The Student Newspaper of Jackson-Reed High School

The Beacon

The Student Newspaper of Jackson-Reed High School

The Beacon

The Student Newspaper of Jackson-Reed High School

The Beacon

Francesca Purificato

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor

  • 2021-22: Junior Editor
  • 2022-23: Features Editor
  • 2023-24: Managing Editor
All content by Francesca Purificato
REVIEWERS STRANDED - Renowned Rival Reviewers Becca and Francesca were trapped at Walt Whitman when their car broke down. Fortunately, they were saved.

Rival Reviews: Walt Whitman

Rebecca Green and Francesca Purificato February 13, 2024

Upon reading the title, readers may be starting to think our beloved column name is turning into a lie, as Whitman is no rival of ours. While admittedly this is true, after trotting around all of DC things...

JR introduces plagiarism-detecting software on Canvas

JR introduces plagiarism-detecting software on Canvas

Becca Green and Francesca Purificato December 18, 2023

Earlier this month, a handful of teachers noticed a new tool available on Canvas: Turnitin, an external software program that checks student assignments for plagiarism. DCPS recently invested in the Turnitin...

WHY AREN’T YOU IN UNIFORM? - Revered Rival Reviewers Francesca Purificado and Rebecca Green pose outside St. John’s College High School.

Rival reviews: St. John’s

Rebecca Green and Francesca Purificato December 18, 2023

We know our fans have probably been asking themselves why we have yet to review arguably our biggest rival? To that we say, stop asking questions. Luckily for you folks, the time has come. Infamous for...

ARTSY MUCH? - Revered rival reviewers Rebecca Green and
Francesca Purificato are all smiles in front of the daunting Duke
Ellington School of the Arts.

Rival Reviews: Duke Ellington

Rebecca Green and Francesca Purificato November 21, 2023

After our last review, we didn’t know if we could return. Sike. We didn’t flinch and we’re back for more. Put down your algebraic equations and sentence starters, today’s warmups involve solfege...

Rival Reviews: Washington Latin

Rival Reviews: Washington Latin

Becca Green and Francesca Purificato October 11, 2023

Thought you could get rid of us? Think again. We’re back and better than ever. For those unfamiliar (freshmen), we’re here to provide you with the inside scoop on all the high schools in the DMV. And...

100 word rants: Couples, halloweekend, schedule changes

Speed up! Our school is overcrowded, this is a known fact. With this information understood by everyone in the building, why am I still staring at a couple having a thirty second long hug at the top...

MacArthur High School brings unprecedented change to Jackson-Reed

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor July 18, 2023

Much change is to come with the creation of the new MacArthur High School and a lot of it will affect Jackson-Reed.  A new school requires new students, facilities, and teachers. These additions must...

TIGERS IN BLACK AND WHITE - Esteemed rival review authors Rebecca Green and Francesca Purificato pose in front of SWW paraphernalia. The pair were underwhelmed by what the school had to offer.

Rival Reviews: School Without Walls

Becca Green and Francesca Purificato June 21, 2023

Hello dear readers and Tess Buckley (who we know reads these despite going to Walls). In light of the new staff cycle (see new titles above) we’ve decided to expand our horizons for our beloved column....

SUPRISING ST.ANDREWS - Francesca and Becca pose in front of the St. Andrew’s Lion. The duo was shocked by the culture and amenities of the institution.

Rival Reviews: St. Andrews

Francesca Purificato and Becca Green May 17, 2023

The vibes were made clear from the beginning at St. Andrew’s. We showed up in our typical Jackson-Reed attire - baggy jeans, tiny top, and sambas - and were met with stares from girls in their Love Shack...

Tips and tricks to smash the AP test

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor May 5, 2023

AP season is very much upon us and all you newbies, or veterans, are probably frantically trying to think of ways to do well on your tests this upcoming May (regardless of if you’ve paid attention in...

A love-hate letter to JR’s newest additions

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor March 23, 2023

For those members of the Jackson-Reed community that haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing our new trailers, I’m here to paint you a picture.  After hearing so much commotion over the new trailers...

Rival Review: Maret!

Francesca Purificato and Rebecca Green March 10, 2023

Welcome back loyal fans and followers. For this edition we took our superb reviewing skills to Maret. Now we know what you may be thinking––Maret isn’t that interesting, this column is getting repetitive....

Rival Reviews: Maret

Rival Reviews: Maret

Rebecca Green and Francesca Purificato February 13, 2023

Welcome back loyal fans and followers. For this edition we took our superb reviewing skills to Maret. Now we know what you may be thinking––Maret isn’t that interesting, this column is getting repetitive....

Rival Reviews: National Cathedral School

Rival Reviews: National Cathedral School

Francesca Purificato and Becca Green January 24, 2023

Infamous for being the inspiration for Mean Girls, this edition, we visited the National Cathedral School.  NCS is an all girls middle/high school that shares its grounds with the National Cathedral,...

Rival Reviews: WIS

Becca Green and Francesca Purificato November 15, 2022

Continuing our journey around DC, we toured a private school that is different from the rest: Washington International School (WIS).  One must drive up a winding hill in order to reach WIS’s secluded...

Rival Review! GDS

Francesca Purificato and Rebecca Green October 16, 2022

  With a quick drive down Wisconsin, we crossed the threshold into a completely different world: private school. Well-known for being a rival and also a neighbor, Georgetown Day School (GDS) was...

Meet the newest addition to the JRHS Staff: Ms. Horowitz

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor October 16, 2022

With so many staff members at Jackson-Reed, it’s important to get to know as many of them as possible. Elana Horowitz is one of the newest additions to the staff at Jackson-Reed, and from teaching math...

Tigers Tell Us What They Learn

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor February 17, 2022

The only way to truly know what’s happening in each grade level at Wilson is to experience it. Thus, one must ask the most reliable sources themselves: the students. What do we learn here at Wilson?...

School lunch is inadequate and unappetizing

School lunch is inadequate and unappetizing

Lila Chesser and Francesca Purificato December 17, 2021

School lunches are notorious for being unappetizing, and Wilson’s school lunch, provided by DCPS, is no exception. Students are forced to settle for corn chips piled with unseasoned black beans and sticks...

Georgetown’s Sunday flea market is the place to be

Georgetown’s Sunday flea market is the place to be

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor June 21, 2021

The famous Georgetown flea market, located in the parking lot of Hardy Middle School, comes alive every Sunday as vendors set up and customers jump from tent to tent.  The sellers, who come from a...

DCs budget surplus should be used to rebuild after the pandemic

DC’s budget surplus should be used to rebuild after the pandemic

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor April 30, 2021

After a year of cautious spending, the DC government is rolling in an extra $526 million. Considering the circumstances of the pandemic, managing vaccine distribution, strengthening the economy, and preparing...

This is not the freshman year I anticipated

This is not the freshman year I anticipated

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor January 12, 2021

It’s safe to say it’s been a pretty strange school year so far. There has definitely been a drastic shift for everyone, but for freshmen, online learning isn’t the only thing that’s new. Getting...

Senior Zander Wall commits to play soccer at Tufts University

Senior Zander Wall commits to play soccer at Tufts University

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor November 4, 2020

Wilson senior Zander Wall has committed to play soccer at Tufts University, a small liberal arts Division III school outside of Boston. He verbally committed in the middle of September and is excited to...

California’s fires send us a message about our climate

California’s fires send us a message about our climate

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor October 10, 2020

Once again, California is up in flames. But this time, it’s worse than ever before. On August 15th, lightning struck the dry forests of northern California, causing a colossal spree of fires. People...

Online learning may prove beneficial for work ethic

Online learning may prove beneficial for work ethic

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor September 11, 2020

School on computers? How is that going to work? Your guess is as good as mine. However, it’s clear that there are going to be some good aspects of online learning, and of course some bad ones. That being...

Album Review: Legends Never Die

Album Review: Legends Never Die

Francesca Purificato, Managing Editor September 11, 2020

Rating: 8/10 Juice Wrld’s posthumous album “Legends Never Die” was a big hit. It runs at a fairly large number of 22 tracks and was released on July 10 this year. The emo rap album as a whole...

Load More Stories
Donate to The Beacon

Comments (0)

Keep comments respectful and on-topic. Hate speech, profanity, and sharing personal information will not be tolerated.
All Sort: Newest