The Shield (McCallum High School), Volume 71, Issue 4 (March 28, 2024)

the

shield McCallum High School / 5600 Sunshine Drive / Austin, TX 78756 March 28, 2024 / Volume 71 / Issue 4

The new McCallum

Students face policy changes now, facilities change in the future New policy sends students to lunch detention if they are late three times in one week page 3 Campus modernization set to start but also to occur in bond cycles over 15 years page 14 EDITORIAL: Rapid rate of school policy changes erodes student trust, campus norms page 27

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issue 4 volume 71

march 28, 2024 March 29 April 6 April 8 April 10 April 13

save the date

april

District resolves evaluations gap, addresses staffing issue

Writing the wreckage Alumnus achieves her dream by publishing debut novel at the age of 19

McCallum renovation takes shape The Campus Architecture Team will soon finalize plans for the “new McCallum,” to be built over 15 years

‘There’s no place like Mac’ for Bujacz Longtime Knight Amy Bujacz returns to science department for the fourth time since 2008

A turf-rific transformation Thanks to AISD bond package, McCallum set to break ground on new turf field in 2024

Detention won’t detain New tardy policy unrealistic; will only cause stress to students without addressing problem

macshieldonline.com

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table of

a&e center people sports opinion

Special ed plan on track

contents

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Bad weather makeup day, no school Saturday School Solar eclipse Staff development day, no school for students Saturday School

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Cover art by Sophie Leung-Lieu.

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MAC FASHION SHOW BRINGS ‘DREAMLAND’ TO REALITY: Freshman Shayla Allen graces the runway in a dream-inspired design by her sister, senior Tuana Allen. Visit our website to access a full fashion show gallery and write-up. Photo by Chloe Lewcock.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OVERTURNED: Following the Supreme Court’s decision to remove affirmative action, seniors have faced roadblocks in the college admissions process, despite some universities like UT maintaining their commitment to diversity. Photo by Gergõ Major.

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march 28, 2024

Three strikes and you’re out Administration implements new lunch-detention policy to combat tardiness

Morgan Eye news editor

clearer than they did a couple weeks ago.”

Assistant principal Teri Kirby said that there were 107 fewer tardies during the week of March 1 compared to the week of Feb. 23.

Students with more than two tardies in Baxa says this is not the first time this one week face lunch detention as a result policy has been in force. The administration of a new tardy policy implemented on last implemented the policy during the 2021Feb. 12. The administration enacted the 22 school year. According to Baxa, the policy policy to encourage punctuality to classes was discontinued to decrease the workload after noticing an increase in tardies this on the administration after the admin team school year. was reduced from five to four administrators.

The policy states that administration will “We saw be “monitoring improvements in attendance very tardies [in 2021-22] closely” in order to and work increase ensure punctuality. for AP’s so their Students have I mean, just look at the attention shifted the six-minute else,” passing period to halls. They look clearer than somewhere Baxa said. “After get to class, and they did a couple weeks ago. ‘21-22 we went from may get up to two a five-man team to tardies per week team “without penalty.”

—principal Andy Baxa aoffour-man AP’s and so that If students receives shifted a lot of the a third tardy, responsibilities their name will around the team and appear on their increased the workload for every AP in the “administrator’s discipline list.” team, so we had to take something off their If a student continues to appear on the plate at that time.” discipline list, the consequences increase Though deemed effective by administrators, after the first appearance on the list. A many students have criticized the policy. third appearance on the list results in “I think [the tardy policy] is ill-advised to one week of lunch detention and a parent say the least because I notification. A fourth appearance brings know that people with it one full day of in-school suspension will start skipping and a parent meeting. classes they “The halls after the bell rang were insane are tardy two to five minutes afterwards,” Principal to [in Andy Baxa said. “Now it’s a little bit bad a minute after bell, but two minutes after, most kids are in class.”

According to a weekend update email from Baxa on Feb. 18, a week after the policy’s implementation, less than 5% of the student body had more than two tardies, “reflecting a positive shift in punctuality,” and 64% did not receive any tardies.

“I mean just look at the halls,” Baxa said.

“They look

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“They cannot get that by not going to order] to avoid a week of lunch detention,” class. You need to be in class in order to senior Carys Blaney said. “If I am late for get whatever we have to offer as far as class, and I know I’m going to get a tardy, I education goes.” myself am going to skip because they aren’t Baxa says that the first attempt to address going to do anything about that absence, chronic tardiness but they will put me was from the in lunch detention ground up, otherwise.” but that the Blaney received a I think [the tardy policy] administration lunch detention on is ill-advised ... because I has since Feb. 23. resorted to a top“I honestly have no know that people will start down approach idea what I was tardy due to lack of to,” Blaney said. “It has skipping classes they are improvement. thrown me off because tardy to [in order] to avoid “[The initial for me it’s like they idea was] suddenly care about a week of lunch detention. supporting something that has always been relaxed —senior Carys Blaney individual teacher’s and not too big a deal. classroom I’m getting punished policies in for something I didn’t relation to even know I was doing tardies,” Baxa poorly on.” said. “It just wasn’t working. We needed Lunch detention takes place in Room 138, something more top-down rather than Deborah Gardner’s classroom. The policy bottom-up.” has led to more students arriving to her Though students have criticized the classroom during lunch. Gardner believes the policy as strict, Baxa added that assistant policy will become effective. principals are willing to work with students “I agree with the tardy policy because I who have extenuating circumstances that feel that the administration is trying to do lead to tardies. something to instill in the students’ heads “There are always going to be mitigating that they are here for factors to consider,” Baxa said. “That’s why learning: something [on the first day of policy implementation] that will benefit we had about 91 people on the list and them,” only 50 or so show up to ISS. We do take Gardner mitigating factors into consideration, but said. the students have to be able to show us proof because we are going to follow up on that.”

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Being on the two-or-more tardy list once or twice results in lunch detention.

The third appearance invokes a week of lunch detention and the fourth, ISS. Graphic

by Sophie LeungLieu.

KEEPING TRACK OF TARDIES

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Special ed plan on track District resolves evaluations gap, addresses staffing issue

Josie Mullan staff reporter Last spring, AISD and the special education department came under supervisions of the Texas Education Agency for over a thousand backlogged evaluations due to short staffing issues in the department. AISD successfully advocated for an alternate plan that installed monitors, instead of conservators from the TEA with the condition of providing monthly reports about the district’s progress and milestones laid out by the TEA Corrective Action Plan.

AISD said in a Feb. 13 recent press release that the district had cleared the entire backlog of evaluations, but Superintendent Matias Segura said in February 2023, only 23 of the 70 positions needed for evaluations were filled. Segura told the Shield in an interview on Jan. 23 that AISD is still working to fill positions.

“We haven’t been able to fill all those positions,” Segura said. “So now as we work with the board for the spring semester, the question becomes what other thing are we going to do to get to where we are fully staffed and able to support all of our students.”

Special education science teacher Margaret Smith explained the importance of current evaluations for students.

“What evaluations do is tell us what students need,” Smith said “They tell us what’s going on with their learning differences or their emotions. … If teachers don’t have that current information, then we don’t know enough about our kids.”

Special education teacher Richard Salazar explained the effects of COVID-19 on the special education department.

“I still think we’re feeling the effects and still trying to bounce back,” Salazar said.

Assistant principal Tami Ballard described the plan of action for tackling the backlog of evaluations. One component of the plan is to use external sources for recruiting evaluators, who are reported to be working almost six days a week as well as through the summer.

“I think we’ve hired some wonderful people, and we’re pretty well staffed and [they’re] working as hard as they can,” Ballard said. “We all have areas of growth that we can grow in and really just keep up with best practices.”

Ballard further explained the details of the new monitorship, directly affecting McCallum staff who are taking extra courses to accommodate special education students.

“They are taking classes outside the school day, learning about how they can support special education,” Ballard said. “What I love about it is it’s really best practices for all kids.”

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In January 2023, nearly

In December 2023, nearly

of evaluations were completed within the required 45 school days

of evaluations were completed within the required 45 school days

Data from an AISD press release on Feb. 13, 2024.

Smith also stressed the large benefit for general education teachers and staff across the district and McCallum specifically.

“I do feel like they have come in and provided resources and support for general education teachers that have really helped them understand what we are doing in the special education department,” Smith said.

Salazar expressed frustration, however, with the TEA monitoring.

“I feel like a lot of us are feeling extremely frustrated,” Salazar said. “We’re second-guessing ourselves. We’re under a microscope. We’re having to pay for what was a downtown issue, not necessarily a school-level issue.”

In early June of last year, the TEA officially took over Houston Independent School District and appointed a new superintendent and board due to low graduation rates and test scores. Many parents and staff were

anxious that TEA supervision of the special education department was the first step in a full state takeover of the Austin school district.

In light of the district’s failed inspection, Smith explained that the McCallum staff has remained determined to meet the needs of special education students and all students during and after the pandemic.

“One of the reasons I love working at McCallum and I’ve stayed here for 16 years is because in my experience, when a student needs help, we give it to them,” Smith said.

“We don’t wait for a kid to fall through the cracks before we get them some help here.”

Ballard expressed the same sentiment.

“I think our staff here at McCallum does a great job of serving all students, and our special education teachers do a fabulous job of balancing everything that they do,” Ballard said.

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Book rating law blocked

Vendors sue Texas over undue burden, infringement on First Amendment rights Alice Scott co-editor-in-chief A law enforced by the Texas Education Agency that required bookstores to rate all books sold to schools for sexual explicitness was blocked by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Jan. 17.

This decision, handed down by one of the most conservative courts in the nation, affirmed the lower court’s ruling that sided with bookstores, including Austin’s Book People, that sued the state, arguing that House Bill 900 infringed on their First Amendment rights.

According to Book People CEO Charley Rejsek, there were multiple issues with this law from the start.

“The problem is a bookseller’s business model does not include paying people to read books,” Rejsek said. “[Booksellers] don’t spend time while they are working reading because then we would not be able to stay open. And so in my mind, I considered this an unfunded mandate — requiring us to do this without giving us money to do it.”

Rejsek finds the law even more untenable because it also requires book vendors to go back and rate all books ever sold to schools in the past. Because Book People has been in business for over 53 years, Rejsek said she simply wouldn’t have access to those records. If the vendor cannot rate these previously sold books, the state would provide ratings to Rejsek to use when doing business with schools.

According to Rejsek, even if she did have the records and could therefore rate the books, under this law, the state could override Book People’s ratings.

“That’s the problem,” Rejsek said. “Because then even if I did rate books, they could override me. And that is where the violation of the First Amendment comes in. And that’s also where business overreach comes in.

There’s just so many things about this law that are not constitutional.”

Because of these issues, Book People decided to join other bookstores across the state in a lawsuit that began on July 25, 2023.

“It started with a lot of data collection, from the legal team about, how many school districts do we work with, what does the vendor paperwork to enable to work with a school district look like,” Rejsek said.

“So I just provided all of our vendor forms that we had submitted to be able to work with school districts to sell them books. I wrangled, as much data as I could. I was able to find data that we have had relationships with over a dozen if not two dozen local Central Texas school districts. So those are all of the relationships that would be affected by this [decision].”

The law, which was initially passed in that this law was written unconstitutionally, May of 2023, required that book vendors and so I’m just very happy that the Fifth label books as either sexually relevant Circuit was able to see through the law and (material portraying understand what we sexual activity in a were saying about how book that is part of it’s going to harm us as required curriculum) a business.”

There’s just so many or sexually explicit Despite the legal (material portraying victory, the legal things about this law that process isn’t over sexual activity that is “patently offensive” for Book People and are not constitutional. in a book that is the other bookstores not part of required serving as plaintiffs — Book People CEO curriculum). in this lawsuit. This Charley Rejsek Books rated ruling was only a “sexually explicit” preliminary injunction, would be banned from which means the book school libraries and vendors will still need books deemed “sexually relevant” could only to seek a permanent injunction. be checked out by students after receiving “This definitely isn’t the end,” Rejsek said, parent permission. “but the state does have some time to decide According to senior and Banned Books how to respond, and so we’re waiting to see Club founder Keegan Sarwate, this law could have had significant effects on students’ education.

“I think that by limiting what people can read, you’re preventing yourself from learning about people who have different experiences than you, or people who, have gone through things that you might not personally know about,” Sarwate said. “You’re limiting your knowledge to only very specific things, and it prevents you from accessing a lot more stories.”

Sarwate specifically thought of the readings in his AP Literature and Composition class that could have been limited by this law.

“We’ve been reading a lot of short stories in AP Lit that contain some implied sexual content,” Sarwate said, “but they’re important for us to learn about because they’re connected to what we’re learning, so we wouldn’t have been able to read those if this had gone through.”

Because of this consequence, Sarwate is pleased with the court’s decision to block this law.

“I definitely think it’s a good thing, because In the appellate court’s ruling, the judge declared that the definitions of sexually relevant/ sexually explicit ratings were vague and that enforcing the law would require bookstores to comply with a certain point of view, violating their right to free speech.

“I was ecstatic,” Rejsek said.

“I mean, this is the best case scenario. It definitely is extremely, extremely promising that both courts sided with us and agree Graphic by Sophie Leung-Lieu and Alice Scott.

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how the state is going to respond.”

HB 900 hasn’t been blocked in its entirety either: a provision that requires ratings from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and prohibits school libraries from procuring material deemed as sexually explicit is still in place.

Despite the law being blocked, the issue remains divisive with book bannings increasing across the nation. “[As] book vendors, we all 100% agree that sexually explicit books should not be in schools,” Rejsek said, “but what we don’t agree with is that we should be the persons to determine what’s actually explicit and what’s not. And so that is the problem here is that we are booksellers — there’s no prerequisite to work here, you don’t have to go to college, you don’t have to have any kind of training on understanding the full content of a book when you read it — which is how this law works.”

History of HB 900 Key dates in the book-rating law’s life cycle

Jan. 17, 2024 The 5th Circuit Court affirmed the lower court’s ruling and blocked HB 900.

Aug. 31, 2023 HB 900 was blocked by a federal Judge.

July 25, 2023 Several Texas bookstores filed a lawsuit in hopes of blocking HB 900.

June 13, 2023 HB 900 was signed into

by Gov. Greg Abbott. law

May 23, 2023 The Texas senate voted it passed in the House ab19-12 to pass HB 900 after out a month earlier

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March 28, 2024

Affirmative action ends

Supreme Court ruling impacts college application process for Class of ‘24 Priya Thoppil staff reporter

so I did it very early on. I had a lot of ideas. I knew exactly what I wanted to do.”

Sharma had to change his application plan The class of 2024, is the first class of after he learned of the affirmative action ban students to apply to colleges and universities over the summer. without federally protected affirmative “Whenever this happened, it was suddenly action in 57 years. As a result, students like a wake-up call for me like, ‘Whoa, some from historically underrepresented groups of these colleges are not even going to look at have been figuring out how to adjust to the my application unless they realize some of the absence of affirmative action as a criterion in shortcomings can’t just be explained by a box the college application process. anymore,’” he said. “The only way to have that Instituted by executive order in 1967, recognized now is if you write it in your essay, affirmative action refers to the active effort and there are a lot of very different nuances that by government, business and educational used to be encapsulated by a box that we now institutions to improve employment or have to write about [explicitly].” educational opportunities for members of Many students in the past relied on minority groups and for women in order affirmative action to have their race and to remedy to the effects of long-standing ethnicity taken into account and to improve discrimination against such groups. The their admissions chances at more prestigious Supreme Court colleges and effectively ended universities. affirmative action “Some people in June 2023, when just lost a lot of [The ruling] definitely it ruled in a 6-3 hope or security decision race-based that you know, makes the process a lot admissions criteria maybe they’d be at Harvard and considered for harder and just more the University of some of their restricting for a lot of people.

North Carolina to top schools, and be unconstitutional some people —senior Sivaan Sharma because the court have stopped believed these applying to the criteria violated the reaches,” Sharma Equal Protection said. “Like I had Clause of the 14th Amendment. a friend who wanted to apply to Harvard and Encouraged by a friend, senior Sivaan at this point, he just was like, ‘Nope, I can’t Sharma, who is an Indonesian-Fijan student, even do it.’” wrote an account of his encounter with A poll of 1,680 American adults by the affirmative action that was published on Associated Press-NORC Center for Public the CNN website. Entering the college Affairs Research found that 63% believe application process without affirmative that the Supreme Court should not prevent action, Sharma decided to write about race colleges and universities from considering in his essay so that it would be considered race during the application process. On as part of his application. For Sharma, the other hand, 62% believe that grades are opportunities were hard to come by growing extremely important during the admissions up, and without affirmative action, he had process, and 47% believe that standardized no other way to share how his identify testing is very important. played a role in those experiences. To write Challenges to affirmative affirmative action his essays about about his racial experience, aren’t new. In 1978, white grad student Allan Sharma had to forgo his original idea for his Bakke, applied to the medical school at the CommonApp essay.

University of California at Davis, and got “It’s created a dilemma between you know, rejected, despite his qualified application which essays do I use?” Sharma said. “Which and above-average stats. The university ones do I sacrifice? What I’m passionate allowed white applicants to apply for 84 about, what I can write about, or do I talk out of 100 spots, and the leftover 16 were about my race, something that I’m now reserved for minority students. Bakke sued forced to do?” the school, arguing that the racial quota was Like many students across the country, unconstitutional and violated the Civil Rights Sharma and his family are struggling keep up Act. In the case Regents of the University with the demanding prices of college tuition of California v. Bakke, the Supreme Court and therefore rely on strong applications to ordered the medical school to admit Bakke. get into colleges and to receive financial aid.

The issue of affirmative action was “We didn’t have a lot of money to send me controversial then as it is now; however, off to college,” Sharma said. “And so I wanted many people favor it because it provides to make sure that my application was ready, schools a way to diversify their student

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body. In a statement released shortly after its repeal, UT Austin stated that it would “make the necessary adjustments to comply with the most recent changes to the law and remain committed to offering an exceptional education to students from all backgrounds.”

Social studies and government teacher, Erin Summerville, said she believes overturning affirmative action came because of recent changes in the makeup of the Supreme Court.

“I believe there was an ideological shift on the court, and the new appointees,” she said.

“But the arguments made by the justices, they were asking reasonable questions about how long or how long into the future, should colleges [be] using race as a factor and also wondering if, by not using other metrics, they’re leaving out important criteria.”

Summerville, who is well versed on the government’s deliberations about affirmative action, said the issue has roots stetching back to the 1970s.

“Earlier in history, the thought with affirmative action was about promoting equality but also helping historically disadvantaged people get into college,” she said. “Starting in the ’90s, the way of thinking is a little bit different. It’s more about diversity on your campus. And so, in the most recent ruling, they had to unpack [a key question]: is the point of using race to help those who have been historically disadvantaged or is it to enhance diversity on campus?”

Many universities and colleges currently have promotional slogans and messages on their campuses about fostering diversity and community.

They focus on including diversity in these campaigns to show students that they are committed to admitting people of all backgrounds.

“So I think, you know, we have to first settle on what is the goal of using race?” Summerville said.

“And I think these days a lot of folks who want race to be used talk about it for promoting diversity.”

To read the full story, visit macshieldonline.com or scan the QR code.

Sharma has commited to the University of Texas at Austin and will major in economics.

Photo by Morgan Eye.

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news briefs Scott awarded Texas High School Journalist of the Year Senior Shield co-editor-in-chief Alice Scott learned that she has been named Texas High School Journalist of the Year on Feb. 29. Texas Association of Journalism Educators executive director Cindy Todd delivered the good news at a surprise party thrown in Scott’s honor in the library during her eighth-period newspaper class.

Scott received the award after submitting a portfolio outlining her seven years of journalistic experience.

The ILPC judging panel, made up of both former and current journalism educators, analyzed applicants’ portfolios based on a rubric established by the Texas Association of Journalism Educators executive Journalism Education Association that director Cindy Todd informs senior Shield co-editor focuses on 11 categories, including leadership, writing, reporting and visual in chief Alice Scott that she has been named the Texas Journalist of the Year.. Photo by Maggie Mass. communication skills. According to

Todd, the judges concluded that Alice had “excelled” in all 11 categories after evaluating her “impressive” portfolio.

Under the assumption that the Shield staff would be working on fundraiser posters in the library, Scott was surprised to find a celebration waiting for her.

Surrounded by her family, friends, teachers, administrators, AISD trustees, fellow Shield staff members and a KXAN news team, she was provided with an award plaque and flowers to commemorate her accomplishment.

Scott will represent Texas at the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention from April 4-6 in Kansas City, Mo. She will also be presented with a $1,500 scholarship at the ILPC Spring Convention April 21 at the University of Texas.

—Morgan Eye

New dance building opens The McCallum Youth Dance Company officially opened its brand new dance building on Feb. 27. The building consists of two studios downstairs, two locker rooms upstairs, an office for the co-directors and many other new amenities for the dance program. Co-director Natalie Uehara is extremely excited about the new building.

“The building was in the works long before I started working at the school,” Uehara said. “They advocated for it in a bond in 2015 which didn’t pass, but it finally passed in the 2017 bond.”

Dance boosters argued successfully that the new studio should be part of the 2017 bond because the black box theater was too small to accommodate the number of dancers in the program. Construction workers broke ground on the building in the summer of 2022.

“We will be able to easily replicate the size of stages we perform on,” Uehara said. “It’s more than a dance space; it’s a home.”

Co-director Terrance Carson is a McCallum dance major alum who is also excited for the new space.

“We’ve wanted higher quality dance facilities for a long time now,” Carson said. “Having the new dance space will definitely open up more creativity for all dancers in the space.”

Since Carson was a student at Mac, he has a unique perspectives on the dance building.

“I made so many memories as a student in the black box,” he said, “so I am very excited for students to make even more in the new space.”

calendar March 28

AISD Board voting meeting April 4

AISD Board of Trustees information session April 15

Senior class panoramic photo during FIT April 16

Trustee Awards Night April 20

Senior prom @Brazos

School administration implements bathroom policy to limit hallway traffic during classes

The McCallum administration recently enacted a new bathroom policy aimed at prevent students from spending too much time in the hallways and ABOVE: Members of the premissing classroom instruction. The policy was made professional dance company to reduce hallway traffic and to keep students from celebrate on opening day. using bathroom passes to skip class thus preventing Photo by Dave Winter. others from using the restroom.

RIGHT: Sophomore dance majors transport floor marley The new policy requires students to fill out to the new studio on Feb. 27. a Google form to sign out of class in order to Photo by Emerson Merritt. use the restroom. The form records a student’s email, teacher and class period, and is available Scan the to be scanned via QR codes that have been set up QR code throughout classrooms on campus. for more The policy also includes a rule that students leave coverage of their phones and Airpods in the classroom while they opening day. are out of class to use the restroom. The data collected in the form then populates a spreadsheet, which the administration will use to track “frequent flier” students who are using bathroom passes to miss class.

Assistant Principal Larry Featherstone explained Senior Miles Richardson received a surprise visit National Merit finalist award this year. the purpose of the new policy. from college counselor Camille Nix and principal “I had hoped I would get it,” he said. “But it’s kind “[The new policy] is to make sure that things are Andy Baxa during class on Feb. 13, in which the two of sad, I hope there’s more in the future.” fair and equitable,” Featherstone said. congratulated Richardson for his recognition as a Richardson was one of 15,000 National Merit He explained previous issues about hall passes.

National Merit Finalist.

Finalists students across the country recognized “A small percentage of students are meeting Richardson remarked on his initial shock to the for having nationally outstanding PSAT and SAT friends in the hallway,” Featherstone said. “The principal congratulating him. scores. According to the National Merit Scholarship “‘Wow, Mr. Baxa is embarrassing me in front of my Corporation website, finalists are eligible to compete bathroom policy is making sure that [students] actually have a purpose of being in the hallway.” whole class!’” Richardson said. “But it was nice, they for more than 7,100 National Merit Scholarships Featherstone said the new policy isn’t intended as brought me balloons and a cupcake, so it was fun.” worth nearly $28 million. NMSC will release a punishment for the general student population.

Richardson was the sole McCallum recipient of the corporate-sponsored scholarship winners in April, “We want them to be able to go,” Featherstone National Merit Scholarship winners in May and said. “We don’t want them to be able to take Richardson receives recognition amidst his anatomy college-sponsored scholarship winners in June.

—Camilla Vandegrift advantage [of the hall pass].” class on Feb. 13. Photo by Aubrey Macedo.

—Josie Mullan

Richardson named National Merit Finalist

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march 28, 2024

Writing the wreckage

Ingrid Smith co-editor-in-chief

Alumnus publishes debut novel at 19, achieves dream

On Jan. 27, Class of 2022 graduate Anya Nagle published her debut novel, a young adult fiction story following a teen musician named Stars as he becomes the frontman for one of America’s new favorite indie rock bands, Mothic Wreckage.

“He’s like a living ghost,” Nagle said. “He doesn’t talk to people or about himself, which makes him a frustrating narrator.”

Nagle began writing Mothic Wreckage the summer after graduation, but she said the bones of the story formed at McCallum.

Whether in a Writing Center shift, a theater rehearsal or the library, Nagle was writing.

“I definitely formed some of the ideas once I started going to all the concerts in my senior year,” Nagle said. “I was always friends with the music kids, and I was like, ‘I’ve never written about music before, so that would be kind of new to go into this niche and see if it works for me,’ and I think it stuck.”

For two years, Nagle focused on developing a world where Stars could shine. She brainstormed through playlists and Pinterest boards then sat down to write with her cat by her side. In a few months, she had a draft.

“When I get an idea, I’m struck with a feeling or an image, and I sort of ruminate on it for a little bit,” Nagle said. “I let it try and tell me what it means. Once I do that and I outline, then the writing starts.”

Nagle has written plays for Austin-based theaters, but Mothic Wreckage was her first book to publish.

“I’m a

Novel author and Mac alum Anya Nagle poses with friends at the Mothic Wreckage release party at Book People on Feb. 8. Photo courtesy of Nagle.

chronic project starter: I pick something up, and I ditch it halfway through, but that wasn’t happening for some reason,” Nagle said. “I was like, ‘There could be something here, and I feel like this is a very important story to tell.’”

Nagle said the writing process was simultaneously terrifying and enlightening.

“It was very scary to confront all these different parts of myself that I had not seen before,” Nagle said. “But it was also really freeing and gratifying. In writing this and learning about these characters, I learned more about me and the world I live in.”

English teacher Amy Smith said Nagle was always loyal to her creative writing, despite the confines of high school schedules.

“Anya is a very creative mind and loved to write, even when she was supposed to be doing an essay,” Smith said. “It doesn’t surprise me that she’s already written a novel because she was ready to start writing.”

According to Smith, getting published at 19 is almost unheard of, but Nagle beat the odds.

“To get published at any age is a feat in and of itself,” Smith said. “But Anya was 19 years old when she wrote this book and got it published. That’s a unicorn.”

Nagle queried agents all over the world, attracting representatives for people as prolific as Colleen Hoover, Mothic Wreckage but she ultimately decided on display at Book to publish independently, People. Photo by working with an editor at Bloomsbury Press in London.

Ingrid Smith.

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“My editor helped me realize a lot of things about the story,” Nagle said. “Originally, it was a very sad story. She was like, ‘Have you ever considered giving it a happy ending?’

The more I thought about it, the more I was like, ‘Yeah, I think I think my editor is right.

It needs a happy ending.’ And so I changed it.”

When Nagle finished her final draft, she burst into tears in the middle of a library.

“I was happy to be done, but it’s like a breakup,” Nagle said. “I was like, ‘It’s over.

There’s no more.’ That period of time, where all I felt was that rush of relief, was insane.”

When she saw Mothic Wreckage on the “New & Noteworthy” table at Book People, Nagle finally understood that her lifelong dream had been accomplished.

“The first time I went, I got so nauseous,” Nagle said. “I was like, ‘This is not real. This is like a dream.’ This is all I’ve wanted since I was little, so it’s really exciting. I go to Book People quite often just to stare at it.”

On Feb. 8, Nagle hosted a release party for her novel where she sold autographed copies and an assortment of merchandise.

“It was beautiful to watch my community consolidate into one group, so I could thank them at the same time,” Nagle said.

Class of 2023 graduate Layn Mayfield, a longtime friend of Nagle’s, was one of the first to read Mothic Wreckage.

Due to Nagle’s strong descriptive writing and thought-out characters, Mothic Wreckage exceeded Mayfield’s expectations. Nagle’s ability to write “casually queer” characters

stood out to them as they read.

“The way that she writes queer characters is the way that most people write straight characters where it’s just normal,” Mayfield said. “You don’t have to make a point of saying they’re straight. It’s just they are what they are.”

Mayfield said Nagle’s journey as a writer inspired them as a fellow teen.

“I heard she was getting published, and I was like ‘That’s amazing,’” Mayfield said. “I didn’t know that was something that a 19 year old could do. I’m realizing that I can be doing things like that.”

For Nagle, writing is all about giving a voice to young people.

“Other people my age are looking for some sort of escapism in their literature, and if I can provide that, that’s awesome,” Nagle said.

“I think the first step to that is writing things that young people will relate to.”

Nagle said she is working on a prequel, and a web series is being discussed. But in the meantime, she hopes readers can focus on the core message of Mothic Wreckage.

“If there’s one thing I want my readers to take away from Mothic Wreckage it’s that what we are able to build with other people is so crucial,” Nagle said. “We should really be paying more attention to telling people we love them and forming bonds—leaving love behind where we stood.”

To read the full version of this story, visit macshieldonline.com

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volume 71

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march 28, 2024

A childhood Band-Aid Australian kids’ show sparks interest from audience of all ages

Gaby Esquivel staff reporter Targeted towards 5 to 7 year olds, Bluey has been able to captivate my 17-year-old heart.

Bluey is an Australian animated TV show that follows the life of 6-year-old Bluey, an Australian blue heeler. It premiered on Oct. 1, 2018, but was released in the United States on Sept. 9, 2019 on the Disney Channel and Disney+.

Across the show’s episodes, Bluey learns about the issues that every kid faces, but the show also demonstrates the struggles that parents go through when raising their children. This dual appeal, along with lovable characters and bittersweet episodes, has led to the Bluey community expanding beyond just young kids.

I first saw Bluey on a YouTube thumbnail that showcased an iceberg about the show, and it piqued my interest in the character.

I got to know about the origins of the Bluey show, theories about why certain characters act the way they do, facts about the characters and much more. It made me want to give the show a try, so I watched the first episode called “The Magic Xylophone” on Disney+ and from there I fell in love with the show. From the adorable sister bond of Bluey and Bingo to Bandit’s dad’s attitude around his daughters, to the simple background music, the show brought me back to days when I was a sweet, innocent child. Bluey is the type of show that I wish I could have watched when I was growing up.

Despite being the main character, Bluey isn’t the only one who shines. Bluey’s 4-year-old sister, Bingo, is determined, curious about the world around her and absolutely adorable. Bingo also reminds me a lot of my youngest sister, Vanessa, because like her, Bingo loves to have a good time.

Their parents, Chili and Bandit, could not be more perfect cartoon parents. Bandit The author poses with her “Bluey” shirt and crocheted Muffin stuffed animal. Before she acquired always finds ways to make his family laugh the merch, Esquivel discovered the kids’ show on a YouTube thumbnail. Photo by Helen Martin. but makes sure he incorporates lessons for them to learn from. Chili is a very sweet and Heeler, Bluey and Bingo’s 3-year-old cousin. and she even goes as far as riding a flamingo understanding mother who likes to make Other than being extremely cute, any time and declaring herself the “flamingo queen.” sure her daughters that Muffin comes “Granny Mobile” is another favorite of mine have everything on screen you know because of Muffin’s Grouchy Granny attitude they need. that chaos is about to as she bosses others around, but of course Bluey is filled ensue. In the episode it’s all fun and games. The most memorable There is something so with adorable and “Sleepover,” Muffin is moment occurs when Muffin is able to gather different characters, the funniest character, enough money for a vacation trip at a garage satisfying about ‘Bluey’ so it can be hard and because of that sale, even going as far as selling a mobile to pick a favorite. it has become one of for $1,200 to another Grouchy Granny. Her episodes, and I think One of the best my favorite episodes. attitude in this episode is absolutely hilarious that’s because of the characters is Bluey In the episode, Bluey and funny to watch. because she is so and Bingo want There is something so satisfying about problems presented. silly, has an open to stay up late, but Bluey episodes, and I think that has to do mind when things Muffin is already with the problems that get presented. The go wrong and sleepy and moody. problems that Bluey, Bingo and their friends always steps up to Muffin is in a drowsy run into are problems that any kid can run be a leader for everyone. But the character state of mind causing her to say ridiculous into, like having playtime differences with who is absolutely amazing is Muffin Cupcake lines like “Coconuts have water in them,” your friends, wanting to stay up late or

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wanting your parents to play more often with you. One of the episodes that teaches kids about not giving up even if the challenge is tough is “Bike.” In this episode, Bluey decides to stop trying to learn how to ride her bike at the park.

After she quits, she and her dad, Bandit, observe her cousin Muffin struggling to put her backpack on and Bingo unable to reach the water fountain to take a drink. After multiple attempts, they both give up like Bluey, but they try alternate tactics, and in the end they succeed. This convinces Bluey to give her bike lessons another try.

Because Bluey has become one of my favorite shows, I wanted to hear other people’s opinions about the show here at school. Though a few people thought I was too old to watch something like Bluey, I am still happy to report that I found people in the Mac community who share my love for Bluey and the characters.

Science teacher Sarah Noack doesn’t just love Bluey because her kids do, but she also appreciates how realistic the show can be.

“There are a lot of shows that teach lessons, but that is all they are doing,” Noack said.

“I like Bluey because it is super real life and it looks the way that my house does and sounds [like my house too], and it teaches amazing lessons.”

She is also grateful that the show has made her realize that moments spent with her kids are important to create long-lasting memories.

“Time is fleeting, and I need to play with my kids just as much as I need to cook dinner and do the laundry and all those things,” Noack said. “It’s important that I [am] building memories, and the show reminds me of that a lot.”

Science teacher Kristen Cerame first heard of Bluey from Noack, and she and her daughter’s love for the show developed because of how humorous the show is.

“It’s a fun show, and there is a lot of humor and empathy,” Cerame said. “[My daughter]is an empathetic person, so she understands the interaction with the kids and loves the characters.”

When asked about her favorite character, Cerame said Bingo with no hesitation.

“I mean who doesn’t love Bingo,” Cerame said. “That is my daughter’s favorite too, and it’s hard to say because they are all awesome and fun. Muffin is definitely the diva of the group.”

I know that I will more than likely receive critcism for being a Bluey fanatic, but I do not mind one bit. Bluey is a hilarious and amazing show that I watch whether I want a good laugh or a reminder to dust myself off after a rough day. Even though we are high school students, we should feel no shame even if we aren’t the primary audience.

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fine arts briefs

MacTheatre thrives in UIL , readies for ‘Seussical’ musical With theater director Bonnie Brookby and musical theatre director Robert Carasco splitting up to direct the spring play and spring musical concurrently, there hasn’t been a slow day in the Fine Arts Building Theater, McCallum Arts Center or the newly open Dance Arts Building over the past month.

The spring play, She Stoops to Conquer, opened in the FABT on March 1 and ran through March 3. Earlier that week, however, the cast performed the show at the zone level of the UIL One Act Play Festival, where it took second place — along with several individual recognitions — allowing them to advance the Bi-district level. She Stoops to Conquer competed successfully again on March 19 and will be advancing to the area competition on April 1.

Meanwhile, the spring musical Seussical has been in full swing of rehearsals, meeting daily to Tegan Hahn and Will Bowman perform in the one act play, She Stoops perfect music, To Conquer during the third of three community performances on blocking and Sunday March 3 in the Fine Arts Building Theater. Photo by Katie Hyzak. choreography.

The show opens in less than a month and will run for two weekends from April 4-7 and April 11-14.

Beyond MacTheatre’s mainstage performances, students have also taken to organizing new program events.

On March 6, students came together to perform the first ever theatre cabaret, New Beginnings. The event was organized by junior Royal Court Player representative Eric Judge and showcased student work in the form of monologues, duet scenes and songs.

Outside of school, several student performers joined dance director Natalie Uehara on a trip to London to learn more about theatre. The trip included a visit to The Globe Theater, which is famous for putting on many of William Shakespeare’s classic plays, and the opportunity to see many professional West End productions.

On Monday , students in the musical theater class attended a masterclass with Marina Lazaretto, a member of the National Broadway Tour of Wicked that is currently in Austin, where students learned choreography to the show’s popular number “What is this Feeling?” known among cast members simply as “Loathing.”

—Alice Scott

calendar April 2

Pre-UIL String Orchestra concert in FABT @ 7 p.m.

April 11-12

UIL String Orchestra Concert @ the PAC April 26

Blue Brigade Spring Show in the MAC @ 7 p.m.

April 27

Blue Brigade Spring Show in the MAC @ 7 p.m.

Scan the QR Code or visit macshield online.com to view our Tuesday Top 10 photo gallery about MacTheatre’s multiple spring events.

Blue Brigade concludes contest season Throughout February, the Blue Brigade competed in three regional dance contests, performing dances they have been preparing since the conclusion of football season. On Feb. 3, Blue Brigade competed in MA Regionals at Hays High School, winning many officer, ensemble and team awards. Solos and duets competed at the American Dance contest on Feb. 17, and the Blue Brigade traveled to Dripping Springs High School to compete in the Crowd Pleasers Dance Competition on Feb. 24.

The Blue Brigade won many awards at Crowd Pleasers, the final competition of the season. The team won overall grand champion for the classic division, which came with a medal but also $300 to put towards future competitions through Crowd Pleasers Dance Competitions. Other awards included first runner-up high platinum for the officer contemporary number, first place high platinum in officer jazz and officer lyrical, as well as officer grand champion for the large classic division. The officers

also earned second runner-up grand champion, which pitted the group against all teams regardless of size. As a team, the Blue Brigade won first place for its contemporary and pom numbers and first runner-up for its jazz and hip hop performances. In the team pom category, the dancers were also honored with the High Point Award for the classic division.

Co-captain Kylie Reeves has been on the team for four years and has committed lots of time and energy into it. “I’m feeling very sad and nostalgic for it being my last competition,” Reeves said. “I loved performing all of the dances, especially the small ensembles.” Reeves and the rest of the team had to put lots of time and effort into preparing for the long day. They had many early mornings and weekend rehearsals where they ran, cleaned and worked on all of the dances. In addition to team rehearsals, the dancers also had to put in individual work to practice dances on their own time.

—Carson Duncan, Sophie Leung-Lieu and Jojo Barnard

The Blue Brigade officers perform their officer lyrical to “Always Remember Us This Way” by Lady Gaga on Feb 24. The performance would earn the officers one of two first-place high platinum awards the group won. Photo by Carson Duncan.

Mac Dance attends Regional High School Dance Festival

Mac Dancers in Beaverton, Ore., meet up with former McCallum dance director Rachel Murray.

Photo courtesy of Natalie Uehara.

Thirteen Mac Dance students traveled to Beaverton, Ore., Feb. 1518 to participate in the Regional High School Dance Festival.

“The trip is basically an opportunity for dancers interested in pursuing dance after high school,” junior Zoe Maxwell said. “There are opportunities to receive scholarships, as well as master classes from professors around the nation.”

The dancers left Thursday, Feb. 15, ahead of the three-day event. At the festival, students had the opportunity to take classes on all styles of dance, watch performances and compete for scholarships. “​​It allowed students to learn and reach out to colleges as well as meet other dancers in the small dance community,” Maxwell said.

Five students received scholarship offers and special recognitions at the festival, including juniors Analise Bady for The American Musical

and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and Dean College, Eli Lopez for Colorado State University, Julia Rasp for Dean College, Zalie Mann for AMDA, Colorado State University and Dean College, and Maxwell for Colorado State University.

The dancers also had the opportunity to perform STARS choreographed by dance teacher Terrance Carson at one of the festival’s showcases and reunite with former McCallum dance teacher Rachel Murray. But for Maxwell, the most rewarding part of the trip was getting to spend more time with her peers. “[My favorite part was] probably the bonding experience I got with all of my dance friends,” Maxwell said. “I feel like we got a lot closer, and it was just a great friend experience.”

—Alice Scott

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people

issue 4 march 28, 2024

‘Anyone can be a leader’ Sophomore starts club to provide peers with mentorship, inspiration

Tristen Diaz staff reporter

While founding an organization comes with hurdles, sophomore class president Ruhi Motwani didn’t shy away from the task. With her experience in student government and summer participation in a Barnard College entrepreneurship intensive, she felt prepared to start the You Can Be a Leader Club.

“I learned a lot of valuable information in those three weeks [at Barnard], and I wanted to bring back some of it to McCallum students.” Motwani said.

Motwani’s hope for the club was to bring the lessons she learned to her community, and inspire anyone to be a leader.

“I think that a lot of people have this preconceived notion that not everyone is meant or made to be a leader, but I believe the opposite,” Motwani said. “Anyone and everyone can be a leader.”

Motwani reached out to senior Olivia Hexsel for help with the launch of the club, hoping she could ensure that the organization succeed from the start.

Given Hexsel’s role as student body president and her officer role in several other clubs, Motwani thought she would be a valuable partner in the launching the club.

“I knew I

wanted to ask Olivia to be the vice president community with their leadership skills,” because she has a lot of experience with Hexsel said. leadership and would be a great addition to Members have enjoyed the unique the club,” Motwani said. opportunities offered by the club.

Hexsel, meanwhile saw the club as a way for “I enjoy coming to this club because it her to make a difference but also to grow as a is a fun environment that me and some of leader herself. my friends can come to and learn about “I thought it would leadership be an amazing skills,” said opportunity to voice sophomore Rylie my opinion about Ruppersburg. “I what qualities a love that leaders Leadership is a vital skill leader should hold,” are brought Hexsel said “The to some club that everyone needs club’s goal isn’t just meetings to talk showing how to be to us. I like that to employ within their lives. a leader but also the club gives demonstrating and me a chance to —sophomore and doing interactive hear from people You Can be a Leader Club founder activities that with tons of Ruhi Motwani include showing how experience in the our members can real world.” become leaders.”

Hexsel hopes Hexsel and that students join Motwani’s hope for not just to be in the group was to create a cohesive club that the club but to focus on what they can bring would help the McCallum community to the table.

“We wanted a very informal, fun and “We want people to join to help them be a engaging setting through discussions and leader,” Hexsel said. games that gives the students an opportunity Motwani believes that the biggest part of to learn about leadership and how to find her club is reaching out to all different kinds their most effective approach,” Motwani said. of people.

In the You Can be a Leader Club, Hexsel “Leadership is a vital skill that everyone and Motwani take a different approach than needs to employ within their lives, and other clubs.

I believe that it is a very important skill “Our club focuses more on each individual students begin to work on from a young age,” and how they can improve and better their Motwani said.

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Sophomore president Ruhi Motwani and the You Can Be a Leader club members take a photo with guest speaker Erine Gray on Nov. 7, 2023, in the library.

Photo courtesy of Ruhi Motwani.

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Motwani didn’t just want to provide members in her club with wisdom but experiences from the community as well. So Motwani decided to bring in several different guest speakers, with a variety of different experiences throughout the club’s time.

“Bringing in several speakers allows us to hear different stories and lessons they have learned and different view points to help understand all aspects of being a leader,” Motwani said.

One of the first guest speakers Motwani invited or this school year was Dr. Rosa Pena who has 32 years of public service experience with Austin ISD. “Dr. Pena became the director of leadership programs, secured grant funding, led professional learning opportunities for campus leaders and collaborated with university preparation programs,” Motwani said. “I have previously worked with Dr. Pena, and she is someone that I look up to.

The club is predominantly female, so it’s nice to show them real world representation within society.”

Since Dr. Pena’s visit in October, Motwani has invited many more speakers, including CEOs, a Travis County judge and a Tedx speaker.

“I want to be able to provide members with their wisdom and guidance so they can apply it to their community and school and be the best leader they can be,” Motwani said.

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issue 4 volume 71

march 28, 2024

Every mile worth riding

McCallum alum joins ride to Alaska to raise money, awareness for cancer Chloe Lewcock people editor 4,500 miles, 70 days and over a year of training.

When Carolina Arellano heard about the opportunity to bike ride from her hometown of Austin to Anchorage, Alaska, to raise money for cancer and help the research industry, she knew it was too good to pass up.

After graduating from McCallum in 2020, Arellano continued her education at the University of Texas pursuing a degree in international relations and global studies. Going into her junior year of college, however, Arellano found a new path to pursue: Texas 4000, a UT student organization dedicated to furthering cancer research, organizes yearly bike rides to Alaska to advance this mission and support the cancer community nationwide. The ride to Anchorage is currently the longest charity ride in the world.

“I really thought I could do something for that cause,” Arellano said. “It just was something that really resonated with me.”

Considering herself an amateur rider at the time of applying for the program—she only started biking in 2020 as a way to connect with her friends— Arellano believed in the mission so heavily that she was willing to put in the training and effort to be a part of it.

The mission of the project touched Arellano because of her family’s history with cancer and because of her desire to help families in the future who experience the same struggle.

“My grandmother passed away from cancer in 2008,” Arellano said. “And my mom smokes a lot of cigarettes, so I made an agreement with her that once I completed the ride to Alaska she would quit smoking.”

Texas 4000 uses its resources to provide the necessary equipment for its cyclists.

“There are other things like training camps,” Arellano said. “We practice skills like how to drink water while you’re riding your bike, all

things you would not really think you had to know, but you have to know.”

According to Texas 4000 program coordinator Caroline Ferguson, helping riders prepare for the summer ride over a long period ensures a smooth sailing and safe experience.

“Our goal is to create a top-notch model for developing student leaders aiming for national recognition,” Ferguson said. “We continuously strive to increase our impact in the fight against cancer.”

Ferguson’s role within the program allows her to be hands-on with the riders, as well as the operation itself.

“As a program coordinator at Texas 4000, I ensure smooth program operations,” Ferguson said. “I assist riders with ride planning, onboard new riders, plan meetings and presentations and conduct research for event success. The 18-month program includes learning about the organization, cancer research, community service and fundraising, all before bike training.”

The ride is split into three separate routes. While everyone will end up riding the same distance in the same amount of days, each rider from the organization is assigned a different route and paired with a group to complete it with.

“One [route] is called the Sierra and that goes through the Pacific Coast and then it

goes through Vancouver,” Arellano said. her goal is to repeat her feat and inspire “The second one is the Rockies, which others to join in on the cause. goes through Colorado and the Rocky “Texas 4000, I think, is a cool way to Mountains, and [the last one], The Ozarks, promote cancer awareness, so I definitely goes through the Cancer Belt.” still want to help,” Arellano said. “But I want While riders don’t get to pick their to make it bigger because I feel like we’ve designated route, they are allowed to detail been here for so long, but so few people which they would prefer. know about it. I want to focus on branching “I indicated I out to the cycling wanted Sierra community.” because I speak The community Spanish, and is a big part of what there is a huge Arellano has gained It just was something that Spanish-speaking from her time with really resonated with me, population in the program, from California, so new friendships to a I really thought I could do I think I’d be a group of riders who good fit,” Arellano will support her the something for that cause said. “They try to whole way. Maleni —Texas 4000 rider Arredondo, a friend align us to their preferences, but Carolina Arellano Arellano met through a lot of people Texas 4000, explained prefer Sierras so that developing a it just depends. close relationship with But ultimately Arellano over their we’re all going to shared passion makes the same destination.” the experience more comfortable.

Donations are a big part of the Texas 4000 “It’s been a wonderful experience to get to mission as well. In the time before the ride know and support each other through our and the 18 months a rider is part of the journey in Texas 4000,” Arredondo said. program, they are required to raise $4,500 for “Whether it’s pushing each other during the 4,500 miles ridden. The money provides training rides, enjoying a post-ride meal or both funding for the journey and supports supporting one another in our fundraising cancer foundations. efforts, our friendship has really flourished “Texas 4000 continues to grant and support into a special one—one that I didn’t know I cancer research—such as Dell [Medical could gain from this experience.”

School’s] blood cancer research labs—and With still a long way left in her journey, patient support services—like Brent’s Place, a and the ride itself upcoming, Arellano safe and clean place for families to stay while thinks back to her grandma for inspiration. their loved ones undergo cancer treatment in She was the original reason for Arellano’s Denver,” Ferguson said. “Our keys to commitment to advocacy and spreading her a cancer-free future are prevention, message to others. early detection and education, so “Having my grandmother and a couple we also spread knowledge through of other family members being affected educational programs as cyclists by cancer really did motivate me to visit communities along their pursue this organization” Arellano 70-day journey to Alaska.” said. “It’s taught me how vulnerable Arellano explained we can be with each other and how that having to raise the honest we can be and even how required $4,500 is a accepting we can be of each other much more difficult and our differences.” task than she The journey, in Arellano’s eyes, will anticipated. bring her closer to something she’s “It’s hard to ask passionate about. It will allow her to for money,” she said. impact others’ lives in a unique way, “It’s kind of like a one she would’ve never dreamed of. vulnerability.”

“It’s like a community feeling,” After the ride, Arellano said.

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Texas 4000 rider Carolina Arellano rides to honor her grandmother, but she has also learned valuable lessons about resilience, commitment and the value of friendship. Photo courtesy of Arellano.

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issue 4 GROVER AVE.

Three-story academic building

Bond renovation plans take shape On Nov. 8, 2022, Travis County voters passed a $2.4 billion bond package for Austin ISD, the largest school bond package to pass in Central Texas. McCallum was not on the first draft on the ballot but was added after the district heeded community feedback and allocated $66.55 million to modernize the Mac campus.

The bond budgeted $8 million for athletic field upgrades, technology and furniture, $22.9 million for soft costs and other costs, including surveying fees, materials testing, permitting and inspections. The rest, $35.59 million is for project construction.

McCallum is set to receive a phased modernization, meaning that instead of being fully demolished and rebuilt within one bond cycle, it will take three or even four phases to be completed.

In theory, this means that McCallum is due to receive funds for the next phases every bond cycle, which occurs approximately every five years. Phase two then should be approved in late 2027 and finish around 2031. Then, phase three

Graphic by Sophie Leung-Lieu.

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should be approved in late 2032 and completed in 2036. And finally, phase four should be approved in late 2037 and completed in 2041.

Bond implementation supervisor Jorge Ledesma says that this timeline won’t work.

“That’s like 15 years from now,” Ledesma said.

“It’s like, ‘So I’m gonna get a new school in 20 years?’ McCallum really needs to get phase two and three and maybe even four in one shot.”

For now, the focus is mainly on making repairs and improvements that can keep the campus afloat until the next phase of the bond is approved, which will involve demolishing and then replacing the majority of the school.

The Campus Architecture Team, or CAT, a group of community members and AISD parents who are providing input on McCallum’s renovation, has expressed concerns about this allocation because a majority of the funds from the construction portion of the bond were slated to be used for facility improvements for a building that is set to be entirely demolished within the next couple years. In a meeting on Feb. 12, the CAT was given a new maintenance improvement scope, which reduced the costs of replacing roofing, A/C, ductwork and piping

Three-story academic building

Fine arts building extension

Baseball field parking extension

Campus Architecture Team works to implement phased construction over fifteen years Julia Copas staff reporter

Parking spots

SUNSHINE DR.

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from $36 million to $11.5 million. The money A significant part of the 2022 bond is a new that was gained back from reducing improvement academic building that will replace the existing costs was put back into science hallway. The construction, and now the new building will be construction budget has been approximately 50,000 adjusted so that more money square feet across three can be spent on the two main stories and will contain Out of 130 campuses, components of phase one: a 12 science labs, four secure entry vestibule and an CTE labs, four studios maybe 70 need to be academic addition. (smaller classrooms), redone. And in the past The secure entry vestibule three professional will go where the front learning centers (shared AISD has kind of let that office is now located. It teacher offices) and three slip a little bit. will rearrange the way the collaborative spaces. office is laid out, flipping The collaborative spaces the counselor and reception - Bond implementation will be part of the main area so there is a clearer view hallway, which will be supervisor Jorge Ledesma about 27 feet wide. After of the front entrance of the school. It will also create a the academic building two-door entry system so is finished, the existing that visitors are required to science hallway will be check in at the front office demolished. in order to enter the building. It will also close Principal Andy Baxa said that the plan for all in the space adjacent to the office by the side phases is to keep students on campus and avoid entrance to the cafeteria and create a new having to move elsewhere during construction. meeting space.

“There’s just too many unknowns,” Baxa

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Parking spots and new front entrance

PHASE ONE PHASE TWO PHASE THREE PHASE FOUR

New turf field

A floor plan layout of the new McCallum High School, displaying all four projected renovation phases.

Photo courtesy of AISD. Graphics by Sophie Leung-Lieu and Julia Copas.

said. “I don’t ever envision McCallum will leave the campus. At worst, we bring in a bunch of portables and we would create another portable city somewhere and house whatever we’re losing in the portables.”

Ledesma says that McCallum renovations have been put off for so long because it’s hard to be a funding priority in such a large district.

“We have approximately 130 campuses, and out of those 130, maybe 70 need to be redone,” Ledesma said. “And in the past AISD has kind of let that slip a little bit, so now we’re kind of swimming against the current.”

Baxa says it’s because there has been less community output.

“The best I can point to [for McCallum being put off for so long] is the fact that our community doesn’t speak up,” Baxa said. “You’ve got to show up to meetings, you got to make your voice heard. Anderson and Bowie parents did that a lot more than we did, and so they got taken care of.”

In the 2017 bond, McCallum received $8 million for a new dance addition, which is in the final stages of construction. Anderson (built in 1973) received $11 million for general

maintenance upgrades, and Bowie (built 1988) received $91 million for Phase 1 of a full modernization and a new parking garage.

In 2013, McCallum received $20 million for mainly a new weight room facility and general upgrades and repairs. Anderson received $24.9 million for a new gym, locker and weight rooms, track resurfacing, and other general repairs. Bowie received $34 million for a pastry shop, media lab, technology studio, updated training room and food lab, as well as new practice fields, expanded locker and weight rooms and track resurfacing.

“But that’s also why the 2022 bond program had such a radical shift in direction is because they saw some of the things that they viewed as being inequitable, where certain communities got more than other communities whenever they didn’t really need more than the other communities,” Baxa said. “I can’t say that Anderson needs everything that they’ve gotten. They’re at a much better position than a lot of other schools, but they have the vocal community that gets the support.”

Both Ledesma and Baxa agree that the key to getting McCallum to where it needs to be

is community involvement, especially in the voting process.

“If we were to go step by step and in the 2027 bond McCallum gets voted for phase two, we still have to put [that to] a vote. So you’re not gonna get anything if people don’t vote for it,” Ledesma said.

Baxa feels that continual support is crucial in order for McCallum to meet the needs of future students and for each phase to build upon the previous one.

“If it doesn’t pass, I’ve always told [the bond committee] that we’ve got to be at net zero,” Baxa said. “I can’t have a negative situation here because just in case a situation happens where we don’t get the next bond, we at least have classroom and lab spaces to accommodate the needs for what we lost.

And we can make it work for a couple of years if we have to. But there’s never been a bond package with AISD that hasn’t passed at least somewhat. Now there have been parts of it that didn’t pass, but there’s always been at least something that got passed. So we’ll just have to wait and see what direction the bond committee takes us in ‘27.”

Building toward the future

May 2024

April 2025

2029

2034

2039

The CAT believes that a phased construction process is ideal, so that parts of the school can be renovated while keeping students on campus.

Infographic by Francie Wilhelm and Sophie Leung-Lieu.

Renovation design development completed

Phase 1 construction begins

Phase 2 construction begins

Phase 3 construction begins

Phase 4 construction begins

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issue 4 volume 71

march 28, 2024

issue 4 GROVER AVE.

Three-story academic building

Bond renovation plans take shape On Nov. 8, 2022, Travis County voters passed a $2.4 billion bond package for Austin ISD, the largest school bond package to pass in Central Texas. McCallum was not on the first draft on the ballot but was added after the district heeded community feedback and allocated $66.55 million to modernize the Mac campus.

The bond budgeted $8 million for athletic field upgrades, technology and furniture, $22.9 million for soft costs and other costs, including surveying fees, materials testing, permitting and inspections. The rest, $35.59 million is for project construction.

McCallum is set to receive a phased modernization, meaning that instead of being fully demolished and rebuilt within one bond cycle, it will take three or even four phases to be completed.

In theory, this means that McCallum is due to receive funds for the next phases every bond cycle, which occurs approximately every five years. Phase two then should be approved in late 2027 and finish around 2031. Then, phase three

Graphic by Sophie Leung-Lieu.

14

should be approved in late 2032 and completed in 2036. And finally, phase four should be approved in late 2037 and completed in 2041.

Bond implementation supervisor Jorge Ledesma says that this timeline won’t work.

“That’s like 15 years from now,” Ledesma said.

“It’s like, ‘So I’m gonna get a new school in 20 years?’ McCallum really needs to get phase two and three and maybe even four in one shot.”

For now, the focus is mainly on making repairs and improvements that can keep the campus afloat until the next phase of the bond is approved, which will involve demolishing and then replacing the majority of the school.

The Campus Architecture Team, or CAT, a group of community members and AISD parents who are providing input on McCallum’s renovation, has expressed concerns about this allocation because a majority of the funds from the construction portion of the bond were slated to be used for facility improvements for a building that is set to be entirely demolished within the next couple years. In a meeting on Feb. 12, the CAT was given a new maintenance improvement scope, which reduced the costs of replacing roofing, A/C, ductwork and piping

Three-story academic building

Fine arts building extension

Baseball field parking extension

Campus Architecture Team works to implement phased construction over fifteen years Julia Copas staff reporter

Parking spots

SUNSHINE DR.

“

from $36 million to $11.5 million. The money A significant part of the 2022 bond is a new that was gained back from reducing improvement academic building that will replace the existing costs was put back into science hallway. The construction, and now the new building will be construction budget has been approximately 50,000 adjusted so that more money square feet across three can be spent on the two main stories and will contain Out of 130 campuses, components of phase one: a 12 science labs, four secure entry vestibule and an CTE labs, four studios maybe 70 need to be academic addition. (smaller classrooms), redone. And in the past The secure entry vestibule three professional will go where the front learning centers (shared AISD has kind of let that office is now located. It teacher offices) and three slip a little bit. will rearrange the way the collaborative spaces. office is laid out, flipping The collaborative spaces the counselor and reception - Bond implementation will be part of the main area so there is a clearer view hallway, which will be supervisor Jorge Ledesma about 27 feet wide. After of the front entrance of the school. It will also create a the academic building two-door entry system so is finished, the existing that visitors are required to science hallway will be check in at the front office demolished. in order to enter the building. It will also close Principal Andy Baxa said that the plan for all in the space adjacent to the office by the side phases is to keep students on campus and avoid entrance to the cafeteria and create a new having to move elsewhere during construction. meeting space.

“There’s just too many unknowns,” Baxa

”

Parking spots and new front entrance

PHASE ONE PHASE TWO PHASE THREE PHASE FOUR

New turf field

A floor plan layout of the new McCallum High School, displaying all four projected renovation phases.

Photo courtesy of AISD. Graphics by Sophie Leung-Lieu and Julia Copas.

said. “I don’t ever envision McCallum will leave the campus. At worst, we bring in a bunch of portables and we would create another portable city somewhere and house whatever we’re losing in the portables.”

Ledesma says that McCallum renovations have been put off for so long because it’s hard to be a funding priority in such a large district.

“We have approximately 130 campuses, and out of those 130, maybe 70 need to be redone,” Ledesma said. “And in the past AISD has kind of let that slip a little bit, so now we’re kind of swimming against the current.”

Baxa says it’s because there has been less community output.

“The best I can point to [for McCallum being put off for so long] is the fact that our community doesn’t speak up,” Baxa said. “You’ve got to show up to meetings, you got to make your voice heard. Anderson and Bowie parents did that a lot more than we did, and so they got taken care of.”

In the 2017 bond, McCallum received $8 million for a new dance addition, which is in the final stages of construction. Anderson (built in 1973) received $11 million for general

maintenance upgrades, and Bowie (built 1988) received $91 million for Phase 1 of a full modernization and a new parking garage.

In 2013, McCallum received $20 million for mainly a new weight room facility and general upgrades and repairs. Anderson received $24.9 million for a new gym, locker and weight rooms, track resurfacing, and other general repairs. Bowie received $34 million for a pastry shop, media lab, technology studio, updated training room and food lab, as well as new practice fields, expanded locker and weight rooms and track resurfacing.

“But that’s also why the 2022 bond program had such a radical shift in direction is because they saw some of the things that they viewed as being inequitable, where certain communities got more than other communities whenever they didn’t really need more than the other communities,” Baxa said. “I can’t say that Anderson needs everything that they’ve gotten. They’re at a much better position than a lot of other schools, but they have the vocal community that gets the support.”

Both Ledesma and Baxa agree that the key to getting McCallum to where it needs to be

is community involvement, especially in the voting process.

“If we were to go step by step and in the 2027 bond McCallum gets voted for phase two, we still have to put [that to] a vote. So you’re not gonna get anything if people don’t vote for it,” Ledesma said.

Baxa feels that continual support is crucial in order for McCallum to meet the needs of future students and for each phase to build upon the previous one.

“If it doesn’t pass, I’ve always told [the bond committee] that we’ve got to be at net zero,” Baxa said. “I can’t have a negative situation here because just in case a situation happens where we don’t get the next bond, we at least have classroom and lab spaces to accommodate the needs for what we lost.

And we can make it work for a couple of years if we have to. But there’s never been a bond package with AISD that hasn’t passed at least somewhat. Now there have been parts of it that didn’t pass, but there’s always been at least something that got passed. So we’ll just have to wait and see what direction the bond committee takes us in ‘27.”

Building toward the future

May 2024

April 2025

2029

2034

2039

The CAT believes that a phased construction process is ideal, so that parts of the school can be renovated while keeping students on campus.

Infographic by Francie Wilhelm and Sophie Leung-Lieu.

Renovation design development completed

Phase 1 construction begins

Phase 2 construction begins

Phase 3 construction begins

Phase 4 construction begins

15

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march 28, 2024

2008

Bujacz starts at McCallum.

2016

Bujacz leaves to start family.

2019

Bujacz returns to Mac to fill teaching place.

2020

Bujacz teaches online for AISD.

2024

Bujacz comes back to fill the Klein’s place.

Graphic by Maya Tackett and Sophie Leung-Lieu.

Bujacz poses with some of her AP Biology students at McCallum graduation in 2015. Photo provided by Amy Bujacz.

16 people

issue 4

‘There’s no place like Mac’ for Bujacz

volume 71

Veteran teacher returns to MAC for the social aspect, then remembers how much she loves the school

Maya Tackett staff reporter When at a dinner party in her mid-20s, Amy Bujacz was asked: What would you be doing if money didn’t matter?

“I would still be a teacher,” Bujacz said.

“When people heard that, they asked me ‘There’s really nothing else?’ I love teaching.

It’s my favorite thing to do. There’s no other job I’d like to do instead of it.”

While her journey with teaching has been long, Bujacz has finally landed back at Mac. After science teacher Jace Klein’s departure at the end of last semester, Bujacz has returned to the school where she once taught for eight years to replace Klein in the science department.

Bujacz was born in a small town just outside of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and came to the University of Texas at Austin on an athletic scholarship for rowing. After getting into a car crash that didn’t allow her to row anymore, Bujacz turned all her focus into her pre-med studies. But after she got a C in chemistry, Bujacz didn’t know what she was going to do next. Luckily, her father, who was a principal, had a plan for her.

“I went home and my dad was like ‘Do you want to make $250 today?’ Bujacz said. “He walked me to a classroom and said, ‘This is Ms. Bujacz, and she’s going to be your teacher today.’ He gave me sub plans and shoved me into the classroom and left. I had a really good time, and I started subbing after that. I was like, ‘This is what I want to do.’”

Bujacz then graduated from the UTeach program and started at McCallum in 2008.

“Because I was an immigrant and was on a work visa with AISD, I had a guaranteed job,” Bujacz said. “I went and interviewed at Travis, but it was far south. So I came to McCallum, and it was closer to where I lived.

I was very happy that I landed at McCallum.”

After two years at the job, some students came to her interested in AP Biology, which at the time wasn’t offered at McCallum.

Bujacz remembered her AP Biology teacher from high school—Mr. Martin—and how much he impacted her life, which inspired her to try to bring the same experience to students of her own.

“Mr. Martin was this extraordinary science teacher who had us do all these cool labs, and he was super engaging,” Bujacz said. “I was super into science and that’s why I was a biology major. I want to be that teacher.”

From there, Bujacz went to Gabe Reyes, the assistant principal at the time, who told her that she had to get 24 names of kids who wanted to take the class to get it added to the class option list. When enough students had signed up, McCallum began offering AP Biology again in 2011—all thanks to Bujacz.

Bujacz taught AP Bio until she left in the spring of 2016 to focus on her family and take a break from teaching.

“Being a stayat-home mom is hard, especially when you’re super social and outgoing, like me,” Bujacz said.

“That’s why I teach high

school, for the social aspect. I get to teach them but also interact with them. But we decided that as a family we didn’t need that money that would come from teaching and have to deal with all the sicknesses and time off of work. It was really sad leaving but after having a kid, my priorities changed.”

Bujacz decided to return in December 2019 to fill the role of the aquatic science teacher who had recently left, a position similar to the one she accepted this year.

“They were going to [reschedule] 178 kids who signed up for [aquatic science] and eliminate the class,” Bujacz said. “I didn’t want to do that to the kids, but I knew nothing about the ocean, fish tanks or fish. Teaching that class terrified me, but I ended up learning a lot, and it was cool. I still had one or two sections of AP Bio that I taught by myself.”

Bujacz planned to reevaluate whether she would stay at the end of the year, but then COVID hit, so she moved online with the kids and taught them until the end of 2020. For the next two years, on and off, she taught online for various AISD schools.

When science department head Nicole Sorto, whom Bujacz has known since teaching at McCallum in 2008, asked if Bujacz wanted to come back to fill Klein’s spot, Bujacz knew immediately that she wanted to take it. The offer took her back to her AP Biology roots.

“That’s part of the reason that I took the job, when they don’t have a permanent sub or there’s a new person every day, the learning stops,” Bujacz said, “so it’s nice to be a consistent teacher for the rest of the year.”

Before coming in, Bujacz heard a lot about how McCallum had changed and evolved since her time teaching. But when she stepped foot in the school again, she realized that though some things had changed, the reason why she loves teaching at McCallum had not.

“They had me worried that it was going to be this whole new group of teenagers I didn’t know, and you guys are still just teenagers, which I love,” Bujacz said. “I mean some things have changed, but I love the inclusivity, I love the creativity and all the kids. There’s no place like it.”

Scan this QR code to read the full profile or visit macshieldonline. com.

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issue 4 volume 71

march 28, 2024

‘Good morning, Knights!’

By reading the daily announcements, student council seniors build bonds while providing McCallum with latest news, essential updates and really bad jokes Evelyn Jenkins staff reporter

Behind the voices of the announcements that come over the PA system each morning, there is a tight-knight crew of Knights. Over their time on the intercom, seniors Madi Briggs, Hannah Herrera, Olivia Hexsel and Jay Schlett have grown closer together and provide McCallum with daily updates, news and jokes.

The crew began working together when they became student council members their freshman year.

“I joined the student council because I wanted to be more involved with the school,” Briggs said. “I wanted the opportunity to be a leader and share my leadership skills with the community.”

This year, these students took on the role of delivering the morning announcements to provide students and staff with information about the upcoming day.

“As a part of the student council, it’s always been a tradition for the student body At the beginning of second period, seniors Jay Schlett, Madi Briggs, Olivia Hexsel and Hannah president and vice president and the senior Herrera read the morning announcements in the office on Jan. 31. Photo by Nancy Morelos. class officers to do the announcements, so we took on that role,” Hexsel said. try and stay on track. athletics and other classes,” Brodbeck said. “I They put the announcements together “We are all pretty lively people and think it would be cool if everyone saw their with the help of student council sponsor sometimes it’s hard to take certain student leaders giving the announcements Amy Brodbeck. Brodbeck writes the announcements seriously,” Herrera said. every day.” announcements and the students choose the “When we first started doing announcements The morning announcements are order in which to read all of the information. it was hard to keep calm, so there have been memorable to McCallum because of the Teachers are also able to fill out Google forms times where one person laughs, and then it’s a beginning snippet of music and ending “Bad so that their messages can be read over the domino effect, and we all end up laughing.”

Joke of the Day” they hear over the intercom announcements.

A memorable moment for the crew was every day. When the crew doesn’t have any Brodbeck became the student council when math teacher Richard Cowles came ideas for songs to broadcast, they turn to a sponsor two years ago after the previous in for the first time to play The Count from playlist that they sponsor left Sesame Street. The Count often appears use to help pick a McCallum. She on the morning announcements to give song of the day. volunteered to take information about blood drives, coat drives “Usually we just the role due to her and other upcoming events. pick a song that has own student council I think doing the “Any time Mr. Cowles comes in, he is so been stuck in our experience when she announcements has helped head or a song that funny,” Schlett said. “I remember the first was in high school. time he came in we didn’t know how it kinda represents “I was in the me be more confident would work with another teacher doing the our mood,” student council announcements with us, but he came out Herrera said. “[The when I was in high in who I am. with that booming voice, and we were all school,” Brodbeck —senior tradition] has been trying to hold in our laughter.” around for a while, said. “I didn’t play Olivia Hexsel at least since I was a The time that these four seniors spend a major role in it, I together has allowed them to grow close and freshman.” was just a member, create long-lasting memories.

For the jokes but I decided that I “Walking to and from the front office every that they end the wanted to help out day, having conversations, and helping each announcements with every day, they use a with the student body. [The sponsor role] was other with homework while we’re waiting for joke book that has been passed down from open, and I stepped up and decided to do it.” the announcements to start has brought us past officers to add a bit of brightness to the In the future, Brodbeck has plans to present closer together,” Schlett said. day. But being on the announcements crew the announcements in a video format and Doing the announcements is only one of isn’t always smooth sailing. When reading broadcast them during advisory. the many important responsibilities that the the announcements live, many problems can “I know not all the announcements get student council officers are in charge of, but arise. It is up to the crew to keep calm and to heard and that some kids are too busy in

“

”

The crew’s favorite

“Bad Joke of the Day” Q: Where do fruits go on vacation?

A: Pear-is —Olivia Hexsel Q: Why did the deer go to the dentist?

A: Because it had buck teeth —Madi Briggs Q: Why did the ape sell his banana?

A: He was tired of all the monkey business.

—Jay Schlett Q: After an unsuccessful harvest, why did the farmer decide to try a career in music?

A: Because he had some sick beets —Hannah Herrera they find it very rewarding and believe that it is necessary for students to hear daily news.

“The announcements are very important for students at McCallum,” Briggs said. “They give students details about what is going on within the school. It’s really helpful for students who don’t have social media access.”

Over the past year these seniors have learned more about themselves, each other and the McCallum community.

“I’ve grown by being a better public speaker,” Hexsel said. “I think being in the student council and doing the announcements has helped me be more confident in who I am.”

Scan the QR code to read the full version of this story, or visit macshieldonline.

people 17

sports

Running into 2024

march 28, 2024

Girls, boys track teams rely on passion, practice to prepare for season Chloe Seckar-Martinez staff reporter

Amy said. “It was awesome to hear their name announced and see them hold the trophy up screaming in happiness.”

Sprinting into the 2024 season, the This season, Amy hopes the team can repeat girls and boys track teams have been at as district champions and also take a relay work, attending practice Monday through team all the way to the regional track meet.

Thursday at 7 in the morning, preparing for “We haven’t had a relay team qualify for their upcoming meets. the regional track meet since I have been For head girls here,” Amy said. track coach Joshua “We were close Amy, coaching the last year with our track team is special 4x400 team, so because of his athletes’ we are aiming to The success of the team meant passion for being a finally get to the part of the team. they needed to be comfortable next level in that “I love being around aspect.” doing the uncomfortable. the kids,” Amy said. “It This year, really brings out the Amy hopes to —girls track head coach competitive nature in encourage the Joshua Amy girls team to some kids.”

Amy has coached go beyond its track at McCallum for comfort zone five years. He started since that was a as the boys coach and big factor in its eventually transitioned to the role of girls win last year. He hopes team members will head coach. Amy has previous experience embrace the challenge of competing in events coaching and learned from his time coaching that they aren’t as comfortable with. with former girls head coach Susan Ashton.

“I think the major thing the girls figured “I worked with Coach Ashton for my first out last year was that the success of the team couple of years and really enjoyed how much meant they needed to be comfortable doing she cared and the knowledge she shared,” the uncomfortable,” Amy said.

Amy said.

Last year, Amy saw how dedicated these Amy is excited to work with new track girls were because they stepped up at the last coach Victor Ike on devising new activities minute in order to help their team score the and exercises to help the athletes improve. points they needed. To Amy, being able to “With the addition of Coach Ike, who I face hard challenges for the good of the team actually coached with back in 2012 and 2013, is what makes a good teammate. we will be able to maximize our athletes’ abilities,” Amy said.

Amy right now is working with girls and boys shorter sprints with the help of Ike and Coach Niki Muller. He has also spend time working specifically athletes who compete in the middle-distance events.

Amy’s favorite part about being the track coach was watching his 2023 varsity girls team win districts and be able to see all of their hard work pay off.

“My favorite part was last year when the varsity girls won their district championship,”

“

Juniors Camilla Vandegrift and Finley Dixon run during an untimed track meet at McCallum’s practice field against runners from LASA on Feb. 17.. Photo by Adele Seeboth.

18

”

“A good teammate is someone who puts the team’s needs over their wants,” Amy said.

“For someone to go through these grueling races for the team shows that they care about everyone’s success as a whole.”

One of these track members who competed at the last minute was sophomore Sara Hamlet. For Hamlet, track is a sport where people of all levels are able to come together as a team to represent McCallum as well as their own individual spirit.

“I love track because so many people with different talents can come together and compete,” Hamlet said, “not only for individual improvement but also for the team as a whole.”

This year there have already been many changes for Hamlet. Ike has helped Hamlet grow by incorporating new drills and activities to help her and her teammates grow.

“Overall there have been more activities to do in order to build speed, endurance and strength,” Hamlet said.

Hamlet is ready to travel to these meets and improve on her events: long jump, triple jump and the 300-meter hurdles. She also is looking forward to getting to know the rest of the team.

“This year I am really looking forward to the meets,” Hamlet said. “I also love the early mornings because it’s a time where the whole team gets to hang out.”

Hamlet chooses these events because they are where she feels most confident.

Throughout middle school Hamlet did long jump and triple jump and wanted to continue competing in the same events at the

next level.

“I really enjoy long jump and triple jump and wanted to continue to do them,” Hamlet said.

Hamlet competed in the 300-meter hurdles last year at districts and placed third.

Like the girls, the boys team hopes to continue the program building that occurred a year ago.

Sophomore Cooper Hensley, a member of the boys team, also wanted to do track in order to enhance his speed for the upcoming football season. Football takes strength, speed and motivation, qualities which Hensley is working to improve during track season.

“I wanted to get faster for football and compete for my school,” Hensley said.

“There were drills that the coach has helped with, and having a coach who guides me to improve my speed has helped with my game.”

For Hensley, track has become a place where he can get better while also making new friendships that push him to be better in both sports.

“My favorite part of track has been being able to compete and practice with my teammates,” Hensley said.

With this new season on the horizon, Hensley is excited to increase his speed and represent McCallum at all of the meets.

Competing means a lot more than just a medal, Hensley said.

“I am looking forward to getting faster and competing for McCallum,” Hensley said. “I want to make sure McCallum is known for not just our fine arts program but also our athletics.”

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issue 4 volume 71

March 28, 2024

Finding their niche Sophomore-founded Niche Sports Club aims to create welcoming and enjoyable environment

Maya Tackett staff reporter Starting the Hobby Horsing Club after discussing hobby horsing in class one day, sophomores CC Loughlin and Liam Milner didn’t think the club would go anywhere.

“I kinda went down a rabbit hole of hobbyhorsing videos,” Milner said. “It was a joke. We were going to make a whole league, and it was the Slaughterhouse Stallions versus the Punishing Ponies. And when it got approved we were like ‘Oh crap. We have to be an actual club.’”

Hobby horsing originated in Finland and started as an official sport in 2012. Shortly after, it gained popularity in Europe and America. This sport combines elements of gymnastics and show jumping, but instead of a real horse, the participants use stick horses.

When talking about the club’s future with sponsor Maria Priebe, both Loughlin and Milner decided that having a club where each month could be dedicated to a different niche sport would be more beneficial and fun to be a part of. So the Hobby Horsing Club transformed into the Niche Sports Club.

“This club is a way to gather people who might not otherwise have a certain ‘team’ and help people access and discover new activities,” Loughlin said. “‘Normal sports,’ especially school sports, are gendered, have time requirements, require certain amounts of ability and also make you adhere to a strict set of rules.”

The Niche Sports Club meets every Friday in Portable 12, Priebe’s room, to discuss what niche sport to play, to learn about the sport and then to play it.

The first official Niche Sport Club meeting was on Jan. 26 and kicked off by describing the club and then opening up the floor to suggestions on some different niche sports that could be played by the club. The suggestions offered to that initial query were divided into two different categories: sports that could be played at school and sports that couldn’t.

For those that could be done at school, Loughlin had the idea to use equipment from places like the gyms or to make equipment.

“P.E. is the king of random sports meaning they have objects we could use for our niche sports,” Loughlin said. “We could probably make our bowling stuff and ask if we could use the gym after school sometimes.”

Priebe also had an idea to reach out to other teachers to see if they had any extra sports equipment.

“I had a department meeting with the

The Niche Sports Club plays bocce during its second meeting. Sponsor Maria Priebe got the equipment by asking her department what games they had lying around. Photos by Maya Tackett. social studies people, and I already started asking questions like ‘Hey what like sports are y’all into? What equipment do y’all have?’” Priebe said. “Someone has bocce balls, and someone else had croquet. I think that is going to be our starting point of just seeing what we already have access

to and then, for those sports that would be a little more difficult to learn about and engage in, I think those might require some kind of fundraising.”

Milner agrees that fundraising is a big part of how the niche sports that are harder to access could be played by the club

“We could do little things like sell T-shirts or ask companies if they will sponsor us or give us access to their services,” Milner said.

When talking to Milner and Loughlin, Priebe saw this club as a way to branch out, form connections and get involved with other clubs at McCallum.

“There’s an archery club, and a fly fishing club, and I feel like there are a lot of connections to be made there,” Priebe said.

“I think there’s an ultimate Frisbee one too if they wanted to compete with them. So long term, if we could have some sort of partnership between other organizations, that would be really fun.

Priebe, who also didn’t know much about hobby horsing or niche sports, was excited to be the sponsor because it reminded her of what her high school was like.

“When I was in high school, I was the president of Goggles Club, and it reminded me a lot of that because it was something that started as, admittedly, a joke,” Priebe said. “But then we actually started going to Barton Springs, with our goggles. It was really fun and random, and this club kinda reminded me of that, so I was excited to sponsor it.”

While every month or so a new sport would be introduced, Milner had the idea to at the end of the year, the club could have a closure activity where the members of the club could play each sport that they have learned throughout the school year.

“I was talking to Ms. Priebe but we might want to do an end-of-year field day,” Milner said. “Maybe she could even take us on an in-school field trip or we could make one where we play all the sports that we learned.”

Sophomore Elizabeth Falkin, a member of the Niche Sports Club, said her interest in the club was piqued when she was sitting in Ms. Priebe’s room especially when she heard about the potential field trips.

“I was working in Ms. Priebe’s room and was intrigued by all of the member’s enthusiasm about niche sports,” Falkin said.

“I knew I had to join and thought learning about new sports almost every week and getting to go bowling or something like that would be fun.”

Though this club stemmed from a joke one day in class, Milner thinks this club can bring people together and provide a safe, fun space for everyone.

“We didn’t mean for it to be serious but we’re dedicated to campus unity,” Milner said. “We want to unite people through silly sports. No one’s going to be good at these sports. We will all be bad together.”

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issue 4 volume 71

march 28, 2024

Bowling, balling, Becker

Sophomore aims to be hardwood king on the court and at the alley JoJo Barnard online managing editor

About two years ago sophomore Coda Becker attended his younger sister’s birthday party, which happened to take place at a bowling alley. Becker did not realize it at the time, but bowling would eventually evolve into a passion. Later down the road, he would even go as far as to qualify for a national tournament. But all that he knew in that moment was that he enjoyed the sport and wanted to do more of it.

“I found it to be really fun,” Becker said. “So I just kept practicing, and I got more into it, so I started taking it a little bit more seriously.”

Even though Becker just started competitive bowling within the last two years, he has already accomplished a lot. In November, he won first place at a qualifying tournament, which made him eligible for this year’s Junior Gold National Championship in July.

“Bowling has a lot of tournaments and qualifiers,” Becker said. “There are rounds —you play a tournament, you qualify for another tournament, and it just keeps going on.”

Professional youth bowler Garrett Andrus, a member of Junior Team USA, who has bowled with Becker, says that Becker has come a long way and foresees more success for him in his future.

“Coda is a great upcoming player who has been excelling in tournaments around the Austin and San Antonio area,” Andrus said. “I can see him becoming a well developed bowler, playing in events around the nation and even around the world. If he keeps working hard and putting in the work, he can become one of the best players on the PBA [Professional Bowlers Association] tour.”

Part of what Andrus believes makes Becker such a good bowler is his ability to improve, a strength Becker recognizes that has already taken him far.

“I’ve really made a lot of progress,” Becker said. “I’ve been practicing a lot. It’s really fun, and I’m going to keep working on my skills and keep practicing.”

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Coda Becker practices with his father at Highland Lanes. Despite his relative inexperience, Becker has already taken strides to becoming an elite bowler.

Photo courtesy of Becker.

This ability is what sets Becker apart from other bowlers in Andrus’ eyes.

“He reminds me a lot of myself when I first started getting into competitive bowling,” Andrus said. “He shows grit and great strength through adversity, which inspires me to keep working at my game no matter how challenging it gets.”

Andrus feels Becker’s perseverance, along with his many other positive qualities, make him a great person to bowl with.

“Coda is humble, kind, genuine and unassuming,” Andrus said.

“He’s great to talk to about all aspects of the game and is eager to learn just as much as he is willing to teach you about the game.”

But Becker doesn’t limit himself to just bowling; he also plays basketball.

Playing two sports, he stays busy.

“It’s a little tough Becker plays during a JV home victory over Navarro on Jan. 19. Photo

by Callen Romell.

on the schedule,” Becker said. “You wouldn’t “Bowling is not as physically taxing as think bowling would be, but if you do a lot basketball, but there’s a lot more that goes of [competitions], then you’re always pretty into it that a lot of people don’t understand,” active. Weekends, I have league; on Sundays I’ll Becker said. “It’s a complicated sport; there’s a go practice, and then all during the week I’m lot of details, it’s not just rolling the ball down playing basketball.” the lane and knocking all the pins down.”

Junior George Brode, a basketball teammate Becker’s understanding of the sport is part of Becker’s, sees Becker of what Brode both on the court and believes makes him at the alley. so skilled.

“I’m not a huge “It’s just hard to bowler myself, but my I like them [basketball and wrap your head friend group is close around because it’s bowling] both equally. I friends with Coda, hard to be good and we go [bowling] two sports like really like playing both, and I atthat, sometimes together,” ” Brode said.

Brode said. “Coda’s “For that, I just like them in different ways. like a professional. gotta give him a lot He’s got his two —sophomore Coda Becker of respect.” custom balls, and he’s Becker has got his own shoes. always played And his form is great; basketball as it’s a lot better than mine for sure.” his main sport, but his love for bowling Even though he’s been playing basketball continues to grow. for a lot longer, Becker doesn’t favor it over “I’m proud to go to a pretty unique sport bowling. where there’s fewer people, and no one’s “I like them [basketball and bowling] both really aware of it,” Becker said. “A sport like equally,” he said. “I really like playing both, and this is more fun to get good at because it’s I like them in different ways.” obscure. Not many people would think, ‘Oh While the two sports are very different, both he’s a good bowler.’ Basketball’s awesome, are similar in that they require precision. but bowling is different.”

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volume 71

march 28, 2024

Star student by day, capable captain by Knight Senior juggles academic life and cheerleader duties, excels in both

Priya Thoppil staff reporter

“Its not too bad,” Van Houten said. “You just have to be on top of your time management because during football season, cheer takes up a good chunk of my time.”

When the cheer season begins early August, Van Houten first heard she was highly ranked the cheerleaders practice their stunts to ensure in her class shortly after winter break during that their routines are perfected for game days. her junior year, and was surprised because she For senior captain Hannah Van Houten, and top wasn’t expecting her rank to change.

6 percent student, that means planning practices “I was both excited and proud that my hard in the morning, practicing in the afternoon, all work had paid off,” she said. “But it is definitely while balancing her heavy coursework. a little difficult [to maintain] at times.”

One of the biggest factors that initially drew Close friend and fellow senior Sarah Hauck her to the cheer team at McCallum was the fact has long admired Van Houten’s achievements. that freshmen could be on the team.

“I have known her since sophomore year and “For many other schools you have to wait till she is very studious.” Hauck said. “She is always sophomore or junior year to try out, so that was going to put 100% into all of her assignments a big factor for me,” she said. and help out other people that need it. It is Many of the members on the cheer team definitely something she prioritizes.” initially tried out to cheer for their school, but Van Houten works hard to maintain her knew that it was a great opportunity to make success in academics and athletics and believes friends and become close with their teammates. the key is striking a balance so neither pursuit “When I tried out for cheer, I made a bunch of leads to burnout. new friends,” Van Houten said. “So I think it was “It is definitely a little difficult at times,” good. A lot of my core friends came from cheer.”

VanHouten said. “But I am pretty good at Van Houten has the juggling academic and managing my work so I extracurricular aspects down to a T. have time for all of my Senior captain Hannah Van Houten (right) and her cheer commitments.” teammates perform a routine during the 2023 Taco Shack During football pep rally in the large gym.. Photo by Priya Thoppil. season, the

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cheerleaders have Sydney Schriever. to be at every “Right now I am single game and trying to learn as [Hannah] puts her friends have after-school much as I can about practice often, so cheer so I can be a and school and cheer first using her limited useful coach and not free time efficiently just a warm body in and that just makes her a is a must. the room making really great person.

“During basketball sure that they don’t season our schedule get hurt.”

—senior Sarah Hauck lightens up a bit so While she hasn’t balancing cheer and known Van Houten school becomes a for very long Schriever little easier,” she said. says that she has made Doubling up in her job easier. the spring season, Van Houten also participated “Hannah is super organized, so she’s very in track freshman through junior year. good about making sure we’re on time for “Track practice is early in the morning so I got what we’re doing,” she said. “She’s pretty less sleep and didn’t ever have time to do any good at cleaning up dances and giving back school work in the mornings, which was difficult critique in a way that is heard by her peers in a on some weeks,” she said. “Most of the time I productive way.” would just check with my teachers ahead of time It’s a quality that Van Houten brings to all to see what work I would be missing on track her interactions. Hauck says that Van Houten meet days so I could not get behind in my classes.” is a leader not just in athletics but also in the As captain, Van Houten academic and personal spheres. has been helpful to “Overall, I think she just has her priorities first year and newly straight,” Hauck said. “She puts her friends and appointed head school and just cheer first and that just makes cheer coach her a really great person.”

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march 28, 2024

A turf-rific transformation Athletic programs optimistic about new opportunities available next year with new on-campus turf field

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

Athletic director and head football and girls varsity soccer coach Thomas Gammerdinger has previously reaped the benefits of having a turf field. Seeing that football games are played at turf stadiums, Gammerdinger knew right away that the change from dirt to turf was much needed.

“I see no disadvantages to getting turf fields,” Gammerdinger said. “It’s going to improve play, and it’s also a lot safer to play on.”

Gammerdinger also knows the advantages of having nicer facilities to practice and play on, and how those improvements can affect not only individual players but entire programs as well.

“For football, having a good surface is safer for impacts and being brought down to the ground a lot more,” Gammerdinger said.

“And as for soccer, a smooth playing surface is critical because we’ve been out there practicing, and I notice how hard it is to get a good pass in when every other square foot is a hole in the ground.”

The biggest concern Gammerdinger has is with player safety after seeing the uneven and dusty terrain that is currently the McCallum fields.

“I think that grass fields can be safer than turf fields at times, but the problem is we don’t even have a grass field,” Gammerdinger said “ What we have now is dusty and uneven rock, which is obviously not safe for any sport.”

With the field upgrade, sophomore soccer and football player Jax Hicks feels a weight lifted off of him, knowing that there will be less of a risk when stepping on the McCallum field to play.

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The rough layout for the new field and facilities, including new stands, track, and sidewalks. Drawing by CEI Engineering Associates, Inc.

“Now that we are getting a different field, it’s not only going to be easier to play on, but safer as well,” Hicks said. “I know that now that we have these facilities, it’s going to take away the problem of having all of the holes in the ground, which can be dangerous if

you step in them and twist your ankle.”

Another benefit to having these fields will be the continuation of practices. As the seasons get colder and wetter, the current fields have caused many problems with flooding and muddy conditions. Adding in sustainable fields will allow for more practices and games to be played through the rainy conditions. “[The turf] ensures we can stay practicing in the rainy months and increase the overall quality of all of the practices of the sports that use the field,” Hicks said. “Pretty much all of the soccer practices for one week were canceled due to the rain, and that won’t happen once we have turf.”

The girls JV soccer game on Jan. 24 was set to be hosted at Noack but was canceled due to field conditions. Freshman JV girls soccer player Athena Wintle was one of the soccer players affected by the constant cancellations

from problems with weather.

“It just is so unfortunate to look forward to playing our games and putting in all our effort to prepare, just to find out that we can’t play just because of a little rain,” Wintle said. “This is probably why I am most excited about the new fields because problems like this will be avoided in all, and we can just start hosting games at Mac.” With the addition to the fields, other teams will be brought to McCallum, in order to provide the best hosting field for several games.

“So [the field] is all a part of the new AISD bond package, and every high school gets a certain amount of money in order to install a turf field, lights, bleachers and maybe even a little concession stand,” principal Andy Baxa said. “It’s exciting because now McCallum will be equipped to host middle school games and JV sports games here.”

The 2022 bond additions will also take away some of the wear and tear of current hosting facilities.

“The purpose of this [investment] is of course to offer better facilities for schools, but also to relieve some of the pressure, and conserve our current playing fields like House Park, Burger, Nelson and many more,” Baxa said.

Per the AISD bond package, every high school, not just McCallum is set to welcome new turf fields, in order to not only provide a place for their athletes on each campus to play, but the fields will offer a reliable place to host JV games, and each school’s respective middle school will also be offered a reliable place to play.

“It’s vital that we get in a good practice for all teams, and the current fields just don’t accommodate for any of that,” Gammerdinger said. “And now that we have these fields, we can play sub varsity games here on campus, which is just generally easier, not to mention the lights, so now we can host games but also run practices later.”

The current McCallum field has served its purpose, but coaches and players are ready for the change. The fields will begin construction by the end of this year, and will be usable just in time for the 2024 football season, which will come with improved safety, reliability, and even terrain for all to enjoy.

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sports briefs

Softball vs LBJ @ Noack 3

Varsity girls soccer repeats as 5A bi-district champions

The Knights challenged Cedar Creek on March 26 and beat them 7-5 at House Park to take the bi-district title.

According to senior Kat Klein, the game started “rough” with Cedar Creek quickly scoring two goals on the Knights, but Klein and her teammates didn’t let that deter them. By the end of the first half, the advantage had flipped as McCallum brought up their score to four over Cedar Creek’s three.

“The game was probably the craziest game I’ve played for McCallum,” Klein said. “It was so much fun to score so many goals, and we fought back from being down. We knew we could do it, we just had to turn on defensively.”

Moving into the second half, coach Thomas Gammerdinger urged the Knights to get “just one more goal.” His players took that to heart and scored not just one but two more goals.

“They ended up scoring five so one goal wasn’t enough anyway,” Klein said. “We just wanted as big of a bumper for ourselves as we could get.”

The Knights earned the right to play the fourth-seeded Patriots by winning the district title with a 2-1 triumph over Ann Richards on March 8. Losing would have meant placing second in district for the second year in a row and handing the title to LASA, who had been a competitive opponent throughout the season. The teams tied 1-1 in their first meeting on Jan. 24, and Raptors edged the Knights 1-0 on Feb. 23.

Because the Knights triumphed over all other district foes, however, they took home the title. Freshman Maya Garwood scored both of McCallum’s goals against the Stars, one in each half.

“I’m beyond thrilled,” Garwood said of the game’s result and her role in Senior Kat Klein contests a Cedar Creek defender earning it. “This was such a fun way to end the season.”

The Knights will play against Magnolia later this week in the area round during the Knights’ 7-5 bi-district title-earning win on of playoffs at a date and site to be determined.

Tuesday at House Park. Photo by Lanie Sepehri.

—Francie Wilhelm, Julia Copas and Lanie Sepehri

Softball falls to Crockett

After outscoring three district opponents 48-3 in midMarch victories over Navarro, Travis and Eastside to bring their district record to 6-1, the varsity softball team lost the rubber game of their three 2024 battles against the Crockett Cougars Tuesday night at Noack Fields.

The Knights entered the game in second place, one game ahead of the Cougars and a game behind LASA, who edged the Knights 5-4 on March 8 in a battle of district unbeatens.

On Tuesday, the Knights fell behind to the Cougars early and could not recover. The Cougars scored two runs in the first and three in the second before the Knights broke through for a run in the third on Isabel Vaca’s two-out RBI single that plated Caroline Bell, a courtesy runner for Lexi Niles-Arguello who led off the half inning with a single.

Lead-off hitter Lila Brotherton had two hits in the game for the Knights. Grace Yemington singled in the game.

Crockett sophomore pitcher Rhiannon McKinney pitched a complete game to earn the win by a 15-1 final score, allowing one run and five hits while striking out three.

The game was a marked departure from the first district game between the two teams, a 10-3 Knight victory in the district opener for both teams on Feb. 20. The game was significant for another reason: it was the first varsity softball victory for McCallum over Crockett in four years. Crockett beat the Knights 6-3 in the AISD Varsity Tournament championship game on Feb. 24.

The Knights return to the diamond on Tuesday, April 2, when they face the Northeast Raiders. They face a key rematch with the LASA Raptors on April 5.

—Lillian Gray and Dave Winter

Senior Pearl Vaughn takes a pitch during the Knights’ 15-2 victory over Eastside on March 22. Photo by Naomi Di-Capua

calendar April 2

Baseball vs LASA Varsity @ Burger - 5 p.m.

JV 2 @ Nelson - 5 p.m.

JV 1 @ Nelson - 7:30 p.m.

Softball vs Northeast JV @ Noack 4- 5:30 p.m.

Varsity @ Noack 4- 7 p.m.

April 3

JV Baseball vs LASA JV 2 @ Nelson 5 p.m.

JV 1 @ Nelson 7:30 p.m.

Senior Sam Stevens pitches during Knights’ 5-3 victory at Westlake on March 2. It was the second time the Knights beat the Chaps during Stevens’ four varsity seasons. For his dominant pitching outing, Stevens was named the 5A pitcher of the week for all of Texas. Photo by Carlye Levine.

Baseball in 2024 a tale of two seasons

As has been the case for many seasons, the 2024 varsity baseball team is starring a story that could be entitled, A Tale of Two Seasons. With Tuesday’s Game 1 victory in this week’s two-game series with Northeast, the Knights remain perfect in district play at 5-0 with sweeps over Crockett and LBJ to go along with Tuesdays’ win over the Raiders.

The Knights have won their district games by a collective 63-4 score, and three of the five wins were shutouts.

Prior to and during district play, however, the Knights have played non-district opponents inconsistently. In those games, the team is a pedestrian 7-9 with victories over Burnet, Belton, Del Valle, Westlake, Carroll, Elgin and Hendrickson and losses to Big Spring, Marble Falls, Fredericksburg, Leander Glenn, East View, Leander, Vandegrift, Jesuit Dallas and Dripping Springs.

While the non-district record may cause concern among casual Knight fans, the team’s victories against tough competition should allay any fears that this team is anything less than prior editions.

The victory over Westlake on March 2 was a signature win for the team and marked the second time in four years that the Knights have bested the perennial 6A powerhouse.

Senior pitcher Sam Stevens stood out against Westlake, earning the win after pitching six innings while giving

up four hits, no earned runs with five strikeouts. Senior Nico Sanchez pitched the seventh, striking out three and stranding three to end the game.

“Winning a big game like that is exhilarating,” Stevens said, “and I wanted to embrace that feeling.”

Another star moment for Stevens came against Burnet, coached by legendary former Mac coach Russell Houston. Against the Bulldogs, Stevens came within a strike of throwing a perfect game but settled for a complete game one-hitter. In the same game, freshman Tommy McIntrye hit his first high school home run.

After Game 2 against Northeast on Friday, the Knight play LASA in a two-game series next week.

—Callen Romell and Dave Winter Senior Ellie Knoll guides the ball past a Cougar on the varsity girls’ soccer team’s Feb. 3 game against Crockett. Photo by Maggie Mass.

Playoff loss to East View ends varsity boys soccer season After winning its final district game against the Eastside Panthers, the boys varsity soccer team advanced to the bi-district playoff round against the East View Patriots. Scoring within the first 10 minutes of the game, the Patriots secured the win, 1-0, to advance and end the Knights’ season. 0 According to senior Tucker Martinson, the Patriots made it hard for the Knights to come back after yielding the initial goal.

“The game started off slow and they were keeping the ball and pressing us high,” Martinson said. “We played a lot better in the second half, and it seemed like we were in control, but we just couldn’t score.”

Senior Ohad Klein said that the team gave it their all and that the disappointing loss can’t diminish the growth of the team this season.

“Everyone’s definitely sad, but we were really happy with how we did because we got second in district and we had a really good season.” Klein said.

—Chloe Lewcock

Senior Tucker Martinson fights for possession against a Patriot player during the Knights’ 1-0 bi-district playoff loss at East View.

Photo by Maggie Mass.

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opinion

march 28, 2024

Detention won’t detain Students express opinions and concerns on new tardy policy Gaby Esquivel staff reporter On Feb. 12, Principal Andy Baxa announced in a newsletter to parents that a new tardy policy had been implemented.

He stated that from now on if students have more than two tardies in a week, they will have to serve lunch detention. Assistant principals will run a tardy report at the end of each week to identify students who exceeded the limit. This change aims to decrease student tardiness. I can completely understand our administration wanting to have us be on time for our classes, but I think this new change is horrible for us. It will put more stress on students throughout our routine since we will now have to be cautious of not being late and will have to give our their lunchtimes.

In my morning classes, I have noticed some of my classmates arriving late.

Administration might assume that students are late because they are either talking to their friends or avoiding class, but one factor the administration might have not taken into account is students’ proximity to the school.

Some students might not live near or their

parents might not get them to school on time because of traffic. It is extremely unfair that students who are simply just late will get a punishment at a similar level of students who violate school rules like vaping and vandalizing school property.

Why does my lunchtime have to be sacrificed just for being a few minutes late to class? Lunchtime is a time in my day that comes very in handy when I need help in math class. I can not arrive early due to my dad dropping my sister off and no one can pick me up after school. So now if I get lunch detention, I will not be able to get help on homework assignments that I need to turn in.

Not to mention that I am a senior, so I would like to spend as much time as I can with friends with whom I don’t have classes before we graduate. This new policy can prevent me from creating memories with my friends.

One thing that confuses me is how will they fit every single student who is late more than two times a week? In a classroom, the maximum capacity of students is usually between 30 and 35. Let’s say that about 150 people have more than two tardies a week.

How will they all fit in there? It would take five

classrooms to have all of us fit. Also what if some of us want to go get lunch at the cafeteria but have to report to detention on time.

Will we just starve throughout the rest of the school day?

There are better alternatives to solve this problem; for instance, the administration could have teachers do warm-ups at the beginning of class that can only be completed in the morning and are worth a certain percentage of their grade. This would alleviate the logistical stress that this new policy will bring to all of us: students, teachers and administrators.

Graphic by Sophie Leung-Lieu.

What do you think about the new lunch detention policy?

Lunch Detention

Tardy 1

On an Instagram poll posted on @macjournalism, we asked students for their thoughts on the changes in tardy rules and punishments.

“ “ “ ” “ ” ” ” A method for the minority that affects the majority.

It doesn’t give wiggle room to students in carpool or city transport and is unfair.

—junior Maya Starkloff

—senior Rowen Lee

It’s logistically a nightmare and isn’t going to work.

—senior Chloe Marco

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Students shouldn’t have to accommodate for poorly planned schedules. Being told to “walk faster” doesn’t help anyone.

—junior Ryan Bookout

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Cost of consumption

Growing popularity of reusable water bottles defeats intended purpose Lillian Gray staff reporter The reusable water bottle, a staple for an environmentally friendly lifestyle, has, in recent years, become environmentally unfriendly. Water bottle trends like buying Hydroflasks and most recently, Stanleys, have taken over the internet and consumers’ wallets. As social media quickly promotes these products, consumers rush to stores to get their hands on the latest bottle despite already owning one, which makes the eco-conscious goal pointless.

According to CBS News, Stanley, the company behind the latest water bottle trend, made an estimated $750 million last year, compared to $70 million before 2020. The trendy Stanley cups aren’t the only reusable water bottles that had their moment of internet fame.

Hydroflasks, which saw a large increase in sales in the late 2010s, were a brief trend that lasted a little over a year. After this cup started to go out of style, buyers moved onto other cups like Stanleys.

The quick change from bottle to bottle due to internet popularity totally defeats the purpose of water bottles in the first place.

The use of reusable water bottles is to decrease the use of plastic water bottles and reduce waste. But with our culture of moving on from things so quickly and buying the new popular item, it seems to be doing more harm than good.

In the past year, as Stanleys began to grow in popularity, I have known multiple people who have bought more than one Stanley. I don’t understand this since I have had the same water bottle for over a year and, it still works just like it did when I got it. Stanleys also say that their cups “last a lifetime,” which has been proven to be true due to events like a woman’s Stanley cup being caught in a car fire and surviving, barely damaged, a story she relayed on Tik Tok.

This begs the question, if the cup is so durable and should last for such a long time, why are consumers collecting and buying multiple cups?

For starters, although the company knows the cups’ durability, it promotes its new cups in a way that makes consumers want to buy more. Stanley has posted videos talking about the different cups and their specific uses, making consumers think that they need to have more than one for different scenarios. One might be bigger and be better for hydration, the other might keep the water colder, and so on.

The company also releases cups like the limited edition Starbucks Stanley that

has become discontinued due to its high reusable water bottles due to these trends, demand and crowds that were too eager to which should be a positive effect of the get the cup. Now the cups are selling for hype; instead, overbuying the water over $300 on resale sites. bottles and getting more than what people As the Stanley company continues to actually need is having a negative impact build hype around the bottle and market on the environment. it as a collectible and not a way to combat Although I believe that water bottles are harmful plastic water bottles, people will a good way to combat plastic waste, they continue to buy more than they need. have become too much of a trend to the Many influencers point that the have made bottles are not videos showing effective towards off their Stanley their original Although the company cup collection that environmental consists sometimes purpose. I think knows of its cups’ of 10 or more cups. that everyone Even though more should have a durability, Stanley people are buying reusable water promotes its new cups bottle, but should try to keep it for in a way that makes a long time and not just get rid consumers want of it as soon as to buy more. the newest trend emerges.

The point of water bottles is to reduce waste but it seems that the growth of these trends lead people to buy them in excess, which creates more waste.

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Stanley revenue Stanley’s overall revenue has grown from $70 billion in 2019 to almost $750 billion in 2023.

Data from CNBC. Infographic by Lillian Gray.

Buying multiple Stanley water bottles defeats the environmental purpose of buying a water bottle in the first place. Graphic by Sophie Leung-Lieu

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A crisis at ‘La Puerta’

volume 71

Politicians push political gains over policy as border crossings escalate

Migrant encounters on the southern border

Nate Williams opinion editor

Just over 200 miles south of Austin is a small town called Eagle Pass. It is a littleNumber of migrant encounters at the United States-Mexico border by fiscal year. known settlement that is most recognized Data sourced from the US Customs and Border Control. as being home to the historic ruins of the 18th century San Bernardo Mission and 2,000,000 for being the first American settlement on the Rio Grande. It became a more relevant area during the 19th century for being the quickest route between Mexico and San 1,500,000 Antonio, which is sometimes referred to as “La Puerta de Mexico,” or Mexico’s Door.

But recently, the town of just over 28,000 1,000,000 residents has been thrown into a political battle over its border with Mexico.

The economies of small American towns, similar to Eagle Pass, are very important for 500,000 the health of the country, and it is imperative that U.S. authorities protect the lives of every immigrant attempting to cross the southern border; nevertheless, our elected leaders must 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 take steps to curb the mass amounts of illegal crossings that are impacting pandemic under former President The high influx of illegal border first responders, Donald Trump, which allowed crossings have caused local and federal especially in U.S. officials to turn away governments to take important steps southern cities. migrants attempting to cross to deter migrants from making the The situation at the border on the grounds of dangerous journey across the Rio the southern border preventing Grande River is extremely serious. the spread of and into the A record high number COVID-19. Prior to the United States. of illegal immigrants policy, an immigrant Politicians are elected to Some leaders, coming into the country, while border patrol who crossed the however, have work for the people that put politics over and police officer numbers are down, poses southern border illegally a threat to southern border communities could apply for asylum impactful policy. they represent, not for like Eagle Pass. The city relies on its two and be allowed into the Gov. Greg Abbott international bridges to supply revenue for country. Under Title has been at odds their personal interests 50% percent of its annual budget. Since 42, however, migrants with the Biden November, the U.S. Customs and Border and campaigns. were returned and administration ever Protection has temporarily suspended traffic denied the right to seek since the federal from Mexico into the U.S. at one of the Eagle asylum. According to the government sued Pass bridges. According to city officials, Eagle Associated Press, more the State of Texas’s Pass is losing than 2.8 million migrants were use of razor wire and buoys on the southern up to $80,000 turned away from entering border to curb the increase of illegal crossings. a day in the country by U.S. southern In August, border officials discovered two revenues border officials under Title 42. bodies in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, one due to the Since the Biden of the areas where the Texas government added It is vital that our elected temporary administration ended the buoys. The U.S. Supreme Court recently sided leaders take steps to curb Trump-era policy, the closure of the with the Biden administration to allow border international southern border has seen patrol agents to cut and remove the razor wire the mass amounts of bridge. record numbers of migrants across the border, which has only enhanced The federal attempting to enter the United tensions between federal and state authorities. illegal crossings. government States. Eagle Pass saw a total Gov. Abbott is preoccupied with petty sued the of 4,095 undocumented politics to appease the leader of the city of Eagle immigrants encountered by Republican coalition, Trump, instead of Pass in the U.S. Border Patrol on Dec. working across the aisle to achieve a solution January 2008 as it attempted to gain access 20. Record numbers like those in Eagle Pass to the border situation. There is, however, a to the town’s property and construct a fence are not uncommon to many border towns in bipartisan effort in the U.S. Senate to offer along the U.S.-Mexico border. In May of last Texas like Del Rio, which became the second legislative solutions to the surge of migrants. year, President Joe Biden ended the “Title busiest border crossing with 71,095 arrests in A group of senators and negotiators from the 42” policy created during the coronavirus December 2023 alone.

White House have neared an agreement that

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would fund Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, while reportedly setting a limit on the number of migrants that can come across the border.

It is difficult, however, for legislation to pass in an extremely divided Congress. The agreement is at risk after Trump recently claimed that “a border bill is not necessary.”

Why would a person who, for months, has claimed the Biden administration is not doing nearly enough to stop the surge of illegal immigration at the southern border not support vital legislation? Because Trump is a politician and a candidate running to achieve the second term he failed to win in 2020. The optics of Biden being able to pass bipartisan immigration legislation into law would presumably undercut Trump’s criticism and might even raise Biden’s low approval ratings.

Politicians are elected to work for the people that they represent, not for their personal interests and campaigns. The current situation at the border is extreme, and it should be considered a crisis. The president’s current actions are insufficient to stop the surge of illegal southern border crossings, but at least the Biden administration is attempting to work with Congress for a substantial, bipartisan bill. Politicians need to work together to help small towns like Eagle Pass. They must stop petty legal fights in order to protect the lives of those crossing the southern border to start a new life.

Graphics by Nate Williams.

Political View “As opposed to detaining legal immigrants, Biden has let them all loose with no ability to accurately determine their whereabouts.”

—Gov. Greg Abbott (R) “Frankly, [Congress] owe[s] it to the American people to show some spine and do what they know to be right.”

—President Joe Biden (D) “I think President Biden really mishandled this from the very beginning, and I think in his race it’s going to be huge.”

—Sen. Mitch McConnell (R)

volume 71

A rampage of rules

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issue 4

shield

march 28, 2024

Constantly changing policies erodes trust, norms in the school environment

Shield staff

New school rule. Rinse. Repeat.

In terms of policy, the first semester was pretty quiet, excluding the construction of a fence around the campus after the school year began. But the spring semester thus far has been one new policy after another after another. A new bathroom sign-out system.

A new FIT system and new guidelines about when clubs can meet. New rules about how many periods you can miss and still earn credit for the class. Most recently, a new tardy policy that could leave students in lunch detention.

The problems these new policies are meant to address, such as absence and tardiness, are persistent and detrimental to the learning environment, but drastically changing school policy well into the school year won’t solve them; instead, it creates an environment of constant change where stability is needed and makes it impossible for administrators to create lasting, effective norms.

Constantly changing or implementing new policies creates an unstable learning environment, which is exactly the opposite of what students need. While change is a part of life and we must learn to adapt to it, school is a place that teens should be able to count on for consistency and security. Rules are meant

to provide clarity. When they’re constantly changing or being replaced, however, they confuse those who are supposed to obey them. This is already a tumultuous time for many students. Right now, high school makes up our whole world; we don’t need the structures of that world to be in constant flux.

Additionally, it’s a bit late in the year to make such drastic changes. The school year is nearly over; why change the rules of the game at its end? It feels unrealistic to ask students to respect a new rule when they’ve done things differently for the whole year. These policies target important issues and could make a positive impact if implemented at the right times. Perhaps administrators should simply take note of persistent problems and save their solutions for the fresh start of the next school year. New year, new rules, right?

Finally, ceaseless change makes it impossible to create lasting norms. FIT and tardies, for example, have changed multiple times throughout the year, making it difficult to remember which system is the most current. What’s more, the constant rate of change creates a sense that all rules are temporary. Students are disinclined to adjust to new rules if they feel they’ll change again.

To encourage obedience, administrators should stand firm on the policies they already

Cartoon by Sophie Leung-Lieu have in place.

The administration has a right to shape school policy as it sees fit; that’s its job. But to effectively do this, school leaders should consider the timing and effectiveness of the policies they’re creating. Administrators should wait until the next school year to implement changes and hopefully see widespread results. Even better, perhaps the

shield staff

A.N. McCallum High School 5600 Sunshine Drive Austin, TX 78756 (512) 414-7539 fax (512) 453-2599 contact.macshield@gmail.com

the

print managing editor

a&e editor

web managing editor

people editor

Caroline Owen JoJo Barnard

social media managing editor Naomi Di-Capua

design editor

Sophie Leung-Lieu

news editor Morgan Eye

Eliza Jensen

Chloe Lewcock

sports editor

Camilla Vandegrift

opinion editor Nate Williams

staff reporters Kyan Adams Noah Braun

The Shield is published by journalism students in the newspaper production class. Although students work under the guidance of a professional faculty member, the student staff ultimately determines the content.

Students may not publish material that is obscene, libelous or that which will cause a “substantial disruption to the educational process.”

Content that may stimulate heated debate is not included in this definition.

administration could focus on what causes the persistent issues of tardiness, classskipping and absence instead of dealing out punishment as they happen. Understanding why students miss class could nip these problems in the bud, negating the need for constant policy change because, in the end, patching leaks as they spring up won’t stop the boat from sinking.

editors-in-chief Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, Francie Wilhelm Dylan Bryl Julia Copas Tristen Diaz Gaby Esquivel Shila Gill August Gleason Lillian Gray Evelyn Jenkins Helen Martin

Maggie Mass Emerson Merritt Josie Mullan Ephraim Paprock-Schue Mira Patel Winnifred Roberts Raul Rivas Jr. Callen Romell Tito Ruetz

The Shield operates as an open forum for exchange of ideas. Opinions expressed in editorials are the ideas of the staff. Opinions expressed in the columns are that of the writer’s alone.

Letters to the editor are encouraged and must be signed. Positive identification may be required when a letter is submitted. Letters may be edited.

Letters that are critical of the newspaper staff ’s coverage of events or that present information that

Sofia Saucedo Chloe Seckar-Martinez Maya Tackett Priya Thoppil Elena Ulack Hadlee Varela Lucas Walker adviser Dave Winter

may stimulate heated debate will be published.

Letters that contain malicious attacks on individual reporters, the adviser or the principal will be rejected.

Anyone interested in purchasing an advertisement should contact Shield adviser Dave Winter by phone at (512) 906-5407.

Advertisements published in The Shield do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff.

editorial 27

the

shield

issue 4, volume 71 march 28, 2024

4000 S Interstate 35 Austin, TX 78704-7420

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5

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Issue 4 crossword Graphics by Sophie Leung-Lieu.

Down

1. MacJ’s spin-off of the popular New York Times word game 2. The time off school from March 11-15 was ____ break.

3. Through March, The Shield is conducting its “Support ____” fundraiser.

4. The varsity team that beat Westlake on March 2 plays this sport.

5. McCallum’s 2023 teacher of the year

Across

2. A top trending water bottle mentioned on page 29 6. The hashtag featured in MacJ’s Instagram bio 7. The maximum number of tardies students can receive before earning a lunch detention according to the new policy (pg. 3) 8. Sophomore Ru Motwani’s club is called ‘You Can Be a ______’ (pg. 14).

1. Shieldle 2. spring (down) 2. Stanley (across) 3. MacJ 4. baseball 5. Winter 6. dayinthelifeatmac 7. two 8. Leader

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