Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- This week is Assistant Principal Appreciation Week and Librarian Appreciation Week. Thank you Ms. Navickas, Ms. Davis, and Ms. Ewing for everything you do for our school and students!
- STAAR Testing starts this week. Please make note of the dates below when the campus will be closed to visitors during testing
- Enrollment for new and returning families is open now. Link below
- It’s not too early to plan for next year. Order your school supplies now, deadline July 1st
- The online Sprit Store is open. Get your orders in at the link below
Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Last week, our New Student Registration event was a success, with great community attendance. Also, the 4th Grade Choir Concert was a delightful performance that families highly enjoyed. Kudos to Nicole Stevens, Samantha Salazar, and the student performers! ‘Spirit Week’ Activities (Decorated Doors, Dress Up Days, and Spirit Rally) were also a lot of fun for our students and staff. And a good time was had by all at the adult ‘Celebrate Casis’ event as well. We do have so much to celebrate about our school and we are so very thankful to the Parent Coordinators and Volunteers for making every event activity so special. This week, there will be STAAR Testing for 3rd – 5th grades, so we wish all of these students the very best on this important state assessment. A lot of the upcoming happenings in the months of April and May will bring closure to this school year, as we also plan for the next school year. 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
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION
Monday, April 7 – Friday, April 11 is ‘Assistant Principals Appreciation Week’. This time is set aside to recognize and appreciate the role of some of the hardest working people in the school system. As support to the Principal, Teachers, and Students, the work of the Assistant Principal is never ending. At Casis Elementary, we’re so fortunate to have both Ms. Katie Navickas and Ms. Catherine Davis as our Assistant Principals. They are both kind and knowledgeable individuals, with many years of great instructional and administrative experience. Ms. Navickas has been a great partner over the years and Ms. Davis has integrated so well into our learning community this year. We salute Ms. Navickas and Ms. Davis, as our wonderful Assistant Principals, and say, “Thanks for all that the two of you do for us”.
LIBRARIAN APPRECIATION
April is ‘School Library Month’ and this week is ‘AISD School Librarian Appreciation Week’ and ‘National Library Week’. These times are set aside to appreciate the work of the School Librarian. And at Casis, we are so very fortunate to have Courtney Ewing serve as our Librarian. Ms. Ewing’s passion and love for literacy is conveyed to all students and the whole school community. She is a strong collaborator with both staff and families, in ensuring that students have a strong literacy foundation and develop a genuine love for reading. In addition to providing regular Library lessons, Ms. Ewing also partners with our parents in some of our most beloved literacy events and campus traditions, like the ‘Book Fair’ and ‘Author Visit’ events. Both of these events were great successes again this year. We love Courtney Ewing and salute her, during this time of recognition across the country and in our school district!
GIFTED & TALENTED PARENT WEBINAR
The Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented is hosting a webinar for parents, entitled, “Listen, Liberate, & Support: Teaching Gifted Students to Self-Advocate”. This virtual event will occur on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30 in the evening. Dr. Joy Lawson Davis will share self-empowerment strategies, tips for making programs more accessible, vignettes of diverse students advocating for themselves, and recommendations for parents, aimed to improve student success outcomes. For more info and to RSVP, click here.
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.
PARENT FEEDBACK FOR YOUR NEXT YEAR CLASS PLACEMENT [Please Read Carefully]
In an effort to create balanced classes for next year and to foster a positive school-home partnership, parent input is taken under consideration. And while not guaranteed, parental feedback about placement is strictly based on input letters, not verbal interactions or promises between parents and staff. Know that Administration does not keep placement input from previous years, therefore, if there is important student information to be considered, please provide that information in the current year’s parent input process. Feedback is due by Friday, April 25.
A letter regarding placement for next year is not required, however, if parents have extenuating circumstances or significant concerns, please see the following guidelines: (1) A separate letter (email attachment OR hard copy) MUST be submitted. Limit to one-page (10-12 font size). Due to the amount of input received every year, general email communications WILL NOT be accepted. (2) Specific teachers or classmates CANNOT be requested. All teachers on our teams are skilled and competent individuals. (3) Share traits and characteristics of your child(ren) that describe their learning styles/needs. (4) Share the type of educational setting and class dynamic that you feel will best meet your child(ren)’s needs. (5) Email attachment OR hard copy MUST be sent to the Principal, NOT the Classroom Teacher.
Lastly, please note that I DO NOT schedule meetings to discuss next year placement. Thanks for all of your support, as we strive to make the best placement decisions for your child(ren).
CASIS CAMPUS ADVISORY COUNCIL 2025 – 2026 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
There will be some parent openings on our Campus Advisory Council (CAC) for the next school year. The membership term is for two years. If you’re interested in serving on this Principal advisory organization, please consider applying. The campus CAC meets on the first Tuesdays of each month after school. Please visit the district website for more information about CAC (CAC in AISD) and if interested, please submit an application (CAC Membership Application). The deadline for application submittal is Friday, April 25. New members will be notified in May and the two-year term will officially begin in the 2025 – 2026 school year.
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
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.