Travis TAG School Newsletter

Dear Travis TAG Families,

As we close out the fifth week of school, I want to thank you for the continued energy, commitment, and support you bring to our community. From last week's mini school to this week’s SBDM and PTA meetings, your engagement has made it clear that we are all working together to provide the very best for our Timberwolves.

This newsletter includes important updates about club consent forms, the parent-student handbook, and highlights from this week’s meetings. These tools and resources are designed to keep every family connected and informed.

Our theme this year, Timberwolves on a Quest: Reaching New Heights, continues to guide us forward. Each week brings new opportunities for learning, growth, and connection. Together, we will ensure that every Timberwolf is supported, challenged, and celebrated as they pursue their own unique path.

With gratitude and excitement,
Principal Mercon
Travis TAG

Thank you to all the families who joined us for yesterday’s School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) meeting at 5:30 PM and the PTA meeting at 6:30 PM. Your presence, questions, and input are vital to making Travis TAG stronger. I am deeply grateful for the partnership we share, and the feedback you provide in these meetings helps guide decisions that impact every Timberwolf.

📑 As promised, here are the slide decks we reviewed during the meetings for anyone who could not attend or who would like to revisit the information:
👉 Supporting our Community and FAQ for Parents
👉 Travis Fall 2025 STAAR Updates

📅 Remaining Meeting Dates

SBDM (led by Chair Karen Salerno) at 5:30 PM and PTA (led by President Jill Meyer) at 6:30 PM:

• Thursday, September 11 – In person

• Tuesday, November 11 – Virtual

• Thursday, February 12 – In person

• Thursday, April 16 – Virtual

• Thursday, May 14 – In person
  

A heartfelt thank you to Karen and Jill for their leadership and dedication to our campus community. Your voice matters, and these meetings are an important way for families to stay connected to the work happening at Travis TAG. We hope to see you at the next one in November!

Families received the updated Parent-Student Handbook last week, and we encourage you to take time to review it with your child. This handbook is an essential guide for expectations, policies, and procedures at Travis TAG. It matters because it ensures that we are all working together with the same understanding, creating a safe, consistent, and supportive learning environment for every Timberwolf.

👉 Acknowledgment Page Due
Please sign and return the handbook acknowledgment signature page to your child’s teacher by Monday, September 15.

For your convenience:

• 📗 The Google Doc version of the handbook is linked below (green button) containing embedded links throughout the document, making it easy to navigate directly to helpful resources and important information.

Thank you for your partnership in reviewing and signing this important document. Together, we are setting our students up for success!

As shared during our Mini School event, Inside the Quest: A Night of TAG Discovery, a new state law requires a signed Parent Consent Form for all students participating in district- or campus-authorized clubs and activities.

✅ District Clubs & Activities include UIL, TMSCA, Chess, Debate, and others.
✅ Campus Clubs & Activities include middle school advisory clubs and elementary clubs.

👉 Students may not participate without a signed form. A list of current district and campus clubs is included on the back of the form. Parents may update or submit a new form at any time during the school year.

Up until now, all clubs have been on pause while we collected these forms. Beginning next week, elementary district clubs will start meeting.

Please note: if a student does not have a signed consent form on file with the district box checked, they will not be allowed to participate in practices, meetings, or competitions that occur outside the school day or outside their regular schedule.

Middle school district clubs are included in classes built into the student schedule. However, students will still need a consent form on file to participate in competitions.

📄 Hard copies were sent home with students on Monday, September 8. If you already filled one out at Mini School, you do not need to complete another. For your convenience, the form is linked below.

Thank you for your support as we finalize this important process and ensure every Timberwolf can safely participate in the activities that make Travis TAG such a special place to learn and grow.

We are excited to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month at Travis TAG beginning Monday, September 15. This is a wonderful opportunity for our Timberwolves to learn, celebrate, and honor the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Hispanic communities.

Next week, we will celebrate with a spirit week, and we invite all students to participate:

Monday, Sept. 15 – Flag Day
Dress in the colors of the flag from one of the 21 Latin American countries.

Tuesday, Sept. 16 – Traditional Dress Day
Showcase traditional attire — example: Frida Kahlo.

Wednesday, Sept. 17 – Vaquero Day
Wear your best western attire.

Thursday, Sept. 18 – Como La Flor Day
Celebrate with florals: shirts, crowns, or other floral styles.

Friday, Sept. 19 – Jersey Day
Wear your favorite soccer jersey.

We cannot wait to see the creativity and spirit our students bring as we celebrate together. 🌟

👉 Parents, please help us by ensuring all attire is school-appropriate. For safety reasons, masks and face coverings will not be allowed.

We want every family to feel informed, valued, and supported at Travis TAG. This new section gives you the chance to submit your questions, concerns, or feedback directly to Principal Mercon.

All questions submitted through the form will be included in upcoming newsletters, along with responses. Please note that questions and answers may be edited for clarity and to protect student and family privacy.

👉 Submit your question by clicking on the button below.

❓ We appreciate Travis, the rigor and for students to learn a grade ahead … and have empathy for how much is required to cover by teachers with state and district requirements. Homework ramped up for 7th and 8th grade (especially those with Spanish class last year). Our kids have hours of homework every night carrying over into the weekends. Is there an opportunity to coordinate with teachers to balance when tests, quizzes and projects are due so they all don’t hit at the same time?
ANSWER: We hear you. The workload in 7th and 8th grade can feel heavy, especially when several assessments fall close together. Our teachers already use the Travis TAG testing calendar to help balance quizzes and tests, but we will continue to refine this process to minimize overlap. Homework is designed to reinforce learning, not overwhelm, and I encourage parents to reach out directly to teachers when concerns arise. Our 7th grade and 8th grade teams are remarkable at elevating rigor for students and preparing them for high school, and your partnership helps us ensure that students are both challenged and supported.

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 9/15 (B Day)

• Spirit Day: College and Dallas ISD High School
• Hispanic Heritage - Spirit Day: Flag Day
• Advisory: Kindness/Integrity - Organization
• Reminder: Parent and Student Handbook signature acknowledgment page is due today Monday, September 15.

Tuesday 9/16 (A Day)

• Hispanic Heritage - Spirit Day: Traditional Day
• Advisory: Knowledge - Study Hall

Wednesday 9/17 (B Day)

• Hispanic Heritage - Spirit Day: Vaquero Day
• Advisory: Knowledge - Study Hall

Thursday 9/18 (A Day)

• Hispanic Heritage - Spirit Day: Como La Flor Day
• Advisory: Knowledge - Study Hall

Friday 9/19 (B Day)

• Spirit Day: Travis TAG
• Hispanic Heritage - Spirit Day: Jersey Day
• Advisory: Knowledge - Study Hall

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!

September 24 - 8th grade school pictures

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

🔗 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!