Stay In-the-Know: This Week’s Top News You Can’t Miss
- See links below to pay your annual enrichment fees, PTA dues, and to order your free school t-shirt for your child(ren)
- We are still updating Konstella access based on our official roster. We hope to have all new families uploaded in the next few weeks
- Don’t forget next Monday is a school holiday!
Casis Weekly (8/24/26-8/28/26)
- News from The Principal — Student Handbook and Success Guide, Annual Notification Letters, Cougar PRIDE Fridays, Labor Day Holiday, Campus Advisory Committee, Emergency Drills on Campus, Character Strong Implementation & Practices, Important Dates, Traffic Safety Procedures
- PTA News —Back to School To-Do’s, Campus After School Programs, New Buddy Program, Lost and Found, Thank You Volunteers
Have something you want to include in the Casis Weekly? Please send information to PTA VP of Communications Emily Peavey by Wednesday to be included in the following Monday issue.
Cougar PRIDE Families,
We had an amazing first week back at Casis! And it was wonderful to see all of our families at the Open House and PIM events that led to the start of school. These events help to ensure that our school year gets off to a smooth beginning, and it certainly has. Students, Staff, and Parents have all seemed so happy to be back and we look forward to continuing that same spirit and momentum. Our teachers and staff have all worked so hard to prepare for this new school year. And extra special thanks go to our PTA Executive Board members and parent volunteers, who have stepped up to support our school in so many needed ways, as we opened another new school year. We couldn’t, and wouldn’t want to, do it without you. You’re truly the best! Please see important information for the week below.
Mr. Tinnon
NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
STUDENT HANDBOOK & SUCCESS GUIDE
Please see the most updated editions of our campus Student-Parent Handbook (26-27) and the district Student Success Guide (26-27) 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 26 – 27 school year.
ANNUAL NOTIFICATION LETTERS
Austin ISD is mandated by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) to provide written notification regarding the availability of asbestos management plans for District facilities. Note: This notification is required, even if our facility does not have any asbestos-containing building materials. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Department of AISD is also mandated by the Texas Structural Pest Control Act to provide written notification of the types of pesticides used, and their scheduled application, on school grounds. Please see both of these notifications HERE.
COUGAR P.R.I.D.E. FRIDAYS
Your child(ren) will start coming home with blue half-sheets of paper, titled ‘Casis Cougar P.R.I.D.E.’ This incentive program is connected to our school-wide expectations. Every Friday, classroom teachers will be able to select two students to come to the office and be recognized with a certificate and some goodies. This gives Administration an opportunity to interact with as many of our kiddos as possible in a positive way. When your child(ren) brings their items home, please reinforce how proud they should be of themselves, as well as taking the opportunity to discuss the school-wide expectations of P.R.I.D.E.
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
Monday, September 7, will be a school holiday, in honor of Labor Day. Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. As you observe Labor Day in your own way, it offers a time to enjoy family, friends, and the fruits of your own labor. I hope that this upcoming three-day weekend provides everyone a little time to slow down before the rest of the school year takes off.
CAMPUS ADVISORY COUNCIL (CAC)
The Casis Campus Advisory Council (CAC) generally meets every 1st Tuesday of each month at 3:30p.m. Our first meeting this year will be Tuesday, September 8, in the Community Room. This group of staff, parents, and community volunteers assist in making site-based decisions about various school topics. The CAC acts as an advisory to the campus Principal. There is also always an opportunity on the agenda for non-members to have citizen communication. We are thankful for the parents and staff members who participate on this council, as we discuss important matters that concern our learning community and school district.
EMERGENCY DRILLS ON CAMPUS 
Student and staff safety are a top priority in the district and at schools. At Casis Elementary, we will have monthly rotating drills that practice safety measures that are taken, in the event of campus emergencies. Here’s a visual poster that is in every classroom, explaining all of the drills that will take place during the school year: Safety Poster. If parents happen to be volunteering or visiting during any of our monthly drill exercises, they will be expected to participate and follow the group that they are closest to at the time. It’s important for students to be aware of our safety measures and to participate in these practice drills. Please know that staff members are expected to speak about the topic of safety, using child-friendly language and terms, so as not to cause undue anxiety or stress around these required drill activities. For more information about safety protocols in AISD, visit: AISD Emergency Management website.
CHARACTER STRONG IMPLEMENTATION & PRACTICES
AISD and Casis Elementary will continue implementing Character Strong, the district Character Education and Behavioral Support program. 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 August is Kindness. Here’s the Family Connection Newsletter – Kindness for this month’s theme. We are so excited to be ‘Character Strong’ at Casis Elementary!
IMPORTANT DATES
September – National Hispanic American Heritage Month
Fri., Sept. 4 – National College Colors Day
Mon., Sept. 7 – School Holiday (Labor Day)
Tues., Sept. 8 – CAC Meeting at 3:30pm (Community Room)
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.
We ask that everyone exercise extra caution and patience. Adherence will help to maintain safety for all. We truly appreciate everyone’s compliance with the above requests.