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
JoJo Barnard

JoJo Barnard, staff reporter

All content by JoJo Barnard

New season of ‘Ginny & Georgia’ on Netflix warms hearts, fails to address persistent writing flaws

JoJo Barnard, staff reporter
March 2, 2023
LET THEM EAT CAKE: Senior Scarlett Bowmen (left) and junior Edie Birkholz (right) walk down the runway holding two cakes in outfits designed by seniors Jaoquin Godines, Clarrisa Villarreal and Esme Moreno. After directing the fashion show last year, Birkholz decided to get involved in a new way. Modeling was nerve-racking, but with her previous knowledge of the fashion show Birkholz was ready for the challenge.  “I was like third to go on so I was definitely nervous about messing up,” Birkholz said. “But I thought it was fun to be pampered and put on an outfit that I didn’t have to choose. I was initially going to change during half-time and put on a different thing, but I was like I don’t feel like doing that. I felt awesome and beautiful in Joaquin, Clarrisa and Esme’s stuff.” Birkholz enjoyed every part of the show and the outfit she wore, but her favorite part was the hoopskirt.  “I felt like a cake. I felt like I was the cake, and I think everyone should wear hoopskirts to school,” Birkholz said. “ I was like walking around backstage and telling everyone to move because I was taking up so much space. I don’t know, it was just awesome and I felt fancy.” Caption by Eliza Jensen. Photo by Morgan Eye.

Fashion show ‘reflects’ artistic identities

JoJo Barnard, Morgan Eye, Chloe Lewcock, Helen Martin, Ingrid Smith, Elena Ulack, Francie Wilhelm, and Dave Winter
February 22, 2023
Shield staff reporter Isley Cameron reaches for a bite of her taco from Taqueria Torres, a taco truck located on the corner of Grover and Koenig.

Let’s taco ’bout a new lunch spot

JoJo Barnard, Isley Cameron, Caroline Owen, and Paige Whitworth
February 19, 2023
A rain gutter dumps rainwater on the McCallum courtyard during flash floods on Aug. 22, 2022.

Lack of green space causes floods

JoJo Barnard, staff reporter
February 4, 2023
SETTING THE STAGE: Senior Lauren Ryan-Holt (Leading Player) welcomes the audience in the show’s opening number, Magic to Do.  As a play within a play, Pippin has many layers to it, including the opening number which is performed as if the cast members were arriving at rehearsal and setting up for the top of the show “It’s the casts musical bait to the audience,” Ryan-Holt said. “We’re luring them into the production we’re about to put on. We describe the journey and all the magical, fantastic things that will take place along the way. We literally set the stage for both the show and the audience’s expectations.” Ryan-Holt opens the number and leads the other ensemble members until the song turns into a fully choreographed number. However, for Ryan-Holt, the opening seductive chords are her favorite part. “There’s just something so mystical and enticing about how it sounds,” Ryan-Holt said. “It’s the one part where you can feel the full focus of the audience.” Reporting by Alice Scott. Photo by Gergo Major.  

Like its title character, ‘Pippin’ evolving with each act

JoJo Barnard, Chloe Lewcock, Gergő Major, Alice Scott, Ingrid Smith, and Francie Wilhelm
February 1, 2023

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

JoJo Barnard, Isley Cameron, Lillian Gray, Amira Habib Weymouth, Stella Little, Helen Martin, Elena Ulack, Francie Wilhelm, and Dave Winter
January 25, 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

JoJo Barnard, Julia Copas, Morgan Eye, Chloe Lewcock, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, Elena Ulack, Francie Wilhelm, and David Winter
January 11, 2023
Gergő Major, “One in a million” first place, open advanced

Mac photographers make lasting impression in ATPI Fall Contest

JoJo Barnard, Julia Copas, Jolie Gabriel, Lillian Gray, Chloe Lewcock, Gergő Major, Charlie Partheymuller, Lexi Ramos, and Clara Williams
January 4, 2023
REPPING THE SENIOR: Senior Helena Finos dances at the Winter Fairytale Dance last friday. Finos had been planning to come to the event from the start due to her position as senior class president. “I wanted to come represent my class and it turned out to be a lot of fun so I’m glad I went!” she said. Finos was also pleasantly surprised by the number of students that showed up after disappointing crowds at prior events. “It was a lot of fun [since] a lot of people came,” she said. “Which I didn’t necessarily expect since we didn’t have the best turnout at the last dance. I think are excited that we’re doing dance again after COVID and the long break from a lot of school events.” Reporting by Ingrid Smith and Caption by Francie Wilhelm. Photo by Morgan Eye.

Mac becomes ‘fairytale’ for winter dance

JoJo Barnard, Kate Boyle, Morgan Eye, Iris LaRue, Callen Rommell, Ingrid Smith, Andie Svatek, Camilla Vandegrift, and Francie Wilhelm
December 14, 2022
LAST TIME FOR THE TRIO: Seniors and chamber choir members Cate Thomason, Georgiana Murray and Stella Pitts perform “Landslide” in the style of The Chicks during a performance of the annual choir cabaret. This year’s cabaret production, themed “This is the Moment… Be a Light,” featured songs about the choice humans face to build someone up or break them down. Thomason said after four years of performing together, the trio’s personalities blend as well as their voices. For the trio, this Cabaret was bittersweet. “We weren’t that nervous this year because we’ve been singing together for so long,” Thomason said.  “We were mainly just excited and sad that it was our last year singing together.” Former choir directors Malcolm Nelson and Cheryl Lindquist returned to Mac to put on Cabaret this year. Thomason said Nelson and Lindquist’s fun taste in music made the experience even better. “Cabaret is a lot of work but it’s a lot of fun music and an exciting experience,” Thomason said. “We are really fortunate to have Mr. Nelson and Dr. Lindquist coach and help us with everything. I think they’re really good at picking fun songs and putting so much together in such a short amount of time.” Photo by Francesca Dietz. Reporting by Ingrid Smith.

Cabaret 2022 succeeds in bringing the ‘Light’

JoJo Barnard, Francesca Dietz, Chloe Lewcock, Alice Scott, Ingrid Smith, Camilla Vandegrift, and Francie Wilhelm
December 7, 2022
According to the July 2022 article, College Students and Eating Disorders published on the Child Mind Institute website, 10-20% of women and 4-10% of men struggle with an eating disorder during college.

[Photo] Breaking the silence

December 7, 2022
SUNNY CALIFORNIA: Principal Nichole Griffith poses with her wife Brenda and son Langston at the golden gate bridge in San Francisco.  For Griffith, Thanksgiving break is perfectly timed.  “Thanksgiving comes at just the right time every year when we all really need a mental break from school, and this year I was able to completely forget that I was a high school principal and just be on vacation with my family. I didn’t check my email which I needed to do. It was a nice refresher. In their time in California, the group, along with Griffith’s mother, saw sights such as Alcatraz, took a cable car ride, rode a train and visited the science museum.  “San Francisco is a fun place to be but it is also a place that is special to our family,” Griffith said. “My wife lived there and really loves it. I always joke that she left her heart there and we have to go pick it up every once and a while.” Most excited for the trip was Langston.  “[My son] loves travel. He gets so excited. He is a definite travel bug, which I don’t know where he gets that. But he loves travel, loves being around his grandparents. It was really great.”  The young adventurer got to lean his head out the window on the train, learn cards with his grandmother and explore all of the sea creatures at the aquarium.  Griffith was also thankful to miss the rainy weather in Austin.  “The weather was beautiful [in San Francisco],” Griffith said. “We missed all the rain in Texas. By the time we got back on Saturday it had passed. But it was sunny in San Francisco and super clear. We never didn’t have these beautiful expanses of light.”  Photo courtesy of Nichole Griffith. Reporting by Morgan Eye.

Thankful for Thanksgiving travels

JoJo Barnard, Julia Copas, Morgan Eye, Chloe Lewcock, Emerson Merritt, Alice Scott, Ingrid Smith, and Francie Wilhelm
November 30, 2022
Shield staff reporters JoJo Barnard and Sofía Thatcher took up the task of ranking and reviewing Thanksgiving flavor pies from Tiny Pies, as well as two of their personal favorites.

Making the Thanksgiving dessert decision easy as pie

JoJo Barnard and Sofia Thatcher
November 23, 2022
NSPA Fall 2022 Best of Show winner JoJo Barnard, feature photo, sixth place A SWEET SURPRISE Senior art society officers Amaya Collier and Claire De Silva-Yost smear cake on their advisor, Sara Massey. The students thought it’d be funny to cover Massey, who was dressed as the Mona Lisa, with cake, because the famous work was recently vandalized with the dessert. “I liked seeing all our efforts being enjoyed by everyone in school,” De Silva-Yost said. “I saw so many smiles.” De Silva-Yost found the stunt to be extra exciting considering that the acts of vandalism are still currently happening, with the most recent occurrence being last Thursday, targeting the painting “Girl With a Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer. Although it isn’t certain that the defacing of the Mona Lisa corresponds with the more recent outbreaks, De Silva-Yost wouldn’t be surprised if the two were linked. “I support the protests’ message to stop using oil,” De Silva-Yost said, “but I think they executed it in a way that lacks a clear message to the public.”

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

November 22, 2022
FISHING FRIENDS: Freshmen Sienna Gunning and sophomore Fin Kirsch sit at the Mac Angling Club table, advertising to visitors at A Knight at McCallum. Gunning decided to join the club at the beginning of this school year to find new ways to experience one of her favorite hobbies. “I’ve always enjoyed fishing, and I was looking for a club to join,” she said, “so I joined fishing club, [and] it was something different.”  Even though it’s only her first year as a Knight, Gunning appreciated the opportunity to show off one of the many extracurriculars that McCallum offers, as well as getting to see the future freshmen take a look around campus. “I enjoyed showing the bait off and just talking to other people about fishing,” she said. “It was nice to see them interested and excited to be apart of Mac fishing club when they come to McCallum.” Caption by Francie Wilhelm. Photo by Dave Winter.

A ‘Knight at McCallum’ to remember

JoJo Barnard, Lillian Gray, Chloe Lewcock, Merrill Price, Lanie Sepehri, Maya Tackett, Priya Thoppil , and Francie Wilhelm
November 16, 2022
According to a 2007 study published in the journal of Biological Psychiatry, .9 percent of women and .3 percent of men struggle with anorexia during their lifetime. That does not include any other forms of eating disorders like bulimia and binge eating disorders that are just as serious. Public education health curriculum fails to address this issue that affects so many, especially younger demographics.

[Photo]

UNDEFEATED: Seniors Allie Roshalt, Saraih Taylor and Vaughn Vandegrift celebrate sweeping opponent Ann Richards and winning the district championship after an undefeated season. Taylor (middle) felt that both the district win and victory over the Stars were inevitable. “I was super confident going into the game,” she said. “We had already beat them, so what’s one more time?” The Knights won the match 25-21, 25-19 and 25-12 after previously besting Ann Richards on the road on Sept. 23. For Taylor, it was a moment to fully appreciate her and her teammates’ hard work. “I was so happy,” she said. “I was in awe because we did it, we won. I was so proud of myself and my team. It was like a proud mom moment.” Photo and caption by Francie Wilhelm.

Volleyball program savors its championship season

JoJo Barnard, Naomi Di-Capua, Morgan Eye , Jolie Gabriel, Caroline Owen, Ingrid Smith, Francie Wilhelm, and Dave Winter
November 8, 2022
A SWEET SURPRISE: Senior art society officers Amaya Collier and Claire De Silva-Yost smear cake on their advisor, Sara Massey. The students thought it’d be funny to cover Massey, who was dressed as the Mona Lisa, with cake, because the famous work was recently vandalized with the dessert. “I liked seeing all our efforts being enjoyed by everyone in school,” De Silva-Yost said. “I saw so many smiles.” De Silva-Yost found the stunt to be extra exciting considering that the acts of vandalism are still currently happening, with the most recent occurrence being last Thursday, targeting the painting “Girl With a Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer. Although it isn’t certain that the defacing of the Mona Lisa corresponds with the more recent outbreaks, De Silva-Yost wouldn’t be surprised if the two were linked.  “I support the protests’ message to stop using oil,” De Silva-Yost said. “But I think they executed it in a way that lacks a clear message to the public.” Caption and photo by JoJo Barnard.

Students, teachers come dressed to express

JoJo Barnard, Isley Cameron, Gaby Esquivel, Shila Gill , Ingrid Smith, Francie Wilhelm, and Chloe Lewcock
November 1, 2022
TO HELL AND BACK: Seniors Tyler Mankinen and Molly Holder perform their class piece, Seven Devils, choreographed by senior Khi Washington. Washington first choreographed the piece last year for Mac Youth Dance Co.s spring show, Solace. The piece was then adjusted for the senior class to perform on the Thursday and Saturday performances of the dance companys Building in Progress/Life Happening at the AISD Performing Arts Center. It was fun to perform because a lot of my friends who were in the class last year were there, so it was cool to do the piece again for them, Mankinen said. I think since the senior class is so close, watching the dance, you can see everyone’s connection with one another which I think is super unique.

Fine Arts beats the flood

Chloe Lewcock, Devin Neal, Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Francie Wilhelm, and JoJo Barnard
October 25, 2022
BUCKETS OF FUN: During lunch on Tuesday and Thursday, students in the PALS program volunteered to be drenched in water to raise money for the local charity Breast Cancer Resource Center (BCRC). Students had the opportunity to purchase a bucket of water for $10 and dump it on a PAL of their choosing. “The water buckets were definitely one of the reasons we were able to raise so much and beat our record,” senior Josie Bradsby said. “Pink week came a little early this year and I was pleasantly surprised that we were able to do so many activities successfully. It’s a great way to give back to my community and spread awareness and a sense of togetherness around McCallum.” Caption by Jojo Bernard

[Photo] 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

JoJo Barnard , Gaby Esquivel, Morgan Eye , Helen Martin, Devin Neal, Alice Scott, Ingrid Smith, Elena Ulack, and Francie Wilhelm
September 27, 2022
New choral director Shannon Carter conducts the chamber choir class.

[Photo] Shannon Carter

September 2, 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

Sophie Leung-Lieu, Kate Boyle, Alice Scott, Chloe Lewcock, Elena Ulack, Naomi Di-Capua, Sofia Thatcher, and JoJo Barnard
September 20, 2022
Coach Colton Collins sits in his office. Collins may be new as a faculty member, but not as a Knight. He attended McCallum as a student athlete under legendary coach Pat Honeycutt.

[Photo] Colton Collins

September 2, 2022
Senior Maya Cidale (Mal) alongside senior Kathryn Dooley (Evie), junior Henry Mayes (Carlos) and senior Anderson Zoll (Jay) perform Ways to be Wicked, a number in which the four evils reunite to take over Auradon. For Cidale, developing her character was a significant aspect of her rehearsal process. “It was actually a very interesting process finding my version of Mal,” Cidale said.  “I started off by pretending to be Regina George if she had magic on her side, but then I took a closer look at how all of the iconic mean girls achieved that status. I realized it was all about making people second guess themselves. From that realization, I stemmed every tactic from wanting people to question what they know is right.” Reporting by Alice Scott.

‘Descendants’ brings Disney magic to life

Jojo Barnard, Chloe Lewcock, Helen Martin, Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, and Francie Wilhelm
September 13, 2022
A LEARNING EXPERIENCE: For senior Jack Stites, walking across the field as one of four captains during Thursdays game couldnt be more rewarding. “It feels like a lot of hard work paid off,” Stites said. “Ive spent a lot of time over the past three years preparing for this.” Before every football game, the chosen team captains for that game participate in the coin toss. The toss determines who kicks off and which side of the field the Knights will take first. Despite Thursdays loss,  Stites says there is nothing to do but learn from it. “We’re a young team,” Stites said. “We knew we would have to take this as a learning experience.”

Taco Shack 2022 offers a full range of emotions

Evie Barnard, JoJo Barnard , Isley Cameron , Naomi Di-Capua , Julia Husted, Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Sofia Thatcher, Francie Wilhelm , and Dave Winter
August 30, 2022
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