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
Alysa Spiro

Alysa Spiro, co-editor-in-chief

(she/her)

Alysa Spiro is thrilled to be returning to the MacJ staff for her third year, this time as a co-Editor-In-Chief. Alysa still considers the opinion section her child, but has ultimately taken a liking to all types of journalistic writing (though she has yet to write a sports story in her three years on staff). When not biting her nails off due to newspaper-induced stress, Alysa enjoys spending her mornings brewing her own espresso and her evenings re-watching Spirited Away. Recently, she’s taken a real liking to Russian literature (and is in search of someone to talk to The Brothers Karamazov about). She’d like to thank Samantha Power’s for continuing to correct her grammar and Dave Winter for giving her a place to call home.

All content by Alysa Spiro
Cover photo of the Shield print exclusive 'Periods and Punishment' story by Alysa Spiro. Last year, there were several cases of students receiving in-school suspension after leaving campus for period-related reasons, including bleeding through clothing and a lack of access to menstrual products.

[Photo] AISD provides free period products in all schools

Amaya Collier, co-opinion editor
September 19, 2022

Cover photo of the Shield print exclusive 'Periods and Punishment' story by Alysa Spiro. Last year, there were several cases of students receiving in-school suspension after leaving campus for period-related...

Kenta Asazu celebrates his completion of the full marathon at the Austin Marathon with a medal and a personalized sign.

Asazu’s magic shoes

Thomas Melina Raab and Alysa Spiro
February 23, 2022

The Austin Marathon took place Sunday morning, and for many Austinites, that meant bad traffic and blocked off roads. But for select Mac students, it meant a perfect day to get out for a long run on the...

English teacher Diana Adamson is among many others at McCallum and in AISD who was surprised by AISD's decision to revoke the 7 out of 8 plan.

Navigating a financial maze

Alysa Spiro, co-editor-in-chief
February 16, 2022

After receiving pushback from teachers, parents and students, superintendent Stephanie Elizalde announced during a board meeting that AISD will not require teachers to instruct seven of eight classes for...

English and women's studies teacher Nikki Northcutt says that its no secret that teachers are overworked. She said that she will not return to McCallum next school year to teach seven classes out of eight. “I love this job and I love McCallum High School,” she said. “I feel like I am in the best school in the district. I love my colleagues and my students. But I refuse to burn myself out. I am already working all weekend. I cannot give any more than I am already giving.”

To solve deficit, district to add a class to each teacher’s workload so fewer teachers are needed

Alysa Spiro, co-editor in chief
February 5, 2022

In a Dec. 13 email sent to the AISD community, superintendent Stephanie Elizalde announced that AISD would not be switching to a seven-period schedule for the 2022-2023 school year.  “The feedback...

MacJ wins big in NSPA ‘Clips & Clicks’

Alice Scott, Evelyn Griffin, Lucy Marco, Alysa Spiro, Amaya Collier, Samantha Powers, Grace Nugent, Logan Davis, Francie Wilhelm, Morgan Eye, Emma Hagood, Sophie Kessler, Lanie Sepehri, Lexi Ramos, Meredith Grotevant, and Mia Gomez
January 27, 2022

McCallum earned first place with a total of 112 points, nearly double the second-place score, in the National Scholastic Press Association 'Clips and Clicks' fall competition, for works in broadcast, design,...

Hundreds of students walked out of their third-period classes on Monday Nov. 15 in a show of support for students who have been victims of sexual abuse or sexual assault. The group met in the band parking lot and then marched around the perimeter of the school, stopping often to hear personal stories of assault and survival. Each story elicited embraces and statements of support from members of the crowd.

Standing up and walking out

Evie Barnard, Amaya Collier, Naomi Di-Capua, Emma Hagood, Julia Husted, Eliza Jensen, Cassidy Levin, Lucy Marco, Helen Martin, Kaela Martin, Lexi Ramos, Elisha Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Alysa Spiro, Francie Wilhelm, Nate Williams, and Bo Witzel
December 7, 2021

“You are so loved!” “It’s not your fault!” “We believe you!” Amidst a crowd of hundreds of participating students, shouts like these could be heard in response to victims of sexual...

School administrators told the Shield that Gaggle, the surveillance software AISD schools use to monitor student Chromebook use, is a tool that schools use to help students and keep them safe, but some students and teachers fear that it compromises student privacy and the trust between teachers and their students.

District’s new surveillance software sparks debate over proper balance between student privacy, protection

Alysa Spiro, co-editor in chief
December 6, 2021

“Electronic mail transmissions and other use of the electronic communications shall not be considered confidential and may be monitored at any time by designated staff to ensure appropriate use for educational...

CAFE CAPTAIN: Senior Kenta Asazu and junior Oliver Boyd invite students into the library to enjoy some hot coffee and some tunes. "I'm in charge of the coffee, Asazu said. "My mom owns a cafe, so I asked her if she could just donate coffee for us." His mom's coffee shop is the local Sa-Ten, and she agreed to supply the beverages. Senior Oliver Boyd said there were some challenges getting everything in order for the event, so Asazu took a load off of that pressure. "It's been a couple months just planning all the sponsoring, and trying to get coffee," Boyd said. "That took awhile because we emailed a lot of different coffee shops, but nobody emailed us back, so then we just got Kenta." Reporting by Samantha Powers.

[Photo] Coffeehouse enjoys triumphant return to Mac campus

Evie Barnard, Alysa Bijl-Spiro, Amaya Collier, Carter Eason, Evelyn Griffin, Cassidy Levin, Madelynn Niles, Caroline Owen, Samantha Powers, Sofia Ramon, Alice Scott, and Grace Vitale
November 9, 2021

CAFE CAPTAIN: Senior Kenta Asazu and junior Oliver Boyd invite students into the library to enjoy some hot coffee and some tunes. "I'm in charge of the coffee, Asazu said. "My mom owns a cafe, so I asked...

GOMEZ AND CURRIE TAKE THE CROWNS: Senior homecoming royals Mia Gomez and Bobby Currie smile for the crowd after the announcement of their victory. For Currie, a three-time homecoming royalty member, this was an extremely memorable moment. “I hadn’t really put that much thought into the fact that I was a finalist; I just kind of went through the motions,” Currie said. “So when I heard my name called and then all the cheering, cameras and seeing the crown, my mind was just in shock and I was overwhelmed with excitement.” Having Gomez by his side was also special for Currie. “I love the diversity between the two of us. I think it represents McCallum very well,” he said. “I first met Mia in freshman year world geography, so this was kind of a cool full circle moment for us.” As seen in his marching band attire, Currie participates in many extracurriculars at McCallum — making this moment that much more appreciated. “I try to get very involved around here, so it was cool getting validation from the people I love very dearly,” Currie said. “It is definitely something I will always remember for the rest of my life.” Reporting by Madelynn Niles.

[Photo] Mac resumes homecoming traditions in big way in 2021

October 26, 2021

GOMEZ AND CURRIE TAKE THE CROWNS: Senior homecoming royals Mia Gomez and Bobby Currie smile for the crowd after the announcement of their victory. For Currie, a three-time homecoming royalty member, this...

When setting a Pink Week fundraising record is secondary

Evie Barnard, Anna Bausman, Sophi Beardslee, Lukas Bednar, Smith Bohls, Naomi Di-Capua, Cassidy Levin, Chloe Lewcock, Lucy Marco, Helen Martin, Kaela Martin, Gaby Maydozian, Madelynn Niles, Grace Nugent, Charlie Partheymuller, Samantha Powers, Sofia Ramon, Elly Schottman, Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Alysa Spiro, Francie Wilhelm, Nate Williams, and Dave Winter
October 17, 2021

If you look only at the bottom line, Pink Week 2021 was an unqualified success. The fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Austin raised more than $2,000, the highest total since Cowles brought...

Section 4 of Senate Bill 3 requires that teachers explore all viewpoints and perspectives equally and give no preference to one particular viewpoint. Under this new requirement, student murals depicting certain social movements in a strictly positive light, such as those facing Sunshine Drive that appear on the brick wall across from the outdoor stage, could be considered unlawful. Photo by Alysa Spiro.

‘Critical race theory’ bill spurs discussion, criticism

Alysa Spiro and Amaya Collier
October 9, 2021

Senate Bill 3, the “critical race theory” bill, has ignited debate on the McCallum campus. This controversial legislation that restricts how history is taught in Texas public schools was signed by...

ONE DAY MORE: Seniors Jessie Lucas and Amethyst Mellberg-Smith make a final stand to save Bikini Bottom in the Act I finale, “Tomorrow Is.” Lucas, who played the titular role of SpongeBob, was touched by the song, which takes place with only one day left to save the town from an imminent volcano apocalypse. “It kind of reminded me of how I interacted with friends at the beginning of the pandemic,” Lucas said, “before we really knew what was going on. Having that experience myself really helps me play that scene as honestly as I can.” Caption by Lanie Sepehri.

MacTheatre dives deep into ‘The SpongeBob Musical’

Sophi Beardslee, Francesca Dietz, Evelyn Griffin, Eliza Jensen, Sophie Kessler, Sophie Leung-Lieu, Lucy Marco, Devin Neal, Madelynn Niles, Caroline Owen, Samantha Powers, Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, Alysa Spiro, and Kennedy Weatherby
September 14, 2021

MacTheatre took a dive into the pineapple under the sea in their opening production of The SpongeBob Musical.  Director Josh Denning saw the overall vision of the musical from casting the actors, to...

Over their two pandemic albums, Baxter Low, the self-proclaimed “musician/occultist/aspiring artist,” has seen their sound improve and evolve into what they call “cosmic folk pop.”

A songwriter first, Baxter Low views their lyrics as a dialogue with the subconscious mind

Theo Roe, Alysa Spiro, and Evelyn Griffin
September 5, 2021

macshieldonline · Feedback Loop, Episode 4 -- Baxter Low Baxter Lowrimore has always struggled with time. “Whether it's moving too fast or moving too slowly,” they said, “time and I have never...

DEFENSE WINS TACO SHACKS. After a McCallum offsides call on a missed field goal forced the Trojans into going for it on fourth and two, the McCallum defense made the game-saving stop at the goal line. After senior lineman Johan Holmes made the initial hit, senior safety Ez Guenther and senior linebacker Tino Rodriguez made sure the play would go no farther than the line of scrimmage. “I could see that they were in wildcat formation, and their best player was going to get the ball, and it was all going to come down to who wanted it more,” Guenther said. The play thwarted the Trojans' chance at a game-winning score. The Knights then proceeded to trudge 70 yards towards the Anderson end zone and run out the clock. “This photo just shows we wanted the Taco Shack Bowl more,” Guenther said.

Taco Shack Bowl returns to normal, Taco Shack trophy returns to Mac

Evie Barnard, Amaya Collier, Lucy Marco, Helen Martin, Madelynn Niles, Grace Nugent, Charlie Partheymuller, Samantha Powers, Alysa Spiro, Kennedy Weatherby, and Dave Winter
August 31, 2021

The Taco Shack trophy has come back to Mac. After losing their sophomore year and their junior year, the football class of 2022 led the Knights to a 14-13 victory over the Anderson Trojans on Thursday...

SENIOR SALUTE: In the marching band’s first performance back from a virtual year, senior Kaden Davis leads a diagonal line in one of the marching band’s sets. The change from online to in-person was real for Davis, as he describes his emotions leading up to the show: “My nerves definitely kicked in at first,” he said. “But once I got to my set position and the show began, my confidence went through the roof and I felt so proud.” Despite it being different from previous year’s Bandapaloozas, Davis felt it was a great way to start the season. He shares, “Not having a marching season last year really took a toll on all of us, especially the class of ‘21. So I know that all the class of ‘22 seniors are extremely grateful to even have a show this year.” Reporting by Lydia Reedy.

Band is back with Bandapalooza

Josie Bradsby, Eliza Jensen, Sophie Kessler, Sophie Leung-Lieu, Lucy Marco, Madelynn Niles, Lydia Reedy, Alice Scott, Alysa Spiro, and Francie Wilhelm
August 24, 2021

The Mac Band took a step toward their 2021-2022 competition season last Friday on the McCallum blacktop, premiering their UIL show at Bandapalooza for parents, students and alumni. Their marching show...

CROWDSOURCING: Arwen Frederiksen (far left) walks down the hallway before school starts to re-familiarize themselves with the campus. “[The hallways] were definitely busier than I expected,” Frederiksen said. After almost a year and a half of virtual learning, Frederiksen expresses how they are simply happy to be around other people once again. “I haven’t seen a bunch of my just school friends in forever,” Frederiksen said. “It was great.” Reporting by Alysa Spiro.

Knights fill the campus on first day of school

Lukas Bednar, Sophie Leung-Lieu, Lucy Marco, Madelynn Niles, Grace Nugent, Charlie Partheymuller, Lauren Potts, Samantha Powers, Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, Alysa Spiro, and Francie Wilhelm
August 17, 2021

Since going virtual in March of 2020, McCallum has finally welcomed back the full student body to an in-person education experience. Between four classes, two of which had not attended Mac in-person before,...

Senior Bobbie Currie and his PALS peers were masked up in the MAC as they spoke to sophomores and new juniors and seniors at the afternoon orientation session on Wednesday, August 4.

Texas students face mask issue without compulsory policy

Alysa Spiro, co-editor in chief
August 4, 2021

The new COVID-19 Delta variant and Austin’s rapid shift to the Stage 5 threshold, combined with AISD’s plan to open schools for in-person learning Aug. 17, has led many students to question whether...

The younger version of the author and the current version both play piano. The author and pianist would like to draw attention to her perfect technique in both images as well as her flexible wrists, her straight back and her eyes looking intently at the music. ... With this picture, you could even mistake 6-year-old Alysa Spiro (or the 17-year-old version) for a piano prodigy.

Pandemic has me playing a different tune

Alysa Spiro, opinions editor
May 30, 2021

I learned how to read music before I learned how to read words, which simultaneously sounds pretentious and obnoxious, but bear with me. Growing up, I was an avid disciple of Music for Little Mozarts....

Math teacher Angie Seckar-Martinez teaches her seventh-period calculus class on Tuesday, April 20, the first non-testing day this year that in-person attendance exceeded 300. Since then, attendance on campus has exceed 400 students, just under a quarter of the total student population.

Students gradually coming ‘Back to Mac’

Samantha Powers and Alysa Spiro
May 13, 2021

On April 6, McCallum principal Nicole Griffith sent an email entitled “Back to Mac” encouraging parents to send their students back to campus for the final six weeks of the school year. After a year...

LIVING LIKE A KING: Senior Amelie Chaouat smiles as she shares a dance with Kyle Davis, who was voted as one of this year’s Mac prom royalty. For Davis, the royal victory came as a complete surprise. “I thought it was cute and all that I made it to the second round of voting,” he said, “but I had no idea that I would win. I was beyond excited, and I’m so thankful to have been chosen.” As for the rest of the night, Kyle spent his time dancing with friends and reconnecting with classmates he hadn’t seen due to COVID. “I was honestly very worried that prom was just going to be awkward for so many people because so many of us haven’t had actual social interactions in big groups, but it was definitely the opposite,” Davis said. “It was full of interaction and everyone was very talkative.” Most of all, Davis is grateful that he and his peers had the opportunity to celebrate the end of senior year. “It was actually super reassuring,” he said. “Being able to even have a prom in general was amazing, and the fact that we got to have at least one event for the class of 2021 was just lovely.” Reporting by Madelynn Niles.

Seniors make most of muddy mask-querade

Marley Angle, Alysa Spiro, Ellen Fox, Evelyn Griffin, Lucy Marco, Anna McClellan, Madelynn Niles, Grace Nugent, Lydia Reedy, Alice Scott, and Kennedy Weatherby
May 4, 2021

After months of strategic planning, the student council members and senior class sponsor Amy Smith put together the first, and hopefully last, COVID-safe prom on May 1. Prom night took place at Stubbs...

Athletic director Thomas Gammerdinger is a huge admirer of Zuñiga's tenacity on the field and leadership off of it. For many years, Gammerdiner was the JV girls soccer coach, and he was a fixture at Zuñiga's games this season. Not surprisingly, Zuñiga gave Coach G a shout out in her post-signing speech.

Hannah to head to Houston this fall

Alysa Spiro, opinion editor
May 2, 2021

Hannah Zuñiga is taking her car and heading east to Houston next fall to attend the University of St. Thomas. Zuñiga has committed to play soccer for the Division-3 Celtics. UST reached out to Zuñiga...

STICKING WITH TRADITION: The McCallum Blue Brigade sticks the final pose during "Last Dance" to conclude their first Spring Show of 2021 on Friday April 16. “My favorite dance is ‘Last Dance’ because it's such a classic!” junior member Natalie Dean said. I think it’s so fun, happy and a great way to end spring show every year,” The routine is full of memories for members past and present as it has been performed at the end of every spring show since 1991. Speaking of traditions, Dean helped to keep another spring show tradition alive when she made a slide show that included photos from the season as well as a tribute to seniors that included current and baby pictures of each graduating dancer.  Reporting by Grace Nugent.

Blue Brigade ends tough year with triumphant show

Marley Angle, Carly Johnson, Lucy Marco, Anna McClellan, Caleb Melville, Madelynn Niles, Grace Nugent, Samantha Powers, Lindsey Plotkin, Lydia Reedy, Anna Schlett, Alice Scott, Alysa Spiro, Javier Vela, and Kennedy Weatherby
April 27, 2021

After not having a spring show in 2020 and after a 2020-2021 campaign that director Nancy Searle said was often characterized by frustrations, disappointments and cancellations, the Blue Brigade ended...

A period of cluttered desks, from college letters, to huge SAT prep books to homework is a constant for Mac juniors.

[Photo] Confused about college? It’s OK, you’re not alone.

Grace Nugent, co-online editor in chief
April 18, 2021

A period of cluttered desks, from college letters, to huge SAT prep books to homework is a constant for Mac juniors.

Juniors Alysa Spiro, Eden Goodman, Venus Hicks, and senior Aydan Howison show off their collection of Squishmallows during an impromptu show and tell during AP Ethnic Studies class.

Squishmallow craze contagious during pandemic

Alysa Spiro, opinion editor
April 8, 2021

A cult has swept across America. Thousands of teens have been blinded by the cult’s charismatic leader, dedicating their time and money to move up the cult’s inner-hierarchy. Teens dream of having...

WEE THE PEOPLE: Junior Amethyst Mellberg-Smith holds up a sign during a Urinetown scene involving a protest for the right to “pee for free.” Mellberg-Smith thinks that the show is a commentary on the current political climate. “It’s totally political satire,” Mellberg-Smith said. “It’s making fun of serious situations that are somewhat similar to things happening now, but in such a comedic and absurd way it really shows how messy politics and fighting for what’s right can be.” Mellberg-Smith said that while being on stage for the first time in a year was a rewarding experience, her favorite part of the production was spending time with her friends. “Finally seeing people every day made all of the hard work feel effortless,” Mellberg-Smith said, “and I can’t wait to do it again!” Reporting by Samantha Powers.

One last visit to ‘Urinetown’

Marley Angle, Ellen Fox, Sophie Leung-Lieu, Lucy Marco, Madelynn Niles, Samantha Powers, Lydia Reedy, Bella Russo, Lanie Sepehri, Alice Scott, Alysa Spiro, Kennedy Weatherby, and Tallulah Wilson
March 30, 2021

Performers graced the newly-built outdoor stage for the first time with the McCallum musical Urinetown, rehearsed and performed entirely during the pandemic. The show ran from March 4 to March 7 and...

The Austin Convention Center -- where SXSW usually takes place -- was left empty in early March 2020 after the cancellation of the South by Southwest Festival over fears of the novice COVID-19 virus beginning to make its way to Austin.

[Photo] Virtual SXSW allows wider reach, deeper experience

Alice Scott, staff reporter
April 5, 2021

The Austin Convention Center -- where SXSW usually takes place -- was left empty in early March 2020 after the cancellation of the South by Southwest Festival over fears of the novice COVID-19 virus beginning...

Images like this one of intense studying for finals might be less frequent on campus and in people's homes this spring.

Griffith unveils finals waiver policy for this semester

Alysa Spiro, opinion editor
March 6, 2021

Principal Nicole Griffith sent out an email to students and families last Sunday announcing the introduction of a new final waiver policy. The number of final exams students can waive varies by grade...

With apologies to Ezra Pound, this all-too-common Zoom moment evokes an adaptation of his classic 1913 modernist poem, "In a Station of the Metro," "The apparition of this lonely face stands out against a crowd of cold petals on a wet, black bough."

A cure for a pandemic of black boxes

Alysa Spiro, opinion editor
February 10, 2021

About once an hour, I feel my eyes roll to the back of my head. In the span of 10 months, I have gone from seeing more than a hundred human faces a day to staring at a grid of black boxes for six hours....

West found out she was eligible for the vaccine after checking her voice mail on New Year's Day. Smith said she was in and out for her first shot in 20 minutes. Both said the process was well-organized. West urges that everyone be kind to each other and understanding toward health-care workers.

At-risk district teachers get New Year’s shot in the arm

Alysa Spiro, opinion editor
January 20, 2021

A limited number of Austin ISD teachers and staff began their spring semester with a COVID-19 vaccine shot in the arm. The first round of vaccine distributions for the district's teachers came about through...

Student Leadership Team logistics manager Emily Arndt leads her afternoon group in a conversation about student success and equity. "While being online may have made it a bit harder for people to be vulnerable, my group was absolutely great, and we were able to have awesome conversations," Arndt said.

Students become teachers; teachers become students

Alysa Spiro, opinions editor
January 9, 2021

The McCallum vertical team assembled for a staff training session on Tuesday. This time, however, it wasn't adults leading the meeting: rather, it was the student leadership team. The training session...

MacTheatre turned the tennis courts into an outdoor theater on Dec. 11 as seniors Helena Laing and Emma Wallace helped dance director Natalie Uehara leading dance auditions for the spring musical, Urinetown. “It was a little harder than normal because we didn’t have mirrors and it got dark very quickly,” Zoll said of the outdoor auditions. “We all were very excited and made it work by using the flashlights on our phones to see. ... “I was so glad to get back and see everyone,” Zoll said. “I have missed performing live theatre more than anything during this pandemic, and I was so glad we are able to start safely performing again.” The theatre program took a big step toward performing the spring musical when fine arts parents secured a partnership with Lowe's to provide resources and expertise to build the stage.

Outdoor stage goes from holiday wish to New Year’s solution

Lucy Marco and Alysa Spiro
December 24, 2020

Thanks to a new grant from the Lowe’s Heroes program, the outdoor stage at McCallum has gone from being a hopeful goal to a concrete reality. After the second meeting between the parents working on...

The view of the campus from Houston Street during seventh period on Thursday reveals English teacher Eric Wydeven and and history teacher Joseph Carcione under matching Mac blue shade tents.

You deserve better than blank Zoom boxes, current options

Alysa Spiro, opinion editor
December 20, 2020

Dear Teachers, An ugly truth has come to me recently: I’ve been taking you for granted. How pathetic. It took me a global pandemic and the uprooting of a typical school year for me to realize the...

Señora Telvi Altamirano Cancino, a.k.a Señora A, teaches her fourth-period Spanish class, which on this Monday had three in-person students and the rest on Zoom. Altamirano started the class by apologizing for the fact that her students could not see her because her camera was not working, but she stayed upbeat, encouraging her students to speak up and take risks throughout the class.

Dear teachers, thank you and we’re sorry.

Alysa Spiro and Samantha Powers
December 20, 2020

When the world feels like it may fall apart any minute, escaping into a virtual world of flower-picking , house-building and exploring can feel like free therapy.

The rebirth of Minecraft

Alysa Spiro, opinions editor
December 17, 2020

During my quarantine, Sophocles has been replaced with Japanese manga. Money formerly spent at Urban Outfitters is now being channeled into excessive stuffed animal purchases. Paul Thomas Anderson films...

On Nov. 2, the Austin Independent School District will begin class rotations. Parents received another survey from the district due Oct. 28, asking if parents want their students to continue learning remotely at home or to attend school in-person.

In-person students to rotate classes

Alysa Spiro, opinion editor
October 31, 2020

Throughout the country, there has been a wide range of policies regarding how and when to make the switch back to in-person learning. In Denver, in-person school for middle- and high-schoolers has been...

During his in-depth interview on the Feedback Loop, senior Jay Mathis discusses the influences that together helped him create a new sound for his first EP Vampire. Photo by Brooke Ellisor. Graphic by Theo Roe.

Mathias’ new sound all about experimenting, having fun

Evelyn Griffin, Theo Roe, and Alysa Spiro
October 18, 2020

macshieldonline · Feedback Loop, episode 3 -- Jay Mathias Jay Mathias wants you to think his music is weird.  In this episode of the Feedback Loop podcast, hosts Alysa Spiro and Evelyn Griffin...

A caution sign stands in an empty hallway on the Friday to end the first week of school. So far all learning has been virtual, but some students will return to campus starting Oct. 5.

In-person school is upon us. Please stay home.

Samantha Powers and Alysa Spiro
October 4, 2020

When we were all first sent home last semester the virtual learning format was focused on students’ well-being. Weekly assignments were limited, the school week was shortened and the format was 100 percent...

The rally, organized by Education Austin, began at two separate locations at Burger Stadium and Nelson Field, where cars then caravanned to the Southfield headquarters. Photo by Alysa Spiro.

[Photo] Educator caravan delivers union demands to district HQ

Bella Russo, co-editor in chief
September 27, 2020

The rally, organized by Education Austin, began at two separate locations at Burger Stadium and Nelson Field, where cars then caravanned to the Southfield headquarters. Photo by Alysa Spiro.

FEELING NOTORIOUS: Dressed in a full-length robe, collar, glasses and of course, crown, Alysa has her picture taken at Austin Film Society's screening of The Notorious RBG. Little did she know, this film would mark the beginning of a life-long love for Ruth, both as a justice and as a person. Picture provided by Alysa Spiro.

Challah in Heaven

Alysa Spiro, opinion editor
September 25, 2020

It feels damn good sharing a religion with the notorious RBG.  Maybe that’s a weird concept for some people to grasp, how I can feel such an intense connection and pride towards someone I don’t...

Senior Marlee Foster, AKA Merlin, released "Black Boy, White House," a new single, to streaming platforms on Aug 14. Merlin's smooth vocals, lyrics, and melody in "Black Boy White House" illustrate some of their experiences as a young person of color. This song is their third release, following "Boy's Club" and "Red Eyes, Pt. 2." Photo by Risa Darlington-Horta. Graphic by Theo Roe.

Merlin pairs powerful lyrics with upbeat, laid-back style

Theo Roe, Evelyn Griffin, and Alysa Spiro
August 28, 2020

macshieldonline · Feedback Loop, Episode 2 -- Merlin In this year’s first episode of Feedback Loop, hosts Alysa Spiro and Evelyn Griffin talk with Mac musician Merlin (senior Marlee Foster) about...

Interim principal Nicole Griffith wasn't the only new voice in our first podcast of the year. The audio engineer and the hosts were also new. The episode allows listeners to travel from Texas to Chicago, to Australia, to Paris and back to Austin without leaving their homes. Graphic by Theo Roe.

Griffith: Authentic tasks create best student experience

Theo Roe, Alysa Spiro, and Elisha Scott
August 23, 2020

macshieldonline · The S Word, Episode 15 -- Interview with New Principal Griffith The S Word podcast is back in session with its first episode of the 2020-2021 year: a conversation with new interim...

NSPA Writer of the Year portfolio

Alysa Spiro, staff reporter
June 19, 2020

I’ve always been told I’m a bit of a loudmouth.  Spurting my unsolicited opinions, questioning everything and really analysing/overanalyzing the world around me- c’est moi. It stems from a love...

In 2011, Lindsey Wagner was a Mac graduate set on studying to become an nurse at Stephen F. Austin University. In 2020, Wagner is a nurse battling COVID-19 on the front lines in Denver.

From the band hall to a COVID-19 hospital unit

Madelynn Niles and Alysa Spiro
May 15, 2020

Covered from head to toe in a pale blue gown, gloves, face shield and an N95 mask, Lindsey Wagner is only inches away from a coronavirus patient. The air is still. Uncertainty fills each corner. The soft,...

Ana Rosa Tenorio and Ivan Ramos, Austin ISD transportation employees based at Nelson Field, unpack Chromebook chargers to be bundled with Chromebooks at Anderson High School. Anderson is one of five locations hosting curbside computer services Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Curbside computer services are also available at Austin and Crockett high schools and at the AISD Performing Arts Center. Photo by Dave Winter.

District aims to create a level online playing field

Alysa Spiro, staff reporter
May 12, 2020

On April 6, Austin ISD students, parents and teachers took the plunge into the new world of remote learning. A foreign concept to most AISD students and parents just weeks earlier, remote learning...

Meet Zoe, Crackerjack, Clementine and Oreo, all of whom have been adopted by McCallum faculty members in the past two weeks. It's part of a nationwide spike in dog adoption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. People have more time to take care of and train dogs, and they need the social, emotional and mental health benefits that come from pet ownership. Photos courtesy of the puppies' parents.

Pandemic prompts proliferation of puppy parents

Alysa Spiro, staff reporter
April 16, 2020

People like dogs.  Especially Americans. Americans really, really like dogs.  According to The Harris Poll, 62 percent of Americans own a pet (in comparison to about 25 percent of Europeans). Nine...

If you run out of movies to watch, books to read, recipes to try, board games to play and TV series to binge on, you can always redecorate your room while on self-imposed COVID-19 quarantine. Photo by Samantha Powers.

How to cure the COVID-19 quarantine blues

Samantha Powers and Alysa Spiro
March 18, 2020

As the coronavirus continues to spread, causing mass panic around the world, it may be all you’re hearing about. You might be sitting in your house, bored out of your mind and tired of watching the same...

The custodial staff begins a deep clean of the Mac campus this morning by wiping down the tables in the cafeteria. Originally the deep clean was to take place during spring break, but because of today's districtwide cancellation, administrators decided to start the deep clean today instead. Assistant principal Gabe Reyes urged all teachers to make their classrooms ready for the deep clean by 10 a.m. today. Photo by Dave Winter.

First cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Austin

Alysa Spiro, staff reporter
March 13, 2020

This morning, shortly after 6 a.m., city health officials confirmed the first two “presumptive positive” cases of Coronavirus in Austin. “This is concerning but not surprising and we have...

SAY BYE TO SOUTH BY: A ride through downtown Austin reveals no signage for the SXSW Festival that would have started this upcoming Friday. Tourist rates have dropped significantly because of both coronavirus fears and SXSW's cancellation. "The city of Austin has a budget for 2020 that involved hotel occupancy taxes, and that’s what they use to fund roads," explained businessman Shawn Cirkiel. "This year for SXSW, occupancy for hotels went down from 100 percent to 10 percent. So now, the city of Austin, which has been budgeting that money to build roads, that money is gone." Photo by Alysa Spiro.

Amid coronavirus fears, city cancels SXSW

Alysa Spiro, staff reporter
March 11, 2020

On Friday, seven days before the scheduled start of South By Southwest, the City of Austin officials announced that the popular festival would be cancelled.   The cancellation of SXSW came as a shock...

Senior Charlotte Evelyn works on her homework for statistics, one of three AP classes she is currently taking. Under McCallum’s current system, Evelyn can exempt finals if she has a high average and takes the AP exam. A finals opt-out program, like the one at Austin High, would allow Evelyn to omit two finals if she has an 85 average and good attendance. Photo by Alysa Spiro.

Finally done with finals overload

Alysa Spiro
February 26, 2020

Let me tell you something you might not know, but that will certainly affect your high school career if it hasn’t already. At Austin High School, juniors are eligible to opt out of two of their finals...

SHOUT L'CHAIM: Junior Corin Vandenburg and senior Toshaan Arora hit their final poses in the number “Raise A Glass.” This song is a celebration of friendship between Vandenburg and Arora’s characters. "This number is about my character experiencing joy, perhaps for the first time" said Arora. Photo by Alysa Spiro.

Checking out the Grand Hotel

Alysa Spiro, staff reporter
February 25, 2020

AN INAPPROPRIATE ENCOUNTER: Sophmore Jessie Lucas as Flaemmchen and junior Blake Houston as Preysing an intense scene where Preysing attempts to conduct unwanted sexual advances toward Fleammchen. Photo...

Ivy Jane Golyzniak performs her spoken word poetry at the annual Coffee House hosted by Excalibur. Photo by Ellen Fox.

Poetry in motion

Alysa Spiro, staff reporter
February 12, 2020

The Shield: How does speaking your poetry out loud adds to the impact or experience listeners get? Ivy Jane Golyzniak: I think it’s cool either way. If it’s being read by a person who didn’t write...

Holiday music concerts, like the band's holiday concert in the Mac last Monday, should equally represent all cultures. Alongside Christmas favorites like “Sleigh Ride,” “Polar Express” and "Christmas Festival," the band also played “Three Moods of Hanukkah.”

Happy Challahdays!

Alysa Spiro, staff reporter
December 18, 2019

My fondest Christmas memory is my fourth-grade “holiday” concert. After months of practicing Christmas songs, ranging from the lighthearted “Jingle Bell Rock” to the heavily religious “Oh!...

THEIR OWN TWIST: Performing a featured duet, Sophomore Abigail Lehman and Senior Zion Flores sing with a dramatic glance down, a reference to the lyrics in their song. The two joined forces with to create their own choreography and twist on the piece. “I really loved the collaboration of this song,” Lehman stated. “Getting to work with Zion is so much fun, and to get the song and make it our own was a great experience.” Photo and caption by Madelynn Niles.

They can be heroes … or villains

Anna Bausman, Alysa Spiro, Madelynn Niles, and Kennedy Weatherby
November 19, 2019
The choir's 2019 edition of Cabaret took the audience on a virtual tour of American musical theatre

Perpetuating the fight against climate change

Alysa Spiro, staff reporter
November 4, 2019

On Sept. 20, the Texas State Capitol was on fire with the grit and determination of local students fighting for action against climate change. The rally, organized by the Austin Climate Coalition,...

Vanderburg teaches freshman Barret Andrews, a student in her Tech One class, how to tie a variety of knots, such as the trucker and fishtail. Vanderberg spent about two class periods on the basics of tying knots. The lesson plan included how to tie the knots, the purpose of each knot, and when each knot comes in handy. “I wanted to teach the fundamentals,” explained Vanderburg. “Before you can use all the newest programs and state of the art technologies, you have to know the basics.”

First-time high school teacher Vandenberg is all about the fundamentals

Alysa Spiro, staff reporter
October 21, 2019

From an audience perspective, a theatre show is almost like a movie. Lighting blends perfectly together, creating an instant mood. Microphones and audio are perfectly balanced, allowing sound to flawlessly...

REVOLTING CHILDREN: At the end of the musical Matilda, the school children “revolt” against the evil rule of their headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. This results in a large. extravegant dance number, which Uehara states was definetly one of her favorite to choreograph. Uehara said that the young dancers expressed a joy of learning that was wonderful for her to witness. Photo by Brad Mondo.

Reviving joy in dance

Samantha Powers and Alysa Spiro
October 4, 2019

4,899 miles. That was the distance between McCallum Youth Dance Company directors Natalie Uehara and Rachel Murray this summer. Though they were on opposite sides of the country, both discovered a new...

Calling out for change

Samantha Powers, Stella Shenkman, Alysa Spiro, Risa Darlington-Horta, and Elisha Scott
October 1, 2019

A CRY FROM THE YOUTH: The morning of Friday, Sept. 20, over 300 students and adults alike gathered at the steps of the Texas State Capitol to protest climate change. The strike, which was organized...

THE GRIND DOES NOT STOP: McCallum football players were not the only McCallum students spending their Labor Day laboring: the cast and crew of "Jekyll and Hyde" spent their "day off" working hard to prepare for their opening night on Sept. 19. Senior Owen Scales (Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde) said that it was time well spent: “We haven’t had a chance to do the whole show yet, so to have time to figure out what this show is and how it works as a whole is very nice,” Scales said. Sophomore Bobby Currie (ensemble) also sees the benefits to working overtime: “Working with the same people every day, Saturday, Sundays, days off, you get to know everyone really well,” Currie said. “It creates a special community and bond.” Reporting by Ellen Fox.

THE GRIND DOES NOT STOP: McCallum football players were not the only McCallum students spending their Labor Day laboring: the cast and crew of "Jekyll and Hyde" spent their "day off" working hard to prepare...

YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN’T HYDE: Senior Owen Scales, playing Henry Jekyll, and senior Cora Jordan, who plays Lucy. Jekyll and Hyde follows the story of Dr. Jekyll, who consumes a self-created potion that turns him into the dangerous, animalistic Edward Hyde. “I feel like this show is different from other McCallum shows; it has more powerful emotions,” sophomore Bobby Currie said. “When I watch the ending scene, it leaves me speechless. It will give you goosebumps.” The show opens Thursday, Sept. 19.

[Photo] The beast behind the curtain

September 18, 2019

YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN’T HYDE: Senior Owen Scales, playing Henry Jekyll, and senior Cora Jordan, who plays Lucy. Jekyll and Hyde follows the story of Dr. Jekyll, who consumes a self-created potion that...

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Alysa Spiro