Fall is in full swing, and our Booker T. community is buzzing with creativity, culture, and excitement! I hope you'll join us on October 14 for the Sol a Sol Hispanic Heritage Festival, presented by the remarkable Class of 2028. This vibrant celebration will showcase the rich traditions, music, dance, art, food, and cultural contributions of Hispanic communities while highlighting the extraordinary talents of our scholar artists. We are especially excited to announce two signature performances of Nuestra Voz, 2019 award-winning play written by distinguished Class of 2020 alumnus Laurel Mora, with a special Talkback event between shows in the Black Box Theater. It promises to be an unforgettable evening of community, connection, and celebration. See details below for tickets, program ad purchases, volunteer opportunities, and an Amazon Wish List for needed supplies. Your contributions, in any capacity, are greatly appreciated.

I also want to encourage all students to participate in the PTA Reflections Program before the October 30 deadline. Reflections is a wonderful opportunity for students to share their artistic voice through dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. Booker T. students are uniquely positioned to shine in this prestigious national arts program, and we would love to see a strong showing of submissions this year.

Thank you for everything you do to support our students, our school, and our PTSA. I look forward to celebrating with you at Sol a Sol and seeing the incredible creativity our students bring to Reflections.

PS - YES, an All-School Dance is coming! See details below.💃🕺🎉

With shared purpose and gratitude,

Jennifer Wheeler Hall

As we prepare for this year’s Sol a Sol Hispanic Heritage Festival, we invite our Booker T. families to help bring this vibrant celebration to life by supporting our event through the Amazon Wish List.

Donations of much-needed supplies will help create an engaging and memorable experience for our students, performers, and guests while showcasing the rich traditions, creativity, and cultural contributions of the Hispanic community.

Every item purchased, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference and helps ensure the festival is a success. Thank you for your generosity and for helping us celebrate the beauty, artistry, and spirit of Hispanic heritage together!

AMAZON WISH LIST

The PTSA is proud to support the All-School Production featuring student led and written performances celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Congratulate your favorite performer or promote your business with a program advertisement!

PURCHASE A PROGRAM AD

Deadline to purchase and upload completed ads or assets for us to create an ad for you is 11:59 PM on October 9.

NOTE | Once you purchase an ad, you will receive a confirmation email that includes the link to upload your ad or assets.

The Sol a Sol Hispanic Heritage Festival needs volunteers to help oversee the Commons and Green Room, assist performers and guests, and sell concessions and merchandise.

Join us in making this celebration a success! Sign up today and help create an unforgettable experience for our students, families, and community.

VOLUNTEER

In lieu of set-priced ticket sales for the Sol a Sol Hispanic Heritage Festival*, the PTSA and the Class of 2028 are gratefully accepting suggested donations of $20 for adults, $10 for students, or any amount that is meaningful to you. All proceeds will directly benefit the Class of 2028, helping fund senior year activities and provide scholarships so all students can participate in memorable senior experiences. 

Each ticket includes admission to all performances, including a special Talkback session with Booker T. distinguished Class of 2020 alumnus Laurel Mora in the Black Box Theater between performances of his original 2019 award-winning play, Nuestra Voz, and access to the festival in the Commons and Green Room.

*Purchasing a ticket is required, but you get to choose the price! Children 12 years of age and younger do not need a ticket.

Thank you for your generosity, your support of our students, and your belief in the power of arts education. Together, you are helping create opportunities and lasting memories for the Class of 2028. 

TICKETS

The deadline for the PTA Reflections Program is quickly approaching, and we urgently need student submissions! The 2026–27 Reflections theme is “What My Culture Means to Me.”

Reflections is a wonderful opportunity for Booker T. scholar artists to showcase their creativity and be recognized for their work in dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts.

If your student has been considering entering, now is the time to act. Don't miss the chance to represent Booker T. and advance to the next level of this prestigious national arts program. Submit your entry today! 🎨🎭🎶📸✍️

Entries are now being accepted and are due by October 30.

Be sure to review the FAQs and guidelines to help your creative vision shine. 

Questions? | Email Kira McCoy, the PTSA Reflections Program Chair.

REFLECTIONS ENTRY FORM | DUE OCTOBER 30

Join us for Lunch Talk! with Principal Williams on Tuesday, October 6 from 12:30 - 1:15 PM in the Library! This casual meet and greet session gives parents a chance to meet in a smaller group setting to hear the latest about the school directly from Principal Williams. All are welcome! Afterward, parents can stay on campus to have lunch with their student.  

TOMORROW is Spirit Night at Shake Shack!

Join us at Shake Shack on 2500 N. Pearl Street on Tuesday, October 6 from 10 AM to 11 PM. 25% of all sales will support the BTW PTSA Programs, and all you have to do is tell them you are with Booker T. when you order.

Additionally, we will offer the following online delivery options to the school during the day.  Please make sure to follow the ordering directions below.  

Ordering directions: 

Please make sure your order has BTWHSPVA under first name, your entire name should fit into the last name space. 

Promo code: DONATE must be under the promo code.  

Ordering window times for the delivery option:

• Order online  between 11:00 to 11:30am, your order will be at the school around noon at the Visitors Check In. 
• Order online between 12noon to 12:30pm, your order will be at the school around 1pm at the Visitors Check In.
• Order online between 5:45 to 6:15pm and your order will be delivered around 7pm in The Commons. 

Please forward the Flyer to anyone you know that works in the downtown area, we would appreciate their support if they order for lunch or dinner on Tuesday.  

Big Thanks to Shake Shack for partnering with us! Bring your appetite, your school spirit, and your friends. Let’s make this a delicious success for our community!

Join us on Tuesday, October 6 with special guest, School Psychologist Ms. Jennifer Toombs, SSP, LSSP (will present what was planned last month).

Virtual attendance to PTSA meetings are now be available via Microsoft Teams:

BTW PTSA October General Meeting

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

OCTOBER 6 | JOIN

Join instructions & tips can be found on the PTSA Meetings page on our website.

Lindsay is originally from (very) rural Kansas but has lived in Dallas half of her life; she also spent several years living in Chicago studying comedy at Second City and working as a performer there. She's the youngest of five kids and her bluegrass musician parents call her the "free spirit" of the family.

Lindsay is the 4th VP of Memberships so she ensures that everyone is signed up for the PTSA and knows all of the wonderful benefits that membership provides. She wanted to serve on the PTSA because she believes very strongly serving others. She loves the school, its purpose, and its people! Growing up in a small town with one high school, she's blown away that a magical place like Booker T exists and feels grateful that her family gets to be a small part of the magic.

Did You Know? Booker T. has a Site Based Decision Making Committee (SBDM), a group that works alongside campus leadership to help shape important decisions about programs, policies, and resources that impact our students and school community. The committee meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 5- 6 PM, just before PTSA meetings.

Our SBDM currently has open positions for Secretary and At-Large members, and we invite volunteers to step forward and serve. This is a wonderful opportunity to support Booker T. in a meaningful way while ensuring our students’ voices and needs are represented.

For those interested, email Frances McGee, BTW SBDM Chair.

The Arts Magnet 50th Anniversary Event Site is officially live, and we invite our entire community to join us throughout the year as we celebrate five decades of creativity, excellence, and innovation.

The site will highlight special events, showcase milestone moments, and introduce you to stories spanning all 50 years of the school’s history. It is the central hub for staying connected, discovering upcoming celebrations, and engaging with the remarkable legacy that continues to shape Arts Magnet today. We hope you will visit often and be part of this historic year. 

The PTSA is proud to support the students and official student organizations/clubs of BTWHSPVA with Student Program Activity Grants. Faculty and student club leaders are encouraged to apply for funding of up to $500 to help meet specific club needs that enhance the student experience and support their creative endeavors.

Applications are now open. Submissions received by the 30th of each month will be considered for the following month’s award cycle.

APPLICATION LINK

Parents, upload your photos to the new PTSA Google Drive Photo Folder and help us capture the magic happening all year at Booker T. Parents always take the best pictures, and we would love to showcase moments from every event. Bookmark the Photo folder and start sharing your favorite snapshots!

Instructions to upload photos | Once in the folder, click the "+ New" tab on the left, then click "File upload". Or hold down the Alt and c keys, then click U.

NOTE | Please name each photo before uploading noting what/who is depicted in the photo. Ex: "Senior WW David Hall". Thank you!

Students are invited to submit any creative pieces they have made, written, produced, or performed. Whether it is artwork, choreography, music, film, photography, or creative writing, we would love to highlight the incredible talent of our scholar artists within the weekly PTSA Newsletter, the PTSA website, and on social media. 

Parents & Faculty, please encourage students to share their work and help us celebrate the creativity that makes Booker T so special!

CREATIVE COLLECTIVE SUBMISSION FORM

We encourage all new and returning BTW families to purchase PTSA memberships and pay class dues for the 2026–27 school year.

Class dues support each grade’s Senior Fund, helping create the celebrations and traditions students enjoy when they reach 12th grade. Contributing now sets the foundation for a strong senior year later.

Starting the year with your PTSA membership and class dues ensures smooth planning and gives our PTSA the resources to support all Rising Pegasi from day one.

Click the graphics below to purchase!

Missed contributing to class dues in previous years, or have family members who want to join in? It’s never too late to support your class! Every contribution helps fund the senior year activities and celebrations that make this milestone unforgettable. 

Click your class year below to give in any amount and help keep the tradition strong.

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!