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Jag Journal

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The Student News Site of Johnson High School

Jag Journal

Jag Journal

College Board logo, taken royalty free from VectorSeek.

What College Board Gets Wrong About English Education

AP Courses Fail To Teach Students How to Write
Hazel Barksdale, Assistant Editor in Chief March 10, 2026

The College Board offers two AP courses for English: AP English Language and Composition and AP Literature and Composition. Both AP English exams require students to answer multiple choice questions (MCQs)...

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The book club counter top display at the check-in counter in the library.

Making Reading Fun Again

Library hosts first ever book club, The Black Friday Book Club
Chloe Youngkin, Editor in Chief February 28, 2026

Marking JHS history, the library has introduced a new monthly book club dubbed The Black Friday Book Club. Organized by librarian Mary Williams, it was established earlier this school year in the fall...

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The entrance to the nurse's office.

Ripping the Band-aid Off Clinic Realities

What Can The Nurse Really Do For You?
Chloe Youngkin and Hazel Barksdale February 19, 2026

Students have certain expectations about the care they can receive from the nurse when they are feeling unwell at school. There are a lot of misconceptions about what that care can look like, but JHS nurses...

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The library seating arrangement for testing. The STAAR is taken by 98% of students in Texas public schools, and 72%-79% pass it. “I usually get ‘masters’, but sometimes ‘meets’,” junior Kiera Bennet said. “I think it has to do with the fact that I review class material before, so my scores reflect myself as being a responsible student.”

2025 STAAR Testing Season

Students have opinions on the recent past exam period
Chloe Youngkin, Copy Editor May 20, 2025

The 2025 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) standardized testing season has recently ended on Apr. 30. Students have spoken about the highs and lows of this year’s term, and the...

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FOLLOW THE LEADER Playing in unison, the JHS orchestra plays their second piece of the night. The performing arts help students focus and works on their attention spans. “In today's world, everyone's attention spans are getting shorter and it's harder and harder to concentrate. With orchestra, you have to really lock in and that has helped me to be able to focus on tasks for long periods,” junior violinist Hazel Barksdale said.

Orchestra Ends Year On A Good Note

Scarlett Teague, Staff Writer May 14, 2025

Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras closed the curtain on May 5, flooding the room with music at the Hays Performing Arts Center. It was the longest concert to date. “I’m not sure how long it was,...

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Prom flyer

A Night Under The Lanterns

Everything You Need To Know About Prom 2025
Hazel Barksdale, Staff Writer April 7, 2025

Prom is at the Hyatt Regency on April 12 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $100 from Mar. 31 to Apr. 9. Students can purchase tickets by accessing the QR codes around the school and in the...

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Photo taken from ADL website.

Share The Care

Campus Introduces Shout Out Form to Spread Kindness
Chloe Youngkin, Copy Editor March 10, 2025

For the next several weeks up to the end of the school year, students and staff will have the opportunity to parade compassion through the counselor-managed Shout Out Form found in the homeroom slides...

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The Power of the Press

The Power of the Press

February 28, 2025

What does Freedom of the Press mean to you? To me, Freedom of the Press ensures my rights as a student journalist. It is a shield for the press as it ensures our words, our stories, and our voices...

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Posed photo of the Rosettes dance team.

The Binding Spots on a Jaguar

Addison Powell and Daniella Moreno February 26, 2025

The dance team, the Rosettes, competed at Dripping Springs High School on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22. They placed 1st Place Select Medium Team Hip Hop, 1st Place Select Medium Team Lyrical and became Select Medium...

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Submitted drawing of the movie 'Nosferatu' by Fatima Arellano-Loredo.

‘Nosferatu’ Scares Box-Office With Success

Ray Stuewe, Staff Writer February 3, 2025

For the past few years, horror fans, including myself, have been disappointed with unoriginal and lackluster movies containing repetitive jumpscares and superficial storytelling. Still, Robert Egger's...

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Journalism advisor Britney Crowe posing with Copy Editor Chloe Youngkin and Assistant Editor-In-Chief Avery Humphries at the UIL Invitational Meet on Jan. 25.

UIL Season Show-Off

Students Compete at Wimberley High School
Chloe Youngkin, Copy Editor February 3, 2025

Kickstarting the yearly academic competition season, students from the district competed at Wimberley High School on Jan. 25 for UIL state.The next competition is at Canyon High School on Feb. 8. “I...

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Theatre tech Sofia Gonzalez puts a microphone onto Anna Wilder for the press night performance of 'Legally Blonde Jr. The Musical' on Jan. 13. Gonzalez has been in the theatre program since the sixth grade, although she took a break her freshman year. "It was really fun," Gonzalez said. "It's something that I want to do in my future as a career."

Can You Give Me A Hand?

Behind-The-Scenes of Theatre
Daniella Moreno, Editor-In-Chief January 30, 2025

On stage, the actor finds their light and performs their line, but off stage the theatre techs are managing the lights and sound and the stagehands are getting ready to move props, all to make sure the...

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