Travis TAG School Newsletter

Dear Travis TAG Families,

What an incredible start to our school year! The energy, joy, and curiosity our Timberwolves bring each day reminds us why The Quest we are on together is so meaningful. This week’s newsletter is a little shorter than usual as we move full speed ahead into the school year, but I wanted to pause to share my gratitude and excitement.

I want to especially thank both Dallas ISD and our Travis TAG PTA for their generosity in making our new outdoor space possible. Dallas ISD provided the concrete walking path, and our PTA funded the turf installation, beautifully completed by Magnolia Turf Company. Together, they have created a welcoming, functional, and beautiful space for our students to enjoy.

This afternoon, we will officially launch our Part of the Pack fundraiser with the Popsicle Party. I am so excited to celebrate with our community. Your generosity in supporting this effort ensures that we can continue to reach new heights for our students. Every contribution strengthens our community and fuels our work.

As we continue forward, I remain deeply grateful for your partnership, your encouragement, and the trust you place in us each day. The work we do matters, and together we are creating something extraordinary.

With gratitude and excitement,

Alessandra Mercon
Principal, Travis TAG

This afternoon we will gather as a community to celebrate the launch of Part of the Pack, our PTA’s annual fall fundraiser, with a POPsicle Party on the Playground! I am deeply grateful to our PTA and families for the generosity and support you show our Timberwolves. Because of you, we are able to fund teacher wish lists, student clubs, field trips, professional learning, and campus improvements like our brand-new turf. Every gift matters, and together, we can reach our $100,000 goal. Thank you for being Part of the Pack!

Event Details & Logistics

• Date/Time: Friday, August 22, from 3:30–4:30 PM

• Location: Travis Playground

• Parents: Welcome to join beginning at 3:30 PM. Please remain in The Triangle until 4:00 PM, when you may join your student on the playground. No check-in required since this is after the instructional day.

• Parking Lot: Gates will close at 3:00 PM and reopen after 4:00 PM once students are safely dismissed.

• Students: Will enjoy the playground and parking lot areas from 3:30–4:00 PM. Dismissal will happen directly from the playground.

• Bus Riders: Will enjoy a popsicle and short playtime before boarding.

• Cell Phones: Unlocking will begin at 3:50 PM. Carts with magnets will be stationed at the bus dismissal door and at the main entrance awning.

We can’t wait to see you this afternoon to celebrate our Timberwolf community and kick off this year’s Part of the Pack campaign!

We are proud to share that William B. Travis Vanguard and Academy has once again been rated an A campus by the Texas Education Agency!

In addition to our top rating, our school also earned all 7 possible distinctions—a recognition of the excellence and rigor our students and teachers demonstrate each day.

• Academic Achievement in Reading/ELA
• Academic Achievement in Mathematics
• Academic Achievement in Science
• Academic Achievement in Social Studies
• Top 25 Percent: Student Progress
• Top 25 Percent: Closing Performance Gaps
• Postsecondary Readiness

These distinctions highlight achievement across multiple areas including academic growth, student progress, and closing learning gaps.

For those who want to dive deeper, the TEA website provides a detailed look at our accountability report. There, you can explore:

• Student Achievement results

• School Progress measures

• Closing the Gaps indicators

• Campus demographics and STAAR performance

👉 View the full report on TXSchools.gov

This recognition is a direct reflection of the dedication of our students, staff, and families. Together, we are setting the standard for gifted and talented education!

This week, all of our Timberwolves completed their Beginning-of-Year iReady assessments in Reading and Math. We are so proud of the effort and focus our students showed during testing!

Over the next couple of days, Reading and Math teachers will distribute each child’s iReady Data Report during class. Parents should expect to receive these reports no later than Tuesday, August 26. The report provides a snapshot of your child’s current skills, highlighting both areas of strength and areas where we will provide additional support throughout the school year.It is important to note that iReady is not a grade. Instead, it is an adaptive assessment tool that helps us tailor instruction to meet students where they are and support their growth.

📘 For Families New to iReady:
We encourage you to review the parent resources provided by Curriculum Associates, which explain how to interpret the report and support your child at home.
👉 iReady Family Center

Thank you for your partnership in supporting both academic growth and confidence as our students begin their journey this year!

We are thrilled to invite you to the launch of our first Mini School Night, Inside the Quest: A Night of TAG Discovery. This evening will give families the opportunity to walk through their child’s schedule, meet teachers, and gain a deeper understanding of the learning journey at Travis TAG. We hope this becomes a beloved annual tradition!

📅 Date: Thursday, September 4
🕔 Time: 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Location: Travis TAG (classrooms)

Important Details

• Parent Attendance: Due to space limitations, each student may be represented by one parent or guardian only. We love our students, but they will not attend this event since classroom sizes are limited.

• Student Schedules: Hard copies will be distributed on Wednesday, September 3 for students to take home. Please bring this copy with you to Mini School Night so you can follow your child’s day.

• Bell Schedule: To make the evening flow smoothly, bells will ring to signal transitions between classes.

• Parent Pre-Survey: Before the event, please take a moment to complete our Parent Pre-Survey so we can tailor the evening to your needs and maximize our time together. The survey will close on Tuesday, August 27 so that we can review submissions and adjust the event accordingly.
  👉 Travis TAG 25 -26 Mini School Pre-Survey

We cannot wait to welcome you into our classrooms for this special evening of discovery, connection, and community!

Dallas ISD invites you to the Bond 2026 Pop-Up Event this Saturday, August 23, from 12:00–2:00 p.m. at John Neely Bryan Elementary School.

Families will move through six interactive stations filled with hands-on demos, bold ideas, and eye-opening activities that highlight where our district is today and where we are headed. This is a mission-critical opportunity as we work toward creating more quality, sustainable facilities that enhance student achievement.

📍 Location: John Neely Bryan Elementary School
🕑 Time: Saturday, August 23, from 12–2 p.m.

As principal, I encourage our Travis TAG community to take part in this event. Investments like Bond 2026 are not just about buildings — they are about creating safe, inspiring spaces where our students can thrive and continue their quest for excellence. Every improvement to our facilities strengthens the opportunities we can provide for your children, today and in the years to come.

To better support our dismissal process and ensure student safety, we are asking all families of bus riders to complete our Campus Bus Transportation Request Form. This will give us accurate records of which students ride which routes and help us better support your child’s transportation needs.This information is essential so that we can:

• Accurately track which students are assigned to each bus.

• Ensure dismissal runs smoothly and safely.

• Quickly reach out if there are ever changes or questions.

👉 Travis TAG – Campus Bus Transportation Request Form 2025-2026

Please note: Completing this form does not replace the district’s official DISD Choice Transportation Request e-Form, which must also be submitted for processing.

To keep bus families informed, we’ve also created a Travis TAG Bus Remind Channel (@travisbus). While it won’t provide live GPS updates, we’ll use it to share important notices so you can stay in the loop.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete this form. Your cooperation helps us ensure that every Timberwolf gets to and from school safely and efficiently each 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.

Monday 8/25 (B Day)

• Spirit Day: College or Dallas ISD High School
• Middle School Advisory: Kindness/Integrity - SEL/Organization lesson

Tuesday 8/26 (A Day)

• Middle School Advisory: Knowledge - Study Hall (no movement)

Wednesday 8/27 (B Day)

• Middle School Advisory: Knowledge - Study Hall (no movement)

Thursday 8/28 (A Day)

• Middle School Advisory:Knowledge - Study Hall (no movement)

Friday 8/29 (B Day)

• Spirit Day: Travis TAG
• Middle School Advisory: Knowledge - Study Hall (no movement)

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. We’re sharing them now so you can plan ahead with your family. Any updates will be communicated in our newsletters and through Remind.

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

September 1 - Labor Day (No School)

September 4 - Mini School 5:30-7:45 PM

September 5 - First Friday Coffee

September 11 - SBDM 5:30 PM (in person - Rm 113)

September 11 - PTA 6:30 PM (in person - Auditorium)

September 24 - 8th grade school pictures

🔗 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

📚 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

👕 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!