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

Madison Dias, Public Relations

All content by Madison Dias
AP For All initiative rejected by DCPS

AP For All initiative rejected by DCPS

Madison Dias, Public Relations May 16, 2021

DCPS has disapproved the AP For All initiative, which will no longer go into effect. The proposal would have required all incoming juniors to enroll in two AP courses: AP English Language and Composition...

Children’s Hospital vaccinates thousands of DCPS staff members

Children’s Hospital vaccinates thousands of DCPS staff members

Madison Dias, Public Relations March 30, 2021

Through a partnership with Children’s National Hospital (CNH), over 3,200 DCPS employees are now fully vaccinated.  Over 6,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were set aside from DCPS’s vaccination...

Minorities in AP returns to support students of color

Minorities in AP returns to support students of color

Madison Dias, Public Relations March 24, 2021

Minorities in AP (MAP) is returning to Wilson after being discontinued a few years ago. The program encourages inclusivity and equity in advanced courses by offering peer tutoring for all students, specifically...

Safety is prioritized in Wilsons new hybrid-learning plan

Safety is prioritized in Wilson’s new hybrid-learning plan

Madison Dias, Public Relations February 24, 2021

As Wilson students attend in-person learning (IPL), there are several measures being taken in order to ensure that safety is being prioritized.  Each DC Public School was given a COVID-19 Operations...

Students can choose to sign up for in-person instruction

Students can choose to sign up for in-person instruction

Madison Dias, Public Relations February 5, 2021

Wilson’s hybrid learning plan gives families the option to either volunteer for an in-person seat through contacting guidance counselors, or accept an invitation from teachers. Students may decide to...

Wilson joins No Place For Hate initiative

Wilson joins No Place For Hate initiative

Madison Dias, Public Relations February 2, 2021

Wilson is currently in the process of receiving their designation of becoming an official No Place for Hate School, joining a national program to encourage inclusivity and diversity. Wilson pledges to...

Community service requirements dropped for class of 2021

Community service requirements dropped for class of 2021

Winston Botts and Madison Dias February 2, 2021

DCPS has waived the graduation requirement of 100 community service hours for the class of 2021. The decision stems from concerns about students being able to safely complete the required hours. Typically,...

Perspective on name options vary

Perspective on name options vary

Madison Dias, Public Relations January 7, 2021

Wilson’s new name is up for debate. Although many stakeholders support the renaming, there are conflicting views on what the criteria for the new name should be. Principal Kimberly Martin was one...

December 2021 100 word rants

Ellen Carrier, Madison Dias, and Mia Heyward January 4, 2021

Teachers stress too By Ellen Carrier As the advisory ended, many students were anxious about the lack of grades in Aspen. Teachers are the ones designated to assign and grade work, but because of...

Name change nears as shortlist is released for public voting

Name change nears as shortlist is released for public voting

Madison Dias, Public Relations December 2, 2020

DCPS has released the shortlist of replacement names for Woodrow Wilson High School for public input. Community members will have until December 11 to provide input.  There are seven finalists on the...

DCPS implements a new grading policy for the 2020-2021 school year

DCPS implements a new grading policy for the 2020-2021 school year

Madison Dias, Public Relations November 8, 2020

A new grading policy has been embraced by DC Public Schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Inspired by stakeholder feedback and maintaining a goal of equity, the grading policy was adopted in an effort...

Teachers rally at Ft. Reno to protest DCPS reopening plans

Teachers rally at Ft. Reno to protest DCPS reopening plans

Madison Dias, Public Relations October 28, 2020

DCPS Ward Three teachers, staff, and families rallied together at Fort Reno on Saturday October 17 to demand transparency and accountability from DCPS with elementary schools set to reopen within the next...

Mayor Bowser updates DCPS families on reopening plans

Mayor Bowser updates DCPS families on reopening plans

Madison Dias, Public Relations October 25, 2020

On October 5, Mayor Muriel Bowser and DCPS Chancellor Dr. Lewis Ferebee hosted a COVID-19 situational update regarding the reopening of DC Public Schools. Elementary schools, with grades Pre-K through...

Principal Martin begins planning for in-person return to school

Principal Martin begins planning for in-person return to school

Madison Dias, Public Relations October 7, 2020

In preparation for in-person learning, principal Kimberly Martin is considering outdoor options, a phased approach, and the prioritization of students with certain programs. DCPS has planned for secondary...

DCPS adopts a new attendance policy for online learning

DCPS adopts a new attendance policy for online learning

Madison Dias, Public Relations September 20, 2020

On August 31, DCPS adopted a new way of recording attendance through Canvas for the duration of online learning. Some teachers are also taking attendance during their synchronous classes.  Students...

DCPS students face immediate technical difficulties as the new school year begins

DCPS students face immediate technical difficulties as the new school year begins

Madison Dias, Public Relations September 15, 2020

On August 31, the first day of school for DCPS, around 3,000 calls were made by parents to the DCPS tech support department hotline. These calls concerned technological issues occurring with students’...

DCPS to adopt a 4×4 schedule for the upcoming school year

Madison Dias, Public Relations August 23, 2020

All DCPS high schools will use a new four by four schedule for the 2020-2021 school year. This schedule is being implemented in order to accommodate all students during the at-home learning period for...

100 Word Appreciations

Friendship is underrated Written by Leah Carrier My best friend is an outgoing, smiley, life-of-the-party type of girl. She has this heartfelt, honest laugh that I could recognize anywhere. She’s...

DCPS provides tentative options for reopening

Madison Dias, Public Relations June 23, 2020

During a press conference on May 23, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the school year of 2020-2021 will begin either in-person or at home on August 31. As DC plans to reopen in a set of four stage beginning...

Wilson class of 2020 to be honored with a photo mural

Madison Dias, Public Relations June 23, 2020

A Class of 2020 photo mural will be hung at Wilson to acknowledge students whose senior year was cut short. The mural will serve both as a substitute graduation photo and a remembrance of the lost spring,...

Graphic by Margaret Heffernan

What to expect in March Madness

Madison Dias, Public Relations March 6, 2020

March Madness is finally here—the time every college basketball fan patiently awaits. March Madness occurs at the time of the annual NCAA Division 1 collegiate seven-round tournament where 68 schools...

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