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
Elena Ulack

Elena Ulack, staff reporter

All content by Elena Ulack
Junior Esme Barraz reaches for the ball in last Tuesdays game against LBJ, one of McCallum’s most formidable district competitors. “They are second in the district, and last time we played them, we won in overtime,” Barraz said. “This being said, we really brought our energy and were able to execute enough to win.” The Knights worked hard to support each other and executed successful plays to bring home the win and maintain the first place title. Caption by Isley Cameron. Photo by Amira Habib Weymouth.

Knights vanquish Jaguars in second faceoff to stay unbeaten in district play, crack 5A state Top 25

January 24, 2023
To Lucente, bird-watching can be as simple as gazing out the window and walking around or seeking out different bird noises or sightings and trying to identify them.

Bringing birding to Mac

January 13, 2023
BACK TOGETHER AGAIN: Former McCallum soccer players pose for a group photo at the annual varsity vs. alumni match. The teams of graduated Knights consisted of students as recent as the Class of ‘22 all the way back to 2003. After two years of COVID delays, coach Nick Martin was finally able to hold the match on Dec. 28.  “[The alumni game] provides like a continuity for the program. It doesn’t matter what year you are,” Martin said. While some organizational changes were made to the event this year, with matches being held tournament style rather than a free-for-all, Martin maintained the spirit of community that the match holds for his past and current players.  “Getting the chance to come back and see each other whilst also playing some soccer is something me and my friends have a hard time turning down,” class of 2021 alumn Aiden Golliher said. “I’d predict and hope that as the years continue, the close-knit community the boys varsity had will continue [and] that will allow this program to grow.” Caption by Francie Wilhelm. Photo by Morgan Eye.

First alumni ‘game’ since 2019 morphs into ‘everything, everywhere, all at once’ scrimmages

January 10, 2023
NSPA Photo of the Year winner Elena Ulack, news photo, honorable mention PARENTS OF TRANS YOUTH PROTEST AT CAPITOL Trans youth parent Susan Mack attended the Trans Youth Rally at the Capitol on March 1. “My trans kid is beautiful,” Mack said. “From the time that they came out, theyve really helped me change and grow my perspective and be more empathetic to everyone who is trans.” Mack gave a powerful speech about when she first became aware of the legislation and how she wanted to hide her head in the sand like an “ostrich.” She didnt want to accept the reality for her child. After doing some reflection, Mack realized that the only way to protect her child and other trans children is to fight for them and try to vote out of office the people currently attacking them. “What I found is that kids need help, not just my kid, but all trans kids, because trans kids are kids,” Mack said. “Hopefully [people showing up today] will help them know that there are a lot of Texans who do actually support them.”

[Photo] A gallery of MacJ’s national award winners

November 22, 2022
NSPA Photo of the Year winner Elena Ulack, news photo, honorable mention PARENTS OF TRANS YOUTH PROTEST AT CAPITOL Trans youth parent Susan Mack attended the Trans Youth Rally at the Capitol on March 1. “My trans kid is beautiful,” Mack said. “From the time that they came out, theyve really helped me change and grow my perspective and be more empathetic to everyone who is trans.” Mack gave a powerful speech about when she first became aware of the legislation and how she wanted to hide her head in the sand like an “ostrich.” She didnt want to accept the reality for her child. After doing some reflection, Mack realized that the only way to protect her child and other trans children is to fight for them and try to vote out of office the people currently attacking them. “What I found is that kids need help, not just my kid, but all trans kids, because trans kids are kids,” Mack said. “Hopefully [people showing up today] will help them know that there are a lot of Texans who do actually support them.”

[Photo]

FUN WITH FRIENDS: Sophomores Hazel Trominski, Julia Rasp and Zalie Mann pose for the camera during Pink Week’s lunch festivities. Students in the science courtyard throughout the week enjoyed the activities while spending time with friends and sporting their best pink wear. Rasp went all-out during Pink Week, pink being her favorite color. “I think it’s awesome that they’re raising money for breast cancer awareness and doing fun stuff and that a lot of it is student-organized,” Rasp said. Caption by Camilla Vandegrift.

Pink Week 2022 sets standard for fun, fundraising

October 4, 2022
ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES: Seniors Mira Wagner and Tyler Mankinen duke it out during the first moments of the final round at the Cap City Marching Competition. The 2022 marching show “Seeing Stars” gets its name from its boxing theme, and according to Wagner, who represents the woodwinds section, the early fight scene “definitely sets the tone.” “Right off the bat you see two people fighting so you know that this show is full of energy,” Wagner said.”  “Even throughout the show the woodwinds and brass are ‘competing’ against each other which goes with the boxing theme.” Mankinen, who represents the brass section, believes the fight scene is a crucial element in the marching show.  “[The fight scene] usually gets the crowd pumped up and draws the attention of the audience into the show,” Mankinen said. “The show is super unique and seeing the crowd react to an unconventional element of a marching show is really exciting.”  Caption and photo by Morgan Eye.

Band shines bright at Cap City

September 27, 2022
During the first faculty meeting of the school year, principal Nicole Griffith welcomes new social studies teachers Jennifer Richter and Catherine ONeal.

New school year brings mix of young, veteran teachers

September 20, 2022
FIVE-STAR CAPTAIN: In One Night Only, the opening number of the spring show on Saturday night, Blue Brigade captain Charli Cevallos is front and center setting the mood and tempo for the number and entire show. Cevallos said the opening number of the spring show is always upbeat and fun and this year’s edition was no exception. Cevallos said she remembers the moment as one of pure adrenaline. “Since opener is the first dance, the excitement is running high and it’s such a great feeling to be performing our hard work for an audience.” As the photo suggests, the team was able to perform the number in sync even though it was a new dance choreographed exclusively for the spring show by first lieutenant Annabel Winter (left) and senior lieutenant Emily Garza. “Opener was our first spring show dance we learned,” Cevallos said, “and it came together super well. … [It was] definitely a team favorite.” Cevallos said her favorite part of the number was the very beginning when Winter (left) woke her up stage left from a deep sleep to start the show. “It’s so fun,” she said, “and the audience loved it.” For the first time in three years, that audience was in the MAC and at full capacity without pandemic restrictions.

‘Starry Knights’ return to their proper alignment

May 3, 2022
Senior Kyla Murphy embraces Mia Gomez as part of a team celebration after Gomez scored her 130th goal this season. The milestone was a goal that Gomez set at the beginning of the season. “It was really exciting,” she said, “It was a playoff game, so going into it I knew I really wanted to score for the team, but also I had in the back of my head that I was at 129.” Gomez’s goal was the third and final goal of the game. “It was nice to seal the game,” she said, “but overall I was really excited that I was able to score in the playoff game.” Caption by Cassidy Levin. Photo by Dave Winter.

Knights tame Panthers to repeat as bi-district champs

March 29, 2022
Coach Kehn instructs the girls basketball players from the sidelines at the teams playoff game against the Pflugerville Panthers. The Knights closed the season with their first 5A state playoff appearance since 2014. In fifth place with a week remaining in the regular season, the Knights beat the two teams ahead of them in the standings to finish third and make the playoffs.

Kehn committed to ‘her kids’

February 17, 2022
Social studies teacher Vaughn Stockton shows his spirit for his new school.

New social studies teacher finds home at Mac

January 22, 2022
SINGING FOR SCROOGE: To preface the choir concert, a group of choir members sang Christmas carols in a “Dickens-esque” fashion. Senior chamber choralist, Evelyn Griffin (second from the left), told Macjournalsim that the group stuck to classic Christmas songs. “[We sang] We Wish You a Merry Christmas, some Latin thing, Silent Night, that kind of thing,” Griffin said. “My wardrobe situation was a bit stressful, but I enjoy singing with tenors and basses.” Caption by Lucy Marco.

Mac music programs ring in the the holiday season with return of December concert series

December 14, 2021
Mr. Mills shows a group of Board Game Club students the different character classes they can be in a game of Dungeons and Dragons, helping the first-time players set up their characters the way they want them. “I love sponsoring the club because I get to share my love for tabletop board games,” Mills said. “If we’re doing DnD I get kids who are really more in their shells, and this is their social outlet. Naturally, they’re really shy, but they get to open up through the experience of role-playing games. They get to be whoever they want.¨

Board of video games?

December 11, 2021
Sophomore Gabi Alfarache (left) mid-bout. Having a good coach is important to success, and Alfrache has just that. Coming from Yale University to central Texas, Michael Kim became another father figure for Alfarache, “My ultimate role model is my coach [Kim]. He came from Korea to the United States when he was a teenager, and didn’t start fencing until college. He’s coached world champions, olympians, and even left his coaching position at Yale University to come coach in Texas. I really do think of him as my second father.”

The extra extracurriculars of McCallum

November 29, 2021
Driven by an aspiration to play for USC, Andrew has already begun traveling to play for out-of-state tournaments, nationals and college team camps in Texas, Florida and California.

Andrew aims for collegiate future in the sand

October 26, 2021
AND CUT: Members of the color guard eagerly motion their hands towards their captain, Natalie Nagy, in the closing moments of “Mirage.” During the Capital City Marching Festival, the guard earned a second place title in the preliminary round. “We crushed it,” color guard member Ella Jones said. Reporting by Grace Vitale.

Band named Cap City grand champions

September 28, 2021
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Elena Ulack