Lillian Gray, staff reporter
Junior Lillian Gray is a first-year staffer for the Shield. She participated in covering many events during her time in the digital media class last school year, typically sports including cross country, basketball and wrestling, but also other events such as band and robotics. Gray runs cross country for McCallum and joined journalism because of her love for photography.
![A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER: Seniors (left to right) Fidel Sanchez-Rodas, Santiago Delgado-Morrison and Daniel Lackey dance while doing a “grito,” a type of scream, to the song “La Chona.”
For Sanchez-Rodas, prom was a night to remember.
“It [prom] was the first time in a long time that I got to go out as a group with some friends,” Sanchez-Rodas said. “We all had an awesome time making memories together. We took lots of photos and I got to see my friends sing, which was sweet and hilarious.”
For Sanchez-Rodas and his friends, the photo booth was a crowd-pleaser.
“My favorite part of the night was when we took photos at the booth,” Sanchez-Rodas said. “We did model faces and poses and got a chance to look fancy and show off.”
Sanchez-Rodas found the night to be a good buffer before the next portion of the school year, which holds finals and the end of the grading period.
“It was a night of pure relief for me,” he said. “It felt as if it was one big celebration before I have to lock in for the rest of the year.”
While Sanchez-Rodas greatly enjoyed prom, he still had some feelings of melancholy as it posed as the last celebration with his class before graduation.
“It’s sad to see some of my peers go off into the world to pursue their dreams,” he said. “But that night felt like a celebration to all of the seniors. A chance to take it all in and prepare for what’s to come.”
Sanchez-Rodas strongly believes in the importance of students attending their senior prom.
“Prom is a core memory — something you can look back upon and reminisce about,” Sanchez-Rodas said. “As a senior it’s something that makes the whole year special and worthwhile.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/53669714221_1fc71695e5_o-e1713917623842-1200x808.jpg)
![Senior David Herring races at the state cross-country meet on Dec. 3. At the meet, he established a new personal record (PR) with a time of 16:28, placing 51st out of about 150 runners. “It was good [to make a PR],” Herring said, “especially on that course. It’s just so hard — so many hills, so many ups and downs. I put that effort in, on a course that historically, I haven’t run that well on.”](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53312982399_a8d4b12692_o-1200x800.jpg)
![BIG SKIRTS, BIG SMILES: The Ballet Folklorico club performed in the cafeteria on Oct. 6 for Hispanic Heritage month in concordance with the Salsa contest in the hallway.
Senior Julie Ponse is a dancer in the club, and reflected happily on the experience.
“I think all the others did pretty well as well,” Ponse said.
She also explained how the club performs often for elementary school students.
“We do field trips, and just perform for younger kids,” Ponse said. “They get to see the party dresses.”
For Ponse, the Mccallum Ballet Folklorico club has been an important part of her family for a long time.
“I really like that I do it, because my two aunts used to go here, and they were in it,” Ponse said.
Overall, Ponse explained the positive community found in the club, especially through their leader, spanish teacher Telvi Altamirano Cancino.
“I really like her [Altamirano Cancino]. I had her as a teacher last year, and she was really nice,” Ponse said.
Not only does she enjoy the teacher, but Ponse also enjoys the company of the other students in the club.
“I think it’s really fun. We’re all friends,” Ponse said.
Caption by Josie Mullan.](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/53239300579_db25c00626_o-1200x675.jpg)
![PART OF HISTORY: Principal Nicole Griffith, journalism teacher Dave Winter and science teacher Elaine Bohls-Graham pose with pride flags on the first day of AISD PRIDE Week. At his previous school in Midtown, Atlanta, Winter witnessed a similarly accepting and robust observance of PRIDE week. However, he feels that McCallum's history and culture, particularly with Spectrum, make Mac's PRIDE celebrations unique.
"For as long as I have been at Mac and before that, [Spectrum] has been vital in providing a safe space for LGBTQ students to be themselves," Winter said. "The group has had a lot of turnover with faculty sponsorship in recent years, but its essential role has stayed constant through all of that. I think that the main thing is that Spectrum and PRIDE Week helps to give students a voice on campus."
PRIDE Week closely followed Black History Month, where students and faculty organized similar events, like student panels. In both instances, Winter saw how crucial and courageous it is for students to lead the conversations on issues like identity.
"I was impressed [by] the fearlessness and leadership of the panelists and the willingness of students and teachers to listen and work to understand better the experience of others," Winter said.
Caption by Francie Wilhelm. Photo by Lillian Gray.](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/dsc09798_52760398309_o-900x600.jpg)
