Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Last week, our final round of the STAAR test was completed for our students. We are so very proud of the hard work and effort that our 3rd – 5th grade students displayed for all of these state-required assessments. We have high expectations about the outcomes and look forward to receiving the results in the early Fall semester. This week, we’re excited to celebrate the work of all of our Teachers, Teacher Assistants, and Substitute Teachers – it’s Teacher Appreciation Week! The remaining happenings in the month of May will continue to bring closure to this school year, as we also plan for the next school year. 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
LATEST SCHOOL & PTA NEWS
TEACHER, TEACHER ASSISTANT, AND SUBSTITUTE TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Monday, May 8 – Friday, May 12 is Teacher, Teacher Assistant, and Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week! This week is set aside to recognize our excellent Teaching Staff, our amazing Teacher Assistants, and our irreplaceable Substitute Teachers. Teachers are responsible for ensuring that the daily instruction of our children takes place at a very high level. Teachers constantly challenge students to be better learners in school and to be better individuals for life. Some very special activities will be taking place during this week, in honor of the hard work and dedication that teachers put into educating our children. We salute Teachers, Teacher Assistants, and Substitute Teachers every day, but particularly so, this week!
NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE DAY
Wednesday, May 10 is National School Nurse Day! This day is set aside to celebrate the work of the School Nurse. We are so appreciative of the presence and care that our School Nurse, Sunitha Cohen, takes with our students each and every day. In the absence of a Clinical Assistant this school year, Ms. Cohen has been the constant care provider for our campus and we can’t thank her enough. She provides daily regular health care, as well as critical aid to our students (and sometimes staff) when needed. Her job is so vital and so very important to our school community. Join us in appreciating Sunitha Cohen, who has made a difference in the lives of our students this school year!
AISD SALUTE RECOGNITION CEREMONY
Salute is AISD’s annual awards event, co-hosted by the district and Austin Partners in Education (APIE). This year’s Salute Awards ceremony will recognize the winners in five categories: classified staff of the year, PTA of the year, librarian of the year, counselor of the year, assistant principal of the year and principal of the year. The event will also honor Teachers of Promise and Teachers of the Year. As a reminder, our campus Teacher of the Year is James Rider, Special Education Teacher. And our campus Teacher of Promise is Alexandria Orr, Special Education Teacher. These two educators are so very deserving of this recognition and will be honored by our district in this year’s event, which will be held on Wednesday, May 10 at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center (PAC). We are ‘Casis Cougar Proud’ of Mr. Rider and Ms. Orr!
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
TECHNOLOGY COLLECTION FOR SUMMER
The AISD Technology Team will begin planning/implementation of the 2022 Bond Program that specifically relates to new technology devices for all students. To that end, ALL students will be required to turn in any district device, hotspot, charger, and/or case or bag to their school campus. This requirement does not include special education specific devices (i.e. Assistive Technology, Vision/Hearing Impairment, etc.). At Casis, we are asking families to begin returning ALL district-issued technology to our campus NOW and no later than Friday, May 19. There will be an option for parents or guardians to check-out a device for the summer, but that process will be directly managed by the AISD Technology Team, not individual campuses. More information about that process will be communicated soon. Please note that ALL devices (turned in or not) will be disabled on Thursday, May 25 at 5pm. We appreciate, in advance, everyone’s cooperation and compliance with this district mandate.
SUPPORT OUR MUSIC TEACHER 
Nicole Stevens, Music Teacher, will once again participate in the ‘Recorders Without Borders’ program this summer in Kenya. As a founding member, Ms. Stevens continues to embrace and embody their mission to facilitate a cultural exchange between U.S. students and educators with those in developing countries through the gift of musical instruments and instruction. For more information about the program and ways to support Ms. Stevens, please see the flyer here: Support Nicole Stevens and informational website here: Recorders Without Borders. Ms. Nicole Stevens is an excellent ‘World Ambassador’ for learning – way to go!
SPRING LOST & FOUND REMINDER
As we complete the final month of this school year, we want to reunite as many lost items as possible with their owners. Because a large number of families have made sure that their student items are labeled, labeled, labeled (First & Last Name), it has been much easier to reunite those items with the students. During the month of May, 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 also 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 all of their support and leadership in this area. When all items are brought to the front of our school for reclaiming, please take a look. After the last day of school, all items will be taken off-campus for sorting and donating. Thanks in advance to everyone for your cooperation and vigilance.
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
(2) Important Dates
(3) Questions
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.
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 lens of fairness and equity for all, no matter the differences among us.
The SEL word for the month of May is Integrity. Integrity is when you are strong enough to do what is right, even when it’s difficult, and even when no one is watching. It can be hard to do the right thing when your friends aren’t making the same choice. It’s important to act with integrity in our community. When we do, it makes our school a kinder, more inclusive, and more just place for everyone!
The Equity word for the month of May is Justice. Justice means people behave in ways that are fair, equal, and balanced. When we work to create a more just and equitable community, we interrupt stereotypes or biased language, we are allies and friends, and we work to make things fair for everyone. When we all work hard for justice, we create a kinder, safer, more welcoming community for all. Following is a resources sheet for the month of May that will help support these two important concepts, both at school and at home. MAY RESOURCES SHEET
IMPORTANT DATES
May – Jewish American Heritage Month
May – Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May – National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
Mon., May 8 – Fri., May 12 – Teacher, Teacher Assistant, & Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week
Wed., May 10 – National School Nurse Day
Thurs., May 18 – Fri., May 19 – Track & Field Day Activities
Thurs., May 25 – Last Day of School
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.