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
Ridgetop Elementary School first-grader Sebastian Celio sits outside the George Washington Carver branch of the Austin Public Library where his mother cast her early vote in the 2024 Travis County election.
Voters approve Austin ISD’s Prop A
Priya Thoppil, news editor • November 18, 2024
For Margaret Dismukes Massad, the owner of Peter Pan Mini Golf and a McCallum graduate, the importance of Peter Pan Mini Golf goes beyond saving the business. As a child, some of her happiest memories are of observing her father, Glenn Dismukes, create the sculptures that still stand today at Peter Pan Mini-Golf in her backyard. “My favorite memories are just of my dad carving the figures,” Massad said. “We were the only kids with a dinosaur in the backyard.”
Keep Austin putting!
November 13, 2024
While parents and teachers formed a marching line with rainbow umbrellas to insulate students from the hateful messaging coming from the sidewalk, students wrote supportive messages with sidewalk chalk to express support for the same groups that the agitators were villifying.
Community responds to agitators’ return with show of support
November 6, 2024
Sixteen of the AP exams will be fully digital in 2025. These exams fall into the arts and humanities category, with exceptions being AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles and AP Environmental Science. Twelve will be hybrid exams—virtually all math or science—ranging from AP Calculus classes to AP Biology. For arts, language and music AP tests, the audio components of the tests will remain unchanged.
AP goes digital
October 26, 2024
Opinion
Students wait in long lines during lunch on Oct. 18. Photos by Carlo Hinsdale.
A recipe for student stress
Carlo Hinsdale, staff reporter • November 15, 2024

After four hours of hard work, McCallum students are rewarded with 40 or so minutes of free time to eat and relax. But those who buy school lunches don’t get this luxury,...

Graphic of a declined voter registration card. The card symbolizes the challenges new Texas voters face when trying to reach the polls.
Texas’ dubious distinction
November 4, 2024
People gather outside of the Dayton Street Day Labor Center in Aurora, Colorado, to get food and necessities. This center is vital to many newcomers, helping them find work and support.
The human toll of political lies
October 30, 2024
The vice president's commitment to her predecessor's path could be the doom of an initially inspiring campaign.
We are not going…anywhere?
October 29, 2024
A 'Brat' election
A ‘Brat’ election
October 25, 2024
TAKING ACTION: The photo above was from the 2023 statewide gun control walkout. Now alumni, Zephan Mayeda leans against a tree during the walkout holding a sign reading “Bullets aren’t school supplies.” He participated in the walkout to protest against the lack of gun protection in the U.S. and to draw attention to the statewide protest. “Children are dying due to government’s apathy and corporate lobbying against any action of any kind,” Mayeda said. Mayeda was disappointed in the lack of organization that came with the protest but still participated. “Better something than nothing,” he said. Mayeda offered what he would love to see at the walkout. “I would have loved to see marching, chants, speeches, lists of phone numbers to call senators, names pictures and birthdays of the victims, flyers promoting the protest days weeks or months even in advance, mass absences, an actual walkout for those who can’t not go to school that isn’t just 20 minutes of sitting,” Mayeda said. Although he was underwhelmed, Mayeda appreciated the symbolism. “I think it held some importance in regards to symbolic gestures,” Mayeda said. Reporting by Kate Boyle.
Gun violence ravages American youth
September 27, 2024
Sports
Senior Avi Zeifman flies during Taco Shack pep rally on Aug. 29.
Final year of cheer
Carson Duncan, staff reporter • November 20, 2024

As the year begins, seniors Mary Mae Forsyth and Avi Zeifman have to start their goodbyes, one of the hardest being to Cheer. From football games to hours on end of practice,...

Senior captain Greta Carlson celebrates point with her team after scoring a kill against the LASA Raptors on Oct. 11.
Raptors down, Knights up
November 14, 2024
Julia Lentz races the five-kilometer course at the UIL District 24-5A Championship on Oct. 11 at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park.
Lentz reflects on successful season, looks forward
November 8, 2024
Coach Gammerdinger and several players survey their work on the field over this summer, moving one step closer to a grassy field
Construction of turf field delayed
November 5, 2024
Fleischer (No. 80) huddles up with his teammates as they took on Pflugerville at Pflugerville High School on Oct. 12.
From Germany to game day
October 29, 2024
Throwback Thursday
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?
Mike Wilhite, staff reporter • November 14, 2024

A mere two years ago, if anyone on the street was asked what a satellite dish was, he would probably stare blankly or lie that it was some sort of Chinese food. But in actuality,...

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
Richards would go on to win the 1990 election, and served as Texas governor until 1995, where she was succeeded by future president George W. Bush.
Richards obvious choice for governor’s race in fall
September 19, 2024
People
Jeffrey Rudy plays at fall choir concert, “Of Earth and Sky,” in October 2023. Photo and caption by Riley Pita.
‘He just wants what’s best for us’ 
Riley Pita, staff reporter • November 17, 2024

For Jeffrey Rudy, each day of teaching or coaching is a new surprise. He has been teaching for 41 years, 21 of which have been dedicated to McCallum. Being an AP teacher,...

First-year math teacher Jada Stewart dances at the Teacher Pep Rally on Sept. 20.
From student teacher to teacher of students
November 14, 2024
Piano teacher Kate Wiley checks on the progress of junior Harper Wade during seventh-period piano class on Oct. 24 in the piano portable.
Chords, crawfish and kickball
October 30, 2024
ATX Sweet Serendipity was started and created by senior America Franken. Graphic courtesy of Franken.
Starting ATX Sweet Serendipity
October 16, 2024
Paul Pew beams with students next to mural dedicated to him. At the end of the school year last year, students and faculty decided that they needed to dedicate something to him for his career at McCallum. According to Pew, the thing he will miss most about teaching here is the students, and teachers. “I worked with amazing, kind, and talented people at both ends of the building, math and music,” Pew said. “I was lucky enough to have Ms. Seckar as a department head and all the math teachers as friends.
At Mac, Pew found perfect mix of math, music
October 16, 2024
Cowles poses for a selfie with Alumni Band members Kirsten Davenport (left) and Anne Hochfelder (right) before their halftime performance with current members of the Longhorn Band.
Cowles marches back to college
September 26, 2024
Entertainment
Director Nathan Thompson conducts the McCallum choir program at last year’s Masterworks concert. The masterworks concert this year on Dec. 12 will feature Kreek’s Requiem in C minor performed by the chamber orchestra, whole choir program, and brass band. Thompson recalls that last year, his favorite part was bringing all the elements together. “Last year, that standing ovation that everyone got after afterwards, and the silence that we were able to hold in the concert hall was a really, really cool moment, and it was one of the highlights of the year for me."
Making old traditions new
Riley Pita, staff reporter • November 19, 2024

Over the lats year, new choir director Nathan Thompson has resurrected the tradition of Masterworks. The Masterworks concert will feature the whole choir program, some band...

Sixth-period guitar class practices in its new studio in the Black Box Theater on Oct. 10.
New spaces, new sound
November 11, 2024
A delicious vegan combo from Double Trouble- their Del Rey tofish taco and BBQ short rib taco.
Flavor Profiles: Double Trouble
November 8, 2024
Junior Lili Escamilla performs at Bandapalooza on Aug. 25 (left) and with the Blue Brigade during the Pink Week pep rally on Oct. 10 (right).
High kicks and high notes
November 1, 2024
Kevin Abstract preforming his ACL set on Sunday during ACL's first weekend
ACL setlist disappoints
October 9, 2024
Photo Galleries
AN ABUNDANCE OF OPPORTUNITIES: Senior Harper Freach, a cello player in the chamber orchestra, plays the first movement of “Triptyque” by Yasushi Akutagawa, which they began practicing in August. Freach said she was nervous going into the concert, having recently focused on other pieces. “I was feeling pretty nervous because we hadn't played it for a while because we had been focused on pieces for another concert, so everyone was a little rusty,” Freach said. After the performances, the fine arts majors separated into smaller groups so that the audience could interact with whatever fine arts they were most interested in learning about. Freach’s younger sister is interested in the dance department, so they went into that group. “We went to the dance building and got to watch a bunch of different types of solos of all different dance types to show what you could audition with for your audition and got to talk to the dance teachers,” Freach said. Freach said she had a very different experience with orchestra before high school. “I went to a private school, and we had a very different way of playing, we would have to audition for actual seatings and chairs,” Freach said. “It's different because now you walk into orchestra, and you don't know what to expect. Pringle will either have you play for the class or play with a different section; it's just a very broad range, and you never know what you're going to get. I like it because it tests my abilities and tells me what I need to work on and sometimes shows that I can pick up on things faster than I thought I would be able to.” Freach’s advice for any new Knights is to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. “Any opportunity that you are presented with you should take it,” Freach said. “I couldn't do that my freshman year because we were still pretty shut down due to COVID. I was scared to try other things besides orchestra, but I regret not involving myself in other areas at McCallum where I could have possibly found my passion.” Caption by Shila Gill.
Inspiring aspiring artists
JoJo Barnard, Tristen Diaz, Daniela Di-Capua, Carson Duncan, Shila Gill, Delaney Lavelle, Josie Mullan, Riley Pita, Chloe Seckar-Martinez, Adele Seeboth, Priya Thoppil, and Fletcher Vandegrift • November 19, 2024

McCallum hosted the Fine Arts Showcase on Nov. 7 in the MAC theater for prospective students and their parents to demonstrate the variety of interests and majors new students...

AS EASY AS PB&J: At the blindfold sandwich-making station, senior Zane Wiggins and Kai Talebi attempt to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The activity allowed students to experience the mundane task without sight. Wiggins found that the simple activity turned into a challenge in almost every aspect of the process. "It was pretty rough," he said. "My bread wasn’t put together properly, and I put my jelly right next to my plate and not on the plate, it was really difficult. I was expecting it to be easier than it was cause I'd made sandwiches all my life, and I thought 'I can do this from muscle memory,' but it was a lot harder than I thought, and it makes you not take your sight for granted. Access to your sight makes things so much easier." Since students participating are used to having full sight, it was difficult to adapt to the sudden loss of a sense. "I had to kind of guess where things were and the plate was moving a lot," he said. "Every time I would reach for the plate it would be in a different location, so I kind of had to feel around for everything." Along with that, Wiggins had to work together with Talebi to communicate to communicate which ingredient he needed next. "I had to share the peanut butter and the jelly with Kai, so we had to coordinate with each other on who gets what first," he said. "I knew Kai was right next to me, but it was hard to know where her hands were. We had to find each other's arm and make our way up to pass the ingredients." Caption by Lillian Gray.
Learning to see without sight
November 12, 2024
ONE LAST BATTLE CRY: Seniors Joe Colaleo and Theo Northcutt dressed as Mario and Waluigi cheer hard as they win their last senior battle cry. “I was very excited and happy because we had just won,” Colaleo said. “Now that I look back on it, it feels a little sad knowing I can’t go to another one.” Colaleo said although the moment was bittersweet, it’s also nice to know other things in life are coming up. Colaleo and his two friends said they dressed as Mario characters because it was a simple and fun costume idea. “I decided on the costume because it’s so iconic and recognizable,” Colaleo said. Caption by Josie Linton.
Students, faculty convene campus costume party
November 5, 2024
HIGH KICKS, HIGH SPIRITS: On Friday, Oct. 18, McCallum culminated a festive spirit week with the homecoming pep rally. During the pep rally, the class winner of the hallway decorating contest was announced as well as the usual spirit stick award. Sophomore and Blue Brigade member, Peyton Robenhorst noted how festive the student section was. "It felt good to perform for the homecoming game," Robenhorst said. "I knew a lot of people were going to [cheer for us]."
From spirit days to dance nights, homecoming brings high spirits
October 29, 2024
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The debate over gun control

The debate over gun control • 7031 Views

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While parents and teachers formed a marching line with rainbow umbrellas to insulate students from the hateful messaging coming from the sidewalk, students wrote supportive messages with sidewalk chalk to express support for the same groups that the agitators were villifying.

Community responds to agitators' return with show of support • 505 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 • 437 Views

4
UT booklets on display during college showcase at McCallum last spring. In the wake of the Supreme Court decision effectively ending affirmative action and a state law banning diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on campus, the University has pledged to make its campus welcome to all, but it has also made changes to comply with the new, more restrictive laws.

Class of 2024 adjusts college applications in wake of Supreme Court ruling eliminating affirmative action • 284 Views

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Like all things, the year of Orwell's dystopian tale of the future came to pass, prompting social and cultural introspection. Credit to unknown artist on theoriginalunderground.com.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: 'Big Brother is watching you' • 270 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 • 241 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 • 235 Views

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Junior Lucas Walker, plays the bass clarinet during the finals performance Saturday night at the USBands Austin Regional Competition at the Bob Shelton Stadium in Kyle. This performance led to a third place finish and the band to be awarded best overall music.

Band takes third in finals, plus Best Overall Music • 221 Views

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A search on Wikipedia reveals that the “OK symbol” has multiple other ascribed meanings. It is the ambiguity of the symbol that has prompted groups like the Antidefamation League to urge people to use caution when evaluating the symbol.

Context is everything • 192 Views

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True Foods Kitchen- Butternut Squash Pizza

True Foods Kitchen- Butternut Squash Pizza • 191 Views

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At the Texas Tribune Festival this September, three Deans of journalism schools in universities around the U.S. sat down to discuss how their schools are addressing current issues in journalism, and how they are training future journalists. Rachel Davis Mersey serves as Interim Provost at the University of Texas at Austin and Chair of the School of Journalism and Media and is an expert on the influence of digital media on community-building and understanding the information needs of different audiences. Graciela Mochkofsky is Dean of the City University of New York’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a contributing writer for The New Yorker, authoring seven nonfiction books. Jelani Cobb is Dean of the Columbia Journalism School, a staff writer at The New Yorker and received a Peabody Award for his 2020 PBS “Frontline” film “Whose Vote Counts?” In their discussion, Mersey, Mochkofsky and Cobb focused on three salient issues in journalism: the safety of student journalists, the role of social media in journalism and the relevance of journalism in today’s society. Video by Mira Patel.
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