As the end of the school year comes into view, it's a natural time to pause and reflect on the experiences, challenges, and successes that have shaped our journey together. At McCallum and across AISD, we deeply value student voice and believe it plays a vital role in shaping the future of our schools.

With that in mind, we invite all students to participate in the annual Student Climate Survey. This important tool gives students an opportunity to share feedback about their experiences at school. There are two versions of the survey: one for students in grades 9–11, and a separate Senior Exit Survey for our 12th-grade students. Seniors are required to complete their survey as part of the graduation check-out process.

The survey will remain open through Tuesday, May 28. Instructions for accessing the surveys are included in the flyers below, and we will also be incorporating the survey into Advisory lessons this week to ensure all students have time and support to participate.

Thank you for helping us build an even better McCallum.

Student Climate Survey 9th - 11th grades

High School Senior Exit Survey 12th grade

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

• I want to apologize to our AP Psychology students who had their AP exam postponed due to an unforseen technical issue. This technical issue impacted testing across the country. As a result the College Board is considering additional makeup options for students impacted by this outage. We will communicate directly with the students and families who are registered to take the exam with more information.

• Join McCallum Cheer and Blue Brigade for our annual summer kiddie clinics! Students learn cheers, dances, play games, do crafts, and much more! These camps are open to students in the community in going into grades K-8. Both camps end the week with a showoff for the students to show their parents what they learned during camp. Register by July 7th to guarantee a camp t shirt! 

  • Register here for Cheer Kiddie Clinic! August 4-7, 12:30-5 PM

  • Register here for Dance Kiddie Clinic! July 28-31, 1-5 PM

• Parents – Looking for a Unique Summer Camp Experience? Sign your child up for the Inside Out Steelband Camp, an exciting, hands-on music camp where students learn to play steel drums, explore Caribbean rhythms, and perform in a fun end-of-week concert! No experience needed—just a love for music and a willingness to try something new! Click here to find out more.

• Congratulations to the 70 talented students who participated in this year’s Fine Arts Convocation! Your hard work, creativity, and dedication to your craft truly shined, and we couldn’t be prouder. From music and theatre to dance, visual arts, and beyond, you continue to inspire our community with your passion and talent. Thank you for representing McCallum’s Fine Arts Academy with such excellence!

• I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the McCallum PTSA for their unwavering support this year. From organizing events to recognizing our amazing staff, your dedication has made a lasting impact on our school community. Your efforts have helped create an environment where both students and staff can thrive, and we are so grateful for all the ways you’ve made this year special. Thank you for everything you do to support McCallum!

Friday A/B Rotation

• Friday, May 23rd is the first day for early dismissal. School gets out at 1:05 pm

Calendar Highlights

• Friday, May 30th, Class of 2025 Graduation - 10 am at the Toney Burger Activity Center, doors open at 9 am.

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

• Mon 5/19: Student Climate Survey

• Tue 5/20: Student Climate Survey

Flexible Instructional Time (FIT)

• Week of May 19 - 23

  • FIT sessions on Wednesday and Thursday.

  • Finals Begin on Friday May, 23rd

    • 1st and 2nd period Finals

    • School day ends at 1:05 pm

This past week our campus received two Rave awards honoring the efforts of our amazing staff.

• Jenny Warren - Ms. Warren is such a positive influence on our kids. She is supportive, encouraging and really listens. She goes above and beyond for the SPED kids and ALL kids. Her energy is contagious and she truly helps our kids be successful. MAC is so lucky to have her! Thank you Ms. Warren!!

• Jada Stewart - This is Ms. Stewarts first year teaching and she is one of the best teachers my daughter has ever had! She keeps everyone engaged, she is super patient and kind, she is extremely knowledgeable about her subject. She is always happy to help. Her positive attitude is inspiring and makes Mac a better place. My daughter speaks so highly of her and we are so very grateful for her presence at Mac.

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. 

Finals are an important opportunity for students to demonstrate what they’ve learned and finish the semester strong. We encourage all students to do their best, stay focused, and take pride in the hard work they’ve put in this year. Parents, your support in helping students stay rested, prepared, and on time is invaluable!

Here is the Spring 2025 Final Exam Schedule:

Seniors (12th Grade Only)
Tuesday, May 20 – 7th & 8th period finals (during normal class time)
Wednesday, May 21 – 3rd & 4th period finals (during normal class time)
Thursday, May 22 – 5th & 6th period finals (during normal class time)

All Students
Friday, May 23
• 1st Period: 9:05 AM – 11:00 AM
• 2nd Period: 11:10 AM – 1:05 PM

Grades 9–11
Tuesday, May 27
• 5th Period: 9:05 AM – 11:00 AM
• 6th Period: 11:10 AM – 1:05 PM

Wednesday, May 28
• 3rd Period: 9:05 AM – 11:00 AM
• 4th Period: 11:10 AM – 1:05 PM

Thursday, May 29
• 7th Period: 9:05 AM – 11:00 AM
• 8th Period: 11:10 AM – 1:05 PM

School busses will depart campus at 1:15 pm during Final Exams.

One of the most special traditions of graduation season is the Elementary Senior Walk—a moment when our graduating seniors return to the halls of the schools where their educational journey began. Walking through cheering students and former teachers, it's a full-circle celebration of how far they’ve come and the bright futures ahead.

Congratulations, Class of 2025—we’re so proud of you!

• Seniors who attended Davis Elementary: Calling all Davis Elementary alumni! You are invited to attend our Senior Walk on Tuesday, May 27th, at 8am.  Seniors should arrive by 7:45am to check in wearing their graduation regalia.

•  Senior Walks for students who attended an elementary school within the McCallum vertical team will be held on Monday, May 19th. Seniors should arrive at the elementary school by 7:30 am.

  • McCallum Vertical Team:

    • Blackshear Elementary School

    • Brentwood Elementary School

    • Campbell Elementary School

    • Gullett Elementary School

    • Highland Park Elementary School

    • Lee Elementary School

    • Maplewood Elementary School

    • Reilly Elementary School

    • Ridgetop Elementary School

• Oak Springs Elementary School will hold their walk on 5/23 at 2 pm.

• Doss Elementary walk in cap/gown is May 27 at 7:30 am

• Hill Elementary walk in cap/gown is May 27 at 7:30 am

Seniors, the last week of school is going to look a little different for you—and we’ve got a full lineup of events to help you wrap up your time at Mac in a meaningful (and fun!) way.

Friday, May 23 – Final Exams & Senior Breakfast
You’ll finish your final exams on this day, and we’ll celebrate with the Senior Breakfast at 7:30 AM in the Mac Library. This beloved tradition is a great way to close out exam week and kick off your last week as a Knight.

Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day (No School)

Tuesday, May 27 – Senior Checkout Day
Seniors must report to campus to complete the checkout process, which includes:

• Teacher sign-offs for course completion (done during your exams this week)

• Attendance clearance with your AP

• Chromebook return to the library

• Resolution of any outstanding obligations

• Completion of the Senior Exit Survey

• Submission of FAFSA or Opt-Out Form

• Submission of the final Transcript Request Form (sent by Ms. Nix)

• Students may download their own copy of the Checkout Form HERE or pick one up Monday, May 19th in the main office.

• Students are expected to bring the form with them to class starting Tuesday, May 20th.

Seniors with last names A-L will check out during the first exam period, 9:05 am - 11:00 am

Seniors with last name M-Z will check out during the second exam period, 11:10 am - 1:05 pm

Wednesday, May 28 – Senior Carnival
From 1:30–4:00 PM, we’ll transform the north end of campus into a full-blown carnival! Games, rides, food trucks, and prizes await! This is always a highlight of Senior Week and free for the Class of 2025!

Senior parents! Signups for Senior Breakfast and Senior Carnival are LIVE!

Come celebrate with our seniors at the Senior Breakfast (Fri. May 23, 7:30 a.m., Mac library) and the Senior Carnival (Wed. May 28, 1:30 - 4:00 at McCallum) by signing up for a volunteer slot! Slots are filling fast, so sign up today! We hope to see you there!

Senior Breakfast signup: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054FA9AC2CA6FDC07-56666857-2025#/

Senior Carnival signup: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C49ACA728A1F5C43-56602248-mccallum#/

Thursday, May 29 – Graduation Practice
10:00 AM in the MAC Theater. This is mandatory for all seniors who plan to walk the stage. We’ll cover everything you need to know for the big day—this meeting will last about 30 minutes.

Friday, May 30 – Graduation Day
Burger Activity Center (Indoor venue)
Seniors may arrive as early as 9:00 AM but must be there by 9:20 AM
Ceremony begins at 10:00 AM
Please remember: decorated caps are not allowed.

We’re so proud of the Class of 2025 and can’t wait to celebrate your accomplishments all week long. Let’s finish strong, seniors!

We will email a QR code to each student’s school email daily for attendance check-in. Students must complete the form each day—failure to do so may result in receiving a No Credit (NC) for a course.

Join us for a special evening celebrating the creativity, vision, and hard work of our emerging filmmakers! The End of Year Screening showcases a diverse lineup of original work, including narrative fiction, documentaries, and experimental films—each offering a unique perspective and voice.

This event is more than just a screening; it’s a celebration of storytelling, craft, and the future of cinema. Come support the next generation of filmmakers and experience the stories they’re bringing to life.

Free and open to the public.
Don’t miss this inspiring night of film!

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. (andy.baxa@austinisd.org) Your feedback is invaluable! Together, we can continue to make McCallum a place where every student thrives.

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

As part of our ongoing efforts to evaluate and improve the academic experience at McCallum, we are exploring the possibility of adjusting the way we rank our students. Specifically, we are considering a move to only rank students who fall in the top 10% of their graduating class, with students outside of that range not receiving an official class rank.

This potential shift follows the example set by four other AISD campuses—Austin High, Anderson High, LASA, and Ann Richards—that have already made the transition to an unranked system. We believe this change could provide a more equitable approach to ranking and better reflect the diverse strengths of our students.

Importantly, students who would like to know their class rank will still have access to it, regardless of whether they fall within the top 10%. This ensures that students can still apply for awards, scholarships, or other opportunities that require the disclosure of class rank.

To ensure we make an informed decision, we want to hear from you, our McCallum families. I have included the impact study completed by our staff, which outlines the potential effects of this change on our students and the overall academic culture. Please take a moment to review this information and share your thoughts.

If you haven’t yet, we encourage you to complete our brief survey, and we want to thank those who have already shared their feedback. Your input is invaluable as we work together to make the best decision for our students.

Senior Parents! Donate NOW to Sponsor a Senior for Project Graduation!

The Sponsor a Senior Project Graduation Fundraiser is well under way, but we still need help to reach our goal of $25,000.00.

What is Project Graduation?

It is fully community funded and funds go to celebrate the Senior class of 2025! Things like a Senior Carnival and Breakfast, as well as providing UBER codes for a safe ride home after prom and graduation are funded through this group! The hope is that each family donates $125.00 for their senior, but ANY amount helps!  The new tally is 80 families donating so far, with donations ranging from $25 to $1,250!! If you haven't donated yet, here's the link. or you can drop off a check at the Mac office in an envelope marked "Project Graduation!" Help us reach the $20K mark this week!