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
PART OF HISTORY: Principal Nicole Griffith, journalism teacher Dave Winter and science teacher Elaine Bohls-Graham pose with pride flags on the first day of AISD PRIDE Week. At his previous school in Midtown, Atlanta, Winter witnessed a similarly accepting and robust observance of PRIDE week. However, he feels that McCallums history and culture, particularly with Spectrum, make Macs PRIDE celebrations unique.  For as long as I have been at Mac and before that, [Spectrum] has been vital in providing a safe space for LGBTQ students to be themselves, Winter said. The group has had a lot of turnover with faculty sponsorship in recent years, but its essential role has stayed constant through all of that. I think that the main thing is that Spectrum and PRIDE Week helps to give students a voice on campus.  PRIDE Week closely followed Black History Month, where students and faculty organized similar events, like student panels. In both instances, Winter saw how crucial and courageous it is for students to lead the conversations on issues like identity.  I was impressed [by] the fearlessness and leadership of the panelists and the willingness of students and teachers to listen and work to understand better the experience of others, Winter said.  Caption by Francie Wilhelm. Photo by Lillian Gray. 

Mac ‘PRIDE’ more than just school spirit

Gaby Esquivel, Morgan Eye, Shila Gill, Lillian Gray , and Francie Wilhelm
March 28, 2023
In his introduction of the Black History Month assembly on March 3, assistant principal Larry Featherstone said that the assembly intended to address the truth that “we need to learn more about people who do not look like us.” To move the conversation in that direction before turning the program over to a teen panel of Black students, Students of Color Alliance sponsor Tonya Moore answered “three questions youve always wanted to ask a Black friend.” To the question “Can I touch your hair?” Moore said she answered yes to a close friend but felt the question was strange and inappropriate when coming from strangers. She responded to the second question—“Do black people get sunburn?”—with an emphatic “Yes.” The answer to the third question—“Do you prefer to be called Black or African American?”—Moore said, “It’s a preference. I prefer to be called Black. and I don’t like African-American, but my daughters would give different answers to the question.” Caption by Gergő Major.

Student, faculty organizers overcome obstacles to observe Black History Month in its entirety

Ava Bernitz, Amaya Collier, Charlotte Cross, Logan Davis, Gaby Esquivel, Morgan Eye, Stella Little, Ellie Loudermilk, Gergő Major, Merrill Price, Ingrid Smith, and Tristen Wright
March 21, 2023
Design and visuals editor Sophie Leung-Lieu earned four first-place awards and eight overall in the SIPA Best Visual Awards, including this first-place winner in the feature package category for the issue two centerspread design she did with fellow editors Naomi Di-Capua and Alice Scott.

Shield wins Scroggins Award for third straight year

Shield staff reports
March 14, 2023
FIREFIGHTERS FEEL THE HEAT: Kessler performs another car extraction while the sun beats down and reflects off exposed metal car pieces. As the skill day, which started at 7:30 a.m., progressed into the afternoon, the temperatures rose. “Once we were like six hours in, holding tools got really hard because the ‘Jaws of Life’ are super heavy,” Kessler said. “I got calluses on my hands even though I was wearing gloves. By the end of it, I could feel my arms and I thought they were going to fall off.” As tough as the work was, Kessler felt accomplished at the end of the long skill day. “Getting physical confirmation that you did it right from the actual firefighters, and they congratulate you and say you did a good job, it feels good because its a hard skill,” Kessler said. Caption by Maggie Mass.

Fire Academy gets heated with ‘Jaws of Life’ exercise

Gergő Major, Maggie Mass, and Ingrid Smith
March 8, 2023
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE: The Noel Tower has not been used since the closure of the Robert Mueller Mueller Building. Instead, this tower has become an icon and a big characteristic of the new Mueller neighborhood. Every year, when December rolls around, the tower gets lit up to remember its old purpose. However, Marko Garafulic thinks we should be doing more to make the tower more attractive to look at. “Given that not much can be done with/within the tower, I’d like to see something of interest, and open to the public, built around the tower sometime,” said Garafulic. There are other ways that the neighborhood is honoring the old airport. For example, the playscape in John Gaines looks like a set of runways from above. The new middle school being built also pays homage with a number of architectural details. Caption by Maya Tackett. Photos by Maya Tackett and Lucas Walker.

Perpetual change, growth at Mueller has mixed outcomes

Maya Tackett, Mac photojournalism
March 1, 2023
LET THEM EAT CAKE: Senior Scarlett Bowmen (left) and junior Edie Birkholz (right) walk down the runway holding two cakes in outfits designed by seniors Jaoquin Godines, Clarrisa Villarreal and Esme Moreno. After directing the fashion show last year, Birkholz decided to get involved in a new way. Modeling was nerve-racking, but with her previous knowledge of the fashion show Birkholz was ready for the challenge.  “I was like third to go on so I was definitely nervous about messing up,” Birkholz said. “But I thought it was fun to be pampered and put on an outfit that I didn’t have to choose. I was initially going to change during half-time and put on a different thing, but I was like I don’t feel like doing that. I felt awesome and beautiful in Joaquin, Clarrisa and Esme’s stuff.” Birkholz enjoyed every part of the show and the outfit she wore, but her favorite part was the hoopskirt.  “I felt like a cake. I felt like I was the cake, and I think everyone should wear hoopskirts to school,” Birkholz said. “ I was like walking around backstage and telling everyone to move because I was taking up so much space. I don’t know, it was just awesome and I felt fancy.” Caption by Eliza Jensen. Photo by Morgan Eye.

Fashion show ‘reflects’ artistic identities

JoJo Barnard, Morgan Eye, Chloe Lewcock, Helen Martin, Ingrid Smith, Elena Ulack, Francie Wilhelm, and Dave Winter
February 22, 2023
ONE FINAL HURRAH: For her fourth and final year performing at Coffeehouse, senior Charlotte Blackmon picks one of her older songs to perform for the audience. Her song in the first act was the show opener, as well as a major crowd-pleaser.  “Ive done Coffeehouse since my freshman year, and I always love it and love getting to share the songs that Ive been working on or that I haven’t played in a while,” Blackmon said.  This year, her song was inspired by her own personal life and experiences. “I wrote the song I performed last year in songwriting class,” Blackmon said. “It’s about when you have somebody in your life who you don’t see anymore but they’re still important to you.” Blackmon explained how throughout high school Coffeehouse has been an opportunity for her to grow and continue sharing her music with people in school and beyond.  “I think whats made me want to keep going with Coffeehouse is the environment of creativity, which has stayed amazing since I started playing,” Blackmon said. Caption by Chloe Lewcock.

Valentine’s Day Coffeehouse brings heartfelt performances, heart-filled library

Julia Copas, Chloe Lewcock, Ingrid Smith, and Francie Wilhelm
February 15, 2023
Here is a practice for the quiz you are about to attempt. Do you know where the photographer was when they took this picture? If you guessed, the field house, you were on the money.

Gauge your knowledge of the Mac campus with this special edition ice storm 2023 Tuesday Top 10 test

Macjournalism meteorology department
February 7, 2023
SETTING THE STAGE: Senior Lauren Ryan-Holt (Leading Player) welcomes the audience in the show’s opening number, Magic to Do.  As a play within a play, Pippin has many layers to it, including the opening number which is performed as if the cast members were arriving at rehearsal and setting up for the top of the show “It’s the casts musical bait to the audience,” Ryan-Holt said. “We’re luring them into the production we’re about to put on. We describe the journey and all the magical, fantastic things that will take place along the way. We literally set the stage for both the show and the audience’s expectations.” Ryan-Holt opens the number and leads the other ensemble members until the song turns into a fully choreographed number. However, for Ryan-Holt, the opening seductive chords are her favorite part. “There’s just something so mystical and enticing about how it sounds,” Ryan-Holt said. “It’s the one part where you can feel the full focus of the audience.” Reporting by Alice Scott. Photo by Gergo Major.  

Like its title character, ‘Pippin’ evolving with each act

JoJo Barnard, Chloe Lewcock, Gergő Major, Alice Scott, Ingrid Smith, and Francie Wilhelm
February 1, 2023

Knights vanquish Jaguars in second faceoff to stay unbeaten in district play, crack 5A state Top 25

JoJo Barnard, Isley Cameron, Lillian Gray, Amira Habib Weymouth, Stella Little, Helen Martin, Elena Ulack, Francie Wilhelm, and Dave Winter
January 25, 2023
Shavonne Wright (Deena Martin), Kaye Faulkner (Christine Harnos) and Jodi Kramer (Michelle Burke) waiting outside of the Americana Theatre.

Looking back on the good old ‘Dazed’

Sally Butler, Mac photojournalism
January 17, 2023
BACK TOGETHER AGAIN: Former McCallum soccer players pose for a group photo at the annual varsity vs. alumni match. The teams of graduated Knights consisted of students as recent as the Class of ‘22 all the way back to 2003. After two years of COVID delays, coach Nick Martin was finally able to hold the match on Dec. 28.  “[The alumni game] provides like a continuity for the program. It doesn’t matter what year you are,” Martin said. While some organizational changes were made to the event this year, with matches being held tournament style rather than a free-for-all, Martin maintained the spirit of community that the match holds for his past and current players.  “Getting the chance to come back and see each other whilst also playing some soccer is something me and my friends have a hard time turning down,” class of 2021 alumn Aiden Golliher said. “I’d predict and hope that as the years continue, the close-knit community the boys varsity had will continue [and] that will allow this program to grow.” Caption by Francie Wilhelm. Photo by Morgan Eye.

First alumni ‘game’ since 2019 morphs into ‘everything, everywhere, all at once’ scrimmages

JoJo Barnard, Julia Copas, Morgan Eye, Chloe Lewcock, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, Elena Ulack, Francie Wilhelm, and David Winter
January 11, 2023
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