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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

Sofia Saucedo

Sofia Saucedo, social media managing editor

Senior Sofia Saucedo is this year’s social media manager. When she’s not taking pictures for sporting events, Saucedo can be found hanging out with her friends, going to pilates classes or listening to The Marias. This year, aside from being on staff, Saucedo is a part of Link Crew, Science National Honor Society, is a science center tutor, and works at Amy’s Ice Cream. She is excited to take pictures this year and cover exciting sporting events like volleyball, soccer and basketball. Overall, she is grateful to be given the opportunity to connect to the community and enjoy her senior year on staff. 

All content by Sofia Saucedo
HONORING HER HERITAGE: Last Tuesday, McCallum’s Ballet Folklorico put on a showcase in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Senior Abigail Peacock says it was nice for Folklorico to showcase their traditional Hispanic folk dance during Hispanic Heritage month, due to the fact that they are no longer able to perform for Cinco de Mayo. Because of the new Texas laws that prevent certain cultural groups from performing, Peacock says they will take what they can get, and Hispanic Heritage Month was the perfect opportunity to celebrate dance. 

“To me, it's important that Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated at McCallum because it's an integral part of our school's culture,” Peacock said. “Additionally, it's especially important that we are able to dance for Hispanic Heritage Month because we may not be able to put on a Cinco de Mayo this year. Our club works hard, and I think there should be a way to showcase our hard work to the school.”

Peacock says the Folklorico dance is an important part of Hispanic culture, and can represent various Hispanic cultures and backgrounds through music and art. 

“Folklorico is representative of the different cultural influences that come together to create Hispanic culture,” Peacock said. “Folklorico originated as a combination of indigenous and Spanish-style dances, and can represent different regions of Mexico that have unique dance attire and steps that show even more specific influences and history of the individual regions.” 

For Peacock, the community that surrounds Folklorico is what makes the club such a welcoming and fun environment where students can spread Hispanic culture. 

“My favorite part about being in Folklorico has been learning about and being able to experience Hispanic culture. It is what makes Texas so special, and I have loved becoming more involved in the community that surrounds me,” Peacock said. “I've also loved meeting everyone involved in Folklorico, from teachers to club members and people involved in our events. It really has been such a wonderful experience.” 

Caption by Sofia Saucedo.

Homage to heritage

From a salsa contest to an agua fresca sale, the Students of Color Alliance hosted a variety of events over the past few weeks to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month lasts from...

VOLLEYBALL BUDDIES:
Junior Mia Davis and Senior Kafia Jackson-Woods join hands after a play against Ann Richards Varsity at Ann Richards on September 26. Both student sections were energized. Moments prior, the girls had scored and brought the points up. 

Davis, one of two setters, felt grateful to have Jackson-Woods by her side.

“I’ve played with Kafia since my freshman year because we were both on JV,” Davis said. “I really like her competitive spirit, and that she isn't afraid to tell me what I need to fix so that we can connect better. I just really like her energy and her personality.”

Playing with her friends gives Davis more confidence and assuredness. She knows how the girls will play and how her teammates feel. However, because the gym was smaller, the crowd was louder. Davis believed that affected the team’s play.

“I think we let the crowd get to us a little bit because when we were on the side with our student section, we kept them 12 and under,” Davis said. “When we were on the other side they beat us in one set and we went over 25.”

Caption by Carlo Hinsdale.

Setting the stage for success

Fueled by strong rallies and steady teamwork, the McCallum varsity volleyball team secured a 3–1 victory over Ann Richards on Sept. 26. We are proud to present McCallum's varsity volleyball team...

Andrea Stan Stoiceaux (left) and Aitana Counceiro Bote (right) are both juniors who have decided to spend the entirety of this year staying with host families, and attending McCallum.

All new faces from all different places

Sofia Saucedo, social media managing editor
September 29, 2025

Lily Walewski  Senior Lily Walewski just got back to McCallum after spending her junior year at a private Catholic school in Angers, France. Walewski was originally inspired to study abroad after...

BIG APPLE TO THE LONE STAR STATE: New newspaper advisor Evan Solís teaches public school for the first time, and already feels at home at McCallum. Before moving to Texas, he taught digital photography at the Bronx Documentary Center in New York. Originally, when moving back to Texas, Solis was set on teaching English, and he applied to McCallum for that.

Originally applying for an English position, Solis was offered the journalism role after his background caught the attention of administrators.

“Absolutely, I would love that job,” Solís said. “I love McCallum; there’s a lot to like, I have great kids, I get to do my own thing, it’s been a very friendly school at the staff level, and the administrators have been very supportive.”


Caption by Delaney Lavelle.

[Photo] A fresh start for mac-ulty

BIG APPLE TO THE LONE STAR STATE: New newspaper advisor Evan Solís teaches public school for the first time, and already feels at home at McCallum. Before moving to Texas, he taught digital photography...

Softball standout Lila Brotherton evades a Crockett defender in the Knights' victory over the Cougars in their quarterfinal matchup. The Knights would defeat Travis in the semifinal game to reach the championship where they lost to Bowie.

Flag football unfurled at district tournament

They weren't used to playing with each other, and they weren't experts on the rules, but with varsity head football coach Thomas Gammerdinger guiding them, an eclectic group of female athletes with experience...

Former editor-in-chiefs Francie Wilhelm, Alice Scott and Lanie Sepehri along with former design and visuals editor Sophie Leung-Lieu and social media managing editor Naomi Di-Capua pose with Winter on "Dress Like Your Favorite Teacher Day"

[Photo] In Winter’s Words

Chloe Lewcock and Nate Williams
May 12, 2025

Former editor-in-chiefs Francie Wilhelm, Alice Scott and Lanie Sepehri along with former design and visuals editor Sophie Leung-Lieu and social media managing editor Naomi Di-Capua pose with Winter on...

SHAPING MEDIA, STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY: NEW YORK CITY—the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, celebrating its centennial, began its convention on the Wednesday of spring break on the Columbia University campus. The opening keynote, titled “The Evolution of Media & Democracy: How We Got Here, How We Might Move Forward,” featured Richard Gingras, strategic adviser and former global vice president of Google News. Gingras addressed the challenges of fragmented media on democracy, the importance of rebuilding trust in journalism, and the role of media in strengthening communities.

Knights spring about

From the cathedrals of Mexico City to the snow-capped slopes of Colorado, Knights went to a variety of far-flung locales during Spring Break. Many students and staff used this time to connect with family...

Varsity girls soccer team carries sophomore Ellie Wiseman, who scored both Knight goals, as they celebrate their 2-0 win over Victoria West, securing spot in Regional Playoffs

How Sweet 16 it is!

Sofia Saucedo, social media specialist
March 27, 2025

Thanks to an airtight defensive effort and two goals from sophomore Ellie Wiseman, the varsity girls soccer team defeated Victoria West 2-0 in the area playoffs to make the UIL Sweet 16 for the first time...

LOVELY RITA: Senior designer Rita Hagerty was the lucky winner of the 2025 show. Hagerty participated in the show for her second year. “Rita has incredible dedication and her eye for detail is incredible," one of Hagerty's designer peers said. "I'm glad her hard work paid off.” Each designer put countless hours into the show, sacrificing sleep and free time for the opportunity to share their
work with the community. For some of these young designers it may have been their first time participating, some say that the hardest part
was finding the time to dedicate to the competition. “Of course, designing the clothes was challenging, but that's what I was expecting," first-year sophomore designer Tallulah McAuliffe said. "It was really hard to find the time to put it all together though. Between school, homework and friends. The show was always following me.” Caption by Isa Truan.

[Photo] Braving the ‘Wilderness’ together

NATURE’S TREASURE: Senior Sylvie Powell poses on the runway while sporting a look designed by senior Rita Hagerty. The outfit was completely hand-knit, and Hagerty even created her own pattern for the...

The sauce buffet offered by Soupleaf to customers.

The sauce buffet offered by Soupleaf to customers.

Vegetable buffet available for all you can eat services.

Vegetable buffet available for all you can eat services.

Vegetable buffet available for all you can eat services.

Vegetable buffet available for all you can eat services.

REACHING FOR THE STARS: Junior Zane Shieh sings an original song while playing the guitar with his band, Spiral Maze, at the Battle of the Bands last Thursday.

He sings the long note of his band’s original song entitled “Reach,” a part of a new album coming soon.

“This is my second year doing Battle of the Bands and with Spiral Maze,” Shieh said. “We had a pretty tight set, but I think it went really well, and the crowd liked us a good bit.”

Shieh said his excitement toward playing at the Battle of the Bands this year was being able to showcase his band’s new music.

“My favorite part was performing our new song, and playing for a bunch of my friends was super sick,” Shieh said. “It was stressful at first—like a little nervous—but it all cleared up right after the first song, and the atmosphere was very chill.”

While it was not his band’s first time performing in front of a crowd, Shieh said he loves playing music at his own school and performing original music.

“We’ve played at the Austin Rodeo two times and a few restaurants like Tamale House and Freddo’s ATX,” Shieh said.

Shieh and his band will be back performing at school at the upcoming first annual McCallum Art Party fundraiser on Feb. 22.
Caption by Nate Williams.

Battle of the Bands brings Mac musicians together

The classical guitar program held its annual Battle of the Bands in the Fine Arts Building Theater last Thursday evening. Each band performed three original or cover songs, and audience members used...

Kubala plays in a varsity game against Austin high on Monday, January 13. The Knights won 2-1.

[Photo] Just like the movies

Lillian Gray, staff reporter
February 7, 2025

Kubala plays in a varsity game against Austin high on Monday, January 13. The Knights won 2-1.

Austin ISD made a big showing at Austin’s Juneteenth parade on Saturday. Superintendent Matias Segura (center) and school board members like District 1 Trustee, Candace Hunter (not in this photo), represented the district alongside the Austin All-Star Band, families, and staff.

“Austin ISD has done much to reconcile the harm done to the Black community,” Hunter said. “Our participation in the annual parade gives us another opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to serving Black students and families well.”

The district’s participation in the parade means a lot to Hunter, who has been involved with it since she was a student herself.

“It’s meaningful for me because as a student in AISD my family celebrated this holiday before it was recognized by the district, state or federal government,” she said. “Now, to see every sector of the city and all the different people come and celebrate Freedom Day, it’s amazing. I feel seen and recognized.”

The parade also provided a unique way for Hunter to connect with the people who helped elect her to the school board.

“The parade takes place in my district, so for me a highlight is I get to shake hands and hug on our students, families and community members that I serve every day,” she said.

Flipping through the year that was

Sofia Saucedo, social media specialist
February 1, 2025

January:   February: March: April: May: June:  July/August:  September:  October: November:  December:

Author Lisa Lerer, co-author of The Fall of Roe: The Rise of New America, expressed concern about the connection she has seen between efforts to restrict abortion access and other health-care subjects like in-vitro fertilization and gender-affirming care. Photo by Sofia Saucedo.

How will Republican control of White House, Congress affect abortion access?

Sofia Saucedo, social media specialist
January 13, 2025

In June of 2022, the Supreme Court officially overturned Roe v. Wade, repealing federal protection of abortion and setting the stage for abortion restrictions across the nation. According to the Center...

Shiloh Hendrickse (24) passes the ball up to Junior Maya Tackett during the first game of preseason, vs Eastview HS, which the varsity girls soccer team won 3-0

[Photo] Following a family legacy

Priya Thoppil, news editor
January 16, 2025

Shiloh Hendrickse (24) passes the ball up to Junior Maya Tackett during the first game of preseason, vs Eastview HS, which the varsity girls soccer team won 3-0

Kansas City Cheifs vs San Fransisco 49ers ending in a Cheifs win 25-22

Kansas City Cheifs vs San Fransisco 49ers ending in a Cheifs win 25-22

Adidas, New Balances, Tigers, Reebok, Pumas. Which one will come out on top?

Some of these shoes knock our socks off

Sofia Saucedo and Sophia Manos
January 2, 2025

Sneakers are all anyone’s talking about these days. Everyone wants to know what the next top trending kicks will be, who will have which pair, and how soon until this micro trend will last. We have put...

Incentive forms allow students to exempt a final of their choosing with a no-harm grade

Administration reverses plan to pause final exam incentives

Sofia Saucedo, social media specialist
December 6, 2024

After telling parents at a Campus Advisory Council and PTSA meetings on Monday that McCallum was pausing final exam incentives and not offering them this semester, principal Andy Baxa on Wednesday informed...

Senior captain Greta Carlson celebrates point with her team after scoring a kill against the LASA Raptors on Oct. 11.

Raptors down, Knights up

Sofia Saucedo, social media specialist
November 14, 2024

The score is 17-16. The Knights and the Raptors are tied at two sets a piece, and the Knights have just taken the lead. The Knights will win the set and the game if they win the next point. If the Ratpors...

A CELEBRATION OF HISPANIC HERITAGE: Ballet Folklórico dancers Valeria Alcauter Robles (red), Carley Castro-Seiler (turquoise), Abi Peacock (black), Shirel Behar (green) and Mailyn Gil (periwinkle) perform this past weekend at the AISD Performing Arts Center, competing in AISD’s Fiesta for Hispanic Heritage Month. 

Gil has been a part of the club since her freshman year. Upon joining the group she had no idea what it was, but was inclined to join due to influences of her grandfather.

 “I joined because my grandfather loved the traditional dances and that it showcased all regions,” Gil said. “I wanted to honor him in a way, as well as learn more about my culture.”

Competing in a small group ensemble during the Fiesta, Gil felt that the members as well as herself were very composed and performed their routine smoothly. 

“We were very comfortable in our pieces, enough to just get on stage and do what we did, and have fun,” Gil said. “The only difference between this performance and the past was that we had judges this time, so it was a little nerve wrecking since it was a competition.” 

Groups from different schools competed in a variety of categories, some being soloists, music groups, and bands. The groups each performed their pieces, and then the judges took 15 minutes at the end to go over scoring before they announced the winners.

Gil said that even though the club did not win, they felt proud of their performance. 

“We were very positive and respectful, and even though we didn’t win we felt proud of our accomplishments,” Gil said. “I was proud of our newcomers because they learned everything so quickly and got the hang of it.” 

Caption by Priya Thoppil.

From the 15th to the 15th, nothing but food, festivities, fun, family, fellowship

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, McCallum celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month, a month dedicated to honoring Latino and Spanish-speaking cultures. It commenced with a salsa tasting contest run by the...

Author Lisa Lerer speaks on the new voters thoughts on Roe.

Author Lisa Lerer speaks on the new voters thoughts on Roe.

FRIENDS, FUN AND TUCK: For junior Zane Shieh (second from the left), being a part of Tuck Everlasting has not only brought him closer to his castmates and crew, but has also brought up some mixed emotions seeing that this was the last performance together for many senior classmates. 

“I did have to do Tuck because of my major, but I also knew lots of friends that were auditioning and I wanted to work with the seniors that will not be here for long,” Shieh said. 

Because it's the last performance for a lot of seniors, Shieh says it is a bittersweet feeling when experiencing someone's last show at McCallum. 

“I feel very sad because all the seniors are so cool, and kind and funny and I think I'm gonna miss them,” Shieh said.

Caption by Sofia Saucedo.

‘You don’t need to live forever; you need to just live’

For the past two weekends (Sept. 19-22 and 26-29), performance theatre, tech theatre, dance and orchestra majors have collaborated on Tuck Everlasting, the Heller Award-eligible fall musical. The cast...

THE ROBINHOOD ISSUE: Texas state Rep. Ken King, a Republican, addresses his audience on Sept. 6 at the Texas Tribune Festival about funding public education in Texas. King stated that to have Texas citizens pay less taxes to support public education, the state needs to reach 51% funding.

“When I served on the committee that instated House Bill 3, it seemed to me that we were at 36 percent state funding,” King said. “After we instated House Bill 3, we were at 46 percent. The goal was to get to 51 percent by the 21st session, but we went backward. The state needs to put a huge amount of money into that system in order to meet that constitutional obligation.” 

Another issue King spoke to was the Robin Hood Plan, also known as recapture. The plan was enacted around 1993 as a way to provide equity in school financing. After the plan was enforced, many citizens were upset because the state took a huge percentage of their property taxes and redirected them to less property tax rich districts. King agrees that it should be overturned.

“It’s been said that we need to get rid of Robin Hood, and as a representative who has watched my community pay so much in Robin Hood, I agree,” King said. “Problem is, the Supreme Court has ruled Robin Hood to be a part of equity three different times, and I think it’s gonna stay.”

Caption by Sofia Saucedo.

Debates over education persist as legislators, districts consider budgets, vouchers

At the Capitol on Sept. 12, the Austin Council of PTAs sponsored a panel of speakers including KUT education reporter Becky Fogel, Josh Sanderson (executive director of the equity center), James Talarico...

A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER: Early in the fourth quarter, Senior Quarterback Luke Dunham drops in the pocket, going through his progressions to complete a pass downfield. Dunham said the varsity boys gave it everything they had, especially the seniors for their final Taco Shack Bowl.

“We played decently, we executed well enough but we have things to improve on throughout the season,” Dunham said. “[Senior] Mark Sanchez was our leader, making plays on both sides of the ball and you could see that he wanted it, which made other guys follow.”

The Knights found themselves trailing the entirety of the game, but every time Anderson struck, Dunham and the Knights had an answer. After senior Devon Robinson took a kickoff return to the house, Dunham said the bench was electric.

“All of the seniors, AJ Woolf, Mark, Devon Robinson, Jaiden Booe, myself, Joaquin Reynolds, Isaiah Panaigua, you could see it all around that the seniors were bringing the energy,” Dunham said.

When Dunham wasn’t getting it done in the air, he was getting it done with his feet, including a 62-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. 

“My blockers opened up the field, so I hit the open alley and took it home,” Dunham said. 

Dunham finished the game with over 300 passing yards and 450+ all-purpose yards.

The Knights found themselves trailing 43-20 at half but took halftime to regroup. The team came out and responded to being down 23 points by scoring on back-to-back drives to open the third quarter. 

“The mindset was that this game wasn’t out of reach,” Dunham said. “We had worked all offseason and we just decided to take some shots. The plan was to go down the field, score, get the ball back, score again and we went out and did it.”

Throughout the game, Dunham found himself scrambling when no receivers were open, but he gives all credit to the boys on the offensive line.

“The whole offensive line has been hearing it from a lot of people that they’re lacking, but they went out and proved themselves and were keeping protection nice for me. It allowed us to make a lot of plays on offense,” Dunham said.

Caption by Fletcher Vandegrift.

[Photo] Old rivalry creates crowd fun at 2024 Taco Shack

A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER: Early in the fourth quarter, Senior Quarterback Luke Dunham drops in the pocket, going through his progressions to complete a pass downfield. Dunham said the varsity boys gave it...

EDUCATING FRESHMEN: Principal Andy Baxa gives a speech at freshman orientation in the MAC this morning to welcome the class of ‘28. Baxa came up with the idea for a Freshman Orientation last year after discovering that some freshmen didn’t understand the nuances of McCallum’s  culture. ”Freshman Orientation accomplished what I wanted to accomplish: introduce the kids to McCallum’s culture and ease them into the transition to high school. We wanted to show them that this is a safe place and that this is a place that celebrates your individuality,” Baxa said. 
Caption by Beatrix Lozach.

Mac abuzz with first-day festivities

Today marked the first day of school for all McCallum students, veteran seniors and incoming freshmen alike; however, starting this year, principal Andy Baxa created a freshman orientation meeting to help...

Cypher Rosonnette smiles as they joins their classmates during the processional at  the Class of 2024 commencement ceremony at the Burger Center on May 30.

All’s weld than ends weld

Sofia Saucedo, staff reporter
August 8, 2024

Cypher Ronsonnette has recently discovered their love for arts, specifically the beauty of welding. This all sparked when Ronsonette was skating in the park and came across unexpected inspirations. “I...

The rough design of the new fields, including many new facilities such as new sidewalks, concessions, shot put and lights.

From dirt to dime

Sofia Saucedo, staff reporter
March 6, 2024

Next school year,McCallum is set to welcome its very own turf field. Coaches and players believe that change will bring athletic programs new opportunities to grow and improve on and off the field.  Athletic...

RAPTORS 34, JV KNIGHTS 28: The JV boys basketball team lost a close game to the LASA Raptors on Tuesday night at DCG.

Sophomore Coda Becker says the team wasn’t in the right headspace and underestimated their opponents

“I feel like we were not as focused as we needed to be before the game started,” Becker said. “We were just too overconfident.”

He added that the team knows what it needs to change in order to enjoy better results.

“We really need to be more serious about the game, especially during warmups, when it really counts.”

The JV Knights will strive to maintain focus throughout the game when they travel to Eastside Friday night. Opening tip is at 6:30 p.m.

Caption by Sofia Saucedo.

Win, lose or draw (actually all three)

RAPTORS 34, JV KNIGHTS 28: The JV boys basketball team lost a close game to the LASA Raptors on Tuesday night at DCG. Sophomore Coda Becker says the team wasn’t in the right headspace and underestimated...

With the Holidays, more and more people find themselves stuck figuring out last minute cancellations or delays.

Flying onto the cancellation list

Sofia Saucedo, staff reporter
January 13, 2024

Every year, roughly 22 million people travel in and out of the Austin Bergstrom airport each holiday season, praying their flight will not stray off the tarmac, and into the long list of canceled flights.  This...

Alumnus takes Manhattan

Alumnus takes Manhattan

Maggie Mass and Sofia Saucedo
December 8, 2023

Evita, one of the many shows put on by McCallum, was performed 10 years ago, and captured the audience’s attention when it went all the way to Central America, as the McCallum theater program took...

Pumpkin spice is the perfect fall flavor, and we see that heavily in Starbucks's fall drink menu.

Falling for fall

Sofia Saucedo, staff reporter
November 1, 2023

For local Texans, the second we feel a slight breeze in the air, everyone knows it’s the spooky season.  But for Starbucks, the holiday season began on Aug. 24 when they released their new and improved...

Playing for for Arsenal Ladies of the Women's Super League in 2015, Chloe Kelly defends against Kara-May Howes of London Bees. At the Women's World Cup, Kelly gained notoriety for striking a penalty kick so hard, that the shot speed exceed any goal speed in the men's English Premiere League the previous season. Photo accessed on the joshjdss Flickr account. Reposted here with permission under a creative commons license.

Chloe Kelly shoots for equality

Sofia Saucedo, staff reporter
October 16, 2023

This summer, women's soccer players worldwide took part in the FIFA Women's World Cup, held in New Zealand and Australia. Spain took home the gold, while the runner-up, England, enjoyed a record-breaking...

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