Our new school year is almost here, and I am thrilled to welcome you into a season filled with creativity, community, and Legacy in Motion.Pegasus Pick Up, Flight School, and Parent University are geared up to bring our families together, and the excitement is building for an incredible year ahead.

The All School Musical is underway, and Shrek the Musical will be a major highlight this fall. I encourage every family to consider becoming a Sustaining Sponsor, because this support fuels the experiences that make Booker T extraordinary. We are also collecting PTSA Summer Scholarship Testimonial submissions, and I love seeing how these opportunities shape our scholar artists.

Our Senior Class of 2027 is stepping into a milestone year, and we will share important updates throughout the fall. This year also marks the Arts Magnet 50th Anniversary, a celebration of five decades of imagination and excellence.

I invite every family to join the PTSA, pay class dues, and explore PTSA committee interest opportunities. We have many PTSA volunteering opportunities coming up, including time-sensitive opportunities for the All School Musical set construction and Pegasus Pick Up happening at the end of this month. Your involvement as a volunteer strengthens our community. And do not forget the National PTA Reflections contest, which gives students a chance to shine on a national stage.

The momentum is already incredible, and I am grateful to begin this year with all of you. Booker T is ready to rise, and our Legacy in Motion is just getting started! 

With shared purpose and gratitude,

Jennifer Wheeler Hall

PS - If this is your "first rodeo" with Booker T, don't worry! You do not have to feel overwhelmed. Each member of the 2026-27 PTSA Board is here anytime you need us! Plus, we have a handy-dandy notebook (yes, I stole that from Steve on Blues Clues, ha), the PTSA Booker Basics: A Guide to Everything Booker T that will help you get ahead of the game! Stay connected, stand proud as a new Pegasus, and keep our Legacy in Motion! 

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. 

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

SET CONSTRUCTION | We need enthusiastic parent & student volunteers to help with set construction from July 29 through August 7, and the urgency is real. Our All School Musical depends on this work, and every extra set of hands makes a huge impact. If you’re able to jump in, even for a few hours during a single shift, your help will keep our momentum strong and bring this production to life. Please consider signing up and joining the team that makes the magic happen.

SET CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEER

RUN OF SHOW | We also 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. 

RUN OF SHOW VOLUNTEER

Parents, this is the perfect moment to put your student’s Legacy in Motion and celebrate their artistry in a way that feels personal, meaningful, and unforgettable. Purchasing an ad in the Shrek the Musical Playbill is one of the most exciting ways to honor your scholar artist’s hard work and dedication.

These ads become part of the show’s permanent legacy, a keepsake your student will treasure long after the curtain closes. Your support also helps fuel the production itself, making Playbill ads both a celebration and a vital contribution to the magic happening on stage.

Join us in spotlighting your student and keeping our Legacy in Motion by securing your Playbill ad today.

PURCHASE A PLAYBILL AD(deadline to purchase an ad for the ASM is August 23 with assets due August 24)

NOTE | If you need help creating your ad, the PTSA is happy to assist. We can help with layout, wording, and design so your message looks polished and heartfelt. Feel free to reach out to our VP of Fundraising, Cynthia Wilson or our President, Jennifer Wheeler Hall, with any questions regarding Playbill ads.

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.

Faculty and Staff Membership | Teachers shape a child’s learning journey in countless ways, and the PTSA is proud to honor and uplift them throughout the year. Through events and programs such as Teacher Appreciation Week, thoughtful celebrations, and ongoing support initiatives, we show our gratitude for the dedication, creativity, and care our teachers bring to the classroom every day. Their work inspires our scholar artists, strengthens our community, and reflects the spirit of Booker T.

Alumni Membership | Alumni hold a special place in our community, and we welcome every graduate to stay connected, especially as we celebrate the Arts Magnet 50th anniversary. Your involvement strengthens our shared community, enriches our Legacy in Motion, and keeps the spirit of Booker T alive for future generations. Becoming a member is a meaningful way to stay engaged, support our scholar artists, and be part of 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:

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.

Mandatory Senior Parent Conservatory Meetings will take place on August 12 from 6 to 7:30 PM in conservatory locations that will be announced soon.

This evening is an important kickoff to your student’s milestone year, and it gives families the chance to meet conservatory leaders, learn about senior expectations, and stay ahead of key deadlines and opportunities.

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend as we prepare to support every senior in a year filled with creativity, celebration, and Legacy in Motion. 

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
• Follow us on Instagram

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.

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.  

ATTENTION MUSIC GUILD FAMILIES | Make a splash at the Music Guild Mid‑Summer Social! Join students, families, and supporters for an afternoon of sunshine, music, and community fun. It is the perfect chance to connect, cool off, and celebrate our scholar artists before the school year begins. You will not want to miss this mid‑summer celebration!

• July 18 | 1-5 PM
• Dallas Elks Lodge
• 8550 Lullwater Dr., Dallas, TX 75238 

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!