August 16, 2023 edition

Shout Outs

Share appreciation and gratitude for a fellow CIS employee. Giving a shout out is a great way to recognize an individual or group for their extra effort and talent, and to contribute to a culture of appreciation, community, and kindness.  

Nominate someone for Employee Excellence. Click here for the form and here to learn about employee recognition & appreciation at CIS of Central Texas. 

Apollo is here!

CIS’s new database kicks off this week! Apollo trainings are now through September 8^th; if you are interested in attending training please contact Amanda or Sierra and we’ll share the schedule.

Closeout 2022-2023 Survey

If you participated in Closeout this past summer, please take a few minutes to give feedback on the process so we can incorporate it for next year. You will be entered to win one of two Salesforce swag bags! Please complete this survey by August 31^st.

Final Closeout 2022-2023 Guidance and Instructions          

Guidance for completing final closeout tasks for 2022-2023 is now ready and  linked here. Please note that guidance around requirements for EOY academic assessments has been updated from what was shared at All-Staff on Monday. We are only looking for EOY academic assessments for students targeted for academics this past year. Please read through the guidance and complete these tasks by August 31^st, 2023.

PMD Supports

• PMD Office Hours will start the week of August 14^th and will be Mondays 3-4pm and Fridays 8-9am via Teams
• Email [email protected] if you need support, have questions, or have a feature request/suggestion

Introducing the "I See You" Recognition – a celebration of extraordinary teamwork that goes beyond the call of duty. This is more than just acknowledgment; it's a salute to those who unite, rise above, and conquer challenges together. When individuals fuse their efforts, the extraordinary happens. "I See You" is our way of shining a spotlight on the teams that redefine collaboration, turning aspirations into achievements.

Congrats to the Mental Health and Wellness Department, your collective dedication and synergy not only inspire us all but exemplify the power of unity in reaching new heights. During your first year of operation in CIS you provided youth services, revamped and created system for the internship department, applied for two major grants, created systems and infrastructure, provided over 10 agency wide trainings, led Learning Level Collaboratives, revamped the Menu of Interventions. You did it with compassion, a smile, with courage, and collectively!!!! 

Introducing "Caught Being Kind" Recognition – a heartfelt nod to the countless acts of compassion and kindness woven into our workplace tapestry. From the simplest gestures to the grandest displays, each instance of care creates a ripple that fosters a culture of warmth and support. This recognition isn't just about noticing the big moments; it's about celebrating the little pockets of humanity that make our workplace truly special. Let's spotlight those who infuse kindness into our daily interactions, reminding us all that even the smallest acts can have the most significant impact.

Barbara T. from the Student Supports Department was caught being kind to a colleague in a time of need. 

Wishing all of our coworkers, students, teachers, and

school staff an amazing new school year ahead!

CIS Virtual Partnership Fairs

Friday, August 18 (AISD & MISD) and Tuesday, August 22 (EISD, HCISD, LISD, SMCISD) 

Dear PMs & PDs, we are thrilled to invite you to

our third annual virtual partnership fairs!  In this event, you will have

the opportunity to choose to hear from three different partners who

serve your district in breakout rooms.  They will share an overview of

their program & how it works on campus, who is best-suited to participate

in their group, and answer any questions you may have!  Finalized list of

partners participating will come soon. 

AISD & MISD PARTNERSHIP FAIR: Friday August 18^th, 9-10:30am USE THIS ZOOM LINK, passcode: Hy15BB 

RURAL PARTNERSHIP FAIR: Tuesday Aug 22^nd, 9-10:30am USE THIS ZOOM LINK, passcode: G6LPmB 

TEA Virtual Welcome Back Kick-off

For those unable to attend the 4^th Annual Virtual School Year Kick-off on Monday August 7th, here is the link to the morning session. In particular, I encourage you to watch the panel of CIS alumni from Texas who spoke – honestly, it was breathtakingly powerful. If you need a reminder about why we do this work, just listen to these young people whose lives were changed by CIS. A BIG shout out to CIS of Laredo, CIS of El Paso and CIS of South Central Texas for identifying these alumni to speak (and for their amazing work helping these students succeed)!

Also, it is that time of year again when I ask for your feedback. Please take a moment to complete this brief stakeholder survey about the support TEA provides. This information is used in our planning and is incorporated into our performance evaluations, so please be honest – we really do see your feedback as a gift 😊. -Eric Metcalf, LMSW

JW Art Kits

A local firm, Jackson Walker, generously donated 90 Arts & Craft Kits, each in their own waterproof bag! We'd love to open this opportunity up to 9 campuses to get 10 kits each, first come first serve. Each slot reserves 10 kits - please sign up here for only one slot at this time. We will notify you should there be an opportunity to take home more than 10.

Please pick these up at Central sometime before EOD Friday, September 1. 

For a reminder of what's included in the Arts & Craft Kits, click here. 

Contact Lila Weatherly Rivera with questions! [email protected]

Unfortunately we will not be having our monthly volunteer day due to the extreme heat. We hope everyone has a great week as school picks back up again and we look forward to see you next month!

Congrats this weeks Winner of a Subway gift card is Maribel Martinez!

New staff tabling at Barrington ES Meet The Teacher! New CIS campus in AISD. Thank you Maria and Nydia! 

The Hays CISD Team ready for back to school! Thank you Barbara and the donors for the colorful backpacks. 

“Thanks to Orpha & April for bringing to central the CIS breakfast bus!”

PM Manager Marianna Martinez left "Time to Shine Gators" for teachers to Welcome them to the new school year!

Communities In Schools of Central Texas surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.