Cougar PRIDE Families,

It’s going to be a great final week at Casis! This 2022 – 2023 school year has been so very rewarding and has brought many joyous moments. And while sometimes there have also been challenges, those challenges have been faced head-on with resilience and positivity. During this first full year in our new modernized facility, as well as this first year of welcomed ‘normalcy’ since the pandemic, I’m so very proud of our exceptional learning community. As school staff, parents, and students, we have all partnered together to keep learning a core focus, while we have also taken great measures to show care towards each other in so many ways. Our learning community is truly a family and we have accomplished so many things together. Once again, each experience has presented new learning and growing opportunities for us all. As we go into the summer months, I truly hope that everyone will enjoy family, friends, and a much slower pace. While Administration, Staff, and PTA have already been planning for the next school year, it is just as important that we all rejuvenate ourselves during this time off as well. Have a great summer vacation! Please see important information for the week below.

Mr. Tinnon

LATEST SCHOOL NEWS

SILVER RAVE AWARD PIN FOR MAY

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 recipients for the month of May are:

• Erin Davis and Bretta Kelley – These two Special Education Teachers, while experienced, were new to our campus this school year. Both of these individuals have worked so very hard this year to provide excellent service to our students, while becoming acclimated to a new learning community. Ms. Kelley immediately took on a leadership role on our campus and has already built strong relationships with both staff and students throughout this school year. And Ms. Davis has done an excellent job of collaborating with both staff and parents, to ensure quality service for students. We’re so very happy that these two stellar teachers joined our Casis PRIDE Family and we applaud them for their ‘hard and heart’ work this school year. These two teachers are simply the best!
• Richard Castro – As our Head Custodian, Mr. Castro has done an exceptional job of leading the Custodial Team and serving our learning community. Our staff, students, and families have greatly benefited from the support and service of Richard Castro. He works so hard every day to accommodate the needs of us all. His kind and ‘service minded’ demeanor has made him a great addition to our school family. Since joining us last year, Mr. Castro has continued to show great care and pride in ensuring that our school is a clean and safe learning environment for all of us. We’re so ‘Cougar Proud’ of Richard Castro!

It has been a pleasure to recognize and highlight some of the members of our School Staff (Casis Crew) with the ‘Silver RAVE Award’ program this 2022 – 2023 school year. And while I couldn’t recognize the work of every single member of our staff, I am still so very fortunate to lead the absolute best group of educators and staff members in the entire school district. Each and every one of them makes the job of a Principal so purposeful and joyful. Kudos to another year of excellence in education!

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.

LAST WEEK TO RECLAIM LOST & FOUND ITEMS

As we complete the final week 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 this last week of school, students should be encouraged to do daily checks of the Lost & Found Bins that are located in the front and back of our school. During morning drop-offs, lunch-visits, and after-school, parents will also have the opportunity to check for lost items as well. This last week, all lost and found items will be brought to the front of our school and will be located in the ‘Teacher Courtyard’ for reclaiming. No lost and found items will stay on campus after the last day of school. The remaining items will be taken off-campus for sorting and donating. We want to give special thanks to Casis Parents, Michele Karp and Mary Polan, our ‘Lost & Found Coordinators’. They have taken new and extraordinary measures this school year to reduce the number of lost and found items on our campus. We truly do appreciate all of their support and leadership in this area.

MEMORIAL DAY RECOGNITION

Monday, May 29 will be observed as Memorial Day! Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States set aside to remember the people who died, while serving in the country’s armed forces. This holiday is observed every year on the last Monday of May and typically marks the start of the summer vacation season. As this school year has rapidly come to a close, please take some time to enjoy this day, but also to remember its significance.

4th 9-WEEKS REPORT CARDS

Families can expect to receive Report Cards for the 4th 9-Weeks on Monday, June 12. The AISD Portal/Frontline Parent Self Serve platforms give parents/guardians direct access to their child(ren)’s grades.

IMPORTANT AUGUST 2023 DATES

Below are the anticipated dates for our Beginning of the Year (BOY) Activities in August, 2023. These events are meant to get our year started off smoothly for both staff and families. Please mark your calendars and know that some times may change. 

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!

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
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.

PTA NEWS