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
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.

The year in review in photos

Alysa Bijl-Spiro, Morgan Eye, Evelyn Griffin, Meredith Grotevant, Anna McClellan, Madelynn Niles, Grace Nugent, Lindsey Plotkin, Lexi Ramos, Bella Russo, Elisha Scott, Kennedy Weatherby, Francie Wilhelm, and Dave Winter
December 28, 2021
GELLA, YES! Freshman middle hitter Gella Andrew spikes the ball into the Cougar block for one of her six kills during the second set of the Knights’ 3-1 bi-district playoff loss on Friday night. The Knights lost the set, 25-23, in heart-breaking fashion to fall behind, 2-0. The Knights rebounded to win the third set, 25-17, before losing the fourth set, 25-20, and the match, 3-1. Andrew was solid in the middle in the final game of her breakout freshman season. Her kill percentage was a team best 37.5 percent, and she had one of the Knights’ four solo blocks for the match.

Gella, yes! (November 2020) by Bella Russo

Bella Russo
August 19, 2021
WE ARE TIRED (May 31): On a day when hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Austin during the second day of demonstrations against police brutality in the aftermath of the deaths of George Floyd and Mike Ramos, a solitary protester holds a sign with a simple message seemingly directed at the Texas Capitol and the government that convenes there.

We are tired (May 2020) by Bella Russo

Bella Russo
August 19, 2021
Students from the LBJ Fire Academy work their way towards a propane fire, using fire hoses to control the blaze. The purpose of the drill wasn’t to put out the fire, but to use the spray to get close enough to the propane tank to turn off its fuel source. Five McCallum seniors, John Hughes, Thomas Lucy, Tex Mitchell, Molly Odland and Will Russo, participated in the live fire skill day, where they put into practice what they’ve learned during the two year student-sharing program at LBJ High School. “Being in the live fire gave me really intense adrenaline,” senior Molly Odland said. “I was the head of my group, meaning I was in charge of directing the hose line at the fire while my group supported me from behind.” Senior Will Russo, who also had the chance to lead the group, said that the drill felt like being in a hot car. “It wasn’t all that scary since you were with a bunch of people, but it was kind of intimidating because there was nothing in between you and the fire but water,” Russo said.

Weekend fire drill (November 2020) by Bella Russo

Bella Russo
August 19, 2021
WEEKEND FIRE DRILL: Students from the LBJ Fire Academy work their way towards a propane fire on Oct. 3, using fire hoses to control the blaze. The purpose of the drill wasn’t to put out the fire, but to use the spray to get close enough to the propane tank to turn off its fuel source. Five McCallum seniors, John Hughes, Thomas Lucy, Tex Mitchell, Molly Odland and Will Russo, participated in the live fire skill day, where they put into practice what they’ve learned during the two year student-sharing program at LBJ High School. “Being in the live fire gave me really intense adrenaline,” senior Molly Odland said. “I was the head of my group, meaning I was in charge of directing the hose line at the fire while my group supported me from behind.” Senior Will Russo, who also had the chance to lead the group, said that the drill felt like being in a hot car. “It wasn’t all that scary since you were with a bunch of people, but it was kind of intimidating because there was nothing in between you and the fire but water,” Russo said, before adding that “the propane smelled kind of like pumpkin spice.”  The next live fire the students will tackle will be a class A structure fire later in the month, before beginning EMT certification training in the spring.

Bella Russo: NSPA Photojournalist of the Year Portfolio

Bella Russo, co-editor in chief
June 25, 2021
Protesters Rally to Stop Asian Hate at McPherson Square in D.C. on March 3. Like in Austin, the D.C. rally joined a national movement of rallies against anti-Asian hate crimes.

Reports of Asian hate on the rise

Bella Russo, co-editor in chief
May 15, 2021
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
Hughes played on the football team prior to moving to New Mexico for his senior year. At his memorial service, head coach Thomas Gammerdinger presented the Hughes family with a 2017 UIL semi-finalist medal. "Despite the fact that he was not here for his senior season, he certainly deserved that medal and to be recognized as a member of that historic group," Gammerdinger said.

A tribute to Connor Hughes

Bella Russo, co-editor in chief
March 17, 2021
"The Nostalgic," by senior Raleigh Margulies was one of 14 pieces by Mac artists chosen to advance to state VASE. “The piece of my sister holding a chicken is basically a happier depiction of our actual life,” Margulies said. “It’s reminiscent of life before the pandemic, yet taking care of the chickens is one of the things that hasn’t changed much.” Unlike most aspects of life, Margulies feels like this year’s VASE competition was actually improved by a virtual format. “Normal VASE is usually an all-day event and involves a lot of waiting around, so it can be kind of boring. The interviews are a bit nerve-racking,” Margulies said. “I actually liked VASE this year. It felt more relaxed for the students.”

A virtual VASE gallery of MAC state finalists

Evie Barnard, Kate Boyle, Josie Bradsby, Olivia Capochiano, Ellen Fox, Evelyn Griffin, Lucy Marco, Anna McClellan, Samantha Powers, Sofia Ramon, Lydia Reedy, Bella Russo, and Alice Scott
March 10, 2021
The students and teachers of the Students of Color Alliance meet with Nicole Griffith over Zoom to share ideas about fostering dialogue between students and staff.

SOCA creating community at MAC

Bella Russo, co-editor in chief
February 21, 2021
MAY -- PROTESTORS ADVOCATE JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD, MIKE RAMOS: A woman is forced over a wall as state troopers force protesters off of the Capitol grounds. Hundreds of protesters met at the Austin Police Department headquarters downtown on the afternoon of May 30 to demand justice for African-American victims of police brutality. The protests filled the streets surrounding the Police Department headquarters and at times blocked traffic on I-35, and eventually protests spread to Austin City Hall and the Texas Capitol. Some protesters were met with pepper spray and rubber bullets as APD officers tried to control the crowd and clear the highway. This protest comes as part of a national spread of protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of a police officer. Austin protesters are also calling for justice for Mike Ramos, an Austinite who reportedly was unarmed and shot by the police in late April.

2020: A Year in Review in Photos

Kate Boyle, Risa Darlington-Horta, Anna Garcia, Madelynn Niles, Lindsey Plotkin, Samantha Powers, Bella Russo, Hannah South, Bela Tapperson, and Dave Winter
December 30, 2020
Students from the LBJ Fire Academy work their way towards a propane fire, using fire hoses to control the blaze. The purpose of the drill wasn’t to put out the fire, but to use the spray to get close enough to the propane tank to turn off its fuel source. Five McCallum seniors, John Hughes, Thomas Lucy, Tex Mitchell, Molly Odland and Will Russo, participated in the live fire skill day, where they put into practice what they’ve learned during the two year student-sharing program at LBJ High School. “Being in the live fire gave me really intense adrenaline,” senior Molly Odland said. “I was the head of my group, meaning I was in charge of directing the hose line at the fire while my group supported me from behind.” Senior Will Russo, who also had the chance to lead the group, said that the drill felt like being in a hot car. “It wasn’t all that scary since you were with a bunch of people, but it was kind of intimidating because there was nothing in between you and the fire but water,” Russo said.

Weekend fire drill

Bella Russo, co-editor in chief
November 17, 2020
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