Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- Holiday Helper gifts need to be dropped off this Wednesday and Thursday. Sign up below to help collect and sort gifts
- Thursday is Picture Re-Take Day. Make sure to let your teacher know if your child needs to have their picture taken
- Have you lost something? Lost and Found items will be in the front courtyard this week
- Ordering holiday cards? Read more below about how you can save money and give back to Casis at the same time
- The next Forest Club meeting is this Saturday 9-10:30am. More details below
- 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! The month of December is moving along quickly, as we all await the next upcoming Winter Break. This week will be our annual Science Fair and will highlight some great student learning. There will also be 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
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 FOR DECEMBER
The next round of a stomach bug is going around, both vomiting and diarrhea. Check out the links below for suggestions on how to stay hydrated with a GI bug – the dos and dont’s and when to call the pediatrician. (1) Staying Hydrated When Sick: Help Child Get Enough Fluids, (2) Treating Dehydration from Stomach Bugs in Children, and (3) Drinks to Prevent Dehydration When Child is Vomiting. If you have any questions about health guidelines in the 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
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.