Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Our first Prospective Parent Tour was very well-attended and our in-person Veterans Day Program was so very special for our school and community. Events like these help to ensure that our school community remains strong and thriving. During next week’s Fall Break, I hope that all staff and families will have an enjoyable week off. We all deserve this time to rest and relish in the great educational and enrichment work that has been done thus far in this school year. There is so much in life to be grateful for, so I encourage everyone to reflect and celebrate during this upcoming week-long time away. Be sure to take some balanced down-time for yourself, your family, and others. November will continue to be a month of fall activities that will focus on student learning growth and enrichment opportunities, as well as on safe and secure practices. Please see important information for the week below.
Mr. Tinnon
STAFF NEWS
We’d like to introduce James Bourque, as our new P.E. Teacher Assistant. Mr. Bourque has been a Substitute Teacher in this role since the beginning of the school year and expressed interest in joining AISD and Casis Elementary, in a more permanent capacity.We were so happy to recommend him for this position, which was one of two assistant positions that were available. And although a lawyer, by profession and trade, James is no longer in full-time practice, due to his new-found love for assisting students in being the best and healthiest versions of themselves. We heartily welcome Mr. Bourque to the Essential Areas Team and to our school family!
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS DAY
Wednesday, November 16 is designated as Education Support Professionals Day. In addition to Classroom Teachers, Educational Support Professionals assist in strengthening our schools and learning communities. We recognize staff members, like our Counselor, Librarian, Spanish Teacher, Dyslexia Interventionists, Special Education Teachers, and Essential Area Teachers (Art, Music, & P.E.). Additionally, we could not do our jobs as educators without the help of other school support staff members, like Bus Drivers, Cafeteria Workers, Clerical Staff, and Teacher Assistants. All of these individuals play a vital role on the education team and in the lives of students, both inside and outside of the classroom. Together they keep our schools running and our students safe, healthy, and ready to learn every day. We salute all Education Support Professionals in AISD and at Casis. Y’all are the absolute best!
CASIS FOOD DRIVE BENEFITTING ST.JOHN’S COMMUNITY CENTER
Casis Elementary is holding its annual Food Drive benefiting the St. John’s Community Center. Our two-week food drive will take place from Tuesday, November 1 – Friday, November 18. All of our food donations help the food bank families for several months, so the more we can donate, the better! This year we will have our collection bins located in the front courtyard each morning. Students will bring their donations at morning drop off and will be tallied for their class collection total. We hope everyone can contribute a donation to help those in need during this time of the year. If you have any questions about the Food Drive, please email Larry Chauvin.
KIDS HEART CHALLENGE
The Kids Heart Challenge started Friday, November 4 and ends on Monday, November 28. In PE class, students are learning about taking care of their hearts and how they can help the American Heart Association with the Kids Heart Challenge. If your child is participating or wants to participate, please create an account online at www.heart.org/KHC. Email larry.chauvin@austinisd.org with any questions.
HUMAN SEXUALITY & RESPONSIBILITY (HSR) CURRICULUM
In accordance with Austin ISD Board Policy EHAA, the Human Sexuality and Responsibility (HSR) curriculum will be taught this fall semester during science class for K – 5 students. There are 3 – 5 available lessons at each grade level. This curriculum has been established to provide information and skill development for students, so that they may reach their highest potential for physical, emotional, mental and social health. All information regarding the HSR policy, grade level lesson overviews, family resources, and more can be found on the HSR website: https://www.austinisd.org/pe-
FALL LOST & FOUND REMINDER
As we go into the colder months of November and December, we anticipate that even more school items will be lost and left at school. Families should be sure that all student items are labeled, labeled, labeled (First & Last Name), so that it is much easier to reunite those items with the students. Students should be encouraged to regularly check the Lost & Found Bins that are located in the front and back of our school. During morning drop-offs or lunch-visits, Parents are encouraged to regularly check for lost items as well. Casis Parents, Michele Karp and Mary Polan, are our ‘Lost & Found Coordinators’ this year and we truly appreciate their support and leadership in this area. Thanks in advance to everyone for your cooperation and vigilance.
ONE MILLION MINUTES READING CHALLENGE
Dr. Anthony Mays, Interim Superintendent, is challenging PK – 12th Grade students in AISD to read one million minutes this school year. Book titles and genres of interest will be recorded as well, to see and understand what our various learning communities are most interested in reading by age level. See the following information to participate: (1) Students should Log Minutes Here [Elementary Teachers/Parents should walk students through completing this form.], (2) Follow the reading competition on the Website Here, (3) See Flyer Here with QR code to post and log minutes as well. This healthy reading competition will result in the top school receiving a prize and a traveling trophy. This challenge will run through April 30, 2023.
MORNING ARRIVAL WINDOW REMINDER
A noticeable amount of our families are arriving to school right after the 7:40a.m. school bell rings. Please remember that students are considered ‘tardy’ if they arrive after this time. We purposely have a 30-minute window of time for all students to arrive at school everyday (7:10a.m. – 7:40a.m.). This window of time gives families ample time to plan their arrival. If you are a family that typically arrives right at 7:40a.m., please consider adjusting your morning routines by 5 – 10 minutes to ensure an ‘on-time’ arrival to school. It’s so very important that students have enough time to settle into their classroom and begin their day of learning. Consistent and timely routines help ensure that students are at their very best and able to be the most successful student that they can be for the school day. Thanks in advance for your compliance and cooperation with this request.
2022 SCHOOL BOND PASSED
Austin Voters recently passed all three of Austin ISD’s bond proposals, an investment of $2.44 billion in local schools. The 2022 Bond will fund capital projects, such as upgrades to safety and security, repairing failing building systems, new facility construction and renovations, technology upgrades and other improvements. Nearly every AISD campus will receive improvements with these bond funds, helping the district to save money on repairs and maintenance, thereby freeing up money that can be used to increase teacher pay. This new work on bond projects will begin in Summer 2023, starting with safety upgrades to keep students and teachers safe. While Casis has just completed a fully modernized facility (2017 Bond), our school is also included in the 2022 Bond package and will receive additional bond items. Please see the following link for more information about its impact for our campus: Casis ES Facility Project Sheet. For more information about the 2022 Bond Program, visit AISDFuture.com.
SEL & EQUITY PRACTICES
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 lense of fairness and equity for all, no matter the differences among us.
The SEL word for the month of November/December is Friend. A friend is a person you like and enjoy spending time with. You can be a good friend by listening with attention, having empathy, showing compassion, and considering your friend’s perspective.
The Equity word for the month of November/December is Ally. One way to be a good friend is to be an ally. The word ally means to unite. When people unite against a wrong they see in their community, they become allies. There are lots of different ways to be an ally. When an ally sees or hears something unjust, they can: speak up in the moment, get help from a caring adult, talk to the person in private or sometimes walk away.
Following is a resources sheet for the month of November/December that will help support these two important concepts, both at school and at home. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER RESOURCES SHEET
IMPORTANT DATES
November – Native American Heritage Month
Wed., Nov. 16 – Education Support Professionals Day
Fri., Nov. 18 – HSR Family Orientation Session at 8am – 9am (Community Room)
Mon., Nov. 21 – Fri., Nov. 25 – School Holiday (Thanksgiving Week)
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.