Travis TAG School Newsletter

Dear Travis TAG Families,

As we move into November, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible spirit that fills our school. From our record-breaking Book Fair to the excitement of upcoming Kindness Week, it is clear that our Timberwolf community continues to grow stronger together.

The weeks ahead will bring many opportunities to connect, learn, and give back. Our Fall Family Picnic will be a wonderful time to pause and enjoy one another’s company, and Kindness Week will remind us that small acts can make a big difference. I am also proud of the hard work our students have shown this semester as we prepare for i-Ready and ACP assessments in December.

Your ongoing support and engagement make all the difference. Thank you for showing up for your children, for our teachers, and for our shared mission of empowering and inspiring lifelong learners. Together, we are reaching new heights in kindness, dedication, integrity, and knowledge.

With gratitude,

Principal Mercon
Travis TAG

We are proud to share that William B. Travis Vanguard and Academy for the Academically Talented and Gifted has once again been recognized among the top schools in Texas by U.S. News & World Report.

This year, Travis TAG ranked:

• #4 in Texas Elementary Schools

• #1 in Texas Middle Schools

While rankings may shift from year to year, our continued presence at the top reflects the strength and consistency of our entire community. Remaining among the best takes daily effort, collaboration, and a shared belief in excellence.

Our students’ curiosity and determination, our teachers’ dedication to high-quality instruction, and our families’ unwavering support all make this sustained success possible. We are proud to continue setting the standard for gifted and talented education in Texas.

Together, we will keep striving to reach new heights.

Next week we have another spirit week, celebrating Dallas ISD Kindness Week.

Monday - “Colors of Kindness” - Each grade level wears a different color to create kindness across our school:

• 4th Grade – Red

• 5th Grade – Orange or Yellow

• 6th Grade – Pink or Purple

• 7th Grade – Blue

• 8th Grade – Green

Tuesday – “Wild About Kindness” - Show that you’re wild about being kind!

Wear something with an animal print or an outfit featuring your favorite animal.

Wednesday – “Peace, Love & Kindness Day” - Spread good vibes all around!

Wear tie-dye, retro, or groovy gear to celebrate peace, love, and kindness.

Thursday – “Kindness Is Our Culture” - Celebrate how kindness connects us all.

Wear clothing that represents a country, culture, or tradition that’s special to you.

Friday – “Kindness Is Travis!” - Show your school pride and the kindness that starts right here at Travis!

Wear your Travis gear or school colors to wrap up the week strong.

Dallas ISD Resource Centers provide vital programs and services to help students and families overcome obstacles that may interfere with academic success. These centers offer after-school programs, food and nutrition support, healthcare, counseling, recreation, and other essential services to meet the unique needs of district families.

📍 Resource Center South
Location: J.J. Rhoads Learning Center – 4401 South Second Avenue, Dallas, TX 75210
Phone: (972) 749-1080
Core Services: Healthy Food and Nutrition, Mental Health and Counseling, Job Training, Safe Streets, and Public Spaces.

📍 Resource Center West
Location: West Dallas STEM – 2200 Dennison Street, Dallas, TX 75212
Phone: (972) 925-2744
Core Services: Family Counseling and Resources, Recreation and Wellness Programming, Primary Health Care, and Basic Family Needs.

Families are encouraged to reach out directly or visit the Dallas ISD Resource Centers webpage to learn more about available programs and support options.

We are excited to invite all Travis TAG families to our Fall Family Picnic on Sunday, November 16, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Join us for an afternoon of fun, food, and community as we celebrate the season together.

This event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other Timberwolf families, enjoy outdoor games and activities, and spend time with friends and staff in a relaxed setting. The PTA will be providing snacks and refreshments, and families are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs for seating on the lawn.

📸 Family photo stations will be available, and students can look forward to several fun surprises throughout the afternoon.

We hope to see you there as we continue to build the strong, caring community that makes Travis TAG so special.

As we approach the end of the semester, our students will participate in several important assessments that help us measure growth and guide instruction. Thank you for helping your Timberwolf prepare by ensuring a good night’s rest, a healthy breakfast, and on-time arrival each day.

📘 i-Ready Middle of Year (MOY)

Students in grades 4–8 will take the i-Ready Middle of Year (MOY) assessments in Reading and Math early next month.

• Tuesday, December 2 – Reading

• Wednesday, December 3 – Math

These assessments help us monitor academic growth and tailor instruction to meet every student’s needs.

🧪 Assessment of Course Performance (ACP)

Our end-of-semester Assessment of Course Performance (ACP) exams will take place before Winter Break. These district assessments measure mastery of course content and provide valuable feedback for both teachers and students.

📅 Fall 2025 ACP Schedule

Tuesday, December 16

• Science 5th Grade (Homeroom)

• Science 6th–8th Grade (Advisory)

• World Cultures 6th Grade (Advisory)

• Texas Studies 7th Grade (Advisory)

• U.S. History 8th Grade (Advisory)

Wednesday, December 17

• Spanish I (7th Grade – Advisory)

• Spanish II (8th Grade – Advisory)

• Technology Applications (6th Grade – Advisory)

• Physical Education 6th–8th Grade (Advisory)

• Health Education 8th Grade (Advisory)

Thursday, December 18

• Algebra I (8th Grade – Advisory)

• Middle School Varsity Band (Band Hall)

Thank you for supporting your student’s success as we close out a strong semester of learning!

Our Scholastic Book Fair was a great success! We sold over $5,000 in books and goodies, and the proceeds will go toward purchasing more books for our Travis TAG library. Thank you for your generous support, and a special shout-out to our amazing volunteers who helped make the event run smoothly. Your time and energy truly make a difference.

We also have an important update from our Dallas ISD Library Services Department.

Parents and guardians can now manage what their child reads directly in Sora (see the link below), the district’s digital reading platform, with the new Parental Controls feature.

After logging into their child’s Sora account, families can go to Settings → Support → Parental Controls to enable this option. Once set up, parents can create a secure PIN to enter Parent Mode, where they can lock or unlock individual titles. Locked titles cannot be borrowed or read until they are unlocked.

Please note:

• Each version of a title (ebook, audiobook, or alternate language) must be locked separately.

• Parent Mode requires an internet connection.

• Changes made apply only to the selected student’s Sora account.

If you have questions, please reach out to our librarian, Ms. Marroquin, who is always happy to help families explore our growing library resources.

PSAT/NMSQT® and PSAT™ 8/9 scores for students who tested between October 11 and 24, 2025 are now available to educators in the K–12 score reporting portal. Students who opted in will be able to access their scores in the BigFuture® School mobile app beginning November 6.

Helping Students Access Their Scores

• If your student provided a mobile number during exam setup, they can view their scores directly in the BigFuture School mobile app.

• Schools can use the K–12 Score Reporting Portal to download and share student score reports.

• Students age 13 and older can also access scores by logging in to their College Board account.

About the BigFuture School App

BigFuture School helps students connect their PSAT results to future goals and opportunities. The app provides:

• Easy Score Access: Students can see scores and explore careers aligned to their skills.

• College and Career Guidance: Timely, personalized messages about scholarships, majors, and career pathways.

• Interactive Tools and Quizzes: Students can discover interests and plan next steps.

• College and Scholarship Connections: Students can opt in to connect with nonprofit colleges, scholarships, and programs that match their interests. (This feature is not available for PSAT 8/9 test takers.)

Families can learn more by visiting the BigFuture School webpage for detailed information and support.

We’re thrilled to share that Travis TAG enrichment clubs are getting ready to launch again soon!
As communicated earlier this week, families received a letter and a link to the Student Activity Inquiry Form, which helps us finalize rosters for Destination Imagination, Model UN, and Chess.

This quick form is essential for ensuring every interested student has the opportunity to participate in enrichment activities.
📅 Deadline: Friday, October 24

We are also required to meet district registration deadlines for clubs and competitions, so please complete the form as soon as possible.

If you missed the letter, you can view it and complete the form using the link below.

Thank you for your support and partnership in helping every Timberwolf learn, explore, and grow through enrichment!

Thank you to everyone who continues to take part in our shared leadership at Travis TAG!

Our next School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) and PTA meetings will take place on Tuesday, November 11, beginning at 5:30 PM (SBDM) and followed by PTA at 6:30 PM. Both meetings will be held virtually.

These meetings are a wonderful opportunity for families to stay informed, offer feedback, and collaborate with school leadership on programs, initiatives, and upcoming events. Your voice matters and helps guide our work in supporting every Timberwolf.

More details and the virtual meeting link will be shared closer to the date. The links can also be found in the PTA Wolftracks newsletter.

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 no questions submitted.

Monday 11/10 (B Day)

• Kindness Week Spirit Day: Colors of Kindness
• Spirit Day: College and Dallas ISD High School
• Magnet Campus Tours (9:00-10:30 AM)
• Advisory: Kindness/Integrity - Organization

• Kindness Week Spirit Day: Wild About Kindness
• Advisory: Knowledge - Study Hall
• SBDM 5:30 (virtual)
• PTA 6:30 (virtual)

Wednesday 11/12 (B Day)

• Kindness Week Spirit Day: Peace, Love & Kindness Day
• Advisory: Knowledge - Study Hall
• Magnet Campus Tours (1:30-3:30 PM)

Thursday 11/13 (A Day)

• Kindness Week Spirit Day: Kindness Is Our Culture
• Advisory: Knowledge · Study Hall
• Open House 5:00 - 7:30 PM

Friday 11/14 (B Day)

• Kindness Week Spirit Day: Kindness Is Travis!
• Spirit Day: Travis TAG
• Advisory: Knowledge · Study Hall

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!

November 11 - SBDM 5:30 PM/PTA 6:30 PM

November 12 - Theater Performance

November 16 - PTA Fall Family Picnic

November 20 - Theater Performance

November 21 - Orchestra Concert

November 24 - 28 - No School (Thanksgiving Holiday)

December 2 - iReady MOY - Reading

December 3 - iReady MOY - Math

December 4 - 7/8 Band Concert

December 6 - Saturday Magnet Testing

December 8 - Spelling Bee Competition (Library)

December 8 - Beginning Band Concert

December 11 - Dance Performance

December 15 - Orchestra Concert

December 16 - ACP testing Day 1 (Regular release time for all students)

December 17 - ACP testing Day 2 (Regular release time for all students)

December 18 - ACP testing Day 3 (Regular release time for all students)

December 19 - Early Release 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!