Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- Congratulations to Ms. Ewing for being selected as AISD Librarian of the Year!
- Congratulations to Ms. DeYoung for being honored as our campus Teacher of the Year!
- Penny Wars starts runs through May 15th. See the rules below
- Track & Field Day start next week Tuesday May 19th and Wednesday May 20th. More details below
- 26-27 Enrollment is open. Make sure to enroll your child(ren) for school next year
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, we celebrated so much: Teacher Appreciation Week, School Nurse Appreciation Week, and National Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day. 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
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 recognizes finalists and winners in categories, like Librarian, Counselor, Assistant Principal, Principal, Campus Clerical/Office Support, Teaching Assistant, and other various district categories. This annual district event was held last week on Wednesday, May 6 at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center (PAC). We’re happy to announce that two of our own campus staff members were recognized in this special ceremony. Allison deYoung, Dyslexia Interventionist, was recognized as our campus Teacher of the Year. Ms. deYoung is so very deserving to be recognized in this way. Courtney Ewing, Librarian, was a finalist for district Librarian of the Year and ultimately won this very prestigious honor. Ms. Ewing is so very deserving of this year-long district title as well. We are simply ‘Casis Cougar Proud’ of Ms. deYoung and Ms. Ewing!
TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK THANKS
Last week’s ‘Teacher Appreciation Week’ was filled with so many amazing gestures of appreciation from families and our wonderful PTA. During this special week, all of our staff was made to feel so special and so very much appreciated. It was just great to feel the love from everyone! And while educators certainly don’t work for the appreciation of others, it means so much to be recognized and uplifted by those around us. Every sincere and thoughtful act truly filled our hearts. We love our Casis Cougar PRIDE Learning Community!
NATIONAL MATH STARS HONOREES
Several students from 2nd and 3rd grade received medals and invitations to participate in the National Math Stars program, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support families of students with extraordinary STEM potential. The following students are our Casis National Math Stars nominees, based on their Winter MAP Math results: Beatrice Andrade, Hazel Ary, Lochlan Caskey, Elyan Jaffery, Evelyn Phillips, Brooks Redwine, Elizabeth Springer, and Sawyer Zandan [MAP Math scores in the top 1% – 4% for campus/district and Outstanding Math Achievement]. Job well done and congratulations to these students for their notable achievements in Math!
HUMAN SEXUALITY & RESPONSIBILITY (HSR) CURRICULUM
In accordance with Austin ISD Board Policy EHAA, the Human Sexuality and Responsibility (HSR) curriculum will be taught between April 2 – May 15 during science class for K – 5 students. There are 3 – 5 available lessons at each grade level. This curriculum has been established to provide information and skill development for students, so that they may reach their highest potential for physical, emotional, mental and social health. All information regarding the HSR policy, grade level lesson overviews, family resources, and more can be found on the HSR website: HERE. Note: Permission letters for parents to Opt-In/Opt-Out of any and/or all of these lessons should be returned, prior to the instruction. It’s very important that all letters are returned to your classroom teacher(s), to ensure that there is ample time to plan and accommodate for all students, whether they will be receiving the HSR lessons or participating in alternative lessons.
2026 – 2027 ENROLLMENT DATES & DEADLINES
Enrollment for the 2026 – 2027 school year is about to begin. Austin ISD’s goal is to re-register all 64,000+ PK-11th grade students who are currently enrolled students, as well as to register all new students by the end of May, 2026. Please see the following enrollment windows, by rounds/programs:
Round 1 (Special Programs Enrollment): 1/12/26 – 2/6/26Round 2 (General Registration & Transfers): 2/16/26 – 4/10/26- PK3 & PK4 (Pre-Kinder Registration): 4/1/26 – 5/22/26
- Round 3 (General Registration): 4/13/26 – 5/27/26
Following are some other enrollment support resources that families might find helpful: (1) Enroll Austin Family Support Manual and (2) Enrollment 101 Slide Deck. If families have additional questions, you may also go to the enrollment website (Enroll Austin Website).
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 May is Creativity. Here’s the Family Connection Newsletter – Creativity for this month’s theme. We are so excited to be ‘Character Strong’ at Casis Elementary!
IMPORTANT DATES
May – Jewish American Heritage Month
May – Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Tues., May 19 – Wed., May 20 – Track & Field Day Activities
Mon., May 25 – School Holiday (Memorial Day)
Wed., May 27 – 5th Grade Final Walk the Halls at 8:00am
Thurs., May 28 – 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.