SoulCraft Wednesdays
Casady is embarking on a new initiative for Wednesday Chapel called SoulCraft Wednesdays. On Wednesdays during their standard Chapel time, Upper, Middle, and Lower Division students will participate in classroom-based discussions or activities center around four topics.
These topics include:
- Chapel Life and Spirituality
- Social-Emotional Learning
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Service Learning
For the SEL component, Lower and Middle Divisions will pilot the use of the evidence-based curriculum Second Step, which focuses on skills for learning, problem-solving, empathy, friendships, and emotion management from early learning through eighth grade.
Casady's traditional "Chapel Talks" provide a special opportunity for students to learn the values of faith, hope, and love. The ultimate goal for students' Chapel experience is that they will not only realize their value as children of God, but also take the values learned within the confines of Casady and share them with the world.
The goal of SoulCraft Wednesdays is to help create a more involved Chapel experience for students. Fr. Tim Sean Youmans, Vicar of the Chapel of St. Edward the Confessor and Religious Life Department Chair, said "One of many things I've noticed over the years about Chapel is that it was primarily something students 'observed.' I kept wondering if there was a way to do Chapel that built in some interaction. The scriptures speak of iron sharpening iron. I wanted to build a space for the Spirit of God to work in that way."
While Casady's foundation is Christian, families of various faith traditions have always been welcome and attended the School, which will continue to translate into the substance of SoulCraft Wednesdays.
"Our Chapel Life springs out of Christian spirituality, but a lot of our application centers around values that all faiths embrace: justice, compassion, and love of neighbor," Fr. Youmans said. "SoulCraft Wednesdays give our community a chance to talk through those ideas. Our faculty does a great job of building this into our daily curriculum, and Chapel SoulCraft will underscore it and celebrate it."
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.
Casady School is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory, Episcopal day school serving students in pre-k-12. Educating Mind, Body, and Spirit.