I hope everyone is doing well and had a wonderful winter break. We were excited to welcome the students back this week and I am looking forward to a great semester. Monday, January 20th our campus will be closed in observance of MLK day.

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, we reflect on the profound impact of a visionary leader who championed equality and justice. This day serves as a poignant reminder of Dr. King's tireless efforts to dismantle racial barriers and inspire a nation towards unity. As we commemorate his legacy, let us embrace the principles of compassion, understanding, and inclusivity that he fervently advocated for. Together, let's strive to build a community that upholds the values of equality, diversity, and respect, embodying the spirit of Martin Luther King's dream for a brighter, more harmonious future.

Friday A/B Rotation Schedule

Friday, January 17th will be an A Day

Friday January 24th will be a B Day

Calendar Highlights

Monday, January 20th, Student and Staff Holiday - School Offices will be closed.

Wednesday, January 29th, Student Hoiday - School offices will be open

Monday, February 3rd, CAC and PTSA meeting in the school Library

Round Table Preview (included as part of the 2nd block class [2/6]) Begins at 10:41 am

• Mon 1/13: Academic Advising

• Tues 1/14: Normalizing Struggle

• Mon 1/20: Student Holiday

• Tues 1/21: Social Media Use

Flexible Instructional Time (FIT).

• Week of January 13-17

  • January 15th No FIT sessions to allow for campus elective fair

  • January 16 & 17, FIT Sessions as normal.

• Week of January 20-24

  • FIT Sessions as normal on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Since my last update we have received two Rave awards for our amazing staff. Each of these recipients is truly deserving of the recognition and their contributions to the culture of McCallum.

• Katie Liesmann: My child entered high school desperately nervous about math, however Ms Liesmann did some kind of magic and now my freshman is not only succeeding but says she actually LIKES her math class, and almost entirely because of Ms Liesmann. She has also been an incredibly thoughtful and caring human to my child when she’s needed someone to be there. Ms Liesmann is the kind of teacher we all want for our kids and I’m just so grateful that she crossed paths with mine.

• Lisa Gorzell Thank you for going above and beyond supporting our campus. We appreciate your willingness to step in wherever needed.

I would love to hear more about the teachers or staff members who make a difference in your child’s life. Please take a moment to recognize their contributions using this link; AISD RAVE. 

We will hold our annual elective fair and Expo Knight this week. The elective fair provides students with an opportunity to learn more about the courses offered at McCallum. Students will be able to talk with peers and teachers about the course and get a first hand account of what the course entails. We will hold the elective fair on Wednesday, January 15th and will follow an adjusted schedule to allow for students to rotate through the fair in groups. Students will begin signing up for next year’s courses later this month. There will be more information on the course sign up process in a future update.

The Expo Knight provides incoming students and families a chance to see what courses and activities are offered at McCallum. Incoming students and families can explore the elective fair in the big gym from 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm. Then at 6:20 pm we will have a parent meeting in the MAC theater to go over our course sign up procedures and what the next 4 years will look like for our future Knights! 

Join us for an important meeting with our College and Career Counselor, Camille Nix, to learn more about life after high school and how you can start preparing today! This is a fantastic opportunity to explore your options for college, career paths, and the steps you can take now to set yourself up for success in the future. Don’t miss out on valuable insights and advice to help guide your next steps!

Junior Parent Meeting: Wednesday, January 22nd in at the FAB Theater from 6 pm - 7 pm.

Saturday school is a great opportunity for students to receive additional academic support. We will typically have a teacher from each of the core subject areas present to assist students with their studies. Students need to come to Saturday school prepared to work, which means bringing their chromebook and any other educational materials needed to complete their assignments.

Students may also earn hours to clear course credit issues due to excessive absences. Students will need to pick up a tutoring log in the main office to keep track of their hours. Students need to talk to their Assistant Principal to determine how many hours they need to make up.

Saturday school is scheduled to return on January 25th. Saturday school sessions run from 8 am to 12 pm. Students will enter through the English Hall. Doors will open at 7:50 am and students will need to be picked up by noon.

We are thrilled to kick off  the McCallum Twilight program for the spring semester, starting on January 13th. Running from January 13th to May 15th , the program will be available Monday through Thursday, taking place in room 155, from 4:45 to 6:15 pm. The program's primary aim is to facilitate credit recovery, grade repair, and attendance make-up.

To get started, students are required to meet with their school counselors, who will assist in registering them for this beneficial program. We strongly encourage all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity to boost their academic progress. Students making up hours for attendance purposes need to meet with their AP first.

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

Seniors,

As we come to a close on the semester, there are a few important reminders to give you. 

1. As you receive admissions decisions, please update Naviance.

(Colleges I'm Applying to > Edit > Choose the correct outcome - admit, deny, waitlist, defer)

2. As you receive merit aid and scholarships, please send them to me. We are currently sitting at $2.8 million in merit scholarships right now. Last year's group of seniors earned around $34 million. Let's beat that!! We report our totals to the district and I can only report if you send me the proof via screenshot, forwarded email, etc. We also put your scholarships earned in the graduation program. I can only report what I know so send things my way as you get them. 

3. Many of you have completed your FAFSA. However, I can only "graduate" you in this area with the State of Texas if you send me the email from the federal government that shows completion OR you screenshot your completion screen and email it to me. Only 35 of you have done this! This is very important for every single one of you. If you are opting out, you can complete the form HERE and then turn it in to me.

You are doing great through, what I know, is a stressful year! Hang in there!!!! I am so proud of you!

Project Graduation's fundraising has officially launched! We are looking for business sponsors who want to support fun, safe, and substance- and alcohol-free events celebrating the Class of 2025! We've created a handy flyer you can leave with any business (your employer! your vet! your dry cleaners! your insurance agent! your ortho!) and a sample letter you can cut and paste into an email. It's so easy to ask! And excess funds that we raise this year will roll over to next year's senior class.

THANK YOU, MAC FAMILIES!!!

Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1obttsmkyCqSbt_bAzTjedFDp43jWAMX-/view?usp=sharing

Letter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ru9Udgg4gPAxY45J7gzzLd8AG_ZW8MqE/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=103424312191265662144&rtpof=true&sd=true