Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- The Book Fair is this week! Add money to student eWallets in the link below
- Book Fair Family Shop Night this Wednesday November 13th 3:30-5:30pm
- General PTA Meeting this Thursday November 14th at 9am in the Community Room
- Forest Club meeting this Friday November 15th 4:30-5:30pm – more details below
- Casis Food Drive starts this Wednesday November 13th through Wednesday November 20th – volunteers needed, sign-up below
Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! This week, we celebrate Veterans in our annual Veterans Day Ceremony. This is one of my favorite school community events and we hope that many will come to participate in the celebration. And ‘Book Fair Week’ is finally here! Students and Staff will be able to buy some great books, and other items, right on the school campus. November continues to be a month of various fall activities that will 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
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
STAFF RECOGNITION (AISD RAVE AWARD)
The following Casis staff member received an AISD RAVE Award: Rene Mendez (Special Education Teacher Assistant). Mr. Mendez was nominated by his fellow Casis staff members. Mr. Mendez is a wonderful co-teacher in the classroom, who is so positive, as he builds meaningful and authentic student relationships. He draws from a wealth of scaffolded supports and is knowledgeable and responsive to students. Mr. Mendez is consistently patient and committed to reaching students, even when challenged behaviorally and emotionally. Congratulations and kudos to one of our stellar Para-Educators, Mr. Rene Mendez. He is truly amazing!
ESSENTIAL AREA STAFF NEWS
- Richard Galloway, Music Teacher, will be resigning from his position, effective this Friday, November 15. His family will be moving out of state. We are sad to see him leave, but do wish him and his family the very best.
- We’re excited to introduce Samantha Salazar, as our new Music Teacher, effective Monday, November 18. Ms. Salazar recently relocated from the Rio Grande Valley area, where she was a teacher in both Middle and High School Band Departments. Ms. Salazar is a certified Music Teacher (UT Rio Grande Valley), with both public school and private music instruction experience. Nicole Stevens and the rest of the Essential Area Team look forward to working with Samantha Salazar. We feel so fortunate to have found Ms. Salazar at this time and truly welcome her to the Casis Learning Community!
VETERANS DAY RECOGNITION
Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans, persons who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. We celebrate and honor all Veterans on this special day!
FALL PROSPECTIVE PARENT TOUR
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 first tour of this school year will take place on Tuesday, November 19 at 9am – 10am. Can’t wait to show these potential new families our amazing school community!
HUMAN SEXUALITY & RESPONSIBILITY (HSR) CURRICULUM
In accordance with Austin ISD Board Policy EHAA, the Human Sexuality and Responsibility (HSR) curriculum will be taught this fall semester during science class for K – 5 students. There are 3 – 5 available lessons at each grade level. This curriculum has been established to provide information and skill development for students, so that they may reach their highest potential for physical, emotional, mental and social health. All information regarding the HSR policy, grade level lesson overviews, family resources, and more can be found on the HSR website: https://www.austinisd.org/pe-health/health-education/hsr. Note: Permission letters will be provided to parents to Opt-In/Opt-Out of any and/or all of these lessons, prior to the instruction. Mr. Tinnon will also host a HSR Orientation Session for parents on Friday, November 22, 2024 at 8am – 9am in the Casis Community Room. All families are invited to attend this HSR overview presentation.
2025 – 2026 ENROLLMENT IS OPEN
Austin ISD Priority Registration for Kinder-12th grade for the 2025–26 school year is Nov. 6, 2024 – Feb. 4, 2025. [Pre-K Registration will open in the Spring.] Students interested in admissions- and campus-based programs must complete their enrollment and any campus-specific application requirements on or before February 4, 2025. If families have questions, they can go to the enrollment website or call the Enroll Austin Help Line at 512-414-SEAT (7328). Want to learn more? Please explore these Enroll Austin FAQs.
FAMILY LEARNING & ENGAGING SESSIONS
AISD’s Special Education, Section 504, and Dyslexia Departments are sponsoring Family Empower Hour Sessions throughout the 2024 – 2025 school year. These one-hour sessions are designed to provide valuable information, resources, and support to families on various topics. These sessions will be recorded and accessible on the AISD Special Education website. We hope that families will avail themselves of these community learning and engagement opportunities throughout this school year.
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 November/December is Friend. A friend is a person you like and enjoy spending time with. You can be a good friend by listening with attention, having empathy, showing compassion, and considering your friend’s perspective.
The Equity word for the month of November/December is Ally. One way to be a good friend is to be an ally. The word ally means to unite. When people unite against a wrong they see in their community, they become allies. There are lots of different ways to be an ally. When an ally sees or hears something unjust, they can: speak up in the moment, get help from a caring adult, talk to the person in private or sometimes walk away.
Following is a resources sheet for the months of November/December that will help support these two important concepts, both at school and at home. NOVEMBER / DECEMBER RESOURCES SHEET.
IMPORTANT DATES
November – Native American Heritage Month
Mon., Nov. 11 – Fri., Nov. 15 – Casis Book Fair Week (Library)
Mon., Nov. 11 – School-Wide Veteran’s Day Program at 8:15am
Wed., Nov. 13 – Casis Book Fair Family Night at 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Thurs., Nov. 14 – General PTA Meeting at 9am (Community Room)
Tues., Nov. 19 – Fall Prospective Parent Tour at 9am – 10am
Fri., Nov. 22 – HSR Family Orientation Session at 8am – 9am (Community Room)
Mon., Nov. 25 – Fri., Nov. 29 – School Holiday (Fall Semester Break)
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.