Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Fall has officially arrived and I know that we all can’t wait for cooler weather to arrive. Our first Administrative Coffee Chat of the school year was well-attended and very engaging. It was a great dialogue between parents and principals. This week will be filled with more learning for students and parent-teacher conferences will begin as well. Please see important information for the week below.
Mr. Tinnon
SILVER RAVE AWARD PIN FOR SEPTEMBER
The RAVE (Recognizing All Valuable Employees) program exists to recognize AISD employees who take the extra steps to provide equitable and exceptional experiences for our students, families, staff, and community members. Campus Principals have been provided with ‘Silver Rave’ pins to acknowledge local staff members each month. The recipient for the month of September is James Rider, Special Education Teacher. Mr. Rider leads our Social Behavioral Support (SBS) program at Casis. He supports students identified for this specialized service, but he also works so very well with all other students, as well as with the staff. James Rider takes on leadership roles on our campus and has been a great mentor for new staff members who have joined the Special Education Team this year. Families may see Mr. Rider happily doing morning crosswalk duty (with mood music) or waiting outside to greet his students. James is definitely a team player and has added so much to our school family. We are so fortunate to have James Rider at Casis. Mr. Rider rocks!
FIELD TRIP FEES
Field trips are wonderful extension experiences for students outside of the classroom learning environment. At Casis Elementary, we offer a few field trip opportunities for each grade level throughout the school year. Parents are asked to pay a Field Trip Fee via AISD’s School Cash Online system. A letter will be sent home this week and outline the process for payment, as well as share field trip information from each grade level. All families are asked to pay this fee by Friday, October 7. We are hopeful to get full participation from all of our families, but regardless, please know that no student will be excluded from any of the year’s field trip events.
EARLY RELEASE DAYS
There are two Friday early release days on the 2022 – 2023 AISD School Calendar, October 7, 2022 and February 17, 2023. Elementary School will be released at 1:30p.m. on these two days. Breakfast and Lunch times will follow the regular schedule. At Casis Elementary, our afternoon dismissal times will be 1:20p.m. (PK – 2nd & Older Siblings) and 1:30p.m. (3rd – 5th). AISD Bus Transportation services will be provided to all eligible students. Our After-School Program (EAC/YMCA) will also be on campus early to receive students who are enrolled in their program and they will close at their usual time.
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.
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 between Monday, September 26 – Friday, October 21. 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.
GIFTED & TALENTED NOMINATION WINDOW
Parent-referred nominations for the AISD Gifted & Talented (GT) Program are being accepted for K – 5 students from Monday, September 26th – Friday, October 21st. Parents who were unable to attend our ‘Information Session’ last week can view the presentation here: Parent Information Presentation. Please note that there is only one window for all AISD students in K-5. Parents should first discuss their intent to nominate their child(ren) with they classroom teacher(s). After discussing at the Fall Conference, the classroom teacher can provide you with the link to the google nomination form. Please submit the google form by Friday, October 21st. AISD Advanced Academics Team will also be hosting two Virtual District-Wide Gifted and Talented (GT) Information Sessions on Monday, September 19th (6-7pm) and on Tuesday, September 20th (12-1pm). A flyer for these events can be found here. For more information about the Gifted & Talented program in AISD, go to the following website link: AISD Advanced Academics.
EMERGENCY DRILLS
Student and staff safety are a top priority in the district and at schools. At Casis Elementary, we will have monthly rotating drills that practice safety measures that are taken, in the event of campus emergencies. Since the beginning of the school year, we have already practiced the following drills: Evacuation, Lockdown, and Shelter (Hazmat). Here’s a visual poster that is in every classroom, explaining all of the drills that will take place during the school year: SAFETY POSTER. If parents happen to be volunteering or visiting during any of our monthly drill exercises, they will be expected to participate and follow the group that they are closest to at the time. It’s important for students to be aware of our safety measures and to participate in these practice drills. Please know that staff members are expected to speak about the topic of safety, using child-friendly language and terms, so as not to cause undue anxiety or stress around these required drill activities.
2022 SCHOOL BOND INFORMATION
The Austin ISD Board of Trustees have called for a $2.44 billion bond package for the November 8, 2022 general election. On the ballot in November, voters will see three propositions that comprise the 2022 Bond. If approved by voters, the 2022 Bond would fund capital projects, such as upgrades to safety and security, repairing failing building systems, new facility construction and renovations, technology upgrades and other improvements. While Casis has just completed a fully modernized facility (2017 Bond), our school is also included in the 2022 Bond package and would receive additional bond items. Please see the following links for more information about the bond and it’s impact for our campus, feeder schools, and district facilities. (1) 2022 Bond Presentation (2) 2022 Bond Fact Sheet (3) 2022 Bond FAQs Sheet (4) Casis ES Facility Project Sheet. For more information about the 2022 Bond Program, visit AISDFuture.com.
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.
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.
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. 26 – Fri., Oct. 21 – Parent-Teacher Conferences
Fri., Sept. 30 – American Indian Heritage Day (Texas)
October – National Principals Month
October – National Bullying Prevention Month
Mon., Oct. 3 – Fri., Oct. 7 – Custodian & Groundskeeping Appreciation Week
Tues., Oct. 4 – CAC Meeting at 3:30p.m. (Community Room)
Fri., Oct. 7 – Early Release Day at 1:30pm (Elementary)
Sat., Oct. 8 – PTA Sponsored ‘Fall Campus Clean-Up Day’ at 8a.m. – 12p.m.
Mon., Oct. 10 – Indigenous People’s Day
Mon., Oct. 17 – Fri., Oct. 21 – Transportation Employees Appreciation Week
Mon., Oct. 24 – Fri., Oct. 28 – Red Ribbon Week (Drug Awareness)
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.