As Black History Month comes to a close, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Students of Color Alliance for their incredible work in bringing awareness, education, and celebration to our school community. Their efforts have truly made this month memorable, and we are grateful for their dedication and passion.

We also want to take a moment to ask parents to encourage their students to be on time to class. The first few minutes of class are critically important to the instructional process. We understand that this is cold and flu season, along with a few other illnesses circulating, so it’s inevitable that some students will need to miss school. If your child is absent, please remind them to stay in touch with their teachers and keep up with assignments through Blend.

Additionally, please remember to follow AISD's return-to-school guidelines: students should only return once they have shown general improvement in symptoms and have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication. If a student misses an extended period of time or has numerous absences in a month, an attendance warning letter will be automatically sent by the district. If you receive one of these letters, please feel free to reach out to your student’s assistant principal for assistance—we are here to support you and your student.

Wishing everyone a great week ahead!

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

• Congratulations to Coach Fuentes and the Knights Basketball team for an outstanding season. The team finished the season with a 23-10 record, and advanced to the second round of the State Playoffs for the first time since 2021. Go Knights!

• Join us for the Class of 2028 P. Terry's Spirit Night!

  Head over to the P. Terry’s next to McCallum on North Lamar on February 25th from 4 to 10 PM. The Class of 2028 is hosting a Spirit Night, with 10% of the proceeds going toward the class's prom. Come grab a delicious burger or shake and help support the McCallum Freshman Class!

• Thespian Success at State!

  Our students recently participated in the State Thespian Virtual Competition and performed outstandingly. Four students earned Excellent ratings, while an impressive 12 students received Superior ratings. Those who earned Superior ratings are now qualified to compete at the National Festival at Indiana University this June!

• The SAT Digital Readiness Check will take place on Wednesday, February 26th during FIT. 11th grade students will go to their testing location, 9th & 10th grade students will go to FIT, and 12th grade students will go to the MAC for a graduation meeting.

• All AP payments are due by March 7th.  You may pay your balance at www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/440300.

• We are rolling out a new hall pass system over the next couple of weeks. The new system will help manage the number of students in the hall at one time and be able to provide real time data on hallway activities. Additionally this new system will also assist with FIT sign ups moving forward. There will be more on that piece in next week's update.

Friday A/B Rotation Schedule

Friday, February 28th will be an A Day

Friday, March 7th will be a B Day

Calendar Highlights

Monday, March 3rd, CAC and PTSA meeting in the school Library. CAC will start at 5:30 pm.

Tuesday, March 4th, SAT Day for Juniors.

Friday, March 14th, Student Holiday, the front office will be open on a modified schedule

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

• Mon 2/24: Academic Advising

• Tue 2/25: Black History Table Talks cont.

• Mon 3/3: Academic Advising

• Tue 3/4: Sat Day - No Round Table

Flexible Instructional Time (FIT).

• Week of February 24-28

  • Wednesday

    • Freshman and Sophomores FIT as normal

    • Juniors - SAT Digital Readiness Check - Students will report to testing room locations with their fully charged chrome book. Click here for more information, including a link to a practice guide.

    • Seniors - meeting about graduation in the MAC

  • FIT Sessions as normal on Thursday and Friday

• Week of March 3-7

  • FIT Sessions as normal on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

This past week our campus received five RAVE awards honoring the outstanding contributions of our amazing staff!

• Angie Seckar Martinez - My son has Ms. Seckar for Algebra first thing in the morning. He’s often tired and the content is hard, but he talks often about how much he appreciates that Ms. Seckar sees him, is kind to him, and makes an effort to connect and help him with the material. It really makes a difference.

• Gabe Adame - My son has had some disciplinary and attendance issues this year and Mr. Adame has dealt with him kindly and fairly and has supported and cheered him on in his efforts to make up for missed classroom time. My kid feels comfortable and supported meeting with him. He sees him as a resource in the school, and I’m very grateful for that.

• Natalie Uehara - Ms Nat cultivates an inclusive learning environment that truly supports and welcomes all Mac students - fine arts and non-majors alike. She promotes independence, mentorship, leadership, encourages learning in and outside of the classroom setting - and keeps caregivers informed through excellent communication!

• Lia Ferrante - Ms. Ferrante engages kids of all kinds. She is smart, kind, down to Earth, funny, compassionate, well organized, interested, interestING, and truly seems to care about her students and the greater community. My son, who has struggled with school for most of his life, loves her class and reports that she is his favorite teacher. Thank you, Ms. Ferrante, for all of the time and energy you put into making learning fun!

• Cat O'Neal - I am Incredibly grateful for her presence at Mac. She is such a light and has such a positive way of interacting with the kids and parents. My daughter loves Her yoga/mindfulness classes during fit and really looks up to her. I’m just so grateful that my daughter has such amazing humans like coach O'Neal around her and I’m sure others feel the same.

Thank you to the parents and students who took the time to submit these RAVES. I know these little shoutouts mean the world for our staff and provide a much needed pick-me-up. I would love to hear about the staff that makes a difference in your child's life. Please take a moment to recognize their contributions using this link; AISD RAVE. 

Congratulations to members of the McCallum Swim/Dive Team on a terrific showing at the UIL Region 7-5A Championships. Many swimmers set personal best times for the year and all of our individual entries advanced to both consolation and championship finals! Highlights include: Viggo Gonzales finished 14th in the 200 Free and moved up to 13th place in the 100 Free. Kiyomi Rathnasingham finished 10th in the 100 Butterfly. Liam Schelfhout finished 15th in the 500 free, just missing 14th by .59! Julep Ulack moved from 8th to 7th place in the Championship Finals of the 100 Backstroke, just missing setting a new team record by .26!

Iris Burns-Trahanovsky finished 2nd in 1 Meter diving and will represent MAC at the UIL State meet taking place at UT Austin this Friday and Saturday!!

Relay Results:
Girls 200 Medley - 14th
Boys 200 Medley - 11th
Girls 200 Free - 11th
Boys 200 Free - 11th (up from 12th)
Boys 400 Free - 11th (up from 12th)

Hello MAC community!

The Counseling Department and Twilight program are seeking donations of snacks/simple microwaveable meals. Below is a suggested list of items. All products shipped or dropped off to MAC, please address to the "counseling department" and we'll sort donations for program needs.

Thank you so much for your consideration and support to MAC students. We really appreciate YOU! 

Questions? Please email Ms. Cristela Garcia at: cristela.garcia@austinisd.org 

CheezIts 

Goldfish

Skinny Pop popcorn (or other brand)

Pretzles/chips/assorted

Granola & protein bars

Mac n'cheese microwaveable cups

Fruit bars/dried fruit individual packs

Trail mix

Microwaveable soups

Microwaveable oatmeal

Beef jerky

Cheese/peanut butter crackers/assorted

(cannot use ramen that needs to be cooked)

Austin ISD Special Education is developing an Inclusion Workgroup that fosters equitable and inclusive educational environments for students with disabilities. This group will comprise family and community members, campus administrators, teachers, teacher assistants, and speech & related services providers. Members will collaborate to assess current inclusive practices, identify areas for growth, and implement strategies to support students effectively. 

Monthly meetings will begin in April and continue through the 2025-2026 school year (no meetings during the summer months). If you want to join this group, please complete the AISD Special Education Inclusion Workgroup Application by Friday, March 7th, 2025.

For further information or to discuss specific questions, please contact the Director of Instructional Delivery, Inclusion, and Related Services Bailey Gates Bailey.Gates@austinisd.org.

Austin ISD is thrilled to announce its 2025 Summer Internship Program, designed to provide valuable internship experiences to high school students. This program aims to expand and enrich students' skills and work experience, setting them up for future success.

What: Austin ISD's Summer Internship Program
When: June 9 – July 24 (with a break during the July 4th week), 6-week program, 20 hours per week
Who: Open to current Austin ISD 9th, 10th, & 11th graders (rising 10th, 11th, & 12th)
Where: Partner companies and organizations across the city
Why: Interns will gain work experience, skills development, community engagement, and a $2,000 stipend for living expenses

Partnership
The Austin ISD Summer Internship Program is made possible by the Austin Ed Fund and the Austin Chamber.

How to Get Involved
Students: If you are interested in participating as a student intern, please complete the student interest form by February 28. Student interns will be notified by April 7 (new date).

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to gain real-world experience and build your future!

As promised, we will continue offering final exam waivers for this semester, but with a couple of important modifications. In order to qualify for the waiver program, students must now maintain 90% attendance in all of their classes. Additionally, students will need to have a minimum 80 average in any class for which they wish to use a waiver. These changes are aimed at encouraging consistent attendance and academic performance, ensuring that students are fully engaged in their learning throughout the semester. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to support student success!

Thank you for taking the time to read the weekend update! At McCallum, we are always striving to improve, and I truly value the input of our parents and students. If you have any concerns or suggestions on how we can make McCallum an even better place, I encourage you to reach out. Your feedback is invaluable! Together, we can continue to make McCallum a place where every student thrives.

Austin ISD will be offering a free SAT test to each junior on Tuesday, March 4th. I want to highlight the significance of this assessment and the opportunities it presents for our students. The SAT, or Scholastic Assessment Test, is a standardized exam widely used for college admissions. It assesses students’ readiness for college and is a key factor in the admissions process. To prepare for success, students can utilize resources such as practice exams, study guides, and online tools. The SAT will be administered as a digital test and will require each student to bring their fully charged Chromebook on the day of the test. McCallum will follow the same test procedures we used for the PSAT to ensure a seamless testing experience. Encourage our juniors to take advantage of this opportunity as they embark on their journey toward higher education.

Click here for more information, including a link to a practice guide.

As we go through the month of February, we proudly celebrate Black History Month, a time to reflect on the rich cultural contributions and achievements of Black individuals throughout history. This month serves as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the past, honor those who paved the way for progress, and acknowledge the ongoing journey toward equality and justice. Our school is committed to fostering an environment of inclusivity, learning, and growth, and we encourage everyone to take part in the activities and discussions that highlight the importance of Black history and its impact on our shared future. Let’s come together to celebrate, learn, and be inspired by the legacy of Black leaders and changemakers.

Spearheaded by our Students of Color Alliance, a series of enlightening events has been curated to foster awareness and appreciation for the diverse and impactful narratives that have shaped our world

Don't miss MacTheatre's production of Freaky Friday: The Musical, the classic Disney story about a mother and daughter who magically swap bodies and must race against time to switch back before the wedding of the year. As they navigate each other’s chaotic lives, they uncover surprising truths, mend broken relationships, and discover the unshakable bond between them. Packed with heart, humor, and catchy songs, this hilarious and heartfelt show is sure to provide a fun and unforgettable experience for all.

February 20-March 2, 2025

Thurs-Sat at 7pm and Sun at 2pm

McCallum Arts Center 5600 Sunshine Dr.

Tickets: mccallum.ludus.com

Is you child interested in trying out for McCallum Blue Brigade? Coach Searle and Ms. Friedman will host a parent information night on Feb. 24. Contact Coach Searle for more information.

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