Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! The month of January has just flown by and February promises to bring more great happenings that will keep our learning community connected and moving forward. Last week’s Parent Tour and Administrative Coffee Chat were very successful. Also, our annual Book Fair and Author Visit events are just right around the corner. As we continue our work together this second semester, there is still much to learn, to do, and to look forward to. We will also continue to 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
SILVER RAVE AWARD PIN FOR JANUARY
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 January is Courtney Ewing, School Librarian. Ms. Ewing has done an excellent job as our Librarian, but she has also gladly taken on additional campus and leadership roles on our campus. She is a part of our Technology Team, Campus Scheduling Team, and our Language Arts PLC. Additionally, she leads our community in some of our most beloved events, like the Community Book Fair and Author’s Visit that takes place every year. Ms. Ewing was a stellar 2nd Grade Teacher for many years, before becoming our School Librarian, but now she impacts all students on our campus, by providing regular lessons in the Library. Even children in our Childcare Program look forward to visiting Ms. Ewing in the Library. The Library is a home to us all, a core feature of our new school, and such a welcoming place for our entire learning community. Last year, Courtney was a finalist for the AISD Librarian of the Year, and was so deserving of this recognition. While she was not selected for the district, she will always be our ‘Librarian of the Year” at Casis Elementary. Ms. Ewing is simply the best and enriches the lives of our students, staff, and families. We love you Ms. Ewing!
SPRING PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Elementary Parent Conference Days are scheduled on the AISD School Calendar to take place on the evenings of Wednesday and Thursday, February 15 – 16. At Casis Elementary, these important meetings will be scheduled between Monday, February 13 – Friday, March 10. Most conferences scheduled in the Spring will either be student-led or optional, based on the grade level and student progress/performance concerns. Teachers will still share information about student progress/performance for all students, but most Spring meetings will be optional, unless requested by Teacher or Parents. If scheduled, meetings will occur during the day and/or after school. Parents can then expect the ‘3rd 9-Weeks Report Cards’ to be available in your Parent Portal by Friday, April 7.
SPRING EARLY RELEASE DAY
Friday, February 17, 2023 will be an AISD ‘Early Release Day’. Elementary School will be released at 1:30p.m. on this day. 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.
BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH
January is School Board Appreciation Month. The theme for 2023 is “Forward, Together”. These elected officials play a vital role in our communities and schools. Our District 5 Trustee, Lynn Boswell, has strong Casis community ties and is a valued partner with our school, as our area representative. Please join me in recognizing Ms. Boswell and the entire Board in the role that they fulfill in our school district!
2023 – 2024 REGISTRATION INFORMATION
The online registration process for both the current 2022 – 2023 and next year’s 2023 – 2024 school years will be open concurrently, starting in January, 2023. Families enrolling in the current school year will be able to continue to do so. This process will also apply to out-of-district transfer families as well.
Following are important links, regarding enrollment, registration, and transfers:
(1) Enrollment: https://www.austinisd.org/enroll
(2) Important Dates: https://www.austinisd.org/transfer/dates-deadlines
(3) Questions: https://www.austinisd.org/letstalk
All current and prospective families are encouraged to begin the registration process as early as possible. This information allows the school district to make impactful and accurate decisions in the areas of school budgeting, staffing, and student services to all campuses in the district.
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 January is Self-Talk. Self-Talk is talking to yourself in a quiet voice or in your head. Using self-talk helps you stay focused and manage strong feelings.
The Equity word for the month of January is Connection. We are all connected in our school community. We can strengthen our relationships and connections by communicating with each other and build upon our strengths. As we come back from Winter Break, this is a great time for us to reconnect as a class and school family.
Following is a resources sheet for the month of January that will help support these two important concepts, both at school and at home. JANUARY RESOURCES SHEET
IMPORTANT DATES
January – School Board Appreciation Month
Mon., Jan. 30 – Korematsu Day
February – National African American Heritage Month
February – Career and Technical Education Month
Fri., Feb. 3 – PTA General Meeting at 12Noon (Community Room)
Mon., Feb. 6 – Fri., Feb. 10 – School Counselor Appreciation Week
Mon., Feb. 6 – Fri., Feb. 10 – Casis Book Fair Week
Tues., Feb. 7 – CAC Meeting – CANCELLED
Mon., Feb. 13 – Fri., Mar. 10 – Casis Spring Conference Window
Fri., Feb. 17 – Early Release Day at 1:20pm (PK-2) & 1:30pm (3-5)
Mon., Feb. 20 – School Holiday (Presidents Day)
Thurs., Feb. 23 – Casis Author Visit Day (Candace Fleming & Eric Rohmann)
Wed., Feb. 22 – Prospective Parent Tour at 9:00am
Fri., Feb. 24 – Food Service Workers Appreciation Day
Fri., Feb. 24 – Administrative Coffee Chat at 8:00am (Community Room)
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:
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.
- 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.