Building a Stronger School Community through Connections and Compassion with C.A.S.A.
June 8, 2023
For nearly a decade now, CASA (Connecting Adults and Students to Achieve) has been a school initiative designed to help make connections and build a stronger community. It provides a platform for students and adults to forge relationships that support their social, emotional, spiritual, and academic needs. Nearly every student and adult in the building participates.
Throughout the year, CASA groups, each consisting of approximately 20 students and 2-3 faculty/staff "parents," meet regularly. These small groups allow for more personalized interactions, creating an atmosphere of trust and understanding. Some groups follow a structured curriculum, while others plan their own activities based on the interests and needs of their members.
CASA Families Unite for Fun and Service
Toward the end of this year, the individual CASA families joined forces, coming together for collaborative activities. From kickball games and volleyball matches to senior send-off and service projects, these events helped promote camaraderie and demonstrated our collective effort and commitment to making a difference.
“The hope was to finish the year doing some things that were fun and others that were important.” said Amy Bellus, Assistant Principal and the program's coordinator. “The service is important because it is one of our CDH values. It is important to work for the common good and do what we can to make the world a little bit better place. The volleyball and kickball gave us an opportunity to play together and have fun. Fun is an important part of building a strong community.”
One notable service project involved making 1,000 sandwiches for those in need. The sandwiches were given to the "Love One Another/363 Days" organization, who distributes them to our underhoused brothers and sisters. Lunds and Byerly's donated over 100 loaves of bread along with 1000 sandwich bags and more for this initiative. Additional funds were raised through out-of-uniform sales.
Other service projects included an initiative introduced by some of our students that involved making cards, or “Letters of Love” to send to children in local hospitals to help brighten their day.
Students also made kits for our homeless brothers and sisters. The Student Council purchased a number of toiletry items and CASA families sorted them and put the kits together to be donated to local shelters.
CASA has left a lasting impact on both students and adults. Dr. Janet Watson, Religion Department, shared, "CASA is a rare opportunity to have students across all grades together with adults in a supportive environment. We catch up with each other, remember events, ask about future plans or concerns…we basically show up for each other."
Social Studies teacher Angie Keske expressed, "I think CASA is a good way for students to hear about the experiences of other grade levels in the building. It bridges students together who may not ever see one another." She also shared a favorite memory, "My favorite part was when the younger students gave heartfelt advice to the seniors. It was so sweet."
The idea for CASA, which is unique to CDH, developed with the goal of facilitating connections, nurturing relationships, and promoting meaningful service. Through CASA, CDH celebrates the power of unity, compassion, and shared experiences, as we strive for a stronger and more connected school community.
The school recently surveyed both the students and adults in the building on what works well and what things don't really work in CASA families. The information gathered will help inform the program for next year, although the goal for CASA will remain the same: strengthen the social, emotional, spiritual, and academic fabric of our educational environment.
