As we wrap up another school year, I want to thank you, our students, families, staff, and community partners, for the steady support and involvement that help make McCallum such a strong and connected school. That sense of community was especially evident during graduation. Before the ceremony I had the chance to speak with the other principals from our vertical team. Each of them shared how grateful they are for the support they receive, and it was clear that we’re all part of something special. Those conversations reminded me just how fortunate we are to have a community that shows up, works together, and truly cares about our schools and students.

Graduation was a huge success and, without question, my favorite event of the year. Seeing our seniors walk the stage, celebrate their accomplishments, and take the next step in their journeys is always inspiring. I’ll admit—it still feels a bit surreal to be leading the ceremony after spending so many years behind the scenes, but it’s an experience I’m incredibly thankful for.

As summer begins, please take a moment to visit the McCallum website for important updates, including summer reading assignments, strength and conditioning camp details, summer camps for our Future Knights, and other helpful information for the upcoming school year.

Wishing you all a safe and restful summer. Thank you for being an essential part of the McCallum community.

Calendar Highlights

• Friday, August 8th, Freshman Orientation

• Tuesday, August 19th, First Day of School

• Monday, August 25th, Back to School Night

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

• Robert Ely- Mr. Ely has been an excellent, engaging, and entertaining Adv Chemistry teacher this year on top of his work helping to form the district science curriculum. His emails were always informative and funny, and he did a great job keeping parents in the loop. One of the things that I particularly liked that Mr. Ely did was create a little tea corner in his classroom. I think that it is a small thing with a big impact and illustrates his efforts to see his students are whole beings and meet their needs through a calming cup of tea. Thank you Mr. Ely!

• Lia Ferrante

  • My teen wasn't excited about world geography, but Ms. Ferrante made it interesting and fun. My student felt a personal connection with Ms. Ferrante who shares their love of animals and art. As a parent, I am deeply grateful to Ms. F for reaching out to us to let us know how well our teen was doing. It was great to know our teen was in such capable, caring hands!

  • Ms Ferrante connects so well with the students and really sees them. She makes students feel uniquely talented and she takes a moment to praise those talents. This is the kind of encouragement that stays with a young person and makes them see themselves the way she sees them. My daughter was lucky to learn from her this year.

• Nicole Andrews - Ms. Andrews is appreciated so much by our family. She has gone the extra mile to help our child in math this year. Ms. Andrews has worked so hard to help and truly wants to see her students succeed; she doesn't give up on them and won't let them give up either. We're very grateful to her tenacity and extra attention!

• Matthew Whipple - Mr. Whipple supported my teen in advanced geometry when my teen was not sure he could do it! He helped him before school, during FIT, and after school. My teen says that Mr. Whipple was the hardest teacher he has had and also the best which days so much! Thank you for pushing kids while also supporting them!!

• Wilbert Toruno - Mr. T is a such a great part of the McCallum Band program! He always has a smile on his face and is encouraging and supportive of the band students. He recognizes the hard work the students have put in to the show. My band student says that you can't help smiling and feeling happy around Mr. T!

• Letecia Perez - I am on campus often and am always greeted warmly by the custodian staff. Last week, I was on campus two evenings in a row for my older son’s activities, and both evenings I had the pleasure to cross paths with Ms. Leticia. She very kindly helped us access the bathrooms when my six year old needed to the use the facilities, and every time we saw her throughout the evenings, she greeted us with a smile as she went about her work taking care of our school. Thank you Ms. Leticia!

• Jennifer Richter - My son has told me that Ms. Richter has been a fun and engaging teacher this school year in AP US History, but she went above and beyond when she recently had surgery this spring semester and continued to show up to class during her sick leave to help prepare her students for the AP exams. I’m sure that her students would have done well on their exams even if she had stayed home to recuperate, but I think it is a testimony to her dedication to her students that she continued to come to class once she was feeling well enough (but take care of yourself, Ms. Richter! : ) Your health is important!)

• Sam Parrott - Since he started as the Fine Arts Academy Director at McCallum, Dr. Parrott has been very involved in the various departments and has brought a lot of energy to the academy. One of the things that has stood out and has meant a lot is that Dr. Parrott made an effort to attend most of (if not all) the orchestra performances during his tenure. School administrators and teachers are always recognized during the orchestra performances, and Dr. Parrott’s presence was consistent and singular. The school calendar is full and it is impossible for our administrators and teachers to be at every event after putting in a long day’s work, so the fact that Dr. Parrott made an effort to attend the orchestra concerts really reflected his commitment to the program and meant a lot to the students and families. Thank you Dr. Parrott - we will miss you and good luck!

Putting together this section of the weekend update always brings a big smile on my face. I think we can agree - we have the best staff in Austin! Thank you to everyone who took the time to send in a shout-out for one of our incredible team members. I'd still love to hear more stories about the staff members who make a difference in your child's life! AISD RAVE 

We’re kicking off our MAC Summer EOC Camp, designed specifically to support students who did not pass one or more STAAR EOC exams this past spring. This camp offers focused, direct instruction to help students strengthen their understanding and prepare for the upcoming STAAR retests in June.

What to Expect:

• Targeted lessons in core subject areas

• Small group support and individualized instruction

• A supportive environment to build skills and confidence

Camp details and schedules will be shared via email this weekend, so please keep an eye on your inbox.

We’re committed to helping every student succeed and are looking forward to a strong turnout. Let’s finish what we started—together!

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.

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.