McCallum HS The Shield, Volume 72, Number 1 (Oct. 29, 2024)

shield

Eligibile seniors prepare to their first votes in the upcoming Nov. 5 general election.

MacTheatre

Softball

Election Day

Fine Arts Academy Audition Workshop @ 5:30 p.m.

Veterans Day

Piano Fall Recital @MAC, 6:30 p.m.

Knights of Steel Fall Concert @MAC, 7 p.m.

people center sports opinion

Seniors Trinity Ritcherson and Julia Rasp take on new job of pep-rally emcees with enthusiasm

Junior Ruhi Motwani continues to manage the You Can Be a Leader club after having moved to Florida

German exchange student welcomed into McCallum football community The

Senior Trinity Ritcherson and junior Ronan Henson hand senior Sonya Peterson a cup of Jarritos soda for McCallum’s hispanic heritage celerbration during lunch of Oct. 19. Photo by Dave Winter.

Junior Darby Roldan and senior Chander Tripathi jump after being hit by a water balloon during the final lunch of pink week on Friday, Oct. 11. Photo by Julia Copas.

A new class of ballots

Eligible seniors to cast their first votes in consequential election

Nate Williams co-editor-in-chief

Many seniors who’ve turned 17 and 10 months old or older filled out a voter registration form for the very first time this year. The eldest members of the class of ‘25 will vote in their first presidential election on Nov. 5.

The 2024 election includes more than just the selection of the country’s most powerful person, however. Ballots will be counted in the race between incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and former professional football player turned politician, Democrat Colin Allred. Locally, voters will decide between incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Republican Jenny Garcia Sharon for control of Texas District 37.

Senior Avi Zeifman has eagerly waited for years for the ability to vote.

“It’s a really special event for me because I’ve been invested in politics for years,” Zeifman said. “I think a lot of people my age have been focusing on November as well. It seems like everyone who can is going to vote.”

As she casts her ballot for the very first time, Zeifman said she has been doing extensive research on the candidates and ballot measures at play.

“I have been paying attention to the news more than ever,” Zeifman said. “I also ask

my family and teachers a lot of questions about the candidates’ policies to help me understand who I should vote for based on my values.”

Voting early and in person, senior Kai Talebi will also vote in her first election this fall, an exciting milestone, she said, due to it being a presidential election year.

“It’s pretty exciting especially since this election will determine a lot of things, and all my friends who can are very excited about voting,” Talebi said.

Talebi said she understands the issues and positions at stake in the election and is relying on family to learn more about the voting process.

“I have talked to my mom a lot, and we are going over the ballot together, so that I know my plan for who I will vote for before going [to the polls],” Talebi said.

Zeifman is particularly engaged in this election because of her belief that the issues at hand will affect fundamental freedoms for all Americans.

“I’ve been really invested in abortion rights and freedoms for women ever since there were rumors of Roe v. Wade being overturned, and when it happened, I felt very powerless with my inability to vote,” Zeifman said. “Homelessness in Austin is also a big deal to me, and it’s very worrying seeing fiveto-seven homeless people every time I drive to school and back. It makes me recognize

that they aren’t getting the help they need.”

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, the constitutional right to an abortion. The decision was leaked in May of that year, but it only took months for states, including Texas, to begin introducing legislation to ban all abortions.

Currently, in the Lone Star State, it is illegal to perform an abortion unless the life of the mother is at risk.

“information about the candidates.

“I feel like most TV stations try to make sensationalist content to make people mad and provide a sound chamber for their supporters,” Tripathi said. “I feel like it’s easy to get a variety of insights through news articles, so I prefer going that route.”

Voting is such a privilege and can really make a difference since it’s your chance to really make your voice heard. —senior

Talebi agrees with Zeifman’s assessment of the most important issues when voters head to the polls and said while there are many significant decisions to make, there is one issue that is top of mind.

“There are a lot [of issues] I think of, but protecting women’s rights and bodily autonomy is one of the most important in my eyes,” Talebi said.

With the amount of misinformation and disinformation across social media this election cycle, senior Chander Tripathi said he has been careful where he has gotten

Kai Talebi

”Tripathi estimates that 60% of his friends will be voting in this election.

Because Zeifman believes this election is consequential for all Americans and is longing for her moment to enter the voting booth, she encourages all teenagers who can to vote.

“You should always vote if you are for people having a voice,” Zeifman said. “Vote!”

In a matter of days, Talebi will have her first votes counted, and she said casting her ballot is a preservation of democracy.

“Voting is such a privilege and can really make a difference since it’s your chance to really make your voice heard.”

Graphics by Nate Williams.

Crisis prompts ‘big ask’

Priya Thoppil news editor

THE ISSUE

Getting increasingly larger, Austin ISD’s budget deficit has increased to $110 million for the ongoing 2024-2025 school year. A proposed solution to combat this ongoing problem is an increase in property tax, approximately a $34 increase per month per household. The Board of Trustees voted Aug. 15, 8-1 in favor of placing the tax on the Nov. 5 ballot, so voters will now decide if the tax increase will be enacted or not. Currently, there is no set time for how long the tax increase will last; if enacted, it will continue until AISD decides to roll it back, should the state funding allotment increase.

The Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE, is a special ballot initiative asking voters to approve a tax rate increase to provide the school district with extra funding. The amount the district receives per student has not increased since 2019, staying steady at $6,160. This rate has not kept up with inflation, and other costs that have arisen, which has contributed significantly to AISD’s debt. If voters enact the tax, the district will raise an additional $550 per student.

“

AISD trustee Kathryn Whitley Chu, whose district includes McCallum, said this plan was a last resort but absolutely necessary due to the insurmountable deficit the district faces.

“It is a big ask of our communities,” said Whitley Chu, a longtime teacher and mother of two.

“We wanted to ask the state, who is obligated by the constitution to fund their schools, to do their job, and the fact is, that they didn’t.”

We can’t give up on the state doing their job just because Austinites are doing theirs.

Kathryn Whitley Chu

Austin

ISD Board of Trustee

HOW IT AFFECTS MCCALLUM

In the past decade, voters have approved two AISD bonds, one in 2017 and a second in 2022. Bonds provide money for modernization for several campuses and must be designated to fund specific improvements and cannot be redistributed to

Facing $110 million deficit; Austin ISD asks voters to approve property tax hike

It does suck that [the tax burden] goes on the homeowners, but this is the only way to get the money we need.

of Trustees decides to rescind it because the district receives more state funding. The district worked with Education Austin, the local teachers’ union, to figure out how to apply the potential tax revenue toward teacher raises. The district will direct $17 million of the $41 million toward pay increases for school-based staff. The percentage raise that each teacher will receive will depend on years of experience. The raise will range between 1.4% and 7.3% with the highest percentage going to the most experienced teachers.

Principal Andy Baxa said he is in support of whatever raises additional funding for the school. He noted that the district has

going to pay off staff retroactively for this fall semester in the middle of December.”

Ivan Gonzales, advanced physics and astronomy teacher

While McCallum and neighboring schools haven’t been affected much by budget cuts, Baxa acknowledged that other parts of the district have not been so fortunate.

“Downtown, they have been taking a hit right now and have to restructure a bunch of their stuff,” he said. “I’ve known some friends that have lost jobs down there and had to look for different positions.”

Even though a large portion of the tax money that would be raised would be subject to recapture, Baxa still feels hopeful.

“We are going to have to cut off a share [of property tax revenue] for recapture, but it still brings in additional funds.”

Ivan Gonzales, an advanced physics and astronomy teacher at McCallum, said the

“Especially in science, we always want to do activities and hands-on stuff,” he said. “When you don’t have the money to buy those things, I know I and some other teachers have spent our own money for our classrooms.” Oftentimes, parents help out teachers by purchasing supplies or other materials.

“I love the fact that parents kind of fill the gaps a little bit with help, but we can’t expect them to do everything,” Gonzales said.

Although Gonzales would not have to pay the tax increase because he is not a property owner, he is still conflicted about it. He recognizes the benefits for the district, but he also understands the burden on homeowners.

“The redistribution law is the reason we do not have the money that we need,” he said. “It does suck that [the tax burden] goes on the homeowners, but this is the only way to get the money we need.”

On Nov. 5, the VATRE will take place, and voters will determine the fate of the tax rate and the teacher raise that its increase might fund.

IllustrationbyMiraPatel

UT lowers auto admit rate

Due to high demand for admission, current juniors to face Top 5% threshold

Daniela Di-Capua staff reporter

High school students all around Texas expecting to gain automatic admission to The University of Texas at Austin now have a new threshold to meet. On Sept. 19, UT Austin’s president Jay Hartzell announced the new auto admission rate, lowering it from the top 6% to the top 5% of graduating seniors statewide starting in the fall of 2026. This will affect the number of in-state auto admit

gonna make our [McCallum’s] numbers go down for sure,” Nix said. “It definitely will shift gears for juniors that had it on their list, but kids do get admitted outside of auto-admit so I guess I just have to hope that happens for them.”

Though high schoolers all across Texas can still apply to the university on their own, they are competing with out-ofstate students as well. Three-fourths of UT’s freshman class is composed of auto-admit students, leaving the other 25% for in-state students and other applicants. This 25% is evaluated in

list of other places to look into but being able to stay in Texas is an important to her.

“The past two years when people ask where I wanted to go I was like, ‘The only place I’ve looked into is UT, but I’m open to looking at other places,’” Price said. “I definitely want to stay in-state. I’m gonna look at other Texas schools, but I just don’t like any as much as I like Texas.”

For the past year or so rumors have been going around about UT making a change to its auto admission rate considering the high level

Honors program after gaining automatic admission to the school for being in the top 6% of his class.

“Auto-admit made it [the application process] pretty easy,” Banks-Gilmore said. “I felt less stressed than many of my friends, and it was helpful having backup choices for my major.”

In order to be a part of his desired major though, Banks-Gilmore had to apply just like everyone else.

“I was interested in the Plan II Honors program because it sounded like a unique, small, ‘liberal arts’ education

and then sent it in, as well as applying for

2026

The University of Texas tower on the campus of UT Austin. Starting with the class of

UT Austin’s automatic admission will move down to the top 6% of each senior class. Photo by Naomi Di-Capua

On screen for the AP

College Board introduces new digital format for select AP exams

Beatrix Lozach staff reporter

College Board has decided to replace the analog AP test format for 28 out of 40 exams with digital and hybrid tests through the testing application Bluebook, claiming benefits such as time efficiency for students, user-friendliness and technological equity, in an announcement in July. The primary reason for the change, however, AP officials said in statements reported by multiple media outlets, is the record high number of canceled AP scores in 2024. While they made up less than 1% of total scores, canceled scores increased considerably after May 2024, when a number of test materials were leaked online in a major security breach, leading to a complete overhaul of paper assessments in favor of digital assessments that College Board can closely monitor.

Sixteen of the exams will be fully digital.These exams fall into the arts and humanities category, with exceptions being AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Environmental Science. Twelve will be hybrid exams—virtually all math or science—ranging from AP Calculus classes to AP Biology. For arts, language and music AP tests, the audio components of the tests will remain unchanged.

As of now, College Board has not notified teachers of any changes in preparation.

According to AP U.S. History teachers Jennifer Richter and Clifford Stanchos, this means that preparation will resemble that of previous years.

“Mr. Stanchos and I are mostly talking about how we can create a system so that [students] can use scratch paper to work most effectively” Richter said.

According to Stanchos, typing speed will be of utmost importance in the new format.

“I did see an email from AP Classroom that said they were adjusting some things to make the practice exams closer to Bluebook,” Stanchos said.

before the exam.”

The teachers’ primary concern, above all, regardless of subject, is annotations.

Historically, Richter said, students have been incredibly reliant on annotations, particularly for document-based questions, which require citations and a thorough analysis of documents following a rubric.

“ Especially with Stats, and Calc as well, you kind of want to ‘touch the problem.’ And with this, you can’t.

—AP Statistics teacher Richard Cowles

“However, some of my students are at a disadvantage because they don’t have a quick typing speed. There are some websites where you can practice typing. I was considering making my students practice

“I am the most concerned with the writing,” Richter said. “We’ve been so dependent on annotating documents and planning documents by hand. It’s a lot to keep in your head after a grueling, long exam.”

”

AP Statistics teacher and College Board consultant Richard Cowles agrees. For him,

annotating problems is a crucial component of facilitating student understanding.

“Especially with Stats, and Calc as well, you kind of want to ‘touch the problem,’” Cowles said. “And with this, you can’t.”

Cowles is also concerned with student ease of use and upcoming guidelines for hybrid exams.

“College Board promises that they’re going to give us practice, but the only things they’ve sent out are information on completely digital exams,” Cowles said. “The hybrid exams are supposed to be coming out soon-ish, but I’m anxious to see what that looks like.”

Cowles remains optimistic. In his view, the new format is unlikely to disproportionately affect students with learning disabilities or other accommodations.

“If you start 30 seconds behind the person next to you, you get that other 30 seconds. I’m pretty sure the accommodations that are going to be built in will take care of that, “Cowles said. “This year, unfortunately, I’m worried there’s going to be some tough love, and we’llhave to handle the fallout.”

Cowles also rejects the idea that digitization will considerably impact scores unless there’s an emergent testing disparity between this

and previous years.

“On AP Stats, it’s usually about 12-13% that get fives, so if they’re at 10%, they’re going to be like, what’s going on, so they’ll either adjust the cutoff or investigate the formatting,” Cowles said.

Ultimately, students will have to wait until further notice from College Board on the ramifications of digital exams on preparation, similar to the previous year’s introduction of the Digital SAT, which was also specifically created to combat cheating and to increase

Scan the QR code or go to macshieldonline. com to read the full story.

With 40 AP exams, the College Board has announced changes to select exams. Graphic by Beatrix Lozach.

news briefs

Austin Council of PTAs hosts journalism workshop

Members of The Shield attended a conference at the Texas State Capitol, Sept. 12, to discuss the merits of school vouchers. Speakers included Josh Sanderson, the Executive Director of the Equity Center, Rep. James Talarico (D-50) and Mandy Drogin, campaign director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, who debated for and against school choice. Vouchers increase the state’s basic allotment of $6,120 per student, allowing parents to use public funds for private or charter school education. The state of Texas currently holds $4 billion in unused taxes intended for education, leading to a heated debate about whether these funds should be used to support vouchers or improve public school funding.

Mayoral candidates appeal

to neighborhoods in forum

Four of the five Austin mayoral candidates attended the Allandale Neighborhood Association’s forum, Oct.15, with current mayor Kirk Watson notably absent despite being invited. Watson is running for another term against Doug Greco, Kathie Tovo, Carmen Llanes Pulido and Jefferey Bowen.

Greco, a former Austin ISD teacher and longtime organizer, entered the race to shift Austin’s leadership focus. Tovo, a former Mayor Pro Tem and City Council member with over a decade of experience, emphasized her deep understanding of city issues and leadership. Pulido, the executive director of GAVA (Go Austin/ Vamos Austin) and a former City Commissioner and Bowen, a U.S. Air Force veteran, aim to address leadership gaps throughout the city. Though Watson is the frontrunner, having raised nearly nine times more funds than his competitors, all candidates expressed the need for new leadership at the forum.

Voters will make their choice for mayor on election day. If a candidate is unable to get above 50% of the vote total, a runoff election will occur in the spring.

—Lillian Gray

nov. 4

CAC meeting, 5:30 p.m.

PTSA meeting, 6:30 p.m. both meetings in library

nov. 6

Enroll Austin Priority Registration opens

nov. 25-29

Thanksgiving break

After

lease expires, Peter Pan Mini-Golf faces uncertain future

Overcrowding taxes campus as student body exceeds 2K

—Beatrix Lozach

On Nov. 5, voters will decide on Proposition A, which seeks to raise taxes to increase pay for instructional coaches, hourly workers, content interventionists and mental health support, while also reducing the district’s debt. The average property tax increase would be $34 per month, adding to the current average of $560. If Proposition A is not approved, programs such as school nurses, dual language, advanced academic programs, librarians, and UIL arts and athletics could face cuts, as they are not required by the state.

Admin adjusts FIT, advisory

The McCallum administration announced changes to the FIT or flexible instruction time before the start of the year. The change included shifting the short period to Wednesday through Friday and pushing advisory time to Monday and Tuesday. The first two days of the week will feature longer second and sixth periods for grade discussions or Social and Emotional Learning lessons. Sophomore Georgia Strickland finds the new system confusing and misses the previous schedule. Teachers also face challenges, now responsible for signing students up for their own FIT sessions as the administration works to find a permanent solution. Geometry teacher Matthew Whipple said the current schedule is difficult but hopes for improvements. The administration has said they are working towards a permanent solution. —Carson Duncan

McCallum’s school population recently passed 2,000 students, but with the overcrowded hallways and increasing class sizes, the school built in 1953 was not prepared to hold this increasing size. Part of Mac’s population rise is due to the neighborhoods near McCallum getting younger and more families moving in. Records show between 2000 and 2010, Austin’s population grew nearly 150,000 people, making it the fastest growing city in the United States. Although the neighborhoods around the school may be a promoting factor, it is not the only reason for Mac’s rise. When the Fine Arts Academy was introduced in 1997, McCallum experienced a large new wave of students now interested in transferring to the school for an arts-focused education.

Today, the fine arts program still attracts more students than the school is capable of holding. Although the problem is clear, there is not yet a quick and direct solution to the packed hallways and large classes. The Austin ISD BOND renovation plan to completely modernize the school will not be close to completion until 2040, and until then students and teachers must make do with the 75-year-old building. —Harper Maxwell

Peter Pan Mini-Golf, an Austin staple since 1948, faces an uncertain future as its lease was recently extended only until March 2025. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department is transferring control to a new third-party trustee by the end of the year. This transition raises concerns about a potential rent increase that could threaten the business. Owner Margaret Dismukes Massad is hopeful that she can negotiate a longer lease with the new trustee, while the course also pursues historical landmark status after receiving over 26,000 petition signatures, which could offer protection.

Massad, an Austin native, cherishes her personal connection to Peter Pan, recalling childhood memories of her father carving the course’s iconic sculptures. Locals, including McCallum students, hope the course’s unique history and significance will help keep it alive for future generations.

Mayoral candidate Jeffery L. Bowen speaks at the Allandale Neighborhood Association’s forum, Oct. 15. Photo by Lillian Gray.

Photo by Elizabeth Nation.

Hallways across McCallum have been packed since the start of the school year, as the campus reaches over 2,000 students. Photo by Harper Maxwell.

High kicks and high notes

For junior Lili Escamilla choosing between band, drill team

JoJo Barnard print manaing editor

Junior Lili Escamilla tightens her hat before sprinting off the football field. The marching band has just finished performing, and she needs to be ready quickly. She puts her saxophone down, then regroups with the drill team, preparing to perform once again.

The back-to-back performances Escamilla participates in may seem like a lot of work, but to Escamilla, who is a member of Mac Band and the Blue Brigade, this is just any other game day.

“It’s definitely challenging having to figure out a schedule that suits both [band and drill team] being that they are mostly at the same time,” Escamilla said. “But I really enjoy getting to do both of the activities I love.”

With Escamilla entering her junior year, she says she has already worked out all of the kinks with managing both activities. She was not, however, the only one who had to make adjustments.

“It was definitely a learning curve in Lili’s first year when she decided she wanted to do both,” Blue Brigade director Nancy Searle said. “We [the directors and Escamilla] kind of all worked together to figure it out, and now that she’s a junior we’ve gotten it down.”

Searle, who has been the Blue Brigade director for 35 years, has never had a student concurrently participate in marching band and drill team. In her opinion, the biggest adjustment was football games.

“Games were confusing in the beginning,” Searle said. “We had to figure out details like who she would get ready with or travel home with. We definitely learned a lot from that first year.”

Escamilla agrees that managing both activities required some adjustments.

“It was definitely really challenging at first,” Escamilla said. “So working with both directors was an important part of it. We all had to collaborate, but once I figured out a good system it went pretty smoothly. Both directors were very understanding about everything.”

Dillon Junkin, the assistant

director of Mac Band, has worked in combination with Escamilla and Searle to make Escamilla’s dual extracurricular activities a possibility.

Despite Escamilla’s involvement in two groups with overlapping practices and performances, Junkin reports that

was never an

fundamental part of the band for more than just her character; she also holds two leadership positions. Escamilla is the co-sectionleader for her instrument, which allows her to set the standards for both marching

“ I love dancing and I love playing an instrument, so I didn’t want to give up either and I’m glad I made that decision.

—junior Lili Escamilla

”option

Escamilla’s schedule is packed. Every day she arrives at school at 6:20 a.m. to practice with the band. On B days, Escamilla has Blue Brigade fifth period, so she goes straight from band practice to drill team practice. On A days, when Blue Brigade does not have class, she misses the last hour-and-a-half of band practice to dance. Additionally, Escamilla has band practice after school on Mondays until 6:15 p.m., and Blue Brigade practice afterschool on Tuesdays until 6 p.m.

Despite the packed schedule, Junkin and Searle claim she makes it work.

“The biggest challenge has probably just been keeping up with both [activities] consistently,” Escamilla said. “Because they’re both happening at different paces, everything can feel all over the place and unpredictable at times. This makes it difficult to handle, but I’ve gotten used to it.”

For Escamilla, leaving one of her passions behind in middle school was never on the table. “I wanted to do both because I love dancing, and I love playing an instrument, so I didn’t want to give either up,” she said. “ And I’m glad I made that decision because I’ve made so many friendships along the way.”

Escamilla has demonstrated that it is possible to be involved in both marching band and drill team: “I hope that I can encourage people to work hard for what they want to achieve and what they love to do,” she said, “because it is all worth it in the end.”

Escamilla’s weekly comittment to both Band and Blue Brigade. Graphic by

Lili Escamilla performs at Bandapalooza on Aug. 25. Photo by Lillian Gray.

Lili Escamilla performs with the Blue Brigade during the Pink Week pep rally on Oct. 10. Photo by Julia Copas.

Lili

Chloe Lewcock.

PALS bleed pink, earn green

Annual Pink Week raises $2,755 for Breast Cancer Resource Center of Texas

RIGHT: PALS form the shooting PAL-ery, making themselves water balloon targets to raises money for the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Texas. “Giving people the opportunities to do something fun and for a good cause was very satisfying,” senior PAL Zane Wiggins said. Caption by Josie Mullan. Photo by Beatrix Lozach.

ABOVE: Science teacher Syndey Schriever took three shaving cream pies to the face at the Pink Week pep rally. “It’s a good way to get your teachers back, but is also fun,” Schriever said. Caption by Fletcher Vandegrift. Photo by Sophia Manos.

RIGHT: Decked out in pink nails, glasses and a lei, junior PAL Max Satterwhite shows his Pink Week spirit. Satterwhite and the rest of the PALS put in lots of work to organize the Pink Week festivities. “In order to prepare, we would split up into different committees, which were in charge of one specific part of Pink Week,” Satterwhite said. “We would plan in those groups for several weeks before Pink Week. Also, the weekend before Pink Week we would come decorate the school, which wasn’t easy.” While the week was successful, it required lots of time. “One challenge that we all had was setting up and cleaning up the courtyard,” Satterwhite said. “Many of us would have to get out of classes early and get back to classes late in order to make Pink Week possible.” Satterwhite said the being PAL-lery target was a personal highlight. “I volunteered to be in it on Wednesday, and it was really fun, especially after the PSAT.”

Caption by Carson Duncan Photo by Beatrix Lozach.

With

said.

ABOVE: With fellow junior Kimora Hale photobombing the photo behind them, juniors Chris Alvarez, Kiekie Mason, Jaelyn Martinez, Valeria Villafuerte and Jaylin Sanchez lock arms as the band plays “Hawk” at the Pink Week pep rally. Sanchez said that Pink Week is one of her favorite times of the year for several reasons. “My favorite part about Pink Week is being able to raise money for breast cancer awareness and how it promotes good activities to help people,” Sanchez said. “My favorite color is also pink, so it’s always fun seeing the color all around school.” For Sanchez, the Pink Week pep rally embodies much more than just school spirit and sports. “Raising awareness for breast cancer is important because it promotes early detection, supports those affected and helps fund research for a cure and treatments,” Sanchez said.

Caption by Chloe Seckar-Martinez. Photo by Sophia Manos.

BELOW:

the help of her mom, Austin Pets Alive! community affairs officer Suzie Chase, junior PAL Maggie Brown organized the first ever Pink Week puppy petting event, which helped raise $700 on Pink Week Tuesday. “It was so great to see how excited people were to pet the puppies,” Brown

Caption by Josie Mullan. Photo by Beatrix Lozach.

29, 2024

These shoes knock socks off

Just for kicks, we rated our favorite shoe brands, so you can find the best fit for you

Sophia Manos, Sofia Saucedo staff reporters

Sneakers are all anyone’s talking about these days. Everyone wants to know what the next top trending kicks will be, who will have which pair, and how soon until this micro trend will last. We have put the 6 most trending sneakers to the test, but be warned, we spared no sneaker from our most devious thoughts.

Reebok: 4/5

Having been around since 1958, Reebok is making its comeback. Once known for being athletic shoes, these iconic sneakers are now a staple in everyday streetwear, making it clear that they aren’t just a microtrend that will pass in a year.

They’re also durable and good quality. What more could you ask for?

These timeless sneakers combine modern designs with their retro predecessors. I personally love them because they are classy, yet not too flashy. After all, I don’t want my shoes to be my statement piece.

Unlike other brands that solely focus on aesthetics, Reebok shoes are known for both look and comfort. They have a lot of padding inside them, making the soles extremely soft. They are also friendlier to your pocketbook than most of their competitors with most of their shoes being around $70.

—Sophia Manos

Adidas: 5/5

It is fair to say that Adidas is the shoe to have at the moment. Whether it’s Sambas, Gazelles, Spezials or even Campuses, Adidas is selling out nationwide.

Consumers around the world are obsessing

over the creative style, fun colors and wide variety of platforms and low tops, and it’s fair to say that so are we.

Personally, the style of Adidas Sambas is perfectly curated to match whoever wears them. My personal favorite Adidas shoe, however, is the Gazelles. I love the high tops, and I think the color combinations are perfect. Some say that the Adidas brand of sneakers look like bowling shoes, but they are actually supposed to be a kind of soccer shoe, and anything soccer-related, you already know, is gonna be fire.

Since I own a pair of Adidas Sambas, I can attest to the fact that you will need to size down. I ordered a pair of white and black sambas in a size 7.5 and ended up needing a size 6.5. They don’t provide all that much support but after all they were made to play soccer, so they still are more comfortable than other shoes.

Although Sambas may be trending for their style and popularity, the real question is how much are they, and will they last me? Adidas shoes are also generally affordable compared to some of the other trending shoes, coming in at $100-$120 on the Adidas website.

Generally, I can overlook the fact that they are not the most durable because of how versatile they are. You really can wear them with anything.

—Sofia Saucedo

Onitsuka Tigers: 3/5

While Onitsuka Tigers are trending right now, the color options are slightly more vibrant, meaning, you may not find a color option that you will fall in love with. It might be safer to opt for a more diverse brand like Adidas.

In my opinion, however, Onitsuka Tigers, are more creative and stylish than any of the other shoes on this list. I love the pattern on the sides of the shoe, and they are more niche than Adidas or New Balances.

Although the Tigers bring a vibe to any function, the vibes are kind of lost when remembering that the prices range anywhere from $215 to $360 for regular sneakers. We were able to find a bargain off of StockX, but even with a sweet deal, the Tigers still reign in at a whopping $170. With such an expensive price, you better believe the Tigers are durable.

Overall, you would not catch me wearing Onitsuka Tigers, just because of the price tag, but other than that, the Tigers are stylish, colorful, and definitely trendy.

—Sofia Saucedo

Pumas: 4/5

I own a pair of Pumas, and they have yet to disappoint. Originally, I bought my Pumas for $75 off of Amazon, but unfortunately, I did not get the pair that I had ordered. While I didn’t receive the pair I initially picked out, I still love the ones that I received. I think they are quite comfortable—dare I say?—more comfortable than my Adidas Sambas, and they provide stability when I walk around for extended periods of time, and not to mention they are adorable. My only problem with them is that there is not much variety, and whether or not you love bright colors, or like to keep it classy with neutrals, you will have limited options. I think that the design aspect of my Pumas is lovely. I really like the color of the word Puma on the side, as well as the font, and I also really like that the stripe is not basic, but not too over the top to where they take over the whole design concept of the shoe.

I would say the Pumas are my current favorite sneaker.

—Sofia Saucedo

New

Balance: 3/5

My pair of New Balance 550s are my favorite pair of shoes I own. They match every outfit and with so many color options, there is really something for everyone, and you can never go wrong with them. They are the perfect shoes to go with any outfit,

whether they are your statement piece or just a pair of shoes to go about daily.

People criticize them for looking like “grandpa shoes” but they always complete my outfits.

So what if I look like a 70-year-old man when wearing them?

In my opinion, It’s a look. On their website, they cost $110, but they are extremely popular, and they are commonly sold out of their most sought-after styles, so you have to order them from third-party websites most of the time like StockX, or Goat, and the prices are typically higher than what they are on the website.

One reason for their popularity is that they are extremely comfortable, I wear them all day and my feet never hurt.

The only negative is that they are rather bulky and heavy, making it hard to travel with them. Other than that, they live up to expectations.

—Sophia Manos

Golden Goose: 1/5

Out of every pair of sneakers, Golden Goose will always be at the bottom of my list. Although they have become a more notable brand in recent years, there is no way to justify buying a pair of sneakers that comes looking dirty for around $400-$600 when you could buy something that is just as nice, as well as way cheaper from any other brand.

The design, which includes distressed marks all around the brand-new shoe, makes it seem as though the shoe has already been worn by another person, which is counterintuitive to paying such a high price for these handcrafted shoes made in Italy.

Despite some people seeing them as a fashion statement that sets the wearer apart, I see them as unattractive and ugly.

The worn-out look makes it seem like it would take you less than a minute to find something similar on Depop, for a fraction of the price. Credits to the brand’s approach though, as it seems to amass a unique market of buyers willing to pay that much for such a distinctive, yet laid-back style. The only good thing about this product, however, is that it can still be classified as a shoe, which stands for something for sure. Similar to the one star trademark that appears on the shoe, I am giving it a one-star rating.

—Sophia Manos

New spaces, new sound

Guitar and piano classes thrive after relocations and expansions

Evelyn Jenkins

a&e editor, co-business manager

The guitar and piano classes had been sharing a space for over a decade, but when the dance program moved into its new studio, a space opened up. The guitar classes relocated into the black box last spring, and the piano program was able to expand into the rest of the portable. According to teachers and students across the board, this move has been beneficial for both programs.

The guitar class moved into the portable in 2013 after being in a classroom in the Fine Arts Building. According to guitar teacher Andrew Clark, the extra space in the black box has allowed the program to be more productive.

“We outgrew the portable,” Clark said. “At the start of last year, I had about 170 students, so most of my classes were in the lower 30s. With guitars in half a portable, it was a little tight. The [new] space is much larger here, and it has the feel of an adequate rehearsal space.”

According to chamber guitar player Shirel Behar, the new space has been a significant upgrade for the program and is contributing to its success.

“I like the new space a lot, especially since it’s closer to the fine arts building,” Behar said. “It’s going to be a lot easier to set everything up, and transporting equipment to the Mac will be a lot easier.”

The move from the portable to the black box has also proved to be beneficial for the piano classes. According to senior piano

student Josie Molnar, now that they have expanded into the second half of the portable, they have more space and fewer distractions.

“One of the things I like the most about the expansion into the guitar portable is that the upper-level piano classes don’t have to do assignments like ear training or rhythmic dictation,” Molnar said. “I think it will also be good during ensemble because more than one group will be able to practice out loud. It used to be really hard to practice with your group when another group was playing out loud because you could hear it through the headphones.”

Theater performances will also take place in the black box in the evening, and plans are being made to accommodate McCallum’s theater program in any upcoming performances.

“I agreed to share this space with theatre,”

Clark said. “They’d like to have performances in here in the evening because it is a black box theater space. I think that’s what it was originally intended for. Dr. Parrott and I have also discussed moveable black curtains being placed around the perimeter so that theater can have performances.”

According to Molnar, when the music classes were sharing a small space, distractions and interruptions occurred. In the past, the piano classes were able to hear through the walls of the portable and were often interrupted.

“When guitar class was on that side of the portable I could always hear the teacher talking and people playing guitar,” she said. “It was especially distracting when they had a metronome on because it made it really hard

The dance classes, that were previously housed in the black box theater, have moved to the new dance studio. Guitar moved to the black box theater, and piano expanded to both rooms in the portable it had shared previously with guitar. Graphic by Evelyn

to focus on your own metronome.”

Clark has plans for improving and renovating the new space to account for the echo in the black box; however, the plans remain in the future as the class is still getting used to the space.

“What I would like to work on now is that there is a little too much of an echo,” Clark said. “That can make it hard to hear the nuances of the classical guitar, so we’d like to get rid of this marley floor and put in some soft carpet.”

Overall the move for both programs has been beneficial.

“I’m so happy to be in this space because it’s the perfect size for this program that has been growing over the past several years,” Clark said.

Jenkins

Photo by Dave Winter

Photo by Jasper Williams

The march back to college

Math teacher joins alums, performing in band on Longhorn Alumni Day

Lillian Gray staff reporter

Math teacher Richard Cowles went back to college on Saturday Sept. 21. Cowles took part in the Longhorn Alumni Band´s halftime performance during The University of Texas´ home game against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.

The Longhorn Alumni Band includes alumni from the UT band who come together once a year to perform at halftime.

The day started at 9 a.m. with an hourlong practice to confirm that the alumni knew their marching lines and their music and to reinforce both for the practice later in the day.

Cowles, who finished with the band in the fall of 1992, said that he didn’t need too much of a refresher, because the music he learned in college has stayed with him through the years.

“Although the show looks complex, it’s not too bad,” Cowles said. “For the most part, most of us have it still somewhat memorized. I was able to do about 75% from memory and then just had to kind of remember some of the other stuff.”

Cowles’ introduction to the music world started in seventh grade with the trumpet. When he got to the University of Texas in 1987, he tried out for the Longhorn Band but was placed in the basketball band instead. After a year with the basketball band, Cowles gave it another shot, making the Longhorn Band the second time around. He said getting back on the field last weekend was nostalgic.

¨It brings back such fond memories,¨ Cowles said. “It’s great to be out there performing with your buddies. I saw some people that I haven’t seen in years. It was such a treat to catch up.”

Along with seeing many former band mates, Cowles also connected with McCallum graduates who are current members of the Show Band of The Southwest.

“It was a huge treat,” Cowles said. “It was fun that there’s that tradition of people from McCallum going and getting into the Longhorn Band and [enjoying] that success. And certainly McCallum’s top marching program helps them succeed in getting into the Longhorn Band.”

Longhorn Band piccolo player, junior Madelynn Niles, was one of those students. Although the two didn’t catch up, they passed by each other after their performance, a special moment for Niles who had Cowles for AP Statistics before she graduated McCallum as part of the class of 2022

“It was definitely comforting to see a

familiar face cheering us on at the end of the game, and also cool to realize and see how one of my McCallum teachers shared many of the same experiences in college that I am having now,” Niles said. “Even though I didn’t get to talk to Mr. Cowles at the game, I definitely feel a greater sense of connection to him now that we’re both a part of the LHB family. I hope I see him next year for my last alumni day.”

Despite Longhorn Alumni Band members spanning several generations, Niles said there is a strong bond between them and the group of students in the Longhorn Band today.

“It is actually pretty surreal to play alongside people that marched in the band in the ’50s, ’60s, etc.,¨ she said. “We have such a shared experience. It’s also really cool to see how the band has changed over the years, but we still do a lot of the same things, too. As

cheesy as it sounds, it really does feel like a family. A family of over 1,000.”

Mellophone player John Hamlet, who was in the same graduating class as Niles, shares the sentiment.

“It was really special,” Hamlet said. “LHB [Longhorn Band] is home to a tight-knit community, very similar to McCallum. It’s very nice when the two communities overlap.”

Hamlet, like Niles, saw Cowles at the game and emphasized the significance of the opportunity to march with the Alumni Band.

“The experience with the alumni was exciting,” Hamlet said. “It’s cool to see the decades of people who come back every year to march again, and it shows just how much of an impact both LHB and band in general have on people’s lives.”

In his third year at the university, a

performance like this was fairly routine for Hamlet, but one he doesn’t take for granted, especially on unique nights like this one.

“Playing halftime shows in DKR [Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium] is always amazing,” Hamlet said. “There’s nothing like an audience of 100,000 people to get you hyped up. Having the alumni definitely makes it a unique experience for sure, especially with the amount this year. It shows how much being at UT and in LHB means to so many people.”

Though UT sophomore saxophone player Stephanie Gallegos did not have Cowles as a teacher at Mac, she spotted him immediately on the field.

“He happened to be right in front of me when the current band joined the alumni band during the performance,” Gallegos said. “I remember walking out to my spot during the rehearsal and seeing a McCallum shirt in front of me. I didn’t know he played trumpet, so my immediate thought was ‘No way!’ It was really cool and kind of ‘What are the odds?’ considering how many people are on the field at the time.”

Like Niles and Hamlet, Gallegos couldn’t help but appreciate the unique experience that having the alumni band presented.

“There’s around 1,000 of us on the field,” she said. “You have people who were part of the Longhorn Band in the 1960s to people who are in their first year of college. It’s a sweet reminder that you’re part of something bigger, and it’s so fun to see them partake in traditions that they did in college that we still do today. There’s a game my section plays right before we enter the stadium, and this time we also got to play with the alumni.”

For current or past members of the Longhorn Band, Saturday night provided a memorable experience, one that Cowles, like these Mac alumni, found to be energizing.

“Being on the field, hearing all the cheers, playing the ‘Eyes of Texas’ with a thousand instruments was pretty cool,” he said. “It was loud, which was neat. As well as just remembering what it was like to get on the field and march in front of a big crowd. It’s certainly an adrenaline rush.”

Scan QR code to watch the Longhorn Alumni Band. perform on YouTube.

Math teacher and PALS sponsor Richard Cowles poses for a selfie with Alumni Band members Kirsten Davenport (left) and Anne Hochfelder (right) before their halftime performance with current members of the Longhorn Band. Photo Courtesy of Cowles.

University of Texas sophomore and Class of ‘23 McCallum graduate, saxophonist Stephanie Gallegos, (right) marches to the stadium alongside sophomore saxophonist Rohan Engineer prior to start of the football game. Photo by Longhorn Band photographer Kailey Kessler.

fine arts briefs

Theatre 1 freshmen perform scenes in Oct. 16 showcase

The Theatre 1 majors came together to perform a series of scenes and monologues directed by performance theatre teacher, Bonnie Brookby, on Wednesday Oct. 16 Freshman theater major Etta Fannin performed the monologue “Hot Tragic Dead Thing”’ by Ashley Rose Wellman and the scene “Ruby Year” by Alexander Lee alongside freshmen Avital Cuevas and Hudson Haywood. Fannin said the new class of theater majors have become very close over the time they’ve prepared for this showcase. “It was a good environment,” said Fannin. “My favorite part was hanging out backstage and hyping everyone else when it was their turn to go onstage.” Fannin enjoys the process of building up emotions during a scene with her classmates. In the scene “Ruby Year,” Fannin performed with Cuevas and Haywood and said the scene was very emotional, displaying a complicated family dynamic and showing the commonality of arguments within them. “My favorite piece was my scene, and I enjoy acting with others and being able to build up the scene with the other actors,” Fannin said.

— Tallulah McAuliffe

Visit Shield online for A&E coverage

Scan the QR code to read more stories on arts and entertainment from McCallum.

Ballet Folklórico delivers lunch show

During lunch on Oct. 11, the McCallum Ballet Folklórico dance troupe performed in the cafeteria. Spanish teacher Jeanette Miranda Santiago said she appreciated that Hispanic Heritage Month was getting recognition. “It’s amazing for the students to have a chance to get a taste of the Hispanic culture,” Santiago said. “I think it’s so important for the school community to make a connection with this amazing culture.” She explained that it’s important for others to understand different cultures they may not know or have been exposed to before. “It’s nice when we can understand other people’s traditions and cultures, and be a part of it for a short period of time,” Santiago said. “I think it was so kind of them to give us a performance during lunch time.”

New mixed choir makes debuts at fall concert

nov.

audition workshop

MAC—5:30 p.m.

12-14

Fall Recitals @ MAC—6:30 p.m.

Members of the choir program sing during the choir concert titled “Who we are” on Thursday Oct. 17. During the concert, four preexisting choirs and a new one performed their first musical pieces of the year. Concert choir debuted a piece of music, and a new mixed choir with all the voice parts, the meistersingers, was introduced during the concert as well.

Although the meistersingers choir is new, choir vice president and senior Zane Wiggins believes that there haven’t been many challenges. Wiggins is thankful for the combined class since last year there was no designated mixed choir, meaning students from tenor bass and chamber choir found time outside of school to rehearse for this group. He also loves being a part of the choir.

“Having a mixed class makes it so much more convenient and allows us to put more effort into those pieces,” Wiggins said. “And the atmosphere of the class is great, and I can see the class becoming more like a family over time.”

Senior choir officer Ella Piston, a member of both the meistersingers and chamber choir, agrees that it’s more efficient to

have a class period dedicated to the choir.

“I got to sing last year as part of our UIL mixed choir, but it’s even more special to have a specific mixed class,” Piston said. “There’s so much range in our voices, and it has allowed us to create a really rich sound.”

Piston’s favorite piece from the concert repertoire was “There Was a Time,” which was performed by the mixed choir.

“The sounds of our voices mixing and the dynamics we created really stuck with me.”

Wiggins’ favorite piece was a song performed by the tenor bass choir called “Excursion around the Bay.”

This performance featured two solos and choreography. Wiggins, however, felt that one student stole the show. “[Sam Kruck] coming out on stage in a dress and screaming at the top of his lungs and dying was so unexpected yet so hilarious,” Wiggins said. “I never would’ve expected something so over the top in our first concert of the year.” — Riley Pita

Under the direction of Nathan Thompson, concert choir students perform on Oct. 17 in the MAC. Photo by Riley Pita.

Freshmen Etta Fannin, Avital Cuevas and Hudson Haywood introduce themselves to the audience before their performance of “Ruby Year,” which concluded the freshman Theatre 1 showcase on Oct. 16. Photo by Dave Winter.

Junior Abigail Peacock and Ian Savinsky take part in a traditional Mexican dance, the Jarabe Tapatio, when performing with the Ballet Folklórico for Hispanic Heritage Month Oct. 11 in the cafeteria. Photo by Adele Seeboth.

people

oct. 29, 2024

Chords and crawfish

From piano instructor to food truck owner,

Elizabeth Nation staff reporter

Kate Wiley has many jobs such as coaching kickball, offering private piano lessons and running a crawfish truck, but her favorite is teaching piano at McCallum.

Ever since Wiley played her first chord and fell in love with the piano at age 3, it has been an important part of her life. As a toddler, she enjoyed messing around on the piano and learning chord progressions from her mom, a fellow musician, and in first grade, she entered the world of competitive piano. Although Wiley succeeded at competitions on the local, national and international levels, she stopped playing competitively in eighth grade when she and her family moved from Austin to Mississippi. The move spurred her decision to start giving piano lessons.

“The arts are not funded in Mississippi,” Wiley said, “so I started teaching private piano lessons when I was a freshman.” Wiley’s love for teaching piano has only grown since giving her first private lesson during her freshman year. After graduating from Louisiana Tech University with a bachelor of music with a major in vocal performance and a minor in piano performance, she decided to enter teaching. Coming to McCallum was a no-brainer for Wiley because it provided her with an opportunity to reunite with her hometown

but when you get your degree in music, and especially when you get your degree in music and go into teaching, you definitely want to be in a place where you’re teaching students who have an interest in the arts and are there because they want to be, not because someone stuck them in a class to get a credit.”

When Wiley began teaching at McCallum in 2012, the framework for the collaborative piano academy was in place, but no one had instituted it yet. Wiley worked to start the program, which accepted its first piano major in 2013. In its beginning, only one or two majors graduated a year. Since then, interest in the collaborative piano academy, and in piano classes in general, has skyrocketed, according to Wiley.

“Now, there’s often times where, at the beginning of the year, I look at my rosters, and I don’t have enough pianos for all of the kids that are signed up,” Wiley said. “As a department, we’ve consistently grown into a more difficult repertoire, and push each other in a good way to be more successful and grow.”

Despite the growth of the piano academy, Wiley said it is important to limit the number of piano majors to an extent. A requirement for majors in the collaborative piano academy is to accompany shows, orchestras and

Wiley ‘can’t say no to anything’

for the piano academy. “We’re just there to support each other.”

While Wiley directs the collaborative piano academy, she also teaches all non-major piano classes and Music Theory I, a required class for all music majors at McCallum.

When Wiley was given the task of teaching all piano classes at McCallum, she decided to stack all of them together, so that Music Theory I is taught at the same time as Piano I,II,III and IV. This structure allows newer students to receive help and inspiration from advanced pianists.

“You hear one of the piano majors play their solo, and you’re like, ‘Oh wow, somebody that’s my age, or even if maybe the piano major’s a freshman and you’re a junior, well, if they can do that, I feel like I can do that, or I want to do that’,” Wiley said. “It just gives you a little more drive, or a reason to put the work in.”

Although it may seem tough to teach all piano classes at the same time, Wiley is an expert at ensuring all levels of piano receive the support they need, according to her students.

“I feel like Ms. Wiley is really good at treating all of her students the same way, even though some may be majors, some may not be,” sophomore technical theater major Dede

teaching piano,” Talley said. “It was just really fun. I liked learning all about music theory, and I liked that there was a cool balance between music theory and piano.”

Wiley doesn’t only balance music theory and piano for her students; she also balances two businesses outside of teaching, giving private piano lessons and running a crawfish truck, Pops Crawfish. Although Wiley didn’t intend to get involved in so many businesses, when she heard that her stepdad was looking to sell Pops Crawfish, she couldn’t bear to see the business go.

“In my family, everyone jokes that I don’t have a ‘no’ button,” Wiley said. “I can’t say no to anything.”

So, Wiley purchased Pops Crawfish from her stepdad and now runs the business with her stepmom and dad. Through introducing high-quality crawfish to the Austin food scene, Pops Crawfish has grown greatly. Now, they are the official crawfish provider of the University of Texas Athletics Department.

Scan the QR code to read the full profile or visit macshieldonline. com.

More than just desserts

Maya Tackett people editor

Senior America Franken balances creating her own sweets business with school, various extracurriculars

Ever since senior America Franken was little, she’s always wanted to run her own business. Franken remembers sitting down with her mom and brainstorming business ideas such as creating their dream restaurants or launching a fashion or makeup line.

When Franken was 13, she took her first step into entrepreneurship. Her very first business was selling bracelets for a dollar or two at the horse shows where she was competing. Her passion switched to doing nails during her sophomore year, but after a year, she felt the urge to explore something new.

Baking cookies and sweets after dinner one day with her grandma, Franken realized she loved making desserts. Soon afterward, ATX Sweet Serendipity was born.

“[Sweet Serendipity] is a mix of my passion for creativity and my desire to make others smile,” Franken said.

Sweet Serendipity specializes in chocolatecovered strawberries, which Franken points out to be the most popular item, as well as various other chocolate-covered treats.

“I mainly focus on sweets that give you a sense of serendipity,” Franken said. “As for my favorite thing to make, I really enjoy creating choco-flan which is also known as impossible cake. It’s a unique dessert with layers of rich chocolate cake and creamy flan. I love how surprised people are when they see the final product. It’s both a challenge and a delight to make.”

ATX Sweet Serendipity doesn’t just specialize in desserts though. Franken points out that when she created this business she didn’t want it to just be about her desserts, but about creating unforgettable moments for others as well.

“With my business, it’s not just about what I sell or make,” she said. “It’s about creating an experience that leaves a lasting impression.”

One specific experience that Franken helps to create and that her business is involved in is quinceañeras, which is a girl’s 15th birthday party.

“From bringing four-foot-tall gold letters for the birthday girl’s name and number

backdrops that set the scene, I ensure every detail is just right,” Franken said. “And of course, I provide whatever snacks and sweets are requested, tailored to fit the theme and taste of the event. Whether it’s a classic treat or custom creation, I’m here to make sure the celebration is as sweet as possible.”

Franken additionally makes handcrafted eternal ribbon roses, Migajó flowers, and boutonnieres for prom.

“These delicate creations last far beyond the celebration, serving as a cherished keepsake for those special occasions,” she said. “They can last up to 20 years.”

Franken highlights a challenge that comes along with being a business owner, saying it’s hard to earn customers and stand out in the marketplace.

“Getting people’s attention and building a loyal customer base takes time and effort, especially when I am doing all of it by myself,” Franken said.

To attract customers, Franken uses social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok,

and Facebook to share photos and videos of her work. She also relies on word-of-mouth from previous customers who often refer her business to others.

“I try to make cards to hand out and sometimes I make flyers and post them around school hoping for more customers,” she said. “Having kids at school that order from me is so much easier for me because I can make the sweet that morning or the night before and bring it in my cooler to hand out at school. Occasionally, I offer promotions or discounts to attract new clients and keep existing ones engaged.”

Franken attributes much of her success to her grandparents and mom who have supported her throughout Sweet Serendipity’s journey.

“[They] have supported me all my life in every aspiration and project,” Franken said. “My grandparents have always been there for me such as taking me to deliveries when I couldn’t drive myself. My mom played an

important role in getting my business off the ground and even came up with the name ATX Sweet Serendipity. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”

For Cecilia Baylon, Franken’s grandma, driving Franken around to complete her orders was never a sacrifice. It brings Baylon joy supporting Franken. When Baylon first heard that Franken was starting Sweet Serendipity, she thought

“I am extremely proud of [America] for dedicating herself to making her business run well and for staying committed to her studies,” Baylon said. “Every good enterprise begins with a solid idea and hard work. If she puts a lot of effort into it, I know she’ll be very successful.”

Franken’s grandpa, Bernardino Martinez, also acknowledges how starting Sweet Serendipity young was one of the best decisions that Franken has ever made.

“As long as she puts her best foot forward and doesn’t get lazy or scared about how things are going, she’s going to do great,” Martinez. “It is a wonderful thing how much passion and enthusiasm she has to run a business, which so far has been going incredible.”

Martinez hopes that ATX Sweet Serendipity continues to prosper and receives lots of clients in the future.

“It will be challenging and exhausting, but that’s the nature of hard work,” he said. “With enough passion, she can accomplish anything.”

Franken’s mother, Claudia Franken, also has hopes that Franken’s business continues to grow and become something that Franken can build on in the future.

“I’d love for her to gain more experience, maybe even expand her skills and offerings,” Claudia Franken said. “Whether she wants to keep it as a side hustle or turn it into a full-time venture later on, I just hope it gives her confidence and a sense of independence. More than anything, I want her to enjoy it and feel proud of what she’s accomplished.”

Along with helping to develop the name, ATX Sweet Serendipity, Claudia Franken played a role financially, helping Franken get started.

ATX Sweet Serendipity was started and created by senior America Franken. Graphic courtesy of Franken.

New emcees bring the

Seniors Julia Rasp and Trinity Ritcherson rally their pep as the new

Camilla Vandegrift social media managing editor

When it’s football season on campus, Mac spirit is everywhere. From dressing up for the theme of the week during the day to cheering from the stands of House Park in the evening, school pride echoes from every corner. But arguably the most spirited events of them all are pep rallies—and to be able to lead pep rallies, seniors Julia Rasp and Trinity Ritcherson have to be the most spirited in the school.

Rasp has been interested in the idea of becoming a pep rally emcee since her freshman year when she said she started to go all out for spirit days. Since then, Rasp has only become more spirited.

“I just love to scream my heart out at pep rallies,” Rasp said. “I always thought if I didn’t lose my voice by the end of pep rallies, I was just doing it wrong.”

Interested in being an emcee so she could bring hype to the crowd, Ritcherson contacted Brodbeck over the summer.

“I think I asked in the week or two before school started,” Ritcherson said. “I emailed Ms. Brodbeck to ask about the position. Even though there already was an emcee chosen, they allowed me to do it with Julia, so I’m thankful they let me do that.”

Though leading pep rallies was once a role filled by teachers, students have taken charge of the tradition in recent years.

“ Getting to look at the entire senior class and get the energy up, and just seeing people laugh and yell was really fun.

“Last year we had our president of our student council and our president of our senior class who asked to be emcees, and we kind of just fell into that,” Brodbeck said.

“This year, [Rasp and Ritcherson] came up to us because they

cheering them on, compared to teachers trying to do it,” she said.

“

After the emcee team was set, all that was left to do was wait for football season. The first pep rally can be nerve-wracking for a new emcee, according to Rasp. But the tradeoff is worth it to her.

“Getting to look at the entire senior class and get the energy up, and just seeing people laugh and yell was really fun,” Rasp said. “And it just felt like the perfect, perfect thing for me.”

it’s helpful because all the attention isn’t just on one person, it’s like an on-and-off thing. It’s nice having someone by my side to do all these wacky things with.” Brodbeck said the emcees are doing a great job, despite how new the role is to both of them.

I always thought if I didn’t lose my voice by the end of pep rallies, I was just doing it wrong. —senior Julia Rasp

”The pre-rally nerves also are lessened by having a partner to hype you up, Rasp said.

Because she felt this way, Rasp knew that being an emcee would be a good fit for her.

“It was just the highlight of my week when I got to go to pep rallies,” she said, “or, when I would see MacJ do the spirit day pictures. I just loved it.”

Rasp said she talked to members of Student Council, including seniors student body president Kalliope Haltom, student body vice president Christina Petropolous and class president Poppy Harris, who all thought Rasp would do well in the emcee role.

“I brought it up to Kalliope, Poppy and Christina because they’re my good pals,” Rasp said. “I think they brought it up to [Student Council sponsor Amy] Brodbeck. So, it just kind of happened—it wasn’t super formal.”

Ritcherson became an emcee in a similarly informal fashion.

—senior Julia Rasp

”

“They both enjoy it, and they’re both spirited young ladies,” Brodbeck said. “I know they’re going to do fantastic for the rest of the year.”

As emcees, Ritcherson and Rasp have an entirely different pep rally experience than the one they had for the past three years, on the gym floor instead of in the bleachers.

“I missed a little bit being able to just be with everyone,” Rasp said. “But it’s nice to just see all my friends together. It didn’t honestly feel that different, since we stand so close to them.”

Not only does Rasp show spirit during pep rallies, but she brings it on during the day by dressing up for themes. Since her brother Anthony Rasp won Most Spirited as a superlative for the LASA Class of 2014, Rasp has been carrying the family torch of school pride.

“[My brother] didn’t directly influence me to do my spirit day outfits,” Rasp said, “but he always told me if it’s fun and I like doing it, my true friends will laugh along and be supportive of it.” Out of every spirit day theme, Rasp’s favorite is Barbecue Dad vs. Soccer Mom.

“It’s a classic,” she said. “It’s worldrenowned. You see the amount of people who do it that day—it’s wonderful when you’re dressed up in the barbecue dad outfit, and you see another barbecue dad, and there’s that look of understanding. I love it.”

Ritcherson’s favorite spirit theme, tropical, has already passed this year, and since she is a senior, this is the last time she will have dressed up for it.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Ritcherson said, “but since it’s senior year, I’m excited to go all out for everything. Embarrassment is just a mindset.”

Seniors Trinity Ritcherson and Julia Rasp dance at the tropical and disco-themed pep rallies.

Photos by Dave Winter and Josie Linton. Graphics by Nate Williams.

the noise

voice of pep rallies

Favorite spirit day:

Barbecue vs Soccer Mom

“

It’s wonderful when you’re dressed up in the barbecue dad outfit and you see another barbecue dad, and there’s that look of understanding.

Knock, knock, who’s there?

Senior StuCo officers embrace opportunity to take their turn at the morning microphone

Eva Sanchez staff reporter

Favorite spirit day: Tropical/Hawaiin

“

I loved dressing up and going all out this year for the tropical day but the theme days have such a bittersweet feeling.

Every morning at McCallum the same bell rings through the speakers during the beginning of second or sixth period. A popular song fills the room and the famous line “Good morning, Mac Knights!” said by seniors Poppy Harris, Kalliope Haltom, Christina Petropoulos and Evan Bausman. After making their announcements and updates for the week, they end with the “bad joke of the day.” The Student Council officers cultivate content and news to keep students informed and entertained daily.

“I’ve heard people say that the jokes are not good, but I think it’s funny that they are not funny,” Harris said. “The laugh at the end is always more funny than the joke.”

“

president; Harris, the senior class president; and Bausman, the senior class vice president.

The seniors’ inspiration from previous years of listening to the announcements drove their desire to be a part of it.

“We would hear the seniors from last year do the morning announcements, and thought it sounded so fun,” Harris said. “Picking the song, saying the joke and laughing with your friends in that booth is just so great, and I’m so glad we got to take part in it this year.”

Part of the job for this crew includes keeping the music and jokes fresh each day. The announcers have a playlist and joke book they bring to school every day. The styles of the songs are chosen from what’s trending currently or the vibe that day brings.

“For Fridays, we try to keep it hype, especially for game days,” Harris said. “However, every other day we use songs from the playlist we all add to. Most songs we try to play are trending or popular.”

The best part of doing the announcements is connecting with the student body. —senior Kalliope Haltom

Year after year, McCallum’s Student Council members are the voices of the announcements that the students receive every morning. This year’s announcers include Haltom, the student body president; Petropoulos, the vice

For any aspiring students who would like to join the announcement senior year, Haltom suggests joining the student council and becoming a member of the team so the tradition lives on. She advises the students who want to take part in this role to never be nervous and stay positive. The announcers find it fun and exciting to start the day off with laughter.

”

“It’s not too stressful,” Harris said. “But if the announcements are ever late one day just know we are probably in there dancing and laughing to songs.”

Dressed up for USA Day, seniors StuCo members Evan Bausman, Kalliope Haltom, Poppy Harris and Christina Petropoulos pose near the office where they present the morning news to Mac.

Photo by Eva Sanchez.

Photo by Dave Winter.

Photo by Julia Copas.

Leading from afar

Motwani has made but continues her passion of creating leaders. Graphic by

Former Knight, now Floridian, continues to inspire students despite distance

V Overstreet staff reporter

When Ruhi Motwani, founder and president of the “You Can Be a Leader” Club at McCallum, announced she was moving to Florida, many students wondered what the future held for the club. Despite the distance, Motwani has clarified that her leadership is far from over.

“I started the club after I attended a three-week precollege camp at Barnard College in New York,” Motwani explained when asked what inspired her to form the club. “The camp focused on business, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

on how Motwani’s efforts paved the way for these opportunities.

“Last year, she brought in guest speakers for us to hear from,” Seckar-Martinez said.

“We had a photographer, a lawyer, and even an influencer speak to us. We were also planning to bring in more guests, like Kendra Scott and local restaurant owners.

Even though Motwani has moved to Florida, she’s made sure that the program continues because it’s such a great opportunity for students to learn how to become leaders.”

“ The hardest part has been preparing myself mentally to know that I can only do so much online and not everything is in my hands.

I came to the realization that anyone can be a leader, not just people in influential positions of power. That’s what led me to want to start the club.”

Since its inception, “You Can Be a Leader” has been dedicated to fostering leadership skills among McCallum students, encouraging them to see that leadership doesn’t always mean being the loudest or the most powerful person in the room.

The club, which started last year, has grown into a meaningful space where students not only learn leadership skills but also get exposed to guest speakers from various fields. One of the club’s newly appointed vice presidents, Chloe Seckar-Martinez, reflected

—junior

Ruhi Motwani

”

Junior club member Corinne Hampton echoed this sentiment.

“It’s definitely been different not having the founder of the club be able to run it in person since they moved,” she shared.

“But I think that the club is still going to be able to run smoothly this year since we now have some club officers who will be running it under the guidance of the founder, Ru.”

Despite her move, Motwani remains deeply involved in the club’s activities.

“Now that I’m remote, I’m still in charge of planning bi-weekly to monthly meetings with the officers,” she said. “We discuss club ideas and I’ve been reaching out to guest speakers, keeping the social media accounts updated, and creating presentations for meetings. I’m doing everything I did last year when I was in person, except for attending and leading the

meetings themselves.”

Her ability to adapt has been crucial in ensuring the club remains active and continues to meet its goals.

The transition hasn’t been without its challenges, according to Motwani.

“I have two amazing vice presidents who’ve helped make the process easier,” she said. “But the hardest part has been preparing myself mentally to know that I can only do so much online and not everything is in my hands. I would love to come to all the meetings, but that’s not possible, so it’s been tricky to transition to doing all the behind-thescenes work. But I know I’ve left the club in great hands!”

“

presidents are committed to maintaining its original mission.

“Our goal this year is to keep going with the original intention of the club. Although she can’t be here physically, Motwani is still a vital part in helping us reach out to other businesses and create lessons to teach leadership values to students at McCallum,” Seckar-Martinez explained. “It’s about showing students that you don’t always have to be the loudest person in the room to be a leader, and that’s something we emphasize.”

I’ve been thinking about expanding the club across Austin ISD for a while, so that might be something you’ll hear about from me soon.

Seckar-Martinez, who has taken on a leadership role in Motwani’s absence, has worked tirelessly with her co-vice president to ensure the club’s success.

“We were selected as vice presidents, and over the summer, we reached out to a lot of businesses,” Seckar-Martinez shared. “We’re bringing back people like the influencer Motwani introduced last year, and we’ve been in contact with local restaurants like Nervous Charlie’s and El Dorado. Right now, we’re doing meetings virtually to check in with Motwani and see what our goals should be.”

Even though this is only the second year of the “You Can Be a Leader” club, the vice

—junior

Ruhi Motwani

”Looking forward, Motwani hopes to expand the club beyond McCallum.

“Once I’m more settled in, I would love to expand the ‘You Can Be a Leader’ club to schools across the Orlando area,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about expanding the club across Austin ISD for a while, so that might be something you’ll hear about from me soon.”

Motwani’s move to Florida hasn’t diminished her passion or leadership. Instead, she’s found new ways to contribute from afar, proving that leadership knows no boundaries. With her remote guidance and the dedication of Seckar-Martinez, Hampton, and the other officers, the “You Can Be a Leader” club continues to thrive, reminding students that anyone, anywhere, can be a leader.

Creating a lasting impact

Noack leads Link Crew, a program to help freshmen transition to high school

Piper Norfolk staff reporter

Two years ago, science teacher Sarah Noack wanted to do something more for McCallum. She went to the principal at the time, Nicole Griffith, looking for an opportunity to further her impact on the school.

“Griffith described a program called Link Crew that had been established at Austin High designed to bridge the gap between middle and high school. Noack, who has been at McCallum for 12 years, decided to start a McCallum chapter of Link Crew to do more to help the freshmen in their transition by having upperclassmen share knowledge with their younger peers.

“I had a dream about a freshman class like High School 101, [and] How to Do High School Better,” Noack said.

“Things like how to email your teachers, how to navigate

friendships, how to apply for a job, all the things that freshmen are looking at.”

It feels kind of like summer camp. I like knowing that we’re helping the younger members at McCallum.

Noack had worked with freshmen for 10 years and her extended time spent in the “freshman world” allowed her to understand what they needed help with. After talking with Griffith, she learned that the administrative staff had been needing someone to establish Link Crew at McCallum.

—science teacher, Sarah Noack

”Once Noack agreed to be the coordinator for the program, she needed another coordinator so she went to history teacher

Ashley Friedman and then science teacher Gabriel Adame. Once Friedman and Adame had agreed, they

Crew’s training week and orientation at Austin High to learn from them and integrate the way they run their program into McCallum. Although they don’t collaborate much, Noack and the coordinator at Austin High try to answer each other’s questions as best as possible.

Now at McCallum Link Crew is run by Noack, Friedman, Adame and new addition Katie Liseman. This summer the four worked to tie-dye shirts for Link Crew and facilitated training week.

“orientation,” Manos said. “I thought it would be cool to give other freshmen that experience that I didn’t have,” Manos said. Manos said her favorite part of Link Crew is socializing with her peers and knowing that she isn’t doing it all by herself.

Ms. Noack makes her environment very welcoming and is always there for her students. —sophomore

“I think my favorite part is how fun it is,” Noack said. ”It’s something totally outside of my teaching job that is a ton of work, but it’s super fun.”

Noack explained that if she could have Link

Lujain Alhallaq

”“It isn’t just you having to guide 10 freshmen around the school,” Manos said. “You get to collaborate with others.”

Sophomore Lujain Alhallaq explains that she loves Noack not just for her great teaching but also for the environment she provides for her students.

“Ms. Noack is a great teacher in the way that she cares for all her students and makes learning super fun,” Alhalllaq said. “She makes her environment very welcoming

LEFT: Noack poses with varsity volleyball player and junior Isa Urbina, who honored Noack on Teacher Appreciation Knight. Photo by Mercury Estabrook. RIGHT: Noack teaches her forensics science class. Photo by Piper Norfolk.

Family comes first

Junior takes first job in space with much childhood significance

Josie Linton staff reporter

Many students at McCallum have part-time jobs in addition to their fulltime jobs as students. Work for students opens up new opportunities, experiences and connections. Students have different reasons for applying for jobs and thoughts on working alongside school.

Junior Thea Clare Brosnan works at Redbud Ice House on Anchor Lane, which opened up in March.

“I

staff at Contigo felt like family.”

Looking towards the future, Thea Clare always thought she would work at Contigo.

“When I was younger I always talked about how Contigo would be my first job,” Thea Clare said, “but unfortunately it closed down during COVID.”

Thea Clare’s mom, Dee Brosnan compared the closing of Contigo to a small scale moving away for their family.

truly could not have picked a better place to work as my first real job.

—junior

Thea Clare Brosnan

“My uncle’s restaurant Contigo used to be in the space, and I spent many nights there as a kid, so it was a pretty significant part of my childhood,” Thea Clare said. “We had things like birthdays, reunions, and familyfriend dinners every Thursday night. The

“I watched TC and her sisters grow up in Contigo, seeing her there again with an apron on feels like a real circle of life experience,” she said.

Thea Clare’s younger sister Frances Brosnan, a sophomore at Mac, said the closing of Contigo was sudden, but Redbud taking over was exciting in its own way.

“It was hard hearing that our childhood restaurant was closing,” Frances said. “But, it was exciting to hear that Redbud was

opening because we knew it was going to have a similar vibe to what Contigo did”.

Thea Clare was hired on the spot after sharing her connection to Contigo and the dream of it being her first job. According to Thea Clare, Redbud Ice House workers shared it was their goal to have the same family-oriented culture that Contigo did.

“It still holds the same charm that Contigo did,” Thea Clare said. “My managers and coworkers are incredible and have become a second family to me.”

Thea Clare’s family supports her job and her work at Redbud, and sometimes visits her at work.

“I go visit TC at work and seeing her work there now is so crazy,” Frances said. “It is such a full circle moment because we grew up there together.”

“They have been super understanding and have allowed me some time to transition into a healthy school routine without having to worry about work.”

Redbud opening made my dream that was lost through contigo closing possible

—junior Thea Clare Brosnan

”In terms of working hours, Thea Clare worked four days a week in the summer, but with school starting now, she only works one shift on the weekends.

Even though this setup was not exactly what

Thea Clare had in mind as her first job, to her it turned out the best way possible.

“Redbud opening made my dream that was lost through Contigo closing possible,” Thea Clare said. “I’ve been with Redbud since it opened and I truly could not have picked a better place to work as my first real job.”

Brosnan and her grandfather at the original family restaurant Contigo.

Photo courtesy of Brosnan.

Brosnan (right) with her coworker Ellie Blankenship at Redbull Ice House during a shift. Photo courtesy of Brosnan.

Soaking up senior year

Class of 2025 cheerleaders head into their last year on McCallum cheer team

Carson Duncan staff reporter

As the year begins, seniors Mary Mae Forsyth and Avi Zeifman have to start their goodbyes, one of the hardest being to cheer. From football games to hours on end of practice, cheer contributes a lot to the duo’s high school experience, especially to their final year of high school.

Zeifman has been on the team since freshman year and says her life won’t be the same without it.

“The team has been my life,” Zeifman said. “I think for a lot of girls it is another extracurricular, but I am cheer obsessed. I’ve been cheering since I was 9, and it’s always been the thing I love the most.”

Cheer not only provides an outlet for Zeifman and Forsyth, but it also offers them a family. The girls on the team spend a big portion of their high school experience together, allowing them to make lasting memories over their years together on the team.

“Cheer has given me an incentive to be a better community member, student and friend to those around me,” Zeifman said. “It’s the best group of people you could find; it’s literally a sisterhood. It has added a lot of happiness in my life.”

For much of her time on the team, Zeifman has been the only person from the Class of 2025 on the team, but this year there was a new addition.

“My friend Mary Mae joined and has just made cheer that much more enjoyable,” Zeifman said. “Getting to experience my very last Taco Shack with her was amazing.”

Forsyth had been in Blue Brigade for two years, serving one year as a social officer and then decided to try out for the cheer team her junior year. Once she made the team, she decided to make the switch from Blue Brigade to cheerleading.

“I’m most looking forward to enjoying my senior year with all the amazing girls on the team and making memories to bring to college,” Forsyth said.

“I love how involved we are at the games and how engaged we are with both the crowd and watching the players,” Forsyth said.

Being on cheer has brought new challenges for Forsyth. This team is a new experience for her and she has had to adjust to the

the team; sophomore Marlowe Walsh just joined the team this year and said that the seniors have helped her feel more welcome.

“They bring great energy to the team,” Walsh said. “They give us tips that are really helpful to make our team stronger.”

Throughout the year the cheer team plays a large role in pep rallies, and the later football games, working to create more spirit for the school.

“Stunting requires lots of persistence and determination that I’ve never been challenged with, as well as my teamwork ability because of how collaborative cheer is.”

Forsyth isn’t the only newcomer to

Zeifman and Forsyth help the team in a multitude of ways, trying to help everyone be the best they can be.

“They help give me advice on my stunting so our stunts are stronger,” Walsh said. “They also help calm everyone down before pep rallies

Sydney Schriever, the new solo head coach for cheer, says that the seniors have made her transition to coaching the team smoother.

“They have both brought different things to the table,” Schriever said. “Avi has been on the team for all four years, so she has a wealth of knowledge of the history of the team. She also knows a lot about cheer, so she is someone that I have been able to ask questions to; she has been a good resource.

Forsyth and Scheirver, both being new, have had to learn how to be a part of the team together.

“Mary Mae came from Blue Brigade

this year, she has dance experience, and we incorporate dance into our cheer stuff sometimes,” Schriever said. “She has been very knowledgeable on that, and she has brought a new perspective, like how cheer is different from Blue Brigade.”

The team has lots to look forward to after football season ends; one of the big events coming up for the team is their first time competing in a UIL competition.

“Cheer is going to the UIL State Championships in January,” Schriever said. “This is the team’s first time at a UIL competition, allowing us to compete against other teams on the state level. We are very excited.”

The cheerleaders are looking forward to this new experience especially because of its long-awaited arrival.

“It’s been quite a few years in the making,” Zeifman said. “I think we all know that because it’s our first year, there isn’t a huge chance of us winning, but it’s an amazing legacy to leave behind for the years to come.”

With much of the year to come and lots of memories to be made, the cheer seniors are ready to soak up all of their last moments at McCallum and make the best of the year.

Seniors Mary Mae and Avi Zeifman pose for a picture at a recent McCallum football game. Photo courtesy of McCallum Cheer.

Coaching doubles

New assistant tennis coach brings enthusiasm to the court, classroom

Daniela Di-Capua staff reporter

Every morning during the fall team tennis season, well before classes begin, you could spot the varsity tennis team practicing on the court under the guidance of their new assistant coach, Ashley Friedman. Prior to the start of the season, Friedman accepted the position of assistant coach for the varsity tennis team, working alongside head coach Michael McLaughlin. The team practiced in the mornings before school during the fall team season, in which the varsity had several competitions, placed third in district and advanced to the first round of the 5A state team tennis tournament.

Though Friedman is new to coaching tennis, she isn’t new to the sport. Not only did she grow up around the sport, but her father was a tennis coach in Connecticut. Friedman credits her love of the sport to her family.

“I grew up playing tennis,” Friedman said. “Not on a team or anything, really just for fun because my whole family is a tennis family.” Her passion for the sport and her experience playing it have helped her transition into coaching the team.

“Honestly I’m not sure I know exactly what I’m doing, but I’m trying to figure it out along the way, and I love the game,” Friedman said. “I think it’s really just an awesome sport, so I’m excited to learn and see how it goes.”

Friedman has been interested in coaching tennis since she started working at McCallum, but this year was the first time her schedule allowed for it.

“I’ve been trying to find ways to get more involved,” Friedman said.

“Even though with Link Crew and stuff I’m already pretty involved, but I’ve been thinking about coaching, and I know that this is the one sport that I would actually really want to coach.”

McLaughlin has never worked with another coach in tennis so having Friedman come in and help out is a new experience for them both. While Friedman is having to navigate how to help around the team and coach the kids, McLaughlin is learning to work with another coach and use her help in a way that will best benefit the team.

“Last year I had somebody who was helping a little bit but really didn’t do a whole lot,”

“ I think she’s definitely brought in some enthusiasm and kind of given the whole program a bit of a lift that we needed.

—head tennis coach Micheal McLaughlin ”

Head coach Micheal McLaughlin recognizes the positive effect Friedman has had on the team and the kids’ morale.

“I think she’s definitely brought in some enthusiasm and kind of given the whole program a bit of a lift that we needed,” McLaughlin said. “It’s a year-long sport, [and] I’ve done it all by myself, and it’s just a lot of work. To have her come in and alleviate a little bit of that load is just a tremendous help.”

McLaughlin said.

“This is my third year coaching and really the first time I’ve had an assistant.”

In terms of workload, Friedman does more than just coaching the team.

“[She] makes a huge difference,”

McLaughlin said.

“Not just the practices, I mean all the other stuff that goes along with coaching: all the paperwork, we had to order uniforms this year, it’s just been a lot of stuff so she’s been a huge help.”

Friedman has been going to all the team’s matches and most practices to play her part in helping the team grow. Whether it’s supporting the players and preparing them for matches or just organizing equipment and filling out paperwork, Friedman has made a difference this season.

Cienna Patel, a JV team member who also sometimes practices with the varsity team, says Friedman has been helpful in giving directions and advice to players.

“She’ll give us tips like don’t stand too close, don’t stand too far,” Patel said “She’s really encouraging, and when it’s just so stressful it’s good to have her there just to calm you down and make it fun.”

After winning silver at district last year, the team earned bronze this year with a thirdplace finish in a far more competitive district.

“She brings a lot of positive energy, and she helps encourage us and make us feel welcome and not as stressed.” Patel said.

Friedman said the team made great strides throughout the fall season, improvements that will help the team compete in the individual portion of the season in the spring semester.

“I think we’re warming up, and we’re also playing really competitive teams, so it’s been a little bit tricky,” Friedman said before the fall season ended. “I’m hopeful, I think we’re gonna really get ‘em.”

Friedman, an AP World History teacher, said she has been enjoying seeing her previous history students out on the court and helping them capture their talent.

“I really like [coaching],” Friedman said “I’ve had a lot of [the team]in class, so that’s been really cool to get to spend more time with a lot of the players that I know from previous years and watch them play because they’re really good.”

In the future, Friedman hopes to stick around and move to coach the JV team.

“I’m looking into maybe just me coaching JV next year,” Friedman said. “ I think it will be good to give them more practice and experience.”

Friedman teaches her first period AP World History class. Photo by Daniela Di-Capua.

Mac tennis players competes in one of their first tournaments of the year against LASA. Photos by Tzuri Patrick.

Seniors Jack Racine and Evan Bausman

Junior Harper Wade

Junior Nadia Tissenbaum

New kid n the court

Adair becomes third freshman on varsity volleyball in four years

Fletcher Vandegrift staff reporter

When Piper Adair stepped onto the court in Don Caldwell Gymnasium for the first time, she was the lone freshman on varsity. Adair played 11 games before attending a day of high school, and her team went 7-4 in that time span. Despite the pressure to succeed, she said she had no difficulty playing her first games. Adair said the only difficulty is proving her commitment and worth to be on the team.

With a long history of volleyball, Adair expressed zero stress or anxiety.

“Brodbeck still believes that Adair is a key player in the Knights’ success.

“I’m already impressed with her maturity and her knowledge of the game,” Brodbeck said. “She knows where to place the ball when she’s hitting, and she can spot serve, which is fantastic. I’m excited to see how she grows to become an all-around player where she would not get off the floor, I think she has that capability.”

Brodbeck emphasized that Adair’s teammates have walked her through the process since day one.

I’m already impressed with her maturity and her knowledge of the game.

“It wasn’t that difficult to start on varsity because we had already had multiple preseason games, so it was more exciting than scary because people were coming to watch, and I just wasn’t as nervous,” Adair said. “I’ve been practicing outside of school with my club for three years, so [being with new players] is nothing new to me,” Adair said. Adair also expressed her teammates have been very welcoming.

“My teammates are awesome,”

—head coach Amy Brodbeck

”“The chemistry is great,” Brodbeck said. “The kids all respect her, they know her skills, her talents, and they support her in every way. When she gets a kill, they all chant ‘She’s a freshman.’ She’s well accepted, everybody has been very welcoming for her to be on the team.”

As for Adair’s teammates, they are impressed with her talent and composure.

“She’s always been very talented,” junior Isa Urbina said. “Her passing has gotten better, and she’s adapted to learn how to play together. She’s a very fast learner and asks questions if she doesn’t understand. She’s

Greta Carlson and junior Lexi Rosenblatt also started their high school volleyball career with coach Brodbeck on varsity. In Carlson’s freshman year, the Lady Knights went 26-20 and finished second in the district, but took a first-round loss to Weiss in the playoffs. In Rosenblatt’s freshman year, the Lady Knights went 28-15 and went undefeated in district, including a four-set win against Pflugerville in the first round of playoffs.

Being a freshman on varsity once herself, Carlson understands Adair’s situation. Carlson said walking into a varsity environment as a freshman can be overwhelming and stressful.

“I think she could break out of her shell a little bit,” Carlson said. “It’s hard being a freshman on varsity, it usually means you don’t get a say in what happens. When she gets older, she’ll become more talkative which will be better for the team.”

Despite her emphasis on Adair’s improvement, Carlson is blown away by the freshman’s ability to work well with older players.

“She’s doing really well,” Carlson said. “She’s a great pinhitter, and she’s very scrappy; she’ll be on the ground for any ball in her vicinity. She also meshes well with the team; we can trust her

PIPER ADAIR’S FRESHMAN YEAR SEASON HIGHS

14 kills versus Eastside on Sept. 6

4 aces versus Lexington on Aug. 29

9 points scored on her serve versus Hendrickson on Aug. 23

Piper Adair sets the ball in the varsity volleyball game against Anderson, Oct. 18. Adair had four kills and a solo block in the Knights’ 3-2 loss. Photo by Josie Linton.

From Germany to game day

Exchange student impresses peers with football skills

Josie Mullan co-website managing editor

When junior Fabian Fleischer came to Austin from Hamburg, Germany, to begin his 10-month exchange, his new peers did not expect him to be familiar with the American football scene. American football is not regularly offered at schools in Germany, but Fleischer was introduced to the sport through an after-school club.

Head football coach Thomas Gammerdinger said he was immediately impressed by Fleischer skill level in American football as an exchange student.

“I was excited to have somebody new,” Gammerdinger said. “I was surprised by how much knowledge of football he had. I think that would be my No. 1 impression: I was impressed with his skill level.”

Teammate, sophomore Aiden Ilai, said on the first day of practice he immediately took notice of Fleischer’s size and strength.

“At first I was like ‘Dang, that kid’s big; he’s huge, super tall’,” Ilai said. “‘He’ll hit somebody pretty hard.’ The first day of practice we were doing a drill, and he just came and smoked me completely.”

Gammerdinger said Fleischer’s broad abilities in football have set him up for success in adapting to the team’s playing style. Learning our scheme would be what he’s improved on, alignments, our rules, he’s a defensive guy, so what our schemes are on defense,” Gammerdinger said. “He tackles well; he’s got some ball skills, so he’s got a pretty well-rounded skill set.”

During his time so far in Texas, Fleischer observed that the U.S. sports culture is much different than in Germany.

“You feel the emotions in the game, and it’s way more intense and way harder,” Fleischer said. “In Germany sometimes you feel like the kids have to do [sports]. They’re not doing it out of fun, but here people are focused.”

While Fleischer is here, Gammerdinger emphasized that he wants to try to include him as much as possible in team activities to immerse him into McCallum culture.

“We brought him with us to Taco Shack because I want him whenever he goes back to Germany to feel like he got the full experience of Texas high school football,” Gammerdinger said.

Gammerdinger explained the importance of including people from diverse backgrounds on high school teams.

“In order to work in the real world, you’ve got to work with all different kinds of people,

and the same thing is true on the football team,” Gammerdinger said.

Aside from football, Fleischer’s main goal as an exchange student is to improve his English.

“That’s the goal, learning English and making a lot of friends,” Fleischer said.

Ilai said he’s personally enjoyed getting to know more about Fleischer and his background in Germany.

“He’s a super nice kid,” Ilai said. “It’s been nice getting to know his story and how he got here. I feel like everybody’s welcomed him in pretty well, I hope he feels that way. I know a little bit of German, so I’ve tried to speak [with him].”

As an exchange student, Fleischer said bring a part of the team has helped him integrate into McCallum during his first few months here. Fleischer said he hopes to try playing basketball and golf as well.

“I had a great experience at Taco Shack, and I feel like a part of a team,” Fleischer said. “That’s very cool because I’ve just been here for a month and I’m right into it, and I’m a

part of it.”

Gammerdinger said Fleischer has been an awesome addition to the team.

“He’s great, I love Fabian,” Gammerdinger said. “Anytime Fabian makes a play, everybody gets excited about it. I’m excited he’s a part of it, and hope he’s having fun.”

“

I want him whenever he goes back to Germany to feel the full experience of Texas high school football.

athletic director Thomas Gammerdinger

Fleischer (No. 80) huddles up with his teammates as they took on Pflugerville at Pflugerville High School on Oct. 12.

Photo by Fletcher Vandegrift.

shield

oct. 29, 2024

Kicking off change

After 23 years of coaching experience taking him from Ohio to Texas, Jason Rich has found his new home as the McCallum girls head soccer coach

Sienna Martens staff reporter

Garwood said.

Senior Sofia Thatcher, approaching her senior soccer season, feels confident in the program’s future, especially now that it’s in Rich’s hands.

“I like that Coach Rich is very invested in the program and organized, he also really wants us to improve and go far.” Thatcher said.

We want the experiences of our players to align closely to our values as a program.

—head coach

Jason Rich

New girls soccer coach Jason Rich coaches his players through a drill on Oct. 10. Photo by Olivia Hernandez-Eeds.

sports briefs

Lentz advances to Huntsville regionals

The boys and girls cross-country team competed at the UIL 5A District 24 Championships on Oct. 11 at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park. Junior Julia Lentz was the only McCallum runner to qualify for the regional championship, placing eighth out of 40 runners in the five-kilometer race. The top three teams and top 10 runners from each division qualify to compete at the regional meet.

“I’ve been working for that moment over the whole season, so I’m glad to be qualified for regionals,” Lentz said.

Lentz’s varsity team finished just two places shy of a team qualification. Seniors Amalia Scatton and Tate Jones finished close together, placing eighth and 25th, respectively.

“This season went really well, but I haven’t hit a personal record this year, so I’m hoping to do that at regionals,” Lentz said.

The boys varsity team ran neck-and-neck against a new opponent, Bastrop, but could not overtake their third-place lead in the division. The top five runners from each team count towards a school’s overall score, which is determined by placement in a race.

Junior Waylon DeAtley was the first Mac boy to finish in the varsity division, finishing in 17:53.2 and placing 11th out of 40 runners, one place shy of qualifying.

Lentz races the course at the UIL District 24-5A Championship on Oct. 11. At region on Oct. 22 in Huntsville, Lentz placed 74th of 164 runners. Photo by Adele Seeboth.

Varsity football looks to finish strong in final two games

The varsity football team lost to the Connally Cougars 49-46 on Oct. 18 after the Cougars scored as time dwindled off the clock and subsequently recovered a McCallum fumble. This was McCallum’s fourth consecutive district loss, their worst record since 2019.

Senior lineman Ajay Woolf said that the team knew the pressure was on for the annual Taco Shack Bowl, especially after a successful offseason.

“It’s always going to be a good battle with those guys,” Woolf said. “We didn’t get the outcome we wanted, especially coming from 7-on-7, [we were] feeling good about coming back from state,” he said.

After Taco Shack, the Knights ended their pre-district record 2-1 by beating Travis 42-14 on Sept. 6 and L. G. Pinkston 71-51 in a road trip to Dallas. Starting a season with new district opponents, Woolf said the main cause for poor performance was due to player injuries suffered in predistrict.

“Going into district, we already had our heads down,” Woolf said. “That’s why we lost like that to Elgin, and then going into Bastrop we had nothing

to lose. I feel like we played with that demeanor, and that’s why the game was close even if we didn’t get the outcome we wanted.”

The Knights lost to Elgin in the district opener on Sept. 20, and then again at Bastrop 39-32. Following a bye week, McCallum also lost at Pflugerville on Oct. 10. The Knights played perhaps their best game of the season putting up 57 points against first-place Liberty Hill last Friday in a 78-57 shootout.

With two games left, and no chance of playoffs, Woolf said he hopes to keep things positive.

“I think we’re just gonna go out there and have fun,” he said. “There’s no point in being mad about everything and pouring your heart out. I still love the sport and everything, but you just need to have fun with it and realize that these are the last few games that I’ll ever play in my life.”

The Knights wrap up the season against Navarro on Oct. 31 at House Park and at Crockett Nov. 8 at Burger Stadium. —Julia Copas

Volleyball finishes second in district

The varsity volleyball team has finished second in district play and will enter the state 5A playoffs as the No. 2 seed from District 24-5A. They beat the Crockett Cougars 3-0 on the road on Oct. 15.

Junior Kafia Jackson-Woods said the team felt well-prepared going into the game but still had to work together to keep a strong mentality throughout the game.

“We already had the confidence going in,” she said, “but we made sure that we kept our serves going, and stayed talking and listening to each other.”

Jackson-Woods said that communication was essential for her own success in the game.

“I listened to my back row players when they were telling me where I could hit or where I could tip, like strategies to get more points for the game to end quicker,” Jackson-Woods said. The victory over Crockett

extended the Knights district winning streak to six games, but the streak which started after a Sept. 24 straight-set loss at Anderson ended on Friday when the Trojans edged the Knights in a five-set classic that determined that the Knights will place second in district behind the Trojans.

The Knights enjoyed their second five-set thriller win in the past two weeks when they came back from 2-1 down to defeat Ann Richards on the road on Friday night as they had against LASA two weeks prior.

After dropping the first and third sets to the Stars, the Knights took the fourth set, 25-17, thanks to a seven-point service run from junior Lexi Rosenblatt and a five-point service run from senior Kai Talebi.

The Knights jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the tiebreaker set before the Stars rallied to a 14-13 lead and a game point. Senior Helen Rogers’ kill staved off that point for a 14-all tie, and then a Rosenblatt tip and a Carlson tip on Rogers’ serve sealed the win for Mac. —Josie Mullan, Maya Tackett, Tristen Diaz

Swim team kicks off season against ARS, Crockett

The swim team competed against Ann Richards and Crockett at Great Hills Country Club, Oct. 9. It was the first meet against other schools this season due to the shortage of available pools.

Senior captain London Pagnini said the competition was beneficial, especially for new teammates.

“I felt like this meet was a good intro to how meets work for our new swimmers this year,” Pagnini said. “Having a meet with other schools allowed for some pretty competitive spirit and I feel like this was a good kick-off to meet season for our team this year.”

In addition to the introduction to competition, Pagnini believes it was great to have this meet at their home pool.

“I think that having our meet at our home pool made people feel comfortable but I think going to away meets gets the team more pumped up,” Pagnini said. “Everyone has been putting in a good effort so far this season and we have made a lot of progress.”

Pagnini said she is looking forward to the rest of her final season swimming with Mac and upcoming competitions.

“I’m really excited for our UT meet as well as our [Corpus Christi, TX] meet cause those are always super fun,” Pagnini said.

—Riley Pita

This is a caption for either a photo or type of image on the page. Photo/

Wide receiver Jaiden Booe leaps to make a reception during the Knights’ 52-14 loss at Pflugerville.

Photo by Julia Copas.

Rosenblatt sets the ball, perhaps for one of her team-high 16 assists at a 3-0 loss at Anderson on Sept. 24. Photo by JoJo Barnard.

Texas’ dubious distinction

Registration process in Lone Star State an unnecessary barrier for new voters

Chloe Lewcock co-editor-in-chief

I filled out the register-to-vote form exactly two months before my birthday. As a September-born Virgo, and technically out of my own resignation a summer birthday, the prospect of getting to vote was always one that thrilled me.

If Texas allowed online voter registration, I would have been registered on the spot, but Texas requires registration by mail, so instead of registering immediately, I signed my full name on the dotted line at the end of my voter form, added the date July 20, 2024, to the paper and stamped it with one single American Flag stamp, I tucked the form—the form I had waited 17 years and 10 months to send—safely in its envelope on my dining room table. But then my busy life got in the way, and the letter remained on that table, unmoved, for 32 days until I finally got around to sending it.

Texas, one of eight states that still employs the antiquated paper voter registration system, creates an extra and unnecessary step for its residents to cast their votes in elections. Saddled with one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the nation, according to the Texas Tribune, Texas has a registration process and voting procedure that are—if not impossible—so annoyingly inconvenient that they discourage new voters from voting by making the process take ridiculously longer than it should take.

As I checked my voter registration status online, after finally mailing the form, I saw a series of “NOT REGISTERED” on various websites.

The giant red “X” next to my name indicated that my prospect of being a new voter was in doubt. When I finally did get my registration, my name was misspelled, something that would not have happened if I had entered my own name during an online registration process. Instead I had to go back to the beginning of the snail mail process. In this new generation of cellphones, smartwatches and artificial intelligence, the idea that I had to register to vote with pen and paper seems out of touch with my generation. At least I had the time and the resources to navigate the labyrinthine

process. The difficulty of it obviously reduces the likelihood that new voters will make it to the polls this November. And that’s simply unacceptable.

“ The possiblilty of a mail-in vote would create a sense of ease whether or not you can make it to the polls.

”

The state needs to come up with a better system. In the 2024 presidential primary, 3.2 million Texans voted, way down from the 4.1 million voters who participated in the 2020 presidential primary election. In fact, Texas has been awarded the title of “most restrictive preregistration law in the country,” according to the Tribune. Wisconsin, Michigan, Connecticut and Illinois, just to name a few, have a policy that allows their voters to register and vote on the same day. Texas, on the other hand, requires voters to be registered by Oct. 7. This unnecessary deterrent disqualifies people from resolving issues with their registration, as I am having. These potential voters may not get their registration resolved in time. The lack of a voter registration card, or confirmation places stress on the voter,

and requires considerable research to make sure everything is in order for election day.

Another issue facing voters in Texas, especially those unfamiliar with the system is mail-in ballots. Unless you qualify as disabled, incarcerated, pregnant, above the age of 65 or outside the county throughout the voting period, you are disqualified from being able to vote by mail.

For teens, the unpredictability of scheduling whether it be work or school, the possibility of a mail-in vote would create a sense of ease that no matter the circumstance your vote will be counted whether or not you can make it to the polls. Nearly 88% of California votes, according to the California Secretary of State website, are conducted by mail. That’s just one example of a state that allows for universal mail-in ballots and sees how that provision allows more citizens to vote efficiently without having to visit the polls.

Compare Texas, with its less than 50% voter turnout rate, to Minnesota, a state where over 80% of registered voters cast their ballots. With same-day voter registration, as well as less strict identification standards, the state sees the majority of its registered citizens voting. If Minnesota can simplify its process to enable voting and attract voters to the polls, why can’t Texas? The disparity raises troubling questions about why Texas has such a convoluted process.

Graphic of a declined voter registration card. The card symbolizes the challenges new Texas voters face when trying to reach the polls.

While the possibility of voting early exists throughout the U.S., including in Texas, many voters will wait until Election Day and a certain percentage of those people will end up missing the vote.

In order for Texas to raise its voter registration numbers and low voter turnout numbers, the state needs to implement new methods that make it easier to vote.

Kamala HQ uses expert social media to enhance the Harris campaign

Shila Gill opinion editor

simultaneously being influenced politically, sometimes without even realizing it.

Think about the copious amounts of things that have gotten popular due to them

peoples lives and careers, but it can also change the election.

It’s said that you can tell how a debate is going by the looks on the debater’s faces. A

humanizes Kamala. On the other hand her opponent, Republican Donald Trump, does the opposite. Trump uses X, formerly known as Twitter, to vocalizes every one of his

Graphic by Mira Patel.

Results of a @macjournalism Instagram poll that received 24 responses.

A recipe for student stress

Long lines, short lunch period make midday on-campus meal a real struggle

Carlo Hinsdale staff reporter

After four hours of hard work, McCallum students are rewarded with 40 or so minutes of free time to eat and relax. But those who buy school lunches don’t get this luxury, spending half of the allotted lunch time waiting in the lines for food. Once they finally get their food, they are either forced to eat it in the time remaining, in their next class or not at all. If a school lunch is normally their first meal of the day, they won’t eat until dinner. While the issue of long lunch lines is preexisting, the overcrowding brings it to a whole new level. The lunch lines are exhausting. They’re crowded, and a lot of people get pushy because they’re impatient. And although there are two separate lunch lines,

“

For

both fill up equally fast, and the wait time is unbearable.

Students who do not bring a lunch from home or buy one from school are left with two options: break the rules and go off campus or be hungry. No student wants to get in trouble for leaving campus, but they are left with little choice. Only seniors are allowed to go off campus, so the rest of the student body has no solution to assuage their hunger.

students who rely on these meals to fuel their day, this situation is far from ideal..

”

The frustrations don’t stop with just the long wait times. Once students finally reach the front of the line, their favorite options are often sold out, forcing them to settle for their second choice.

The decreasing time looms over students as they try to scarf down their meals within the limited time they have. Many are left with half-eaten lunches as they rush to their next class, which can lead to unhealthy eating habits and unnecessary

stress. For students who rely on these meals to fuel their day, this situation is far from ideal.

We could propose a survey to gather feedback on what students want or need during lunch. Is it long enough? Do we need multiple lunch periods? This way, administration will see how serious the issue is. They patrol the campus, but they don’t experience it the same way students do. We need those in positions of power to understand how stressful and draining simply buying lunch here is. Some people only go through the line to get sodas or chips, but they have to wait through the whole line. We could also try adding more lines and stations throughout the school with snacks, so those who are looking for a specific treat don’t add unnecessary length to the lunch lines.

“We

need those in positions of power to understand how stressful and draining simply buying lunch here is.

If we had more lines, we could offer positions to students who would want to help with food preparation or service. A proactive approach could highlight the problem and engage students in the decision-making process, fostering a sense of community and cooperation. We share common frustrations with the system and as a student body we have the power to create and propose solutions for problems like this one.

Walking through the hallway during lunch, it’s hard to miss the commotion around the cafeteria. People know that if you don’t get to the line early, you won’t get your food. School lunch should be a time for nourishment and relaxation, not a race against the clock. McCallum can do better to accommodate its students’ needs. After all, a well-fed student is more focused and engaged.

Photos by Carlo Hinsdale taken on Oct 18. Graphics by Nate Williams.

Become a change maker

Young voters must mobilize in all elections in order to have greatest influence

We’ve all heard that every vote counts, but every election season it seems the voices of the youth are discounted. While there are always great resources and incentives to vote around election day, such as trading your “I Voted” stickers for a slice of pizza, there has been a lack of encouragement for people to get to the polls in years without a presidential election.

The younger generation of voters constantly has the lowest voter turnout. This means that the voices of the youth have been underrepresented when electing government representatives. Understandably, the media coverage so vastly differs from the presidential election to the more local elections like mayoral and city council races. Nonetheless, this loss of coverage and lack of encouragement to get to the polls is one reason why young people don’t vote in the elections that are closer to them and for that reason more important.

Generation Z eligible voters should be encouraged and assisted to receive an “I Voted” sticker more than just every four years a president is selected.

The polls should be just as crowded for years when an Austin ISD board member election is taking place, and there should be the same resources to vote readily available to young voters to aid them in getting easily informed and registered to vote. High school students deserve to be encouraged to vote no matter the year and have the support to easily register to vote. It’s these technicalities and obstacles that stop so many younger voters from voting.

Younger voters are not the only ones lacking when it comes to voting in local elections. This imbalance of attention towards these elections causes the voter turnouts for every age group to be drastically down. If we want a more representative government, one of the first steps is to start voting more in local elections. The change one wishes to see in the world starts by exercising our vote locally.

While the president does make overarching decisions, he is not the only one capable of creating change. It’s these nearby policymakers that make the decisions that affect us the most. The way to effect change in your local community is to register and vote in local elections.

the shield staff

print managing editor

JoJo Barnard

web managing editors

Noah Braun

Josie Mullan

social media managing editor

Camilla Vandegrift

social media specialist

Sofia Saucedo

design & visuals editor

Mira Patel

photo editor

Julia Copas

multimedia specialist

Tristen Diaz

business managers

Evelyn Jenkins

Maggie Mass

The Shield is published by journalism students in the newspaper production class. Although students work under the guidance of a professional faculty member, the student staff ultimately determines the content.

Students may not publish material that is obscene, libelous or that which will cause a “substantial disruption to the educational process.”

Content that may stimulate heated debate is not included in this definition.

Priya Thoppil a&e editor

Evelyn Jenkins people editor

Maya Tackett sports editor

Callen Romell opinion editor

Shila Gill

Kyan Adams

Daniela Di-Capua

Carson Duncan

Olivia Dungan

August Gleason

Hudson Hensley

Carlo Hinsdale

Delaney Lavelle

The Shield operates as an open forum for exchange of ideas. Opinions expressed in editorials are the ideas of the staff. Opinions expressed in the columns are that of the writer’s alone.

Letters to the editor are encouraged and must be signed. Positive identification may be required when a letter is submitted. Letters may be edited. Letters that are critical of the newspaper staff’s coverage of events or that present information that

Sophia Manos

Katie Martin

Sienna Martins

Harper Maxwell

Tallulah McAuliffe

Emerson Merritt

V Overstreet

Josie Linton Beatrix Lozach

Elizabeth Nation

Arwen Pelletier

Dave Winter

may stimulate heated debate will be published. Letters that contain malicious attacks on individual reporters, the adviser or the principal will be rejected.

Anyone interested in purchasing an advertisement should contact Shield adviser Dave Winter by phone at (512) 906-5407.

Advertisements published in The Shield do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff.

Eva Sanchez

Seckar-Martinez

editors-in-chief Chloe Lewcock and Nate Williams

Shield staff

Cartoon by Nate Williams.

Interested in advertising in The Shield?

Advertising in The Shield—in our print edition or on this website—gives you a chance to give your business wide exposure while at the same time showing to your customers that you support McCallum High School and the community we serve with our publications. Analytics reveal that advertising in The Shield Online makes a big splash. Our lifeguarding ad on the website (a sidebar and in-story ad) received a total of 139,621 views and 105 clicks. Advertising in The Shield is affordable. It’s effective. It’altruistic. And it’s a good investment. Please consider advertising in the Shield now and during the 2024-2025 school year. If you are interested in advertising in The Shield or The Shield Online, please contact adviser David Winter at dave.winter@austinisd.org.

To find more exclusive stories from MacJournalism, visit our website at macshieldonline.com

Subscribe to our reporters by installing the Student News Source App available in iOS and Android app stores.

2. Summer trend embraced by the Harris campaign

3. Home country of Fabian Fliescher

4. “______ Ice House” (Workplace of Thea Clare Brosnan)

8. “ATX Sweet ______” (America Franken-run business) 9. The V in VATRE

12. Piper Adair is the lone freshman on this squad.

Morning announcement organization

1. McCallum’s guitar class used to be in one of these.

2. Lili Escamilia’s extracurricular (that’s not drill team)

4. Pep rally leader Julia ______

5. New assistant coach for varsity tennis

6. Abby Burnham’s class teaches how to make this.

7. Number of fully digital AP exams this year

10. UT-Austin’s new automatic admission threshold, by percentage

11. Kate Wiley’s favorite McCallum class to teach

13. Alumni band of which Mr. Cowles is a member

Crossword and graphics by JoJo Barnard.