Casis (3/25/24 - 3/28/24)

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Cougar PRIDE Families,

It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Last week, AISD Pride Week was a wonderful celebration, where we highlighted the importance of being an accepting and welcoming community for all students. And the 3rd Grade Choir Concert was just excellent! Kudos to Ms. Stevens and the students for putting on an exceptional performance. This week, we’ll have our next Prospective Parent Tour and host our 2nd annual Casis Community Picnic. And this Friday, March 29, will be another school holiday for everyone – yay! As we continue our work together this second semester, there is still much to learn, to do, and to look forward to. 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

CASIS STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN AISD ART SHOWCASE

In honor of National Youth Art Month (YAM), the AISD Visual Arts Department invites the community to view selected student art pieces from across the district this month. The theme for this year’s event is “Art Saves the Day!” and the following 5th Grade Casis Students are participating: Blakely Bowen, Hailey Duesing, Paige Edmonds, Liesl Pitre, Simone Said, and Naomi Wang. All art pieces will be on display at the AISD Performing Arts Center (PAC) located at 1500 Barbara Jordan Boulevard, beginning March 1 – 30, 2024. Please see the 2024 YAM Student Exhibition Schedule here. There will also be a special reception at the end of the month to celebrate all of the student participants and their art work. We’re so proud of these Casis Student Artists!


SCHOOL PLASTIC BAG RECYCLING CHALLENGE

Casis Elementary is partnering with our local Lake Austin H.E.B. store and will be collecting plastic bags, beginning Monday, March 25 – Friday, April 5, 2024. This program is meant to teach our youngest leaders about the importance of taking care of our Lone Star State now. The goal is also to encourage both children and adults to help our environment by bringing in plastic bags. During the above collection dates, there will be a Recyclable Collection Box at the front entrance of our school. International Earth Day is Monday, April 22 and Earth Week in AISD will be Sunday, April 21 – Saturday, April 27, 2024. We’re so proud to partner with our Lake Austin H.E.B. in this worthy effort!


CLIMATE SURVEYS FOR PARENTS, STAFF & STUDENTS

AISD will be administering online climate surveys to Parents, Staff, and Students (3rd – 12th), beginning Monday, March 25, 2024. Communication and live survey links will come directly from the AISD Communications Team. These surveys can be easily accessed by computer, phone, and screen readers. Parents and Staff will take the survey through shared email links (Family Survey Link), while Students will access a survey tile in their AISD Student Portal (“Take Panorama Survey”). All stakeholders are encouraged to complete the survey, when received. All surveys are confidential and will remain open until Friday, April 12, 2024.

NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL


PROSPECTIVE PARENT TOURS

Prospective Parent Tours are great opportunities for families to get to learn about our school culture and programming, as well as take a tour of our new facility and amazing outdoor learning spaces. School Administration and PTA Leadership will lead these adult only tours. We look forward to sharing and showing all of the things that make Casis Elementary such a stellar educational choice for their children. The next tour of this school year will take place on Wednesday, March 27 at 9am – 10am. Can’t wait to show these potential new families our amazing school community!


CESAR CHAVEZ & DOLORES HUERTA DAY RECOGNITION

Sunday, March 31 is Cesar Chavez/Dolores Huerta Day in Austin ISD. These individuals are two of the most significant leaders in the American farmworker’s movement. Austin ISD will also participate in the Annual Day of Action (Si Se Puede) on Saturday, March 30. We’re so proud to honor the lives and legacies of both Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta!


NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION DAY

Our Pre-K, Kinder, & New Student registration event is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2, 8:30a.m. – 10:00a.m. in the Casis Cafeteria. Please see flyer here to help spread the word to any new incoming families who plan to enroll in the 2024 – 2025 school year. Parents will get to meet the School Administrators and PTA Leadership, as well as receive important information about completing the registration process. Special Note: On this day, there will be some interaction opportunities between PK & K students and PK/K teaching staff, while other new students (1st – 5th) will be taken on a short campus tour. We can’t wait to meet our new up-and-coming Cougar Pride Families!


REPORT CARDS

Report Cards for the 3rd 9-Weeks will be available to families in their Parent Portals, beginning Wednesday, April 3, 2024.


SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING AT CASIS

The Austin area will be in the path of the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8 and all AISD Schools, including Casis Elementary, plan to participate in a ‘Viewing Party’. All campuses have been provided with eclipse viewing glasses for every student and staff member. Additionally, every school has also been provided with (1) an Eclipse Information Guide, (2) Safety Slides, and (3) Elementary Learning Activities, to help prepare all schools for this very special event, prior to April 8. Here is a Solar Eclipse Flyer and some Eclipse Activities for Caregivers, provided by AISD, to share with students at home as well. The entire school will gather on the turf outside the cafeteria (designated sections by grade level) during our optimum viewing time (1:34pm – 1:40pm). Please know that this event will not allow for parents to gather with us on the turf. And if any families choose for their child(ren) not to participate, we will honor those requests. We’re so excited to experience this once-in-a-generation scientific event together on our school campus!


NEW ENROLLMENT SYSTEM NOW OPEN

AISD has moved to a new unified enrollment system for families interested in their neighborhood school, transfer schools, application-based programs, or Pre-Kindergarten. The move to this new “Enroll Austin” system is meant to make enrollment more accessible and equitable by providing a more streamlined platform all in one place. Registration will be split into two periods: (1) Priority Registration Period (Nov. 8, 2023 – Feb. 6, 2024) and (2) General Registration Period (April, 2024 – Summer, 2024). Visit www.austinisd.org/enroll to access the enrollment application or go to portal.austinisd.org and find the “Enroll Austin” tile. If families have questions, please go to the Find Your Seat Call Center at (512) 414-SEAT (7328) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the weekday. Want to learn more? Please explore the Enroll Austin FAQs.


FAMILY LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS

AISD’s Special Education, Section 504, and Dyslexia Departments are sponsoring Empower Hour Sessions for families throughout the 2023 – 2024 school year. These one-hour sessions are designed to provide valuable information, resources, and support to families on various topics. Both virtual and in-person sessions are available. We hope that families will avail themselves of these community learning and engagement opportunities.


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 March is Accountability. Accountability means you are responsible for your own actions. When you make a mistake, it means being honest with yourself and others. You can own your mistake by naming it, apologizing, and making a plan to do better next time. Taking accountability is an important part of living in a community.

The Equity word for the month of March is Belonging. Belonging means you belong to a family, group, neighborhood or school. At Casis, we work hard to make sure everyone feels a sense of belonging. You can help others feel like they belong by honoring their unique identities, welcoming them to your space each morning, and including them during games. How do you feel when you belong? How do you create belonging for others in your community?

Following is a resources sheet for the month of March that will help support these two important concepts, both at school and at home. MARCH RESOURCES SHEET

IMPORTANT DATES

 

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.

PTA NEWS

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