Happy 2018

As we begin the New Year 2018, I echo the thoughts of Wendy Silvers, founder of the Million Mamas Movement, in my hopes and wishes for our school, our beautiful Oklahoma City, and our world.

"May the true essence and celebration of Chanukah Solstice Christmas and Kwanzaa ~ miracles, light everlasting, love, peace, mercy, forgiveness, generosity, creativity, eternal life, universal principles, draw us close. 

May the manmade borders of separatism ~ bigotry, hatred, racism, sexism, ageism, patriotism, elitism, religiosity, power over and war ~ dissolve in our hearts and minds. 

May we seed a global heart that nurtures and nourishes the thriving and flourishing of each of us, who represent the One of us, in the most life-affirming and deepest ways. 

May all women, mothers, girls, and boys everywhere have freedoms and be cherished. 

May our boys, men, and world leaders be guided to know that violence is not the solution but a cause of bitterness and choose differently. 

May we, the people, be so inspired, informed and educated about who we really are that we would never harm another or be less than our magnificent selves. 

May we, the people, recognize, re-know, that we elected the officials, and that we can disrupt the status quo of policies and legislation that are not healthy for us through our conscious awareness, votes and buying choices. 

May all know that there is no power greater or stronger than the power of LOVE. LOVE is the SOULution. LOVE is the Healer, the Revealer, the Restorer, the Unifier, the Liberator. Let LOVE rule. Let LOVE lead the way. LOVE is the one note that everything in this multi-dimensional Universe always vibrates to. 

Choose LOVE! See LOVE! Speak LOVE! Be LOVE!"

Happy 2018

As we begin the New Year 2018, I echo the thoughts of Wendy Silvers, founder of the Million Mamas Movement in my hopes and wishes for our school, our beautiful Oklahoma City, and our world.

"May the true essence and celebration of Chanukah Solstice Christmas and Kwanzaa ~ miracles, light everlasting, love, peace, mercy, forgiveness, generosity, creativity, eternal life, universal principles, draw us close. 

May the manmade borders of separatism ~ bigotry, hatred, racism, sexism, ageism, patriotism, elitism, religiosity, power over and war ~ dissolve in our hearts and minds. 

May we seed a global heart that nurtures and nourishes the thriving and flourishing of each of us, who represent the One of us, in the most life-affirming and deepest ways. 

May all women, mothers, girls, and boys everywhere have freedoms and be cherished. 

May our boys, men, and world leaders be guided to know that violence is not the solution but a cause of bitterness and choose differently. 

May we, the people, be so inspired, informed and educated about who we really are that we would never harm another or be less than our magnificent selves. 

May we, the people, recognize, re-know, that we elected the officials, and that we can disrupt the status quo of policies and legislation that are not healthy for us through our conscious awareness, votes and buying choices. 

May all know that there is no power greater or stronger than the power of LOVE. LOVE is the SOULution. LOVE is the Healer, the Revealer, the Restorer, the Unifier, the Liberator. Let LOVE rule. Let LOVE lead the way. LOVE is the one note that everything in this multi-dimensional Universe always vibrates to. 

Choose LOVE! See LOVE! Speak LOVE! Be LOVE!"

Holiday Happenings around Casady Campus: From Casady Notes with additions

Focus on Christmas: The Rev. Fr. Charles Blizzard The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas at Casady are full and busy with holiday concerts, special performances, community service projects, and more. Since Casady Upper and Middle Division students take exams before Thanksgiving in our trimester curriculum, students all across campus are able to fully participate and make the most of the Christmas season on campus. The Rev. Fr. Charles Blizzard, Vicar of St. Edward's Chapel, discusses community service opportunities, performances, and Chapel services in a special Focus on Faculty edition during this holiday season: Focus on Christmas. This time of year is always full of service opportunities. Primary, Lower, and Upper Divisions held a donation drive for Infant Crisis Services to collect much-needed items including diapers, clothes, blankets, and toys. ICS visited campus on Thursday so the students could fill the van with their donations. And earlier this week, the Oklahoma Blood Institute was on campus for a blood drive and the Art Club in collaboration with YAC (Youth Active in the Community) made and decorated 50 stockings for 3-4-year old of the "Our Spot" head start program.  Stockings were filled with art supplies for the children to have art activities to do during the holidays. On Sunday, Dec. 10, members of our Casady Community came together to celebrate Lessons and Carols in the Chapel of St. Edward the Confessor. The evening was full of carols performed by Upper Division, seventh grade, and fourth-grade choirs. A link to Lessons and Carols can be found here: Lessons and Carols A link to First Graders Caroling in Chapel can be found here: First Graders Caroling All Christmas photos: SmugMug We would like to wish our Casady Community a joyous holiday season and look forward to our families returning to campus in the New Year on Jan. 2, 2018.

Christmas Eve Service in St. Edward's Chapel The Casady Community is invited to a Christmas Eve Service on Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7:00 p.m. with prelude music beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Christmas Eve Service is a tradition in the Casady Community, and many alums and families look forward to attending each year. This year the service will take place earlier to accommodate our families at 7:00 p.m. All are also invited to a reception in the East Transept, hosted by the Alumni Association, to celebrate the joys of Christmas immediately following the service.

Cyclones find happiness through giving during the holidays

YAC (Youth Active in the Community) celebrated the Holidays by giving.  Co-Vice-President, Katherine S. organized and implemented the ICS Hope for the Holidays Drive.  Upper, Lower, and Primary Division brought needed items for infants and toddlers requested by Infant Crisis Services.  The drive, started at the LD and PD on December 1st.  4th graders took their donations personally to ICS on December 13th.  Katherine arranged for the ICS Baby Mobile to pick up the PD and UD donations on December 14th.  The UD collection went from December 11th-15th.  Katherine personally delivered the donations brought by high school students the last day of the drive.

Happy Boys and Girls Club Video By Pearce Sapper'17

YAC Co-Vice-President, Sahanya B., organized and implemented the first YAC visit of the year at Boys and Girls Club.  Juniors Peyton B. and Megan B. accompanied Sahanya in this first visit to the club on Friday, December 8, 2017.  The group took 500 candy canes from Sam's to distribute at the Club for the holidays.  Sahanya stated, "We went for two hours and played games and gave out candy canes!"   Sahanya did not take pictures of the first visit.  She is planning a second visit in January where she will take pictures.

Santa Sammy
Hannah H.'19

YAC Treasurer, Claire Richardson was the point person for the 2017 Casady Blood Drive 2017. Claire and YAC Vice President, Ellison G. and YAC member, Chris Goodall motivated peers to donate.  The Casady Bood Drive provided 28 donors.  Thank you Cyclones for giving the gift of life during the holidays.

Casady YAC officers, Claire R'19. and Katherine S'19., Casady STUCO President, Luke A'18., and Rainbolt Family Service-Learning Chair, Carmen Clay'74,  participated in the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits Visions Recognition Event.  One of the honorees was Mr. Gene Rainbolt.  He received the Life Time Achievement in Philanthropy.  

Thank you, Mr. Rainbolt for the resources you provide to help Cyclone  make a difference in the Casady and Oklahoma City Community.

The group's attendance was made possible by the generosity of the Advancement and Development Office at Casady School.  Special thanks to Mr. Steve Shelly, Director of Institutional Advancement for making the groups attendance possible and Mr. Matt Cloud, Director of Development for attending the dinner with the Casady Cyclones.

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YAC Co-Presidents, Mariam S.'18, and Safra S.'18 hosted at the Casady YAC Conference Room in Harper, the Art Club's Xmas Stockings Project.  YAC started cutting the 50 stockings for children at "Our Spot" Head Start program on December 5th.  The President of the Art Club Art, Grace Hall, facilitated the project in collaboration with art teachers, Mrs. Seitter, and Mrs. Pardue and help from Miss Sarah Smith, Mrs. Clay Substitute. Stockings were delivered on the last day before "Our Spot" ended classes for the 2017 school year.  Mrs. Pardue stated, "The delivery of the stockings went very well."

Youth & Government presented their brief and successful story of participation in the YMCA YAG at chapel on Friday, December 14,2017.

Last year, per initiative of STUCO President, Luke A., Casady Cyclones attended their first State Conference as process observers.  The school year 2017-2018 is the first year, the Casady YAG was fully operational under the sponsorship of history teacher, Mrs. Lisa Bek-gram with assistance of the Service Learning Office as needed.

The Y's Youth and Government™ program is a national program that involves thousands of teens nationwide in state-organized, model-government programs. Students from every corner of the U.S. have the opportunity to immerse themselves in experiential civic engagement and practice democracy. Teens from across every state meet in their local Youth and Government clubs and at statewide events throughout the year to discuss and debate issues that affect citizens of their state through proposed legislation, participation in mock trials, or journalistic reporting. A club can be held at their local school, YMCA, church or homeschool group.  Local clubs can meet monthly, weekly, or quarterly.  Throughout the year, YMCA YAG provide opportunites for regional training, club officer training, and recruitment.  Participating students attend a District Conference in their region to qualify for State Conference.  The program culminates with teens serving as delegates at the State Conference, debating bills on the floor of the legislature, arguing cases before state courts, and creating various media publications.

December 12 meeting

Santa Sammy by Hannan H.'19

Attendance and Minutes by Miss Smith

Freshmen : Abbey K., Tina N., Isabela P.,

Ava R., Grace U., Lauren W.

Juniors: Sahanya B. Katherine S.

Seniors: Mariam and Safra S.

Minutes:

Holiday YAC Activities:Stockings for Our Spot, Blood Drive, Hope for the Holidays ICS, Boys and Girls Club Visit

Mariam and Safra did a basic summary of what is going on this week and what is coming up after break.

Hope for Holiday Drive - Katherine asked for more volunteers and pictures for Mr. Foster's project

Blood Drive - tomorrow, make sure it is in the campus announcements.  UPDATE:  Mrs. Clay sent Coach T. a chapel announcement.

After the Holidays YAC Activities

MLK Day - YAC tradition to all go to the food bank.  We are scheduled to go to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma from 1:30-3:00.  Mrs. Cherylynn O'melia will supervise UD and MD volunteers.  

President Service Award - Encourage classmates to report hours for this.  Due at the end of February.  Awards are ordered at the end of February and they are delivered during National Volunteer Week at Chapel in April.

New Facebook Page for Casady Service Learning - Ms. Smith explained how it will function and invited YAC to put social media chair as admins on the page so as to merge the YAC accounts into the new page and add new content when necessary.https://www.washington.edu/wholeu/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/happiness-feature.jpeg

Happy Holidays 

Volunteer Opportunties

Village Library Volunteer Opportunities   Interested, contact Elisabeth Wright, Teen Librarian directly (ewright@metrolibrary.org; 405-755-0710).

• Starting in January, the library will be providing Homework Help for grades K-6 on Tuesdays from 3:30-5pm. We're looking for volunteers ages 14+ who are available most Tuesday afternoons during the school year. To sign up for this opportunity, please follow this link.

• The library is also starting up a Teen Service Team. This group will meet two Thursdays a month (starting in January) from 6:30-8:00pm and will help with various behind-the-scenes tasks around the library, help with library programs, and plan other service projects. To sign up for this opportunity, please follow this link.

Metropolitan Library Needs Volunteers:   Do you want to do something that is satisfying and of great service to your community and the library system? Become a Metropolitan Library Volunteer! Library Contact Person: Shren Sylvester, Administrative Specialist, Outreach Services, 405-606-3835

What is Best Buddies International?  An organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of people with intellectual and developmental dissabilities (IDD).  Contact Zac C.'18 for more information at connerz@casady.org.

Positive Directions mentors at Stanley Hupfeld Academy seeks new tutors and mentors!  Hupfeld Academy is located at 1508 N.W. 106^th (106^th & N. McKinley), and serves the Western Village neighborhood children. 

The Positive Directions program matches mentors with elementary (K-5) students for one-on-one sessions, one hour each week during the school day (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.).  The program’s purpose is to build relationships and provide consistent, caring friends and role models for the children, and to help them with their academic and social needs.  Most mentors spend ½ of their time on academic needs/reading, and the other ½ on a fun activity (games, puzzles, walking the track, etc., to encourage casual visiting and building the relationship).  We have two designated mentor rooms at our school site, with all of the supplies and materials needed for mentoring sessions. 

Many of our mentors tell us it’s the best hour of their week, and they gain as much from the experience as their student does!  We have a number of mentors who stay with their student throughout their elementary years. 

Team mentoring is also encouraged; two mentors may team to mentor the same child, alternating weeks, so it is less of a time commitment for those who may find it difficult to mentor an hour each week. 

Interested mentors have to complete a mentor information form.  Mentors will receive a packet containing a photo and information about their student, as well as a mentor nametag and handbook.  There will be an orientation onsite or at Casady if a group decides to mentor.  There are also mentor volunteer opportunities for interested adults.  There is an application process and training for adult mentors also.   For application and more information contact:  Tobi Campbell, Director, Stanley Hupfeld Academy at Western Village & Positive Directions Mentoring,  Office (405) 717-9831,  Cell (405) 550-3762,  Fax (405) 951-880

First Serve OKC needs volunteer tutors at the tennis center(3400 N Portland Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73112)  Passionate tennis players need help in math and science. 6^th and 7^th grade levels. They are extremely motivated by tennis, so behavior is not an issue. They are just in need of some outside resources to complete homework on time and to grasp concepts. It would be from about 4:30/5 to 6 pm, Tuesdays/Thursdays.  Contact

Emmy Tigert, Executive Director, First Serve OKC Foundation, http://okctenniscenter.net/first-serve/, Direct: 405-640-3317, Cell: 405-315-3822

Animal Recue Friends of Nichols Hills 
http://www.animalrescuefriends.com/ *ARF" seeks animal smart kids who can help walk & work with our available dogs at Petsmart at N.W. 63rd & N. May from 12-3 most Sunday afternoons.  Contact Person:  Suzy Morgan Suzy-morgan@omrf.org

OK Kids Korral located at 818 N.E. 8th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 needs volunteers to cook dinners for families of children undergoing cancer treatments at Children's Hospital.  Ok Kids Korral aims to provide dinner for the families at least 5 nights a week.  Meals have to be cooked at the OK Kids Korral kitchen. Visit https://www.tobykeithfoundation.org/volunteer-guidelines.

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The Adoption Center of the Central Oklahoma Humane Society is located near Casady, on NW 74th and Western Ave. The Center needs help from responsible, dependable, outgoing volunteers who care about animal welfare. Volunteers spend time helping  keep animals clean and safe and providing customer service to  potential adopters.  To begin volunteering, students would simply need to visit https://okhumane.volunteermatrix.com/ and create a new volunteer profile. They would then sign up for The Adoption Center volunteer training.   To learn about volunteering at our other locations, students should visit http://www.okhumane.org/volunteer.

Ask for Corrie and Alyssa or Sam Walker, (405) 286-1229 ext. 4.  THE OKLAHOMA HUMANE SOCIETY ALSO HAS A TEEN BOARD!

Volunteer for EL SISTEMA http://www.elsistemaok.org/home.html

El Sistema Oklahoma is seeking applicants for volunteer positions. Volunteers are adults or high school aged students who embody the core values of El Sistema Oklahoma and embrace both the social and musical mission of the program. A commitment to creating a caring environment that encourages cooperation, creativity, inclusion, kindness, and joy is essential among students, teachers, and all volunteers.

Volunteers serve functions such as:

• Greeting and directing students, parents, volunteers & visitors as they arrive
• Kitchen volunteers to prepare and/or serve snacks
• Classroom mentors to assist students with journal writing
• Classroom monitors to provide teacher/student assistance & help with student’s homework
• Safety coordinators to direct teachers, students & volunteers in the event of emergency
• Runners to help greeters, teachers and classroom monitors with any needs that arise
• Maintain schedule of volunteers — clerical/computer data entry (does not require volunteer to be present on site)
• Student Appreciation Team to encourage students with notes, cards, music backpack, etc. (does not require volunteer to be present on site)
• Teacher Appreciation Team to encourage teachers with notes, cards, etc. (does not require volunteer to be present on site)
• Classroom painting and repairs — summer (dates and times to be determined)
• Performance & Special Event Volunteers — functions will vary (dates and times to be determined)

Position Details:

Hours: Up to 15 hours per week (documentation of service hours will be provided)

Operation Hours: Weekly, Monday-Friday from 3:15 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.        

For questions or assistance, please contact leslie@elsistemaok.org

Peppers Ranch is a foster care community with a mission to "break the cycle" of child abuse and neglect through loving homes, counseling and activities designed to enrich lives. We have a variety of fun and rewarding volunteer opportunities for students. A few examples are to play sports or board games with the kids, lead a balloon fight, plan an easy cooking lesson, assist a teacher during horseback riding classes or come up with your own idea and pitch it to us and we will help make it happen. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: https://www.peppersranch.com/ . Tonya Ratcliff, Cell (405) 919-9888, tonya@peppersranch.com

Food Bank for Pets Needs Volunteers:  A certified 503c nonprofit organization that strives to help people keep beloved pets in their home by serving as a food bank for animals. 

The ultimate goal of the Pantry is to reduce the rapidly growing rate of animal surrenders to local shelters or the outright abandonment of pets due to financial strain. Visit http://www.petfoodpantryokc.org/or find us on Facebook. Contact Person: Judy Smith Event/Volunteer Coordinator Pet Food Pantry of OKC judy@petfoodpantryokc.org 405-286-6008

 

FOOD BANK NEEDS VOLUNTEERS MONDAYS-SATURDAYS AND SELECTED SUNDAYS
Morning Shift 9:30 to 12:00 AM.  Afternoon Shift: 1:30-4:00 PM.  
Wear closed-toe shoes and register online at http://www.regionalfoodbank.org/cervis.php?a=event.  

Walk-ins welcome.  

Minors must be accompanied by an adult. It's time to be a Hunger Hero! 

For more information contact:  Lacey Bagley, Volunteer Engagement, 405-600-3161, volunteer@regionalfoodbank.org

Boys and Girls Club @ Memorial Park-A Kids' Cafe of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma: Volunteers wanted Monday through Friday  Volunteers can choose the activity they desire to facilitate from sports clinics to cheer sessions; mentoring and tutoring an individual child or helping with a group of children focusing on a special area of interest.   Volunteers also choose a preferred time for their service action. 

For more information about volunteering at the Club, contact http://www.bgcokc.org/get-involved/ or contact Carmen Clay @ clayc@casady.org; 405-520-1325.

The club needs music, dance, voice, reading and math tutors. The club welcomes walk in volunteers from Casady School.   The Club is a Kids Café of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.http://www.regionalfoodbank.org/Programs/Childhood-Hunger/Kids-Café

Closer to Earth Youth Gardens.  Empowers teenagers through personal mentorship and leadership development.  Teens engage in organic gardening and environmental and food advocacy.  CTE mentors a diverse group of teens including youth serving court ordered or school required community service.  Visit Closer to Earth, 405-524-3977
Weekly volunteer work and service learning events.  Central Park Community Gardens at NW 31st and Shartel, Sunday and Wednesday 4-6 pm during school year and 7-9 pm in the summer.  1004 W Hill Street, Saturdays 9-noon year round

Find other organizations and service opportunities at: 

UNITED WAY VOLUNTEER CENTER: http://www.volunteercentraloklahoma.org/  

GIVING DONATING AND VOLUNTEERING IN OKLAHOMA http://knowit.newsok.com/charity-oklahoma/giving. 

MATCH OKC: http://www.volunteermatch.org/search?l=Oklahoma+City%2C+OK%2C+USA. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN OKLAHOMA FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/pages/Volunteer-Opportunities-in-Oklahoma-City/490003677698062