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
Wildfires have spread rapidly through the Pacific Palisades, causing widespread damage in Los Angeles. The dangerous smoke now hangs over the city, creating health risks for residents in the area. Graphic by Mira Patel.
L.A. wildfires cause mass destruction
Mira Patel, design editor • January 31, 2025
Juniors Paige Mitchell, Amelia Cahoon, and Larkin Long create a TikTok in the cafeteria during group photo day day on Wednesday Jan. 15.
TikTok back after Trump executive order
January 24, 2025
Outside the Trump inauguration rally at the Capitol One Arena, a fan celebrates with flags surrounding her, the day before the Inauguration. This photo was taken three hours before the rally actually began, so this person had already been waiting a long time, much of it in the rain. Photo accessed on the Flickr account of Victoria Pickering. Reposted here under a creative commons license.
Amid political tension, Donald Trump inaugurated for his second term
January 23, 2025
Author Lisa Lerer, co-author of The Fall of Roe: The Rise of New America, expressed concern about the connection she has seen between efforts to restrict abortion access and other health-care subjects like in-vitro fertilization and gender-affirming care. Photo by Sofia Saucedo.
How will Republican control of White House, Congress affect abortion access?
January 13, 2025
Opinion
Failure of Democrats to appeal to immigrant voters cost them the election
Failure of Democrats to appeal to immigrant voters cost them the election
Beatrix Lozach, staff reporter • January 29, 2025

The U.S. Immigration Policy Center found that 97% of naturalized citizens planned to vote in the 2024 presidential election, based on polling between Aug. 16 and Aug. 28....

Anti-undocumented immigration policies undermine the American Dream.
Innocent until proven undocumented
January 18, 2025
Graphic shows students’ options during a pep rally period. While many choose to attend the rally in the gym, others go to the cafeteria or, per new administration rules, teacher pods. Photo by Dave Winter. Graphic by Nate Williams
Once roaring, now boring
January 8, 2025
El tráfico entre clases ha hecho que el pasillo principal sea un viaje más lento que la I-35 durante las horas pico.
¿Cuándo alcanzaremos nuestro límite?
December 30, 2024
Traffic between classes has made the main hallway a slower commute than I-35 during rush hour.
When will we reach our limit?
December 30, 2024
The moral high ground, Democrats have learned, does not equal the electoral high ground.
How to lose an election (and never die)
December 17, 2024
Sports
Senior Vincent Carney serves in practice on Dec. 16. Photo by Elizabeth Nation.
Game, set, MAC
Elizabeth Nation, staff reporter • January 30, 2025

Only a few short months after finishing third in district to wrap up their fall team tennis season in October, McCallum’s tennis team is preparing for the spring season....

Defensive lineman Rylan Kennedy tries to block a pass from UT quarterback Quinn Ewers during the Lone Star Showdown game on Nov. 30, 2024.
A return to the rivalry
January 27, 2025
CHEER THE KNIGHT AWAY: Junior Julia Ross, freshman Bell Morton, and sophomore Marlowe Walsh cheer at the McCallum cheer team’s first-ever showoff at Cheer Station last Saturday. Caption by Elizabeth Nation.
From the football field to the UIL stage
January 17, 2025
Austin Football Club’s starting keeper, Brad Stuver, came to speak to the McCallum girls soccer program after school on Jan. 7 after the creator of the Austin FC logo and girls soccer parent Marty Butler reached out to him. Many of Stuver's comments impressed the coaches and players who heard him speak, but more than one Knight reported that they were impressed with Stuver's resilience in surviving 10 years of professional soccer before landing his first starting gig as the Austin FC goalkeeper. Caption by Maya Tackett. Photo by Daniela Di-Capua.
A totally Brad guest speaker
January 9, 2025
Kai Talebi is introduced the crowd before the varsity volleyball team's senior night game versus Bastrop in the large gym.
What’s next for senior athletes?
January 6, 2025
Freshman Piper Adair serves during the Knights' 3-0 victory over Eastside on Sept. 6. Adair had an ace during the match, the Knights won six points on her serve. More impressively perhaps, Adair had her season-best and career-high in kills in the match with 14 on 26 attempts.
‘She’s a freshman!’ … and a lot more
January 5, 2025
Throwback Thursday
Actor Jimmy Stewart, the star of black-and-white classics like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It's a Wonderful Life though colorizing Bedford Falls would be worse than it becoming Pottersville. Photo accessed on the JM L Flickr account. Reposted here under the terms of a creative commons license.
Computer adds color to movies
Michelle Banks, staff reporter • January 2, 2025

In Hollywood’s attempt to capture a younger audience, some movie and television firms have decided to add a dazzling array of rainbow shades to classic black-and-white films....

Roy Clark on Austin City Limits.
PBS’s ACL showcasing Austin music
December 5, 2024
In modern telecommunications, the use of satellites to bounce signals to receiving dishes all over the world is an inexpensive way to send sion signals over a great distance.
What’s a satellite?
November 14, 2024
Safe to say, we're still at least a few years away from this...
20 seconds into the future
November 7, 2024
Knight and Shield editors, Karen Behrens and Cathy Croft prepare to guard the victory bell.
Spirit high for homecoming
October 24, 2024
Photo of CDs from the late 1980's.
THROWBACK THURSDAY: COMPACT DISKS
September 26, 2024
People
Teacher and former PAL Makala Wangrin, poses in her classroom at the beginning of the 2024 school year.
Once a PAL, always a pal
Evelyn Jenkins, a&e editor • February 3, 2025

PALS, Peer Assistance Leadership and Service, is a program that is offered throughout Austin ISD schools in which high school students mentor younger students at elementary...

Arellano reaches the official state line of Alaksa marking the final leg to her 4000 mile biking journey. Photo courtesy of Arellano.
Eat, sleep, bike, repeat
January 28, 2025
Antoinette Matthews demonstrates an experiment involving two liquids forming a precipitate to her first-period students.
Creating new formulas
January 26, 2025
Shiloh Hendrickse performs at the McCallum orchestra fall recital. Photo courtesy of Hendrickse.
Following a family legacy
January 16, 2025
Foradori has made more than 30 handmade, intricate, and one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Each one takes at least three hours and can take up to two weeks, depending on how intricate it is.
Foradori rocks with silver
January 15, 2025
Preparing to march in the Dia de los Muertos parade, Harlow Mallison twirls through the streets of downtown Austin. Mallison is a sophomore in the Spanish 2 class at McCallum and was invited to join the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration with Ballet Folklorico, which walked through Fifth and Sixth streets. " I had a lot of fun and it was nice meeting new people," Mallison said. "I loved how everyone came together and were so supportive of each other."
Señora A, McCallum’s cultural ambassador
January 4, 2025
Entertainment
Austin ISD made a big showing at Austin’s Juneteenth parade on Saturday. Superintendent Matias Segura (center) and school board members like District 1 Trustee, Candace Hunter (not in this photo), represented the district alongside the Austin All-Star Band, families, and staff. “Austin ISD has done much to reconcile the harm done to the Black community,” Hunter said. “Our participation in the annual parade gives us another opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to serving Black students and families well.” The district’s participation in the parade means a lot to Hunter, who has been involved with it since she was a student herself. “It’s meaningful for me because as a student in AISD my family celebrated this holiday before it was recognized by the district, state or federal government,” she said. “Now, to see every sector of the city and all the different people come and celebrate Freedom Day, it’s amazing. I feel seen and recognized.” The parade also provided a unique way for Hunter to connect with the people who helped elect her to the school board. “The parade takes place in my district, so for me a highlight is I get to shake hands and hug on our students, families and community members that I serve every day,” she said.
Flipping through the year that was
Sofia Saucedo, social media specialist • February 1, 2025

January:   February: March: April: May: June:  July/August:  September:  October: November:  December:

Feid performs during his Nitro Jam Tour in Madrid on July 2, 2023. Image accessed on the Dreamers Events Flickr page. Posted here under the terms of a creative commons license.
Two years of Urbano Latino in review for the price of one
January 25, 2025
Matcha and matcha whisk (chasen).
From jitters to zen
January 22, 2025
MacTheatre students stare in awe at award won during the 2024 Texas State Thespian festival in Corpus Christi.
MacTheatre students make Nationals
January 20, 2025
While simmering the cranberries with sugar takes a long time, it is worth it to brings out their rich flavor and beautiful ruby color.
Baking up cheer
January 19, 2025
Adidas, New Balances, Tigers, Reebok, Pumas. Which one will come out on top?
Some of these shoes knock our socks off
January 2, 2025
Photo Galleries
Junior Paige Mitchell leaps during group performance for Blue Brigade's annual show-off held last Wednesday commencing the contest season.
Twirl, leap and spin into contest season
Daniela Di-Capua, Evelyn Jenkins, Josie Linton, Sienna Martens, Harper Maxwell, Katie Martin, Piper Norfolk, Elizabeth Nation, and Mira Patel • February 4, 2025

  Last Wednesday, Blue Brigade kicked off their competition season with their annual show-off of all their competition pieces in front of family and friends in...

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: Senior Sasha Grapko is highlighted on stage by a spotlight during the McCallum Youth Dance Company show this past Thursday and Friday at the AISD PAC. The company put in tireless efforts to make the show a reality with late rehearsals and all-day preparations at the PAC in the days leading up to the show. The show was unique with multiple ensembles performing throughout the night. Since the company consists of students ranging from their freshmen to senior years, the dances vary in complexity which created a balance throughout the program over the two days. Overall, the efforts of the dancers and choreographers paid off, and the show was a success. As Grapko is shining above, every McCallum dancer was able to highlight their commitment to the program with their performances. Caption by Arwen Petellier. Photo by Adele Seeboth
McCallum Youth Dance Company delivers ‘moving’ showcase
January 28, 2025
AN UNLIKELY PAIRING: Fried chicken/biscuits and a weight room. These two things are not the kind of businesses that you would be expecting to work together let alone share the same building. Dane's Body Shop and Bird Bird Biscuit both use up half of a singular building at 2701 Manor Road. Surprisingly, they actually work together very well even if they provide opposite results for their customers. Both Dane Krager, the owner of Dane’s Body Shop, and Brian Batch, the owner of Bird Bird, believe in positivity about oneself. They both think that it is good to treat yourself to some biscuits once you have finished working out. Along with that, Dane also thinks that being alongside Bird Bird benefits his business. “Whenever they’re sitting and eating biscuits,” Dane said, “They will look up and feel guilty, which pushes them into buying a membership.”
Barbells and biscuits
January 21, 2025
The cheer team performs for an audience of family and friends during showcase last Saturday in preparation for UIL competition in Fort Worth this Friday. Sophomore Lainey Butler said the team has been perfecting its routine for months for the competition. We have been learning a routine since September from a coach at cheer station and we have been practicing it over and over, multiple times through the months," Butler said. Caption by Josie Mullan.
Cheer’s new frontier: UIL competition
January 14, 2025
DON'T RUB ME THE WRONG WAY: Goats rub their heads together as a sign of trust and affection. Here, two goats share a little love. “Aw, little love bugs, I bet they’re friends,” farmhand Chelsea Smith said. Goats will even do this with humans. If a goat feels positively about a person, it may rub its head on them to show its affection. This is different from goats habit of butting heads. Goats butt heads to establish dominance and their hierarchy.
Into the life of a dapper goat
January 7, 2025
EXCLAIMING FOR THE ECLIPSE: Freshmen Jack Wood, Arwen Pelletier and Cole Truong watch the eclipse from the softball field with their digital media class. Pelletier said she was glad she chose to experience the eclipse with friends at school. “So many kids were exclaiming whenever the clouds broke and you could actually see it,” Pelletier said. “I live really close, and my mom was at home and she was outside. She said that she could hear everyone yelling.” For Pelletier, the highlight of the eclipse was the few seconds when the clouds parted and the eclipse was visible in totality. “I'll always be able to remember what it looks like in my mind,” Pelletier said. “Some things I think about, but I can't remember what they looked like. But this was memorable enough and incredible enough that I'll be able to picture it forever.” Caption by Ingrid Smith.
2024: A year in review in photos
December 31, 2024
THE ANGRIEST JUROR: Junior McCallum student Angelica Heikkala lashes out at her fellow jurors in opening night of 12 Angry Jurors. Heikkala said that it was enjoyable for her to play the role of Juror No. 3. “There’s not another role I would’ve rather played because I liked figuring out this one,” Heikkala said. 12 Angry Jurors was rehearsed mostly in the Theater 3 and 4 class. “It was new to me to have rehearsals mostly in class, but it ultimately was helpful,” she said. Heikkala’s role required a strong actor because her character has multiple big angry monologues as seen here where she flings herself violently towards another juror. Caption by Etta Fannin.
Extraordinary performances in the court
December 24, 2024
Play Shieldle
Decorative Background
Print Edition
Trending Stories
1
The debate over gun control

The debate over gun control • 5133 Views

2
Kendrick Lamar performs at Les Ardentes, a festival of hip-hop, rap, rock and other urban music, in Liège, Belgium, on July 9, 2015. Photo accessed on the Kmeron Flickr account. Reposted here with permission under a Creative Commons license.

Kendrick Lamar revisits Los Angeles roots on surprise release, 'GNX' • 816 Views

3
Defending the rights of gun owners at the McCallum walkout in support of stronger gun control legislation on April 20, 2018, three McCallum seniors (two of them pictured here) sit silently counter-protesting at the rally in the parking lot. “I believe in the Second Amendment since it was instituted in the beginning of this country," one of them said. "I obviously don’t believe in fully automatic weapons. They aren’t legal anyways. I’m pro-rifle, pro-gun and I’m pro Constitution.” One of the students asked to remain anonymous to protect future opportunities. Photo by Kien Johnson.

Banning guns is not the way to go • 296 Views

4
Stereotypical Barbie played by actress Margot Robbie looks at herself in a toy "mirror". The fact that there was no reflection is one of the ways director Greta Gerwig used the aspects of the toys in the film. Warner Bros. image reposted here under the doctrine of fair use.

Barbie movie exceeds its high expectations • 244 Views

5
Este mapa de banderas de América Latina que representa a cada nación por su bandera revela la diversidad de culturas presentes en la región. Ilustración de Presjuri. Consultado en Wikimedia Commons. Publicado nuevamente aquí bajo una licencia creative commons.

Latino no siempre significa Mexicano • 163 Views

This poll has ended.

Which Day 1 President Trump 2.0 policy initiative do you think will have the greatest impact?

Loading...

Sorry, there was an error loading this poll.

SPECIAL EDUCATOR: In an off-the-court victory for boys basketball, Coach Carlin Shaw was named the 2025 Teacher of the Year today. Shaw is a Social Behavior Skills teacher and a special education case manager, and he is the head JV boys basketball coach and an assistant coach for varsity boys basketball. Assistant principal Gabriel Adame presented Shaw with a gift basket in the large gym, announcing his win. Shaw had tears in his eyes as he expressed his gratitude for the community that motivates him. Video by Dave Winter.
  • McCallum High School
    48
    Cedar Creek
    49
    Jan 28 / Boys Basketball
  • McCallum High School
    55
    Cedar Creek
    31
    Jan 28 / Girls Basketball
  • McCallum High School
    60
    Anderson
    40
    Jan 24 / Boys Basketball
  • McCallum High School
    38
    Anderson
    61
    Jan 24 / Girls Basketball
  • McCallum High School
    75
    Crockett
    38
    Jan 22 / Boys Basketball
  • McCallum High School
    47
    Crockett
    45
    Jan 22 / Girls Basketball
  • McCallum High School
    64
    LASA
    45
    Jan 17 / Boys Basketball
  • McCallum High School
    27
    LASA
    40
    Jan 17 / Girls Basketball
  • McCallum High School
    81
    Navarro
    46
    Jan 14 / Boys Basketball
  • McCallum High School
    84
    Bastrop
    28
    Jan 10 / Boys Basketball
Macjournalism Instagram feed
Menu
Activate Search
Home
The Student News Site of McCallum High School