Josie Linton, staff reporter
Sophomore Josie Linton is a first-year staffer for The Shield. In digital media last year she enjoyed covering events and decided to join the newspaper staff in order to develop her photography skills. She is also a member of the volleyball team and student council at McCallum. This year she is looking forward to learning more about writing and being a part of the newspaper program.
![APPRECIATING TRADITION: For senior Kai Talebi’s last teacher appreciation volleyball game on Friday night, she stuck with tradition, and chose to ask English teacher Amy Smith to walk the court with her before the game.
“I took her last year too, so it’s kind of like tradition,” Talebi said. “Now I was like, ‘Of course I have to take her.’”
Talebi is happy to have had Smith twice in the past four years, first for her sophomore year and again this year. Noting that Smith was an integral part of her high school experience, Talebi said the English teacher had a very positive impact on her.
“Senior year, it’s been really fun to have her as a teacher again because I already know her super well, and we have a good relationship,” Talebi said.
Having a teacher twice is not very common, but for Talebi, it was a blessing in disguise.
“Sophomore year she definitely helped me get out of my shell a lot, and encouraged me a lot throughout the year,” Talebi said.
The pair have been close ever since the first class Talebi had with Smith, Advanced English 2. Talebi is also a tutor in the Writing Center, so they see each other very often.
“She [Smith] is the sweetest,” Talebi said. “And we have definitely grown closer because of me being her student multiple times.”
Caption by Priya Thoppil](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/54014867104_a0b4958cb6_o-1200x733.jpg)
![A NEW UNIFORM: Members of the Blue Brigade throw their legs in the air while performing during halftime at the annual Battle of the Bell. Senior team member Olivia Hexsel, the second dancer in the row on the right, said that while the game was memorable for its close score and the nerves she felt for her team, it was also fun to perform out of her typical game-day uniform. Since the game was the last one before Halloween, members of both cheer and Blue Brigade dressed up in costumes. Hexsel, a social officer, and the rest of her squad dressed up as football players. “[My squad leader] and I thought about doing football players because one: we wouldn’t have to spend money on a costume, two: it was comfortable, and three: we just liked the idea of being a football player for the night,” Hexsel said. Hexsel felt that performing out of her uniform was beneficial to not only her dancing but also the general atmosphere of the game. “[Wearing a costume] wasn’t as hot and felt more comfortable to dance on the field,” Hexsel said. “I loved having to take pictures before the game in our costumes. It was my favorite part.” While taking pictures in her costume may take the cake as Hexsel’s favorite part of the game, she also noted getting to ring the traditional bell to celebrate the Knights’ victory as a highlight. “For a moment there, I thought we would lose, but I’m glad the football team came out with a win,” Hexsel said. Caption by Lanie Sepehri.](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/53304284004_4459e4919e_o-edited.jpg)