The Student News Site of McCallum High School

The Shield Online
The Student News Site of McCallum High School

The Shield Online
The Student News Site of McCallum High School

The Shield Online
News
Mac robotics team takes on the world
Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic confirmation to Supreme Court inspires, reassures
MacJ leaves ILPC with Gold and Silver Stars in hand
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Opinion
Senior Grace Nugent takes a photo of seniors Colby Napier and Tino Rodriguez at her last football game of her high school career, the playoff loss to Alamo Heights in November. Nugent spent the last game enjoying her time with her fellow journalists even as the score was not in favor of the Knights. Photo by Charlie Partheymuller.
Friday (nights), I’m in love
Grace Nugent, co-editor-in-chief • June 4, 2022

My Sundays were always for two things: Bible stories and Tiger Woods.  At age 5, I would go to church with my mother in the morning and watch golf with my father in the...

There were seven students in Carly Kehn’s advisory class on Monday, April 18, and that is more than usual. They were tasked with SEL-related arts and crafts. It came as no surprise to Kehn that they all just worked on their computers instead. Like many teachers, Kehn admits to skipping over slides that seem redundant. I don’t ignore the lessons, I just skip over parts,” she said. “I try to go through it so students get the idea but we don’t do every single slide. It’s also hard to ‘think, pair share’ when there are only five people.”
Revise advisory, extend lunch.
May 17, 2022
Before simply changing your profile picture to the Ukrainian flag ask yourself- why am I doing this?
6,042 miles.
May 4, 2022
Juniors are tasked with a precarious act of balancing honors/AP classes as well as college readiness, leading to excessive burnout.
Overlooking the obstacle ... junioritis
May 3, 2022
Being told you didn’t meet a certain standard or expectation is a humbling and humanizing experience that, as much as it might hurt, teaches us important lessons.
Accepting rejection
April 25, 2022
President Bidens policies have been more of a continuation of existing policies than a departure. His State of the Union address comments about policing are the clearest indication yet that he wont fight for the agenda of the progressives who voted for him.
The lighter of two evils
March 27, 2022
Sports
FOUR BY FOUR: Mia Gomez surveys the field after the Knights lost in the area round of the playoffs to bring their stellar season and her brilliant high school career to an end.
Artistry on the pitch, hard work in the studio
Caroline Owen, staff reporter • June 12, 2022

When Mia Gomez began playing soccer at 3, her talent was quickly noticed. Her dad, Arthur Gomez, recalls a conversation with the owner of the first soccer program his daughter...

Senior Grace Nugent takes a photo of seniors Colby Napier and Tino Rodriguez at her last football game of her high school career, the playoff loss to Alamo Heights in November. Nugent spent the last game enjoying her time with her fellow journalists even as the score was not in favor of the Knights. Photo by Charlie Partheymuller.
Friday (nights), I’m in love
June 4, 2022
ABOVE: The Friesem brothers Theo (15), Kai (18) and Lyrr (15) pose after a morning Mac baseball practice. Photo by Grace Nugent. BELOW: The Frisesem brothers Theo (age 9), Kai (age 11), and Lyrr (age 9) pose with the Sharon Region Juvenile division trophy after a summer baseball league game in Tel Aviv. Photo courtesy of Kai Friesem.
Fighting Fahrenheit in 512
May 12, 2022
Charlotte Stevens pole vaults at a meet on April 13. Photos courtesy of Stevens. Illustration by Lucy Marco.
Setting the bar high
April 30, 2022
At the conclusion of the tournament, the team celebrates in the pool with their second place plaque. The exception is goalie Jamie Guckenburger who leaped out of the pool in celebration, perhaps because his team is headed to state and perhaps because he made 10 saves in the championship game.
Knights reach West Region final to qualify for state
April 27, 2022
Sophomore Nathan Nagy struggled to get through the first inning, and erratic team defense did help his cause. After giving him five runs and struggling with his control, he settled down to pitch into the seventh inning allowing only one more run in the game.
Anderson edges Mac to put title streak in jeopardy
April 21, 2022
The team and assistant coach Vaughn Stockton break out after a first-round win against Navarro on March 9.
Knights find momentum when they need it most
April 19, 2022
Blogs
Rhys Darby (Stede Bonnet) and Taika Waititi (Capt. Blackbeard) star in the HBO Max comedy series, This Flag Means Death.
'Our Flag' means laughter
Kittredge Grimsley-Ridenour, Mac photojournalism • June 9, 2022

Our Flag Means Death is a period romantic comedy set in the early 1700s. It follows the eccentric Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby), a former aristocrat-turned-pirate captain; his...

Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) and Dash McMahon (Channing Tatum) venture the jungle stranded.
'The Lost City' a classic rom-com success
June 1, 2022
Robert Pattinsons Batman has an early tense exchange with Colin Farrell’s Penguin.
(The) Batman finally gets his dark victory
May 23, 2022
The prequel to the hit series Jujutsu Kaisen, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, beautifully demonstrates how creative anime can be when handling grief.
For better or for curse
May 20, 2022
Spring Must Reads
Spring Must Reads
May 9, 2022
Director Ridley Scott and his team’s choice to use a muted, gray color vividly represents the difference between how Marguerite views her assault compared to the men in her life.
Period piece proves powerful
March 15, 2022
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People
FOUR BY FOUR: Mia Gomez surveys the field after the Knights lost in the area round of the playoffs to bring their stellar season and her brilliant high school career to an end.
Artistry on the pitch, hard work in the studio
Caroline Owen, staff reporter • June 12, 2022

When Mia Gomez began playing soccer at 3, her talent was quickly noticed. Her dad, Arthur Gomez, recalls a conversation with the owner of the first soccer program his daughter...

Bobby Currie was essential to several campus organizations in his time on Sunshine Drive. Shown here a Bandapalooza in September at Burger Stadium, Currie was a key player in the most successful year in Mac Band history as the Spirit Leader.
Key to Currie's stellar Mac career? Communication.
June 8, 2022
At the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas on May 6, senior Miles Bourgeois inspects the teams robot, Mecha Kanzi 2000. Bourgeious and his teammates, seniors Ava Carlson and Carson Pallotta and junior Evan Henderson, became the first Mac robotics team in more than a decade to qualify for Worlds. Bourgeois attributed their success to their ability to work together. We were all kind of on the same wavelength, and we trusted each other. That’s the biggest thing.”
Bourgeois puts process before product every time
June 7, 2022
The Class of 22 bids adieu to high school
The Class of '22 bids adieu to high school
June 3, 2022
Author Xel-Ha Montejano-Granados interviews sophomore Marina Salaverria on March 3, the last day that students were mandated to wear masks as a COVId safety precaution. Salaverria told the harrowing story of her travel from Spain to the United States so well that most of the digital media class stopped what they were doing and listened to the interview.
Hello, America ... eventually
May 30, 2022
Anna McClellan will spend the first semester of her freshman year in Spain before coming to the William & Mary campus for the spring semester. Photo courtesy of McClellan.
The limit does not exist
May 29, 2022
A cornucopia of Senior Carnival images
A cornucopia of Senior Carnival images
May 28, 2022
Entertainment
FOUR BY FOUR: Mia Gomez surveys the field after the Knights lost in the area round of the playoffs to bring their stellar season and her brilliant high school career to an end.
Artistry on the pitch, hard work in the studio
Caroline Owen, staff reporter • June 12, 2022

When Mia Gomez began playing soccer at 3, her talent was quickly noticed. Her dad, Arthur Gomez, recalls a conversation with the owner of the first soccer program his daughter...

In the back-page comic for the April 29 issue, Kirkham poked fun at how much the Fish characters had evolved over the two years had had drawn them.
Celebrated senior about to be a 'Fish' again
June 6, 2022
A cornucopia of Senior Carnival images
A cornucopia of Senior Carnival images
May 28, 2022
Fish No. 83: End
Fish No. 83: "End"
May 27, 2022
HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT: Junior Charlotte Blackmon (Eurydice) performs one of the final scenes in the second act of MacTheatre’s production of Eurydice. During the scene, Eurydice, who has just reconnected with Orpheus in the underworld, contemplates whether or not Orpheus is truly her husband or not. For Blackmon, developing such a complex character took time. “Eurydice is probably the most difficult character I’ve ever played,” Blackmon said. “I got an idea of who she was when I read the script, but running the scenes and physically being in the position of the character helped me connect to her more.” Reporting by Alice Scott.
During furious fine arts weekend, twin theaters teeming with thespians, vocalists, pianists, filmmakers
May 24, 2022
Sophomore Ellaiden Margrave performs with Fascist Peach Cobbler during a Kick Butt Coffee gig.
A taste of Fascist Peach Cobbler
May 21, 2022
Photo Galleries
The Class of 22 bids adieu to high school
The Class of '22 bids adieu to high school
MacJournalism graduation coverage team • June 3, 2022

The Class of 2022 graduated from McCallum High School on Thursday afternoon during a commencement ceremony at the Burger Activity Center. The ceremony was replete with...

GRATITUDE AND FAREWELL: Ms. Northcutt decided earlier this year that it was time to say goodbye to McCallum, and possibly teaching in general, once and for all. “I am a teacher to my core. Northcutt said in a email to students and family. “I love McCallum and planned to be here until I retired; however, these last few years have revealed to me disheartening truths that I can’t unsee. I am no longer willing to work at an unsustainable pace at the expense of my mental heath and the health of my family and I can’t figure out how to do this job at any other pace without sacrificing my integrity.” A lot of other teachers at McCallum have also expressed their annoyance with the work circumstances provided by Austin ISD.
A tribute to Ms. Northcutt on her last day of class
May 31, 2022
A cornucopia of Senior Carnival images
A cornucopia of Senior Carnival images
May 28, 2022
HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT: Junior Charlotte Blackmon (Eurydice) performs one of the final scenes in the second act of MacTheatre’s production of Eurydice. During the scene, Eurydice, who has just reconnected with Orpheus in the underworld, contemplates whether or not Orpheus is truly her husband or not. For Blackmon, developing such a complex character took time. “Eurydice is probably the most difficult character I’ve ever played,” Blackmon said. “I got an idea of who she was when I read the script, but running the scenes and physically being in the position of the character helped me connect to her more.” Reporting by Alice Scott.
During furious fine arts weekend, twin theaters teeming with thespians, vocalists, pianists, filmmakers
May 24, 2022
ONE LAST HURRAH: Members of the senior dance company hold hands at the end of their piece called Sound and Color, the closing dance of the student directed-dance show. “It’s a very sentimental moment because it’s like the end where we all are holding hands and were all connected,” senior dance company member Wynter Winston said. “The senior dance was wholesome and had us reflecting on all the times and memories we shared together as a senior company.” Caption by Grace Vitale. Photo by Meredith Grotevant.
Finding 'Solace' on the stage
May 14, 2022
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: This year was Jessie Lucas’ first time attending prom, since she didn’t get the chance last year. “I tried to have little to no expectations,” they said. “All I hoped for was fun and dancing with my friends, which prom definitely lived up to!” Caption by Francie Wilhelm.
'One last Knight' to remember
May 3, 2022
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Junior Callan Spence working on a sculpture of the University of Texas Longhorn mascot. Spence sees the UT fine arts program as one of many possibilities for his future as an artist. Photo courtesy of Chas Spence.

Cancer can’t stop Callan • 548 Views

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GOMEZ AND CURRIE TAKE THE CROWNS: Senior homecoming royals Mia Gomez and Bobby Currie smile for the crowd after the announcement of their victory. For Currie, a three-time homecoming royalty member, this was an extremely memorable moment. “I hadn’t really put that much thought into the fact that I was a finalist; I just kind of went through the motions,” Currie said. “So when I heard my name called and then all the cheering, cameras and seeing the crown, my mind was just in shock and I was overwhelmed with excitement.” Having Gomez by his side was also special for Currie. “I love the diversity between the two of us. I think it represents McCallum very well,” he said. “I first met Mia in freshman year world geography, so this was kind of a cool full circle moment for us.” As seen in his marching band attire, Currie participates in many extracurriculars at McCallum — making this moment that much more appreciated. “I try to get very involved around here, so it was cool getting validation from the people I love very dearly,” Currie said. “It is definitely something I will always remember for the rest of my life.” Reporting by Madelynn Niles.

Without further ado, we present to you the Who’s Who of ’22 • 488 Views

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The Class of 22 bids adieu to high school

The Class of ’22 bids adieu to high school • 356 Views

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Students from the original L. C. Anderson, AISD’s high school for African-Americans, study chemistry on October 31, 1955. Photo by Neal Douglass. Accessed through The Portal to Texas History.

AISD: a segregated district, then and now • 239 Views

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Which Kermit meme are you? Quiz

Which Kermit meme are you? Quiz • 191 Views

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A cornucopia of Senior Carnival images

A cornucopia of Senior Carnival images • 177 Views

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Fashion designer Lili Reynolds also brings her creativity and fashion into designing their everyday outfits and makeup.

Lilli’s got style • 145 Views

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Hannah Ilan Not Afraid of Snakes National Sweepstakes Winner Academic Photo

Yearbook ranks among top 10 in nation • 144 Views

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Charlotte Stevens pole vaults at a meet on April 13. Photos courtesy of Stevens. Illustration by Lucy Marco.

Setting the bar high • 132 Views

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Actor and activist Matthew McConaughey was among the speakers at the #MarchForOurLives in downtown Austin on March 24, 2018, which attracted more than 10,000 to the Capitol today. “This is an American issue, McConaughey said of gun control. It’s a Texan issue. It’s a legal and law-abiding gun owner issue. It’s a mother issue. It’s a father issue. And, quite literally, this is our children’s issue. McConaughey also said that consensus leading to action should be above politics. “My hope here is that we can find a common ground on what I see as a very much a common-sense issue. This is an issue anchored in purpose for all of us. It’s not anchored in politics. Photo by Madison Olsen.

Banning guns is not a panacea • 130 Views

The McCallum community has received word that AISD is expecting Ukrainian refugees to join the AISD community in the coming weeks. During first period on Wednesday, the McCallum Band wind ensemble played the Ukrainian national anthem to welcome the refugees to Austin. Band director Carol Nelson conducted the ensemble. She believes that the performance will help the refugees feel “confident and well-loved.” “We are world citizens, and I think we have an obligation to do what we can to make everyone feel part of our community,” Nelson said. The video of the ensemble’s performance was uploaded to the band’s new TikTok account (@mccallumband) where they have challenged other bands in AISD to record their performance of the Ukrainian anthem and upload it to TikTok to show their support with the hashtag #BandsTogetherForUkraine. Video by Morgan Eye.
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