Casis Weekly (4/1/25 – 4/4/25)

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Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss

  • Spirit Week is here! Read about each day’s theme below
  • Celebrate Casis is THIS Saturday April 5th. Get your tickets now! Link below
  • Spread the word to new families! New Student Registration Event tomorrow, April 2nd 8:30-10:00am
  • Forest Club this Friday, April 4th at 4:30pm. More details below
  • Enrollment for new and returning families is open now. Link below

Cougar PRIDE Families,

It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Last week, AISD Pride Week was a great celebration that highlighted the importance of being an accepting and welcoming community for all students. Because of this year’s district changes, I was exceptionally proud of how Casis created new opportunities for our learning community to unite and reaffirm our values around this special recognition event. Our Prospective Parent Tour for March was also another successful event as well. This week will contain more exciting activities, like our New Student Registration event and our 4th Grade Choir Concert. Lastly, it’s ‘Spirit Week’ this week, which will lead up to our ‘Celebrate Casis’ adult event this weekend. Yay! As we continue our work together this second semester, 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

" "SILVER RAVE AWARD PIN FOR MARCH 

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 March is our new Music Teacher, Samantha Salazar. Ms. Salazar started after the school year began and has done an excellent job of transitioning into this role. She is a great music partner with Ms. Nicole Stevens, as well as an outstanding member of the whole Essential Area Team (Art, Music, & P.E.). Ms. Salazar has shown a lot of growth in the classroom and has greatly contributed to our learning community in general. We’re so fortunate that Ms. Samantha Salazar joined our district and school community this year. Ms. Salazar is simply the best!

NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION DAY" " 

Our Pre-K, Kinder, & New Student registration event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 2, 8:30a.m. – 10:00a.m. in the Casis Cafeteria. Please help spread the word to any new incoming families who plan to enroll in the 2025 – 2026 school year. Parents will get to meet the School Administrators and PTA Leadership, as well as receive important information about completing the registration process. Special Note: On this day, there will be some interaction opportunities between PK & K students and PK/K teaching staff, while other new students (1st – 5th) will be taken on a short campus tour. We can’t wait to meet our new up-and-coming Cougar Pride Families!

" "SCHOOL 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!

REPORT CARDS" "

Report Cards for the 3rd 9-Weeks will be available to families in their Parent Portals, beginning Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

" "24-25 STAAR TRAINING & TESTING DATES 

The following dates will be designated for STAAR Testing:

  • Tues., Apr. 8 – STAAR Testing (3rd – 5th Reading/Lang. Arts)
    • Wed., Apr. 9 – Make-Up Day
  • Tues., Apr. 15 – STAAR Testing (5th Science)
    • Wed., Apr. 16 – Make-Up Day
  • Tues., Apr. 22 – STAAR Testing (3rd – 5th Math)
    • Wed., Apr. 23 – Make-Up Day

Please mark your calendars for these dates. The campus will be closed on Testing Dates. Also, please see a letter from our Campus Testing Coordinator and Assistant Principal, Catherine Davis, with specific guidelines for our 3rd – 5th Grade Families. See here: STAAR Test Letter. 

2025 – 2026 ENROLLMENT REOPENS" " 

Austin ISD General Registration for Pre-Kindergarten – 12th grade for the 2025–26 school year reopens on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Both current and new students interested in admissions must complete their enrollment and any campus-specific application requirements. If families have questions, they can go to the enrollment website (Enroll Austin 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 months of April & May is Integrity. Integrity is when you are strong enough to do what is right, even when it’s difficult, and even when no one is watching. It can be hard to do the right thing when your friends aren’t making the same choice. It’s important to act with integrity in our community. When we do, it makes our school a kinder, more inclusive, and more just place for everyone!

The Equity word for the months of April & May is Justice. Justice means people behave in ways that are fair, equal, and balanced. When we work to create a more just and equitable community, we interrupt stereotypes or biased language, we are allies and friends, and we work to make things fair for everyone. When we all work hard for justice, we create a kinder, safer, more welcoming community for all.

Following is a resources sheet for the month of April & May that will help support these two important concepts, both at school and at home. APRIL/MAY RESOURCES SHEET

IMPORTANT DATES" "

April – Arab American Heritage Month

Tues., Apr. 1 – Fri., Apr. 4 – ‘Celebrate Casis’ Spirit Week!

Tues., Apr. 1 – CAC Meeting at 3:30pm (Community Room)

Wed., Apr. 2 – PK, K, & New Student Registration Event at 8:30am – 10:00am

Thurs., Apr. 3 – Fourth Grade Choir Concert at 6pm – 7pm (Cafeteria)

Fri., Apr. 4 – ‘Celebrate Casis’ Spirit Rally at 2:00pm (Sport Court)

Mon., Apr. 7 – Fri., Apr. 11 – Assistant Principal Appreciation Week

Mon., Apr. 7 – Fri., Apr. 11 – School Librarian Appreciation Week

Tues., Apr. 8 – STAAR Testing – Reading/Language Arts (3rd – 5th) **CAMPUS CLOSED**

Tues., Apr. 15 – STAAR Testing – Science (5th) **CAMPUS CLOSED**

Fri., Apr. 18 – School Holiday (Good Friday) & Staff Development Day

Mon., Apr. 21 – Fri., Apr. 25 – Administrative Professional Appreciation Week

Mon., Apr. 21 – Fri., Apr. 25 – Public School Volunteer Appreciation Week

Tues., Apr. 22 – STAAR Testing – Math (3rd – 5th) **CAMPUS CLOSED**

Fri., Apr. 25 – Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at 8am (Community Room)

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. 

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