Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! We’re so excited that ‘Carnival Week’ is finally here. This highly anticipated and annual happening will get kicked off with daily raffle ticket sales, a lego build contest, Spirit Day, and even a Parade. Wow! And then of course, we’ll conclude the week with our ‘Super Casis World’ Carnival. Learning will continue to be our primary focus, along with having fun and maintaining a safe school environment for all. Please see other important information for the week below.
Mr. Tinnon
LATEST SCHOOL NEWS
SCHOOL-WIDE LITERARY EVENT: READ FOR THE RECORD
Thursday, October 26 is Jumpstart’s Read For The Record event. People across the country, including Casis Elementary, will unite to read the children’s book With Lots of Love by Jenny Torres Sanchez, highlighting the importance of literacy. This particular book fosters the themes of family, memories, and love. After reading, all classes on campus will engage in a literacy activity, showcasing their participation with beautiful hallway displays. We’re so excited to engage in this nation-wide event as a campus community.
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
ADMINISTRATIVE COFFEE CHAT FOR OCTOBER
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 next ‘Administrative Chat’ will take place on Friday, October 27 at 8:00a.m. in the Casis Library. We look forward to having some very authentic conversations with our learning community.
SCHOOL-WIDE ‘CRAZY HAT DAY’ AT CASIS
We’ll celebrate ‘Crazy Hat Day’ on Tuesday, October 31. In lieu of costumes, all grades (students and staff) are invited to wear a fun, unusual, or unique (purchased or home-made) hat of their choice. Please see ‘hat wearing’ guidelines: (1) Must be appropriate in nature (no violent or inappropriate depictions/words), (2) No halloween-type masks are allowed, and (3) Teacher discretion as to when worn during the class time. We look forward to seeing all of the wonderfully interesting ‘crazy hats’ in the hallways of our school. And Mr. Tinnon will be giving away a hat to staff members every hour on the hour throughout the whole day. Hope that everyone joins in on this fun annual event!
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 October is Compassion. When you have empathy for others, you can say or do many things to show your care and concern. Showing care or concern for others is called compassion.
The Equity word for the month of October is Inclusion. Inclusion makes sure each person at Casis feels welcome to be their authentic selves. Look around your class today and find each person’s strengths. Think about how you can include people in your class and community in a way that honors their truest self.
Following is a resources sheet for the month of October that will help support these two important concepts, both at school and at home. OCTOBER RESOURCES SHEET
IMPORTANT DATES
October – National Principals Month
October – National Bullying Prevention Month
Mon., Oct. 23 – Fri., Oct. 27 – Love Your Brain Week (formerly Red Ribbon Week)
Thurs., Oct. 26 – Casis Carnival Parade at 8:15am
Fri., Oct. 27 – Administrators’ Coffee Chat at 8am (Casis Library)
Fri., Oct. 27 – Casis Carnival from 5pm – 8pm
Tues., Oct. 31 – School-Wide Crazy Hat Day!
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.