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
Harper Maxwell

Harper Maxwell, staff reporter

Junior Harper Maxwell is a second year staff member and is excited to continue to contribute to The Shield. Since she’s going into her third year as a dance major, her favorite stories to write are A&E. She enjoys highlighting the fine arts academy and giving the people in the department a voice. Outside of school, Maxwell loves dancing, listening to Clairo, swimming and scrapbooking, and is excited to grow as a photographer and journalist this year.

All content by Harper Maxwell
WORKING TOGETHER: McCallum Dance Company performs the student-choreographed “Dancing with Death” during last Tuesday’s dress rehearsal before the spring dance show. Sophomore Pia Sosa performed in five different numbers during the show and thought that everything went well even despite a few challenges. “I was getting a little worried closer to the end because there were still a lot of changes happening and people getting shuffled around into places,” Sosa said. “But by the tech week and by the shows, it really felt like we all worked together and came together.” Sosa’s favorite part was performing “Come Play,” which was choreographed by junior Maya Tien. Sosa loved being able to work with Tien because of her level of preparation and being able to perform hip hop, since the dance company does not perform that style as much. “It’s the first number I do in the show, and I always just felt like it gave me so much energy,” Sosa said. “It felt really good because we rarely do hip hop, so it just felt like such a great opportunity to do something that I don’t get to do all the time.” Sosa explained that there were some challenges due to sudden changes in several pieces, however Sosa said she was proud of how the company responded as a whole. “Everybody put their best foot forward and pushed through any challenges that they were having,” Sosa said. “I’m really proud of how the company handled it all.” Overall, Sosa said she is grateful for all the work put in by the dance directors and the student choreographers for producing the show. “We couldn’t have put the show together without [them],” Sosa said. “Mac dance is amazing and I can’t wait to choreograph next year.” Caption by Riley Pita. Photo by Harper Maxwell.

Stage blooms for spring show

Harper Maxwell, Sienna Martens, Elizabeth Nation, Piper Norfolk, Adele Seeboth, Chloe Seckar-Martinez, Camilla Vandegrift, Carson Duncan, Priya Thoppil, and Callen Romell
April 29, 2025
Adventurefuls maybe be simple and a little harder than they should be, but they are still delicious, earning the second-highest rating in this review. Photo accessed on the slgckgc Flickr account. Republished here with permission under a creative Commons license.

Putting Girl Scout cookies to the taste test

Harper Maxwell, staff reporter
April 18, 2025
TODAY AND EV’RY DAY: The cast and crew held its first performance of Freaky Friday in the MAC on Feb. 20. The musical stars Ellie and Katherine Blake, a mother-daughter duo who swap bodies in this story of self-determination and acceptance. Although the musical is a comedy, it offers a deeper message for audiences according to sophomore Elora Clarke. “I think Freaky Friday is about accepting yourself and everyone around you for who they are, flaws and all, Clarke said. “More than anything it’s about love and positivity and how you should put kindness and acceptance into the world.” Clarke (far right) plays the role of Lois, a sassy wedding photographer helping Katherine with her upcoming wedding. “I’m the photographer that works for weddings magazine to photograph Katherine’s wedding,” Clarke said. “I think my favorite moment in the show is the song ‘What You Got’ with me, Danielle, Torrey and Katherine.” Clarke said that opening night went well despite a few technical errors. “There were a few mistakes and technical errors, but overall I think the energy was good, the audience was good, and everyone gave a great performance.” Caption by Katie Martin.

A Throwback Thursday to ‘Freaky Friday’

Sunday Cardinal, Avital Cuevas, Etta Fannin, Tegan Hahn, Anais Long, Sienna Martens, Katie Martin, Harper Maxwell, Piper Norfolk, Eva Sanchez, and Adele Seeboth
April 17, 2025
SOMEONE IN THE CROWD: The McCallum Blue Brigade performs their opening dance to the song ‘Someone in the Crowd’ choreographed by Junior Lieutenant Paige Mitchell and First Lieutenant Gaby Alvarado. Senior Greta Waymay hits her final end pose completing her last opening dance as a member of the Blue Brigade. Wayman has been watching the Blue Brigade perform their opening dance since her sister performed as a member. Wayman was a 4 year member on the team and said this opening dance was her favorite. “I loved this year's opener because I loved the song,” Wayman said. “I also loved how energetic the dance was.” For Wayman, however, performing this opener was a bittersweet moment as her last performance on Blue Brigade. “It didn’t really hit me during the opener that it was my last spring show,” Wayman said. “Although it did hit later in the show.” Wayman said her favorite part about performing with Blue Brigade over the years has always been being able to do it with some of her best friends. “I love being able to perform with all my friends,” Wayman said. “Growing with a tight knit community that Blue Brigade creates is my favorite part.” Aside from performing the dances, Wayman said the show was an important moment to watch her fellow seniors say their goodbyes. “I loved getting to see all of the senior solos and cheer on my friends from backstage,” Wayman said. Caption by Chloe Seckar-Martinez. Photo by Daniela Di-Capua.

Embracing their final dance

Carson Duncan, August Gleason, JoJo Barnard, Harper Maxwell, Sienna Martens, Josie Linton, Chloe Seckar-Martinez, V Overstreet, Priya Thoppil, Zev Zent, and Camilla Vandegrift
April 15, 2025
Opal Rodgers performs her self-choreographed solo at the adjudicated works show.

Dance program expands in more ways than one

Harper Maxwell, staff reporter
March 17, 2025
Junior Paige Mitchell leaps during group performance for Blue Brigade's annual show-off held last Wednesday commencing the contest season.

Twirl, leap and spin into contest season

Daniela Di-Capua, Evelyn Jenkins, Josie Linton, Sienna Martens, Harper Maxwell, Katie Martin, Piper Norfolk, Elizabeth Nation, and Mira Patel
February 4, 2025
Antoinette Matthews demonstrates an experiment involving two liquids forming a precipitate to her first-period students.

Creating new formulas

Harper Maxwell, staff reporter
January 26, 2025
Members of the gardening club paint plant pots during a meeting on Nov. 14. Photo by Harper Maxwell.

[Photo] Photos of the week

November 11, 2014
PRACTICE MAKES POINTS: After scoring her 1000th point during the Knights’ game vs. Georgetown the Monday of Thanksgiving break, Senior Emy Chen celebrates with other members of the basketball program. Although a top scorer on the varsity girls’ team, Chen said the news came as a surprise. “I knew coming into the season that I would get to 1,000 points, but I didn’t realize that it happened until after Coach Kehn called timeout during the game,” Chen said. For Chen, the milestone was a reflection point to measure her appreciation for the game and her progress within it. “What 1,000 points represents for me as a player is all the hours of work spent in the offseason practicing,” Chen said. “It’s really been a lifelong love of competing and playing basketball.” Caption by Noah Braun. Photo by Harper Maxwell.

[Photo] 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 4, 2024
Senior Satya Russ escorts math teacher Chastity Colbert—her Teacher Appreciation Knight nominee—toward the fans prior to the Knight's straight-set victory over Crockett.  During the two years that Colbert taught Russ math, she said that she and Russ developed a strong relationship. For the Teacher Appreciation Knight teacher introductions, Russ wrote a statement about why she appreciates Colbert. “The paper was very positive," Colbert said, "and talked about how I helped her achieve her goals in math.” Caption by Hudson Hensley.

[Photo] Teacher feels the love thrice on Friday

Noah Braun, August Gleason, Hudson Hensley, Carlo Hinsdale, Evelyn Jenkins, Maggie Mass, Piper Norfolk, V Overstreet, Arwen Pelletier, Priya Thoppil, and Zev Zent
September 24, 2024
ONE LAST BATTLE CRY: Seniors Joe Colaleo and Theo Northcutt dressed as Mario and Waluigi cheer hard as they win their last senior battle cry. “I was very excited and happy because we had just won,” Colaleo said. “Now that I look back on it, it feels a little sad knowing I can’t go to another one.” Colaleo said although the moment was bittersweet, it’s also nice to know other things in life are coming up. Colaleo and his two friends said they dressed as Mario characters because it was a simple and fun costume idea. “I decided on the costume because it’s so iconic and recognizable,” Colaleo said. Caption by Josie Linton.

Students, faculty convene campus costume party

Julia Copas, Josie Linton, Sienna Martens, Katie Martin, Harper Maxwell, Elizabeth Nation, Mira Patel, Eva Sanchez, and Wren Vanderford
November 6, 2024
Students fill hallways after the lunch bell rings. The hallways become crowded immediately once passing period begins.

Population rise impacts Mac

Harper Maxwell, staff reporter
October 23, 2024
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’

Sofia Saucedo, Mira Patel, Camilla Vandegrift, Katie Martin, Tallulah McAuliffe, Sienna Martens, Aubrey Macedo, Priya Thoppil, Chloe Lewcock, and Harper Maxwell
October 1, 2024

[Video] The chance of a lifetime

Harper Binfield Maxwell, Mac photojournalism
July 9, 2024
DANCING THROUGH THE CHANGE: Senior Clara Hopkins, senior dance major, performs her final solo on Mac Youth Dance Company during their spring show, “Perennial.” Hopkins moved from Spain in 2021, her sophomore year, and joined McCallum as a dance major; she finally felt connected to her new surroundings. “When I moved from Spain, it felt like dancing and moving was the only thing that was still familiar when everything else was so foreign.” Hopkins said. She found friendship with this year’s junior class and will miss them the most when she leaves for college soon. She has learned a lot from Mac Dance and plans to take it all with her into the next chapter of her life. “A commitment is more than just committing to the field you already know,” Hopkins said, “A commitment is not only perfecting your interests but exploring the parts you don’t enjoy.”

[Photo] Mac Youth Dance Company proves ‘Perennial’ impact on students in annual spring show

JoJo Barnard, Campbell Epperly, Sophie Leung-Lieu, Chloe Lewcock, Harper Binfield Maxwell, Chloe Seckar-Martinez, Ingrid Smith, Maya Tackett, Camilla Vandegrift, Nate Williams, and Dave Winter
May 14, 2024
PERFORMING WITH PASSION: Peyton Robenhorst, freshman Blue Brigade dancer, competes her solo at Dripping Springs High School with her team in the audience cheering her on. Before she joined the drill team, she hadn’t had any previous experience competing at dance contests, but after performing, she felt proud of what she and her team had accomplished. “After my first contest season, I feel like we’ve grown as a group and now understand each other and the competition environment better,” Robenhorst said. She loved that the team got to experience winning together and is excited to do it again next season as a sophomore with more experience. For next year, Robenhorst hopes she will have even more opportunities like this past weekend to venture out and make new connections in the dance world. “At our next contest I would love to talk to more people and make friends with someone I might not be friends with now,” she said. After the long contest season, Robenhorst will now be anticipating the preparation and performance of Blue Brigade’s spring show. Caption by Harper Maxwell.

[Photo] Blue Brigade dances to victory

JoJo Barnard, Carson Duncan, Harper Binfield Maxwell, Chloe Lewcock, Priya Thoppil, and Francie Wilhelm
February 28, 2024
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