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Californian graphics editor Gina Germano attended the State Finals with Cal's mock trial team. She drew a scene from a trial as part of the courtroom artist competition.
Acalanes student tries to frame mock trial team
May 7, 2025
District budget cuts expected to have major effects
District budget cuts expected to have major effects
May 7, 2025
COMMUNITY RESISTANCE: Every Tuesday evening, protesters gather outside the CDC to cheer on workers as they leave and speak up against the firings and budget cuts.
Federal officials slash CDC jobs, fire hundreds of Atlanta workers
May 7, 2025
Dominion Energy’s electrical substation in Brambleton is one of the many substations located in Loudoun County to power transmission lines. Residents feel threatened by the proximity of the proposed power lines. “Many students and I attend school for eight to ten hours, so it's scary that a big corporation will have the power to put dangerous power lines so close to our school,” Leana Paradkar said.
High Voltage, Higher Stakes: Residents Protest Dominion Energy’s Power Expansion
May 2, 2025
By Birth or By Blood
By Birth or By Blood
May 2, 2025
Junior Rachel Chen explains her solution to what she considers one of the most fun AIME problems. The problem asks for the number of rectangles that can be formed inside a fixed regular dodecagon, where each side of the rectangle lies on either a side or a diagonal of the dodecagon.
Solving for X
May 7, 2025
Although period products, medication and education have come a long way, there are still current issues and stigma.
Breaking the cycle
May 7, 2025
Lainey Hampton (12) poses in the hallway during the school day on April 17. Hampton recently moved to Michigan from Florida.
One in a million
May 7, 2025
A person with tritanopia, also known as blue-yellow color deficiency, sees the world in mostly red, pink, grey, and turquoise. However, not every person with this deficiency sees the same thing. “It's not that people with the same deficiency are all the same. Some of them are almost color blind, and some of them have such a small change in color sensitivity that you'd have to do deep diagnostic tests to find it. It's a whole spectrum,” said Michael Marmor, M.D., a professor of Ophthalmology and Human Biology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Seeing in shifted shades
May 7, 2025
Theater teacher Marinee Payne sits on the set of "Lend Me a Tenor," the final TP Players production she will direct before retiring. Throughout her 32 and a half years at the school, Payne not only taught a wide range of theater classes but also developed curriculum, directed productions and created a supportive community for generations of students.
End of an era: Marinee Payne retires after 32 years
May 7, 2025
Senior Coy Busick poses with his parents Angie and Mike Busick and his high school coach, Heather Nichols.
College Dream Gets a Big Lift
May 7, 2025
Freshman overcomes brain cancer to skate
Freshman overcomes brain cancer to skate
May 2, 2025
Senior Krish Khanna, a varsity tennis co-captain, leads his team with passion and sportsmanship. His love for tennis started at age 6 and continues to shape his high school experience.
Senior Krish Khanna finds purpose through tennis, leadership
May 2, 2025
If the new policy is implemented, many no cut sports, such as track and field, may see an increase in athletes who only want to get out of a PE class.
Prioritizing the ‘athlete’ in student athlete
May 2, 2025
Senior Carter Stover pitches ball during a game against Liberty April 8 at home.
Carter Stover’s 12-Year Road Through a Stellar Baseball Career
May 2, 2025
Coppell High School senior Pavithra Vijaykumar serves as the president of Coppell Band. Vijaykumar has been a member of Coppell Band for four years, leading through determination and dedication.
Crescendoing to the coda
May 7, 2025
Finishing her night out after attending a local concert, senior Grace Sauers smiles at the camera. She recently started a business, PrettySick, that takes photos as well as sells merch at local concert venues. Next year, she will attend Columbia Chicago College majoring in Graphic Design. “There's such a good communal scene because there [are] great venues in Austin,” Sauers said. “I'm gonna miss it in Austin, but I do know Chicago is good, it's not like I'm going to the middle of nowhere. I just have to find my footing again.” Photo Courtesy of Grace Sauers.
Moments Between The Music
May 7, 2025
Sophomore Brianna Belanger shows sophomore Linq Kaelin how to start a chain during their weekly crochet club, hosted every Tuesday in the library.
Making impact one stitch at a time, crochet club hooks community together
May 7, 2025
Painting a Difference: Student’s nonprofit recognized at Annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards, continues to raise awareness for disabilities
Painting a Difference: Student’s nonprofit recognized at Annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards, continues to raise awareness for disabilities
May 7, 2025
A documentary about Tyler Slippy by Tyrone alum Jeremy Byers will premiere on YouTube on Monday, April 5.
Giving Tyler a Voice: Tyrone Alum Produces Film Honoring Teacher’s Son
May 7, 2025
Theogony's independence is under threat. We need your help.
ACPS is set to initiate a new policy of censorship. We need your help.
May 7, 2025
Close up photo of a bowl of ice that people have been dumping over their heads for the Ice Bucket Challenge.
“Ice Bucket Challenge” makes a comeback
May 7, 2025
The Speak Your Mind Challenge involves participants dumping a bucket of ice water over their head, then posting the act to Instagram with links for donations and mental health resources.
Missing the Point
May 2, 2025
Driven by the false belief that ADHD medication guarantees academic success, pressured students resort to using drugs in pursuit of social recognition.
Teens fake symptoms for drug prescriptions that lead to an illusion of success
May 2, 2025
Board members debated several issues during the Monday meeting, including the availability of documents to parents.
Why Our Leaders Are Failing Us
May 2, 2025
Center Stage ended the year with their spring performance on Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 15. The show included solos by seniors who sang, danced and played instruments.
Spring Center Stage Show Expands to Include Senior Solos
May 7, 2025
LOVELY RITA: Senior designer Rita Hagerty was the lucky winner of the 2025 show. Hagerty participated in the show for her second year. “Rita has incredible dedication and her eye for detail is incredible," one of Hagerty's designer peers said. "I'm glad her hard work paid off.” Each designer put countless hours into the show, sacrificing sleep and free time for the opportunity to share their work with the community. For some of these young designers it may have been their first time participating, some say that the hardest part was finding the time to dedicate to the competition. “Of course, designing the clothes was challenging, but that's what I was expecting," first-year sophomore designer Tallulah McAuliffe said. "It was really hard to find the time to put it all together though. Between school, homework and friends. The show was always following me.” Caption by Isa Truan.
Braving the ‘Wilderness’ together
May 7, 2025
Sophomore Clare Colburn draws a henna design on a child's hand. Henna designing was one of the activities for guests, and art students were able to sign up for different activities they could do during the art show. “One of my favorite activities was Henna because it's a really cool craft and art form that is interesting,” Colburn said. 
Pyramid art show expresses creativity of students
May 2, 2025
Student journalists in the age of the Trump Administration
Student journalists in the age of the Trump Administration
May 2, 2025
If you could do high school all over again what would you do differently? Why? How? In this episode senior journalists and podcasters Kate Saussele and Mia Kirsch share 5 pieces of advice.
Episode 19 – 5 things we wish we knew before starting high school
April 30, 2025
Student journalists in the age of the Trump Administration
Student journalists in the age of the Trump Administration
May 2, 2025
If you could do high school all over again what would you do differently? Why? How? In this episode senior journalists and podcasters Kate Saussele and Mia Kirsch share 5 pieces of advice.
Episode 19 – 5 things we wish we knew before starting high school
April 30, 2025
Junior Dakoda Dement competes in the shot put at the Caney Creek meet. He screamed toward his teammates when he realized he had thrown a personal record.
Dakoda Dement sets new record, chases bigger goals
April 15, 2025
PODCAST Luca Akin cogitates on long-term finance internship
PODCAST Luca Akin cogitates on long-term finance internship
April 2, 2025
Shepherd Perkins: A Peek Into a Budding Artist’s Album
March 27, 2025
LOVELY RITA: Senior designer Rita Hagerty was the lucky winner of the 2025 show. Hagerty participated in the show for her second year. “Rita has incredible dedication and her eye for detail is incredible," one of Hagerty's designer peers said. "I'm glad her hard work paid off.” Each designer put countless hours into the show, sacrificing sleep and free time for the opportunity to share their work with the community. For some of these young designers it may have been their first time participating, some say that the hardest part was finding the time to dedicate to the competition. “Of course, designing the clothes was challenging, but that's what I was expecting," first-year sophomore designer Tallulah McAuliffe said. "It was really hard to find the time to put it all together though. Between school, homework and friends. The show was always following me.” Caption by Isa Truan.
Braving the ‘Wilderness’ together
May 7, 2025
Sophomore Clare Colburn draws a henna design on a child's hand. Henna designing was one of the activities for guests, and art students were able to sign up for different activities they could do during the art show. “One of my favorite activities was Henna because it's a really cool craft and art form that is interesting,” Colburn said. 
Pyramid art show expresses creativity of students
May 2, 2025
REACHING FOR THE STARS: Junior Zane Shieh sings an original song while playing the guitar with his band, Spiral Maze, at the Battle of the Bands last Thursday. He sings the long note of his band’s original song entitled “Reach,” a part of a new album coming soon. “This is my second year doing Battle of the Bands and with Spiral Maze,” Shieh said. “We had a pretty tight set, but I think it went really well, and the crowd liked us a good bit.” Shieh said his excitement toward playing at the Battle of the Bands this year was being able to showcase his band’s new music. “My favorite part was performing our new song, and playing for a bunch of my friends was super sick,” Shieh said. “It was stressful at first—like a little nervous—but it all cleared up right after the first song, and the atmosphere was very chill.” While it was not his band’s first time performing in front of a crowd, Shieh said he loves playing music at his own school and performing original music. “We’ve played at the Austin Rodeo two times and a few restaurants like Tamale House and Freddo’s ATX,” Shieh said. Shieh and his band will be back performing at school at the upcoming first annual McCallum Art Party fundraiser on Feb. 22. Caption by Nate Williams.
Battle of the Bands brings Mac musicians together
April 10, 2025
Junior Paige Mitchell leaps during group performance for Blue Brigade's annual show-off held last Wednesday commencing the contest season.
Twirl, leap and spin into contest season
April 4, 2025
UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT: Senior Sasha Grapko is highlighted on stage by a spotlight during the McCallum Youth Dance Company show this past Thursday and Friday at the AISD PAC. The company put in tireless efforts to make the show a reality with late rehearsals and all-day preparations at the PAC in the days leading up to the show. The show was unique with multiple ensembles performing throughout the night. Since the company consists of students ranging from their freshmen to senior years, the dances vary in complexity which created a balance throughout the program over the two days. Overall, the efforts of the dancers and choreographers paid off, and the show was a success. As Grapko is shining above, every McCallum dancer was able to highlight their commitment to the program with their performances. Caption by Arwen Petellier. Photo by Adele Seeboth
McCallum Youth Dance Company delivers ‘moving’ showcase
March 27, 2025
Center Stage ended the year with their spring performance on Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 15. The show included solos by seniors who sang, danced and played instruments.
Spring Center Stage Show Expands to Include Senior Solos
May 7, 2025
SF's Cherry Blossom Festival
SF’s Cherry Blossom Festival
April 29, 2025
Anti-Elon Musk protestors continue their push to raise awareness about their opinions and beliefs.
Local Tesla Protests
April 29, 2025
Spring Break Trip to Belize
April 22, 2025
Scrambling for eggs? Not here: A looking inside the Masters Dining Hall
April 17, 2025
The best stories being published on the SNO Sites network

Best of SNO
The best stories being published on the SNO Sites network

Best of SNO
All content by Jojo Barnard
LOVELY RITA: Senior designer Rita Hagerty was the lucky winner of the 2025 show. Hagerty participated in the show for her second year. “Rita has incredible dedication and her eye for detail is incredible," one of Hagerty's designer peers said. "I'm glad her hard work paid off.” Each designer put countless hours into the show, sacrificing sleep and free time for the opportunity to share their work with the community. For some of these young designers it may have been their first time participating, some say that the hardest part was finding the time to dedicate to the competition. “Of course, designing the clothes was challenging, but that's what I was expecting," first-year sophomore designer Tallulah McAuliffe said. "It was really hard to find the time to put it all together though. Between school, homework and friends. The show was always following me.” Caption by Isa Truan.

Braving the ‘Wilderness’ together

By JoJo Barnard, Delaney Lavelle, Sienna Martens, Sophia Manos, Maggie Mass, Elizabeth Nation, Callen Romell, Maya Tackett, Priya Thoppil, Isa Truan, Camilla Vandegrift, Nate Williams, and Harriet Zettner
May 7, 2025
Several of the AISD police officers who remained on campus to aid with dismissal after it was deemed safe to lift the secure hold on the campus attended the faculty briefing that took place in the cafeteria immediately after school.

AISD police chief reveals details of threat on McCallum campus, police response to it

By JoJo Barnard and Julia Copas
March 18, 2025
BACKGROUND IN THE BUSINESS: Dressed by junior designer Kaitlyn Gerrie, senior Chamila Muñoz took to the “Dreamland” runway this past weekend. While it was her first time participating in the McCallum fashion show, Muñoz isn’t new to the modeling world. I modeled here and there when I was a lot younger, maybe five or six [years old] for some jewelry brands and small businesses, but not much in recent years,” Muñoz said. Muñoz had hoped to participate in last year’s show but couldn’t due to scheduling conflicts. For her senior year, though, she couldn’t let the opportunity pass her by. “It’s [modeling] something I haven’t done in a while so I was excited to step out of my comfort zone in a way,” Muñoz said. “I always love trying new things and being able to show off designs of my schoolmates is such an honor.” The preparation process for the show was hectic, leaving the final reveal of Gerrie’s design until days before the show, but the moment Muñoz tried on the outfit, all the stress for both designer and model melted away. “I didn’t get to try on my outfit until the day before, but the look on Kaitlyn’s face when she saw what she had worked so hard to make actually on a model was just so special,” Muñoz said. “I know it meant so much to her. But then she handed me a blindfold and told me I’d be walking with it on, so that was pretty wild.” Caption by Francie Wilhelm.

Mac fashion show brings ‘Dreamland’ to reality

By JoJo Barnard, Chloe Lewcock, Callen Romell, Ingrid Smith, Maya Tackett, Priya Thoppil, and Francie Wilhelm
May 21, 2024
TO THE BEAT OF THEIR OWN DRUM: Senior King Perez plays the drums with his band, Red River Trucking Co. at Thursday’s Battle of the Bands. The band had plans to play “Red River Line” as well as a new song they had been working on, “Road Dog Fever,” but later decided to add “12 Gauge Shotgun” and “Lawbreakin’ Man.” “We chose the first two because they’re newer and we feel like they’ve come together and are a good representation of us now,” Perez said. Perez shared that the band performed well overall and that the audience’s reaction was the best pay off. “My most memorable moment from that night was seeing everyone jumping off the stage and moshing,” he said. “It is always awesome seeing people enjoy our music in that way.” Caption by Gaby Esquivel.

Battle of the Bands offers mosh to be proud of

By JoJo Barnard, Julia Copas, Gaby Esquivel, Shila Gill, Evelyn Jenkins, Chloe Lewcock, Helen Martin, Maggie Mass, Caroline Owen, Alice Scott, and Lanie Sepehri
April 12, 2024
Coda Becker practices with his father at Highland Lanes. Despite his relative inexperience, Becker has already taken strides to becoming an elite bowler.

Bowling, balling, Becker

By JoJo Barnard, McCallum High School
March 14, 2024
SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch  of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club. “It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.” Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac. “I think it's important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.” Caption by JoJo Barnard.

Mac celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

By JoJo Barnard, Shila Gill, Evelyn Jenkins, Chloe Lewcock, Beatrix Lozach, Josie Mullan, and Alice Scott
January 12, 2024
WATER BALLOONS AND SMILES: Senior Peer Assistance and Leadership program member Jude Masoni holds up his fellow PAL, senior David Herring, as a human shield to protect himself from the path of an incoming water balloon. Students paid to throw a balloon at the PALS on Tuesday as part of the shooting PAL-ery, one of the Pink Week fundraisers intended to raise money for the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Central Texas, an Austin-based non-profit that provides personalized support to those affected by breast cancer.  Year after year the PALS put on Pink Week in order to raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. The PALS put on a variety of different events the whole week at lunch in hopes of both bringing in profits and bringing an exciting week of fun to the McCallum community.    Herring was made a target of the water balloon by his cross country teammates. “I enjoyed seeing my teammates coming out to donate as I was telling them about it the week prior,” Herring said. “I was also just having fun on that nice day with my fellow PALS. Some of them that did the pallery that day, like Jude, I’ve known since elementary school.” Caption by Chloe Lewcock with reporting by JoJo Barnard.

Pink Week soars to new fund-raising heights

By Sutton Banning, JoJo Barnard, Olivia Dungan, Carlo Hinsdale, Chloe Lewcock, Beatrix Lozach, Helen Martin, and Olin Michalovic
October 31, 2023
SETTING THE STAGE: Senior Lauren Ryan-Holt (Leading Player) welcomes the audience in the show’s opening number, 'Magic to Do.'  As a play within a play, Pippin has many layers to it, including the opening number which is performed as if the cast members were arriving at rehearsal and setting up for the top of the show “It’s the cast's musical bait to the audience,” Ryan-Holt said. “We’re luring them into the production we’re about to put on. We describe the journey and all the magical, fantastic things that will take place along the way. We literally set the stage for both the show and the audience’s expectations.” Ryan-Holt opens the number and leads the other ensemble members until the song turns into a fully choreographed number. However, for Ryan-Holt, the opening seductive chords are her favorite part. “There’s just something so mystical and enticing about how it sounds,” Ryan-Holt said. “It’s the one part where you can feel the full focus of the audience.” Reporting by Alice Scott. Photo by Gergo Major.  

Like its title character, ‘Pippin’ evolving with each act

By JoJo Barnard, Chloe Lewcock, Gergő Major, Alice Scott, Ingrid Smith, and Francie Wilhelm
February 17, 2023
LAST TIME FOR THE TRIO: Seniors and chamber choir members Cate Thomason, Georgiana Murray and Stella Pitts perform “Landslide” in the style of The Chicks during a performance of the annual choir cabaret. This year’s cabaret production, themed “This is the Moment… Be a Light,” featured songs about the choice humans face to build someone up or break them down. Thomason said after four years of performing together, the trio’s personalities blend as well as their voices. For the trio, this Cabaret was bittersweet. “We weren’t that nervous this year because we’ve been singing together for so long,” Thomason said.  “We were mainly just excited and sad that it was our last year singing together.” Former choir directors Malcolm Nelson and Cheryl Lindquist returned to Mac to put on Cabaret this year. Thomason said Nelson and Lindquist’s fun taste in music made the experience even better. “Cabaret is a lot of work but it’s a lot of fun music and an exciting experience,” Thomason said. “We are really fortunate to have Mr. Nelson and Dr. Lindquist coach and help us with everything. I think they’re really good at picking fun songs and putting so much together in such a short amount of time.” Photo by Francesca Dietz. Reporting by Ingrid Smith.

Cabaret 2022 succeeds in bringing the ‘Light’

By JoJo Barnard, Francesca Dietz, Chloe Lewcock, Alice Scott, Ingrid Smith, Camilla Vandegrift, and Francie Wilhelm
December 13, 2022
Senior Maya Cidale (Mal) alongside senior Kathryn Dooley (Evie), junior Henry Mayes (Carlos) and senior Anderson Zoll (Jay) perform "Ways to be Wicked," a number in which the four evils reunite to take over Auradon. For Cidale, developing her character was a significant aspect of her rehearsal process. “It was actually a very interesting process finding my version of Mal,” Cidale said.  “I started off by pretending to be Regina George if she had magic on her side, but then I took a closer look at how all of the iconic mean girls achieved that status. I realized it was all about making people second guess themselves. From that realization, I stemmed every tactic from wanting people to question what they know is right.” Reporting by Alice Scott.

‘Descendants’ brings Disney magic to life

By Jojo Barnard, Chloe Lewcock, Helen Martin, Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, and Francie Wilhelm
October 26, 2022
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