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

Greta Bradley-Meal, Junior Editor

All content by Greta Bradley-Meal

Get excited for candygrams!

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum March 2, 2024

As DCPS veterans, we know the joys of the candygram, and those of us who had the privilege to witness the La La Love Grams last year can attest to how Jackson-Reed has our back when professing our undying...

Mandatory PD day struggles to address controversial topics

Jessica McCallum and Greta Bradley-Meal February 13, 2024

On January 2, Jackson-Reed hosted a mandatory Professional Development (PD) Day focused on having “courageous conversations” between students and teachers. The sessions were a joint effort between...

Holiday board game spotlight: Celebrity

Greta Bradley-Meal, Junior Editor December 18, 2023

We all know what it means when winter break rolls around: endless grueling hours of Monopoly with our extended families. But don’t fear, I'm here to spare you that misery! Most of us already know the...

SciMaTech adopts mentorship program

SciMaTech adopts mentorship program

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum December 18, 2023

This school year marks the pilot year for the National Academy Foundation (NAF) academy mentor program. Organized by NAF academy director Regina McClure and student leaders of each academy, the mentor...

Our New Year’s resolutions

Our New Year’s resolutions

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum December 18, 2023

As winter break nears and our term two grades start slipping, it’s hard to think about anything but the two weeks of not having to learn algebra. However, there’s more to the holidays than the thrill...

Bring back class field trips

Greta Bradley-Meal, Junior Editor November 30, 2023

Remember getting on those gross yellow buses as little elementary schoolers? Singing Rock the Bus, packing our paper bag lunches, and visiting all sorts of cool places: museums, memorials, nature preserves,...

Must-reads this fall

Greta Bradley-Meal, Junior Editor November 21, 2023

As the temperature goes down, many of us are ready to embrace the Rory Gilmore lifestyle by getting cozy and academic during fall. Here are my top book recommendations to get in the fall mindset without...

Movie Review: “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour”

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum October 31, 2023

Everyone has heard about it. Everyone knows. And from the sound of it, everyone is going. And to be completely honest, so are we! But no, it’s not Oppenheimer, it’s not Barbie: it’s the one and only...

What to know before watching Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum October 12, 2023

Everyone has heard about it. Everyone knows. And from the sound of it, everyone is going. And to be completely honest, so are we! But no, it’s not Oppenheimer, it’s not Barbie: it’s the one and only...

Powderpuff: an outdated tradition

Powderpuff: an outdated tradition

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum October 11, 2023

Every so often, you can find the Jackson-Reed bleachers filled to the brim with loud students displaying their school spirit by cheering for their respective grades as they see who can make the most noise....

Essential things to do this summer

Greta Bradley-Meal, Junior Editor July 27, 2023

With summer creeping closer and closer, all we can think about is not having to enter the over-air conditioned and under-deodorized halls of Jackson-Reed. So here are a couple tasks  to keep in mind as...

Finals are an ineffective form of assessing students

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum July 19, 2023

We’ve all heard about finals from our private school friends. At least we did before they disappeared into their study-filled worlds. But aren’t we glad that most of us don’t have to suffer through...

DGS gets ready for yearly summer renovations

Jessica McCallum and Greta Bradley-Meal June 21, 2023

As the school year draws to a close, the summer renovation process begins in the hope that repairs will be completed before the start of the 2023-24 school year.  Jackson-Reed’s renovations and maintenance,...

Lockdown drills fall short of preparing students for emergencies

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum May 17, 2023

I hate school shooter drills. I hate sitting on the floor, I hate the migraine-inducing PA screech, I hate waiting for the day that the chewed up gum on the bottom of the table becomes lodged in my hair....

Inside sports funding at JR

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum April 24, 2023

Jackson-Reed is home to 40 sports; some teams, some club teams. Some are recognized by DCIAA, the DC public schools youth sports league that provides funding for the sports they recognize, including football,...

The downsides of daylight savings

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum March 31, 2023

Every time November rolls around I have mixed feelings. The weather is nice, there are plenty of short weeks, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. But there’s this ever-looming event on my mind:...

Outdated DCPS calendar requires attention

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum March 10, 2023

As DCPS students, we have all spent time counting down the interminable 180 days of school, waiting for the next day off. We envy the private schools around us: they have longer breaks, they start later...

Political campaigns prepare students for life

Greta Bradley-Meal and Jessica McCallum January 23, 2023

With the midterm elections just behind us, candidates and volunteers have spent recent months campaigning, passing out fliers, and encouraging people to vote. It seems like political messages are everywhere,...

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