May 18, 2025

Good evening Visual Arts students, parents and supporters! Our seniors have finished their last busy week at Booker T. This week they had the annual faculty/student volleyball game, the senior breakfast and senior awards, and next weekend is Baccalaureate (May 24) and Graduation (May 25). Congratulations Class of 2025. 

Class of 2026, it's your turn, starting with:

Be sure to follow the Class of 2026 on social media:

• Join the Class of 2026 Remind: text @btwco26 to 81010
• Join the Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/btwhspva2026
• Follow the Class of 2026 on Instagram @btwhspva2026

Questions? Email Brandi Cline, the chair of the Senior Activities Committee (SAC) for the Class of 2026, at btwhspva2026@gmail.com. 

Parents, if you want to serve on the SAC, fill out an interest form on the PTSA website.

Senior yearbook portraits for the Class of 2026 will be taken on campus from July 29 to August 1, 2025, with photographer Angela P. Navarette. A link to sign up for a time slot will be released soon. 

PLEASE NOTE: You will also have the opportunity to take conservatory headshots for the Visual Arts senior wall outside of Mr. Clark's room on the first floor. Dates for Visual Arts headshots will be announced soon but will likely be after school has started. Conservatory headshots are posted on the senior wall and used throughout senior year for Portfolio Day, Showcase, senior exhibits and the senior dinner.

Rising seniors (Class of 2026) are invited to submit a design for the class t-shirt by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21. After all submissions are received and approved by the BTWHSPVA administration, senior students will be able to vote for their favorite design. The design with the most votes will be featured on the Class of 2026 t-shirt. 

Students are also asked to submit their shirt size by Monday, June 16 so your shirt can be ready for you in senior Welcome Week in August. Shirts are courtesy of the PTSA and your Senior Activities Committee.

Thank you to everyone who attended our guild meeting on Monday, May 12. At the meeting we reviewed the calendar and volunteer needs for 2025-26 and elected our new officers. Thank you to these volunteers who are serving as officers and committee chairs next year:

• President: Kayli House
• First VP: Alison Silliman
• Treasurer: Lashay Marshall
• Secretary: Nikki Hurston
• Merchandise: Tiffany Bennett
• College Showcase: Jennifer Blankenship, Jennifer Duffy
• Gallery Receptions / Senior Headshots: Jodi Carlton

There are still lots of way to plug in next year. Visit the volunteer / committee interest form for a monthly breakdown of events with descriptions and time estimates, and let us know how you'd like to help.

The 2025-26 exhibit calendar has been posted. Save these dates for gallery receptions. All are Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. unless otherwise noted:

• Faculty/Alum: September 25
• Studio Selections: October 16
• Senior Showcase: November 20
• National Arts Honor Society: December 11
• Senior Shows: January 22, February 12, March 26
• SCRAP: April 9
• New Works: May 7,  6-8 p.m.

If you (parents and/or students) have an hour or two on Monday, May 19, please consider volunteering at the Class of 2025 Senior Dinner between 6-9 p.m. We are expecting more than 170 guests, and as of this email, we do not have enough volunteers to set up, host and break down after the event.

Each conservatory has its dinner next week so it is imperative we break down the dinner immediately after so the tables, chairs and tablecloths are ready for the Music Conservatory dinner on Tuesday. 

The past two years, most of the volunteers at this dinner have been Class of 2025 parents. We do not want senior parents to have to volunteer at their own dinner, so please consider signing up.

All new and returning students must complete registration each year by June 30, 2025. Include your updated contact information to receive school communications over the summer. Login to Smart Choice powered by SchoolMint to register.

The 2025 All-School Musical has been announced. Guys & Dolls will hit the MAT stage September 10-14, 2025. 

The Playbill student artwork contest is now open through May 23. Rising students in 10-12 grades during the 2025-2026 school year from all conservatories can participate. The artwork should reflect the following:

• Title of the show "Guys and Dolls"
• City: New York skyline
• Representative symbols: dice, pearls, coins, cash
• Time period: 1980s and 1990s

Visit the PTSA site for additional design instructions on the artwork contest. The deadline to submit artwork is Thursday, May 23, 2025. 

Just a reminder that Tuesday-Friday, May 20-23 are early release days. Visit the school's DISD calendar or read the latest PTSA newsletter for all school-wide news, events, announcements and reminders. Visual Arts Conservatory and guild events are marked with *.

Visual Arts Guild at BTWHSPVA

2501 Flora St.

Dallas TX 75201