Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- This week is Special Education Staff Appreciation Week
- Tomorrow is picture re-take day. Let your teacher know if your child needs their picture re-taken or if they missed fall picture day
- Sign up to be a Holiday Helper below and sponsor a family for the holidays
- Ordering holiday cards? Look for the code below to save money through Minted and get a portion donated back to Casis
- Make sure to read Mr. Tinnon’s message about bike safety below
Cougar PRIDE Families,
It’s going to be another great week at Casis! Our first ‘Prospective Parent Tour’ was a rousing success, with strong attendance by potential new families. I hope that everyone had a restful and enjoyable Fall Break. I, for one, was so very thankful for the week off. December promises to be a month of continued fall semester activities that will quicken the time before the next upcoming Winter Break. We look forward to our upcoming Casis Science Fair next week and a flurry of other activities that will 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
SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
Monday, December 1 – Friday, December 5 is AISD Special Education Staff Appreciation Week in AISD. Nationally, the week of December 8 – 12 is also Inclusive Schools Week. We’re so proud of the work that our Special Education staff does everyday with our special needs student population. Our Special Education Teachers and Teacher Assistants work with Campus Administration, Classroom Teachers, and other Campus/District Support Staff, to ensure that students receive the educational supports that are needed, in order for them to access all available learning opportunities in our schools. This is very hard work, but these individuals show up every day to make sure that students are properly and appropriately supported. We can’t express our thanks adequately to the Casis Special Education Team. They are all exceptional individuals and professionals who have a deep love for children and helping them to meet their educational needs. Cheers to our Special Education Team at Casis Elementary – Simply the Best!
FALL PICTURE RE-TAKE DAY
Tuesday, December 2, will be Picture Re-Take Day at Casis Elementary. If you would like for your child to re-take their picture or if your child was absent on the first Fall Picture Day, please let your child’s teacher know that you would like for them to get their picture re-taken. You may also get the re-take form from the front office.
BIKE SAFETY & RULES AT CASIS
Student bikers have not been consistently following important bike safety rules on both campus and city streets. All students must walk their bikes while on school grounds and use the provided bike racks to secure them, but many forget and leave their bikes propped against walls or on the ground, which creates safety hazards—especially during busy morning and afternoon times when foot traffic is high. Riding through campus at these times is particularly unsafe for smaller children and other pedestrians. Additionally, there have been reports of students riding their bikes in city crosswalks and performing stunts, such as popping wheelies, doing donuts, and weaving through Casis Village and the crosswalks. These actions are not only disruptive but also very dangerous. Parents are encouraged to talk with their children about treating bike riding as a privilege and not a right, and to remind them about the importance of safe, respectful conduct at all times when biking to and from school.
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 December is Empathy. Here’s the Family Connection Newsletter – Empathy for this month’s theme. We are so excited to be ‘Character Strong’ at Casis Elementary!
IMPORTANT DATES
Mon., Dec. 1 – Fri., Dec. 5 – AISD Special Education Staff Appreciation Week
Tues., Dec. 2 – Fall Picture Retake Day
Tues., Dec. 2 – CAC Meeting at 3:30pm (Community Room)
Mon., Dec. 8 – Fri., Dec. 12 – Inclusive Schools Week
Mon., Dec. 22 – Fri., Jan. 2 – Winter Break (School Holiday)
January – School Board Appreciation Month
Mon., Jan. 5 – Staff Development Day / Student Holiday
Tues., Jan. 6 – School Resumes
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.