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

Madelyn Shapiro

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor

Madelyn is a senior in her fourth year of writing for The Beacon. She is now a Magazine Editor in addition to running track and being a Friends addict. Mortal fear of muffins, the real ones know why. This Mariokart fiend lives off of dried mango and strawberry fruit leathers. Loves biomed and mini goldendoodles <3.

All content by Madelyn Shapiro
A TikTok talk with Samuel Johnson

A TikTok talk with Samuel Johnson

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor June 10, 2020

With all the extra time students have due to quarantine, many students have found themselves turning to TikTok for entertainment, or maybe even fame. With over 7,700 followers, several videos garnering...

Hand completing a multiple choice exam.

Wilson’s redesigned SAT prep class

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor February 1, 2020

The SAT is everywhere, from the emails flooding your inbox to the College Board ads popping up on Snapchat. It has even made its way into the Wilson curriculum, in the form of a semester-long SAT Preparation...

A students experience with Seasonal Affective Disorder

A student’s experience with Seasonal Affective Disorder

Grace Kowal and Madelyn Shapiro December 20, 2019

For most of her life, junior Virginia Suardi eagerly awaited the winter. Between the snow, holiday atmosphere, her birthday, and hot chocolate, winter was her favorite time of the year.  Then, when...

Inside the lives of student musicians

Madelyn Shapiro and Ava Nicely November 8, 2019

JILLIAN UPSHAW When seven year old Jillian Upshaw saw a sparkly blue drum set in Melodee Music, she knew that she had to start playing. “It was beautiful… I was just like, I’ve got to get that...

Smoke Island vape shop prompts community backlash

Talya Lehrich and Madelyn Shapiro October 15, 2019

With the vaping trend on the rise, parents and lawmakers alike want to ensure that underage users do not have access to vaping products. The opening of a new vape supply shop, Smoke Island, just blocks...

Courtesy of Madison VanEyken

Wilson fashionistas find passions, found businesses

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor September 8, 2019

With hopes of selling unique, quality, and sustainable products, several Wilson students have started their own businesses. These entrepreneurs have created Instagram pages and websites to help gain customers...

Kaleb Gezahegn heads to Yale with two full scholarships

Kaleb Gezahegn heads to Yale with two full scholarships

Maren Dunn and Madelyn Shapiro June 9, 2019

When senior Kaleb Gezahegn first started kindergarten in Ethiopia, he admittedly wasn’t the best behaved student. “I used to take toys from my kindergarten to play at home,” he said, smiling. But...

ELL teacher places as semi-finalist in Norwegian Cruise Line Giving Joy contest

ELL teacher places as semi-finalist in Norwegian Cruise Line Giving Joy contest

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor May 27, 2019

Wilson English Language Learner (ELL) teacher Yaqueline Clauss recently participated in a “Giving Joy” contest put on by Norwegian Cruise Line to celebrate teachers. Educators in the US could nominate...

Photo by Aidan Feeny

Something Smells: Investigating Wilson’s Culture of Waste

Ava Nicely and Madelyn Shapiro May 6, 2019

Think about all the paper you use throughout a single day of school. Think about the food and plastic that you throw away at lunch. Think about the drinks and tissues carelessly tossed into the recycling...

Slamming into Wilson’s poetry scene

Slamming into Wilson’s poetry scene

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor March 30, 2019

Every Wednesday, the Wilson Poetry Club meets in the library for a lunch period packed full of writing and laughter. The group begins with one-word check-ins, where they describe their current mood....

Beefsteak joins Best Buy in Tenley exodus

Beefsteak joins Best Buy in Tenley exodus

Ava Nicely and Madelyn Shapiro March 20, 2019

The fast-casual vegetarian restaurant Beefsteak’s Tenleytown location closed on Sunday, February 17. The chain was started by celebrity chef José Andrés in 2015 and opened in Tenley in 2016, offering...

One Acts bring roasts and toast

One Acts bring roasts and toast

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor March 2, 2019

Wilson students, parents, and faculty spend three nights each year in the black box for an evening of laughter, innuendo, and talent at the annual One Acts.  There is a huge assortment of plays, ranging...

DC-CAP gala to showcase three Wilson finalists

Madelyn Shapiro and Alejandro Diaz-Lopez March 2, 2019

The DC College Access Program (DC-CAP) selects 10 students from around DCPS each year to be a DC Capital Star finalist based on their vocal, instrumental, or dance talent. This year, freshman Jillian Upshaw,...

Girls get in the ring of male-dominated sports

Girls get in the ring of male-dominated sports

Ava Nicely and Madelyn Shapiro February 9, 2019

Every weekday from 3:45-6:00 p.m., junior Margaret Goletiani runs, lifts, and spars with the Wilson wrestling team. As one of only two girls on the team, Goletiani is paving the way for other girls to...

Wilson performers compete for DC-CAP scholarships

Wilson performers compete for DC-CAP scholarships

Alejandro Diaz-Lopez and Madelyn Shapiro January 27, 2019

Every year, DCPS students have the opportunity to compete to become a DC Capital Star. Vocalists, instrumentalists, and dancers are all invited to showcase their talents and contend for the $10,000 scholarship...

Fully sending with Wilson’s skiing club

Fully sending with Wilson’s skiing club

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor January 26, 2019

Three times a year, the Wilson ski team bundles up and heads out to Liberty Mountain Ski Resort in Fairfield, Pennsylvania for a day filled with skiing. The team is coached by science teachers Katherine...

Breaking the ice with Amel Yakoub

Breaking the ice with Amel Yakoub

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor December 16, 2018

Wilson sophomore Amel Yakoub grew up going to Friday night skating events with her friends. Now, she plays both right wing and defenseman for the Wilson ice hockey team, which was previously composed of...

Professional PSA filmed at Wilson

Professional PSA filmed at Wilson

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor December 13, 2018

Wilson students were invited to audition for a series of PSAs for Boys Town of America, an organization based in Nebraska that helps young children grow to be productive in society. At Wilson, they filmed...

Photo by Aidan Fogarty

Turf repairs address safety concerns

Ava Nicely and Madelyn Shapiro November 12, 2018

Brighter lines, fewer turf beads, and a new logo in the center of the Wilson field welcomed students back to school this year. Over the summer, the field was repaired to ensure it would be playable for...

Photo courtesy of lorijazz.com

Music teacher Lori Williams tops UK soul chart

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor October 7, 2018

Wilson music teacher Lori Williams was scrolling through her inbox on September 13 when she came across a note from a Starpoint Radio announcer saying, “look what I found.” Williams clicked on the...

Jack White concert film features clips from Wilson performance

Jack White concert film features clips from Wilson performance

Erin Harper and Madelyn Shapiro October 7, 2018

Senior Natalia Thomas sat quietly in her AP Chemistry class, scribbling down the last of her notes until she was saved by the bell, signaling the end of fourth period and the start of lunch. As she started...

‘Tiger Cafe’ debuts in the cafeteria

‘Tiger Cafe’ debuts in the cafeteria

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor September 3, 2018

With its bright orange chairs and brown tables, the brand new Tiger Cafe doesn’t exactly ‘fit in’ with the rest of the cafeteria, let alone Wilson as a whole. But that was the exact intention of...

1968 desegregation alumni panel highlights Wilson’s persistent racial divide

1968 desegregation alumni panel highlights Wilson’s persistent racial divide

Ava Nicely and Madelyn Shapiro September 2, 2018

“Walking through the door on the first day of school, I was panic-stricken because no one looked like me,” Wilson alum Clinton Scott Jr. recalled. He was one of several Wilson alumni who walked into...

Photo courtesy of Madelyn Shapiro

Choir students say farewell to seniors in spring concert

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor May 28, 2018

With graduation approaching, many students and clubs are starting to say goodbye to their beloved seniors. The Wilson choir is no exception to this. The choir’s “Spring Choral Cabaret” took place...

Artsfest showcases student work

Artsfest showcases student work

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor May 28, 2018

Wilson hosted its fifth annual Artsfest in the atrium from 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 17. The festival featured student work for sale in addition to student performances, a selfie mural, and art displays....

Spring play to feature an all-Black cast

Spring play to feature an all-Black cast

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor May 11, 2018

For the first time in Wilson theater history, an all-Black cast will take the stage. “Black is…?” will be performed at the black box at 7:30 p.m. on Friday May 11 and Saturday May 12. Similar to...

Senior Matthew Harris hones his video editing skills

Senior Matthew Harris hones his video editing skills

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor April 9, 2018

At age 12, Wilson senior Matthew Harris began editing videos on iMovie. Now, Harris, along with fellow senior Manny Scherif, films and edits Wilson basketball games to create highlight videos. In addition...

Wilson robotics hopes to ro ro ro its bot to nationals

Wilson robotics hopes to ro ro ro its bot to nationals

Chloe Fatsis and Madelyn Shapiro January 21, 2018

It’s build season. For the next month, the Wilson robotics team will gather in the engineering lab nearly every day after school and on the weekends to build a robot. The robotics competitions...

GSA fosters community within Wilson

GSA fosters community within Wilson

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor December 11, 2017

Lively, stimulating conversations. An inspiring quote written across the wall. A friendly bond between students. All are present at the weekly meetings of the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA). Previously...

Legally Blonde The Musical comes to Wilson stage

“Legally Blonde The Musical” comes to Wilson stage

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor November 10, 2017

Coming soon to the Wilson theatre, Legally Blonde The Musical will take its viewers through the uplifting journey of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who attends Harvard Law School to try and win back her ex-boyfriend....

A brief history of Wilson sports

A brief history of Wilson sports

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor April 1, 2017

Many student athletes walk along the halls of Wilson. Both boys and girls proudly sport their personalized windbreakers or sell donuts throughout the building to raise funds for their team. With eight...

Wilson students celebrate many holidays this winter break

Wilson students celebrate many holidays this winter break

Madelyn Shapiro, Magazine Editor December 19, 2016

Discounted items decorate every store window. Wreaths and lights have been put up on houses. Radios play Christmas music on a loop. In other words, it’s December. The holiday season is different for...

Beloved Tenley restaurant recovers after robbery

Beloved Tenley restaurant recovers after robbery

MADELYN SHAPIRO, Magazine Editor October 18, 2016

On Monday, October 10, the 24-hour restaurant Steak ‘n Egg was robbed at gunpoint. The thief came into the diner late at night, and demanded the cash from the register as well as a phone from a customer....

New computer science club open up  entrepreneurship opportunities

New computer science club open up entrepreneurship opportunities

Chloe Fatsis and Madelyn Shapiro October 2, 2016

Wilson has an extensive number of clubs, but for junior Zola Canady, there were not enough. She took it upon herself to expand the computer science program outside of class, creating the Computer Science,...

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