BRUNSWICK, Ohio — As youngsters, Hailey Toll and Isabell Cassily attended Hickory Ridge Elementary School. This week, as Brunswick High School sophomores, they are giving back to their former school in a special way.
The young women are Girl Scouts, starting as Daisies in elementary school. Now, as Senior Scouts in Troop 90481, they have been on a journey to reach the organization’s highest honor — the Gold Award.
They are well on their way, recently wrapping up projects toward the Bronze and Silver awards.
“My mom made me join,” Hailey said of starting Girl Scouts. “I stayed with it because I liked the friends I’ve made and the experience it gives.”
Isabell said it was her grandmother who registered her, and she liked it so much that even with a switch in schools, she stayed with it.
“I really like the service projects a lot,” she said.
On the journey, the Scouts were about to start a Bronze Award team project when COVID-19 hit. When they were finally able to dive back in in 2022, they made it known that they wanted to move up to earning their Silver Awards, too.
It would mean two projects, but it also meant that they could work together.
They focused on child abuse for one phase of their Silver Award, while the other was a plan to do something to help their former elementary school.
Their leader, Sherry Cassily, said, “They did a lot of research on their own about the different types of child abuse and ways to bring awareness to the community, made informational packets for everyone, spread awareness within their school (Brunswick Middle School), set up a display and also displayed it at the Pinwheel Walk at the Medina Square.
“This project took about a year-and-a-half to complete everything. They did an excellent job working on this together.”
Meanwhile, they were also planning their second project. They had to interview school personnel and learned that the Hickory Ridge “buddy bench” was in terrible condition.
“It’s really old — at least 10 years,” Isabell said. “And when we checked it out, (we) saw that it was beyond repair. We decided to build a new one.”
They did a great deal of research.
“We had to approach it from two different points of view,” Isabell said. “We had to think like engineers, but also make it child-friendly.”
Once their plans were in place, it was time to raise funds and find volunteers to help build the bench.
They wanted to use sustainable materials and definitely wanted to make the new buddy bench colorful and welcoming.
The bench was revealed to the students and staff.Photo by Sherry Cassily
Mission accomplished.
The brightly colored buddy bench is made to withstand the weather and sends a clear message about its purpose, with “Make a friend, be a friend” engraved on it.
Hailey and Isabell presented it to an assembly of students and staff at Hickory Ridge on Monday (Nov. 25).
Prior to the reveal, Sherry Cassily, said they did a wonderful job through a long process.
“It was very hands-on, and they knew when to ask for help. I think when they make the presentation, it will be very well received.”
Finishing up their Silver and Bronze awards “has really prepared us for what the Gold Award is like. We have a few ideas,” Hailey said.
She said they have to complete the Gold Award before they graduate high school, and each girl’s project has to be done alone.
Isabell, who has taken American Sign Language classes, is leaning toward a project to heighten awareness of hearing loss.
“I feel the deaf community is excluded from many activities because those who don’t have the difficulty don’t understand,” she said.
Hailey said she is also considering a subject about which many people are not informed — mental health.
“I’m thinking of something like a walk to raise awareness. I’ve struggled myself, and people don’t always speak about the challenges faced by something they can’t see.
“I’d like to help young and older people to understand each other.”
Both are big projects that will take lots of time, and both of these young women already have very full schedules.
Hailey is a member of marching band, and once that season is over, she participates in percussion ensemble. She is a member of Student Council and helps out in the school’s version of a thrift store, making items affordable for students.
Her future plans include attending college to major in engineering; she hopes to minor in music.
Isabell is a competitive dancer. She is on an Elite Academy Dance Team, with three or four competitions each season, and in June and July she takes master classes.
She is also in two school choirs.
At St. Ambrose Catholic Church, she participates in choir and small plays and sometimes does choreography.
Her future plans include college, where she would like to major in dance and, once she earns her bachelor’s degree, go to law school.
Both young women expressed gratitude for their families who supported them on the final phase of their journey and continue to encourage them on the path to Gold.
Read more from the Brunswick Sun.