Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! Your room parents will keep you updated on ways you can help thank your teachers, extra volunteers are needed this week, and don’t forget to bring a flower on Thursday. Read more below in the PTA section
- Wednesday is National Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day
- Friday is the last day to donate books to the annual Book Swap
- Enrollment for new and returning families is open now. Link below
- Order your school supplies now! Deadline July 1st
Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Last week, we concluded our celebration of Earth Week with a 5th Grade Harvest Sale, which was so great. Special thanks to our Organic Garden Parent Coordinator, Chelsea Combs, who has done an outstanding job this year! We also hosted our final Prospective Parent Tour, which was very well-attended once again. Well, April is gone and ‘May Days’ have arrived! In these next few weeks, there will be so many action-packed activities all the way to the last day of school. This week is ‘Teacher Appreciation Week’ and ‘School Nurse Appreciation Week’, which we’re really excited about. The remaining happenings in the month of 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
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Monday, May 5 – Friday, May 9 is Teacher Appreciation Week! This week is set aside to recognize our excellent Teaching Staff, our amazing Teacher Assistants, and our irreplaceable Substitute Teachers. Teachers are responsible for ensuring that the daily instruction of our children takes place at a very high level. Teachers constantly challenge students to be better learners in school and to be better individuals for life. Teacher Assistants and Substitute Teachers are also instrumental in supporting the work of educating students on a daily basis. Some very special activities will be taking place during this week, in honor of the hard work and dedication that all teachers put into educating our children. We salute Teachers, Teacher Assistants, and Substitute Teachers every day, but particularly so, this week!
SCHOOL NURSE APPRECIATION WEEK
Monday, May 5 – Friday, May 9 is School Nurse Appreciation Week. This week celebrates the work of the School Nurses and Clinical Assistants in AISD. This year, we are so very appreciative of our School Nurse, Natasha Gosek, and our Clinical Assistant, Alicia Henry. These two individuals are a dynamic team, who have both supported our campus, as well as another elementary school, at very high levels. They have ensured that our students are taken care of daily. They have also provided regular health care, as well as critical aid to our students (and sometimes staff) when needed. The job of the School Health Office is so vital and very important to our school community. Join us in appreciating Ms. Gosek and Ms. Henry, who have made a difference in the lives of our students this school year!
NATIONAL WALK, BIKE & ROLL TO SCHOOL DAY
Wednesday, May 7 is National Walk, Bike, & Roll To School Day! In collaboration with the City of Austin ‘Safe Routes To School’ program, Casis Elementary will celebrate this special day as well. We are encouraging as many Casis families as possible to walk or bike to Casis. Our P.E. Team will be emphasizing the importance of days like this and will have some free promotional items to share with students during their classes. Looking forward to this day that promotes the healthy activities of biking and walking, as well as highlighting the importance of families having safe routes to their neighborhood schools. For more information about this day, see link here: https://www.walkbiketoschool.org/.
AISD SALUTE RECOGNITION CEREMONY
Salute is AISD’s annual awards event, co-hosted by the district and Austin Partners in Education (APIE). The Salute Awards ceremony will recognize finalists and winners in various categories: PTA, Librarian, Counselor, Assistant Principal, and Principal of the year. Additional categories are: Campus Clerical/Office Support, Teaching Assistant, Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff, Transportation Staff, Food Service/Warehouse Staff, and Campus Safety & Security Staff of the Year. Two of the main recognitions that will occur at this event will honor district Teachers of Promise and Teachers of the Year from all campuses. As a reminder, our campus Teacher of the Year is Elizabeth Whitaker, First Grade Teacher. And our campus Teacher of Promise is Paige Davis, First Grade Teacher. These two educators are so very deserving of this recognition and will be honored by our district in this year’s event, which will be held on Wednesday, May 7 at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center (PAC). We are ‘Casis Cougar Proud’ of Ms. Whitaker and Ms. Davis!
DONATE BOOKS TO CASIS’ ANNUAL BOOK SWAP
Please consider donating any unwanted books, regardless of reading level, to the Casis Library. These books will be available for trade in our annual Book Swap event in May. Books that are not selected by students will be donated to classroom libraries and/or local charities. The deadline for these donations is Friday, May 9. If you have additional questions, please contact our School Librarian, Courtney Ewing.
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
May – Jewish American Heritage Month
May – Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Mon., May 5 – Fri., May 9 – Teacher Appreciation Week
Mon., May 5 – Fri., May 9 – School Nurse Appreciation Week
Tues, May 6 – CAC Meeting at 3:30pm (Community Room)
Wed., May 7 – National Walk-Bike-Roll to School Day
Thurs., May 15 – Fri., May 16 – Track & Field Day Activities
Mon., May 26 – School Holiday (Memorial Day)
Wed., May 28 – 5th Grade Final Walk the Halls at 8:00am
Thurs., May 29 – Last Day of School
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.