Happy four-day weekend, everyone! We hope you're enjoying the extra time to relax, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. As we take this break, it's important to remember that Monday is Indigenous Peoples' Day, a time to honor and celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous communities.

Looking ahead, PSAT Day is coming up on October 21. This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their academic strengths. Performing well on the PSAT can open the door to becoming a National Merit Scholar, which is a prestigious academic honor.

We’re excited to share that this year, 17 of our students earned recognition through the National Merit Scholarship Program. Among them, 10 were named Commended Scholars, and 7 achieved the remarkable status of National Merit Semifinalists. This is an incredible accomplishment, and we are very proud of their hard work, dedication, and academic excellence.

You can see this outstanding group of students pictured below. Our Commended Scholars, from left to right, are: Sam Fitzgibbons, Lila Ross, Alexis Rosenblatt, Elise Garza, Elliana Rocap, Caroline Bell, Olivia Pittman, Emily Cockerham-Lewis, and Elizabeth Falkin. Miguel Bosquez is also a Commended Scholar but is not pictured.

Our National Merit Semifinalists, from left to right, are: Ashton Ward, Alexis Fredine, Iris Burns-Trahanovsky, Quinn Stafford, Shoshanna Witchel, Margaret Gravette, and James Rosen.

These semifinalists are still in the running to become National Merit Finalists, with final decisions to be announced later this school year. We look forward to celebrating more great news in the months ahead!

Enjoy the long weekend and best of luck to all our students preparing for the PSAT.

GO KNIGHTS!

Calendar Highlights

• Monday October 13th - Student/Staff Holiday

• Monday, October 20th - Student Holiday, Parent Teacher Conference Day

• Tuesday, October 21st - PSAT Day at McCallum - 10th and 11th grade students - more information coming in a future update.

• Monday, November 3rd - CAC @ 5:30 pm and PTSA @ 6:30 pm, both meetings are held in the Library

• Tuesday, November 4th - Student Holiday/Staff Development

McCallum General Information

• AB Calendar

• Bell Schedule (Updated on 8/28/25)

• McCallum Campus Map

• AISD Personal Device Policy

• McCallum Personal Device Protocols

Here are a few other items that came across my desk this week.

• We continue to enforce our personal communication device policy, and repeated violations are now resulting in parents being required to pick up confiscated devices. The regular pickup window is 4:35 PM to 5:00 PM. If you need to come at a different time, please coordinate with administration in advance. Staff are not expected to stay past 5:00 PM, and devices not picked up by then will be available the next school day. We appreciate your support as we work to maintain a focused learning environment.

• Congratulations to Sterling Bradley and Beatrix Lozach for being selected as finalists in the Austin Youth Poet Laureate program! This prestigious honor recognizes outstanding young poets who demonstrate exceptional talent, creativity, and a strong voice in their writing. We’re incredibly proud of Sterling and Beatrix for this achievement and can’t wait to see where their words take them next!

• I know that the recent news about school consolidation and changes to attendance boundaries has brought up a lot of strong emotions for many in our community. Like you, I’m saddened by these changes and the effect they may have on families across our district. That said, I want to reassure you that McCallum will continue to be the same welcoming, safe, and high-achieving school it has always been. My commitment to our students, families, and staff has not changed. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out, I’m here to support you and help us navigate this transition together.

• Our Cross Country team competed in the district meet this past week and made us proud with their hard work and determination. The girls team finished fourth overall, just shy of qualifying for regionals, but we’re excited to share that two individual runners placed high enough to advance. A special shoutout to Julia Lentz, who had an outstanding race and finished second overall. On the boys side, the team delivered a strong performance, finishing third overall, which means they will advance to the regional meet as a team. Congratulations to all of our runners, and best of luck to those moving on to regionals. We’re cheering you on all the way!

• Congratulations to our MAC Volleyball team for an impressive week, earning back-to-back wins over LASA and Crockett, each in straight sets. The Knights are building momentum heading into a pivotal matchup this Tuesday night as they face Anderson in the return match. We would love to see the stands full of McCallum fans to support our team in what promises to be an exciting showdown.

• It was a tough night for our Knights on Friday as they faced a strong Pflugerville team. While the result didn’t go our way, the team is staying focused and ready for a big week ahead. This Friday, the Knights take on the Connally Cougars at the Pfield in a huge district matchup. Let’s rally together, show our school spirit, and pack the stands to cheer on our team. Your energy makes a difference!

• Please remember not to park in the band practice lot after 5 PM on Friday afternoons. Our band regularly practices on Saturday mornings and needs the lot off FM 2222 clear for their rehearsals. Thank you for your cooperation!

• On Wednesday, October 15th, we will hold our digital readiness check in preparation for the upcoming PSAT. Students will report to their assigned testing rooms for this important check. Seniors will gather in the MAC for a class meeting during this time.

One of my favorite things to work on each week is this section, where I get to share the amazing things you say about our incredible staff through the AISD RAVE (Recognizing All Valuable Employees) program. This week, we received a RAVE submission highlighting the outstanding work of our MAC team!

• Ryan Pride - Mr. Pride must have super human levels of energy! He continually prepares the MAC band percussion unit for competitions and for marching season. Watching the percussion section perform at games and competitions is a testament to his leadership and musical commitment. Thank you, Mr. Pride!

Thank you for sharing how our staff postively impacted your student's life. Keep those RAVEs coming! Click here to submit a RAVE.

McCallum High School is thrilled to kick off its annual Pink Week, proudly sponsored by MAC PALs. Starting Monday morning, students will step into a vibrant pink wonderland, setting the tone for a week dedicated to raising awareness and support for breast cancer. Pink Week has become a cherished tradition—not only as a fundraiser but also as a powerful demonstration of unity and compassion within our school community. Throughout the week, students can enjoy activities like the pink salon, pink store, and carnival games. Don’t miss snow cones and popcorn on Tuesday and Wednesday, plus a special visit from puppies with Austin Pets Alive on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday feature the exciting Shooting PALery. Students are encouraged to bring cash to participate in these activities and make donations, as all contributions must be made in cash and will be given to the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Austin. Learn more at bcrc.org.

Our Parent Conference Day will take place on Monday, October 20. In compliance with Senate Bill 12, all schools are required to offer two parent conference days each school year. October 20th will be our designated day for the fall semester, with a second day planned for February.

While we would love to meet with every family, we know it may not be possible to do so all in one day. This fall, we will prioritize conferences for students who are currently not passing a class or who are identified as chronically absent. These conversations are an important way for us to work together to support student growth and success.

Teachers will send out a sign-up link by October 14 for parents to select a meeting time. Conferences will be held virtually and will last about 15 minutes. The purpose of these meetings is to build strong communication between home and school so we can collaborate on the best ways to help our students succeed.

If you are not able to meet with your student’s teachers on October 20th, you are still encouraged to reach out directly to schedule a conference at another time that works for you. We are committed to staying connected and supporting every student’s learning journey.

The McCallum Youth Dance Company invites you to our annual Adjudicated Works Showcase on Tuesday, October 14 at 6:00 PM at the AISD Performing Arts Center. This performance is the culmination of our dance majors’ historical research project, showcasing original choreography inspired by their studies. The event is free for students and teachers, and $10 for adults. The show is open to the public and will last approximately one hour. We hope you'll join us for an evening of powerful and thoughtful dance performance.

LAST CHANCE TO ORDER A SIGN :

The final sign order will be placed FRIDAY OCTOBER 17th.   If you would still like to order a sign, please do so here:  macprojectgrad.square.site/.

I have several senior signs available for pick up!    If you are unsure if your sign is here text or email me & I am happy to double check!  Address for pick up is 3208 Sunny Ln. 

BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS

Thank you to our first business sponsor!  

PALOMA EFRON Design & Interiors https://www.palomaefrondesign.com/

If you have a business or know of someone who does please contact Valerie Foohey @ valeriedromero@gmail.com for sponsorship opportunities!

SPONSOR A SENIOR

We have 65 Seniors Sponsorships, if you have not already contributed to Supporting a Senior, please donate here macprojectgrad.square.site/

SENIOR 2026 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Friday, May 22nd 8am - SENIOR BREAKFAST

Wednesday, May 27th 1:30pm - 4pm - SENIOR CARNIVAL

Friday, May 29th @ 4pm - GRADUATION

Please reach out with any questions or if you would like to volunteer!

Bria Cirkiel (bria@parksideprojects.com or 512-565-7412)

A message from Ms. Nix, our College and Career Counselor:

The '26-'27 FAFSA  Application is officially open! You can access the application through the studentaid.gov website, and create the student FSA ID if you have not done so.

Step One: Create student FSA ID (You will receive an email from the federal government once your ID has been fully established). 

Step Two: You can then complete the FAFSA application in the STUDENT account for year 26-27 in its entirety. Student will invite parent and then parent creates FSA ID to be able to complete their portion.

Here are the updates:

1. The students will no longer need to know their parents DOB, social security, or address.

2. The student only needs to know their parent(s) email address for the contributor section.

3. Parent(s) will receive the invitation via email then they can create their FSA ID if they do not have one.  

4. If parents are married and file jointly, only one parent needs an FSA ID. 

5. Pell grant still strong. Workforce pell grant still exists. No changes to subsidized loans. No changes in definition of full-time enrollment for a student. YAY!

Important Dates for FAFSA Help:

10/16 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - ACC FAFSA employee here to help students in Mrs. Nix's room (Create student FSA ID first if you can!!)

10/23 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Opportunity Austin financial aid volunteers at Mac to help families complete the FAFSA

11/12 - 5:30 pm to 7 pm - Nix and others to help families complete the FAFSA

LAST THING: When you finish the FAFSA, be sure you send Mrs. Nix the email you receive from the federal government that states your completion. Mrs. Nix can then submit your graduation completion in this area to the State. If you are opting out, please submit THIS FORM to Mrs. Nix.

I HAVE 12 STUDENTS WHO HAVE SUBMITTED FAFSA PROOF TO ME ALREADY - WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you to all our parents, students, and staff for taking the time to read this week’s edition of the Weekend Update. I appreciate your continued support and partnership in making McCallum a great place to learn and grow.

The PSAT will be administered at McCallum on Tuesday, October 21st for all 10th and 11th grade students.

In preparation for the digital version of the exam, we will hold special FIT sessions on Wednesday, October 15th to complete the required digital readiness checks. It is important that all 10th and 11th grade students attend these sessions to ensure their devices are properly set up and ready for test day.

Important reminders for test day:

• Bring your fully charged, school-issued Chromebook.

• Testing will begin promptly at 9:05 AM and will conclude before lunch for most students.

• Students testing with accommodations may finish after lunch. These students will have the option to order lunch from the cafeteria or bring their own.

The PSAT is a valuable opportunity for students to gain testing experience and receive feedback that can support future SAT preparation and scholarship opportunities.

On the same day, freshmen will participate in a class assignment focused on academic support using IXL, helping to strengthen essential skills and prepare them for success throughout the year.

We will also provide information soon about what seniors will be doing during the PSAT day.

Please reach out if you have any questions. We appreciate your support in helping students prepare for a smooth and successful testing experience.

The simplest way to check your student out of school is to send a written note to the front office before the school day begins.

The note must include:

• Student's full name

• Student ID number

• Date and time of early dismissal

• Parent/guardian name and phone number

• Parent/guardian signature

Your student should bring the note to the office before school. They’ll receive a pass to leave class at the designated time and can head straight out—no waiting required.

With ongoing construction, limited parking, and our large campus, this method is the most efficient option.

Please note: Our front office is temporarily relocated to the library. Parents can access this space through the double blue doors in the circle drive.

No note? A parent/guardian (or someone listed on the student’s pickup list) must come to the office with ID to check out the student. Please allow extra time for the student to be called from class.

Returning the same day? Students must check back in at the front office.

Reminder: Pickup notes do not excuse absences. For full attendance information, visit:
https://mccallum.austinschools.org/department/attendance

Mental Health - https://forms.gle/ikZ6QsG4DrJ8wnjZ8

Club form - https://forms.gle/Jmevft7F1EMctgPW7

Physical health - https://forms.gle/3kgQb5NQkReLUyT56

It’s important you know your student’s support team - their Assistant Principal and Counselor. We have a few changes to our team this year.  

Principal of McCallum - Andy Baxa: andy.baxa@austinisd.org

Students not in the Fine Arts Academy - List of Assistant Principals

Last Names A - GO Gabriel Adame (Assistant Principal): gabriel.adame@austinisd.org 

Last Names GP - PA Larry Featherstone (Assistant Principal): larry.featherstone@austinisd.org 

Last Names PE - Z Lavonda Loney (Assistant Principal): lavonda.loney@austinisd.org 

Students not in the Fine Arts Academy - List of Counselors

Last Names (A-E) Loren Croom: loren.croom@austinisd.org 

Last Names (F-LH) Nicollette Muller: nicollette.muller@austinisd.org 

Last Names (LI-RN) Cristela Garcia: cristela.garcia@austinisd.org

Last Names (RO-Z) Marc Garcia: marc.garcia@austinisd.org

All Students in the Fine Arts Academy:

Teri Kirby (Associate Principal): teri.kirby@austinisd.org

Shelley Goldstein (Counselor): shelley.goldstein@austinisd.org

Additional Supports:

• 504 Coordinator - Jennifer Padron - jennifer.padron@austinisd.org 

• College and Career Counselor - Camille Nix - camille.nix@austinisd.org 

• AP/PSAT Coordinator - Lisa Gorzell - lisa.gorzell@austinisd.org

• Principal’s Admin Assistant - Bonnie Baker - bonnie.baker@austinisd.org 

• Guidance Secretary - Tonya Moore  - tonya.moore@austinisd.org

The School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) is a school board appointed advisory group of individuals who represent different segments of the community. By law, a majority of the members must be persons who are parents of students enrolled in the district and who are not employed by the district. The AISD SHAC is made up of parents, community members, students, and school staff working together to improve the health of all students and families through coordinated school health programs. Texas law requires all school districts to have a SHAC. The SHAC holds monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of every month with the exception of December and July. The meetings are from 6:00PM to 7:30PM. The meetings are held either on the 2nd floor of the AISD Headquarters Building located at 4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd. Austin, TX 78704 or virtually.  

SHAC Meeting Dates and Locations