Starting at the end of October, students can now get a replacement Yondr pouch if their school-provided pouch was lost, stolen, or damaged. After several months of delays getting the replacement pouches, they can now be picked up from the school bank.
When the new cellphone policy was implemented at the start of the school year, many students tried to evade the policy by breaking open their pouches, resulting in broken pouches that wouldn’t lock anymore. When a student is found with a broken, unlocked Yondr pouch, the pouch
is usually taken away from them.
The administration estimates that approximately 180 students no longer have their original Yondr pouch, as that is around the number of cellphones in the phone lockers - an alternative place to store your phone during the school day for those who broke their Yondr pouch.
However, that number could be higher as many students with damaged Yondr pouches choose to leave their phone at home, in a friend’s pouch, or in their car due to excessively long lines to get their phones out of the phone lockers.
One anonymous senior, who broke her Yondr pouch on the
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Alum sues ICE after detainment
‘25 graduate
released from VA detention center after three months
Alice Patterson
Maria Joyce-Johnson Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor
A member of the Class of 2025 who was detained without provocation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents this summer was released recently from a Virginia detention center after three months in custody.
The former JR student, whose last name is Lopez Sarmiento, is the named plaintiff in a class-
action lawsuit filed last month by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia on behalf of four young people and others held by ICE in Virginia.
The Beacon is withholding Lopez Sarmiento’s first name out of concern for his safety.
Lopez Sarmiento, who is 19, was detained outside of his home in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood in early August.
According to Lopez Sarmiento’s lawsuit, ICE agents had no warrant for his arrest, and no criminal activity had occurred.
Multilingual Counselor Camila Naverette said that Lopez Sarmiento arrived in DC two and half years ago from Honduras. She said he has been living in the U.S. under Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
After graduating from JR in June, Lopez Sarmiento continued his work in a restaurant. He had planned to start college in the fall at UDC, where he was awarded a scholarship.
JR rallies to support community during government shutdown
The effects of the federal government's 43-day shutdown rippled through the JR community, which rallied to help those affected by the loss of food benefits and government paychecks. Many JR students have reported that their parents'
Win some, lose some Soccer teams capture DCIAA titles but fall
Sam Bigge Sports Editor
Despite ending the season with a loss to St, John’s in the quarterfinals of the DCSAA playoffs, the Tigers ended their season with a DCIAA championship and a stellar record.
In 2024, the Tigers were dumped out of the DCIAA playoffs
by Bell in the semifinals, the first time they would miss the City Championship game since 2019, and they were destroyed in State playoffs by St. Albans, losing 8-0 in a brutal end to the campaign. Between that disappointment and the fact that several crucial seniors departed the team, it could have been easy to write off the Tigers 2025 season.
The start of the season didn’t do much to calm the Tigers nerves, as the squad was battered by St. John’s, 5-0. However, a 1-0 victory over Maret would help to build momentum going into the DCIAA season, with the Tigers conference schedule beginning against the team that toppled their DCIAA championship push the previous year, Bell. Two goals inside the first dozen minutes would be enough
for a Tigers victory, and the game was a great tone setter for the DCIAA season.
One of the year’s highlights occurred on September 19th, when the Tigers took on St. Albans, looking to avoid embarrassment at their hands for a second year in a row. In the first half, a long throw by Senior Defender Liam Miller would fall for Senior
Grace Harscheid Sports Editor
The girls' varsity soccer team has remained a powerhouse in the DCIAA league, but started off the season struggling to build their chemistry. The Tigers ended the regular season with an overall record of 15-4-1 and a league
record of 6-0 continuing to develop their legacy as a dominant team.
girls' varsity soccer team beat School Without Walls 2-1 to win the DCIAA championship. This was
temporary suspension of work due to the shutdown has put their families in a place of economic discomfort.
Senior Amanda Chau said her mother’s furlough from the Department of Defense had “negatively affected [her] family, been a huge transition for them, and the backpay threatened by Trump had caused financial stress.”
in states
up from JV coach last year. Belvine described this as one of her highlights of the season: “lifting that trophy as 2025 DCIAA champions.”
The new players to the team played a major role in the championship victory. Both of the goals on the Tigers' side were scored by fresh faces, junior Emilia Betancourt and sophomore Jojo one goal on the opponent’s penalty kick.
The team beat Walls during the regular season 1-0, a foreshadowing of what was to come later in the city championship. In preparation for the DCIAA title game, Belvine said she made adjustments so the team’s “play and lineup would not be predictable" which helped them secure the win.
Senior Rylee Jarmen said she was proud of how the team “gave their all to win the title.”
She added that everyone “played for the person next to [them],” and the overall game was a reflection of the hard work they put into the
Unfortunately for the Tigers,
Despite the struggles that many students’ families have faced, school officials said JR remains committed to creating a supportive learning environment.
Principal Sah Brown told The Beacon that “as educators, our mission doesn’t stop during
see SHUTDOWN on page 2
Another student, whose father works for the Architect of the Capitol, said the government shutdown “caused disruption within her family due to the lack of pay, and caused logistical issues within the family.”
New boys' basketball coach aims to continue tradition of success
Clara Doyle Desmond Parsons Editor-in-Chief Director of Art and Design
After the departure of boys’ basketball head coach David “Tee” Johnson for a college position, former assistant coach Bill Bourgouin has taken over for the 2025-26 season.
“Coach Bill” was a top assistant coach on the team for several years, and has built strong relationships with many of the current players.
“I’ve had really positive experiences with him in the past,” junior Lane Mahan said. Mahan emphasized how Bourgouin “has grown a lot as a coach and helped me a lot”, and he really “loves to coach.”
Senior Dawit Abraham echoed this, saying, “playing under Coach Bill is awesome.” Even though playing under him is nothing new to Abraham as he
championship under head coach Kelle Belvine, who moved
PHOTO COURTESY OF DESMOND PARSONS
PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIEL KREPPS
PHOTO BY DESMOND PARSONS
PHONE JAIL - Phone lockers are available for students who have damaged Yondr pouches
Boys Girls
New Maret field vandalized with Lorax drawing
Eva Solomon Opinions Editor
In September, the Maret School transitioned from using JacksonReed and various neighborhood fields as its “home” field to the recently constructed Barret field in Chevy Chase. However, the construction and opening of the field have enraged the neighborhood and resulted in vandalism, including a picture of “The Lorax” and the words “Shame on you, Maret” spraypainted on the scoreboard.
“The Lorax” is a Dr. Seuss character who protected the environment, famous for the quote, “I speak for the trees.” The vandalism is a nod to the roughly 60 trees (including a few heritage trees) cut down to build the field, which sits on five acres of land that were previously undeveloped in the Chevy Chase neighborhood of DC. The field is surrounded by houses, and it’s close to Lafayette Elementary School. Neighbors were also angered at the artificial turf being installed, citing health and environmental concerns.
Barret Field was constructed to resolve Maret’s lack of a “home” field. The field on Maret’s campus isn’t regulated for many sports, so in the past their sports teams had used
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a government shutdown.” Brown acknowledged that “uncertainty can place added stress on all our stakeholders and our focus remains on being a stable and supportive place for our students.”
The JR community mobilized to help students and families affected by the shutdown, which began on October 1 due to Congressional failure to pass a spending bill and ended November 12.
One particular issue was the loss of SNAP food benefits starting on November 1. In 2024, 19.7 percent of DC residents received SNAP benefits, the second highest percentage of the population receiving benefits in the country.
The JR Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) helped set up a food pantry in partnership with the school. ”We are aware of the impact [the shutdown and SNAP loss] has on our community,” PTSO President Shanza Qureshi-Mufti said.
The school also distributed information about food security in the area, including the Capital Area Food Bank and application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals. “To ensure students have access to nutritious meals, families
"I SPEAK FOR THE TREES" - The new Maret field was vandalised with a spray painted drawing of the Lorax on their scoreboard following their first home football game. the field when it’s not in use by Maret athletics.
facilities at Jackson-Reed and Jelleff. This meant that students had to commute to various other locations solely to see their school play. The new Barrett Field is multi-purpose with a baseball diamond, football/ soccer field, and more.
it’s close to Lafayette Elementary School.
The vandalism was not the first example of community opposition, with a previous letter-writing campaign taking place. In order to address the community concerns, the rules for admission to the fields include measures to limit sound and rules limiting spectators in the surrounding neighborhood.
After the first official football game at Barrett Field, it seemed as though it was a success. However, between the night of Friday, October 3rd, and the morning of Saturday, October 4th, vandalism occurred on the scoreboard. A Lorax was spraypainted on the scoreboard with the words “SHAME ON YOU MARET.” It was later removed, but faint orange lines are still visible.
In March 2022, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 3/4G and Maret School signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that defined how the construction process should be done and put in place a task force that would monitor the construction.
affected by the shutdown may apply for Free and ReducedPriced Meals,” Brown said. All of the resources have been included in the weekly JR newsletter emailed to families and can be found on the school’s website.
The PTSO also emphasized its continued support of student programming. Qureshi-Mufti said that students whose clubs may be struggling to raise money can request a PTSO grant. Already, the PTSO has received 35 grant requests—affecting more than 12,000 students - and has distributed roughly $22,000.
These grants “are all related to academics, classroom learning, student support, school culture, and student clubs,” Qureshi-Mufti said. She emphasized that “if you’re part of any student clubs and you’re looking to get some funding or if your club doesn’t have to support, you can definitely submit a grant request to us.”
Despite the shutdown ending, the path forward is uncertain. President Donald Trump recently threatened to withhold the back payment of federal salaries during the furlough period and to require people to reapply for SNAP benefits. •
On April 6, 2022, the DC Board of Zoning Adjustment unanimously approved Maret’s application for a new athletic field behind the Episcopal Center for Children (ECC), and Maret bought the land from the ECC. The field finally opened in September of 2025, and public use has been permitted on
The new Barrett Field was built in the Chevy Chase neighborhood, even though many residents opposed the construction due to the massive amount of trees that had to be cut down, the large amounts of turf that will be required to be replaced every few years, and the disruption of the neighborhood. The field is surrounded by houses, and
Maren Weiss, a junior at Maret who lives in the Chevy Chase neighborhood near the new Barret Field noted that, “There was a negative impact at Maret as students who didn’t live in the area didn’t know the extent of the issues that neighbors had with the field and did not feel welcome at the field, especially with the scoreboard saying ‘SHAME ON YOU.’ They felt it was a very aggressive approach to the situation.” •
Budget cuts force DC Streetcar to halt service in March
Alex Rogers Contributor
Due to budget cuts, the DC streetcar will shut down at the end of the fiscal year with no clear plans for replacement. The single route service that runs from Union Station to the RFK campus was scheduled to end in the summer of 2027 but recent budget cuts have caused the DC council to remove the service earlier than anticipated.
The street car was first imagined in the early 2000s as a way to increase tourism and development by providing transportation to places the Metro couldn’t. Although it took almost a decade to launch, it quickly became a popular service in DC and in other cities around the country.
However, its lack of expansion, in part due to DC council chairman Phil Mendelson
parked cars blocking its path, have made the service increasingly less popular, leading to its termination.
The free transportation service costs about $10 million a year to maintain and due to a decrease in ridership, council members no longer consider
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first day of school, said her “Yondr pouch was taken from [her] and [she’s] had to leave [her] phone at home because the lines for the phone lockers were so long it made it hard to make [her] bus.” She was forced to order a new Yondr pouch off Ebay because it was no longer sustainable to continue leaving her phone at home.
Despite the long delay in
getting replacement pouches for students, replacements are now available. In order to get a replacement, students need to fill out the form found on Canvas and pay the $40 replacement fee. Then, students can pick up their replacement from the school bank on Tuesdays or Thursdays by showing their receipt. So far, the rollout of the process has been successful.
Communications Director Jessica Lawrence estimated that around 28 replacement pouches were
it to be worth the invesment. Compared to the WMATA D20 bus - which requires a fare - only one third of daily ridership is matched, justifying the council members' decision.
Now, with the sudden shutdown, both drivers and remaining riders are forced to find alternative methods of transportation or - in drastic casesnew workplaces. Due to increased passenger loads, it is likely to cause a strain on surrounding bus routes. Additionally, individuals without Kids Ride Free cards will face an increased financial burden, since they must now pay for bus fares. When Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced the shutdown in May 2025, she had also promised a “next generation streetcar,” however her vision remains vague and unclear. Given her previous unfulfilled promise in 2015 over a new east-west line for the street car, it is unclear whether her proposal will turn into reality. •
ordered in the first week, with 18 already having been picked up from the school bank.
Principal Sah Brown emphasized that ordering a replacement is not a requirement, instead students can elect to continue placing their phone in the phone lockers. Brown said, “our approach to comply with the cellphone policy is to allow students not to have to pay” if they don’t want to, which is why students were provided with a free pouch at the start of the year. •
PHOTO BY MAREN WEISS
GRAPHIC BY AMINA BROWN
Kids Online Safety Act aims to restrict social media for minors
Tate Vassalo Contributor
Congress is revisiting an Act about child online safety that would restrict access to social media for teens 13 to 17 and ban access to it for children under 13. Many seem to have reservations about the new Act and the harm it could bring to teens across the country.
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) aims to protect children from aspects of social media that harm the privacy and mental health of children. The bill plans to enact a “duty of care” which would require social media companies to put more protections on minors.
The bill says that any platform covered in the act needs to exercise “reasonable care” to implement design features that mitigate the mental health impacts of social media, specifically in relation to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and suicidal behaviors. Freshman Henry Cai expressed his concerns with banning social media for kids under 13 saying, “if [kids] don't grow up with it and then immediately get introduced, will they be able to know how to handle it?”
algorithms, systems that promote personalized content based on data collected about a certain person, for teens under 17 and add more parental controls to further restrict what minors can and cannot see on social media.
Freshman Anabel Apfalter
lawmakers agree that these bills should be passed for the safety of kids online, many have their doubts. Some believe that this is a violation of their First Amendment rights.
Jenna Leventoff, spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union, said, “as the ACLU and a wide array of civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy organizations have repeatedly explained, this bill would not keep kids safe, but instead threaten young people’s privacy, limit minors’ access to vital resources, and silence important online conversations for all ages.”
agrees with the rules to get rid of addictive features saying, “there's better things to do with your life that actually positively impacts it rather than doom scrolling.”
This bill will also require companies to remove
ICE
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English teacher Thomas Crocker taught Lopez Sarmiento last year. “He worked till 11:00 or midnight every night and still tried very hard in my class,” Crocker said. “He just wanted to come here for a better life. The only thing he’s guilty of is trying to support his family.”
Since his release from ICE custody earlier this month, Lopez Sarmiento has returned to JR to see teachers and friends.
After his detainment, Lopez Sarmiento’s lawyer reached out to the ACLU of Virginia, which filed the lawsuit.
All four plaintiffs in the lawsuit had successfully applied for or were granted SIJS, which was established as a pathway to citizenship by Congress in 1990. SIJS was meant to help vulnerable minors who enter the U.S. under difficult circumstances, including abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
Similar laws have been established in countries such as Australia, who plans to ban social media for anyone who is under 16, and states like Utah and Texas have already passed laws that restrict social media access for teens.
Even though many
Such individuals are often living in the U.S. with one or no parents.
Despite following the pathways set out by SIJS, the young people cited in the case were detained by ICE and sent to the Farmville and Caroline detention facilities in Virginia.
Unlike other noncitizens, people who come to the U.S. as unaccompanied minors have not typically been subject to detention. Before the current Trump administration, the Deferred Action Policy established that SIJS holders waiting for visas to grant them lawful permanent residence, which can take years, would be protected from deportation.
Under the policy, they also were eligible to apply for employment authorization. But in June the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services terminated the policy, putting at risk tens of thousands SIJS holders, like Lopez Sarmiento and his fellow plaintiffs.
The ACLU’s lawsuit argued that all four plaintiffs, and a
DC debates expanded teen curfew policy
Peyton Shum Opinions Editor
Mayor Muriel Bowser signed an emergency juvenile curfew into effect on November 7. The curfew prohibits youth under the age of 18 from being in public areas between 11 PM and 6 AM. This legislation comes after the DC Council’s decision to not reenact the summer teen curfew that expired on October 5.
The Juvenile Curfew Act was first enacted in 1995 as a response to rising violent crime by youth. Though it was challenged in court, it was found to be constitutional, and DC continued enforcing the curfew. Teens 16 and under could not be out in DC from 12 AM to 6 AM on the weekends and in the summer and from 11 PM to 6 AM on weekdays during the school year.
Many groups have raised concerns about the limits cutting kids off from online communities, like LGBTQ+, and resources about issues like depression and anxiety.
While Health teacher Lejanika Green understands the negative impacts of social media, she said she’s “not sure if it ultimately outweighs the other positive things.” She pointed to social media “bringing together communities of people who might not otherwise be able to connect or have a voice” as one positive aspect of social media.
The bill has not yet passed the Senate or House, but support for the bill is strong. •
GRAPHIC BY SOLAYA RUTLEDGE
proposed class of others, are entitled to bond hearings and should be released from detention because they have sought or been granted SIJS status.
On November 5, U.S. District Court Judge Anthony Trenga of the Eastern District of Virginia ordered two other plaintiffs, who are brothers, to be released.
On November 12, an immigration judge concurred with Trenga’s ruling, and ordered Lopez Sarmiento released.
“Federal law is very clear that young people who came to the U.S. as unaccompanied minors and were abused, abandoned, or neglected have every legal right to be in the United States,” ACLUVA Legal Director Eden Heilman said in a statement.
“ICE should never have picked up this young man and put him in a detention center— and today a judge ruled ICE has to let him go.”
Judge Trenga’s ruling stated that ICE, DHS, and the Trump Administration were interpreting
Curfew Zones were enacted this summer, mainly in the U Street Corridor and Navy Yard. U Street Corridor was a Curfew Zone on July 18-20 and again on August 21-24. Navy Yard had a curfew of 8 PM on July 11-13, August 10-13, and August 15-18.
The expanded teen curfew expired on October 5. The DC Council met to vote on whether to sustain the extended curfew or not, and decided against it in order to hear from community voices.
However, Bowser enacted a city-wide emergency curfew following more disruptive youth activity around Halloween, which was effective from November 1 to November 5. There were Curfew Zones around Union Station, Banneker Recreation Center, Navy Yard, and U Street Corridor. Bowser also called on the council to enact a permanent extended curfew.
Penalties for violating curfew can affect both parents and teenagers. Parents, whether they were aware their child was violating curfew or not, can be fined up to $500 or mandated to do community service. Teens can also be subject to up to 25 hours of community service.
On July 7, 2025, in response to nearly a dozen teenagers being arrested for disorderly conduct and launching fireworks over the Fourth of July Weekend, an extended teen curfew was passed by the DC Council. Teen curfew was expanded to start at 11 PM every night for anyone under 17.
The Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 also allowed the Mayor to authorize an Emergency Juvenile Curfew and the Chief of Police to establish Extended Juvenile Curfew Zones. Extended Juvenile Curfew Zones are areas with special curfews lasting up to four days where anyone 17 or under in a group of nine or more teens can’t be outside during curfew, which can start as early as 8 PM. Many
the law incorrectly, stating that young people with SIJS status did not fall under mandatory detention requirements.
At the public hearing on October 30, teens and council members brought up many issues with the curfew. They mentioned how the curfew failed to address the reasons that some teens are out late, like unstable homes, lack of safe rides home, or food at their houses. On November 7, Bowser enacted another emergency juvenile curfew, this time lasting for 90 days. Teens under 18 cannot be outside from 11 PM to 6 AM, and DC Police Chief Pamela Smith can designate zones where curfew begins earlier, starting as early as 8 PM.
JR students think the curfew isn’t enforced, so there isn’t a point to having it. Sophomore Abby Gilbert said, “Kids are just going to continue going out, curfew or not.” Senior Anna Gordus echoed this sentiment, saying, “It hasn’t affected me at all and no one pays attention to it.”
A permanent version of the expanded curfew bill was introduced on October 31. The bill will require two Council votes to pass, and the hearing for the bill is scheduled for December 4. •
“Our clients are following the rules they’ve been given to obtain citizenship,” ACLUVA Senior Immigrants’ Rights Attorney Sophia Gregg said in the statement. After the judges’ rulings, she said, “we now have confirmation that ICE is not.”•
PHOTO BY ELLIOTT FARRELL
MOUNT PLEASANT FIGHTS BACK – Amid ICE raids, signs hang in the neighborhood reading “No deportations in Mt. Pleasant/ No ala migra” and “They are fascists/we are artists/ We melt ICE”
Honoring Jane Goodall
Tessa Frantz Section Copy Editor
Jane Goodall, nicknamed the “chimpanzee woman”, recently passed away at the age of 91 on October 1st, 2025, after decades of advocating for environmental conservation, researching wildlife, and speaking to young people about the importance of her work. She died peacefully in her sleep from cardiac arrest. Goodall leaves behind her revolutionary discoveries on the animal world and the Jane Goodall Institute, which will continue to conduct research on wildlife and work towards protecting endangered species after her passing.
At 26 years old, Goodall became well-known for her detailed observation of chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
In the Gombe Stream National Park of Tanzania, with just a pen, paper, and binoculars, she spent months watching chimpanzees, studying their personalities, and learning about their behaviors, such as their use of tools and their social tendencies. Goodall’s studies were revolutionary as she took a much more personal approach, naming each chimpanzee and trying to connect with them instead of just assigning them numbers.
her transition from research to conservationism, and she founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 2002 determined to save chimpanzees and other animals. Her institute’s activism was communitybased, teaming up with local villages to promote conservation. She helped
caring about all living things.
If you talk to anyone across the Jackson-Reed student body on the death of Jane Goodall, it won’t be long until you find someone that reminisces on learning about her in elementary school, maybe even doing a science project on her in third grade (myself included). Students spend their years in school learning about countless people that were in some way important to the world or history, but Jane Goodall’s story touched the hearts of many in a way others weren’t able to. Goodall taught people not only about
communities to improve soil health, restore natural habitats, and create a sustainable way of life, expanding habitats for chimpanzees and improving their lives.
While examining chimpanzees, she realized they too were on the verge of extinction. This inspired
In addition, she created youth-based advocacy campaigns that taught young people that they have the power to create change. She traveled around the world, promoting the importance of leading a life of hope and
chimpanzees, but about the power of empathy for all living things. She shaped the youngest generations and showed people that respect for nature is vital in the protection of our lives.
As we say goodbye to Jane Goodall, it’s important to honor her legacy by continuing the fight for environmental conservation and the protection of wildlife. We must keep her work alive by learning from her teachings and powerful messages, because in the words of Goodall herself, “the greatest danger to our future is apathy.”•
Jim Thorpe
Native American Heritage Month spotlights pioneering Olympic athlete
Avani Patel Features Editor
Considered to be one of the most versatile athletes in modern day sports, Jim Thorpe was not only an Olympian, but also a professional football, baseball, and basketball player. His unmatched talent and determination has made him one of the most celebrated sports figures in American history.
Jim Thorpe belonged to the Sac and Fox nation, and was born to Hiram and Charlotte Vieux Thorpe on May 28, 1887. Thorpe grew up Native American Territory in modern day Oklahoma. Thorpe had a twin brother, Charles, who unfortunately passed away at a young age. The loss of his twin brother affected him deeply, and is believed to be what pushed him to work harder.
At the age of 25, Thorpe participated in the 1912 Stockholm Summer Olympic games, competing in the pentathlon, decathlon, long jump, high jump, and javelin. He won 4 out of the 5 events for the pentathlon, and beat out the fan favorite Hugo Wieslander by 688 points. During the decathlon event, Thorpe placed in the top four for all ten events, and his Olympic record of 8,413 points was unbeatable for nearly two decades. Along with two gold medals for both the pentathlon and decathlon, he received two challenge prizes from King Gustav V of Sweden and Czar Nicholas II of Russia. Thorpe was the first Native American to win gold medals for the US.
Thorpe also played
Protests don't need to be 10,000 people
Protesting has been a form of expression used by people all over the world; it gives a voice to those otherwise unheard or ignored. While large-scale movements like women's rights, Black Lives Matter, and political revolutions dominate headlines, there are also countless niche protests—smaller, more specific campaigns that challenge societal norms, raise awareness of overlooked issues, or call for change on a more localized scale.
These protests, though often under the radar, play a critical role in amplifying the voices of those whose concerns might otherwise remain ignored.
While most people march to show civil disobedience, 27-yearold semi-professional roller skater Ledger Smith chose a
different path for his fight. Called “Roller Man”, Smith skated nearly 700 miles from Chicago to the 1963 March on Washington. He skated 70 to 80 miles per day over the course of around 10 days with a “freedom” sign pinned to his shirt. His purposefully dramatized trek protested segregation, racism, and discrimination at roller rinks that persisted even after segregation had become officially illegal. Another example is when in 2010, Palestinian protesters dressed up in the iconic blue skin tone and pointy ears as characters from the movie “Avatar” to fight against the Israeli
separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin. Palestinian protesters compared themselves to the Na’vi people from Avatar
which demonstrators have taken up a uniform of inflatable costumes while protesting the US government. These
with one protester commenting, “we are here fighting the sky people, we are here fighting for our land.”
A more current example are the No Kings protests, specifically those in Portland, Oregon, in
professional football for the American Professional Football Association (would later become the NFL in 1922), as well as baseball and basketball for various teams. Thorpe was the first president (modern title commissioner) of the NFL, believing his fame would be instant credibility to the league.
In 1912, the Olympic community had strict rules regarding amateurism, meaning an athlete who has received money or had competed previously against professionals, were not considered amateurs. Unfortunately, in 1913, it was reported that Thorpe had played semi-professional baseball in North Carolina between 1909-1910. Though the public did not mind that Thorpe had played semi-professional baseball previously, Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and James Edward Sullivan took this case very seriously. Later that same year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) unanimously voted to strip Thorpe of all of his Olympic titles, medals, and awards. But in 1983, in a meeting held by the IOC, Thorpe’s records and titles were reinstated, and his medals and awards were given to his family, who were in attendance at the meeting. Thorpe passed over 70 years ago, on March 28, 1853. Still, his legacy and impact continues to inspire athletes around the world who wish to follow in his steps, proving the determination and talent can break any barrier. •
protesters have come up with a non-violent way to protest that allows for anonymity. With the inflatable costumes, protestors leave a lasting effect that not only protects those participating, but also de-escalates the tension.
These are just a few of the many niche protests throughout history and today— each one offering an example of how to stand up for what you believe in, even if few are listening.
One voice can have the effect of hundreds; what truly matters is the meaning and determination behind your fight. Change often begins with someone daring to do something different—someone willing to turn their message into a movement, even if it seems unconventional.
Remember, a protest doesn’t need to fill the streets; you can protest no matter how many people stand beside you, and for whatever reason; because you believe it deserves to be heard. Fight in whatever way you can. •
Maevyn Farrell Lauren Chung Contributors
GRAPHIC BY IRINA FILIPPOVA
GRAPHIC BY CARYS GRAY
Should it win a Grammy? New albums of 2025
Caroline Downs Amanda Chau Contributors
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl
On October 3rd (Mean Girls day) Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album! The main muse of this album was none other than her fiancé and Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce. As certified Swifites, we continued our tradition and stayed up the night of October 2nd, excitedly awaiting the release of the album. It was safe to say we were a little disappointed after our initial listen, though.
Many fans, including ourselves, were not too happy about the weird Gen Z slang references and TikTokification of the album. Ironically, it also felt too “millennial,” and not current enough. However, as time went on and we gave the album another chance, some of the songs started to grow on us (or at least on Caroline).
The upbeat tunes were a nice change from the slower, sadder songs on some of her previous albums.
she should take a little break before this one…
Sombr: I Barely Know Her
nothing for people seemed very happy with his new album and songs.
With his ongoing personal
lyrics and listen for good fun, though, you might be pleasantly surprised. In the meantime, we will be ANXIOUSLY awaiting her 13th studio album—big number for us—but maybe
and “12 to 12”. Fans, ourselves included, were excited about the new album because it would expand on some of our favorite released songs. His surprisingly fast rise to fame couldn’t have been over
The very best ice cream sandwiches in the DMV
Peyton Shum
Jordana Sloane Opinions Editor News Editor
In our highly awaited return to food reviewing, we’ve decided to take our skills to a new level: ice cream sandwiches. Perfectly paired creamy ice cream and crunchy cookies make for the best snack, even if it's 40 degrees outside. So here’s a comprehensive review of the best ice cream sandwiches in the DMV for your mid-winter snacking.
The Baked Bear: 9/10
($10.50)
Five stops on the Red Line to Pike and Rose got us to the lovely land of The Baked Bear. We had high hopes after stalking their google review pics while waiting for the yet-again late Metro, and they definitely did not disappoint. You can mix and match over ten different types of cookies and brownies with various ice cream flavors. Our singular complaint is that the sandwiches are humongous and physically impossible to finish. Truthfully, we don’t think anyone could eat that much ice cream, but this can be easily fixed by sharing with another person. The Baked Bear is essentially the Chipotle of ice cream sandwiches, and
we wish that this store was as common as our favorite lunch spot.
Captain Cookie: 6/10 ($8.45)
We arrived at the Cleveland Park Captain Cookie with mixed expectations, some of which were met. We had learned
cookie is the only star of the sandwich; the ice cream was exactly as exciting.
We got a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie with “Peanut Butter Insomniac Tracks” ice cream and it was scrumptious. The cookie is served warm and in a nice togo container that oddly resembles a pizza box. The only downside to this was that the ice cream
slightly cheaper (possibly due to the worker giving us a student discount because we “looked young”), this one held a lot less ice cream.
We were mildly disappointed with the lack of flavors to choose from, both in cookies and ice cream. While the ice cream sandwich itself was pretty good, it just wasn’t as astoundingly amazing as The Baked Bear. Insomnia: 8/10 ($8.75)
Now you might be saying, isn’t Insomnia a cookie place? Yes, it is, my friend, which means that the base of this “Cookie’wich” as they call it, is a warm cookie with a complex flavor profile. However, don’t be fooled into thinking the
not fit in the box. But don’t fret; that just made us eat it faster.
In the process of trying ice cream sandwiches, we realized how annoying it is to get everywhere on the Metro. We are currently in the midst of writing a petition to the DMV because you cannot get a provisional license in DC until you turn 16½ is absolutely criminal.
We applaud everyone, whether you can drive or not, who is trekking through the freezing cold to go taste these ice cream sandwiches for themselves.
XOXO - your favorite food reviewers •
McRae dropped a new single, and she (T)ate again! TIT FOR TAT absolutely devoured and it has been on repeat for the past month! She clapped back at The Kid Laroi and reminded us of the baddie she is, Tatiana (if you know you know). It is safe to say Tate will be making it on Spotify Wrapped this year and maybe so will TIT FOR TAT itself.
Role Model: Saddle Again
stop, but you get the idea! The jokes write themselves.
Our new favorite singles as of recently:
Tate McRae: TIT FOR TAT
Exciting news guys, Tate
While this song is technically off the soundtrack of the Netflix show Nobody Wants This, Role Model cooked with this song. Leaning into his newfound country twang, he created yet another catchy single and fun vibe. If you don’t know him already, he has made himself a reputation for being a “yearning final boss” (alongside Conrad Fisher), and in this song, he acknowledges his need to move on with his life. Alert to the other Role Model fans at Jackson-Reed, he is finally letting Emma Chamberlain go!! •
The value of the No Kings protests
Angelina Payz Contributor
On October 18, 2025, I stood at the corner of 14th and U Street in Washington, DC, surrounded by thousands of voices shouting in unison: “What do we want?! Democracy!” It was the second nationwide No Kings protest, and the biggest one yet. I had come with my mom, carrying a handmade poster that read “ICE WILL MELT.”
When we arrived, the block was packed. We stood side by side, waving signs and flags, chanting together until our voices blended into one. There were students, parents, grandparents, veterans, and even little kids perched on shoulders, waving tiny flags. The energy in the air felt eager, like everyone there understood they were part of something bigger than themselves.
The No Kings movement started earlier this past summer as a response to what many saw as growing authoritarianism in our government. By October, it had spread far beyond its first protest in June. Organizers said there were more than 2,600 registered marches nationwide, with millions of people participating across all 50 states, and of course, DC. Everyone was united by the same message: that in America, power should always belong to the people.
As we moved closer to downtown, the chants grew louder. People on balconies waved, and drivers honked in rhythm as we passed. Volunteers handed out water and snacks; others carried trash bags, making sure the streets stayed
clean. There was an unspoken agreement among everyone to take care of one another. I felt proud to be there, proud to stand beside so many people who cared so deeply about democracy. Later in the afternoon, a small stage was set up near the White House for speakers. Senator Bernie Sanders took the microphone, and the crowd erupted in cheers. His voice carried over the noise as he spoke about the concentration of wealth and power in America. He slammed figures like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos for being “the multibillionaires who were sitting right behind Trump when he was inaugurated,” arguing that no democracy can survive if a handful of people control the country’s economy and influence.
Hearing Sanders’ words in person made me realize the protest wasn’t just about one president or one political moment. It was about the idea that democracy itself depends on balance and accountability.
As the sun began to set over the city my feet ached, and my throat was raw , but I didn’t want the day to end. My mom and I stood quietly for a moment, looking around at the thousands of people still marching, still chanting, still believing.
Walking home, I realized how important that day was. It wasn’t just a protest; it was a promise. A promise that people like me, my mom, and millions of others aren’t willing to give up on democracy. As long as we keep showing up, speaking out, and standing together, no one, no matter how powerful, can take our government away. •
GRAPHIC BY IRINA FILIPPOVA
What drives security confiscations?
Orly Jossen Junior Editor
What drives the decisions on what JR security confiscates? Everyone hears complaints from students as our security team seizes eyelash curlers, perfumes, and deodorants, but what is the rationale behind this decision and where does it come from?
As it turns out, this isn’t a JR decision, rather a DCPS wide policy.
The policy bans aerosol sprays, glass containers, metal utensils, dice (to discourage students from gambling), over-the-counter medications, and open drink containers. This policy has raised many questions among the JR student body.
Students question the policy’s selectiveness - it prohibits glass containers, but allows scissors and compasses with sharp points to be stored in math classrooms. It also prohibits any type of aerosol spray including clearly marked deodorants and perfumes. While the security team declined to comment, this part of the policy is frequently enforced as the confiscated items bin in the office is filled with perfumes, deodorants, and many eyelash curlers.
The eyelash curler in particular has raised many
questions among students. “I don’t understand the danger,” said Freshman Arabella Bernstein. This feeling is echoed throughout the student body, as many don’t see the reasoning behind the ban on eyelash curlers.
The final part of the controversy this DCPS policy faces is its enforcement. Even though the practice is supposed to be standardized, it is not the same across all schools. Sophomore Elena Marin says, “my sister goes to School Without Walls, and they don’t confiscate eyelash curlers there.” Many students also bring in over-the-counter medications such as Advil and Tylenol, which are banned under the policy. Additionally, students have found ways around the system by going through different metal detectors.
“If you go through a specific security point, they won’t confiscate anything,” said Freshman Lily Gonzales. The same applies to the school’s “no open drink” policy. The enforcement of this rule is often sporadic and unequal.
Despite the desire of the policy to create a safe and secure learning environment, it continues to draw controversy from students due to the confusion created from the unevenly applied policies and unclear reasoning. •
Seniors win Powderpuff, 8-7!
Lily Oshtry Contributor
This year’s powderpuff game was competitive, with seniors and juniors ending in a 7-7 tie, which later became a senior win 8-7 with the tug of war tiebreaker. The game, held during the pep rally on Friday, October 24, was well attended (okay, basically mandatory). Defense was strong, with both
already celebrated for her accomplishments in track, Eva Okoobo, was able to turn the tides at the very end of the game when she scored a touchdown, tying the game and leading to the seniors’ ultimate victory. Expectations from seniors leading up to the game were high. Maddie Woods, a member of the senior powderpuff team, gave
sides struggling to get hold of the football. However, when the right opportunity struck and they were able to catch it, both teams ran with passion. At the beginning, the junior team was ahead and it looked like they had a good chance to win.
But a speedy senior
insight about her feelings towards the upcoming game and what makes it special to her, noting her positive experience with the team the previous year and her abundance of friends on the team. She explained, “I like powderpuff because it’s a fun environment and everyone
who plays is just the right amount of competitiveness and friendly.” When I asked if she thought her team would win, she confidently replied, “SENIORS GONNA WINNN”, as any self-respecting senior would. She also explained that the team had been prepping for the game through their practices, and when asked about strategies the team needs to focus on, she said that they needed to just “lock in and go through [their] plays.”
Another participant and the main coordinator for the senior team, Charlie Ketchum gave insight into the challenges they faced and what could've gone better. “Our team definitely could have had better communication,” she noted, describing the organizational problems they had with players on the field, the lack of clear communication from coaches, and the difficulties with coordinating practice schedules.
When asked who she thought would win leading up to the game and how she felt about results, she said, “seniors were definitely going to win, and that was our mindset going into the game as well. We had a lot of class energy and confidence which I think was great, the respect your elders sign in the atrium totally contributed to that.” Congrats to our seniors and maybe next year's class of ‘27 will come out on top! •
International universities draw JR students
Maria Joyce-Johnson Managing Editor
Given the current political and socio-economic state of the country right now, it makes sense that Jackson-Reed students are considering completing their post-secondary education abroad. It is important to note that college (or uni, as the Brits would say) is an immensely important decision that could determine much of someone’s future. So what makes the international route so desirable?
Being a public school in the center of US diplomacy and foreign service, it is unsurprising that a number of JR students choose to apply abroad every year. Some of the most popular schools JR students are applying to (and have attended) include McGill University and University of Toronto in Canada, and St. Andrews University in Scotland. This year alone, three seniors have already been accepted into University of Amsterdam and others have revealed plans to apply to Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland and Sciences Po, a political science university in Paris.
Attending a school in a different country has its challenges, including travel costs, visa logistics, and housing. Nonetheless, as evident by the tens of thousands of Americans that attend a foreign university, many have not been dissuaded by these hurdles; so what are the benefits?
According to College and Career Counselor Elizabeth Levenson, students are drawn to international schools because they have family abroad, have lived there previously, or are “attracted to the idea of living in another country for their college years.” Levenson also points out that tuition for colleges in foreign countries is generally “less than that of U.S. colleges.”
Regarding tuition, it is indeed generally cheaper to
study outside of the country.
For example, a year at a popular US state school, the
Madison, amounts to around $44,210 (out-of-state) while a year at the University of Edinburgh, a UK school similar in size and selectivity, amounts to around £26,500
University abroad often has another advantage: it's shorter. In many schools in the UK and Europe (with the exception of Scotland) you can get your Bachelor's degree within three years, instead of the US’ traditional four years. This is because, typically, schools outside of the US put less emphasis on a core curriculum and general education requirements; instead students only focus on the area of study that they elected to
Lastly, students often consider universities outside of the US for the
experience. While some might argue that studying abroad for a semester will fulfill any student's desire to live outside the US, it can pale in comparison to actually attending a foreign school. Living in a new place, discovering new cultures, and even learning a new language provides an education that cannot be replicated inside the classroom.
Obviously there are many more reasons to consider going to college outside of the US, and these reasons will be different for everyone. As for me, I am both ready to leave the US and, as a prospective international relations major, there is a lot of value in, well, being international. (The tuition discount is a nice added bonus!) Of course, pursuing your college career abroad isn’t for everyone, but I hope for those interested, this article gives a little insight into the possibilities it provides. •
PHOTO BY DANIEL KREPPS
POWDERPUFF PRIDE - At the Homecoming pep rally, the Juniors and Seniors battled it out in the powderpuff game. GRAPHIC
Postcolonial Literature cut sparks equity concerns for minority students
Dani Ortiz de Prado Spanish Editor
At the end of the last school year, Jackson-Reed eliminated a Spanish teacher position as part of broader budget cuts announced in April. This decision has had major ripple effects on Spanish course offerings.
First, the cuts led to the complete elimination of the Postcolonial Spanish Literature course. Second, the AP Spanish Literature and Culture course was reduced from two sections to one. Both classes had high demand and served a large share of Hispanic and minority students.
In the school year 20242025, 28 students took the Postcolonial Literature course, making it a very popular course offering in the upper levels for Spanish. Despite that, the class was cut, while classes in other world languages with low enrollment numbers remained.
sections, allowing students more flexibility in scheduling. Those two sections had more students each than other non-Spanish AP world language classes offered currently.
AP World History: bring it back
Uli Raney Ferrero Contributor
The staff cut also reduced AP Spanish Literature to a single section of 29 students. In previous years, JR had offered two AP Spanish Literature
Students who had requested Postcolonial in the spring of 2025 were either forced to take AP Spanish Literature or drop Spanish entirely because of the course's elimination. In fact, students were not made aware of the elimination of the Postcolonial class. Additionally, some students who wished to switch into AP Spanish Literature weren’t able to because of the course section reduction.
AP Spanish Literature
is now the only remaining Spanish course that provides rigorous readings, in-depth analysis, and themes centered on Latin America, Spain, and its relationship with the U.S. For the students who weren’t ready for the stress of an AP class, Postcolonial was the only course that JR offered that matched the same rigor and intensity of AP Spanish Literature without the requirements of the AP curriculum. It was a crucial bridge for those who were transitioning from AP Spanish Language to AP Spanish Literature.
“The fact that students want to continue reading should be a source of celebration,” an anonymous student said.
The situation that remains is this: the Spanish section of the World Languages department was the area most affected by budget cuts. It is also the one that largely serves Hispanic students, students of diverse minority backgrounds, and students with different educational needs. The student continued, “How can this decision be considered part of the ‘equity philosophy’ that DCPS claims to follow?” Certainly, equity seems to be disregarded when it comes to who has access to academic rigor and opportunities in our building.•
Wouldn’t you like to have more knowledge about the world outside of the U.S? I know I would! History is one of the most important subjects, as it involves aspects of nearly every core subject. Through the study of history, we learn about literature, math, and even science. Without it, how would we learn about events that led to past tragedies or successes? How would we know how to make the world a better place? The answer is, we probably wouldn’t! Although Jackson-Reed offers a variety of interesting and diverse courses, we don’t offer AP World History. I think we should, since it is essential to expand people’s education and even job possibilities.
First of all, why is it that every other public school offers AP World History as a course, but JR doesn’t? Especially with the vast options JR offers, wouldn't we be even more ahead of the game if we did offer it? Honestly, we should at least be given the option to take this course to expand our world knowledge, and to not be left out.
global history classes: World History I and World History II, and although there are several other history-based electives, they can’t possibly be enough for us to fully learn and understand everything there is to know about our past as humans. Only having two World History courses limits us from reaching our fullest potential.
Not only would AP History be a super interesting class, but it would also be a GPA boost! Who doesn’t want that? Now, I’m not saying you should take an AP class simply because of it being a GPA boost, however, it is definitely a plus (especially if you enjoy the subject).
(We don’t want any fomo!) JR already offers two main
Overall, I believe that if students were introduced to AP World History sooner rather than later, we would be more prepared and wellrounded. We also wouldn’t miss out on any opportunities for our students to learn as much as they might at other public schools. We can’t give other schools the chance to deem themselves better than ours, since we know it’s not true. •
Democracy declining: Trump is building a dictatorship
Lucinda Schaible Contributor
Democracy is supposed to be a core tenet of the United States. Growing up we were taught that our government is created upon inalienable principles: freedom of speech, fair elections, checks and balances, freedom of the press, and peaceful transfers of power. We were taught every day to recite, “liberty and justice for all.”
The United States was once the poster child for democracy, but what happens to a country when their foundations are no longer valued by the most powerful person in the country? What about when the head of their government calls the free press “the enemy”, deports suspected immigrants without due process to prisons with horrible living conditions, undermines the checks and balances previously found in the government, unleashes the National Guard upon cities where he is rejected, and tells his followers to overthrow the government when he lost the election?
Though it sounds dystopian, it’s now our bleak reality. With
President Donald Trump back in the White House, political scientists are observing what is called an authoritarian drift, which is the erosion of structure and government that a democracy is composed of. Democracy will slowly collapse until our country is something that we Americans can no longer recognize.
Dictators can rarely become all-powerful quickly, instead, they erode democracy bit by bit, changing the rules, twisting facts and fiction, and disintegrating the very foundations that make a country what it once was. Americans can no longer pretend this could never happen here.
The overthrow of democracy is not happening in secret.
The execution of American democracy is happening right in front of us.
One of the most egregious instances of this trend occurred in October, when Trump expressed his wish to deploy “more than the National Guard” into huge United States cities, such as LA, Chicago, and D.C. Why? He did it to infringe upon the First Amendment rights and hinder protests against various of his policies. He already sent the
National Guard to those cities and other areas in the country to “keep order”.
Trump also wishes to amend the Insurrection Act of 1807, an act known for being able to easily abuse and being able to unleash the use of military force without approval from the judicial or legislative branch. The statute lets the president send out the military force to virtually act as police officers under the clause of “insurrection”, but in this case, they are being used against peaceful protestors. This is a huge step on the path towards an authoritarian regime, with Trump using his power not to protect the democratic regime of the country, but to silence opposing voices.
Another ominous move was the Executive Order 14290 that was signed under the Trump administration, which led to the end of federal funding allocated to famous public media programs like PBS and NPR that have entertained and educated youth and adults alike.
Congress, under the Republican Party and Trump’s support, tried to reason that the two programs have a “bias” to the left agenda. Ironically, these
organizations are some of the last remaining American-based nonpartisan, widely available sources. Cutting NPR and PBS off allows for more mainstream misinformation to flood in from less credible sources, and is taking away one of the key components of a democratic society: freedom of the press.
These aren’t the only examples of messed up things Trump has done. If I tried to report on every infringement of civil liberties, violations of checks and balances, and everything that points towards the country turning authoritarian, the printer would have run out of ink. This is a pattern Trump developed in his last administration and is enacting again: ignoring oversight, encouraging gerrymandering, having no respect for the Constitution, and even insinuating that he would run for an unconstitutional third term in 2028. Everything Trump has done in his time in the Oval Office is another chip off the block of checks and balances, a system put into place to prevent this exact scenario from occuring. Trump would never call himself a dictator, but has grown slowly
but steadily every day into one, while Americans have grown indifferent to the alarming news we hear on a daily basis.
Trump’s takeover of the government doesn’t feel like a coup. It feels like things typical Americans blur out, like press conferences, new articles, and executive orders. Every time checks and balances are dismissed, every time a media outlet is bought by one of Trump’s friends, and every time a protester is silenced, democracy continues to crumble into microscopic pieces.
We, the people, must realize that the Constitution needs to be dutifully protected by the people. Every amendment made is completely worthless if it is not followed. We have already seen the First Amendment, Articles I, II, & III of the Constitution, and many other rights being exploited. America’s regime of shining democracy was once a beacon to the rest of the world, and is now crumbling into a massive warning of the consequences of an authoritarian leader. The potential for America to lose its freedom is not a “what if”; it is almost a guarantee. •
GRAPHIC BY CARYS GRAY
GRAPHIC BY CLARE BATES
Are AP classes meant for freshmen?
Annie Stillerman Contributor
Everyone remembers freshman year as the time they could breeze through work with no substantive struggle, but what if it wasn’t? What if freshmen could take Advanced Placement classes just like the rest of the school? My personal answer to this would be absolutely not. Sure, an argument can be made that everyone should get to pick the schedule they want, but looking at this question realistically, it is a faulty and impractical proposal. The cons drastically outweigh the pros when it comes to workload and overall high school experience, and on a more practical note, it would be a logistical nightmare.
The workload that an AP course brings is intense, and if
freshmen were able to take them, it would, without a doubt, alter their entire high school experience for the worse.
I talked to a few freshmen who felt that they should be able to decide their schedule just like everyone else, and if that includes APs, they don’t have a problem with that.
This thinking disregards the actual purpose of AP courses. They are not just specialized classes that you take for fun; they are more often than not taken for colleges to see on your transcript. It is impossible to take an AP without thinking about how your exam score will look to a college, and that is simply not something freshmen should be worrying about. Freshman year, has its fair share of obstacles. Settling into high school is hard, and the added stress of an AP would make
it even harder.
The stress of the AP course is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to issues with APs. One of the biggest concerns of APs, which is not commonly talked about, is the inherent creation of competition among students. This sense of competition can be incredibly toxic and stressful. It has the potential to be even more damaging if it starts off during freshman year.
There are too many factors that go into taking an AP classes, and it is important to have a solid foundation before deciding to take one. Freshmen simply don't have the basics they need to thrive in an AP class. Coming into high school, students have enough to worry about, and it is senseless to add all the issues that an AP course brings into the mix. •
Chaperone policy for football takes the fun out of the game
Tessa Frantz
Esme Nooruddin
Section Copy Editor Written Content Editor
At Jackson-Reed, we’ve never had the typical Friday Night Lights experience. In fact, most can’t tell you if there is a game this week. Our lack of school spirit is already apparent, but the new DCPS policy for attending football games might stop students from ever finding their inner tiger.
On September 12, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that students attending football games will now have to be accompanied by a chaperone, with each chaperone being able to take three kids, and start times being moved up. This new policy comes after continued “instances of spectator conflict,” according to DCPS; most
notably two teens were injured at a high school football game. While we are grateful to the district for keeping the safety of students at the forefront of their decisions, we worry this policy is going to make our already empty football stands look even emptier.
Most students won’t be able to find a chaperone, as many parents have full-time jobs and aren’t able to take afternoons off to go to a high school football game. And how are they supposed to get their dads away from the TV on Thursday and Saturday nights while being in the midst of the NFL and college football seasons?
The truth is, high school football isn’t all that interesting to people above the age of eighteen who aren’t JR alumni. The reason football games are of any interest to teenagers is because of the atmosphere–even if we won’t win,
it’s fun to cheer on our team with other people from our school.
Having parents who are begrudgingly there will ruin this atmosphere and take away all the fun of going to a football game. The cheering sections will get quieter, the attendees will have less fun, and the football team will suffer more.
Anyone who plays a sport knows that the energy from fans on the benches is just as important as the team’s energy. Sadly, with students unable to find parents willing to forfeit their nights to high school football, our football game attendance will become even more scarce.
We understand that safety was the number one priority when creating this policy, and safety is very important. However, it is detrimental to the quintessential high school football experiences. •
Hall passes are not a golden ticket
Caroline Wilding Junior Editor
Let’s face it, there’s been a time for all of us when we’ve been in the hallways without a pass. Did anyone do anything about it? No. Whether you were late to class, you didn’t have time to fill out a pass, or your teacher just sent you into the hallways without one, almost none of us have been asked to take our pass out, show it to an adult, and then continue wherever we were going. It just doesn’t happen.
The rule is that anytime we’re in the hallway, we must have a hall pass with us, but the truth is, no one actually checks. I’ve walked through the hallways multiple times this year, without a pass in my hand, backpack, or pocket, yet I was never stopped by any of the deans, security guards, or other staff that are constantly patrolling.
So, are the green hall passes more of a requirement or just a way to keep students out of trouble? Given that almost no one who is just walking through the hallways gets asked if they have a pass, the answer is leaning towards the latter. The passes are more of a threat to keep students where they’re supposed to be as opposed to the strict rule they’re cut out to be at every town hall.
What would even happen when you don’t have one? Are the staff going to send you back to the class you came from, where you’ll then disrupt the lesson to ask your
teacher for a pass to get water? It sounds like something a second grader would be required to abide by, not high school students. Filling out the little pieces of paper with where you’re going, the time, and a teacher’s signature takes time away from class, as well. Teachers have to stop their lessons just to let one of their students get written permission to go to the bathroom or drink water. If there are no physical passes on hand in the classroom, then an effort must be made to find a piece of paper to use as a makeshift pass. The whole process takes way too long. Half the time, teachers just send their students into the halls with no pass because chances are that the staff in the halls simply won’t ask to see proof that students are allowed to be in the hallway.
I’m not saying we as students should forgo the hall passes and refuse to take one. Obviously, we should follow school rules and still ask for one every time we need to go out in the hallways, but it’s not the biggest deal if you don’t have one. The fact of the matter is that if you forget, or don’t have time to grab a pass, you won’t be locked up in Jackson-Reed-no-hall-pass jail, which is what it seems like every time the passes are talked about. As a whole, hall passes are unnecessary, a waste of time, and overemphasized for no reason. •
No school November: the month of rest
Lia Zeldes Contributor
You know the feeling when you didn’t realize that Friday is off, but now it is, so technically Monday is Tuesday, and Tuesday is Wednesday, and Wednesday is Thursday, and then… the week is already over?
Well, you may have noticed that November seems to have every other day off, with hardly any full weeks. If you haven’t, then feel free to check; it’s true! Either way, I’m here to argue that this is not a flaw, but a well-deserved–and necessary–break. In fact, I don’t think it would be too bad if every month were like this. Let's be honest. Pretty much every student loves having a day off. Extra rest and extra time for homework feels like a reward instead of a given.Yes, please! For those of you who don’t agree, you might be arguing that this gives us less time to work–obviously, with a shorter week come fewer classes. Well, let me convince you that shorter weeks are superior to regular weeks in every way, especially when they happen
several times in one month.
for more than one day, you know that most “class work” ends up being homework, lunch work, and, well, all day work that you need to cram at the last minute.
we’ve all pulled all-nighters at least once (...right?). Even though November doesn’t have a long scheduled break like summer or winter break, you might’ve noticed that your stress levels go down, and, if you’re
You see, with just one extra
lucky, your sleep hours go up proportionally. This is no coincidence.
to the weekend, like Monday or Friday, we gain many benefits. Not only do you gain an extra day to do homework, but you also get a
shorter week, giving you less schoolwork in the first place. If you think about it, three day weekends make perfect sense; one day to rest, one day to work, and one day to do other things, like hang out with your friends. Plus, one extra morning to sleep in!
“Okay, but with four day weeks, we don’t get all our lessons finished on time!”
To that point, I say, school years and curriculums are planned to be finished after 180 school days. What’s the harm in splitting them up a little differently so your brain has more time to rest?
Not only do months like November help you catch up on much-needed sleep, they also let you enjoy activities you’d otherwise never have time for, let you actually study for tests (ChatGPT the night before doesn’t count), and give you time to productively do homework.
For any teachers reading this, wouldn’t you be lying if you said you didn’t like the extra day off?
Yeah, that’s what I thought. At the end of the day, the rest you get during November should speak for itself. Months with more days off don’t hurt education; they help it! Just like working out, you need rest days after a long week of learning, and two-day weekends don’t cut it. •
GRAPHIC BY SOLAYA RUTLEDGE
GRAPHIC BY CLARE BATES
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The power of youth voter turnout
By The Beacon staff
As a student newspaper, we are an organization of future voters. A strong supporter of free expression and civic engagement, The Beacon has always encouraged youth to speak out and vote in future elections. Currently, many of our staff are seniors, meaning they are or will be eligible to vote soon and are ready to contribute their voices to a cause they believe in.
In the recent round of elections, the country saw a blue wave. The gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, a leftist mayor elected in New York, and the passage of Proposition 50, a bill to redistrict in California, all represented wins for the Democratic Party. The country saw a huge turnout for an off-year election, making us hopeful for a larger turnout in next year’s midterms.
In the recent mayoral election in New York City, there was a substantial increase in young
adults voting, with 19% of eligible youth voters casting ballots. By contrast, in 2013 only 8% of people between the ages of 18-34 voted in the New York City mayoral race. In Virginia and New Jersey, young voter turnout increased seven and nine percent, respectively, since the 2021 gubernatorial races.
The Beacon strongly urges young adults to use their vote to stand up for what they believe in. We understand the intimidation that comes with voting, especially with the increasingly controversial topics being debated. Nevertheless, voting is essential. A single ballot can turn the tide of an election; every one counts. The outcome of any election, no matter the topic, will have an impact on our future. The Beacon strongly encourages youth voters to take advantage of the power their vote holds in future elections.•
PARKING
Elsa McIntyre
Can we talk about this parking epidemic? Every day I come to school and make my way through the streets, up and down, again and again, searching desperately for a spot. It’s not that there are too many cars, simply that a little bug mobile is taking up a giant SUV spot. I see space in front and behind you; if you moved up three feet, I could fit in there too! The greediness is getting out of hand. With love, please do us all a favor and think before you park: “Is there enough room for another car in this spot?” •
HAND DRYERS
Fletcher
Why is there not a SINGLE working hand dryer in this entire school? Most times when I go to the bathroom I end up with my hands drenched, if I am lucky enough to find a sink that works. I just want to wash my hands and not have to fear dripping water on and ruining my Birkenstocks. Is it so hard to ask for a restroom that has working toilets, sinks, and hand dryers at this school where I am legally required to be for more than six hours a day? •
Bowers-Shreve
Why do celebrities spend their money on the most absurd purchases? I will never understand how anybody could spend $28 million on an 11-minute space trip when they have enough money to help hundreds of people! I'm tired of looking at the news and stumbling upon terrible articles about people spending thousands on a gold-plated toilet seat or on a plane ticket for your hat. Is there any world where that's truly necessary? There are a million ways I can think of spending money that don't involve outrageous purchases. Has anyone ever even heard of donating to charity? •
Leah
Eliza
Ms. Braun’s many book clubs
Margherita Gentilini Contributor
Everyone has had that epiphany when they realized that their teachers don’t sleep in the classroom. Sometimes, you catch them getting food at Chick-fil-A, getting groceries at Whole Foods, or even at Dunkin’ buying a coffee. Personally, for freshmen English teacher Joella Braun, you’ll most likely catch her at a book club.
You might catch freshman English teacher, Joella Braun, in any of these places, but most likely you’ll find her in a book club.
Braun is currently a member of somewhere between “4 and 6 book clubs.” “I really love supporting independent book stores,” Braun said. “Shoutout to Solid State on H street.” She loves book clubs because she remembers books better when she talks about them with people,
Longtime gym teacher
Desmond Dunham has become a staple of the Jackson-Reed and Washington, DC, youth sports communities. He has coached extremely successful track teams at multiple schools and is currently in his 14th year of teaching at Jackson-Reed. Outside of coaching and teaching, however, Dunham has a myriad of passion projects.
Many have heard of Coach Dunham’s youth sports development organization, Kids Elite Sports. In 2014, Dunham and his wife founded Kids Elite Sports in an effort to promote an active and athletic lifestyle for kids in the DMV. Kids Elite runs multiple athletic programs throughout the
a philosophy reflected in her English classes.
Braun’s favorite book club is one that’s “been around for 15 years,” though she joined 4 years ago, making her one of the less seasoned participants. Nonetheless, the longtime members of the club have been welcoming to her, recommending books they have read in the past so she “can be part of the references too.”
Another book club she loved was a Pizza and Books book club, which, unfortunately, was cancelled when the club leader moved to New York. “We would read a book and go to different pizza places every time,” Braun said.
Ms. Braun enjoys spreading her love of reading to the younger generations. She describes how her two small children love going to bookstores with her, and her four year old thinks the house in
year. Over the summer, Kids Elite runs full-day summer camps at various DC schools for kids aged 4-12 to play a myriad of sports including running, basketball, and football.
The counselors at the camp are often high school and collegeaged, meaning many of them are often Jackson-Reed students. Kids Elite also holds more advanced training programs for 8-18-yearolds throughout the year. Above all, Kids Elite tries to make sports fun for young athletes.
In 2021, Dunham wrote a memoir, Running Against the Odds. “I wrote Running Against the Odds because I knew my own story could serve as a bridge for young people—especially those who might feel marginalized, overlooked or challenged by their circumstances,” said Dunham. In
Teachers’ Passion
the children’s section of Politics & Prose “is her own house.” She also runs the book club at Jackson-Reed. She has meetings on Thursdays, creating a fun and comfortable environment.
It is also worth mentioning that Ms. Braun used to be very passionate about theatre. Although after having kids and moving to DC, she unfortunately doesn’t have as much time any more. “I used to do a lot of theatre. I was in a comedy group. We used to perform at different festivals. That was back in New Orleans. That was when I was teaching. Rehearsal went from 10 to midnight.” Looking back now, Braun shares that she couldn’t imagine doing rehearsals till midnight right now. “I like to sleep now,” she said. Hopefully, this interview has left you with a better gist with what your teachers are up to after school! •
Coach Dunham’s youth sports programs
the memoir, he recounts his early childhood and his time coaching. Per its title, the book focuses on his relationship with running and how it has helped him get through parts of his life. Currently, he’s writing a screenplay for a potential movie based on the book to try and get his message to a larger audience.
Coach Dunham also serves as an Under Armour Coach and Ambassador, and he has leveraged his partnership with UA to create new opportunities for students. This February, he is coordinating a visit to the company’s global headquarters to support JR’s Engineering and Sports, Business, & Marketing programs.
Last year, Dunham gave a TED Talk on the importance of youth participation in sports. He explains sports instill values like resilience, teamwork, goal setting,
and leadership and argues that youth participation in sports is hindered by a lack of fun. “Youth sports has become a multi-billion dollar industry, and it has become a very stressful business for our youth,” said Dunham in his Ted Talk. “If you ever ask a kid why they play a sport and if you ever ask a kid why they drop out of a sport, the answer is the same: fun.”
Dunham’s TED Talk exemplifies the most cherished values he has held throughout his career. He truly understands how important kids’ sports participation is, and every project he’s pursued has aimed to get one step closer to achieving this goal. “Sports teaches us, if we stay together, and we do things together, that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.” •
FORUM ON asks the question:
PHOTO BY MARIA JOYCE-JOHNSON
BOOKS GALORE - Ms. Braun and Mr. Lobos pose with some of their favorite books.
Daniel Raviv Spread Editor
Mr. Phifer is a JR music teacher and talented trombonist, who used to be a member of famous R&B, Go-Go band, “Trouble Funk.” He continues to play music in another bandtoday, called “Walker Redds Project”.
JR Physics teacher mr. martineau both has a Film podcast and has had dozens of jobs, from wedding dj to hockey annoucner
Passion Projects
Mr. Massenburg’s atrium photography exhibit
If you’ve walked through the atrium this year, you may have noticed a photography exhibit made by none other than photography and graphic design teacher Grover Massenburg.
Aptly titled “Talented Tigers”, the exhibit showcases portrait shots of staff and students, primarily those from the class of 2025. Massenburg’s goal for the project was to capture and highlight the Jackson-Reed community. It was “more of an instagram project at first” he stated, but then he decided to bring it to life.
“Talented Tigers” was established at the end of the last school year, with Massenburg designing, printing, building, and installing all of the components himself.
All the photos were shot on his iPhone 16 Pro Max. “There’s hundreds [of photos],...too many
to count”, said Massenburg, many of which are not included in the exhibit. Stylistically, he shared that he chose to edit the photos in black and white because “[the viewer] is forced to look at [the] subject rather than color, forced to look at tones and shapes.” Massenburg aimed to “draw people into the subject.”
Massenburg said that the end result exceeded his expectations as “staff started coming [to him] and saying it [was] great and really bringing the school together.”
Over the past couple of years, Massenburg’s work has been showcased in multiple exhibits curated by galleries in Washington, D.C.
Just last year, his photos were used in an exhibit called “GO GO/ Our DC” at Stanford in Washington’s art gallery. “GO GO/Our DC” began on November 20, 2024, and was done in collaboration with the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Stanford in Washington’s Museum Studies
Department, and the Washington Jazz Arts Institute. Beginning in November, Massenburg’s photos will be on display at the Greenbelt Courthouse, which hosts quarterly shows every year.
Currently, Massenburg is working on implementing “more digital signage around the school”, for example, more TV displays to communicate helpful information and showcase student work.
In the coming months, he also plans to continue adding to his “Talented Tigers” exhibit with more action shots of students working on projects in class and doing extracurricular activities.
Throughout his years of teaching, Massenburg has never stopped working on his own projects. “I’m always doing something, I’m always taking photographs,” Massenburg said.
Massenburg believes that “the more you shoot [photos], the more you see things in a new way,” which
“can movies pass the test of time?”
is the main reason he includes a weekly photo assignment in his classes.
Massenburg plans to retire by the end of this school year. By that time, he hopes his students will have outstanding portfolios that get people asking: “Did a high-school student really make that?” •
Mr. Martineau’s film podcast
Jordana Sloane News Editor
Your typical Jackson-Reed student has eight teachers that they’ll see every week, and in the chaos of homework, tests, grades, and more, it can be easy to forget that just like how we have hobbies and a life outside of school, so do our teachers. While many of them have abnormal and intriguing hobbies, we’ve decided to focus on one teacher in particular: AP Physics teacher Christopher Martineau.
Students who have ever taken a Mr. Martineau Pphysics Cclass may have heard about his many eclectic experiences. From being the PA announcer for the Providence Bruins Ice Hockey Team in Rhode Island to
a wedding DJ to an opera singer, Martineau’s past jobs and hobbies are range far and wide. One of these manyMartineau’s hobbies is his movie podcast called The Film Crickets, in which he analyzes old movies to see whether they stand the test of time.
This idea originated during 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 shutdown. In a “stroke of genius,” Martineau and his long-time friends Melanie Howerton and Jay Fortier decided that their tradition of talking over the phone about movies should be converted into a hobby and publicized.
Their first ever episode came out 5 years ago and discussed whether Fast Times at Ridgemont High holds up. To put it simply, the podcast analyzes whether movies would be acceptable to be released in today’s social climate.
The Film Crickets ran for five years, covering beloved movies such as Star Trek, Friday the 13th, Rocky, It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and more.
However, the podcast released its last episode on September 5, 2025. Martineau mentioned that over the years, he had stopped enjoying the podcast, and took time to remind us that “if you ever realize that [you are] not looking forward to that thing, you should stop doing it.”
Without the podcast, Martineau is still considerably busy. He teaches four separate AP Physics Classes: AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based, AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, and AP Physics C: Mechanics. In addition to that, he is also the science department chair. •
PHOTO BY THE FILM CRICKETS PODCAST ON FILM - Mr. Martineau’s Film Podcast, avaliable on Spotify, question:
Clare Bates Assistant Director of Art and Design
PHOTO BY CLARE BATES
JR ON DISPLAY - Mr. Massenberg’s art highlights day to day student and teacher life.
JR MAth teacher Mr. Jacoby is a former, nationally ranked fiFIgure skater who has competed in and taught fiFIgure skating.
Coach dunham, a physical education teacher, has his own youth sports development organization, kids elite sports.
Best DC cafes to make studying more bearable
Marta Flabbi-Fruttero Contributor
Who doesn’t love fall? The perfect weather, leaves falling off the trees, homecoming season, and most importantly, the best holidays!
But the worst thing about fall? School. Fall comes right after the excitement of the start of school and falls right at the end of term one and the beginning of term two. The season should be filled with pre-holiday joy but often ends up a treacherous time for students; endless assignments, seniors stressed out over applications, and the threat of progress reports are all easily the spookiest parts of the season. The grueling studying is hard for everyone; there’s no doubt about it. But there is one thing that helps make the seasons just a little cuter: fall cafes. As a self-proclaimed professional-studier, here are five great fall coffee shops where you can stay locked in for hours while enjoying a fall latte.
1. The Emissary: Dupont Circle
Tucked among the busy shops of Dupont Circle and filled with life and delicious food, Emissary is one of the coziest cafes in DC. Although I wouldn’t consider this cafe to be specifically ‘fall-
themed,’ there is a unique aspect of coziness that it achieves. The menu is filled with fresh brunch meals such as Smashed Avocado Toast or Brioche Grilled Cheese, along with heart-warming evening meals, including House Made Gnocchi and Crispy Armenian Fries. They offer pastries baked fresh every morning and seasonal drinks perfect for the fall season! Its soft lighting, small windows, and touch of greenery make it feel calm and tucked in–the kind of spot where time slows down as you work. Sitting there for hours, you see people typing away endlessly, facetiming a loved one while eating a delicious meal, or chatting away with old friends. All in all, it’s the perfect place to lock in while also lightening your mood during a rigorous time. (Don’t be fooled by the two locations!)
Bigger location: 2032 P St NW, Washington, DC 20036; smaller location: 1726 20th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
2. Soleluna: Adams Morgan Tucked in the center of the bustling neighborhood of Adams Morgan, Soleluna blends its cozy and calm atmosphere with the neighborhood's lively energy. Its bay windows and outdoor seating give the place life on a sunny fall day. Its proximity to the Red
Line Metro and the ever bustling 16th Street makes it ideal for an on-the-go coffee or a six-hourlong study session. The colorful Pistachio Croissant paired with an affordable four-dollar caramel latte (price of all the coffee drinks!) makes a perfect treat to get you through your never-ending work. The sounds of friends chatting, students typing away, and the vibrant music create a buzzing atmosphere that makes studying just a bit more enjoyable.
1787 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
3. Tatte: Georgetown Blended into the vivacious Georgetown atmosphere, Tatte creates a great escape, perfect for long hours of studying. Tatte has many locations all around DC, and the meal and pastry selection never misses. The Tatte in Georgetown achieves an inviting atmosphere despite being quite a big shop. Its partial underground location, along with its tall ceilings and large windows, creates a cozy but spacious setting perfect for sweater weather. Its hearty meals include its Potato, Mushroom, Bacon Shakshuka with warm toasted sourdough bread on the side, and the Roasted Salmon Winter Vegetable Rice Bowl makes the perfect lunch
Ranking the Starbucks fall drinks
Cecelia Grant Shayna Sann Spread Editor Contributor
As soon as the air gets a little bit chilly, and the leaves start to change and begin to fall, Starbucks is always the first to bring out their seasonal menu. Along with the return of their iconic fall menu, people (including us) are racing to see which drinks are the best this season. Many consumers might find themselves stressing about which drink they need to order off of the endless menu, but don’t you fret because we beat you to it. Check out our opinions below on some of the most popular drinks on this season's Starbucks menu. Of course, we had to start with the classic. We chose to rank the Pumpkin Spice Latte as the most universal, iconic fall drink of all. When analyzing the vast sea of fall flavors, the PSL truly is everything it is said to be. This latte does an exceptional
job of perfectly balancing out both warmth and cold, evoking hints of pumpkin, spice, and everything nice. Our journey continued with a slightly lesser known but equally delicious Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai. We bought this drink expecting a simplistic, icier version of the PSL, but were surprised to find this to be something else entirely: the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai acted as a
sips before having to spit it out. When drinking this version of the “shaken espresso,”, we both felt like miserable, middle-aged men who drank black coffee every morning and had no sense of taste whatsoever. We truly tried to give this a shot, but it tasted like a bitter, moldy apple.
bridging point between DC summer and fall, welcoming us away from the heat with a woodsy yet refreshing taste. Unfortunately… things were soon to take a turn. We reluctantly tried the “Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Expresso” and only managed to get through about three
or dinner that fills you up with warmth on a cool fall day. Beyond its meals, Tatte’s wide selection of bakeries and sweets provides the ultimate study snacks to regain energy. Tatte is not just a small coffee shop; it’s an abode where you can happily hibernate all fall long. Don’t forget to check out all its locations!
1545 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007.
4. Tryst: Adams Morgan
Another great coffee shop nestled in Adams Morgan, Tryst is the perfect spot to cozy up and get hours of work done. Their combination of high-quality food, mismatched chairs and dishes, and delicious coffee creates the perfect atmosphere for this fall season. The menu offers food for every craving, from its hearty Breakfast Burrito to its spicy Nachos Locos, and even a Smoothie Bar where you can build your own smoothie. Large windows open up to the bustling streets outside, bringing lively energy inside. But, its warm lighting and cozy couch chairs provide the warmth and calmness that characterizes a fall cafe. With its lively yet comforting atmosphere, Tryst offers a warm escape from the crisp autumn air– a cozy haven for studying hours a day this fall season.
2459 18th St NW, Washington, DC
5. Ebenezers: Capitol Hill
Ebenezers is the perfect place to cozy up on a chilly fall day. Its wooden walls and soft couch chairs make it the perfect spot to snuggle up and get hours of work done. Located in the beautiful neighborhood of Capitol Hill, near Union Station, it is a vivacious spot in DC. Inside, the rising fumes from hot drinks wrap the space in warmth, offering comfort from the brisk fall air. Their rich, homebrewed coffee is guaranteed to comfort as well as provide a burst of energy for long study sessions. Alongside their Hot Chocolate and Batch Brew Coffee, Ebenezer offers delicious pastries as well as breakfast sandwiches and burritos, perfect for a mid-study craving. Outside, chatter fills the crisp autumn air as orange, red, and yellow leaves drift down from the trees. Inside, the scent of coffee and fresh pastries lingers in the air as students and professionals type away endlessly. With its convenient proximity to the metro, freshly brewed coffee, and inviting atmosphere, Ebenezers Coffeehouse is the perfect study spot to settle in for long hours of work.
201 F St NE, Washington, DC 20002 •
Cozy fall TV shows
In the month of pumpkin spice lattes and crunchy leaves, it’s only appropriate to embrace the fall vibe when watching TV. There are hundreds of series worth your time, but a few obvious fan favorites capture the true essence of the season. Here are our top picks!
However, our last drink brought the mood up once again. In spite of the chilly weather, we have ranked this option number one due to its versatile range of flavors, which seem to work best during the spooky season.
The Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino truly made our day, bringing us back to the pure joy Starbucks brings: this frapp brought forth a refreshing, sugary taste of fall topped with whipped cream, making us feel the inner essence of fall with a hint of sugar.
So, next time you’re in need of heating up, cooling down, or just want that Starbucks satisfaction, check out the fall menu! •
Wednesday: The Netflix hit stems from the well-known sitcom ‘The Addams Family’, which features a strange family and their daily activities. The newer series focuses on the eldest daughter of the family, Wednesday, and her experience attending a school for outcasts. The overall spooky nature of the series adds to the mysterious fall atmosphere which arrives with Halloween. This show is perfect if you’re looking for an adventurous way to immerse yourself in a fantasy world while still being cozy in your own home.
Friends:
While this ten-season comedy series can be watched any time of year, there’s nothing better than watching the six iconic characters get into some sort of ridiculous crisis to take our minds off of the less-thanfun schoolwork that seems to pile up day by day. It’s easy to get swept into a day of binging the show, and during the season of academic stress, it’s a great way to relax. If you’re looking for something quick to put on while doing homework or just have a laugh for the first time in weeks, Friends has your name all over it.
The Vampire Diaries: As a teen favorite, this eight-
season hit never gets old. The strange air of Mystic Falls (the show’s setting) has hints of fall in so many ways. The series utilizes the autumn atmosphere from the very first season to set a sense of mystery upon the town. From the people that seem out of place in the quiet neighborhood to the smirks on the characters’ faces, the show is addictive and hard to stop watching once you pick it up. If complex backstories and plot-twists are your thing, then you’ll love the show, start to finish. Grab a few friends, pick someone’s basement, and prepare yourself to fall in love with the actionpacked drama.
Gilmore Girls:
Arguably the most fallassociated show, Gilmore Girls is witty, sharp, and some of the most memorable scenes take place during the autumn months of each season. The show explores the strength of a mother-daughter relationship while mixing in humor and sarcasm in the best ways possible. Most students have likely seen the beloved production at least once if not more, but there’s always room for a rewatch no matter how busy our schedules are. From Luke’s Diner to the Dragonfly Inn, Gilmore Girls is full of memories to be had and is worth any amount of your time. There’s nothing better than curling up with a cup of hot cocoa, tea, or coffee, while the leaves turn golden-brown and watching some of these fall favorites. So, if you’re ever a little bored or just looking to relax, pop on one of these amazing series and watch the plots unfold! •
Caroline Wilding Junior Editor
GRAPHIC BY AMINA BROWN
To trick-or-treating, with love
Willa
Frillici Style Editor
Dear trick-or-treating,
I'm so sorry for how neglectful I’ve been these past few years, it was never my intention. I promise I meant to spend some time with you on Friday night, and I have group chat receipts to prove it! Time just got away from me and somehow you fell off the priority list. The streets have been saying “you’re too old for trick-or-treating,” and "that's meant for kids,” and I can't lie, it got to my head! I mean, the whole point of halloween is to gather as much free candy as you can from random strangers' homes and have an exchange with your siblings at the end of the night.
Yet here I am, without candy, once again. While the Halloween gatherings with friends and scary movie nights are fun and have their perks, I can't help but feel like I am letting my childhood slip
away. I mean, legally I'm still a child and don't leave for college until next August so who am I kidding, Halloween is meant for me! I miss walking the flooded streets and seeing people’s faces light up as they realize teenagers still spend time
Halloween!
But gosh, here I am coming up with excuses for my absence in your life when really I am the only one to blame. I guess I need to come to terms with my reality and stop walking around eggshells, I’m growing up and the streets on halloween night are no longer calling my name. It's not you, it's me. Maybe next year I’ll see you on the streets of Madison, Wisconsin in the fall with my new roommates, or maybe our reunion will have to wait a decade or two until I am no longer spending my Halloween with teenagers who find Halloween embarrassing, but yet again kids who wait for it all year. Only time will tell, but just know, you will always have a special place in my heart. I hope you are well and I can't wait to meet again
Diane Keaton: All-American icon
by The New York Times; in the past, she’s stated that she would cut any pieces that stood out and had scrapbooks filled with fashion looks.
Your old friend,
you know, you know), is peak
How to ease seasonal depression
Elvana Gjoka Contributor
As soon as the leaves fall, there goes my motivation. The sun is gone too early, the temperature gets funky, and suddenly that one hoodie becomes a seasonal regular. Every year, seasonal slump sneaks into our school lives like glitter - it’s absolutely everywhere and everyone is infected. If you're not familiar, in high school there are four stages: freshman fallout, sophomore slump, junior jam and our all-time star, senioritis.
Freshman fallout: side effects include frantic club sign-ups; the start feels like a dream, you're out of junior high and you consider yourself in this renovation era. Then October hits, the weather gets colder, the homework load increases, and freshman fallout hits your GPA faster than the
leaves falling outside.
Sophomore slump: the subsequence no one asked for. Indeed it's a nice change after Freshman year, so you'd think this year should be “light.” Wrong: the caffeine forgets to do its job, and the whole year feels like the rest of the episodes to your favorite show that are just there because the producers ran out of ideas.
Junior jam: here you're trapped in a jam of SAT prep and AP exams, your social life becomes a myth you once knew about, your sleep schedule has packed its bags, and Alani and Celsius are your new best friends. (Shout out to all the Biomed Survivors; you made it to year three; it can't get worse. Right…?)
Finally senioritis: the most dangerous one. Symptoms include emotional detachment and counting the days to graduation. At this point even
copying and pasting the answers on that document seems like too much work, and even those free periods seem to not be enough. However, there are solutions for these desperate times.
Routine equals sanity, so go to bed and wake up early, have a schedule, (yes even on weekends) Your brain loves a schedule and it works best when there is a system. Set small goals: instead of finishing all eight pages of your essay, set a goal to finish half of it by sunset. Move around and open those blinds once in a while! While you're up, walking will increase your serotonin and movement, and exposure to sun boosts your mood (and addresses your Vitamin D deficiency). Following these tips is proven to ease seasonal depression and make you more motivated, so good luck! •
How to add whimsy to your life
Haley Crouch Contributor
When I sat down to write this article, I concluded that there was simply no way to write it without coming across as the most pretentious person in the world. I gladly resigned to doomscrolling and considered texting my editors that I needed an extension to ponder this topic further.
But then I thought…are these the actions of a whimsical person? Despite this, I asked for an extension anyway. I decided it was time to do some research, as I had realized this was not a little hill I had agreed to climb, but a mountain.
Turning to my research partner (Google) in pursuit of
the true meaning of whimsy, I found it is defined as one who is “playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way.” Which, I mean, sure, you could say that. But I started to think about my AP Lit assignment about Romanticism, which emphasized you must avoid trying to define the “undefinable.” Is the idea of “whimsy” one of those undefinable human states? Similarly, Transcendentalists believed in witnessing things without putting words to them. While language has the power to broaden expression, it has the power to limit it. Maybe when it comes to whimsy, we should rely on feelings and actions, instead of words and
Diane Keaton tragically passed away on October 11, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of talent and style. Diane Keaton was a critically acclaimed American actress, distinguished by her roles in iconic movies such as The Godfather, Something’s Gotta Give, Annie Hall and Reds. As we remember her imprint on American culture, it’s hard to miss the indelible imprint she’s left on celebrity fashion and culture.
Keaton was known for her unique sense of style, bold use of androgynous fashion, and masterful tailoring. In her role as Annie Hall in the eponymous movie, she established herself as a fashion icon. Her style in the movie is commonly (and wrongly) attributed to Ralph Lauren, who contributed a couple pieces. However, the style of Keaton’s character wears is entirely selfmade, using clothing thrifted from Goodwill. One of my favorite of her looks is from this movie, where she wears a white button up, polka dotted tie, tan trousers, and a black waist coat.
Her style comprised many recognizable features including high necklines, turtlenecks, button downs, scarves, blazers, and hats. She stuck to more neutral tones like blues, tans, black, and white, reminiscent of the color palette associated with the preppy style. She previously stated that a lot of her inspiration came from magazines, particularly from T-Magazine, published
Her style has continued to make waves in fashion, sending androgynous style into the mainstream and influencing the styling of many celebrities. For example, Julia Roberts in her 1990 Golden Globes look, where she sported an oversized blazer, white button up, and funky patterned tie; and Jennifer Lawrence in her Dior debut for Dior Spring/Summer 2026, styled with a powder blue button-up, black waist coat, and oversized tan trench coat.
Diane Keaton also left a large cultural impact, particularly with the queer community. Her androgynous style has been celebrated particularly in lesbian spaces, and her participation in gay cult classics further solidifies Keaton as a gay icon, like in the movies The First Wives Club and The Family Stone. She was also a staunch champion for LGBTQ+ representation in film and an ally to the queer community.
With her prominence in fashion spaces, Diane Keaton’s unique sense of style and unconventional blend of masculine and feminine pieces continues to inspire many. Her trailblazing roles and refusal to conform to popular style is a legacy that deserves the utmost respect and commemoration. As we remember the life of Diane Keaton, we can all be inspired by her endless tolerance, talent, and courage. •
objects. But because I’m writing an article about how you can add whimsy to your life, I will contradict everything I just said, and do just that! Take things as signs from the universe, even if they probably mean nothing. Every day after buying various knickknacks from Wawa, I walk past the stinky puddle outside of Whole Foods and treat it as my tarot reading for the day. About a week ago, there was a piece of shrimp in there. I wondered if I would encounter something with scales in the near future. Perhaps the scales of justice and righteousness. Who knows what it means? Make things up. Talk to your grandma. Or any grandma, really. We have a lot to learn from them.
Especially those old ladies in eccentric outfits. They have secrets and stories that you wouldn’t believe. Keep a harmless secret or two with yourself. Eat a peanut without telling a friend. There are so many little things about you that others will never know. These are the things that make us who we are when you really think about it. Break rules. Maybe not some of the important ones. Not the ones that we must resign to in order to exist in a society that is kind to us in return. Wear a skirt over your pants. Wear your shirt backwards. What’s stopping you?! Reach out into the world! Listen to the birds and the crickets and the people who
pass you by. Watch other people and see what you can learn from them. Feed a bird or two. Maybe even a squirrel. Go nuts. (Ha)
Read! Ignorant people are not whimsical. They are perhaps the least whimsical. Swallow a seed and see if a plant grows in your stomach. Maybe start a garden. How wonderful that would be! Our understanding of our life and our world is a mirror of our consciousness. You choose how to see things. Chances are, the people around you see things differently. You have the power to change your own world. Do it if you so please. Or don’t. •
Alexa Lucas Junior Editor
GRAPHIC BY CARYS GREY
GRAPHIC BY CARYS GREY
From fockey to volleyball: wrapping up fall sports
Grace Harscheid Sports Editor
Athletes are untying their cleats, taking off their knee pads, and storing away their hockey sticks as the Jackson-Reed fall athletic season comes to an end. Hear about our teams’ journeys, below, proving once again that they put up a great fight for the ‘Jackson-Reed’ name on their jerseys.
Field Hockey
With a short field hockey season, the team finished 3-6. The team was limited to only 5 in-season games and a weekend tournament to develop players' skills as they had many
that, “the team was really fun because we got to build a community, which also helped us collaborate on and off the field.”
Cross country
The co-ed cross country team went from tournament to tournament, showing out in each race. One of the team’s favorite tourneys was the Maryland Twilight Showcase 5K (Under the Lights), where two underclassmen, Freshman Simon Mitchell and Sophomore Milo Gavin both reached Personal Bests. Meanwhile, Sophomore Marta FlabbiFruttero led the girls side in a time of 20:52.
newcomers. The season started with a 2-1 win against Oakrest School, followed by a loss against the National Cathedral School. The annual tournament at Justice High School included 4 games that resulted in a 1-3 score overall.
While the record may not be what the team wanted, the players remain proud of themselves and their teammates.
Sophomore Nora Kaprowski said “it's amazing watching each other grow throughout the season and our work paid off, especially towards the end of the season.” She loves how the team is truly a safe space that allows people to be themselves in a very supportive environment.
Freshman Eliza BowersShreve agreed, emphasizing
The team also traveled all the way to North Carolina on October 4 for the Great American XC festival. Bhat remembers, during their time in NC, “the team had some fun at a Haunted House and went out to dinner together.” In the DCIAA
championships the boys placed 3rd overall and the girls placed 2nd overall. They competed in the DCSAA championships, with athletes participating in the JV, Varsity B, and Varsity. Gavin placed 5th in the JV race in 18:23; Flabbi-Fruttero placed 2nd in the girls JV race in 21:18; Bhat placed 5th in the boys varsity race in 15:45. While this is where the season ended for most, on November 22, some varsity athletes traveled back to NC for Nike Cross Regionals Southeast for their last meet.
Volleyball
The girls’ volleyball team started strong despite being built off of a lot of new players, but fell short in the DCIAA championships. In the championship they lost to School Without Walls, 2-3.
Their season officially ended, though, in the DCSAA playoffs against GDS, who has
been known to be a powerhouse. They finished with a 20-6 record. The team has come a long way since the beginning of the season.
This year, there were six freshman who made varsity, not to mention other new players such as Junior co-captain Tyaja James. So, it was originally a challenge to communicate and work together; they had to learn each others’ play. For James, “Every one of my teammates has taught me something that will stay with me as I continue to progress in my volleyball career.”
Crew
The boys and girls crew teams, known for their early morning practices, had a good start to the year. The varsity girls crew team tied with the all-time team record for best placement at Head of the Charles race in Boston.
That race was a highlight for Junior Anya Furry, who said “I had so much fun racing it as well as just exploring the city and all the sights at the race course.”
In their last regatta of the year on the Occoquan River, the 1V girls boat beat their biggest rival Walt Whitman. They placed 2nd overall, achieving their goal. Senior coxswain Maya Raj said there weren’t “many low parts of the season.”
Meanwhile, the boys beat Walt Whitman as well in three second place finishes at the Sweepers Head of the Potomac, Occoquan Chase, and Head of
the Occoquan. They finished 11 at Head of the Schuylkill, and third scholastically. Captain Etan Zerwitz said the main challenge of the season was they “had to deal with a lot of missed practices from [their] top rowers and coxswain because they were on official visits with colleges.”
Overall, Zerwitz is “proud of [their] fall season and excited to make progress over winter to win some races in the spring.”
Ultimate Frisbee
The girls’ and boys’ Ultimate Frisbee teams also had a successful fall season.
While their fall season is focused mostly on new player development, the boys and girls team took home 5th and 6th place respectively at Coconut Classic, a tournament in New Jersey. The teams also combined to play in the co-ed Mixed Virginia States tournament, winning 5th place and taking home a 4-1 record on the weekend.
Senior Dan Kaye said, “we had a super great fall season that was focused on team building, skill conditioning, and having a great time.”
Senior Captain Maddie Woods echoed this sentiment, saying, “we really grew as a
team this season and we’re really excited to see all we can accomplish this spring.”
The fall season of 2025 went by in a flash. For the Seniors, it is their very last time playing this sport with JR, and this is an ending they should be proud of.•
Football team faces relegation after loss in final game
Sam Bigge
Sam Bensky Sports Editor Assistant Sports Editor
On an emotional Senior Night, JR football faced a crucial game against HD Woodson—a battle to avoid last place in the conference and possible relegation to a lower division. Unfortunately, the Tigers fell just short, losing their closest game of the season, 14-6.
Going into the game on November 7 at JR, the Tigers had a 1-8 record. Their only win came by forfeit against Dunbar, which was forced to vacate the game as punishment for a bench-clearing brawl against Coolidge.
More crucially, the Tigers
had a 1-4 record against DCIAA Stars competition, the same as Woodson. A loss would mean a third straight last-place finish in the conference, which, according to the DCIAA rulebook, would relegate the Tigers to DCIAA Stripes, the DCIAA’s second tier, in 2026.
In the first half, the Tigers offense struggled to get going, but their issues were largely cancelled out by Woodson’s struggles. The Tigers forced several turnovers, while the Warriors lost several big plays to penalties.
But Woodson put together one solid first-half drive, converting on third and long several times and scoring on a 19-yard rush. A two-point
conversation put the Warriors ahead, 8-0.
It would be more of the same in the second half, as the Tigers offense repeatedly got caught behind the line of scrimmage and failed to pick up first downs, but their defensive form continued to be positive. Woodson failed to score in the third quarter.
Then, In the fouth quarter, Tigers senior defensive back Brady Flowers intercepted a pass by Woodson’s Amar’e Leonard and returned it all the way for a 97-yard pick-six. On the following two-point attempt, the Tigers handed off to senior Jayden Cain, who was ruled, controversially, to have been stopped right at the goal line.
“I felt like I wanted to cry
with tears of happiness” after the touchdown, Tigers senior lineman Kiyan Weigert said. “And I was on the field for the twopoint conversion and I promise, Jayden Cain did score that. He was robbed.”
Trailing 8-6, the Tigers still had digging to do. On the Warriors’ following drive, Leonard was picked off again, this time by Tigers senior defensive back Keith Parham Jr.. But the Tigers failed to punish the Warriors this time, and had to punt.
After the two consecutive errors in the passing game, Woodson stuck to the ground, storming down the field for a touchdown and a 14-6 lead. This would prove to be fatal for
the Tigers, who failed to advance on their next two drives.
As the last game of the season, and senior night, the seniors went into the game ready to perform. “The whole vibe that week going into practice was have fun and going out with a bang,” Weigert said. “Like that was the mentality for me and the other seniors—just make this one special because it's our last one.”
The Tigers’ hard-fought and emotional battle left a mark on all who watched—and the players. “I remember a lot of the seniors and coaches getting emotional because there is a lot of love between the coaches and players,” Weigert said. “At the end it really felt like we were all a big family.” •
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARYS GRAY, SOLAYA RUTLEDGE, MARK SUARDI, EVA SOLOMAN
Winter and spring sports
James Fowlkes Junior Editor
Our winter season has a number of sports, from our famed basketball team to our efforts in the hockey rink: Jackson-Reed’s teams are no joke.
Basketball is one of Jackson-Reed's most popular sports. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams dominate their division. Tryouts have already started for basketball. Earlier tryouts help Coaches ensure that their athletes are prepared for the high level that comes with these prominent winter sports.
Another sport that students love is skiing. The Ski Club usually takes one to three trips every winter to Liberty Mountain. Many students love it because of the adventure they have with their friends as well as the day off school.
Another winter sport at Jackson-Reed is hockey. Hockey athlete Thatcher Norton said, “To prepare we had practices a few weeks before the season started to see what we were dealing with.” It is important for teams to know everyone's strengths and weaknesses; making sure everyone knows each other's play styles allows for better playmaking for the season
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the season didn’t end on the same high note. In the quarterfinals of the DCSAA playoffs, they lost to Georgetown Visitation, 4-0. Visi pressed into the Tigers’ half for much of the game, scoring two goals in each half.
Junior left back Grey Fischer said it was “sad to see the seniors go, especially with [this] game being their last.”
With eight seniors graduating in 2025, this team needed to rebuild their chemistry. Only seven players returned, and there were eleven newcomers on varsity.
The Tigers were led by five seniors, including four veterans: co–captain and midfielder Sonora Hale, co-captain and center back Alex Cohen, co-captain and goalkeeper Maddie Landis, and midfielder Annika Russell. The fifth senior, defensive Rylee Jarman, transferred from St. John’s College High School.
Two standout players were Hale and Landis. Hale had 13 goals and 12 assists and was named the 2025 DCIAA player of the year. Landis had a total of 29 saves throughout the season.
Overall, Belvine said that continuity from last year was strong, saying, "if it’s not broke don’t fix it.” So, team culture and cohesion were a strong focus “from day one.”
Many of the seniors will miss this chemistry next year. Russell said she will “miss the girls that she has met” the most since “some of them have become some of my closest friends, and at the end of the day they always have my back, which is hard to find.”
Landis, who played on the team all four years at JR, said she would miss “being able to play the sport I love with my best friends”
games. When spring rolls around, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and tennis are the most prevalent. For baseball, workouts happen all year long. Starting in the fall, athletes lift, train running and conditioning, and have sessions in the pool where they focus on core strength and explosiveness. Their workouts are primarily focused on increasing speed, core strength, and power. This intense training regimen is what keeps them winning games, most notably winning states in 2024.
The workouts for lacrosse focus more on conditioning for running and sprinting. Their preseason also spans a similar time frame, but one week stands out in particular. “Hell week” as varsity midi Milo Gavin calls it where for one week, the team starts conditioning at 5:45 before school and continues after school until late. All this intense conditioning is needed to keep the team strong and foster valiant fighters, who don’t give up when things get tough.
This all goes to show the absurd amount of work which goes into training and preparing for those few minutes of the actual game, and how important those minutes are. •
and that the program has brought her “some of my happiest memories both on and off the field.”
Hale said her major goal as a captain was to make sure all players felt comfortable and welcome so they could be their most authentic selves. Sophomore Gavin agreed, saying that “all my teammates, especially the seniors and captains, supported me to make me feel as confident and comfortable as possible when on the field.” Belvine emphasized this, saying she was grateful to the senior captains, who “did an outstanding job this year helping me lead the team.”
The loss in the DCSAA quarterfinals was not how the team wanted to end the season. But the returning Tigers said they are excited to come back next season better than ever, focusing
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has been coaching him for the past four years, Abraham is looking forward to “seeing him embrace the role and do his best as he has been doing.”
Athletic Director Patrice Arrington highlighted her confidence in the new coach and his staff.
Arrington noted that Bourgouin stepped up after Johnson’s departure for a job as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts Lowell at the end of the last season, and she was grateful for his leadership and help. “We will continue our winning tradition with Coach Bill at the helm,” Arrington said.
In four years at JR, Coach Tee had a record of 112-24. His teams won two DCIAA championships and reached the finals of the DCSAA tournament twice, and Johnson was named the DCIAA coach of the year twice.
The Tigers reached a national ranking of 19th in the 2023-24 season, their highest ever, and ended the 2024-25 season ranked 38th.
Bourgouin told The Beacon that his philosophy is
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the Tigers hung on for a statement win.
Following the victory over St. Albans, the Tigers would continue their DCIAA
to “continue to push the bar.”
Each year, he said he aims to improve as a coach and help his players improve. “I can’t ask the players to get better if I’m not pushing myself to be better as a coach,” he said.
Looking forward to the new season, the Tigers have big goals. ”Every year the Tigers are competing for states,” and this year is no different. The Tigers lost in the 2024 and 2025 semifinals, and fell in the in the 2023 finals to Sidwell, 62-47.
However, the team looks very different this year. On top of the coaching change, the Tigers also lost star player JJ Massaquoi, who followed Johnson to the University of Massachusetts Lowell. “We don’t necessarily have like a JJ like we had last year,” Mahan said.
Bourgouin said that while Massequoi was “key and critical last year, there’s a lot of balance on this year’s team.”
The team has some new additions this year, including from Maret. Bourgouin said they “fell right in” to the team. He said that the team’s starting five “isn’t necessarily set, and even the guys on the bench have a lot to give.”
The team has been “adding through whole year since last
Edilson Cano, and Miller forming a near impenetrable force in front of goal, capped of with another senior, Jonah Beers, being one of the city’s best shot-stoppers as the Tigers goalkeeper. “After the St. John’s game, coach told us we needed to make up for the five goals we conceded,” said Beers. “I think we lived by that, and we kept trying to be the best we could.”
1-0 win over the reigning DCIAA champions, Coolidge, as well as wins over School Without Walls and Roosevelt, and another good non-conference win against Sidwell. Both during this run and throughout the season, the Tigers would be characterized by their defense. Following their blowout defeat to St. John’s, the Tigers would only concede 4 more goals through the middle of October, one less than the amount they conceded that day. It was a backline built off of experience, with seniors Alex Anagnostopoulos,
summer” by putting in the work, said Bourgouin. He believes that “when you put in the hard work, the results just show.”
According to Mahan, the team has been working on new offenses and to take advantage of its strengths. Mahan said he is grateful to all of the coaches, who “really want us to win as a team and put in so many hours.” Abraham agreed, saying he is “just ready to get out there with the team.”
Despite changes in tactics and coaching, the main goal of the team remains the same: to win.
The Tigers kick off the season with a game on November 29 against Bullis. “JR supporters have something to look forward to, you should be excited,” Bourgouin said.
“It’s going to be a fun team to watch—25-26 is going to be a lot of fun.” Bourgouin does not seem concerned by any short comings of the past stating, “Coach Bill and the Jackson Reed Tigers are going for states.” •
The Tigers regular season would end with a frustrating 4-2 loss to Washington International School (WIS), but it would do little to disturb the side’s momentum going into the postseason. The team flew by Roosevelt and Walls in the DCIAA playoffs, beating the sides 6-0 and 4-0 respectively, with a level of potency that hadn’t been seen in their attack all season.
This run set up a city championship match against Bell, a rematch of the DCIAA semifinal which saw the Tigers early exit the previous year, and a rematch of the 2023 city championship, which the Tigers won on penalties. On a cold and rainy night, the conditions would neutralize the momentum they had built, and after 80 minutes of frustration and missed chances, regulation ended 0-0, setting up extra time. Bell nearly stole the game in extra time after a failed clearance, but Beers would make a massive save to keep the game level and send it to penalties.
The Tigers kicked first in the shootout, but each of the first three completed penalties for the Tigers, Bell responded with successful conversions of their own. However, after Charlie Hall’s low drive into the bottom left corner to continue the Tigers perfect record from the spot, Bell’s Hector Angeles shot a weak effort that Beers would stop,
giving the Tigers the advantage, and setting up Miller to win the championship for JR. He did just that, and Jackson-Reed would win their first city title since 2023. “When I put the ball down, I looked at the keeper, and he looked so small compared to the goal,” said Miller. “I knew just where I was going to put it.”
For 2025, DCSAA employed a soccer ranking system based almost entirely off of teams’ records as opposed to a win-based rank, meaning the Tigers’ undefeated DCIAA run and their impressive non-conference wins, gave them the number one ranking. This system disadvantaged St. John’s, whose performances in the WCAC and generally harder schedule put them as the 9th seed, forcing them to play one extra game, before putting them up against JR in the quarterfinals.
After a ball forward was failed to be cleared by the Cadets’ keeper, Hall put the Tigers on top just minutes into the game. The Tigers led at the break, but St. John’s responded with a goal early in the second half. Just as it seemed like the Tigers would face a second straight game that went to extra time, a giveaway would set up a Cadets counterattack that saw a cross played into the box, where it was fired into the back of the net to eliminate the Tigers with under a minute remaining.
Despite the season ending in disappointment, the development of the team and the memories they shared are what most team members will take away from the 2025 season. “We gave everything we had until the last few minutes,” said junior captain Paxton Sand. “We all grew together, and I’d say it was a very good season for the community of JR Soccer.”
María Corina Machado recibe el Premio Nobel de la Paz 2025
Alex Garcia Colaboradora
La líder de la oposición venezolana, María Corina Machado fue galardonada con el Premio Nobel de la Paz 2025 por su compromiso con la democracia, los derechos humanos y la libertad de Venezuela.
El anuncio fue hecho en Oslo, Noruega, donde el Comité del Premio Nobel de la Paz resaltó su valentía y su esfuerzo constante por promover un cambio político a pesar de todos los riesgos y dificultades que ha enfrentado bajo el régimen de Nicolás Maduro.
Machado, conocida por su papel en la oposición, expresó palabras de agradecimiento al recibir esta gran noticia. Dijo que este premio “no es solo para mí, sino para todos los venezolanos que sueñan con un país libre y justo”.
También dedicó el reconocimiento a los
jóvenes del país, a quienes llamó “la fuerza del futuro” motivándolos a seguir luchando con esperanza para lograr la libertad de Venezuela.
La noticia fue recibida con alegría y orgullo en todo el país y también en el extranjero. Muchos venezolanos consideran que este premio es una señal de apoyo internacional a la causa democrática del país.
En escuelas, universidades y redes sociales miles de personas felicitaron a Machado y destacaron la importancia de seguir trabajando juntos por un futuro libre y mejor para Venezuela. •
Siempre tendremos Sol & Playa con Bad Bunny
Estefania Mora Colaboradora
Todos los años desde 1967, artistas remarcados se reúnen en el estadio en el que se juega el venerado partido de Super Bowl. 2025 no es ninguna excepción, y el cantante elegido es el único e inigualable Bad Bunny. Desde el primer instante, Bad Bunny rompió con los moldes. Se adueñó del escenario con espectáculos únicos y rompiendo récords en Spotify al ser el artista más escuchado en un día, además de ganar tres Grammys. Pero no todo siempre fue así. Cuando empezó, grababa sus canciones desde su cuarto y las subía a Soundcloud. Sin embargo, él sabía que estaba hecho para cosas grandes. Desde allí, empezó a lanzar
Un ex-alumno presenta
Alice Patterson
Maria Joyce-Johnson
Jefa de redacción
Gerente editorial
Traducido por Avani Patel
Un miembro de la clase de 2025 fue detenido sin provocación por agentes del Servicio de Inmigracion y Control de Aduanas (ICE) este verano y fue liberado recientemente de un centro de detención en Virginia después de tres meses bajo custodia.
El exalumno de JR, cuyo apellido es Lopez Sarmiento, es el demandante principal en una demanda colectiva presentada el mes pasado por la Unión Estadounidense por las Libertades Civiles (ACLU) de Virginia en nombre de cuatro jóvenes y otras personas detenidas por ICE en Virginia. El Beacon está omitiendo el primer nombre de López Sarmiento por motivos de seguridad.
Lopez Sarmiento, quien tiene 19 años, fue detenido afuera de su casa en el vecindario de Mount Pleasant a principios de agosto. Según la demanda de López Sarmiento, los agentes del ICE no tenían orden de arresto en su contra, y no había ninguna actividad delictiva. Camila Navarrete, consejera multilingüe de Jackson-Reed, dijo que López Sarmiento llegó a Washington DC hace dos años y medio desde Honduras. Ella explicó que López Sarmiento reside en los EE.UU. bajo el Estatus Especial de Inmigrante
Juvenil (SIJS), una disposición de la Ley de Inmigracion y Nacionalidad de 1965.
Después de graduarse de JR en junio, López Sarmiento continuó trabajando en un restaurante. Tenía planes de empezar en la Universidad de Washington DC en otoño, donde recibió una beca. Un profesor de inglés, Thomas Crocker, le dio clases a López Sarmiento el año pasado. “Trabajaba hasta las 11:00 o la medianoche todas las noches y aun así se esforzaba mucho en mi clase”, dijo Crocker. “Solo quería venir aquí para tener una vida mejor. Su única culpa es intentar mantener a su familia”.
Desde su liberación de la custodia del ICE a principios de este mes, Lopez Sarmiento ha regresado a JR para visitar a sus profesores y amigos.
Tras su detención, el abogado de López Sarmiento contactó a la ACLU de Virginia, que presentó la demanda. Los cuatro demandantes habían solicitado o obtenido con éxito el SIJS, un programa establecido por el Congreso en 1990 como vía hacia la ciudadanía. El SIJS tenía como objetivo ayudar a menores vulnerables que ingresan a Estados Unidos en circunstancias difíciles, como abuso, abandono o negligencia. Estas personas suelen vivir en Estados Unidos con uno o ningún progenitor.
A pesar de seguir los pasos establecidos por el SIJS, los jóvenes mencionados en el caso fueron detenidos por el ICE y enviados a los
álbumes, pero estos no solo eran simples letras con ritmos, sino una forma de compartir un gran mensaje con la
multitud y dejar una huella en nuestros corazones. Bad Bunny ha crecido de manera excepcional. La música de Bad Bunny transmite unas vibras que
cualquiera puede entender, vengas de donde vengas. Al final, eso es lo que nos une; la música, el ritmo, la pasión. Y el Super Bowl es un momento para mostrar eso, mostrar que este talento se puede llevar más allá de los escenarios de Puerto Rico. Este será el primer momento en el que un artista latino va a tomar el escenario de un evento tan importante, el cual es a menudo es dominado por el pop y rock, y por eso debemos recibirlo con orgullo ya que esto no es un hit más en su carrera, sino una gran victoria para la comunidad latina. •
un juicio contra ICE tras su detención
centros de detención de Farmville y Caroline en Virginia.
A diferencia de otros extranjeros, las personas que llegan a Estados Unidos como menores no acompañados no suelen ser detenidas. Antes de la administración Trump, la Política de Acción Diferida establecía que los beneficiarios del SIJS que esperaban visas para obtener la residencia permanente legal, un proceso que puede durar años, estarían protegidos contra la deportación. Según esta política, también podían solicitar autorización de empleo. Pero en junio, el Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de Estados Unidos rescindió la política, poniendo en riesgo a decenas de miles de titulares de SIJS, como López Sarmiento y sus compañeros demandantes.
La demanda de la ACLU argumentaba que los cuatro demandantes, y un grupo propuesto de otros, tienen derecho a audiencias de fianza y deben ser liberados de la detención porque han solicitado u obtenido el estatus de SIJS (Inmigrante Juvenil Especial).
El 5 de noviembre, el juez del Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos Anthony Trenga, del Distrito Este de Virginia, ordenó la liberación de otros dos demandantes, quienes son hermanos. El 12 de noviembre, un juez de inmigración confirmó el fallo de Trenga y ordenó la liberación de Lopez Sarmiento.
“La ley federal es muy clara: los jóvenes que llegaron a Estados
Unidos como menores no acompañados y fueron víctimas de abuso, abandono o negligencia tienen todo el derecho legal a estar en Estados Unidos”, declaró Eden Heilman, directora legal de la ACLU de Virginia. “ICE nunca debió haber detenido a este joven y haberlo puesto en un centro de detención, y hoy un juez dictaminó que ICE debe liberarlo”. La sentencia del juez Trenga declaró que el ICE, el DHS y la Administración Trump interpretaban la ley de forma
incorrecta, afirmando que los jóvenes con estatus SIJS no estaban sujetos a los requisitos de detención obligatoria.
“Nuestros clientes están cumpliendo con las normas establecidas para obtener la ciudadanía”, dijo Sophia Gregg en una declaración, abogada principal de derechos de los inmigrantes de la ACLU-VA. Tras las sentencias de los jueces, añadió, “ahora tenemos la confirmación de que el ICE no lo está haciendo”.•
AVISO – En Rock Creek Park hay carteles pegados con cinta adhesiva que dicen: “¡Atención! Agentes federales secuestran personas aquí”.
GRÁFICA DE CARYS GRAY
FOTO DE ELLIOTT FARRELL
Trump está instaurando una dictadura
Lucinda Schaible Colaboradora
Traducido por Isabella Mara
Se supone que la democracia es un pilar fundamental de Estados Unidos. Desde pequeños nos enseñaron que nuestro gobierno se basa en principios inalienables: libertad de expresión, elecciones justas, controles y equilibrios, libertad de prensa y transiciones pacíficas del poder. Nos enseñaron a recitar: “libertad y justicia para todos”.
Estados Unidos fue en su día el paradigma de la democracia. Pero, ¿qué sucede con un país cuando sus fundamentos dejan de ser valorados por la persona más poderosa de la nación? ¿Qué ocurre cuando el jefe de gobierno llama “enemigo” a la prensa libre, deporta a presuntos inmigrantes a prisiones con condiciones deplorables, destruye los controles y equilibrios que solían existir en el gobierno, despliega a la Guardia Nacional en ciudades donde es rechazada e insta a sus seguidores a derrocar al gobierno tras perder las elecciones?
Aunque suene distópico, es nuestra realidad. Con el regreso del presidente Donald Trump a la Casa Blanca, los politólogos observan lo que se denomina una deriva autoritaria, es decir, la erosión de la estructura y el gobierno que conforman una democracia. La democracia colapsará lentamente hasta que nuestro país se convierta en algo irreconocible para los estadounidenses.
Los dictadores rara vez alcanzan el poder absoluto de la noche a la mañana; en cambio, roen la democracia poco a poco, cambiando las reglas, torciendo los hechos y la ficción, y desintegrando los mismos cimientos que definen a un país. Ahora, los estadounidenses no podrán fingir que esto jamás ocurriría en sus tierras. El derrocamiento de la democracia no se está produciendo en secreto — está ocurriendo ante nuestros ojos.
Uno de los ejemplos más evidentes de esta tendencia se dio en octubre, cuando Trump
expresó su deseo de desplegar “más que la Guardia Nacional” en grandes ciudades como Los Ángeles, Chicago y Washington D. C. Pero, ¿por qué haría algo así? Lamentablemente para infringir los derechos de la Primera Enmienda y obstaculizar las protestas contra varias de sus políticas. Ya había enviado a la Guardia Nacional a esas ciudades y otras zonas del país para “mantener el orden”.
Trump también desea enmendar “The Insurrection Act of 1807”, una ley conocida por su facilidad de abuso y por permitir el uso de la fuerza militar sin la aprobación de los poderes legislativo y judicial. La ley permite al presidente mandar fuerzas armadas para que actúen como policías bajo la cláusula de "insurrección", pero, en este caso, se están utilizando en contra de manifestantes pacíficos. Esto representa nada menos que un paso hacia un régimen autoritario donde Trump utiliza su poder no para proteger la democracia del país, sino para silenciar las voces disidentes.
Otra medida preocupante fue la Orden Ejecutiva 14290, firmada durante la administración Trump, que supuso el fin de la financiación federal destinada a programas de medios públicos como PBS y NPR, que han entretenido y educado tanto a jóvenes como a adultos. El Congreso, bajo el control del Partido Republicano y con el apoyo de Trump, intentó argumentar que ambos programas tienen una "preferencia" por la izquierda. Irónicamente, estas organizaciones son algunas de las últimas fuentes de información no partidistas y de fácil acceso que quedan en Estados Unidos. Recortar las señales de NPR y PBS permite que la desinformación generalizada inunde el país, debilitando uno de los pilares fundamentales de una sociedad democrática: la libertad de prensa.
Estos no son los únicos ejemplos de las atrocidades cometidas por Trump. Si intentara enumerar cada violación de las libertades civiles, cada infracción del sistema de controles y
equilibrios, y todo aquello que apunta a que el país se está volviendo autoritario, la impresora se quedaría sin tinta. Este es un patrón que Trump desarrolló durante su anterior administración y que está repitiendo: ignorar la supervisión, fomentar la manipulación de distritos electorales, faltar al respeto a la Constitución e incluso insinuar que se presentaría a un tercer mandato inconstitucional en 2028. Todo lo que Trump ha hecho durante su tiempo en la Oficina Oval no hace más que debilitar el sistema de controles y equilibrios, un sistema establecido precisamente para evitar que se produzca este escenario. Trump jamás se autodenominaría dictador, pero se ha ido convirtiendo en uno mientras que los estadounidenses se han vuelto indiferentes ante las alarmantes noticias que escuchamos a diario.
La toma del poder por parte de Trump no se siente como un golpe de Estado. Se siente más como algo que los estadounidenses comunes suelen ignorar, como las conferencias de prensa, los artículos de prensa y las órdenes ejecutivas. Cada vez que se ignoran los controles y equilibrios, cada vez que un medio de comunicación es comprado por un amigo de Trump y cada vez que se silencia a un manifestante, la democracia se desmorona poco a poco.
Nosotros, el pueblo, debemos entender que la Constitución debe ser protegida diligentemente. Toda enmienda es completamente inútil si no se respeta. Ya hemos visto cómo se explotan la Primera Enmienda, los Artículos I, II y III de la Constitución y muchos otros derechos. El régimen de democracia de Estados Unidos fue en su momento un faro para el resto del mundo, y ahora se está convirtiendo en una enorme advertencia sobre las consecuencias de un líder autoritario. La posibilidad de que Estados Unidos pierda su libertad no es una hipótesis; es casi una garantía. •
Jackson Reed gana el campeonato de DCIAA tras vencer a Bell (CHEC) en los penaltis
Adrián Pinto Colaborador
El equipo Varsity de fútbol masculino de Jackson Reed se proclamó campeón de DCIAA después de derrotar a Bell (CHEC) en una final muy igualada que terminó 0-0 y se decidió en la tanda de penaltis por 5-4. Es el primer título para Jackson Reed desde 2022, lo que marca un regreso importante para el programa.
Durante el partido, ambos equipos mostraron un alto nivel de intensidad y concentración. Jackson Reed tuvo más control del balón y creó las ocasiones más claras, pero el encuentro se mantuvo sin goles gracias a las buenas intervenciones de los porteros. Jonah Beers,
guardameta de los Tigers, fue una de las figuras del encuentro con varias paradas clave y la detención decisiva en la tanda final.
En los penaltis, Jackson Reed se mostró más preciso y logró cerrar la serie 5-4. Los jugadores celebraron con calma y orgullo una victoria trabajada que refleja el esfuerzo y la constancia del equipo a lo largo de la temporada.
Con este resultado, Jackson Reed vuelve a levantar el trofeo de DCIAA y reafirma su posición como uno de los equipos más competitivos del fútbol escolar de Washington D.C. Tras esta victoria, los jugadores se sienten motivados para seguir mejorando y apuntar al siguiente objetivo: ganar el campeonato estatal. •
Reducción de cursos en español en JR
Al final del último año escolar, Jackson-Reed eliminó un puesto de profesor de español como parte de recortes presupuestarios más amplios anunciados en abril; esta decisión ha tenido repercusiones en la oferta de cursos de español y, por ende, en el acceso de a clases culturalmente significativas. Los recortes llevaron a la eliminación total del curso de Literatura Poscolonial en Español, y el curso de AP Literatura y Cultura en Español se redujo de dos secciones a una. Ambos cursos tenían una alta demanda y atendían a una gran proporción de estudiantes hispanos.
En el año escolar 20242025, 28 estudiantes tomaron el curso de Literatura Poscolonial, lo que lo convertía en una oferta muy popular dentro de los niveles avanzados de español. AP Literatura se redujo a una sola sección de 29 estudiantes. En años anteriores, JR había ofrecido dos secciones de AP Literatura, lo que daba a los estudiantes mayor flexibilidad para ajustar sus horarios. Esas dos secciones habían tenido más estudiantes por clase que otros cursos AP de lenguas que actualmente se ofrecen. La eliminación de Literatura Poscolonial tiene implicaciones culturales más profundas. Ninguna otra clase en Jackson-Reed analiza la perspectiva latinoamericana poscolonial ni enseña obras
como Cien años de soledad y el concepto del realismo mágico desde una perspectiva latina. En la mayoría de los cursos de literatura en Estados Unidos, estos textos se enseñan desde una perspectiva estadounidense, lo que a menudo reduce o malinterpreta su contexto cultural. Ahora, los estudiantes hispanos tienen muchas menos oportunidades de analizar su propia cultura desde su propia perspectiva en un entorno académico. Los estudiantes que habían solicitado Literatura Poscolonial en la primavera del 2025 se vieron obligados a tomar AP Literatura o abandonar el español por completo debido a la eliminación del curso. De hecho, los estudiantes no
fueron informados de la eliminación de la clase de Literatura Poscolonial. Los estudiantes que querían cambiarse a AP Literatura no pudieron hacerlo debido a la reducción de secciones. AP Literatura es ahora el único curso de español que ofrece lecturas rigurosas, análisis en profundidad y temas centrados en América Latina, España y sus relaciones con Estados Unidos. Para los estudiantes que no estaban preparados para el nivel de estrés de un curso AP, Literatura Poscolonial era el único curso que había en JR con un rigor e intensidad comparables al de AP Literatura sin las obligaciones del currículo AP. Era un puente fundamental para quienes pasaban de AP
Lengua y Cultura en Español a AP Literatura. La pérdida en conjunto es especialmente perjudicial si se considera que la representación hispana en Jackson-Reed con demasiada frecuencia se reduce a ferias con comida, actuaciones de baile u otras celebraciones superficiales, que solo representan una parte de la cultura hispana. Eliminar uno de los únicos cursos que aborda la cultura hispana y latina de manera intelectual y literaria refuerza este problema. Envía el mensaje de que la cultura hispana es algo que solo debe celebrarse mediante el entretenimiento.•
FOTO DE DANIEL KREPPS
TIGRES EN ACCIÓN - Jonah Beers en plena acción durante la victoria que selló el campeonato
Dani Ortiz de Prado Editora de Español
BEACONNECTIONS BEACON MAZE
By Jacod Friedman
CROSSWORD
By Ben Holland
prepared in 43-Down
Tying (up)
Like the flu or popular
In the blink of ___
The Once-___: “The Lorax” character
___ Jones’s locker
Piece of celery
Viet ___ (armed force of the 1960s-’70s)
in
of the stars
Swedish furniture giant
What someone does with all the starred clues
MINI CROSSWORD
By Meredith Page
Jackson-Reebus Celebrities
Horoscopes
Aries- Stop procrastinating your English work!! Taurus - Big things are coming, money wise. Gemini - Go read a book. Please. It’s been too long.
Cancer - One bad stats test doesn’t define you.
Leo - Embrace the caffeine addiction.
Virgo - Don’t forget to do your delta math! Libra - Drink less coffee, its becoming an addiction.
Scorpio - Go to a National Park, trust me it will be worth it.
Sagittarius - Buy a quarter zip, it’s that season to get matchas and be classy
Capricorn - Your bent yonder pouch is fooling no one, your phone will be taken soon.
Aquarius- Have some hot coco, you deserve it! Pisces - This is your sign to grow a goatee
SPELLING BEECON
Find as many words as you can! Words must be at least 4 letters long and use the center letter at least once. Letters can repeat.
SUDOKU
What are you grateful for?
No row November
Darby Trevathan and Teddy Metcalfe, 11
6-7
Sabine Boukkana and BriAna Davis, 11
Besties
Zoe Caldwell, 10, and Elizabeth Furr, 11
Instagram reels
Miles Narva, 12
My MacBook disguised as a ThinkPad
Lucinda Schaible, 12
Unblocked Google games
Henry Czwartacki, 11
Clean bathrooms in the C Wing Klemens Braunoehler, 12
Jayden Daniels and Keyshawn George David Ogbenna, 11
