As we transition into this new month, we are proud to celebrate the start of Black History Month. To kick off the festivities, several McCallum students had the distinct privilege of attending the Black History Month Flag Raising Ceremony at Akins High School. The event featured incredible student performers from across AISD, including a powerful showing by our very own Knight Steppers and Laelani Croan. Back here on campus, our Students of Color Alliance has been hard at work planning engaging activities throughout the month to help us commemorate and reflect together.

Enrollment Updates: Enroll Austin

Today marks the conclusion of Round 1 of enrollment/registration through the Enroll Austin platform. Please remember that this initial window was specifically for students applying for consideration and entry into application-based programs, such as our Fine Arts Academy.

Looking ahead, Round 2 officially opens on Monday, February 16th. This is the primary window for all current McCallum families to complete their registration for the 2026-27 school year. Enroll Austin serves as your "one-stop shop" for: completing basic registration forms, uploading required documents, and filling out the new parental release forms covered under SB 12.

Our goal is to reach 100% enrollment by the end of Round 2 on April 10th. Getting this done early helps us plan effectively for the coming year, so thank you in advance for your diligence!

National School Counseling Week

Finally, I want to send a heartfelt shout-out to our beloved counseling team. I must apologize for leaving our newest member of our counseling team off the list last week; our new College and Career Counselor, Dr. Jodi Denyszyn.

This week is a perfect reminder of the vital role our counselors play in shaping our campus culture. Whether they are navigating course selections or providing emotional support, our students know just how much this team truly cares about their success and well-being. I am incredibly grateful to work alongside such a talented and dedicated group of individuals. 

Calendar Highlights.

• Monday, February 16th - Student Holiday - School offices open on an adjusted schedule.
• Tuesday, February 17th - Parent Conference Day/Student Holiday

• Monday, March 2nd - CAC meeting at 5:30 pm followed by PTSA at 6:30 pm. Both meetings are held in the library. Attendees may enter through the blue double doors.

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.

Since my last update our campus has received five RAVE awards honoring the efforts of our amazing staff

Sara Zettner - Sara has a very hectic job, managing phone calls, emails, prioritizing safety with students/parents/staff/visitors coming in and out of the building. As an office volunteer, I’ve noticed on several occasions how patient and problem-solving oriented Sara is with students, staff and parents. McCallum is lucky to have her!

James Hutcheson (from a student) - Coach Hutch has been an incredible coach for the wrestling team this year. He has motivated and taught us many things, and works diligently for our benefit during the time he could have been spending for himself, but instead chose to give to the wrestling team.  Thank you so much! We appreciate you!

Julie Rigby - I have to share a huge rave for Ms. Rigby, my son’s math teacher at McCallum. Math has been a significant challenge for us, but Ms. Rigby has stepped in with a level of dedication I’ve never seen. She’s gone completely outside her job description to ensure he’s earning his credits and actually understanding the material. What touches me most is that she stays on top of him just like a parent would, recognizing his specific hurdles and refusing to let him skip through the cracks. It is such a relief to know my son has an educator who cares about his future as much as we do. We are beyond grateful!

Lia Ferrante (from a student) - She is the best teacher I have had! She puts a lot of effort into her lesson plans to make sure it’s fun but also teaches us something new. She cares a lot about her students and her job!

Nicollette Muller - Ms. Muller is consistently kind, professional, and incredibly accommodating with her work on my child’s schedule and our many questions and emails. She’s coordinated extra resources that have been a game-changer for us and truly goes above and beyond.

If a staff member has made a meaningful impact on your or your student’s life recently, please consider letting the district know! You can submit a nomination through the AISD RAVE link. It only takes a moment and is a wonderful way to show your appreciation for our community.

Please mark your calendars for our Spring Parent-Teacher Conference Day on Tuesday, February 17th.

As a reminder, these conferences are now a formal requirement under Senate Bill 12, which mandates two official conference days per school year. While we value the opportunity to connect with all our families, we are focusing our initial outreach on specific priority areas to ensure support is provided where it is most needed.

Priority Outreach

For this spring session, we are prioritizing scheduling appointments for families of students who fall into the following categories:

Academic Support Needed: Students scoring below a 75 in any core class (ELA, Math, Science, or Social Studies) or below an 85 in most electives.

Attendance Concerns: Students who are chronically absent (missing 2+ periods this year) or are tardy at least once per week.

Behavioral/Conduct Changes: Students showing new behavior concerns or noticeable shifts in conduct.

Additional Outreach

If priority appointments have been scheduled and time slots remain available, we will also be reaching out to families regarding:

Academic Decline: Students who may not be below a 75 yet but are showing a noticeable downward trend in their grades.

Social/Emotional Concerns: Students who may benefit from a check-in regarding their overall well-being or social adjustment.

Note on Accessibility

Please remember that all families have the right to request a conference, regardless of their student’s current academic or behavioral performance. To ensure we are meeting the needs of our entire community, our teachers will work directly with you to accommodate conference requests that may fall outside of this designated day.

We look forward to collaborating with you to support your student's success!

FEB 19-22; FEB 26-Mar 1 | MCCALLUM ARTS CENTER

Mistaken identities, unlikely romances, and plenty of tap shoes collide aboard a transatlantic ocean liner! Anything Goes, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, is a classic good-time musical with music, mayhem, and a whole lot of style!

When stowaway Billy Crocker boards the S.S. American to pursue the woman he loves, he finds himself tangled up with a nightclub singer, a lovestruck heiress, a public enemy, and a ship full of eccentrics. 

Don’t miss this rollicking good time on the high seas with the cast and crew of MacTheatre. 

2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission

Recommended for ages 10+

Buy your tickets now and save! There is an additional $2 charge for tickets bought at door, except at the student rate.

Check out our Instagram or Facebook pages for a sneak peek at rehearsals!

Hello from your new College and Career Counselor!

I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself to those of you who I have not met yet. As I jump in mid-year, I also want to thank you for your patience in my first few weeks at MAC. With that said, please do not hesitate to swing by
Room 130 for college and career help. And I know it gets busy in the College & Career Center.

If you would like to sign up for an individual appointment, please request an appointment here:
Appointment request.

Midyear transcripts & midyear reports
Seniors, all documents were sent to the Common App colleges you applied to.

Important
As a graduation requirement, seniors need to provide Dr. D with evidence showing completion
of a FAFSA. Or, seniors can complete an ‘opt out’ document for FAFSA. To ‘opt out’, click on this
form: FAFSA Opt Out form. You will need to print the document and sign it, then give the
paperwork to Dr. Denyszyn.

If seniors have already emailed proof to Ms. Nix, Dr. Denyszyn does not have access to
Ms. Nix’s email account and needs FAFSA evidence as a graduation requirement. Please
submit or resubmit FAFSA evidence here: FAFSA completion.

Interested in attending Austin Community College after graduation?
Are you a current senior interested in attending ACC after graduating from MAC? Or, are you a
current senior who is unsure of what’s next and is curious about attending ACC after
graduation? Please let Dr. D know by completing this short form and interested seniors will be
invited to attend a workshop with an ACC recruiter in Room 130. ACC Day for Seniors.

Scholarships
Please use this link Updated SCHOLARSHIP DATABASE. to get more information about
scholarship opportunities. Dr. D updates this document weekly. Be sure to let Dr. Denyszyn
know what scholarships you were awarded so we can celebrate you at graduation! Document
awards here: Class of 2026 Scholarship Awards

Below is an example of what the screenshot of a completed FAFSA looks like and this is what Dr.
D needs as proof. Your name and the completion date need to appear below the hot air
balloons.

Attention 11th-grade students and families! The SAT School Day is approaching on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. This is a key opportunity for all juniors to demonstrate their college and career readiness right here on campus.

Important Information

Digital Readiness Check: February 25th during FIT (Students must bring their Chromebooks to complete the exam setup.)

Test Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Location: McCallum High School

Testing Group: 11th Grade Students (students are automatically registered)

Time: Students should arrive on time and be prepared to begin testing at 9:05.

What to Bring: A fully charged Chromebook and a charger. (Unfortunately, we do not have any extra chargers available)

Testing Locations will be posted in the hallway.

To help your student prepare, we recommend the following resources:

Khan Academy SAT Prep (Free, personalized practice) – https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

College Board SAT Practice Tests – https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/practice/practice-tests

Official Practice SAT-Suite: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/practice

SAT Student Guide 

Congratulations to our McCallum visual art students for an outstanding showing at the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards!

McCallum earned the most honors in the region with 31 Honorable Mentions, 16 Silver Keys, and 17 Gold Keys.

A special congratulations to our American Vision Nominees — an elite recognition given to only five students in Central Texas. McCallum proudly earned three of those five spots:
Paulina Chandler, Eloise Darnall, and Mira Patel.

Gold Key artwork now advances to national judging in New York City, with national medalists honored at Carnegie Hall this June. Updates to come this spring!

LINK TO ONLINE ART GALLERY

Mira Patel, A Thousand Saffron Threads (oil painting with mixed media)

The MAC tennis team invites anyone interested in joining the team, along with their parents, to an informational meeting this Monday, February 9th, at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be held at the tennis courts on the Grover side of the school. All levels are welcome, from beginners to experienced players!

McCallum Baseball has partnered with Tiff Treats for a super SWEET fundraiser.  From Feb 2nd - 15th, every cookie purchased using the MCBBMT code at checkout will generate a generous donation totaling 20% of your order. 

Hey Families & Supporters

Friendly reminder — we’re down to the final days of our no hassle fundraiser. 

Every dollar raised directly supports our student-athletes with nutrition, equipment, and team experiences.

Any amount helps:
$25 • $50 • $100 • $250 • $500 • $1,000

Donate Here -- Mac Soccer Family Fundraiser (https://my.cheddarup.com/c/mac-boys-soccer-2026)

The Mac Soccer Booster Club is hosting a Spirit Night at Cabo Bob’s on Anderson Lane and Shoal Creek

Skip cooking dinner on Tuesday 2/10 and come to Cabo Bob's between 5-9 PM

Tell them that you are supporting Mac Boys’ Soccer!

The MAC PTSA Scholarship applications for the 2025-26 school year are now officially open! This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to get support for their future endeavors. Please see the MAC PTSA 2025-26 Scholarship Flyer below for more information on the application process and requirements.  

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.

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 - Jodi Denyszyn - jodi.denyszyn@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

We will be competing against other central Texas high schools on Saturday, February 7th (and 8th if we advance to the final rounds).

You have an opportunity for free tickets to be a part of the live studio audience at PBS Studios at ACC Highland Campus.  The competition will be released later on YouTube - past episodes here.

Use this link to request your free tickets, making sure to select McCallum.  

We compete at 10:30 a.m. against St. Michael’s.  Doors open at 10:00 a.m. for our audience.  Wear school colors and be prepared for an exciting round of trivia, featuring Senior Sutton Banning, Juniors Elizabeth Nation and Mitch Peters, and Freshman Alex Leon.  The quiz team coaches, Clifford Stanchos and Jennifer Richter, will be in the audience, along with our alternates, Senior Will Bowman and Junior Sophia Kaman.

Parking is free at the ACC Highland South parking garage.

We thank you in advance for your support in this exciting opportunity to showcase McCallum’s academic talent.  We have been meeting weekly for over a month to prepare for this competition!

Coach Clifford Stanchos

Pictured below: Our team after qualifying for the competition, where (from left to right) Mitch Peters, Alex Leon, Sutton Banning, Will Bowman, Coach Clifford Stanchos, Sophia Kaman, and Elizabeth Nation completed a 50 question team trivia test.

The Scheduling Process

Over the next month, our counseling team will visit English and History classes to introduce the Universal Choice Sheet. These sessions are designed to help students understand how different electives align with their specific graduation plans.

Students are encouraged to discuss the presented materials and course options with their families. Once a student has decided on their selections, they will complete a Campus Course Request Form provided by the counseling team. Please keep the following timeline in mind for these classroom visits:

Juniors (Class of 2027): January 26th – January 30th

Sophomores (Class of 2028): February 2nd – February 6th

Freshmen (Class of 2029): February 9th – February 13th

Once choices are finalized, the next step will be for students to enter their selections into our data management system. We will facilitate this process by grade level starting on February 18th.

Parent U is back this spring! This districtwide initiative is designed to support families as they help guide their students through their postsecondary journey. With over 100 families attending each session, Parent U continues to be a valuable resource for our community.

Upcoming sessions will focus on college entrance exams, first-year college transitions, college exploration opportunities, and student mental wellness. We’ve partnered with organizations like Advise Texas and Breakthrough Central Texas, and we’re excited to welcome the College Board for our January session.

When: First Wednesday of each month
Time: 6–7 p.m.
Where: Virtual

Remaining 2025–2026 Sessions:

Jan. 7, 2026: Testing for College — SAT, ACT, TSIA2 & AP Explained

Feb. 4, 2026: What Comes Next? First-Year College Prep for Families

Mar. 4, 2026: College Bound: Don’t Miss These Exploration Events

Apr. 1, 2026: Thriving Through Transitions: Mental Health & School Changes

Register here: https://bit.ly/AustinISDParentU

SIGNS ARE IN:

All signs have arrived!!!!!!  Please stop by at your earliest convenience to pick up your sign!   Address for pick up is 3208 Sunny Lane!

If you missed ordering, we do still have a few generic signs available for purchase.  Please email me if you would like to purchase one! 

BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS

Thank you to our business sponsors!  We are so grateful for your support!!!

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

Harper Phinn Jewelry https://harperphinn.com/

The Gravette Family

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 are up to 82 out of 485 Seniors Sponsorships, so we still have a long way to go!  

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)

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.

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

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

Mental Health Consent Form- https://forms.gle/2zngVCjz5wjac3nk9 

Club Consent Form - https://forms.gle/iWNj24Er5PfsmLiu7

Physical Health Consent Form - https://forms.gle/3kgQb5NQkReLUyT56

Elevate your high school experience by becoming a part of our Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA). As a member, you'll empower students with enriched programs and resources, advocate for their needs, build a supportive community, and stay informed. Join us to make a direct impact on education, foster connections, and shape a brighter future for our students – your involvement truly matters!

Click here to join today!