Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be a great final week at Casis! This 2023 – 2024 school year has been so very rewarding and has brought many wonderful moments. And while sometimes there have also been challenges, those challenges have been faced head-on with resilience and positivity. I’m so very proud of our exceptional learning community. As school staff, parents, and students, we have all partnered together to keep learning a core focus, while we have also taken great measures to show care towards each other in so many ways. Our learning community is truly a family and we have accomplished so many things together. Once again, each experience has presented new learning and growing opportunities for us all. As we go into the summer months, I truly hope that everyone will enjoy family, friends, and a much slower pace. While Administration, Staff, and PTA have already been planning for the next school year, it is just as important that we all rejuvenate ourselves during this time off as well. Have a great summer vacation! Please see important information for the week below.
Mr. Tinnon
LATEST SCHOOL NEWS
LAST WEEK TO RECLAIM LOST & FOUND ITEMS
As we complete the final week of this school year, we want to reunite as many lost items as possible with their owners. Because a large number of families have made sure that their student items are labeled, labeled, labeled (First & Last Name), it has been much easier to reunite those items with the students. During this last week of school, students should be encouraged to do daily checks of the Lost & Found Bins that are located in the front and back of our school. During morning drop-offs, lunch-visits, and after-school, parents will also have the opportunity to check for lost items as well. This last week, all lost and found items will be brought to the front of our school and will be located in the ‘Teacher Courtyard’ for reclaiming. No lost and found items will stay on campus after the last day of school. The remaining items will be taken off-campus for sorting and donating. We want to give special thanks to Casis Parents, Michele Karp and Mary Polan, our ‘Lost & Found Coordinators’. They have taken extraordinary measures this school year to reduce the number of lost and found items on our campus. We truly do appreciate all of their support and leadership in this area.
MEMORIAL DAY RECOGNITION
Monday, May 27 will be observed as Memorial Day! Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States set aside to remember the people who died, while serving in the country’s armed forces. This holiday is observed every year on the last Monday of May and typically marks the start of the summer vacation season. As this school year has rapidly come to a close, please take some time to enjoy this day, but also to remember its significance.
4TH 9-WEEK REPORT CARDS
Families can expect to access and view Report Cards for the 4th 9-Weeks on Monday, June 10. The AISD Portal/Frontline Parent Self Serve platforms give parents/guardians direct access to their child(ren)’s grades.
IMPORTANT AUGUST 2024 DATES
Below are the anticipated dates for our Beginning of the Year (BOY) Activities in August, 2024. These events are meant to get our year started off smoothly for both staff and families. Additionally, here’s the AISD 24-25 School Calendar to review. Please mark your calendars and know that some times may change.
| Mon., Aug. 12 – Fri., Aug. 16 | Campus Registration Days | 8:00am – 3:00pm |
| Thurs., Aug. 15 | Class Lists Posted | 4:00pm |
| Fri., Aug. 16 | PK & K Parent Info. Meeting | 8:00am – 9:30am |
| Fri., Aug. 16 | 1st & 2nd Parent Info. Meeting | 9:30am – 11:00am |
| Fri., Aug. 16 | Special Education Social Camp | 11:00am – 12:00pm |
| Fri., Aug. 16 | 3rd – 5th Parent Info. Meeting | 1:00pm – 2:30pm |
| Mon., Aug. 19 | Open House | 9:00am – 10:00am |
| Tues., Aug. 20 | First Day of School | 7:40am – 3:10pm |
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.
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
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 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.