Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- Winter Break starts Monday! We hope you have a happy holiday season
- Congratulations to the students advancing to the Regional Science Fair. Check out who’s advancing below.
- Bring in cardboard from all those Amazon boxes and help out the Casis Garden! More info below
- Ordering holiday cards? Look for the code below to save money through Minted and get a portion donated back to Casis.
Cougar PRIDE Families,
This last school week of 2025 will be yet another great week at Casis! Our Science Fair last week was a rousing success and highlighted some really great student learning. Our Holiday Helpers Gift Collection/Distribution Event was also a successful and very rewarding happening for our campus. During the month of December, we have continued to focus on student learning growth and enrichment opportunities, as well as on safe and secure practices. As we finish out this last week before our Winter Break, please know how appreciative we are for such a successful Fall 2025 semester. The positive support and partnership of our parents has been amazing, the joy and tenacity of our students has been inspiring, the hard work and dedication of our staff has been phenomenal, and the unity of our community has been so very uplifting. I can’t tell you what an honor it is to lead such an exceptional learning community. My hope is that everyone will spend the break enjoying family and friends, as well as being reflective on how much has been accomplished this first half of the school year. I look forward to a bright and amazing new year, when we return in 2026. Well wishes and blessings to all! Please see important information for the week below.
Mr. Tinnon
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
CONGRATULATIONS REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR STUDENTS
We are so proud of all of our students who participated in this year’s Casis Science Fair event last week. We thank our Science Fair Committee, our parent and community judges, as well as our PTA, who supported the event. The following students will be advancing to the next level: 4th – Zachary Bowen, Harvey Hogsett, Simon Muecke, and George Tucker; 5th – Ellie Alexander, Shaila Bow, Ivey Brice, Mikka Choudhary, Tilly Combs, JJ Condon, Cohen Cook, Asher Daily, Hunt Deshields, Mica Dow, Scarlett Fisk, Annabelle Low, Margot Mapes, Sofia Marani, Aron Obianwu, Madison O’Neill, Salvador Perez, Brylee Plemmons, Camille Presnell, Turner Rehwinkel, Hazel Shook, Livi Taraba, Ann Rees Tipton, and Troy Totten . These students will submit their projects to the Elementary Division of the Greater Austin Regional Science & Engineering Fair (https://austinscience.org/) in February at the Palmer Event Center. We have nothing but high expectations for all of these students and know that they will represent our school proudly!
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. 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.