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
Senior Aristotle Balsimo holds up a sign reading "Bullets are not school supplies" to onlookers.
‘End gun violence, no more silence’
Alina Curtin, photoj contributor • September 15, 2025
#ChefsforTexas: WCK distributes meals in Hunt, TX World Central Kitchen has been distributing meals to first responders and families affected by recent floodwaters. Photo accessed on the World Central Kitchen Flickr account, reposted here under the terms of a creative commons license.
Links to Central Texas disaster relief fundraisers
July 11, 2025
An unidentified protester holds an American flag aloft during the No Kings protest.
No Kings protest draws 20,000 in protest of Trump-era policies
June 15, 2025
Junior Beatrix Lozach is all smiles while wearing her gold medal as the 5A state champion in ready writing. She also placed fourth in the 5A classification at State in headline writing.
Lozach wins 5A state ready writing title
June 14, 2025
Opinion
President Trump at CPAC in 2017 during his first term.
Nothing is beautiful about this bill
Arwen Pelletier, staff reporter • July 4, 2025

In a devastating blow to the everyday American, Congress passed President Trump’s extensive domestic policy bill, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), by a razor-thin 218-214...

There is so much more thought and painstaking detail that goes into playing records: operating the needle with a gentle touch so as not to accidentally damage record or player, carefully cleaning the grooves of a record before playing it so it doesn’t skip and placing the vinyl slowly back into its sleeve. Photo accessed on the Lena Flickr account. Reposted here with permission under a creative commons license.
Losing its musical magic
May 21, 2025
Let’s be honest: we use our phones for social media diversions not for learning. They made it harder for us to succeed and to build community in the classroom.
Out of sight, out of mind
May 8, 2025
In less than 100 days in office, Trump has shredded a federal support for values that are near and dear to the McCallum community.
Challenging Trump 2.0
April 25, 2025
Graphic depicting the duality of female pop stardom, ranging from countercultural subversion to conservatism.
Modern female pop stardom necessitates conformity
April 11, 2025
Sports
Junior Ellie Wiseman's photo from her official visit at Penn State University.
From four years old to four-year commit
Carson Duncan, Staffer • September 18, 2025

Since she was four years old, soccer has always been a huge part of junior Ellie Wiseman’s life. She has played in countless games, scored many goals and assisted both her...

Rivalry games are increasing endangered by conference realignments with universities motivated more by big-money television contracts than longstanding traditions.
An unrivaled tradition
June 4, 2025
Senior Ella Brotman, the captain of the Texas Rowing Center varsity women's team rows in bow seat for race during national championship. Photo courtesy of Brotman.
Making waves
May 23, 2025
The athletic training program visited the University of Texas on Jan. 30. During their visit they saw the strength and conditioning weight room, main sports medicine facility and the sports science division. Photo provided by senior Brianna Miller.
The magnificent seven
May 9, 2025
After fielding a ground ball by Trojan center fielder Taylor Coggin, second baseman Tallulah McGolgin ignores Anderson baserunner Genesis Ruiz, opting instead to throw to first baseman Jay Sachez in order to retire Coggin for the final out of the first inning. Pitcher Natalie Myrick had gotten the first two outs of the inning via strikeout. Ruiz singled between the two strikeouts.
Knights defeat Trojans decisively in do-or-die tiebreaker game to earn 5A playoff berth
May 4, 2025
Throwback Thursday
Laneta Stefka (Knight Editor), Ann Kinch (Blue Brigade President), and Jo Eickmann (Shield Editor) admire the Victory Bell in its habitat of last year, the Travis High library. Eickamann is pointing out a previous McCallum victory which the Knights hope to duplicate in tonights McCallum-Travis game. Caption and photo by 1957 Shield staff.
Traditional north-south rivalry symbolized by victory bell battle
1957 Shield staff • September 11, 2025

"The South shall rise again," shout the threatening Rebel voices across the river to their rival McCallum. Meanwhile, the north is equally determined to make sure that...

Some students and teachers support the new no pass/no play rule while others think it is unfair and inflexible. Regardless of campus opinion, Texas schools are stuck with the law for at least a year and half.
The grade debate PASS/FAIL
May 22, 2025
DANGEROUS, WILD rocks are becoming less popular to pet rock owners as tame, pedigreed rocks become more available for only $3 to $5.
You’d pay for a rock?
April 24, 2025
TODAY AND EV’RY DAY: The cast and crew held its first performance of Freaky Friday in the MAC on Feb. 20. The musical stars Ellie and Katherine Blake, a mother-daughter duo who swap bodies in this story of self-determination and acceptance. Although the musical is a comedy, it offers a deeper message for audiences according to sophomore Elora Clarke. “I think Freaky Friday is about accepting yourself and everyone around you for who they are, flaws and all, Clarke said. “More than anything it’s about love and positivity and how you should put kindness and acceptance into the world.” Clarke (far right) plays the role of Lois, a sassy wedding photographer helping Katherine with her upcoming wedding. “I’m the photographer that works for weddings magazine to photograph Katherine’s wedding,” Clarke said. “I think my favorite moment in the show is the song ‘What You Got’ with me, Danielle, Torrey and Katherine.” Clarke said that opening night went well despite a few technical errors. “There were a few mistakes and technical errors, but overall I think the energy was good, the audience was good, and everyone gave a great performance.” Caption by Katie Martin.
A Throwback Thursday to ‘Freaky Friday’
April 17, 2025
ONE OF DR. BILL SMOOT'S tasks as new principal is to give the morning announcements over the public address system. Dr. Smoot spends a great deal of his time at his desk, besides doing the announcements, in which a great amount of school paperwork is processed, most of it dealing directly with the AISD administration. He also answers the telephone and talks with parents and faculty alike. However, his main job is to oversee the school and make sure everything runs smoothly.
SMOOT: Same face but new title
April 10, 2025
People
Copy editor junior Carlo Hinsdale, former staffer Lillian Gray and I take a Polaroid at the 2025 SXSW EDU conference.
More than a mentor
Wren Vanderford, staff reporter • September 17, 2025

    When something means a lot to you, it’s difficult to try to put it into words. I was all too familiar with this speechlessness last year.  While...

Parts of Kyiv lie in rubble after Russian bombings
The death notebook
September 17, 2025
During a class game, photojournalism teacher David Winter’s students frantically search issues of The Shield to find the layout that Winter asked for. Before the game, he had gone over different types of newspaper layouts, and now the students’ knowledge was being put to the test. For freshman Anais Long, the game was a fun distraction from the stressful environment of the end of the year. “It was so fun running around chasing each other and I got to work with my best friends,” she said. “My team and I all just grabbed a newspaper and were kind of screaming at each other.”
Every direction but also One Direction
June 12, 2025
Wiggins, Swinney, Alvarado and Carlson are four of the 25 2025 Who's Who winners. Click on the name of each Who's Who winner below to see the details of their Mac careers.
25 for the Class of ’25
June 10, 2025
Senior Editors 2025, Co-editors in chief Nate Williams (top middle) and Chloe Lewcock (top left ), Co-Web managers Josie Mullan ( bottom right ) and Noah Braun ( top right ), sports editor Callen Romell ( bottom left ), Social media managing editor Camilla Vandegrift ( bottom left middle), and Opinion editor Shila Gill ( bottom right middle).
Seven graduating Shield editors reflect on their newspaper experience
May 18, 2025
Entertainment
Appetizer of chips n' dips at Nixta.
A-maize-ing spot
Adele Seeboth, editorial writer & business manager • September 16, 2025

Buried in one of McCallum’s many zoned areas is a little taqueria called Nixta. Right off of East 12th street, Nixta is well attended by the surrounding neighborhood and...

The iconic band director is all smiles after Austin City Councilman Mike Siegel proclaimed it to be Carol Nelson Day in Austin.
What makes Carol Nelson an icon?
May 27, 2025
Freshman Sofia Moreno sings the national anthem at the Austin FC game on July 29, 2024 against LA Galaxy. Photo provided by Moreno.
Freshman finds her voice
May 17, 2025
The outdoor seating at Tyson's offers lots of plants, inviting lighting and jazz music if you time your visit right.
Taco Mondays
May 3, 2025
The moral of this flawed fairy tale? Why remake a classic animated movie if its live action update is just going to pale in comparison to the original?
Mirror mirror on the wall, what’s the worst movie of them all?
April 23, 2025
Photo Galleries
FROM PLAYGROUNDS TO PLAYWRIGHTS: In room 103, one can find a bustling classroom of students lively chatting and working. The new English teacher, Abigail Pfeiffer, said she feels quite at home here. “I love the students here,” Pfeiffer said. “It’s been such a pleasure to teach them.” This is Pfeiffer’s second year of teaching. Her previous teaching experience was for a fourth grade classroom. Some might say fourth grade to 10th is a huge jump, but Pfeifer has been facing it with great enthusiasm. She majored in English in college and finds that a high school setting gives her more room to explore her passion. “There’s much more freedom when teaching high schoolers,” Pfeifer said. “I really get to put my skills to work.” Pfeiffer was drawn to McCallum because of its commitment to Fine Arts and its welcoming community. So far, her experience at Mac has not let her down. “It’s clear how passionate students are, and it’s very inspiring to see,” Pfeiffer said. Ultimately, Pfeiffer’s hope for this year is for her students to feel accomplished and for her to feel as if she taught them something worthwhile. Caption by Zanna Allen.
A fresh start for mac-ulty
Daniela Di-Capua, Delaney Lavelle, Eva Sanchez, Isadora Truan, Riley Pita, Sylvia Hurtado, and Zanna Allen • September 11, 2025

    This week is all about celebrating new beginnings at McCallum. As the school year begins, we are excited to welcome a new group of teachers who bring...

ONE LAST BATTLE CRY: Senior Valeria Villafuerte-Perez celebrates with her friends after the senior class won the spirit competition. At each pep rally, a different game is played with volunteers from the crowd. Villafuerte-Perez was nominated by her friends to play a game in which the goal was to snatch a pom-pom from an opponent. “Before school started, my friends and I had talked about going all out for senior year, so I told them to nominate me for a game since it was our last [Shoal Creek Showdown] pep rally,” Villafuerte-Perez said. “I wasn’t really scared to go down to the floor in front of the whole school, all I was focused on was getting the crowd hyped for the game.” Villafuerte-Perez entered the game determined to win. After several rounds, as there were just two people left, she managed to snatch the last pom just in time, in order to secure a victory for the senior class. “I was really happy I won the game for the class of 2026,” Villafuerte-Perez said. “Honestly, I just wanted to win because seniors rule.” As this was her first pep rally as a senior, the event carried extra meaning to Villafuerte-Perez. “Being in the stands as a senior feels very surreal,” Villafuerte-Perez said. “I still remember my first  pep rally, and now I’m a senior having my last pep rally, I think in that moment it really set in that I’m a senior, and that I’m going to graduate soon.” Caption by Sophia Manos. Photo by Julia Copas.
Shoal Creek Showdown shows out
September 4, 2025
GRAND REVEAL: Sophomore Cruz Gonzales performs alongside the other baritone saxophone players during Bandapalooza on Aug 22. Bandapalooza allowed the band to perform what they’ve been practicing during the summer to an audience full of friends and family. While this wasn’t the band’s first full run through, it was their first in front of an audience. “I feel like we’ve done better in rehearsals, and due to the pressure and other things, it hindered our performance a little bit, but I was still proud,” Gonzales said. One thing that Gonzales pointed out that the band needs to work on in the future is making sure everybody knows exactly where they’re supposed to be and knows the repetition. This performance also allowed the band to introduce their new theme of Gothic Renaissance to their audience. “This year’s costumes are totally different,” Gonzales said. “We have hip capes and shako hats, which is a big change from last year.” Looking towards the future and big pictures, Gonzales wants the band to have a successful season and make state. “Considering how close it was last year, we were pretty bummed,” he said. “So this year, I think everybody is really trying to work harder to get there and make state again.” Caption by Maya Tackett. Photo by Wren Vanderford.
Bandapalooza marches into new year
August 28, 2025
Softball standout Lila Brotherton evades a Crockett defender in the Knights' victory over the Cougars in their quarterfinal matchup. The Knights would defeat Travis in the semifinal game to reach the championship where they lost to Bowie.
Flag football unfurled at district tournament
May 27, 2025
Senior John Scott Mabry jumps up to block ball from senior Devon Robinson for the match of the Senior Boys's A Team against the Senior Boys' B team during the Bro-Ball tournament held on Wednesday. The Senior A Team ended up taking home the championship title at the end of the rounds. The tournament which is annual serves as a fundraiser for the volleyball program at McCallum. The volleyball team is responsible organizing the event and coaching the players beforehand.
Battle of the bros
May 20, 2025
PAINTING POINTS: Junior Joseph Blackwood performs painting skit for Mr. McCallum pageant on Saturday night. Blackwood came in third for the entire competition after several wins throughout the week's challenges including his second place win for raising the most money in the ice bucket challenge. As a fellow actor, sophomore Hallie Cooper was assigned to be Blackwood's guide througout the week, orienting him where to go and what to do for the various challenges. At the end of the week, Blackwood was awarded third place after all his hard work earning points throughout the week from supporters and sponsors through all the various challenges as well as his final culminating performance on Saturday.  Caption by Josie Mullan. Photo by Lillian Gray.
From knight to king
May 13, 2025
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Trending Stories
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GRAND REVEAL: Sophomore Cruz Gonzales performs alongside the other baritone saxophone players during Bandapalooza on Aug 22. Bandapalooza allowed the band to perform what they’ve been practicing during the summer to an audience full of friends and family. While this wasn’t the band’s first full run through, it was their first in front of an audience. “I feel like we’ve done better in rehearsals, and due to the pressure and other things, it hindered our performance a little bit, but I was still proud,” Gonzales said. One thing that Gonzales pointed out that the band needs to work on in the future is making sure everybody knows exactly where they’re supposed to be and knows the repetition. This performance also allowed the band to introduce their new theme of Gothic Renaissance to their audience. “This year’s costumes are totally different,” Gonzales said. “We have hip capes and shako hats, which is a big change from last year.” Looking towards the future and big pictures, Gonzales wants the band to have a successful season and make state. “Considering how close it was last year, we were pretty bummed,” he said. “So this year, I think everybody is really trying to work harder to get there and make state again.” Caption by Maya Tackett. Photo by Wren Vanderford.

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FROM PLAYGROUNDS TO PLAYWRIGHTS: In room 103, one can find a bustling classroom of students lively chatting and working. The new English teacher, Abigail Pfeiffer, said she feels quite at home here. “I love the students here,” Pfeiffer said. “It’s been such a pleasure to teach them.” This is Pfeiffer’s second year of teaching. Her previous teaching experience was for a fourth grade classroom. Some might say fourth grade to 10th is a huge jump, but Pfeifer has been facing it with great enthusiasm. She majored in English in college and finds that a high school setting gives her more room to explore her passion. “There’s much more freedom when teaching high schoolers,” Pfeifer said. “I really get to put my skills to work.” Pfeiffer was drawn to McCallum because of its commitment to Fine Arts and its welcoming community. So far, her experience at Mac has not let her down. “It’s clear how passionate students are, and it’s very inspiring to see,” Pfeiffer said. Ultimately, Pfeiffer’s hope for this year is for her students to feel accomplished and for her to feel as if she taught them something worthwhile. Caption by Zanna Allen.

A fresh start for mac-ulty • 80 Views

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Senior Aristotle Balsimo holds up a sign reading "Bullets are not school supplies" to onlookers.

'End gun violence, no more silence' • 72 Views

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Desde el campo hasta el escenario

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#ChefsforTexas: WCK distributes meals in Hunt, TX World Central Kitchen has been distributing meals to first responders and families affected by recent floodwaters. Photo accessed on the World Central Kitchen Flickr account, reposted here under the terms of a creative commons license.

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Junior Beatrix Lozach is all smiles while wearing her gold medal as the 5A state champion in ready writing. She also placed fourth in the 5A classification at State in headline writing.

Lozach wins 5A state ready writing title • 56 Views

10
Wiggins, Swinney, Alvarado and Carlson are four of the 25 2025 Who's Who winners. Click on the name of each Who's Who winner below to see the details of their Mac careers.

25 for the Class of '25 • 56 Views

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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.
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