Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- Casis Village has requested that families stop parking in the center, especially in employee parking. Read more below
- Organic Garden Harvest Sale this Thursday 2:30-3pm at the flagpole
- Save the date for Celebrate Casis on April 5th, 2025! More info below on the kickoff meeting occurring January 12th
- Have you lost something? Pick up Lost & Found items in the front courtyard before the holiday break
- 2025-2026 AISD enrollment is open. Link below
Cougar PRIDE Families,
This last school week of 2024 will be yet another great week at Casis! Our Science Fair last week was a rousing success and highlighted some really great student learning. During the month of December, we have continued to focus on student learning growth and enrichment opportunities, as well as on safe and secure practices. As we finish out this last week before our Winter Break, please know how appreciative we are for such a successful Fall 2024 semester. The positive support and partnership of our parents has been amazing, the joy and tenacity of our students has been inspiring, the hard work and dedication of our staff has been phenomenal, and the unity of our community has been so very uplifting. I can’t tell you what an honor it is to lead such an exceptional learning community. My hope is that everyone will spend the break enjoying family and friends, as well as being reflective on how much has been accomplished this first half of the school year. I look forward to a bright and amazing new year, when we return in 2025. Well wishes and blessings to all! Please see important information for the week below.
Mr. Tinnon
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
CONGRATULATIONS REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR STUDENTS
We are so proud of all of our students who participated in this year’s Casis Science Fair event last week. We thank our Science Fair Committee, our parent and community judges, as well as our PTA, who supported the event. The following students will be advancing to the next level: 4th – Shaila Bow, Zachary Bowen, Asher Daily, Didi Hyles, Margot Mapes, and Salvador Perez; 5th – Akash Arcuri, Audrey Allen, Parker Brigtsen, David Coover, Tucker Dodson, Beau Fauber, Amelia Kim, Claire McCarthy, Hap Polan, Annie Rein, Neil Stading, Peter Stachowiak, Madeline Swogger, and Sarah Wong. These students will submit their projects to the Elementary Division of the Greater Austin Regional Science & Engineering Fair (https://austinscience.org/) in February at the Palmer Event Center. We have nothing but high expectations for all of these students and know that they will represent our school proudly!
SILVER RAVE AWARD PIN FOR DECEMBER
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 December are Librarian, Courtney Ewing, and our School Health Office Staff, Natasha Gosek, Nurse, and Alicia Henry, Clinical Assistant. Courtney Ewing is so much more than our School Librarian. She is a valued member and leader in our Learning Community. She collaborates with teachers and parents on our campus, delivers lessons to all of our students, including children in our Childcare Program, and she is just an all-around supporter for ‘all things Casis’. She most recently did an outstanding job of leading volunteer staff members in distributing gifts for the PTA ‘Holiday Helpers’ program. We also want to recognize the hard work of Natasha Gosek and Alicia Henry, who have done an amazing job of acclimating into their school roles as our new Health Office Staff this year. In addition to providing monthly health notices in our school newsletter, they have really tightened up health protocols and procedures in our School Health Office. We can’t thank these individuals enough for their support, professionalism, and care. Our Learning Community is so fortunate and appreciative to have Ms. Ewing, Ms. Gosek, and Ms. Henry as a part of our Casis Cougar PRIDE family. They’re simply the best!
CASIS VILLAGE PARKING REQUEST
Casis Village Tenants and Management have reached out to the school to make us aware that there has been a recent observable increase in Casis Families parking in the Casis Village parking lot, particularly in designated employee parking areas located behind the building. This is an issue for a couple of reasons: (1) problematic for employees trying to park for their work shifts and (2) safety concerns, given the nature of dumpsters, trash, and debris behind the center. There is also construction work being done in the center, leaving screws, nails, and other unsafe materials exposed and accessible. We ask that everyone discontinue this practice and work very hard to be good neighbors with the Casis Village Tenants and Management.
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.
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).
CASIS MATH WEEK IS COMING!
Mark your calendars for Monday, January 13 – Friday, January 17, 2025. It will be Math Week at Casis Elementary. During this week, we will emphasize the importance of home/school connections and support, in ensuring that Casis students are engaged in meaningful numeracy and place value practices. When students participate in math activities, like number talks, fluency games, and number sense lessons, they become more confident and proficient in demonstrating the use of flexible thinking in mathematics. Each grade level will coordinate various activities for both home and school to highlight and celebrate the importance of Math in our lives. We really love Math at Casis!
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. 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.