Travis TAG School Newsletter

Dear Travis TAG Families,

As we begin a new week together, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the energy, commitment, and heart our families and students bring to Travis TAG each day. We are now well into the rhythm of the school year, and I am inspired by the way our Timberwolves are embracing challenges, building connections, and showing what it means to be part of this extraordinary community.

Our theme, Timberwolves on a Quest: Reaching New Heights, is more than just words it is the way we approach each day with curiosity, determination, and courage. Already, I see students leaning into new opportunities, staff elevating instruction, and families standing alongside us in partnership. Together, we are setting the standard for gifted and talented education.

This week’s newsletter highlights important updates and celebrations, including details about our 8th Grade Picture Day, the PSAT 8/9, and more. Each of these moments reflects our shared commitment to preparing students not just for today, but for the bright futures ahead of them.

Thank you for walking this quest with us. Your support, encouragement, and partnership ensure that every Timberwolf has the chance to reach new heights.With gratitude and excitement,
Principal Mercon
Travis TAG

At Travis TAG, grades reflect what students know, understand, and can do—not just task completion. Our goal is to challenge students with rigorous academics while providing the support they need to grow and succeed.

Grading Breakdown

• Grades 4–5: Classwork & Assignments 55%, Tests 20%, Projects 25%

• Grades 6–8: Classwork & Assignments 50%, Tests 20%, Projects 30%

Late Work
Students always have an opportunity to turn in late assignments. For unexcused late work, there may be a small deduction, but the focus is on responsibility, not punishment. For absences, students have two school days per day missed to make up work with no penalty if submitted on time.

Why this matters now

The 1st Nine Weeks ends on Wednesday, October 8th. This is a great time to:

• Check PowerSchool for grades and missing assignments.

• Talk with your child about progress and goals.

• Reach out directly to teachers with questions or concerns about grades or assignments.

Together, we can support our Timberwolves in building strong habits and finishing the grading period successfully.

Click the green button below for a more in-depth review of our Travis TAG grading policy.

On Wednesday, September 24, our 8th grade Timberwolves will take their Underclass Pictures. These photos are more than just portraits—they will be featured in our new 8th Grade Hall of Fame, a tradition we are proud to begin this year at Travis TAG to celebrate and honor our students.

To ensure consistency:

• Boys should wear a plain white shirt under their uniform.

• Girls should wear a black spaghetti strap top under their uniform.

Families will also have the opportunity to purchase photos through LifeTouch, and ordering information will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

This is a milestone moment for our 8th graders, and we are so excited to see this tradition come to life as we celebrate their journey and achievements.

On Wednesday, October 23, all of our 8th grade Timberwolves will take the PSAT 8/9. This is an important step in their academic journey, as it sets a baseline for college and career readiness, highlights strengths, and identifies areas for growth before high school.

The PSAT 8/9 is the first assessment in the SAT Suite of Assessments. It allows students to practice in a low-stakes environment, become familiar with test-taking strategies, and receive valuable insights into future pathways. Students’ score reports also provide free personalized practice tools and career snapshots to help them begin exploring their interests.

This baseline is also the foundation for future opportunities. As students progress, they will eventually take the PSAT/NMSQT, which is the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Starting early with the PSAT 8/9 builds confidence and skills that can help students prepare for those future milestones.

We encourage families to view this as more than a test—it is the beginning of preparing for high school and beyond.

Together, we can support our 8th graders as they take this exciting next step toward reaching new heights!

Each week, this section highlights questions submitted by families and provides responses directly from Principal Mercon. Our goal is to keep communication open and transparent so that every parent feels informed and connected to what is happening at Travis TAG.

All questions submitted through the form are included in upcoming newsletters along with responses. To protect student and family privacy, questions and answers may be lightly edited for clarity.

👉 You can submit your questions anytime using the button below.

❓ Where can we see the days and times the different clubs meet? Do we need to sign up for a club or just show up?

We are still finalizing details while we collect the required Parent Consent Forms. Students must have this form on file in order to participate. Once the process is complete, we will publish a comprehensive list of clubs with meeting days, times, and sponsor information. This information will be posted on our website, and I will share the link in a future newsletter so families have easy access.

❓ This week’s newsletter mentioned elementary clubs would be starting, but said middle school clubs were during class. Does this mean there are no before/after school middle school clubs beyond the electives they’ve selected? When do the middle school clubs that aren’t an elective (like chess, UIL, etc) meet?

Middle school district clubs such as UIL, Chess, and TMSCA are built into the student schedule as part of electives. However, these clubs also have practices and competitions that occur outside of the school day. Students will not be allowed to participate in those without a signed Parent Consent Form on file. As with elementary, we are finalizing schedules and will publish them online soon for families to reference.

❓ My child's backpack is SO heavy this year (6th grade), and they have shared they cannot leave items in the lockers overnight so must carry a laptop, all notebooks and binders for classes, not to mention lunch and water. I'm concerned about the impact this has on kids' developing spine and health (see research like this: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6267109/). What can be done to help lighten the load of student backpacks?

We recognize this concern and encourage families to help students organize and plan ahead. One strategy that works well is having two backpacks, one for A Days and one for B Days, so materials are divided by schedule. Students can also receive an additional clear backpack from the main office or from our counselor, Mr. Smith. For safety, items may not be left in lockers overnight, and lockers remain unlocked. We encourage students to review their schedule the night before and only bring the materials they need for the following day.

Mark your calendars for High School Night on October 14th—an exciting evening where Travis TAG families connect with Dallas ISD high schools, explore programs, and begin charting the path ahead.

This night is open to ALL our middle school students and families! And we won't turn away any elementary families 😉.

Monday 9/22 (A Day)

• Spirit Day: College and Dallas ISD High School
• Advisory: Kindness and Integrity · Organization

Tuesday 9/23 (B Day)

• Advisory: Knowledge · Study Hall

Wednesday 9/24 (A Day)

• 8th Grade Underclass Picture Day
• Advisory: Kindness and Integrity · Organization

Thursday 9/25 (B Day)

• Advisory: Knowledge · Study Hall

Friday 9/26 (A Day)

• Spirit Day: Travis TAG
• Advisory: Kindness and Integrity · Organization

Middle School reminder: On Study Hall Advisory days, students may visit other teachers with a signed pass. This procedure has been in place since the first week of September.

We know that planning ahead is important for families, and we want to make it easier to stay informed and prepared for the year ahead. We are excited to share two key calendar resources with you:

📘 Middle School A/B Day Calendar (Grades 6–8 Only)

Our 6th–8th grade students follow an A/B day rotation to support our block schedule. This calendar outlines which days are designated as "A Days" and "B Days" throughout the school year.

📎 Click here to view the A/B Day Calendar

📙 Comprehensive School Events Calendar

This calendar includes major events, testing windows, holidays, family nights, PTA events, and more.

📎 Click here to view the Full 2025–2026 Travis TAG Events Calendar

🔄 Please note: These are working documents and subject to change throughout the year.These calendars are living documents and may be updated as needed. We’ll continue to keep you informed of any changes.

Thank you for staying connected—we’re looking forward to an amazing year together!

October 3 - First Friday Coffee 8:45 AM in the Library

October 9 - Fall Break

October 10 - Fall Break

October 13 - Student Holiday/Staff Professional Development

October 14 - High School Night

October 21 - Student SEL Survey

October 21 - Middle School Parent Conference Night (more info coming in an upcoming newsletter)

October 23 - Elementary School Parent Conference Night (more info coming in an upcoming newsletter)

🔗 Click the button below to view our full calendar of events. Please note this is a working calendar and is subject to change as the year progresses.

Travis TAG uses the Remind app to send out important school updates, reminders, and announcements.

If you're not already receiving our messages, please sign up by joining the appropriate class code(s) below based on your student’s 2025–2026 grade level:

🏫 Schoolwide Announcements

• Class code: @travis-tag

🚌 Travis TAG Bus Announcements

• Class code: @travisbus

📚 Grade-Level Codes:

• Grade 4 – @wbt2030
• Grade 5 – @wbt2029
• Grade 6 – @wbt2028
• Grade 7 – @wbt2027
• Grade 8 – @wbt2026

How to Join:
✅ Download the Remind app
OR
✅ Text the class code (e.g., @wbt2028) to 81010
OR
✅ Sign up at remind.com/join

Already joined last year?
No need to sign up again! We move students up automatically with their grade level, so your messages will continue without interruption.

Thank you for staying connected—we look forward to an amazing year ahead!

📣 Staying in the Loop

In addition to Remind, you’ll receive regular newsletters and email updates. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in PowerSchool, and follow our website and PTA Facebook group for the latest!

🧩 Join the PTA

Support our school community by becoming a member of the Travis TAG PTA!

🌐 Join online: www.joinpta.org
➡️ Select: Dallas ISD – William B. Travis Vanguard and Academy

⚠️ Please Note: PTA membership renews annually. If you joined prior to August 1, 2025, your membership has now expired. To stay active for the 2025–2026 school year, you’ll need to re-enroll beginning today, August 1.

📘 PTA Facebook Group
Stay in the loop with updates, events, and community conversations.
🔍 Click and join: Travis TAG PTA

📰 PTA WolfTracks Newsletter
All WolfTracks newsletters are available at this link:
👉 PTA WolfTracks Newsletters

If you would like the newsletters delivered directly to your inbox, you can sign up here:
👉 Subscribe to PTA Newsletters

We are grateful to our PTA for keeping families updated and connected through WolfTracks.

👕 School Spirit Stores
Show your Timberwolf pride all year long!

PTA Spirit Wear Store: open now! Find the online spirit store on the PTA website.

Your partnership with PTA helps bring enrichment events, student celebrations, and more to our campus. Thank you for your continued support!