Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- Show up picture-ready! Tomorrow is class picture day
- Nominations for next year’s PTA Board are due this Friday, March 7th. Details below
- The Casis Community Picnic is next Wednesday, March 12th at 5pm. Read more below
- Make sure to check the Lost & Found before Spring Break!
- Welcome to new Special Education Resource Teacher, Kimberly Davis!
Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Last week, our Prospective Parent Tour was well-attended and our last Administrators’ Coffee Chat was great. And we were thrilled to welcome ‘Raul the Third’ to Casis for our annual Author Visit Day. It was truly an exciting day of presentations, book-signings, and even a ‘Casis Times’ interview. And the luncheon with the staff was just so very special. Huge thanks goes to our Librarian, Courtney Ewing, and to our Parent Volunteers, who made this event so very memorable for us all. March is here and Spring is upon us! This week will be time for Class Group Pictures. Say cheese! As we continue our work this school year, there is still much to learn, to do, and to look forward to. We will also continue to 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 NEWS
Casis welcomes Kimberly Davis, Special Education Resource Teacher, as the newest addition to our Learning Community. The position that she is filling is an additional staff position that was allotted to us in the Fall. Ms. Davis comes to us with 5 years of experience in Education, as an Aide, Behavior Support Teacher, and Academic Resource Teacher in other Special Education programs. Ms. Davis is relocating from the Rio Grande Valley area, but has also previously taught in the Pflugerville school district. Ms. Davis is moving back to the area to be closer to family. As a life-long learner, Ms. Davis is also currently completing her Master’s Degree in Special Education. We are so happy to have found someone of her experience and caliber at this time of the school year. Our Special Education Team is very excited to work with Ms. Kimberly Davis, to get to know her, and to learn from her as well. Welcome!
SILVER RAVE AWARD PIN FOR FEBRUARY
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 recipient for the month of February is our Lunchroom Monitor, Gloria Ealey. Ms. Ealey has been the only paid Monitor working in the Cafeteria for the last 1 ½ months. One position is vacant and Ms. Gail Jones has been out, due to a personal circumstance. Ms. Gloria has worked at our school for many years and every day she comes to work early and with a big smile on her face. Even during this challenging time, she never complains and is just as sweet as she always has been with our students. Ms. Ealey has one of the most positive attitudes around and truly does what she does, as a labor of love. So while February just passed, we couldn’t let the month go away without letting Ms. Gloria Ealey know how much we love her at Casis Elementary. Our Learning Community is so blessed to have Ms. Gloria Ealey as a part of our Casis Cougar PRIDE family. She is simply the best!
SPRING CLASS PICTURE DAY
Tuesday, March 4 will be Class Picture Day at Casis Elementary. Please watch for a hard-copy flyer in your students’ Friday Folder(s). On the informational flyer, it references the photo company website here: https://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/#/, which also has ordering and Picture Day ID (EVTDTNTDB) as well. Can’t wait to see all those smiling faces!
CASIS HEALTH ROOM CORNER FOR MARCH
Public Health Update – Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. AISD and Ascension have released helpful resources for the most up-to-date information around the recent Measles outbreak throughout Texas. Generally, please be mindful of sanitizing and disinfecting frequently, covering your mouth when coughing, and frequent hand washing. Also, consider current vaccination status and the possibility of exposure. Following are important links for more information: (1) AISD Website (Click on Measles FAQs), (2) DSHS Recent Exposures Information, and (3) Center for Disease Control (CDC) Research. 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).
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WITH AISD TRUSTEES
AISD Board of Trustees will be hosting Vertical Team Community Conversations across the district to discuss student progress and goals across the teams and school district. Our District 5 Trustee, Lynn Boswell, will be hosting the Austin High Vertical Team meeting at the O’Henry Middle School Cafeteria on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 5:30p.m. See flyer HERE. We hope that many families will participate in this opportunity to share your insights and to collaborate in support of our students and schools.
PK4 EARLY BIRD TUITION SEATS PROGRAM
AISD will be offering early PK4 tuition-only seats for in-district AISD Families. The enrollment timeline for this special program will be Wednesday, February 5 – Friday, March 7. Seats will be selected and offered through a random lottery system. Please note that (1) staff members and (2) families who anticipate qualifying for free PK4 (See Criteria Here) should not enroll during this early period. The next PK4 application window will begin on Tuesday, April 1. The following documents provide additional clarifying information about this program: (1) Parent Guide Slideshow (2) Early Bird Website and (3) Early Bird Flyer. Participating families will be notified about the lottery outcomes by Friday, March 14.
PLASTIC BAG RECYCLING CHALLENGE
Casis Elementary is again partnering with our local Lake Austin H.E.B. store and will be collecting plastic bags, beginning Monday, March 3 – Friday, April 4, 2025. This program is meant to teach that we can all have an impact in protecting our treasured Texas land, water, and air for future generations. All participating schools will receive a $150 gift card for an Earth Day (4/22/25) celebration. And the top 3 schools with the highest bag count in the Central Texas Region will win HEB gift cards, ranging from $250 – $500. During the above collection dates, there will be a Recyclable Collection Box at the front entrance of our school. We’re so very proud to partner with our Lake Austin H.E.B. in this worthy effort and hope that many Casis families will participate!
AISD PRIDE WEEK 2025
The week of Monday, March 24 – Friday, March 28, will be ‘Pride Week’ in AISD. Every year, to highlight the district’s commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all, Austin ISD hosts its own Pride Week. We believe that when students feel safe and can show up as their full selves at school, they’re better able to engage in learning and achieve academically. This year, pride-themed activities will take place outside of instructional time, such as before or after school, during morning meetings, lunch, or advisory periods (secondary). All Pride Week activities will be voluntary for both students and staff. Pride Week district-wide themes will be (1) Monday – All are welcome, (2) Tuesday – Differences are beYOUtiful, (3) Wednesday – I am beYOUtiful, (4) Thursday – Our community is beYOUtiful, and (4) Friday – All the colors [School Spirit Day]. At Casis, we’re excited to participate in this district-recognized week and each grade level team will be sharing their plans for how Pride Week will be celebrated at their grade level. If parents prefer that their child(ren) not participate in the shared activities, please let your teacher know, so that alternative arrangements/activities can be provided. You may also get more district-level information about AISD Pride Week here: AISD Pride Week 2025 Website and AISD Pride Week 2025 FAQs. We’re ‘Casis Cougar Proud’ to celebrate AISD’s Pride Week!
CLOTHES DONATIONS FOR THE CASIS HEALTH OFFICE
The Casis Health Office is in need of any clean, gently used clothing items for PK4 – 5th. While they will take all donations, bottoms (pants/shorts) are needed the most and items for older students as well. Feel free to send in these items with your child with a note attached stating that they are for the Health Office. Any and all donated items are greatly appreciated.
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 March is Accountability. Accountability means you are responsible for your own actions. When you make a mistake, it means being honest with yourself and others. You can own your mistake by naming it, apologizing, and making a plan to do better next time. Taking accountability is an important part of living in a community.
The Equity word for the month of March is Belonging. Belonging means you belong to a family, group, neighborhood or school. At Casis, we work hard to make sure everyone feels a sense of belonging. You can help others feel like they belong by honoring their unique identities, welcoming them to your space each morning, and including them during games. How do you feel when you belong? How do you create belonging for others in your community?
Following is a resources sheet for the month of March that will help support these two important concepts, both at school and at home. MARCH RESOURCES SHEET
IMPORTANT DATES
March – Women’s History Month
Tues., Mar. 4 – Group Picture Day
Tues., Mar. 4 – CAC Meeting at 3:30pm (Community Room)
Wed., Mar. 12 – Casis Community Picnic at 5pm – 7pm
Fri., Mar. 14 – Professional Learning Exchange Day & Student Holiday
Mon., Mar. 17 – Fri., Mar. 21 – Spring Break
Mon., Mar. 24 – Fri., Mar. 28 – AISD Pride Week
Tues., Mar. 25 – Prospective Parent Tour at 9am – 10am
Mon., Mar. 31 – Cesar Chavez/Dolores Huerta Day & Eid-al-Fitr (School 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.