Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- STAAR Testing continues this week. The campus will be closed to visitors Tuesday
- This week is Administrative Professional’s Appreciation Week. Make sure to thank our front office staff this week!
- 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
- Mark your calendars for the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast and General PTA Meeting this Friday at 8am
Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Last week, our second round of the STAAR test with our 5th grade students was another successful happening. We know they did their best. This week will be the third and final round of the STAAR test (Math) for our 3rd – 5th graders. We know that they are going to finish strong. We’ll also be celebrating our Administrative Office Team and Parent Volunteers this week. And it’s also Earth Week, which will be celebrated throughout the rest of this month. 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
ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS’ APPRECIATION WEEK
Monday, April 21 – Friday, April 25 is Administrative Professionals’ Appreciation Week. Join me in acknowledging the work of our Clerical Team – Shelly Guerrero: Book Keeper/Principal Secretary, Mary Hernandez: Registrar/Attendance Clerk, and Sammy Huffaker: Office Clerk. These individuals are the central nerve system of our school and help to hold us all together. They are the front line, face, and voice of Casis, as they assist, take calls, answer questions, purchase school items, order supplies, register children, and perform countless other tasks that help our school to run smoothly. Throughout this week, we want to appreciate them and the important role that they play in our learning community. We appreciate our Clerical Team and recognize their hard work during this week and everyday!
SCHOOL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK
Monday, April 21 – Friday, April 25 is School Volunteer Appreciation Week. It is important that we recognize the creative, tireless, and heartfelt work of our parent volunteers, during this appreciation and recognition week. The educational work of staff is very challenging, but is made that much easier, with the helping hands of our parent volunteers. Our Casis community is enriched and enhanced, hugely due to the selfless support and generous contributions of our parent community. We take our hats off to all of our Casis Parent Volunteers! We will recognize all of our wonderful parent volunteers on Friday, April 25 at 8:00 a.m., following the General PTA Meeting, in the Community Room. Hope to see you there!
24-25 STAAR TESTING DATES & 3RD-5TH GRADE GUIDELINES
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.
PROSPECTIVE PARENT TOUR
Prospective Parent Tours are great opportunities for families to get to learn about our school culture and programming, as well as take a tour of our new facility and amazing outdoor learning spaces. School Administration and PTA Leadership will lead these adult only tours. We look forward to sharing and showing all of the things that make Casis Elementary such a stellar educational choice for their children. The last tour of this school year will take place on Tuesday, April 29 at 9am – 10am. Can’t wait to show these potential new families our amazing school community!
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. 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.