Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Fall has officially arrived, and I know that we all can’t wait for cooler weather to arrive as well. Our first Administrative Coffee Chat of the school year was well-attended and very engaging. It was a great dialogue between parents and principals. This week will be filled with more learning for students and parent-teacher conferences will begin as well. We will continue building our school community in this new year, through our positive and productive interactions with one another. Please see other important information for the week below.
Mr. Tinnon
LATEST SCHOOL NEWS
GIFTED AND TALENTED NOMINATION WINDOW
Parent-referred nominations for the AISD Gifted & Talented (GT) Program are being accepted for K – 5 students from Monday, September 18th – Friday, October 6th. Parents who were unable to attend our campus ‘Information Session’ can view the presentation here: Parent Information Session. Please note that there is only one window for all AISD students in K-5. Parents should first discuss their intent to nominate their child(ren) with their classroom teacher(s). After discussing at the Fall Conference, the classroom teacher can provide you with the link to the google nomination form. Please submit the google form by Friday, October 6th. For more information about the Gifted & Talented program in AISD, see link here: AISD Advanced Academics.
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.
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
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 should have been sent home last week (electronic or hard copy), outlining the process for payment, as well as sharing 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.
ORANGE SHIRT DAY
AISD will recognize Orange Shirt Day on Friday, September 29, 2023. Orange Shirt Day, also known as National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, recognizes the impacts of residential schools on Indigenous children, lifeways, and cultures. Orange Shirt Day is a day of mourning for Indigenous people in the U.S. and in Canada. Students and Staff are encouraged to wear orange on this day, as a call to action. Following is an Orange Shirt Day Toolkit full of information and resources that can help to create a community that celebrates and honors Indigenous children and communities.
WALK, BIKE & ROLL TO SCHOOL DAY
Wednesday, October 4, is ‘International Walk, Bike, & Roll To School Day’. Join children and adults around the world to celebrate the benefits of walking and bicycling, and in spotlighting the importance of traffic safety. Days like these intend to make routes to school safer for active trips or by encouraging children to be more physically active in their lives. We want to encourage as many Casis families as possible to participate. Get those steps in as much as you can!
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
Mon., Sept. 25 – Elementary Parent Conference Day (Student Holiday)
Fri., Sept. 29 – American Indian Heritage Day (Texas)
October – National Principals Month
October – National Bullying Prevention Month
Mon., Oct. 2 – Fri., Oct. 6 – Custodian Appreciation Week
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 areavailable 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.