State of the School: Casady Community

Dear Casady Community,
 
This past month has presented us with many opportunities in a sea of challenges as we navigate the COVID-19 global crisis. Our primary focus at Casady School has been on our faculty, students, and families as we’ve created and implemented a sustainable Remote Learning Plan. We want to ensure that our students continue to receive the very best education, whether in the classroom or remotely.
 
I assure you that the passion for individualized, student-driven, durable, and engaging education remains steadfast in this environment as it has over the past 72 years in the classroom. Intentionality, thoughtfulness, and extensive research are crucial when we undertake initiatives at this great School. This mindset has allowed us to design a Remote Learning Plan that supports quality education for our students and confidence in the School’s programs by parents. Under our One School Protocol, representatives from every facet of campus life worked to devise a plan that would allow Casady to continue to engage remotely with students and families.
 
Over our rich history, many of you think back fondly to the great faculty who provided the most formidable education. The list is long, but a few of these are teachers like Richard Marble, Rex Pennington, Bayard Auchincloss, Dody Cheek, Peggy Loeffler, Frances Nagle, Margaret Tuck, Bill Walker, Tom Tongue, Trio Mitchell, Virgil Grantham, Earl Hiller, Carolyn Horter, Judy Warren, Chip Reynolds, Tom Ziebell, Eddie Powell, Gayle Davis, Susan Erickson, Bee Pape, Clara and Arlen Gill, Ruth and Joe Miano, and David Gorham. So many more who formed and created the foundation for an education that, in turn, gave our students the confidence to successfully navigate their future. ALL of our great teachers begin with the belief that every child can, if they are willing to work hard, accomplish whatever they want in life. The bedrock of our education is the relationship teachers build getting to know their students. Today, our teachers are no different; they spend time building relationships and trust with every child. So when the world called on us to pivot to an entirely new way of learning, our faculty said yes! Yes, they would embrace Remote Learning because they believe that every child can and will succeed. We are leveraging the relationships we have formed in person as we shift to finishing this year remotely, connecting where we can, and delivering on the academic promise we have delivered for more than 70 years.
 
Because of careful planning and forecasting, the School faces this economic challenge with confidence and resilience. We are aware of the long-term implications any crisis may have, so I, along with the Board of Trustees, have been diligent about preserving the financial stability of the School. We operate each year with some surplus in our budgets and have worked hard to build a solid balance sheet. We are Oklahomans, and we know that the winds of change come quickly, and we must be ready.
 
More than ever, now is the time to take care of ourselves as well as our families. Please take a moment to visit our Monitoring COVID-19 | Remote Learning Pages. Here you will find everything we are doing to engage in Remote Learning as well as resources for physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Finally, I would also like to invite you to enjoy the Casady Philharmonic Orchestra's "Legends of the Spring," which encapsulates the motto "playing together, working apart." This calming and beautiful piece of music reminds us how blessed we are to be part of this incredible Casady Community.
 
Although social distancing has interrupted our lives, I am truly inspired and encouraged every day by the genuine enthusiasm of our faculty, staff, administrators, students, and parents. This provides our energy until that day when we will be able to greet each other in person again. I am blessed to be part of this incredibly warm and caring community, and I am grateful to the many former faculty and leaders on whose shoulders we now stand confidently.
 
Thank you for being a part of our history and our identity. We are Cyclone Strong!!
 
Faithfully,

Nathan L. Sheldon
Head of School
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Casady School is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory, Episcopal day school serving students in pre-k-12. Educating Mind, Body, and Spirit.
Casady School is a PreK-12, independent, college preparatory Episcopal day school committed to deeper-level learning. Casady School welcomes a student body that reflects the diversity of the world around us and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, nationality, or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, and other school-administered programs generally accorded or made available to students at the School.