Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Last week was full of fun activities: Teacher Appreciation Week, Math Week, and National Walk, Bike, & Roll To School Day. This week we’re excited about Career Day and our Track & Field Days. As the remaining happenings in the month of May will bring closure to this school year, we are also planning 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
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK THANKS
Last week’s ‘Teacher, Teacher Assistant, and Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week’ was filled with so many amazing gestures of appreciation from families and our wonderful PTA. During this special week, all of our staff was made to feel so special and so very much appreciated. It was just great to feel the love from everyone! And while educators certainly don’t work for the appreciation of others, it means so much to be recognized and uplifted by those around us. Every sincere and thoughtful act truly filled our hearts. We love our Casis Cougar PRIDE Learning Community!
CASIS CAREER DAY IS HERE
Monday, May 13 is Career Day at Casis Elementary. Some of our parents have been invited to classrooms to participate on this special day. Each grade-level team has coordinated presentations, so that parents can highlight their careers, education, interests, and character traits, related to their various occupations. We are excited to have some of our families sign up to present. Both staff and students are looking forward to this special day of presentations!
SCHOOL NURSE APPRECIATION WEEK
Monday, May 13 – Friday, May 17 is School Nurse Appreciation Week. This week celebrates the work of the School Nurse and Clinical Assistants in AISD. Even though Casis does not currently have a permanent School Nurse, we are so very appreciative of the Substitute Nurses and our Clinical Assistant, Jayme Gomez, who ensure that our students are taken care of on a daily basis. These individuals provide regular health care, as well as critical aid to our students (and sometimes staff) when needed. The job of the School Health Office is so vital and very important to our school community. Join us in appreciating these individuals who have made a difference in the lives of our students this school year!
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
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.
SPRING LOST & FOU
ND REMINDER
As we go into the final months of this school year, we want to reunite as many lost items as possible with their owners. Because a large number of our families have made sure that their student items were labeled, labeled, labeled (First & Last Name), it has been much easier to reunite those items with the students. During these last months of April and May, students should be encouraged to regularly check the Lost & Found Bins that are located in the front and back of our school. During morning drop-offs or lunch-visits, Parents are encouraged to regularly check for lost items as well. Casis Parents, Michele Karp, Morgan Gaddis and Mary Polan, are our ‘Lost & Found Coordinators’ and we truly appreciate their support and leadership in this area. Thanks in advance to everyone for your cooperation and vigilance.
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
May – Jewish American Heritage Month
May – Asian American / Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May – National Physical Fitness & Sports Month
Mon., May 13 – Fri., May 17 – School Nurse Appreciation Week
Wed., May 15 – Thurs., May 16 – Track & Field Day Activities
Wed., May 22 – 5th Grade Final Walk the Halls at 8:00am
Thurs., May 23 – Last Day of School
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.