Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- The holidays are here! Sign up below to join our annual Holiday Helper tradition by adopting a family for the holidays
- This week is Special Education Staff Appreciation Week
- Ordering holiday cards? Read more below about how you can save money and give back to Casis at the same time
- Make sure you turn in your HSR permission letter to your class teacher. More info below
Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Our first ‘Prospective Parent Tour’ was a rousing success, with record attendance by potential new families. I hope that everyone had a restful and enjoyable Fall Break. I, for one, was so very thankful for the week off. December promises to be a month of continued fall semester activities that will quicken the time before the next upcoming Winter Break. We look forward to our upcoming Casis Science Fair and a flurry of other 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
SILVER RAVE AWARD PIN FOR NOVEMBER
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 November are Third Grade Teachers: Jane Moncus, Vickie Price, and Christie Shelton. Despite the unexpected resignation of one of their team members, these teachers did an amazing job of continuing to take care of their own classes, while ensuring that the Third Grade Class was also taken care of, in the absence of a permanent teacher. They provided lesson plans, support to the Substitute Teacher, and did whatever was necessary to ensure that students in that class were taken care of, just like their own classes. We can’t thank them enough for their support, professionalism, and care, during a challenging time period. Our Learning Community is so appreciative of the excellent teamwork of Ms. Moncus, Ms. Price, and Ms. Shelton. They’re simply the best!
SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
Monday, December 2 – Friday, December 6 is Special Education Staff Appreciation Week in AISD. Nationally, it’s also Inclusive Schools Week. We’re so proud of the work that our Special Education staff does everyday with our special needs student population. Our Special Education Teachers and Teacher Assistants work with Campus Administration, Classroom Teachers, and other Campus/District Support Staff, to ensure that students receive the educational supports that are needed, in order for them to access all available learning opportunities in our schools. This is very hard work, but these individuals show up every day to make sure that students are properly and appropriately supported. We can’t express our thanks adequately to the Casis Special Education Team. They are all exceptional individuals and professionals who have a deep love for children and helping them to meet their educational needs. Cheers to our Special Education Team at Casis Elementary – Simply the Best!
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 – 4 students (5th Grade lessons will be taught in the Spring). 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 for parents to Opt-In/Opt-Out of any and/or all of these lessons should be returned, prior to the instruction. It’s very important that all letters are returned to your classroom teacher(s), to ensure that there is ample time to plan and accommodate for all students, whether they will be receiving the HSR lessons or participating in alternative lessons.
COMMUNITY BUDGET CONVERSATIONS
Austin ISD is hosting a series of community conversations to gather input on the district’s 3-year Budget Reduction Plan. AISD Families, Staff, and Community Members are invited to participate in virtual conversations about the district’s plan to reduce the $92 million deficit over the next three years. These conversations will take place on Monday, December 9 and Saturday, December 14. See Flyer here.
FALL PICTURE RE-TAKE DAY
Thursday, December 12, will be Picture Re-Take Day at Casis Elementary. If you would like for your child to re-take their picture or if your child was absent on the first Fall Picture Day, please let your child’s teacher know that you would like for them to get their picture re-taken. You may also get the re-take form from the front office.
CASIS HEALTH ROOM CORNER
How to handle those dreaded and unwanted guests that no one wants to speak about…. Lice. Checkout the following links for the latest public health advice about lice: NPR Health Talk, AISD Public Health Corner, and Texas Health And Human Services . If you have any questions about health guidelines in school, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Health Room Staff, Natasha Gosek (School Nurse) and Alicia Henry (Clinical Assistant).
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
Mon., Dec. 2 – Fri., Dec. 6 – Inclusive Schools Week
Tues., Dec. 3 – CAC Meeting at 3:30pm (Community Room)
Tues., Dec. 10 – Casis Science Fair Day
Thurs., Dec. 12 – Fall Picture Make-Up Day
Mon., Dec. 23 – Fri., Jan. 3 – Winter Break (School Holiday)
January – School Board Appreciation Month
Mon., Jan. 6 – Staff Development Day / Student Holiday
Tues., Jan. 7 – School Resumes
Mon., Jan. 20 – School Holiday (MLK Day)
Wed., Jan. 29 – Staff Development Day / Student Holiday
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.