Cougar PRIDE Families, 

It’s going to be another great week at Casis! As we continue on in the new school year, it’s hard to believe that we’re entering our fifth week of school already. A lot of great things are happening and there is more to come. Please see important information for the week below.

Mr. Tinnon

2022 – 2023 STUDENT SUCCESS GUIDE (FORMERLY STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT)

Austin ISD has approved the 2022 – 2023 Student Code of Conduct, now called the Student Success Guide (SSG). The SSG has been revised and renamed, based on feedback from community stakeholders, teachers, students, parents, administrators, and central office departments. Here’s a link to this updated document: Student Success Guide. Families can find this document on the AISD website, as well as our Casis website, under the ‘About Casis’ – ‘Policies’ tab.

GIFTED & TALENTED INFORMATION SESSION 

There will be an Information Session for parents who are interested in learning more about the gifted and talented services provided at Casis and the nomination/identification process for AISD on Friday, September 16 at 8:00am in the Casis Community Room. There will only be one parent information session for the school year, so all interested parents should plan to attend. Thanks in advance to our campus GT Advocates, Heather Heleniak (2nd) and Arielle Bickel (5th) for leading this information session. 

CHECKING STUDENTS IN & OUT DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

We certainly understand that students will have occasional appointments during the school day. For the safety of your child(ren) and for accountable documentation purposes, please know and adhere to the following campus protocols:

• Students will not be sent to the office prior to parent arrival.
• Plan accordingly and arrive early enough to anticipate some delay in your child(ren) coming to the office.
• When bringing your child(ren) back to school, please accompany them to the main office to check them back into school.
• A note documenting the reason why the student missed part of the instructional day should be submitted to the Attendance Clerk (email or hard copy).

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and compliance with the above safety and security standards.

ADMINISTRATIVE COFFEE CHAT FOR SEPTEMBER 

Casis Administration will host a series of meetings during the school year, to engage with parents about various school topics and happenings. During these informal meetings, Mr. Tinnon and Ms. Navickas will share school information and dialogue with parents about school topics of their choice. The goal of this platform is to build our shared knowledge and make community connections. Our first ‘Administrative Chat’ will take place on Friday, September 23 at 8:00a.m. in the Casis Community Room. We look forward to having some very authentic conversations with our learning community.

2022-2023 PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Elementary Parent Conference Days are scheduled on the AISD School Calendar to take place on the evenings of Wednesday and Thursday, September 28 – 29. At Casis Elementary, these important meetings will be scheduled within a ‘window of days’ between late September and mid-October. Specific dates will be shared soon over the coming weeks. Once released, Teachers will begin to schedule times during the day and/or after school. During these meetings, Teachers will share information about your child(ren)’s academic and emotional well-being, with a specific focus on individual learning growth, as well as discussing any factors that might hinder that growth this year (learning needs, attendance, behavior, etc.). Parents can then expect ‘1st 9-Weeks Report Cards’ to be available in late October to early November. 

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.

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 word for the month of September is Empathy. Empathy is a feeling or understanding of what someone else is feeling. Focusing your attention on a person’s face or body can help you know how they’re feeling. When you have empathy for others, you can say or do many things to show your care or concern.

The Equity word for the month of September is Equity. Equity means that everyone gets what they need. Equality is when everyone gets the same thing. Think about someone that wears glasses. Equality means that everyone has to wear the same glasses. Equity means everyone wears the glasses that are just right for them. Everyone has different needs and circumstances. It’s important to recognize each person’s individual needs and to honor them. 

IMPORTANT DATES

September – National Hispanic Heritage Month
Mon., Sept. 12 – Fri., Sept. 16 – Celebrate Freedom Week
Fri., Sept. 16 – GT Information Session at 8am (Community Room)
Sat., Sept. 17 – Constitution Day
Fri., Sept. 23 – Administrative Coffee Chat at 8am (Community Room)
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.