Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- Don’t forget that Monday, 5/26, is a school holiday!
- Take a peek below at important Back to School dates for August 2025
- The Spirit Store is running an End of Year Sale through this Thursday 5/22. Don’t miss your chance to get discounted merch!
- Are you ready for next school year? Check out the links below to enroll and order your school supplies
- Help spread the word to new families about Pre-K & Kinder Summer Playdates. Schedule below
Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! In these last weeks of the school year, there will be so many action-packed activities all the way to the last day of school. Last week, our ‘Track & Field Days’ were so great. Congratulations to our Physical Education Team and Parent Volunteers for a job well-done. And we’ll all actually enjoy one more School Holiday next Monday (Memorial Day), before departing for the summer months. Nice! The remaining events 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
STAFF RECOGNITION (AISD RAVE AWARD)
The AISD Recognizing All Valuable Employees or RAVE Program was created to honor those who take the extra steps to provide equitable and exceptional experiences. The following Casis staff members received an AISD RAVE Award:
- Rebekah Parker, Fourth Grade Teacher – Ms. Parker is kind, patient, and truly interested in each of her students. Her ability to see each child as an individual and recognize their unique traits creates a bond unlike any other. Ms. Parker has made a truly lasting impact on her students and their families. Thank you, Ms. Parker!
- Kendall Levy, Dyslexia Interventionist – Because of Ms. Levy’s work with students over multiple years, enough can’t be stated about the impact that she has on a child’s reading and overall confidence. Her patience and encouragement create a love for reading that some families couldn’t even have conceived, prior to receiving support from Ms. Levy. Families are forever grateful to Ms. Levy!
MEMORIAL DAY RECOGNITION (SCHOOL HOLIDAY)
Monday, May 26 will be observed as a Memorial Day and a School Holiday! Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States set aside to remember the people who died, while serving in the country’s armed forces. This holiday is observed every year on the last Monday of May and typically marks the start of the summer vacation season. As this school year has rapidly come to a close, please take some time to enjoy this day, but also to remember its significance.
IMPORTANT AUGUST 2025 DATES
Below are the anticipated dates for our Beginning of the Year (BOY) Activities in August, 2025. These events are meant to get our year started off smoothly for both staff and families. Additionally, here’s the AISD 25-26 School Calendar to review. Please mark your calendars and know that some times may change.
| Wed., Aug. 13 – Fri., Aug. 15 | Campus Registration Days | 8:00am – 3:00pm |
| Thurs., Aug. 14 | Class Lists Posted | 4:00pm |
| Fri., Aug. 15 | PK & K Parent Info. Meeting | 8:00am – 9:30am |
| Fri., Aug. 15 | 1st & 2nd Parent Info. Meeting | 9:30am – 11:00am |
| Fri., Aug. 15 | Special Education Social Camp | 11:00am – 12:00pm |
| Fri., Aug. 15 | 3rd – 5th Parent Info. Meeting | 1:00pm – 2:30pm |
| Mon., Aug. 18 | Open House | 9:00am – 10:00am |
| Tues., Aug. 19 | First Day of School | 7:40am – 3:10pm |
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 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.