RAK Week Extreme Kindness Challenge: Our Ticket to a Kinder World.

For seven days during RAK Week, from February 14th - 20th, we invite you to take the Extreme Kindness Challenge. We will suggest a new Act of Kindness each day. Choose a time when it works for you to do the Act of Kindness, but be sure to do it at least once each day for seven days. (If you don't want to do our idea but do a challenge of your own, that counts too!)

Elizabeth Lesser: Take "the Other" to lunch | Video on TED.com

Starting a meaningful dialog: Elizabeth Lesser: Take "the Other" to lunch Video on TED.com

A digital greeting by Smilebox SEE PICTURES OF YAC MLK CHAPEL SPEAKER SERIES, MLK DAY ACTIVITIES, AND WITNESS FORUM <><><> <><><> <><><> <><><> This digital slideshow customized with Smilebox WITNESS FORUM: BACKGROUND: On his way back from a funeral, Mr. Miano stopped at the MLK library and purchased "The Witness." He provided the film to Mrs. Clay who asked YAC if they would be interested in viewing it in collaboration with our Debate team and Multicultural Club. YAC sponsored a successful  "Matinee with a Purpose" in September and when Mrs. Clay received information about a new initiative sponsored by the Hands on Network, MLK Community Cinema Event, she connected the witness to an effort to provide a MLK educationally enriching experience through film. Mrs. Clay asked Dr. Gerard if the debaters would like to sponsor a"point counter point experience" on MLK to build capacity for YAC and Multicultural Club. After pertinent administrative permissions were granted, participation on the Witnesss Forum was offered to MCC,YAC, and Debaters. YAC wished to offer it to the entire UD, but cost of pizza and students not competition with off campus made YAC narrow the scope of participation. THE DOCUMENTARY: The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306 is a documentary on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The documentary is filmed from the point of view of the Reverend Samuel "Billy" Kyles, who witnessed Dr. King's assassination. Directed by Adam Pertofsky, The Witness From the Balcony of Room 306 was nominated in 2009 for an Oscar in the Best Documentary Short Subject category WITNESS FORUM AT CASADY SCHOOL:  After viewing the documentary, Mr. Miano, Dr. Gerard, and Mr. Wiley shared their personal experiences of where they were, how old they were and how they reacted to the news. Mr. Wiley proceeded to share how MLK's dream is managed by foes and friends of MLK's vision. Debaters, led by Jake P. connected the dream to poverty, economics, power and war in a reflective "point-counter point" discussion. Dr. Gerard stated, "The forum provided an opportunity for the debate team to get outside of the unique and highly specialized world of policy debate and use their skills in a different way to promote the sharing of ideas and perspectives in the broader Casady community. I appreciate the efforts of all who took the time to participate and look forward to future opportunities to partner with these other campus groups to discuss ideas that are important to the advancement of our community and society." Viewing of the documentary film provided by Mr. Miano, took place Wednesday, January 19, B-block and Lunch at Woods Community Center. YAC and Multicultural Club provided funding for the lunch. Drinks came from LD Bingo Night donation for MLK Day activities. 28 students and faculty participated: Adam A., Garner G., Jake P., Catherine W., Layne T., Khadija H,. Macy M, Zainab S, Aamina S, David R, Jerry L, Grace G, Defne A, Dr. Gerard, Mrs. Clay, Mr. Miano, Mrs. Miano, Reshwan L, Alizay P, Christine L, D. J. W, Mr. Wiley, Rebecca R, Caitlin A, Johnesha H, Tina R, Leah L., and Rebekah D. Mr. Wiley and Mr. Kelly are reviewing the movies provided by the Hands on Network. YAC will consider future viewings in collaboration with Social Studies, Debate, and interested clubs in February, March, April and May as part of Black History Month, Random Acts of Kindness Week, National Volunteer Week, Earth Day, and Global Youth Service Day.

A moment to collect thoughts

What do you need? How can we help you? were the two questions Haru Inouye, CEO of the San Francisco based Shinnyo-en foundation asked me a few years ago.  I wanted to bring Shinnyo-en to share and deepen our understanding of  the foundation's initiative, Six Billion Paths to Peace and to help us celebrate the International Day of Peace. I never dreamt that Casady was going to become an example of "kindness has no borders" so quickly.

T-shirts for the entire school to help us celebrate the International Day of Peace arrived on September 17. YAC students efficiently distributed t-shirts to all divisions and areas of the school in one day.

The evening of September 18th, Mariko Terasaki, Communication Director and Sara Mitzner, Shinnyo-en intern and former Shinnyo-en fellow arrived with a smile despite luggage being sent to Colorado and having  to overcome challenges regarding hotel location and transportation.  It was amazing how flexible, kind, and open-minded they were. 

On Sunday, September 19th, Sara and Mariko problem-solved and managed to be at all events requiring their presence, as well as having a "Target" experience to buy new clothes until their luggage arrived.  It was like challenges made them be more pleasant and they enjoyed problem-solving with a kind attitude and a smile.

Pinwheels for Peace Festival at UCO and Giant Pinwheel Contest, September 19, 2010
Oklahoma teachers and peace and respect diversity organizations hosted art expressions from different Oklahoma groups and a Giant Pinwheel Contest to celebrate the International Day of Peace.

Devin helped the UCO Pinwheels for Peace organizers set-up sound system and brought the Casady Giant Pinwheel he designed and built and the art Club decorated.  The Casady Giant Pinwheel took second place in the competition.  The Casady string quartet and the Casady dance club performed at the festival.

How can a person deliver a whole mission, vision, mission and purpose of an organization in less than two minutes and inspire a small crowd in the middle of over 100 degree Oklahoma heat?  Mariko did it.  After her speech, people wanted information and the Six Billion Paths to Peace t-shirt.  Meanwhile, Sara in her beautiful red dress documented the experience through pictures.  What an incredible pair they were.  They seem to be connected to make things go smoothly no matter the circunstances.  What a great example of collaboration!

From the camping atmosphere at UCO we transfer to the "cool" hotel where the "Casady School Youth Leadership Welcoming Committee" waited for us. Available YAC senior chairs and presidents of STUCO, GALES, Art Club and their sponsors were waiting for "The UCO Pinwheel for Peace participants" to attended a dinner at Bellini's organized by the Gales Co-Presidents, Samantha and Alley. At the conclusion of the evening Shinnyo-en surprised us when Sara took care of the bill.  Thank you Shinnyo-en for celebrating the commonality of the purpose of these Casady Clubs, SERVICE.

At midnight on the 19th. Gordon Greaves arrived.  By 7:30 a.m. on October 20th, Gordon joined Sara and Mariko as well as a local videographer throughout the day Shinnyo-en discovered Casady.  Casady shared service experiences, our beautiful campus and new construction area with Mariko, Sara, and Gordon. 

Early morning on the 20th, the Shinnyo-en group was greeted by Mike's breakfast at the Student Center in the Upper Division.  Caitlin introduced Mariko, Sara and Gordon at the UD Chapel.  Carmen introduced them at other chapels.  The team presented their Six Billion Paths to Peace experience to audiences from 1-12th grade. 

The team shared breakfast foods with Upper Division students and teachers after chapel, lunch with the Primary Division, afternoon hours with the Middle Division learning about their advisory program and how Mrs. Crossno created a connection between the Memorial Museum Hope Trunk resources and her Six Billion Paths to Peace San Francisco Retreat experience to inspire students to intentionally focus on daily kindness as a path to a more caring community in the MD.  The Shinnyo-en team also spent time with Mr. Kendall White who shared the new direction he is taking to lead the SEE period (service time for the middle division) as a consequence of his attendance to the YAC Invitational, Called2Change, at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. 

The Shinnyo-en team ended their day at Casady School with tea time with the LD faculty and a tour of the new construction (Chapel and LEED Math building) by Mr. Nathan Sheldon.

In the evening, Dr. Sumeeta Nanda opened her home for a potluck dinner to have a family dinning experience.  Audrey Lin was able to join us.  Dr. Gigi Hu who provided an Origami Peace Matinee at Casady where participants viewed the film, On A Peace Crane, Tomoko's Adventure joined the Casady team who attended Peace Retreats in San Francisco making dishes to share with the Shinnyo-en team.

                                              September 21: International Day of Peace 

UD Pinwheels and 6bptp t-shirts, our seed and hope for a world at peace one day

The innocent symbol of childhood, a pinwheel planted as a personal seed of peace and wearing the beautiful 6bptp t-shirt that helps us recognize that every human being is an agent of peace through kindness, were the simple ways in which our entire school expressed hope of a world at peace one day and celebrate the International Day of Peace.  Mr. Bush, 3rd grade teacher stated, "It was so simple and so beautiful."

Pinwheels in the Upper Division were made by YAC, Gales, Art Club, Art classes and French, Spanish, and Chinese classes. 

YAC and Art Club planted pinwheels around the lake planted pinwheels before the UD Chapel service.  The language classes planted them on their walls where they continue to be displayed now for future teaching purposes.  Language classes were introduced or review verb tenses and learned vocabulary while making pinwheels.  Gales made pinwheels to be decorated by children at the UCO Pinwheels for Peace celebration on September 19th.  The Middle Division made pinwheels in their advisories.  Every advisory made a giant pinwheel to enter in the UCO Giant Pinwheel Contest.  The LD and PD made pinwheels in their classrooms.

Other divisions planted pinwheels at their own schedule. At noon, one could see pinwheels around most of our lake.  The video of the week crafted by Mrs. Linda Waters, Casady's marketing director, tells an inspiring story of students planting their pinwheels around the lake like their seed commitment to creating a more caring and loving community on a daily basis.

Six Billion Paths to Peace T-shirts were offered as a choice for an out of uniform for the day. A great number of UD teachers and students wore the t-shir.  Youth, children, and adults in other divisions as well as coaches, kitchen, administrators, staff and grounds keepers were united in celebrating the International Day of Peace with focus on intentional kindness by a simple t-shirt.  One LD teacher used the t-shirt for a teachable moment, "Look at the t-shirt you are wearing. Think if if what you are doing is a kind and peaceful way to behave."

Haru, Courtney and Aubrey share what role the Six Billion Paths to Peace had in their lives and their projects as Shinnyo-en CEO, Fellow and Blake Student follower of the Shinnyo-en initiative Six Billion Paths to Peace.

In between chapels, Father Blizzard, Mr. Varela, and Mrs Clay took the Shinnyo-en team on a tour of campus and class visits.

There was also allocated time to visit with the leadership of school and for video interviews.

At lunch time, the Shinnyo-en team experienced our family style lunch. Courtney and her mom attended the MD International lunch. The rest of the team went to lunch at Calvert. Thank you to Haru for his flexibility and for assuming second waiter duties.

After lunch, the Shinnyo-en team addressed the LD Chapel where the children were enthusiastic participants of the interactive speeches provided by Courtney and Aubrey.  Haru connected to the children before chapel sharing that his children were about their age.

The Shinnyo-en International day ended with a quick visit to the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum hosted by its director of education and research, Mrs. Lynn Roller.  A small reception followed where Dr. Clydia Forehand provided an inspirational introduction to the Shinnyo-en video participants viewed and welcomed Haru to share a few words.

What is next?  We still have a lot of work to do to find inner peace and create an atmosphere of harmony and care around us .  Our work continues!

Pinwheels for Peace, International Day of Peace Memories

Pinwheels for Peace is a beautiful video of Casady's memories of September 21 small celebrations around the lake.  Thank you to Mrs. Linda Waters for making such an inspirational video.

For Upper Division memories, see the pictures in the album below

Six Billion Paths to Peace; Chapel Speech

Five years ago, I spent my birthday with a few of my YAC students and Mrs. Johnson at the National Service Learning Conference in Minneapolis. My students brought me to tears when they gave me a pair of bunny slippers FOR INNER PEACE and a card that had a seed to grow a world at peace someday.

I wore my precious slippers to a service awards affair that evening. At the gala, Dr. Harumitsu Inouye, Executive Director of the Shinnyo-en Foundation asked about "my shoes." After hearing my explanation, he requested, What else do you need? I was so happy, I did not need anything else. Then he asked, What can we do to help you? Haru sent 4 trainers from different parts of the USA to our first YAC Invitational that summer. A few of you participated in their introduction of the Shinnyo-en Foundation and their world initiative Six Billion Paths to Peace. But, What is the Shinnyo-en Foundation? What is the Six Billion Paths to Peace, soon to be 7 billion? YOU TUBE will answer those questions.

UPPER DIVISION VIDEO: Shinnyo-en Foundation's World Viewed Shown at National Conference of Volunteering and Service

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W34Ik4dz3mE (5:28 minutes)


MD and LD Video: SIX BILLION PATHS TO PEACE (2 minutes and 20 seconds)


On September 21, Haru himself is flying from San Francisco to celebrate the International Day of Peace with you, the Generation he has named "Generation Peace." But, What is the International Day of Peace?


ttp://peaceoneday.org/en/welcome (One minute video)


This weekend Casady Service-Learning has two opportunities to serve; to make peace an action word.  Our paths to peace this weekend are:  Our first Saturday of Service at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma starts at 9:00 and ends at 4:00. The Casady Yukon will leave from the parking lot in front of the Student Center at 8:30 sharp. We will serve with people of different faiths focusing on what we have in common; ONE HEART, ONE BEAT, ONE MISSION: SERVE. You can join this service opportunity at any time during the day.

On Sunday, the YAC Asian Connections project is sharing their path to peace at the Manga Origami Peace Matinee. Hope to see you at Fee Theatre at 3:00.

YAC and Gales have started to make pinwheels for peace at the Community Center. This childhood symbol will connect our peace whispers to the voices of millions seeking inner peace and a world at peace some day. Hope you will make a pinwheel with your path to peace. Pinwheels will be displayed at the UCO campus on September 19 and at our campus on September 21.

To end, I want to share a couple of thoughts and leave you with questions TO PONDER,

1 Thought
"...And right action is freedom
From past and future also.
For most of us this is the aim
Never here to be realized;
Who are only undefeated
Because we have gone on trying..."
-T.S. Eliot, The Dry Salvages

2 Thought:. You are not obligated to finish the task; neither are you free to neglected.
-Pirkei Avot (Teaching of the Sages), Chapter 2,21

Questions:
1. What is the task that you have been trying to contemplate in the world? Why? Another way to place the same question is What will be the one wish you have for our world?


2. How would the world be different if you succeeded? What motivates you to keep on trying when it would be easier to give up? OR, If you were to be granted the wish and the only way the wish will come true is your involvement, what will you be willing to do? What will be your first steps? THANK YOU


More detailed information about the International Day of Peace- The Story


FYI International Day of Peace: Greater Background: ( Video: 3:44 minutes)

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/peace-one-day-2009/6dd5d65ebca7ccc80b306dd5d65ebca7ccc80b30-165816370652?q=Peace%20one%20day%20videos&FORM=VIRE3

HOPE TRUNKS AT CASADY SCHOOL

AUGUST 31: Arrival of HOPE TRUNKS, chapel speech by Mrs. Lynn Roller and Mrs. Lynn Porter of the Oklahoma Memorial Museum.  Teachers in the UD working with toy animals left at fence to help students write healing or personal stories to be given to someone who needs it.

September 1:  A bombing family member and a firefighter spoke in chapel to help students realized that acts of kindness and service, no matter how small, helped turned tragedy into hope.