Balancing the budget: WS/FCS searches for answers to the budget crisis
By Mackenzie Acker and Jackson Colo Features Editor and Editor-in-Chief In May 2025, a Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School’s budget update revealed the school system was predicted to fall $42 million over the 2024-2025 budget ending in June. Shortly thereafter, Superintendent Tricia McManus filed for retirement. Following McManus’ retirement, the media and the public swarmed to understand […]
The cost of a crisis
Helen Wilson and Amelia Reynolds Editor-in-Chief and Staff Writer A wave of shock and frustration has swept across the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School District as school board members have approved a reduction in force (RIF) to help deal with the financial crisis. The crisis has become less about the numbers and more about the people and […]
Rowdies balance tradition and change
By Maddy Acker Op/Ed Editor It’s that time of year again when the weather is getting cooler and the weekdays are filled with anticipation for Friday night lights at R.J. Reynolds High School’s new stadium, “The Crater.” While the brand new field and a promising winning streak are exciting changes, they’re not the only ones […]
Pioneers amid the pines: new clubs at R.J. Reynolds High School
By Elizabeth Sanders Staff Writer What do you do when there is no club that concerns a passion of yours? You start your own. That’s exactly how the following ten new clubs–eight student run and two teacher led–clubs came to be. Created just this 2025-2026 school year, these clubs meet during club homeroom, after school, […]
A new act begins: Pierce takes the lead with the Theater Program
By Maddie Kunkle Staff Writer Lights, cameras, action! A new school year for R.J. Reynolds High School brings a new director of the theater program. Dr. Jennifer Pierce has taken the lead by bringing in new ideas and working tirelessly to ensure our talented actors and actresses are prepared for the school play. Pierce’s new […]
The 3 S’s: Sally, Spanish Heritage, and SGA
By Evie Beale Sports Editor Sally Alcantara, a strong leader of Dominican descent, strives to make R.J. Reynolds High School a place where everyone feels at home. Alcantara uses her leadership to ensure Spanish students at RJR are well-represented within the student body. “I’ve always been very out front about including our Spanish students and […]
Building bridges: the impact of ESL
By Miriam McPhail Staff Writer For students arriving at R.J. Reynolds High School from around the world, language serves as both a challenge and a tool. The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program gives non-native speakers the opportunity they need to build skills in English. “Everything we learn is through [the English language], it’s […]
Ten years in the making: R.J. Reynolds’ Demon Pantry
By Noble Hart Staff Writer R.J. Reynolds High School offers a variety of programs designed to help students gain experience, such as school clubs and community service events. However, these aren’t the only ways that RJR uplifts its community. Recently, the RJR Demon Pantry received a major upgrade. The Demon Pantry, a program started by […]
Learning and earning: the ups and downs of working as a student
By Emi Moss Staff Writer Balancing school, sports, and social life is already a challenge for many high school students, but more teens are adding a job to the mix. Whether for extra income, independence, or experience, working while in school presents a new set of time management challenges and benefits. The experience was eye-opening […]
The R.J. Reynolds High School Dancing Boots: a new era of a classic team
By Kate Sturgill Staff Writer As the new school year rolls around, one of R.J. Reynolds High School’s impressive dance teams, The Dancing Boots, gears up for yet another busy season of bringing school spirit to every football game. The team has been performing since 1959 and is recognized as one of the school’s longest-standing […]