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
Riley Pita

Riley Pita, people editor

Riley Pita is a junior choir major in the fine arts program at McCallum. This is her second year on staff with a new addition of the role of people editor. In school, she participates in the TMEA All-State process for choir and MacTheatre musical productions. She likes to sing, swim, bake and read in her spare time. She looks forward to getting to read lots of feature stories this year and capture more event photos. 

All content by Riley Pita
SPIRIT OF THE FOX: Last Friday, freshman Sabine English brought a piece of Japanese mythology to the halloween contest, dressing up as a kitsune – a legendary fox spirit known for its multiple tails and mischievous behavior. “I made the mask and everything,” English said. “Kitsune are Japanese folkloric creatures with multiple tails and they even go as far as eating people.” English’s costume came together with the help of her family, her creativity and resourcefulness. She borrowed pieces from her aunt, who had previously worn the kimono for a Renaissance fair, and reimagined them for her Halloween costume. However, the mask she wore was entirely her own work. “I painted it and added all the decorations and everything. I love the way it turned out,” English said. “It took me about three days to make it, it was definitely a long process, but it was worth it.” Her inspiration for the look came from a mix of stories she had heard and nostalgia. In her childhood she had gone to the library and remembered reading Japanese folklore books and thought Halloween would be the perfect opportunity to bring these characters to life. “We used to read folklore books when I was younger from the library,” English said. “But mostly, I just thought I have the stuff for it - why don’t I just do this for Halloween. ” During the contest, English expressed that she enjoyed being able to see everyone else's costumes and celebrate Halloween along with her peers. “I wasn't nervous going up,” said English. “I was honestly having a lot of fun, and I loved seeing everyone's costumes and how creative everyone was.” Caption by Isa Truan. Photo by Harriet Zettner.

Creative costumes take center stage

Arwen Pelletier, Carlo Hinsdale, Isadora Truan, Magnolia Smith, Riley Pita, Sylvia Hurtado, and Zanna Allen
November 6, 2025

  On Friday, Oct. 31, McCallum hosted its annual Halloween costume contest in front of the dance and arts building during lunch. Students presented their costumes to a panel of teacher judges,...

Knight moves and school grooves

Knight moves and school grooves

Adele Seeboth, Beatrix Lozach, Carson Duncan, Hannah Kahn, Maya Tackett, Riley Pita, Sam Nash, Sienna Martens, Sophia Manos, and Sylvia Hurtado
October 30, 2025

On Saturday, Oct. 25, the Homecoming dance took place downtown, centering on a “Rio” theme. In the week leading up to the dance, the McCallum student council organized spirit days, including the...

Principal Andy Baxa, secretary of counselors Tonya Moore and fine arts ambassadors in a meeting featured in shields in the graphic. Despite administration changes, including with Moore's role at the school, the traditions and programs in the fine arts academy will continue on.

Changing of the guard

Riley Pita, people editor
October 13, 2025

The new school year has faced many challenges with the departure of Fine Arts Academy assistant principal Dr. Samuel Parrott last year and the dissolution of other administrative positions, including the...

Andrew Lavine plays tennis during tournament in Kuršumlijska Banja, Serbia. Photo courtesy of Lavine.

Playing through grief

Riley Pita, people editor
September 25, 2025

Former McCallum student Andrew Lavine, who graduated in 2025, has had many challenges during his tennis career. Moving around between cities, such as Austin, Houston and in his senior year, Barcelona,...

FROM PLAYGROUNDS TO PLAYWRIGHTS: In room 103, one can find a bustling classroom of students lively chatting and working. The new English teacher, Abigail Pfeiffer, said she feels quite at home here. “I love the students here,” Pfeiffer said. “It’s been such a pleasure to teach them.” This is Pfeiffer’s second year of teaching. Her previous teaching experience was for a fourth grade classroom. Some might say fourth grade to 10th is a huge jump, but Pfeifer has been facing it with great enthusiasm. She majored in English in college and finds that a high school setting gives her more room to explore her passion. “There’s much more freedom when teaching high schoolers,” Pfeifer said. “I really get to put my skills to work.” Pfeiffer was drawn to McCallum because of its commitment to Fine Arts and its welcoming community. So far, her experience at Mac has not let her down. “It’s clear how passionate students are, and it’s very inspiring to see,” Pfeiffer said. Ultimately, Pfeiffer’s hope for this year is for her students to feel accomplished and for her to feel as if she taught them something worthwhile. Caption by Zanna Allen.

A fresh start for mac-ulty

Daniela Di-Capua, Delaney Lavelle, Eva Sanchez, Isadora Truan, Riley Pita, Sylvia Hurtado, and Zanna Allen
September 11, 2025

    This week is all about celebrating new beginnings at McCallum. As the school year begins, we are excited to welcome a new group of teachers who bring fresh energy, unique experiences,...

GRAND REVEAL: Sophomore Cruz Gonzales performs alongside the other baritone saxophone players during Bandapalooza on Aug 22. Bandapalooza allowed the band to perform what they’ve been practicing during the summer to an audience full of friends and family. While this wasn’t the band’s first full run through, it was their first in front of an audience. “I feel like we’ve done better in rehearsals, and due to the pressure and other things, it hindered our performance a little bit, but I was still proud,” Gonzales said. One thing that Gonzales pointed out that the band needs to work on in the future is making sure everybody knows exactly where they’re supposed to be and knows the repetition. This performance also allowed the band to introduce their new theme of Gothic Renaissance to their audience. “This year’s costumes are totally different,” Gonzales said. “We have hip capes and shako hats, which is a big change from last year.” Looking towards the future and big pictures, Gonzales wants the band to have a successful season and make state. “Considering how close it was last year, we were pretty bummed,” he said. “So this year, I think everybody is really trying to work harder to get there and make state again.” Caption by Maya Tackett. Photo by Wren Vanderford.

Bandapalooza marches into new year

Beatrix Lozach, Maya Tackett, Wren Vanderford, Priya Thoppil, Riley Pita, Daniela Di-Capua, Sienna Martens, Katie Martin, and Carson Duncan
August 28, 2025

  Just as the sun was setting on Friday evening, the McCallum marching band began its annual Bandapalooza performance in the band parking lot. After the last month of all-day rehearsals during...

Sophomore Lucinda McCollum performs during a group performance of "Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight" by ABBA on Sunday night's closing performance. Due to some pieces being mixed with other classes within the choir program, McCollum explained it was a challenge to find time to rehearse, but the show still ended up being a success. "We only had a few rehearsals where we learned choreo and practiced with the other choirs, but I feel like we had good energy and did well on stage," McCollum said. McCollum said one of the best parts of the show was the audience's reactions to the pieces. "It was really fun watching the audience’s reactions to some of the small groups and hanging out with my friends backstage," McCollum said. Caption by Carlo Hinsdale. Photo by Josie Mullan.

A throwback Saturday and Sunday

JoJo Barnard, Daniela Di-Capua, Carlo Hinsdale, Tallulah McAuliffe, Josie Mullan, Piper Norfolk, Riley Pita, Arwen Pelletier, Adele Seeboth, and Fletcher Vandegrift
May 6, 2025

This past weekend, the McCallum Choir performed their annual Cabaret show, with this year’s theme being “A Knight in the Past.” The tradition, existing for over 15 years, is an opportunity for choir...

ONE LAST TIME: Senior Zalie Mann and junior Ronan Henson dance at prom, the last McCallum dance both of them will ever attend. Despite not being a senior, Henson was able to attend with the invitation from his senior friend Gabrielle Rodriquez. Attending Zach Academy for theater next year, this is Henson’s last year at McCallum, and so in that sense, attending prom for him felt like a senior experience. Henson enjoyed how the night went, and felt that it was a big improvement from the prom he had attended at the same venue a week before. “I went to Bowie prom, and it was really boring,” he said. “This one was much more fun, everyone was dancing, and it had a much better vibe. I think the environment was super nice, like how it was set up with the lights and music, but everyone dancing and having a good time together made it really fun. We definitely utilized the space much better.” One thing Henson won’t forget about prom was getting to enjoy being around his senior friends for one of the last times and making memories with them. “Dancing and getting to reconnect with friends I've been making throughout the past three years in one spot was just amazing,” he said. “It felt like a super good ending to the year, and a nice sign off for sure.” Caption by Priya Thoppil.

Prom provides seniors a moment to savor, celebrate

Josie Linton, Beatrix Lozach, Sophia Manos, Sienna Martens, Josie Mullan, Riley Pita, Maya Tackett, Priya Thoppil, and Fletcher Vandegrift
May 1, 2025

The 2025 prom was held Saturday night at Brazos Hall. The theme of the prom, appropriately, was "Our Last Knight." Photojournalists and Shield staff reporters Sophia Manos and Fletcher Vandegrift were...

Senior Nathan Howard and choir director Nathan Thompson pose with a TMEA All-State convention packet after Area E Auditions in January.

Howard’s final note at Mac

Riley Pita, staff reporter
April 7, 2025

Senior Nathan Howard began his choral writing journey during his freshman year at McCallum during COVID. Through the hardships of COVID and director turnover, Howard was still able to further his musicianship...

The vast majority of women in the U.S. have used contraception in the last year and 18 million use birth control to treat medical conditions. The infant mortality rate has increased significantly in Texas since the abortion ban went into effect. Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation, JAMA Pediatrics.

Birth control ills

Riley Pita, staff reporter
April 4, 2025

Many teens and adults use different forms of contraceptives for various reasons. According to the Cleveland Clinic, some use them to prevent unwanted pregnancies, while others use some forms, such as birth...

Senior Austin Pain and Sophomore Delilah Grad pose after "Partner in Crime" during 'Tuck Everlasting' performance in September.

‘Everlasting’ Bonds

Riley Pita, staff reporter
April 1, 2025

Tuck Everlasting, MacTheatre's fall-semester musical, has been nominated for 10 Heller Awards for Young Artists. The award ceremony will take place on April 16 at the Long Center and will include multiple...

Sophomore Paityn Jones sings "Lift Every Voice and Sing" for the Black History Month assembly on Feb. 10. Written in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was originally a poem but became the official song of the NAACP in 1919 and became even more prominent during the Civil Rights Movement. In the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020, the NFL made the song a fixture at its championship game. Caption by Wren Vanderford. Photo by Jasmine Aung.

Acknowledging and celebrating Black history, culture and expression

Daniela Di-Capua, Tegan Hahn, Beatrix Lozach, Josie Mullan, Piper Norfolk, Riley Pita, Callen Romell, Maya Tackett, Wren Vanderford, Fletcher Vandegrift, and Nate Williams
March 11, 2025

For the month of February, the Students of Color Alliance hosted a number of events in honor of Black History Month. These included two Black history assemblies in the MAC on Feb. 25 and an HBCU panel...

Riley Pita—Beginning writer portfolio

Riley Pita, staff reporter
February 6, 2025

https://macshieldonline.com/63290/features/pew-exits-mccallum/ https://macshieldonline.com/65752/entertainment/mactheatre-students-make-nationals/ https://macshieldonline.com/64270/features/he-just-wants-whats-best-for-us/

MacTheatre students stare in awe at award won during the 2024 Texas State Thespian festival in Corpus Christi.

MacTheatre students make Nationals

Riley Pita, staff reporter
January 20, 2025

MacTheatre students participated in workshops and various competitions for acting, dancing, singing, and technical theatre at the Texas State thespians festival from Nov. 15-18. Thespians festivals offer...

FIRST SEASON SPLASH: Senior Captain Mallory Beckham and other swim teammates cheer on swimmers in the 50 freestyle last night at Great Hills Country Club pool. The meet took place at their home pool where they practice every night. It marked the beginning of the McCallum swim season, and gave a chance for new swimmers to get official times to use in events at future competitions. Although the team did not compete with other schools at this meet, Beckham thinks that it was helpful to have in the long run. “We got to cheer and support everyone through their first meet of the year and it helped to give the new swimmer a chance to experience a meet environment before we go to the more serious meets,” Beckham said. “Everyone was so supportive and happy for eachother with congratulating and cheering. And a lot of people dropped time too.” According to Beckham, this will be a good season for the team because of the amount of support from everyone at the last meet. “Everyone is being so supportive of each other and everyone is going to make great progress with dropping times,” Beckham said. “This is going to be a great season for everyone to drop time.”

FIRST SEASON SPLASH: Senior Captain Mallory Beckham and other swim teammates cheer on swimmers in the 50 freestyle last night at Great Hills Country Club pool. The meet took place at their home pool where...

FIRST SEASON SPLASH: Senior Captain Mallory Beckham and other swim teammates cheer on swimmers in the 50 freestyle last night at Great Hills Country Club pool. The meet took place at their home pool where they practice every night. It marked the beginning of the McCallum swim season, and gave a chance for new swimmers to get official times to use in events at future competitions. Although the team did not compete with other schools at this meet, Beckham thinks that it was helpful to have in the long run. “We got to cheer and support everyone through their first meet of the year and it helped to give the new swimmer a chance to experience a meet environment before we go to the more serious meets,” Beckham said. “Everyone was so supportive and happy for eachother with congratulating and cheering. And a lot of people dropped time too.” According to Beckham, this will be a good season for the team because of the amount of support from everyone at the last meet. “Everyone is being so supportive of each other and everyone is going to make great progress with dropping times,” Beckham said. “This is going to be a great season for everyone to drop time.”

FIRST SEASON SPLASH: Senior Captain Mallory Beckham and other swim teammates cheer on swimmers in the 50 freestyle last night at Great Hills Country Club pool. The meet took place at their home pool where...

SPENDING THANKSGIVING IN NATURE: Junior Elizabeth Falkin feeds deer who wander around her grandfather’s lakehouse on Lake Buchanan during Thanksgiving break. Falkin travels to her lakehouse during long breaks and spent six days there during this break. One thing that makes Falkin’s lakehouse special for her is the ability to feed the deer. “There are a ton of deer up there, and we always keep tins of deer food so that we can feed them and see them more up close,” Falkin said. This trip also allowed Falkin the opportunity to see her cousins, who showed up to her family’s lakehouse on Thanksgiving without her knowing they were coming beforehand. “I never get to see my baby cousins, so I loved going to the beach with them and sitting by the fire at night,” Falkin said. “I love the fire because I feel like I don’t have to worry about anything else like school for just a little while.” Falkin has been going to the house for as long as she can remember and always enjoys the sense of serenity it brings. “It is an amazing, isolated place that allows me to calm down and spend time with the people I care about as well as with nature,” Falkin said. Caption by Maya Tackett. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Falkin.

All over for autumn

Noah Braun, Carlo Hinsdale, Delaney Lavelle, Beatrix Lozach, Chloe Lewcock, Riley Pita, Maya Tackett, Priya Thoppil, Nate Williams, and Josie Mullan
December 3, 2024

During Thanksgiving Break, McCallum students traveled far and wide, from New Orleans to New York, encountering everything from picturesque beaches to Hawaiian volcanoes. From brief road trips to epic treks,...

AN ABUNDANCE OF OPPORTUNITIES: Senior Harper Freach, a cello player in the chamber orchestra, plays the first movement of “Triptyque” by Yasushi Akutagawa, which they began practicing in August. Freach said she was nervous going into the concert, having recently focused on other pieces. “I was feeling pretty nervous because we hadn't played it for a while because we had been focused on pieces for another concert, so everyone was a little rusty,” Freach said. After the performances, the fine arts majors separated into smaller groups so that the audience could interact with whatever fine arts they were most interested in learning about. Freach’s younger sister is interested in the dance department, so they went into that group. “We went to the dance building and got to watch a bunch of different types of solos of all different dance types to show what you could audition with for your audition and got to talk to the dance teachers,” Freach said. Freach said she had a very different experience with orchestra before high school. “I went to a private school, and we had a very different way of playing, we would have to audition for actual seatings and chairs,” Freach said. “It's different because now you walk into orchestra, and you don't know what to expect. Pringle will either have you play for the class or play with a different section; it's just a very broad range, and you never know what you're going to get. I like it because it tests my abilities and tells me what I need to work on and sometimes shows that I can pick up on things faster than I thought I would be able to.” Freach’s advice for any new Knights is to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible. “Any opportunity that you are presented with you should take it,” Freach said. “I couldn't do that my freshman year because we were still pretty shut down due to COVID. I was scared to try other things besides orchestra, but I regret not involving myself in other areas at McCallum where I could have possibly found my passion.” Caption by Shila Gill.

Inspiring aspiring artists

JoJo Barnard, Tristen Diaz, Daniela Di-Capua, Carson Duncan, Shila Gill, Delaney Lavelle, Josie Mullan, Riley Pita, Chloe Seckar-Martinez, Adele Seeboth, Priya Thoppil, and Fletcher Vandegrift
November 19, 2024

McCallum hosted the Fine Arts Showcase on Nov. 7 in the MAC theater for prospective students and their parents to demonstrate the variety of interests and majors new students would be able to pursue during...

Director Nathan Thompson conducts the McCallum choir program at last year’s Masterworks concert. The masterworks concert this year on Dec. 12 will feature Kreek’s Requiem in C minor performed by the chamber orchestra, whole choir program, and brass band. Thompson recalls that last year, his favorite part was bringing all the elements together. “Last year, that standing ovation that everyone got after afterwards, and the silence that we were able to hold in the concert hall was a really, really cool moment, and it was one of the highlights of the year for me."

Making old traditions new

Riley Pita, staff reporter
November 19, 2024

Over the lats year, new choir director Nathan Thompson has resurrected the tradition of Masterworks. The Masterworks concert will feature the whole choir program, some band members and the chamber orchestra...

Jeffrey Rudy plays at fall choir concert, “Of Earth and Sky,” in October 2023. Photo and caption by Riley Pita.

‘He just wants what’s best for us’ 

Riley Pita, staff reporter
November 17, 2024

For Jeffrey Rudy, each day of teaching or coaching is a new surprise. He has been teaching for 41 years, 21 of which have been dedicated to McCallum. Being an AP teacher, associate band director, coach...

At Mac, Pew found perfect mix of math, music

Riley Pita, staff reporter
October 16, 2024

Before his time at McCallum, Pew taught band, orchestra and math to middle schoolers in Washington. Upon his move to Austin in 2007, he saw a job opening at McCallum. Pew took the position as a math...

COLALEO IN THE YELLOW SUIT: Senior Joe Colaleo rehearses ferociously confronts the Tuck family about the water that turns people immortal as the cast of McCallum Theater’s fall production Tuck Everlasting blocks a scene. The rehearsal is for the actors to know where to be placed and stand throughout the show. “I am feeling great about the process and creation of the show as a whole,” Colaleo said. “We are working really fast, we are super prepared. Everyone is working really hard, and we are just finishing up learning set traffic, cleaning and perfecting the show.” In the show, Colaleo plays The Man in the Yellow Suit, a character he was hoping to get when auditioning. The character is greedy and selfish and his goal is to become wealthy by selling water from the spring in the woods. “I want the water to sell for money and they are stopping me,” Colaleo said. For Colaleo, Tuck Everlasting represents the start of his senior year and the final season with McCallum Theater. “Playing this role as a senior is very fulfilling and fun,” Colaleo said. “Everyone looks up to you and you get a sense of accomplishment and pride when you see others doing well.” Looking back on his four years in theater production, Colaleo said he wants to do everything he can this year to support the underclassmen and have fun in the rest of the shows this year. “I really appreciate the process a lot more this year, knowing it will be one of the last times I’m doing something like this at McCallum and I won’t see a lot of these people for a long time,” Colaleo said. Caption by Nate Williams.

‘Everlasting’ rehearsal process nears its end

JoJo Barnard, Sunday Cardinal, Tegan Hahn, Delaney Lavelle, Lilah Lavigne, Beatrix Lozach, Sophia Manos, Tallulah McAuliffe, Josie Mullan, Riley Pita, Adele Seeboth, Nico Williamson, and Nate Williams
September 10, 2024

MacTheatre has been closely working on the fall musical Tuck Everlasting since Aug. 5, when the cast of 35 people leapt headfirst into vocal and choreography rehearsals. They spent hours rehearsing everything...

AN EARLY HOMECOMING: Newly appointed assistant principal Gabriel Adame returned to McCallum this year after spending a year obtaining his master’s of education with the UT Texas Principals Leadership Academy. During his studies, Adame acted as an assistant principal at a middle school and an elementary school in order to gain more experience. Nevertheless, Adame felt compelled to return to Mac. “There are three main reasons I came back to McCallum,” Adame said. “Besides the students, who have been incredibly kind, supportive and funny, my colleagues and the friendships I developed here have been a huge part of the reason I came back.” Adame also said the community within the faculty was one of the main reasons he chose to return. “I felt so supported as an AP Biology teacher and coach,” Adame said. “And I can never repay them for the help I received, whether it was in the form of an email that made me feel good about what I was doing as a teacher or whether it was a kind remark as we were cheering on a kiddo in the stands.” Moving forward, Adame plans to take his role as an assistant principal seriously. He’s committed to leading by example when it comes to establishing a work ethic and a positive mindset. “The biggest value I want to embody is integrity,” Adame said. “I really hope that by the time I’m done here, people can really see me for the work that I did and the people I helped. Because really, this job is not about me. This job is about how I can get students to the place they want to be and how can I get teachers to be the best versions of themselves.” Fellow assistant principal Larry Featherstone believes that Adame continuously embodies that integrity. “I feel great about him being back here at McCallum,” Featherstone said. “He’s doing a phenomenal job. He’s training teachers, supporting students, and the best part is that he does it all with a smile on his face. He has a great spirit about him.” No matter how beloved he is on campus, however, Adame takes a humble approach to his work. “I’m a servant of the public, and it’s something I take great pride in, helping people accomplish the goals, the aspirations, the endeavors they set out for themselves,” Adame said. “If I can be a guide for them to navigate that, that’s what I want to do. Those are things I really try to live by, integrity and servitude.”

Fresh faces across the faculty

Daniela Di-Capua, Carson Duncan, Nellie Eschberger, Delaney Lavelle, Josie Linton, Beatrix Lozach, Katie Martin, Sophia Manos, Aubrey Macedo, Harper Binfield Maxwell, Tallulah McAuliffe, Elizabeth Nation, Maddie O’Connor, Arwen Pelletier, Riley Pita, Eva Sanchez, Adele Seeboth, Fletcher Vandegrift, and Nico Williamson
August 27, 2024

The new school year has not only welcomed one of the largest freshman classes in recent memory, but also countless new teachers and other staff members to fill out the roster and (almost) accommodate for...

Photo by Harper Binfield Maxwell.

PhotoJ students spark creativity through emulation

Harper Binfield Maxwell, Carson Duncan, Olivia Dungan, David Herring, Carlo Hinsdale, Elli Grace Hodges, Katie Hyzak, Sophia Lopez, Beatrix Lozach, Aubrey Macedo, Sophia Manos, Katie Martin, Vivian Moore, Riley Pita, Adele Seeboth, and Cash Sims
July 16, 2024

The three digital media classes were tasked with researching a famous photographer then take an image inspired by the images they had researched. The results were so good, we asked them if we could share...

The musician 

Riley Pita, Mac photojournalism
July 2, 2024

The day he walked into the riser-filled room, he knew this was where he belonged.  Over 1,000 miles away in Austin, Minn., was a musician. He developed his piano skills and singing in junior high....

FUN AND FRIENDS: Freshman Carley Castro-Seiler dances in Ballet Folklorico’s Cinco de Mayo performance. Castro-Seiler said the club has grown closer together during this year, and have been continuously improving their performance. “The last performance was really fun because we all got closer over the year,” Castro-Seiler. “It was more dancing with friends other than random people.” Even with a slight mess up in their last dance, Seiler said the performance was a great experience. “The last dance that we did, we messed up a little bit,” Seiler said. “But it was fine, it didn’t feel awkward or anything because we were together.” Seiler said she was initially introduced to Ballet Folklorico by her family. “I got involved because my grandmother used to do it when she was little,” Seiler said. “My mom wanted me to do it, so she kind of pushed me, but then it became more for fun, rather than just doing it for my mom.” Overall, Seiler said she had a great time performing for the event. “I had a lot of fun doing it, so that was the most important thing,” Seiler said. Caption by Josie Mullan.

[Photo] Cinco de Mayo show celebrates Mexican culture

Beatrix Lozach, Chloe Lewcock, Josie Mullan, Maya Tackett, Priya Thoppil, and Francie Wilhelm
May 7, 2024

FUN AND FRIENDS: Freshman Carley Castro-Seiler dances in Ballet Folklorico’s Cinco de Mayo performance. Castro-Seiler said the club has grown closer together during this year, and have been continuously...

Matthew Cagle reaches the wall in his 400 yard freestyle relay at a McCallum tri-meet against Ann Richards.

[Photo] Are New Year’s resolutions helpful or harmful?

Maggie Coulbourn, Maverick Palacios, Azul Cepero Cortes, and Julisa Ayala Bonilla
March 8, 2024

Matthew Cagle reaches the wall in his 400 yard freestyle relay at a McCallum tri-meet against Ann Richards.

SWIFT IN SWIMMING: The swim team competed at the district wide meet at Cedar Ridge High on Saturday, in which junior Liliana Hollinger placed in several of her events, including 1st in the 50 freestyle race and 2nd in the 100 free. Although the LASA team ultimately won the meet, Mac athletes like Hollinger were able to dominate in their individual events. Hollinger and others will be moving onto the regional meet that will take place on Feb. 9 and 10, and top swimmers at that competition will continue to the state race. Hollinger said this meet was definitely her best of the season. “I did really feel like I did my best; I got my best times,” she said. “The team spirit was really good, and I was very confident, and you know, just very happy the whole time.” Hollinger said she has been trying to make state since her freshman year, and this is the year she hopes it will finally happen. Caption by Camilla Vandegrift.

[Photo] Win, lose or draw (actually all three)

JoJo Barnard, Morgan Eye, August Gleason, Evelyn Jenkins, Chloe Lewcock, Helen Martin, Sofia Saucedo, Chloe Seckar-Martinez, Maya Tackett, Priya Thoppil, and Camilla Vandegrift
January 30, 2024

SWIFT IN SWIMMING: The swim team competed at the district wide meet at Cedar Ridge High on Saturday, in which junior Liliana Hollinger placed in several of her events, including 1st in the 50 freestyle...

The cast of the choir’s annual “Cabaret” kick into action at choreography rehearsals on Nov. 12 in the McCallum Performing Arts Center. The members rehearse their musical number “A Musical” from the show Something Rotten. The production will open Thursday with evening shows on Friday and Saturday and a matinée finale on Sunday. One of the head choreographers, pictured in the center front row, Jaella Brush, faced challenges choreographing this number but overcame them with the help and flexibility of everyone participating. “It’s hard to know if something will look good in a big group until you do it,” Brush said. “Not every dance move is gonna look good or work with everyone’s vocal/dance abilities when you put it into action, so being able to think quickly and change it up sometimes has been important.”

Thompson puts his stamp on ‘Cabaret’

Riley Pita, Mac photojournalism
November 27, 2023

During the months of October and November, all of the choirs started the long journey that will ultimately lead to Thursday’s opening night performance of the musical theatre show “Cabaret.” Choir...

CREW OF BLUE: Seniors (left to right) Julia Lyon, Jaella Brush, Naomi Di-Capua, Alex Thomason, Roxie Satija, Spirit Smith and (floor) Clara McFadden pose for a photo during choir class to showcase their outfits for Thursday’s spirit day. Thursday was the day of the game, so the spirit day theme was school colors. Each class had a corresponding color: freshmen-white, sophomores-gray, juniors-black and seniors-blue. The annual tradition intrigued Smith. “I was excited to see what grade would show the most spirit this year,” Smith said. Smith views spirit days as a way for the school to come together. “I enjoy spirit days because they give the student body a chance to be involved,” Smith said. “And there aren’t very many opportunities for our school to be involved in things as a whole.” Caption by JoJo Barnard.

[Photo] Mac marks homecoming with old, new traditions

JoJo Barnard, Chloe Lewcock, Callen Romell, Lanie Sepehri, Francie Wilhelm, Gaby Esquivel, Olivia Dungan, Aubrey Macedo, Katie Martin, Helen Martin, and Evelyn Jenkins
October 24, 2023

CREW OF BLUE: Seniors (left to right) Julia Lyon, Jaella Brush, Naomi Di-Capua, Alex Thomason, Roxie Satija, Spirit Smith and (floor) Clara McFadden pose for a photo during choir class to showcase their...

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