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
Protesters gathered on the Texas State Capitol grounds on Wednesday to protest against the Trump administration and Project 2025. Photo by Arwen Pelletier
Hundreds convene at Capitol to join day of national protest
Arwen Pelletier, staff writer • February 7, 2025
Graphic of 3 highly populated districts ranked by average high school teacher salary per data from Dallas ISD and teacher.org. Graphic by Beatrix Lozach.
Mac faculty on Prop A
February 5, 2025
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
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
Opinion
AISD needs to provide its students, especially those at the most at-risk campuses, with information on how they can stay safe from these raids and how they can support others. Photo by Fletcher Vandegrift. Editorial cartoon by Nate Williams.
Prioritizing student safety
Shield editorial board • February 19, 2025

During President Donald Trump’s campaign, he made a wide variety of promises to Americans, promised that earned him the votes to win the election, But since his victory,...

During the Austin anti-Trump rally at the Capitol on Feb. 5, resistance to Trump's plans to ramp up deportation of immigrants was on the top of many people's minds as reflected on their signs.
School districts should resist ICE access
February 11, 2025
Failure of Democrats to appeal to immigrant voters cost them the election
Failure of Democrats to appeal to immigrant voters cost them the election
January 29, 2025
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
Sports
Brode, Kahlor on friendship, being labeled underdogs, and how to overcome as a team
Brode, Kahlor on friendship, being labeled underdogs, and how to overcome as a team
Julia Copas and Callen Romell • February 21, 2025

In the sixth episode of Friday Knight Lights, hosts Julia Copas and Callen Romell talk with seniors George Brode and Felix Kahlor about the unique culture of the basketball...

Chen dribbles the ball downcourt at Marble Falls on Nov. 6. The Knights lost to the Mustangs 30-28.
Chen talks team culture, stepping up as a leader
February 20, 2025
Sanchez had a historic season with 80 receptions for 1,285 yards with 16 touchdown catches.
Touching down for college
February 20, 2025
Senior point guard Emy Chen finds resistance as she strives to drive to the hoop from the top of the key during the Knights' bi-district round playoff loss to Georgetown at Westwood High school. Chen said after that the Knights had a distinct height disadvantage but not played with heart and intensity despite being overmatched.
Eagles end Knights’ season but not will to fight
February 13, 2025
The varsity, the JV-B, the cheerleaders and the students who showed up to support the JV-A Knights on Senior Knight erupt in support the JV-A's effort on the court. The JV-A earned an overtime victory over Bastrop to close its season on a high note.
JV-A girls go out a winner in overtime
February 10, 2025
A sign sits outside of Richard Lord's Boxing Gym, which has been a staple of the Austin boxing community for decades.
One punch at a time
February 9, 2025
Throwback Thursday
A NEW back was given to the deuce. "The signing of the Declaration of Independence" is the name of the painting on the rear. The front, however, is almost the same as ten years ago.
New money in circulation
unknown staffer • February 13, 2025

Everybody is getting into the Bicentennial: airlines, the phone company, pinball machine makers, store owners, the media and every other organization under the sun. Some time...

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
January 2, 2025
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
People
A memorial in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine honoring the Ukrainian soldiers who have died during the war. When a soldier dies, relatives and friends add a flag to the memorial. Over 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died since the war began in February 2022. Photo courtesy of Anastasiia Musiiaka's.
Left behind
Lillian Gray, staff reporter • February 17, 2025

Living in Kyiv, Ukraine, junior Anastasiia Musiiaka's childhood dream was to attend college in the U.S. as an international student. At the age of 4, after some encouragement...

Senior Chris Hernandez poses for a picture in his ESL class. Hernandez moved to Austin from Villahermosa, a city in southern Mexico, in the summer of 2023. Hernandez plans to pursue higher education and has started applying to colleges. Senior Abdiel Hernandez, and Freshman Metzi Luna did not want their picture to be used.
Moving forward
February 15, 2025
English as second language teacher, James Hutcheson, helps freshman Pia Larenas Vasquez during class.
English as a second language class offers a space for international students to integrate seamlessly
February 14, 2025
Senior Uzma Rahim left Laghman, an eastern province of Afghanistan in 2021. Her three siblings and parents, left the country after the Taliban began to take over. Not too long after, Rahim started school at McCallum.
We are all humans
February 13, 2025
A small black cat named Suertudo ("lucky one" in English) looks up at a tree in Coquimbo, Chile, the city where Larenas was born. Larenas took this picture while she was on vacation in Coquimbo and her family took her to a campo ("field" in English), that was owned by her great grandfather. The cat Suertudo was given that name because Larenas great grandfather found him abandoned in a feria. Photo courtesy of Pia Larenas.
Staying connected
February 12, 2025
When Jasmine Aung was in elementary school, she started to resist her Burmese food and language at home because it made her feel separate from her school friends. “I wanted to be American. I wanted to be those beautiful blue-eyed, fair-skinned people," Aung said. "I didn't want to be myself basically.” Since then, she worked hard to connect with her Burmese heritage.
All that followed
February 10, 2025
Entertainment
New fashion trends are arising in 2025. Here are a few that we have noted so far! Graphic by Mira Patel.
Fashion 2025 blends past with future, individual with collective
Mira Patel, design editor • February 21, 2025

Fashion has always been a reflection of culture, identity and change. In 2025, we’re stepping into an era where style is more than just fabric - it’s conversation. This...

Junior Lark Thompson performs with color guard during halftime at Bastrop on Sept. 17.
Concentrating on color guard
February 16, 2025
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
February 1, 2025
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
Photo Galleries
THE FINAL SHOT: For senior Jaiden Booe Senior Knight was the single best moment of the entire district season. After nearly finishing undefeated the win against LASA, and the secured spot in the first round of UIL playoffs summed up Booe’s love for basketball all in one game. “[My favorite thing about playing] is making memories with the team because we are all about to graduate,” Booe said. “Just playing, having fun with the guys knowing it's the last home game at McCallum.” For Booe the pre-game ritual to the teams' basketball games was another highlight during his years on the team. “My favorite thing about playing is the pre-game shooting with my teammates in the back gym,” Booe said. “We practiced hard and made sure to have fun.” For Booe basketball ends in high school, however he plans on continuing his athletic endeavors at Kilgore College for football. Caption by Chloe Lewcock. Photo by Julia Copas
Senior Knights get royal sendoff
Shila Gill, Chloe Lewcock, Beatrix Lozach, Arwen Pelletier, Maya Tackett, Callen Romell, Fletcher Vandegrift, Nate Williams, and Josie Mullan • February 18, 2025

On Feb. 4 and 11 at their home gym, the girls and boys varsity basketball teams honored their senior players in Senior Knight celebrations at their final regular season...

REACHING FOR THE STARS: Junior Zane Shieh sings an original song while playing the guitar with his band, Spiral Maze, at the Battle of the Bands last Thursday. He sings the long note of his band’s original song entitled “Reach,” a part of a new album coming soon. “This is my second year doing Battle of the Bands and with Spiral Maze,” Shieh said. “We had a pretty tight set, but I think it went really well, and the crowd liked us a good bit.” Shieh said his excitement toward playing at the Battle of the Bands this year was being able to showcase his band’s new music. “My favorite part was performing our new song, and playing for a bunch of my friends was super sick,” Shieh said. “It was stressful at first—like a little nervous—but it all cleared up right after the first song, and the atmosphere was very chill.” While it was not his band’s first time performing in front of a crowd, Shieh said he loves playing music at his own school and performing original music. “We’ve played at the Austin Rodeo two times and a few restaurants like Tamale House and Freddo’s ATX,” Shieh said. Shieh and his band will be back performing at school at the upcoming first annual McCallum Art Party fundraiser on Feb. 22. Caption by Nate Williams.
Battle of the Bands brings Mac musicians together
February 11, 2025
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
February 4, 2025
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
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The debate over gun control

The debate over gun control • 5598 Views

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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' • 859 Views

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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 • 328 Views

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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 • 195 Views

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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 • 175 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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