Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Last week, our New Student Registration event was a success, with great community attendance. Also, the 4th Grade Choir Concert was a delightful performance that families highly enjoyed. Kudos to Nicole Stevens and the student performers! This week will contain more exciting and engaging activities: Solar Eclipse Viewing Party, Celebrate Casis Spirit Week activities, including a Spirit Rally, and the highly anticipated ‘Celebrate Casis’ adult event. A lot of the upcoming happenings in the months of April and May will bring closure to this school year, as we also plan for the next school year. 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 NEWS
SILVER RAVE AWARD PIN FOR APRIL
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 April are our School Counselor, Veronica Colegio and our School Book Keeper, Shelly Guerrero. In addition to being our School Counselor, Ms. Colegio performs other support duties that are vital to our school systems. Every morning, she is in the front circle drive, greeting students and helping with our morning arrival processes. Additionally, she also supports administration with other important campus happenings, like English Language testing, Gifted & Talented testing, and the STAAR assessments. Shelly Guerrero has been our Book Keeper for about a year now and has done a great job of learning all of her job-role responsibilities, in addition to learning our general office policies, which allows her to assist anyone who comes into the office. She has taken on a leadership role, since the recent hiring of new office staff, and has continued to serve our school with a positive smile and a cheery disposition. Ms. Colegio and Ms. Guerrero are simply the best and we’re so very ‘Casis Cougar Proud’ of them both!
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!
23-24 STAAR TESTING DATES
The following dates will be designated for STAAR Testing:
- Tues., Apr. 9 – STAAR Testing (3rd – 5th Reading/Lang. Arts)
- Thurs., Apr. 11 – Make-Up Day
- Tues., Apr. 16 – STAAR Testing (5th Science)
- Wed., Apr. 17 – Make-Up Day
- Tues., Apr. 23 – STAAR Testing (3rd – 5th Math)
- Thurs., Apr. 25 – Make-Up Day
Please mark your calendars for these dates. The campus will be closed on Testing Dates.
3rd – 5th STAAR TESTING DAY PROTOCOLS
Mark your calendars! Spring testing days for the STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) tests have been scheduled for Tuesday, April 9 (3rd – 5th Reading Language Arts), Tuesday, April 16 (5th Science), and Tuesday, April 23 (3rd – 5th Math). Please note that parents will not be able to visit our campus for lunch or other activities on these days, due to strict testing protocols. 3rd – 5th Parents are asked to make sure that (1) students arrive to school on time [with their laptop], (2) they have not scheduled any types of special outside appointments, (3) students have eaten a good breakfast, and (4) students have gotten plenty of rest the night before testing. We appreciate the compliance and cooperation of everyone, as we support these students in doing their very best on these state assessments.
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
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.
PARENT FEEDBACK FOR NEXT YEAR CLASS PLACEMENT[Please Read Carefully]
In an effort to create balanced classes for next year and to foster a positive school-home partnership, parent input is taken under consideration. And while not guaranteed, parental feedback about placement is strictly based on input letters, not verbal interactions or promises between parents and staff. Know that Administration does not keep placement input from previous years, therefore, if there is important student information to be considered, please provide that information in the current year’s parent input process. Feedback is due by Friday, April 26.
A letter regarding placement for next year is not required, however, if parents have extenuating circumstances or significant concerns, please see the following guidelines: (1) A separate letter (email attachment OR hard copy) MUST be submitted. Limit to one-page (10-12 font size). Due to the amount of input received every year, general email communications WILL NOT be accepted. (2) Specific teachers or classmates CANNOT be requested. All teachers on our teams are skilled and competent individuals. (3) Share traits and characteristics of your child(ren) that describe their learning styles/needs. (4) Share the type of educational setting and class dynamic that you feel will best meet your child(ren)’s needs. (5) Email attachment OR hard copy MUST be sent to the Principal, NOT the Classroom Teacher. Please note that I DO NOT schedule meetings to discuss next year placement. Thanks for all of your support, as we strive to make the best placement decisions for your child(ren).
CAMPUS ADVISORY COUNCIL 2024 – 2025 MEMBERSHIP
There will be some parent openings on our Campus Advisory Council (CAC) for the next school year. The membership term is for two years. If you’re interested in serving on this Principal advisory organization, please consider applying. The campus CAC meets on the first Tuesdays of each month after school. Please visit the district website for more information about CAC (CAC in AISD) and if interested, please submit an application (CAC Application). The deadline for application submittal is Friday, April 26. New members will be notified in May and the two-year term will officially begin in the 2024 – 2025 school year.
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 months of April & 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 months of April & 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 months of April & May that will help support these two important concepts, both at school and at home. APRIL/MAY RESOURCES SHEET
IMPORTANT DATES
- April – National Arab American Heritage Month
- April – National School Library Month
- Mon., Apr. 8 – Fri., Apr. 12 – ‘Celebrate Casis’ Spirit Week
- Tues., Apr. 9 – STAAR Testing – Reading/Language Arts (3rd – 5th) **CAMPUS CLOSED**
- Sat., Apr. 13 – ‘Celebrate Casis’ Adult Event at 7pm
- Tues., Apr. 16 – STAAR Testing – Science (5th) **CAMPUS CLOSED**
- Wed., Apr. 17 – Prospective Parent Tour at 9am
- Sun., Apr. 21 – Sat., Apr. 27 – Earth Week
- Mon. Apr. 22 – Fri., Apr. 26 – Administrative Professionals Appreciation Week
- Mon., Apr. 22 – Fri., Apr. 26 – School Volunteer Appreciation Week
- Tues., Apr. 23 – STAAR Testing – Math (3rd – 5th) **CAMPUS CLOSED**
- Fri., Apr. 26 – Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at 8am (Community Room)
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.