Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! We had such a wonderful time celebrating the official opening of our campus last week. Sharing this historical event with district leadership, community leaders, and our neighborhood meant so much. Both the day and evening events were well-attended and full of excitement. It’s so hard to imagine that we’ve made it to the other side of this modernization project, which started 5 years ago with the 2017 Bond vote. It’s been an amazingly fulfilling journey, that has had many mountain-top and valley experiences. Our Learning Community has much to be proud of and a whole lot to look forward to. We did it Cougar PRIDE Family! This week, Administration, Teachers, and Staff will continue the work of building our learning community in this new school year. It’s already proving to be a great start to another great school year. Please see important information for the week below.
Mr. Tinnon
ANNUAL NOTIFICATION LETTERS
Austin ISD is mandated by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) to provide written notification regarding the availability of asbestos management plans for District facilities. Note: This notification is required, even if our facility does not have any asbestos-containing building materials. The school district is also mandated by the Texas Structural Pest Control Act to provide written notification of the types of pesticides used, and their scheduled application, on school grounds. Please see links to these Annual Notification Letters here.
Cougar P.R.I.D.E. Fridays
Your child(ren) have started coming home with blue half-sheets of paper, titled ‘Casis Cougar P.R.I.D.E.’ This incentive program is connected to our school-wide expectations. Every Friday, classroom teachers will be able to select two students to come to the office and be recognized with a certificate and some goodies. This gives Administration an opportunity to interact with as many of our kiddos as possible in a positive way. When your child(ren) brings their items home, please reinforce how proud they should be of themselves, as well as taking the opportunity to discuss the school-wide expectations of P.R.I.D.E.
College Colors Day
Friday, September 2 is National College Colors Day. Across the United States, students, parents, family, faculty, fans, and alumni celebrate College Colors Day every year on the Friday before Labor Day. We also invite all Casis students, faculty, staff, and families to wear your favorite college colors and apparel, as you show spirit and school pride.
Labor Day Holiday
Monday, September 5, will be a school holiday, in honor of Labor Day. Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. As you observe Labor Day in your own way, it offers a time to enjoy family, friends, and the fruits of your own labor. I hope that this upcoming three-day weekend provides everyone a little time to slow down before the rest of the school year takes off.
Campus Advisory Council (CAC)
The Casis Campus Advisory Council (CAC) meets every 1st Tuesday of each month at 3:30p.m. Our first meeting will be Tuesday, September 6, in the Community Room. This group of staff, parents, and community volunteers assist in making site-based decisions about various school topics. The CAC acts as an advisory to the campus Principal. There is also always an opportunity on the agenda for non-members to have citizen communication. We are thankful for the parents and staff members who participate on this council, as we discuss important matters that concern our learning community and school district.
Austin ISD Equity Committee
AISD Students, Staff, and Community members are invited to join the Equity Advisory Committee (EAC). This group is comprised of 5 sub-committees and advocates for equitable changes across the school district. They meet every 1st Tuesday of the month from 5:30pm – 7:30pm, both virtually and in-person, at the Oak Springs Elementary School. If you’re interested in participating in this group, see the attached flyer here:Equity Advisory Committee.
STUDENT-PARENT HANDBOOK
Please see the most updated edition of our Student Parent Handbook for this school year. In alignment with AISD, this document is a set of guidelines for our school community practices and policies.
CASIS COMMUTER CLUB (C3)
The Casis Commuter Club (C3) is back! The Casis Commuter Club was started in 2016 and allows users to track their active commuting (walking, scootering, or biking) to school. Parents receive notifications when their child(ren) check(s) in at school, earn awards, and see the environmental impact they can make with their choices. We invite your family to join us in this healthy initiative. Please visit the Casis site to learn more and sign-up for the Casis Commuter Club or contact the C3 Coordinator, P.E. Teacher, Larry Chauvin.
SEL & EQUITY PRACTICE
In Austin ISD and at Casis Elementary, we believe that Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is at the heart of equity-centered systems and structures. Our goal is to use and grow our social and emotional skills, while creating brave, respectful, collaborative spaces that support all students, staff, families and communities throughout our district and in our learning community.
Throughout the school year, we will teach specific skills-building strategies to our students, in order to develop important character traits, like respect, empathy, compassion, and friendships. Mindfulness strategies and principles will also be a common core of this instruction as well. Administration, Teachers, and Support Staff will all be working with students throughout the school year to develop a strong social/emotional foundation, that includes building a lens of fairness and equity for all, no matter the differences among us.
The SEL & Equity word for the month of August is Respectful. Being respectful means thinking about how others want to be treated and treating them that way. Being respectful helps students learn and it helps teachers teach.
IMPORTANT DATES
September – National Hispanic Heritage Month
Fri., Sept. 2 – National College Colors Day
Mon., Sept. 5 – School Holiday (Labor Day)
Tues., Sept. 6 – CAC Meeting at 3:30pm (Community Room)
Mon., Sept. 12 – Fri., Sept. 16 – Celebrate Freedom Week
Sat., Sept. 17 – Constitution Day
Wed., Sept. 28 – Thurs., Sept. 29 – Parent Conference Evenings (More Information Coming)
Fri., Sept. 30 – American Indian Heritage Day (Texas)
TRAFFIC SAFETY PROCEDURES
Please adhere to the guidelines in your particular arrival/dismissal area (Front Circle Drive or North Parking Lot). See our Arrival & Dismissal Plan here. We continually ask for your patience and cooperation in exercising safe practices in your area.
Additionally, please see the following reminders/updates:
- Walkers should use crosswalks at all times.
- Bikers should park bikes at bike racks and walk bikes through crosswalks.
- Drivers should ALWAYS be aware of our foot and bike traffic.
- Drivers should consider TURNING OFF ENGINES when not moving forward.
- Avoid Parking in the Casis Village, if conducting school business.
- Front Circle Drive & Hillview are available for parent parking during the day.
- The North Parking Lot is designated for staff parking only.
- Vehicles using the North Parking Lot during arrival and dismissal (3rd – 5th) should be aware of all walkers who are using the parking lot crosswalks.
- Vehicles cued on Northwood for Circle Drive afternoon pick-up should TURN ON THEIR HAZARD LIGHTS and remain in one moving line to avoid double-parking.
- Vehicles who need to enter the North Parking Lot for morning/afternoon drop-offs/pick-ups of 3rd – 5th graders may by-pass the ‘Circle Drive’ vehicles to enter the parking lot.
We ask that everyone exercise extra caution and patience. Adherence will help to maintain safety for all. We truly appreciate everyone’s compliance with the above requests.