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.