I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and patriotic Fourth of July weekend and found a moment to relax, recharge, and celebrate the spirit of community that defines this season. As we move deeper into July, I am grateful for the dedication and enthusiasm our families continue to bring to Booker T.

This year’s BTWHSPVA theme, Legacy in Motion, is already taking shape all around us. It reflects the momentum, creativity, and purpose that make our school extraordinary, and it reminds us that every student, family, and educator plays a part in carrying our legacy forward. The weeks ahead are full of opportunity, connection, and meaningful work, and I am excited to step into them together.

What is Parent University? It's Booker T.'s new parent orientation!

When is Parent University? BTWHSPVA Parent University will take place on Thursday, July 30, alongside Flight School and Pegasus Pick Up for all Freshman and New or Incoming parents, regardless of grade level, and should RSVP for one of the following times: in the morning at9, 10, 11 AM, or in the afternoon at 2, 3, or 4 PM.

What happens at Parent University? During Parent University, families will learn best practices for navigating the school year, hear important school safety information and announcements, and receive a parent and student Flight Plan designed to support both academic and conservatory goals. You will also have access to PTSA and Guild resources, and school merchandise will be available for purchase.

Is lunch served at Parent University? No. Parents should plan on picking up their student(s) immediately following Flight School Lunch at 2 PM (no later than 4:30 PM at the end of Pegasus Pick Up).

Do parents need to RSVP for Parent University? Yes. Please RSVP below to choose your time slot by 11:59 PM on July 24.

We need friendly, energetic volunteers to help during Pegasus Pick Up, July 28–30. This is one of our biggest opportunities to welcome families, grow our membership, and raise essential funds for our students. If you’re available to help on any of these days, we would love to have you join us. 

VOLUNTEER

As you prepare for the new school year, there are a few important tasks that will help ensure a smooth transition back to campus. The 2026-27 Back to School Checklist is your go‑to guide, offering key reminders, required steps, and helpful information for students and families. 

Take a moment to review it so you feel confident, organized, and ready for a successful start to the year. 

The BTW Parent Teacher Student Association - the PTSA - provides a wide variety of support for students, teachers, parents and the BTW school community. 

Your contribution as a sustaining sponsor helps cultivate the future of the performing and visual arts and enables the PTSA to provide school-wide productions, programs, resources and event support. Plus, our sponsors get great perks like Playbill ads, reserved parking and seating and a VIP invitation to our opening night.

This year, we are in desperate need... Our All School Musical, Shrek the Musical, is bigger, bolder, and swampier than ever, and we urgently need sponsors to help bring this fairytale to life. From dragons to castles to a whole lot of green magic, this production is packed with larger‑than‑life moments that only happen with the support of our amazing community. If you’re ready to fuel the fun, boost our scholar‑artists, and help make the swamp sparkle, now is the perfect time to jump in as a sponsor. 

To get the most out of any sponsorship, please consider becoming a sustaining sponsor today!

NOTE | The sponsorship levels coincide with the membership year (July 1- June 30). The deadline to secure a sponsorship as a Headliner, Director, Producer, or Manager for placement in the ASM Playbill is August 23. Logos/names and/or Playbill ads/assets must be submitted by August 24 to be featured on the production t-shirt worn by the cast, band, and crew and printed in the Playbill.

Shrek the Musical is the perfect match for the spirit of Booker T. Washington HSPVA. It celebrates authenticity, empathy, individuality, and the courage to stand proudly in your own story. These are the values we champion every day, and this show brings them to life with humor, heart, and a whole lot of swamp‑sized joy.

This production offers meaningful roles for our scholar artists and creates exciting opportunities for collaboration across every conservatory. From the performers onstage to the designers, technicians, musicians, and creative teams behind the scenes, this show invites the entire school to shine.

And this year’s cast is something special. Every student feels born to play their role, and the chemistry, talent, and sheer theatrical power in this ensemble make the entire company strong contenders for the Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theater Awards. The performances will be bold, hilarious, heartfelt, and unforgettable.

This is going to be a standout musical event that no one will want to miss. Audiences will laugh, cheer, reflect, and leave the theater feeling uplifted and inspired. Shrek the Musical at Booker T. is not just a show... It is an experience!

SAVE THE DATE | SEPTEMBER 16 (student preview), 17-20

This musical is SPECIAL... We are seeking excited and invested parents to sponsor a character this year. What does that mean exactly? Well, can Peter Pan fly? Not without fairy dust, a.k.a. your support!

Please consider donating to really make this musical SOAR!

SPONSOR A CHARACTER

We need incredible volunteers to help make the BTWHSPVA All‑School Musical, Shrek the Musical, run smoothly during show week, September 14-20. This is when the magic happens, and our students rely on the support of our community more than ever. If you’re available to lend a hand backstage, front of house, or anywhere help is needed, we would love to have you join the team and be part of this unforgettable production. 

VOLUNTEER

Students who received a PTSA Summer Scholarship this year are required to submit a testimonial reflecting on their experience. This testimonial is an important part of our scholarship process and is required as a prerequisite to apply for a PTSA Summer Scholarship next summer.

Please ensure your student completes the PTSA Summer Scholarship Testimonial Form by 11:59 PM on August 31.

We are excited to celebrate the incredible work our students accomplished over the summer and to highlight the learning, growth, and opportunities made possible through these scholarships. Their stories help us strengthen the program, inspire future applicants, and demonstrate the impact of PTSA support.

We are looking for a couple of volunteers to help with distributing Senior Surprise during Pegasus Pick Up on July 28. This is a fun and meaningful moment for our seniors, and having a strong team in place ensures everything runs smoothly and every student feels celebrated.

If you’re available to lend a hand, we would love your support. It’s a great way to kick off the year and be part of a tradition our students truly appreciate.

Let us know if you can join us. Your help makes a big difference!

Senior portraits for the Class of 2027 will take place on campus July 27, 28, and 29 with photographer Angela P. Navarette. Hurry and schedule your session as time slots fill up quickly!

Quick Details:

Best Pricing | Prepay for your images today during checkout to lock in the lowest rates of the year.

Upgrade Your Experience | Get the most posing variety, add on Cap & Gown to your session, or order a keepsake print with your yearbook portraits!

Can't make it? | A makeup day will be scheduled later, but spots will be very limited. Book now to get your prime summer slot!

SIGN UP FOR SENIOR PORTRAITS

Stay connected as you prepare for senior year. The PTSA Class of 2027 Committee has several ways for families to stay informed and involved:

• Bookmark the PTSA Class of 2027 page to stay updated through the Membership Toolkit
• Subscribe to the Senior Class Newsletter
• Join the Class of 2027 Facebook Group | coming soon!
• Follow us on Instagram | coming soon!

If you would like to help support the senior class, you can join the Class of 2027 Committee by completing the PTSA Committee Interest Form or reaching out to Senior Class Chair, Magally Lopez.

The Class of 2027 Chair is currently seeking a parent who can help strengthen the Class of 2027's social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. If you are interested, please share your information through the PTSA Committee Interest Formor contact Senior Class Chair, Magally Lopez, directly.

You asked, and we heard you loud and clear. Seniors, we want your ideas. Fundraisers, events, traditions, celebrations... If it matters to the Class of 2027, we want it on the table.

Your Class Council President, El Wakefield, is ready to champion your voice, and Senior Class Chair Magally Lopez is right there alongside. Anytime inspiration strikes, just complete this form and one of them will follow up.

This is your year! Dream big, speak up, and help shape the senior experience you want to remember!

Join us as we celebrate fifty years of extraordinary artistry and innovation at Booker T. Washington High School. Arts Magnet 50 is a yearlong celebration featuring a five part Signature Series led by our conservatories and guided by our theme of Legacy in Motion. The festivities culminate on March 5, 2027, when alumni from across the decades return to honor the legacy they helped build.

Class dues are collected each year and help build every grade’s Senior Fund, which supports the celebrations, activities, and traditions that make senior year unforgettable. Paying dues early, along with your PTSA memberships, ensures a smooth start to the year and gives our PTSA the resources needed to support all Rising Pegasi from day one. And the best part, paying into your class dues includes a student membership!

We cannot wait to welcome our newest Pegasi into the BTWHSPVA community and look forward to an amazing year ahead.

Click the graphic below to pay into your class dues!

Together, we can help every child reach their full potential, but it takes a community of believers like YOU to make that happen. When you join the PTSA, you’re not just signing up for a membership. You’re strengthening the support system that lifts our scholar artists, empowers families, and keeps Booker T’s legacy thriving.

Faculty and Staff Membership | The "T" in PTSA stands for Teachers! As teachers play a vital role in a child's education, the PTSA celebrates and supports them with events and programs like Teacher Appreciation Week.

Student Membership | The "S" in PTSA stands for Students! Student voices are amplified in the PTSA and play an important role in the decision-making process. Adding PTSA to your resume for student leadership activities is highly recommended. By becoming a part of PTSA, you will acquire valuable experience in leadership, advocacy, public speaking, teamwork, and event planning, all the while positively impacting your school. Additionally, PTSA student members earn community service hours for their contributions to the organization.

Alumni Membership | While the "A" in PTSA doesn't stand for Alumni, Alumni are an essential part of our Association, and we invite all graduates to join us, especially as we celebrate the Arts Magnet 50th anniversary. Alumni involvement strengthens our community, deepens our Legacy in Motion, and keeps the spirit of Booker T thriving for future generations. Becoming a member is a meaningful way to stay connected, support current scholar artists, and take part in this milestone year of celebration. 

Have family members or friends who’d love to support your student’s class? Now they can! Every contribution, in any amount, helps fuel the senior year experiences, traditions, and celebrations that make this milestone unforgettable.

Your support directly powers the moments seniors look forward to most: class events, senior gifts, special recognitions, and the activities that bring their final year at Booker T to life. Whether you’re catching up, giving a little extra, or inviting grandparents, relatives, or friends to join in, every dollar strengthens the senior year journey.

Share this newsletter or click on your class year below to make a contribution and keep the momentum going:

The BTWHSPVA PTSA is an independent organization, and each of the Guilds operates independently as well. Although we all work together to support our students, each group maintains its own structure, including membership enrollment, dues, fundraising, and volunteer opportunities. 

INSTRUCTIONS TO ENTER VOLUNTEER TIME FOR MEETINGS/PLANNING/TRAVEL (must create a free PTSA Membership Toolkit account prior to entering volunteer time):

To enter volunteer time for PTSA meetings (1 hour maximum per meeting), PTSA planning time (up to 4 hours maximum per school year), or PTSA travel time (up to 4 hours maximum per school year):

• click the link below
• Once on the volunteer hours page, click the "Record Hours" button.
• In the "Opportunity" drop-down menu, scroll all the way to the bottom and select "other".
• In the "Event Name" box, type which PTSA event you are recording time for. If it is planning or travel time, please also specify which, planning or travel, along with the event name (ex: "All-School Musical planning-snacks" or "All-School Musical travel-deliver snacks"). 
• Click "Save".

RECORD HOURS

NEW DISD ON-CAMPUS VOLUNTEER PROTOCOL | All volunteers who serve on campus through any organization, including the school, PTSA, and Guilds, must be approved each year by Voly before volunteering. Volunteers must check in at the Voly kiosk located at the front desk.

Some volunteer opportunities may require checking in and out at two separate kiosks, so please plan for that when you come to serve.

DISD VOLY

Students are encouraged to explore their identity and express their unique perspectives by creating an original work of art inspired by the 2026–27 Reflections theme, “What My Culture Means to Me.” Submissions may be entered in a variety of categories, including Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to share their stories and celebrate the richness of their cultural experiences. Entries will be accepted in the fall, so summer is the perfect time to begin developing ideas. Be sure to review the FAQs and guidelines to help your creative vision shine. 

Reflections is a National PTA program that enables students to find a creative outlet in dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. The program began in 1969 and now more than 200,000 students participate annually.  

The PTSA Weekly Newsletter is produced and published by 2026-27 BTWHSPVA PTSA 3rd VP of Communications, David Hall. For questions or issues, please complete the PTSA Inquiry Form.

Thank you for your engagement & support!