Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- Carnival Week is here! Check the PTA section for a calendar of events, volunteer links, and everything else you need to know
- Make sure you sign up as a booth volunteer through the link sent by your room parents
- Administrative Coffee Chat is this Friday at 8am in the Library
- Thank your bus drivers! This week is AISD Transportation Employees Appreciation Week
Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! I hope that everyone enjoyed a lovely 4-day weekend this past week. I sure did. The majority of Parent Conferences have been completed and last week’s Fall Picture Day was a success. We’re so excited that ‘Carnival Week’ is finally here. This highly anticipated annual event will get kicked off with daily raffle ticket sales, a building contest, and even a Parade. Wow! And then of course, we’ll conclude the week with our ‘Enchanted Casis’ Carnival. It will be magical! And while learning certainly remains our top focus, we’re going to have a lot of fun too. Please see important information for the week below.
Mr. Tinnon
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
AISD TRANSPORTATION EMPLOYEES APPRECIATION WEEK
Monday, October 20 – Friday, October 24 is set aside to appreciate the work of all district Transportation Workers in AISD. Our bus drivers ensure that students go between home and school safely every day. These employees get very little recognition for transporting our most precious cargo – our children. We publicly thank and recognize these wonderful individuals for their service and commitment to students. They are a very important member of our school district and learning communities. We are so appreciative of our AISD Transportation Workers!
CASIS VILLAGE PARKING REQUEST
The Casis Village Tenants and Property Management Team have reached out to the school to make us aware that there has been an observable increase in Casis Families parking in the Casis Village parking lot during our morning arrival and afternoon dismissal times. Parking in the lot across from the school creates several issues for both families and the school community. First, it often leads to congestion and unsafe traffic patterns, increasing the risk of accidents. Additionally, it blocks access for local businesses or residents who rely on those parking spaces, causing frustration and potential conflicts. Finally, unauthorized parking can result in tickets or towing, which is inconvenient and disruptive for families. While the Casis Village Team understands the proximity and convenience of being able to park in their lot, we ask that everyone discontinue this practice and work very hard to be good neighbors. Your compliance and cooperation with this request would be greatly appreciated.
FIELD TRIP FEES DUE
Parents are asked to pay a bulk one-time ‘Field Trip Fee’ to cover the costs of planned educational outings. Please see the following letters from each grade level, sharing the planned field trips and their associated fees: Pre-K, Kinder, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, & 5th Grade. Additionally, here’s a flyer that gives guidance on how to process payment: Fee Payment Flyer. All families were asked to pay this fee by Friday, October 17. If additional time is needed to pay these fees or if there are other extenuating circumstances, please reach out to your classroom teacher(s). We are hopeful to get full participation from all of our families, but regardless, please know that no student will be excluded from any of the year’s field trip events.
BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH IN AISD
October is Bullying Prevention Month in Austin ISD. We believe that every student has the right to feel safe and supported in their school environment. This month, our schools will focus on raising awareness about bullying, educating students on its various forms, and promoting kindness and inclusion within our community. Here is a Parent Letter that informs families about this month’s initiative. Additionally, here’s a visual graphic about the difference between Conflict & Bullying. And in honor of Unity Day on Wednesday, October 22, school communities are encouraged to wear ORANGE, showing support for bullying prevention and safety for all students.
ADMINISTRATIVE COFFEE CHAT FOR OCTOBER
Casis Administration will host a series of meetings during the school year, to engage with parents about various school topics and happenings. During these informal meetings, Mr. Tinnon, Ms. Beckham, and Ms. Davis will share school information and dialogue with parents about school topics of their choice. The goal of this platform is to build our shared knowledge and make community connections. Our next ‘Administrative Chat’ will take place on Friday, October 24 at 8:00a.m. in the Casis Library. We look forward to having some very authentic conversations with our learning community.
DYSLEXIA AWARENESS MONTH
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and AISD will sponsor some free events for both staff and families. Monday, October 27, there will be a free in-person screening of The Truth About Reading at Ann Richards School for Young Women. Tickets are available HERE. Wednesday, October 29, a virtual ‘Empower Hour’ session entitled, ‘Practical Strategies for Students with Dyslexia’ will be offered. See FLYER and zoom LINK for this event. We hope that our learning community will join AISD in recognizing Dyslexia Awareness Month and consider participating in these awareness events.
SCHOOL-WIDE ‘CRAZY HAT DAY’ AT CASIS
We’ll celebrate ‘Crazy Hat Day’ on Friday, October 31. In lieu of costumes, all grades (students and staff) are invited to wear a fun, unusual, or unique (purchased or home-made) hat of their choice. Please see ‘hat wearing’ guidelines: (1) Must be appropriate in nature (no violent or inappropriate depictions/words), (2) No halloween-type masks are allowed, and (3) Teacher discretion as to when worn during the class time. We look forward to seeing all of the wonderfully interesting ‘crazy hats’ in the hallways of our school. And Mr. Tinnon will be giving away a hat to staff members every hour on the hour throughout the whole day. Hope that everyone joins in on this fun annual event!
2025 – 2026 1ST 9-WEEKS REPORT CARDS
Families can expect to access and view Report Cards for the 1st 9-Weeks on Wednesday, November 5. The AISD Portal/Frontline Parent Self Serve platforms give parents/guardians direct access to their child(ren)’s grades.
STUDENT HANDBOOK & STUDENT SUCCESS GUIDE
Please see the most updated editions of our campus Student-Parent Handbook and the district Student Success Guide for this school year. In alignment with AISD, both of these documents act as guidelines for our school community practices and policies. Please review and reference them throughout the 25 – 26 school year.
CHARACTER STRONG IMPLEMENTATION & PRACTICES
This year, AISD and Casis Elementary are implementing a new Character Education and Behavioral Support program called Character Strong. This program is meant to provide students with the necessary skills and strategies to be the very best humans that they can be in the world. Students will hear morning messages and receive lessons from their teachers about topics like respect, gratitude, honesty, courage and more. Teachers will be providing weekly lessons and sending home monthly information to families about the different program topics learned each month. The lessons derive from a program called, “Purposefull People”. Here’s a Family Introductory Letter about Purposefull People. Each month we will cover a different Character Strong topic and resources will be shared to help families have meaningful conversations at home about the learned trait. Here’s an Overview of the monthly topics that will be taught. The Character Strong trait for the month of October is Responsibility. Here’s the Family Connection Newsletter – Responsibility for this month’s theme. We are so excited to be ‘Character Strong’ at Casis Elementary!
IMPORTANT DATES
October – National Principals Month
Mon., Oct. 20 – Fall Parent Conference Day / Student Holiday (Diwali)
Mon., Oct. 20 – Fri., Oct. 24 – AISD Transportation Employee Appreciation Week
Thurs., Oct. 23 – Casis Carnival Parade at 8:10am (Front Circle Drive)
Fri., Oct. 24 – Administrators’ Coffee Chat at 8:00am (Library)
Fri., Oct. 24 – ‘Enchanted Casis’ Carnival Event at 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Fri., Oct. 31 – Annual School-Wide Crazy Hat Day
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.