Travis TAG School Newsletter

Dear Travis TAG Families,

Happy Friday, Travis TAG Families!

It has been a wonderful first full week of February. After the "unusual" weather that closed out January, seeing our Timberwolves back in the building with such high energy has been the highlight of my week.

Last night, we held our SBDM and PTA meetings, and I want to thank everyone who attended. I had the opportunity to share my Principal’s Report, which focused on our transition from student "compliance" to true student agency. Our goal is to ensure our students aren't just "passengers" in their education, but active "drivers" on their own Quest for excellence.

You will see in the sections below that this vision is coming to life through the hard work of our teachers. This newsletter is packed with vital information, including updates on the 2026 Bond, School Accountability links, and our Kindness Week spirit schedule. Thank you for your continued partnership as we "Reach New Heights" together.

With gratitude,

Principal Mercon
Travis TAG

2023-2024 and 2024-2025 School Report Cards

Each year the state creates a School Report Card to communicate information concerning accountability to parents, guardians, and the community. This is a report required by the Texas Legislature and prepared by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Due to judicial proceedings, the release of the 2024 School Report Card was significantly delayed.

What is included in this report? State law requires that the School Report Card display information about the state, the district, and the school. Where possible, the information is reported by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status of the students and includes at least two years of results.

How to access the reports:

• Campus School Report Card: Click here to find our report card online

• Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR): For a more complete report about our school, you can access the TAPR online here.

Note: This “report card” is for the campus as a whole, not for individual students. If you are unable to access the internet and would like a paper copy, or if you have any questions, please contact the school office.

On Thursday, February 12th, the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to place a $6.2 billion bond on the ballot for the upcoming election this May.

This bond proposal was developed over the course of more than a year by community volunteers and experts appointed to the Citizens Bond Steering Committee. The goal of the program is to continue the work started by the 2020 bond, which funded replacement schools, new facilities, and career institutes, while supporting safety and energy-efficiency upgrades across more than 200 campuses.

What this means for Travis TAG

If approved by voters in May, the 2026 Bond includes specific, significant proposed renovations and building improvements for our campus. These upgrades are designed to ensure our facility continues to support the high-level "Quest" our students embark on every day.

Explore the Details:

• Bond 2026 FAQs: bond.dallasisd.org/bond2026/bond-2026-frequently-asked-questions

• Our Campus: You can view the specific proposed upgrades for Travis TAG here: Proposed School Bond 217 Travis PD

• District Vision: For a comprehensive look at the district-wide projects and the long-term vision for Dallas ISD, please visit the official bond website at www.bond.dallasisd.org.

As a reminder, while school staff can provide factual information regarding the bond proposal, we are legally prohibited from advocating for or against the measure. We encourage all our families to review the facts and participate in the upcoming election.

Next week, February 16th – 20th, Travis TAG is thrilled to celebrate National Kindness Week (also known as Random Acts of Kindness Week).

This annual event is more than just a series of spirit days; it is a dedicated time to strengthen our school community by intentionally promoting compassion, empathy, and generosity. Our SAVE Promise Club students and Ms. Smith have been hard at work finalizing advisory activities designed to show our Timberwolves that kindness is a strength.

Small gestures, such as a simple compliment, a note of gratitude, or a helping hand can have a monumental impact on the well-being of our students and staff. Let’s join together to lead by example!

Kindness Week Spirit Days:

• Monday, Feb 16: NO SCHOOL (Staff & Student Holiday)

• Tuesday, Feb 17: "Tied Together by Kindness" – Wear tie-dye or colorful, mismatched socks.

• Wednesday, Feb 18: "Work it out with Kindness" – Wear school-appropriate sweats.

• Thursday, Feb 19: "Shining Bright with Kindness" – Wear bright neon colors.

• Friday, Feb 20: "Team Kindness" – Wear your favorite sports jersey or Travis spirit colors!

I want to extend a huge thank you to the parents, teachers, and community members who joined us last night, February 12th, at Hopdoddy Burger Bar for our SBDM and PTA meetings. It was a productive evening focused on the future of our campus and the "Quest" our students are on.

SBDM Subcommittee Highlights Our subcommittees shared their current research areas to ensure Travis TAG remains at the forefront of academic excellence:

• Environment: Exploring the evolving role of AI in education and its responsible use.

• Engagement: Reviewing reading lists to spark deep thinking and curiosity.

• Enrichment: Evaluating and expanding our Clubs and Extracurriculars.

PTA Spring Social & Auction

The PTA officially unveiled the theme for our upcoming Spring Social and Auction on April 10th! This is our largest fundraiser of the year. The committee is currently looking for donations and donors. Please check the PTA Wolftracks newsletter for details on how to get involved.

Connecting the Dots: TAG Talks & Student Agency If you were unable to attend the wonderful PTA TAG Talks event in January featuring Rebecca Winthrop, I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy of the book she co-authored, The Disengaged Teen.

This research aligns perfectly with the work we are doing as a school. The book helps parents and educators identify which "mode" a student is in whether they are a Resister, a Passenger (just doing enough to get by), an Achiever, or an Explorer.

At Travis, our goal is to help every student move toward that Explorer and driver of their own learning mindset. This book provides excellent, practical strategies for parents to help their teens reconnect with a sense of wonder and drive in their learning. It is a fantastic resource for any family navigating the middle school years (and we'll include 4th and 5th grades as well)!

At our SBDM meeting last night, we were honored to have a presentation from The Educator Collective (TEC) regarding their Principal Fellowship.

I am currently a participant in this powerful two-year leadership development program, which is designed to help North Texas principals lead with resilience, purpose, and innovation. The fellowship focuses on building a healthy campus culture and sustainability in school leadership all in the service of making a lasting difference for our students.

Following the presentation, Alejandra Barbosa, CEO of The Educator Collective, shared the following with our community:

"On behalf of The Educator Collective, thank you for allowing us some time to share about our Principal Fellowship at the SBDM meeting. We are proud to work with great leaders like Principal Mercon who are so dedicated to their schools and students. If you're interested in learning more about their work, please reach out to Alejandra Barbosa (alejandra.barbosa@educatorcollective.org). We've also attached a flier, which has more information about the opportunity to sponsor her participation in the program. Donations of all sizes are invaluable to keeping our programming available to principals across the metroplex. When you donate, you can also add that it's in support of Principal Mercon at this website.

Thank you! Alejandra Barbosa"

We are entering a vital season for academic growth. Every day at school counts! Next week, our students will participate in STAAR Simulations. I want to emphasize that these are not just practice tests; they provide our teachers with crucial, real-time data. This information allows our educators to see exactly where each student is thriving and where we might need to adjust our instruction or provide extra support before the final exams.

• Testing Calendar: Please see the "Semester at a Glance" section at the bottom of this newsletter for specific upcoming testing dates.

• Prioritize Attendance: Please ensure your student is at school on time every day, especially during these scheduled testing windows.

• Rest & Readiness: A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast make a world of difference in a student's ability to show what they know!

We are so proud of the hard work our Timberwolves are putting in. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure they feel confident and prepared!

We are thrilled to finalize our dates for two of our most cherished spring traditions. These ceremonies are a wonderful time to celebrate the persistence, creativity, and academic excellence of our Timberwolves.

Grade Level Ceremonies and Independent Project (IP) Fair: 💡 One of the hallmarks of the Travis TAG experience! Our students have been working hard on their deep-dive research, and we can't wait for them to showcase their expertise.

• 4th Grade: Thursday, May 14, 2026. Awards will be held from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM in the Auditorium, followed by IP in classrooms from 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM.

  5th Grade: Monday, May 18, 2026, from 5:00 PM – 6:45 PM in the Cafeteria (IP) and Auditorium (Awards).

• 6th Grade: Tuesday, May 19, 2026. IP viewing is from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM in the 2nd Floor Commons, followed by Awards from 3:15 PM – 3:55 PM in the Auditorium.

• 7th Grade: Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 1:50 PM in the Auditorium. IP will be at the DMA Takeover event.

• 8th Grade: IP Night: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM in the Auditorium. Moving Up Ceremony & Picnic: Friday, May 15, 2026, from 11:00 AM until the end of the day in the Auditorium and outdoor play area.

Please keep an eye on future newsletters for specific RSVP details and parking instructions for these events.

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.

This past week there were two questions submitted:

QUESTION 1: Do you have an update / information to share about the potential schedule change for the 2026-2027 school year and/or survey data from our campus?

ANSWER: To clarify, this proposal is a district-led initiative and is not a campus-based decision. District leadership is exploring this shift primarily to address logistical and budgetary constraints within Transportation Services by aligning Choice Middle Schools with the Elementary schedule (an 8:00 AM start).

I shared the District's full presentation on this proposal during our Coffee with the Principal last week. Regarding the next steps:

• Parent Meetings: District leadership has designated March and April for parent meetings. I do not have the specific dates or locations from the District yet, but I will share them as soon as they are released.

• Survey Data: The survey currently circulating was created and is being managed by the district, not our campus.

Please know that this decision is not yet finalized by the District. My role is to ensure that our Travis TAG families are informed and that your feedback is shared with District leadership before any final plans are set for the 2026-2027 school year.

QUESTION 2:When is the 8th grade graduation ceremony?

ANSWER: We are excited to celebrate our promoting 8th graders! We have two key dates for our 8th-grade families to keep in mind:

• IP Night: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM in the Auditorium.

• Moving Up Ceremony & Picnic: Friday, May 15, 2026. The ceremony begins at 11:00 AM in the Auditorium, followed by a picnic in the outdoor play area.

Hard to believe we’re already talking about the next school year! Dallas ISD has published the 2026-2027 school year calendar: 2026-2027 Traditional Calendar

We will begin working on our Travis TAG school dates calendar later this semester so you have all our major events before leaving for the summer.

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!

February 26 – Band Pre-UIL Concert (Auditorium 6:00 PM)

March 11 – 8th Grade IP Night (6:00-7:30 PM)

March 16-20 – NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK

March 24 – Panorama Survey - Elementary School

March 25 – Panorama Survey - Middle School

March 26 – NJHS Induction Ceremony

March 31 – Onboarding I am Travis TAG night ES

April 1 – Onboarding I am Travis TAG night MS

April 3 – NO SCHOOL

April 6 – Inclement Weather Day (more info and details coming soon)

April 7 – Spring Picture Day

April 8 – STAAR RLA 4-8

April 10 – PTA Spring Social and Auction Event at the Alexander Mansion

April 15 – STAAR Science 5 and 7 and US Studies

April 17 – Spring Orchestra Concert

April 20 – NonVarsity/Varsity Band Concert (Auditorium 6:00 PM)

April 22 – STAAR Math 4-7

April 22 – Beginning Band Concert (Auditorium 6:00 PM)

April 23 – STAAR Algebra 1

April 24 – Travis TAG Takes Over the DMA

April 24 – 7th Grade IP Day at the DMA

April 30 – Dance Performance (Auditorium 6:30 PM)

May 4 – Inclement Weather Day (more info on A/B Day coming soon)

May 13 – Theater Performance (Auditorium 6:30 PM)

May 14 – 4th Grade Awards Ceremony and IP Day (Awards 1:00 - 2:00 followed by IP in Classrooms 2:15 - 3:00)

May 15 – 8th Grade Awards Ceremony and Picnic (11:00 AM to end of day)

May 18 – 5th Grade Awards Ceremony and IP Day (5:00-6:45pm)

May 19 – 6th Grade Awards Ceremony and IP Day (IP at 1:30-3:00 and Awards 3:15-3:55)

May 25 – NO SCHOOL

May 26 – 7th Grade Awards Ceremony (1:50 PM)

May 27 – Early Release for Students / Teacher Work Day PM

May 28 – NO SCHOOL - Teacher Work Day

🔗 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!