![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. [The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jess] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
On Sept. 8, 1953, A. N. McCallum High School, named after AISD’s third superintendent, opened its doors to the 1,336 students enrolled. They weren’t Knights yet because they hadn’t yet picked the mascot. The students would arrive at that decision during the school year.
Plans for a new high school were proposed in 1947, and were made official during a school board meeting on May 9, 1949. At the time, there was only one white high school in Austin, Austin High, which had been open since 1882 and was close to reaching 3,000 students, so the original purpose for McCallum (and also Travis to the South) was to help relieve overcrowding at Austin High. In the 70 years since McCallum opened its doors, its purpose has changed. It has shifted from an overflow center to a school that is a cornerstone of the North Austin community and home to a bustling Fine Arts Academy. To celebrate Mac’s birthday, we are proud to share how McCallum has evolved throughout the years for this week’s Tuesday Top 10.
Spaces
FRONT OF SCHOOL (1953, 2023): When the school first opened in 1953, there was no circle drive, as cars were less common. Over the year, trees, columns and a more prominent sign were added in an effort to make the front entrance of McCallum more inviting. Then photo from 1954 yearbook. Now photo by Julia Copas.
BACK OF SCHOOL (1953, 2023): If you were to stand exactly where the 1953 photographer took the previous picture, chances are you’d get hit by a baseball. Long gone are the open fields surrounding McCallum; in its place are fields with more specific uses including baseball, softball, soccer and football. Then photo from 1954 yearbook. Now photo by Julia Copas.
SOUTH VIEW OF GYM (1953, 2023): Now one of the most popular lunch spots, the courtyard has gone through its fair share of changes, too. Concrete steps make the space more accessible for lunch-goers, and of course the outdoor stage attached to the choir room is one thing of many that makes McCallum, McCallum. Then photo from 1954 yearbook. Now photo by Julia Copas.
CAFETERIA (1953, 2023): While the original 1953 photo features a cafeteria full of students, the modern 2023 photo shows the changes over time: windows and a mural of Austin’s skyline. Then photo from 1954 yearbook. Now photo by Julia Copas.
HALLWAY (1963, 2023): Despite the vast changes that have occurred across campus, the hallways remain exactly the same structurally. Only now, they are in worse shape with water damage stains on the ceiling tiles and leaks that occur when it rains. Then photo from 1963 yearbook. Now photo by Julia Copas.
Spirit
SPIRIT DAYS (1953, 2023): Still ever present in McCallum culture are spirit days before every football game, during homecoming week and throughout the year. On Feb. 26, 1953, McCallum celebrated its first Western Day. The two best-dressed students received tickets to the local rodeo. Although we might not go as far as riding a horse to school anymore, it’s safe to say Mac’s students still show up to spirit days in style. Then photo from 1953 yearbook. Now photo by Lola Guerrero Starling.
BATTLE OF THE BELL (1953, 2022): In 1953, the McCallum and Travis journalism departments purchased a locomotive bell for the two varsity football teams to fight over annually in the “Battle of the Bell.” For the past 12 years, McCallum has kept the bell and will compete to keep it again this year during the game against the Travis Rebels on Oct. 26. Then photo from the 1963 yearbook. 2022 photo by Dave Winter.
SENIOR CAR DECORATING (1963, 2023): The cars might look a little different, but the tradition of senior car decorating has lived on. The 1963 photo depicts Blue Brigade members decorating a car before a football game against Austin High, whom the Knights no longer play in football. Car decorating these days is less for football games and more for senior pride. Then photo from the 1963 yearbook. Now photo by Sophie Leung-Lieu.
HALLWAY DECORATING (1983, 2023): Of course, decorating the halls for various occasions has stayed. What would high school be without walking through halls with streamers hanging from the ceiling and balloons, decorating every nook and cranny? Then photo from the 1983 yearbook. Now photo by Julia Copas.
HOMECOMING MUMS (2000, 2022): Homecoming mums might seem strange to non-Texans, but at McCallum and throughout Texas, they are a tradition that spans the decades. What’s the point of the whole football game and anticipation for who will be on the court without the ribbons and ruffles? Texans may never find out. Then photo from the 2000 yearbook. Now photo by Naomi Di-Capua.
TACO SHACK BOWL (2013, 2023): Although McCallum’s rivalry with Anderson runs deep into the ’70s, the Taco Shack sponsorship of the annual game began in 2001. The last two rivalry games have proved to be less successful for McCallum than in years past, but the spirit that’s brought each year has remained constant. Then photo from the 2013 yearbook. Now photo by Julia Copas.
Student life
SECURITY GUARDS (1973, 2022): In the ’70s, our security guards patrolled the school by horse. These days they don’t ride horses, but they do come in police uniform. Then photo from the 1973 yearbook. Now photo by Sophie Leung-Lieu.
SHIELD ISSUES (1993, 2023): If you’ve read any of our Throwback Thursday articles pulled from our ’90s issues, you’ll know that the style and substance of Shield journalism has evolved quite a bit, but throughout the years, as these companion photos show, have been eager to read the latest issue. Then photo from the 1993 yearbook. Now photo by Dave Winter.
FASHION SHOW (2013, 2023): McCallum’s collective creativity has been expressed through the annual fashion show for many years. The biggest change? The styles. Then photo from the 2013 yearbook. Now photo by Morgan Eye.
This story was originally published on The Shield Online on September 12, 2023.