August 20, 2004

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide a learning environment that will enable each student to work to potential in his/her quest to be a life-long learner and a productive member of society.

Calendar Items

Monday, August 23 6:00 p.m. New Parent Orientation, Grades EC-2, Library

Monday, August 23 7:00 p.m. Parent Information Night, Grades EC-2, Cafeteria

Thursday, August 26 6:00 p.m. New Parent Orientation, Grades 3-5, Library

Thursday, August 26 7:00 p.m. Parent Information Night, Grades 3-5, Cafeteria

Friday, August 27 - Tuesday, September 14 Gift Wrap Sale

Thursday, September 2 8:00 a.m. PTA Executive Board Meeting (Portable 15)

Thursday, September 2 3:15 p.m. CAC Meeting (Portable 15)

Monday, September 6 Labor Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, September 7 2:45-3:45 p.m. Chess Club (Library)

Thursday, September 9 9:00 a.m. Casis Cares Parent Volunteer Training

(Cafeteria)

Thursday, September 9 12:00 p.m. PTA Meeting (Portable 15)

Friday Folders

In each week's Friday folder are items that need your attention as well as important information for you to know. Please review the contents of the Friday folder carefully. During the first several weeks of the school year, Friday folders may contain less student work than later in the year because new routines and procedures are being taught and students are being assessed so that their needs are met. Your understanding is appreciated.

Parent Nights

New Casis parents are invited to New Parent Orientation to learn about our school. The PTA president, principal, assistant principal and counselor will be available to provide information and answer questions at 6:00 p.m. For the parents of Kindergarten students: this may be a repeat of things you have heard during Open House in the spring or at Kindergarten Round-Up. All parents are invited to attend Parent Information Night. We will meet briefly in the cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. as a large group (please be flexible, it will be crowded) to meet faculty members, special area teachers, and hear from the principal and PTA president. Parents will then visit their child's classroom. Please make alternative child care arrangements as these evenings are dedicated to parents. Also, please remember that these nights are not designed for individual parent/teacher conferences.

Traffic Safety and Fire Lane Parking

Help us make student drop-off and pick-up times smooth and safe for everyone by following the 'Traffic and Safety Rules' that were included in your child's back-to-school packet. Please take a moment to review these guidelines and share them with any other family members who may be taking or picking up your child from school. Please do not use the Casis Village parking lot as a drop-off or pick-up zone. Please do use the Circle Drive, Hillview or Northwood, as appropriate. We would also appreciate it if you would avoid parking in fire lanes, even for brief periods of time. KINDERGARTEN PARENTS: We have two disabled parking spots in the front circle drive that are utilized at drop off and pick up times. Please do not park in or in front of these spots before or after school, as there are parents who need to use them to pick up their kids with special needs. Finally, please do not make U-turns in or around school zones. Your cooperation is appreciated.

PTA Volunteer Interest Form for Fall 2004

Calling all volunteers! A Fall PTA Volunteer Interest Form was included in your child's back-to-school packet. Our school relies on parent assistance in many ways and we encourage every parent at Casis to get involved. There are volunteer opportunities waiting for YOUR talents and interests! Please check as many volunteer opportunities as you are interested in and return the form to your child's teacher by Wednesday, September 1st. For more information, call Marla Kiger, Volunteer Coordinator at 419-9200 or marlakiger@sbcglobal.net

Casis Chess Club

The Casis Chess Club will meet every Tuesday in the library from 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. beginning September 7th. All 2nd - 5th graders are invited to attend. Parents of interested Kindergarten-1st graders can call Kathy Cox at 477-6098. All ability levels are welcome. You don't even have to know how to play. See you there!

Casis Student Directory Information

Included in your child's Friday Folder is a personalized information sheet that shows how your child will be listed in the 2004-2005 Casis Student Directory. Please review your child's listing and confirm that it is correct or make any corrections or additions as requested on the form. Please return the signed form to your child's teacher or the school office by Monday, August 23. The information sheet should be signed and returned even if all information is correct. If you have any questions, please contact Karol Boes at karolb@countyline.com or Barbara Klitch at barbarak@klitch.com

Gift Wrap Fundraiser

Casis PTA and Innisbrook Wraps present the 2004 "Totally Tubular" fundraiser with a great line of products from Innisbrook. This is the second largest fundraiser for Casis, which helps fund our reading specialist, technology lab, Spanish program, teacher professional development and much more. With every dollar sold of Innisbrook wraps Casis receives $0.53 cents. Last year Casis raised $60,000 from wrapping paper sales, so let's see if we can top that! Catalogs will be sent home with your children on Friday, August 27. If you have any questions please contact Allison Laughlin 472-2717 or Shannon Dowell 474-5790.

Casis Cares/Read Aloud Volunteer Round-Up

Charlotte Nacozy, school counselor, is still looking for parent volunteers to assist in classrooms on Wednesday afternoons with Casis Cares (our character education program) and Read Alouds. The time for this activity is 2:00-2:45 p.m. except for 3rd Grade, which is done from 1:15-2:00 p.m. Please contact Charlotte at 414-7167 or cnacozy@austin.isd.tenet.edu if you can help.

Extend-A-Care for Kids

Extend-A-Care for Kids provides after-school childcare on-site at Casis for the convenience of working parents. The program includes a variety of outdoor and indoor activities including supervised sports, field trips, creative arts, science projects, and time for reading and homework. Parents pay childcare fees on a sliding scale according to family income, which makes the program affordable for all children. If you wish to enroll your child or would like more information, please call Extend-A-Care at 472-9929, extension 234 or go by the Extend-A-Care business office at 55 North IH-35. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Healthy Snacks

Many of you may remember that last year there were new district-wide rules regarding school snacks or FMNV's (Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value). The FMNV policy restricts items such as hard candy, jellies and gums, candy-coated popcorn, marshmallow candies, licorice, cotton candy, carbonated beverages, etc. Parents can give their children FMNV's but they cannot provide enough for their children to share with other students. The purpose of these District rules is to promote healthy eating habits for children and we encourage all parents to provide their children with healthy snacks and meals.

Cafeteria/Playground Parent Volunteer Monitor Thanks & Reminder

Many thanks to parent-volunteers in Mr. Batiansila's class for monitoring the cafeteria and playground this week. Thank you in advance to Mr. Batiansila's volunteers who are helping again on August 23 and to Ms. Cavness's parent-volunteers who will be here August 24-27 and August 30. If you can help, please call your homeroom parent.

Thank you Casis Volunteers

Many thanks to Wendy Thompson, Suzanne Rosato and their team of volunteers for organizing and distributing the Back to School Packets. Thank you to Barbara Hadley for ordering and distributing this year's school supplies. Both of these committees work throughout the summer to make sure our parents are informed and our kids equipped. Thank you also to the Teacher Appreciation Committee, organized by Hillary Summers and Becca Hensley, and to the Hospitality Committee, led by Beth Cunningham and Sue Phillips, for providing delicious back-to-school breakfasts, lunches and treats for our parents and staff. We appreciate your dedication and hard work. Good Beginning Thank you parents, staff and students for helping us have a smooth-running first week. The efforts of many people helped make this year start on a strong, positive note. Your assistance and contributions to our community are appreciated.

Sincerely,

Barry Aidman