THE SPOTLIGHT - The girls basketball team poses during media day. The Tigers hope to build momentum for the rest of the season.

with opponents to be announced.

The team is looking to piece together quality wins, hoping to

continue to build when DCIAA conference play resumes in the new year. •

games. “Coach Tee preaches that guys just need to continue to play their roles and don’t do anything extra and unnecessary to hurt the team.”

During the holiday break, the Tigers will play both regional and national teams. On December 21, they will play William Penn Charter High School in the Capital Hoops Champions Classic in Reston, Virginia.

Then, they will participate in the 42nd annual Governor's Challenge. This tournament, held in Salisbury, Maryland, hosts over 140 teams and is billed as the country’s largest holiday tournament. There, the Tigers

will play Neumann-Goretti and Southern California Academy.

To begin 2025, on January 4, JR will play in the Behan Strong Invitational at St John’s for the second consecutive year. The team will play Bullis in a rematch of a testing overtime win for the Tigers last season at the same tournament.

“We worked real hard together in the summer. Everyone knows we lost [key graduates] and people are doubting us,” said senior guard Pete Newman. “So being the underdogs and playing with each other is something we embrace. We believe in ourselves and know we can win.” •

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024 • THE BEACON

GAMES

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Spot the 10 differences

Jackson-Reebus: Holiday songs

By Frances Leibovich

HOLIDAY CROSSWORD By Simone Meisnere ACROSS 1 Casual greetings 5 Senior dance at Dock5 9 Squad 14 Here, in Honduras 15 Air filter acronym 16 Words before

town or fence 17 Record breaker Soto 18 Face-to-face exam 19 Fuss over oneself 20 Line before "O what fun ..." in a Christmas classic

23 Son of, in Arabic names 24 Unburden 25 Pooh's pessimistic pal 29 Lovers' quarrel 31 U.S.A.F. honor 34 Rugby star Maher 35 Early bird's reward

36 Opera solo 37 Elmer's product 38 Del Rey and others 39 Matmh class taught by Mr. Glass 40 Egg layers 41 Tense 42 Destination of 1-Down 43 "Star Trek" sequel, briefly 44 Summers on the Seine 45 Santa's laugh 46 Taina of "Les Girls" 47 Extra and Hubba Bubba, e.g.

48 Reason to behave in "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" 57 Eel, at a sushi restaurant 58 Ice skating site 59 Short Instagram video 60 Young builders' holiday gift 61 43,560 square feet 62 Pedicure targets 63 Scalp bug 64 Garden intruder 65 Sister of 56-Down DOWN 1 Muslim pilgrimage 2 Prefix with lateral 3 Chinese currency 4 Carol 5 "Friends" friend who writes a holiday song 6 Aired again 7 October birthstone 8 Busy spot for gifts on 12/24 9 #1 song 10 No right ___: road sign 11 Slow-cooker dish

By Frances Leibovich

12 ___ butter (lotion ingredient) 13 "___, meeny, miney, mo ..."

21 Turkish currency 22 Cable cars 25 Number of nights of Hanukkah 26 Pompeo of "Grey's Anatomy" 27 Opposite of old 28 Small bills 29 Spotify wrapped compositions?

30 Say grace, say 31 Malfoy at Hogwarts 32 Steal 33 between 60% and 63% of hot chocolate 35 Walk in water 36 Banda ___ (2004 tsunami site) 38 Stop holding on 42 Pops' partners 44 Plaza Hotel girl 45 Prepared to cook, as corn 46 Some frozen waffles 47 Holiday, for one 48 Like Santa's bag on Christmas Eve 49 The difference between bot and boot?

50 Spaghetti sauce choice 51 Tie in chess 52 One part of Santas checklist 53 Spanish for "Miss" (Abbr.)

54 Long, long time 55 Sharp 56 Winter princess

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024 • THE BEACON

KIDS IN THE HALL

What would get you on the naughty list?

“I cuss all day” Charlierose Denny, 9

“Spitting out the food at Thanksgiving” Rhys Barkley, 10

“I’m banned from all Six Flags in the country for the year” Tom Mager, 12

“Laughing when my teacher said his cat died” Ollie Hoy, 11

“Telling Coach Mark I don’t have class when I actually do” Makenzie Battle, 12

“Checked my presents before Christmas” Lizzy Freeman, 12

“I cut about 50 people in the hot cocoa line” Oliver Gilbert, 10

“Being young and turnt” Heidimarie Bailey, 9

“Talking back to a teacher” Ryoma Smith, 9 Felix Damgaard, 9

“Ghosting someone” Charlotte Gately, 12

“Using ChatGPT” Keith Parham, 11

“I did a hit and run in Georgetown” Zara Dell-Bosak, 12