Weekend Update #3

Principal's Corner

I am not sure what it is about week 2 of the school year but each year it seems to be a little crazy. If you remember last year we dealt with hate speech disguised as free speech when a group of protestors decided to visit our school. This year we had the unfortunate incident on Thursday night after the Taco Shack Bowl. I am very thankful that our students were not seriously injured! I want to take a moment to say thank you to the AISD staff members, AISD Police and AFD who dropped everything to assist our students that night. I was proud to see Knights taking care of Knights!

Friday, September 6th will be a B day.

Click here for the AB calendar

First CAC (Campus Advisory Council) meeting is Monday September 9th. Email Elaine Bohls-Graham, elaine.bohls-graham@austinisd.org, if you are interested in joining.

Here are a few other items that came up during week two.

Back to school night was a success. I enjoyed getting a chance to chat with some our parents. I hope you all enjoyed walking a "mile" in your student's shoes.
Taco Shack Bowl festivities
- Thank you to the Blue Brigade, Cheerleaders and the Drum line for showing the world your MAC pride in the spirit competition at 6 am!
- Students had their first theme day. It was fun seeing the students and faculty in their tropical attire. There may have been a Parrott and a Flamingo sighting that morning (See Mac J Instagram).
- Our first pep rally was fun until it wasn't. The first pep rally involves a little ribbing of the freshman class, and I know some freshman were expecting to be booed. But the level of booing heard during the pep rally was a bit over the top. I apologized to the Class of 2028 on Friday, and reminded our students McCallum values diversity and inclusiveness. I challenge our students to rise to occasion and find a way to break free of traditions that do not fit with our culture. I am all for fun, but should our fun be at someone else's expense?
- I will have more on the actual game below in the Athletic Spotlight. I want to talk about student behavior at the game. Please talk to your students about making good choices while at sporting events. I was disappointed by some of the chants heard coming from the student section. I am a firm believer the only chants you should hear at a YOUTH sporting event are positive ones. We cheer for the Knights not against the other team or referees!!!
The accident Thursday evening was scary and a reminder of how quickly a simple car ride can go bad. I am thankful that no students or staff were seriously injured. This accident is a teachable moment for us as a community. I suspect many of you had the same talk I had with my daughters Friday. We talked about driving awareness and how to avoid some potentially dangerous situations. As a school this is providing us a chance to reflect on our practices to see where we can make improvements.
Friday was our first Safety Drill for the year, we practiced our Lockdown procedures. We will typically have 1-2 safety drills each month. Click here to learn more about our safety drills and AISD Emergency Management Plan.
This week we will begin to secure the outer gates on Houston St. between the portables and the English wing. Students will not be able to enter on the South end of the building and will need to plan accordingly.
It has come to my attention that some of our student are engaging in a back woods fight club in West Austin. We are working to identify the students involved. Please talk to your students about the dangers of engaging in these types of activities. We know how quickly things can escalate and we do not want anyone to get hurt.

Scheduling Update 3

Our counseling team deserves a huge shoutout for the work they have done the first two weeks of school. Our team is continuing to work through the backlog of schedule change requests. Our plan is to resolve the backlog this week, so we can turn our attention to class leveling. Which means some students may see their schedule change in the next two weeks. Our goal with the leveling process is to reduce class sizes in some of our larger classes by moving students to another period. Our team will do everything we can to reduce the impact to a student's schedule. We will look to keep the student with the same teachers when possible. If your student does end up with a different teacher, then keep in mind our teachers plan together and align their curriculum to make transitions like this as smooth as possible.

Lets give them something to RAVE about...

This week I received RAVE awards for 5 of our spectacular staff members. Here is what you had to say:

Bill Cauthern - After the first week of school, Mr. Cauthern is my daughter‘s favorite teacher already. He still hobbling from a surgery this summer, but puts on a friendly face and creates a warm environment to make my freshman feel comfortable and safe. So happy that she wants to go to school. Thank you Mr Cauthern and McCallum for all that you do.

Sara Zettner- I have no idea how Ms. Zettner is able to stay so calm all of the time. On the first day of school there were so many visitors in the office that they had to put spillover chairs in the hallway. There was a parent on the phone who was upset because Ms. Zettner didn't have access to certain student records. There was a man standing at the front desk telling Ms. Zettner about all of the things that everyone on staff was doing wrong. The phone was ringing, the front door was buzzing, and parents and students were getting impatient. Yet somehow Ms. Zettner kept her cool and remained professional in the face of all of this. I definitely could not do her job. Thank you, Ms. Zettner, for all you do for McCallum.

Nicole Andrews - Ms. Andrews develops math lessons that are engaging, informative, and fun for the students. My child took her advanced Geometry class last year and learned to love the math, and is looking forward to more math this year. Ms. Andrews is a gifted teacher who instills in her students a love of math and learning.

Joshua Amy - Shortly before school started, in our 504 meeting he was super helpful, positive and efficient with getting a good plan in place. Our child felt relieved and more confident starting in a new school after this meeting. Kudos to Joshua Amy!

Sam Parrott - Dr. Parrot did an outstanding job leading McCallum teachers and staff through an engaging professional development on Evidence Based Practices and Universal Design for Learning. His presentation style, personal narratives and inflection points made the audience laugh while being actively engaged in learning. He is a tremendous asset to McCallum HS staff and students. Well done Dr. Parrot!

I would love to hear about how one of the McCallum staff members positively impacted your student's life. Click here to submit a RAVE.

High School 101 and College 101 (updated locations)

You are invited to a Knight with our Counseling team on Wednesday, September 4th beginning at 6 pm. Our counseling team will be running two sessions, one geared towards new students and the other for parents of seniors.

High School 101 will be in the LIBRARY. If you are a parent of a freshman student or new to AISD then this is the place for you. Our counselors will go through everything from four year academic planning to tips on how to navigate high school and everything in between.

College 101 will be held in the small theater in the Fine Arts Building. Join our college and career counselor for an in depth look at the college application process. Topics to be covered include graduation requirements, filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and the college application process.

Athletic Spotlight: Exciting Beginnings for Our Teams!

Our volleyball team is off to a strong start this season with an impressive 15-11 record! The players are laser-focused on defending their district championship as they prepare to kick off district play. Be sure to mark your calendars for Friday, September 13th, when we host Navarro High School for what promises to be an exciting home match. Come out and support our team as they aim to continue their winning ways!

In football, our Knights gave it their all in a hard-fought battle against Anderson High School during the Taco Shack Bowl. Though the game ended in a loss, I’m incredibly proud of the team's determination and resilience. They kept the game tight and showed great spirit throughout. Next up, the Knights will face off against Travis in the much-anticipated Battle for the Bell this Friday at 7:30 PM. Let’s pack the stands and cheer them on!

Our cross country team is gearing up for an exhilarating season. If you’re up early, you might spot them running around the McCallum and Brentwood communities as they prepare for their upcoming meets. Their dedication and hard work are sure to pay off, and we’re excited to see what the season holds for them.

Additionally, our tennis and swimming teams are about to dive into their seasons. Both teams are eager to compete and have fun while vying for the district titles. We look forward to their upcoming matches and meets and can’t wait to cheer them on!

Stay tuned for more updates and show your support for all our student athletes. Let’s make this a season to remember!

#GoKnights

Communication Issues with campus sent messages.

I know there have some issues with families not receiving the campus wide messages we send out, including this update that I am writing. I am sorry to those families that are not receiving the messages. I am thankful for the families that are sharing what we send out in an effort to keep their friends and community informed.

I am working with our IT department to figure out the root cause of this issue in order to ensure all families receive our messages. Our IT department believes they have identified one of the biggest issues and is working with the programmers to address this concern. Please continue to be patient as we work through these very serious issues.

In the meantime I will begin to post the Weekend Update on the McCallum website.

Round Table Preview

We have one more week one our adjusted Round Table schedule before we resume our normal weekly routine.

This week's lessons will focus on:

Tues 09/03: Final Exam Incentive Input & How To… Check Grades and Self-Serve

Wed 09/04: How To… Send Emails to Teachers & Finding the Appropriate Person for Help

Thurs 09/05: How To… Tutorials/FIT

Fri 09/06: Review of Advisory/FIT Expectations

2024 FALL MUSICAL: Tuck EVERLASTING

Book by Claudie Shear & Tim Federle

Music by Chris Miller

Lyrics by Nathan Tysen

Based on the novel Tuck Everlasting by Natlie Babbitt

Step into a world where time stands still and every moment is timeless. Follow Winnie Foster’s journey as she uncovers a hidden spring with the power to grant eternal life, forcing her to choose between eternal life and the fleeting beauty of a single lifetime.

September 19-29

McCallum Arts Center

Tickets: www.mactheatre.com

Join the MAC PTSA

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!