Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! As we continue on in the new school year, it’s hard to believe that we’re entering the fifth week of school already. Various school activities, like our ‘Fall Carnival’ and ‘Class Field Trips’ are currently being planned, promising to make this school year one that will be full of both fun and learning. We’re also excited that Austin High’s ‘Future Maroon Night’ will occur this week. Please see other important information for the week below.
Mr. Tinnon
LATEST SCHOOL NEWS
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, September 29. 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.
AUSTIN HIGH FUTURE MAROON NIGHT
Casis Elementary is a part of the Austin High School Vertical Team of Schools. Friday, September 15, at 6:30p.m. will be ‘AHS Future Maroon Night’ at the House Park Stadium (1301 Shoal Creek Boulevard). Students are invited to attend, wearing their school shirts, and will run through the AHS Football Team tunnel on the field to signal the start of the game (Austin High vs. Dripping Springs). The first 150 elementary students be admitted for free (adults must buy a ticket). See flyer here: AHS Future Maroon Night Flyer. It’s always a great night of family and fun. Hope to see many of you there!
CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES CASIS ELEMENTARY
- Casis Elementary has been recognized as a ‘Bronze Star School’ in the City of Austin’s ‘Safe Routes to School’ program. Our school received this recognition because of our efforts to (1) increase our community’s knowledge of safe routes to school, (2) encourage our community to increase the number of children walking and biking to school, and (3) incentivize our community by creating a structured program with prizes and recognitions through our Casis Commuter Club (C3).
- Casis will also be recognized as one of the ‘Mayor’s Healthiest Schools’, having implemented coordinated school health initiatives and activities that encourage and support healthy lifestyles in our school community, creating a school environment that supports the health and well-being of all students. Our school will be recognized in an award ceremony on Friday, September 15, at City Hall.
We’re so very proud of the work that our community and staff have done to receive these two wonderful recognitions from the City of Austin.
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
CHECKING STUDENTS IN & OUT DURING THE 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.
ADMINISTRATIVE COFFEE CHAT FOR SEPTEMBER
Casis Administration will host a series of meetings during the school year, to engage with parents about various school topics and happenings. During these informal meetings, Mr. Tinnon and Ms. Navickas will share school information and dialogue with parents about school topics of their choice. The goal of this platform is to build our shared knowledge and make community connections. Our first ‘Administrative Chat’ will take place on Friday, September 22 at 8:00a.m. in the Casis Community Room. We look forward to having some very authentic conversations with our learning community.
FALL PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Elementary Parent Fall Conference Day is scheduled on the AISD School Calendar to take place on Monday, September 25. This day will be a Student Holiday. At Casis Elementary, these important meetings will be scheduled within a ‘window of days’ from Monday, September 25 – Friday, October 27. Teachers will soon 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 their AISD Parent Portal by October 31.
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 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 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 we recognize each person’s individual needs and honor them.
Following is a resources sheet for the month of September that will help support these two important concepts, both at school and at home. SEPTEMBER RESOURCES SHEET
IMPORTANT DATES
September – National Hispanic Heritage Month
Thurs., Sept. 14 – PTA General Meeting at 9:30am (Community Room)
Fri., Sept. 15 – Austin High Future Maroon Night at 6:30pm (House Park)
Mon., Sept. 18 – Fri., Sept. 22 – Celebrate Freedom Week
Fri., Sept. 22 – Administrative Coffee Chat at 8am (Community Room)
Mon., Sept. 25 – Elementary Parent Conference Day (Student Holiday)
Fri., Sept. 29 – American Indian Heritage Day (Texas)
TRAFFIC SAFETY PROCEDURES
Please adhere to the guidelines in your particular arrival/dismissal area (Front Circle Drive or North Parking Lot). See 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 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 safely 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.