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![Randall Middle School teacher Kristy Verdi teaches geography and an elective class in service learning. She had applied for a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to start a student youth council at Randall. From this establishment came the idea to expand into the Randall Area Youth Service league, which over the summer broadened to include students also from Newsome High School, Foundation Christian Academy, Boyette Springs Elementary School, and Mulrennan Middle School.
"They came to me with an idea to put on a play and we purchased the rights to the script and to stage it twice," Verdi said. "They chose the Pediatric Cancer Foundation to support because we've had a number of children in our community stricken with cancer" [including Taylor Arrington, Leo Astascio, Zachary Tucker, Hannah Douglas, Peyton Mayhew, Mandy Willis, Lyla Burchnell, Paige Wirth, and Jessica Rose Kohut].
"This play is by kid and for kids," said Verdi about "The Big Bad," which features "the trial of the century" with the defendant, the Big Bad Wolf. The play also features such characters as Little Red Riding Hood, the Boy Who Cried Wolf, and the Three Little Pigs.
"It brings a lot of kids with a lot of different talents together," Verdi said. "For some kids, the classroom is not their best place for performing, they don't show you what they know." Being on stage and putting on a play, she added, helps to build confidence and even improve a child's vocabulary.](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/Randall-Area-Youth-Service/i-DV4VFnT/0/Ti/DSC_0400-Ti.jpg "Randall Middle School teacher Kristy Verdi teaches geography and an elective class in service learning. She had applied for a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to start a student youth council at Randall. From this establishment came the idea to expand into the Randall Area Youth Service league, which over the summer broadened to include students also from Newsome High School, Foundation Christian Academy, Boyette Springs Elementary School, and Mulrennan Middle School.
\"They came to me with an idea to put on a play and we purchased the rights to the script and to stage it twice,\" Verdi said. \"They chose the Pediatric Cancer Foundation to support because we've had a number of children in our community stricken with cancer\" [including Taylor Arrington, Leo Astascio, Zachary Tucker, Hannah Douglas, Peyton Mayhew, Mandy Willis, Lyla Burchnell, Paige Wirth, and Jessica Rose Kohut].
\"This play is by kid and for kids,\" said Verdi about \"The Big Bad,\" which features \"the trial of the century\" with the defendant, the Big Bad Wolf. The play also features such characters as Little Red Riding Hood, the Boy Who Cried Wolf, and the Three Little Pigs.
\"It brings a lot of kids with a lot of different talents together,\" Verdi said. \"For some kids, the classroom is not their best place for performing, they don't show you what they know.\" Being on stage and putting on a play, she added, helps to build confidence and even improve a child's vocabulary.")
![Daniela Delvescovo, along with Maria Jose Ayala, is credited with coming up with the idea for the Randall Area Youth Service to put on a play as a fundraising activity for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. "Taylor Arrington was in my grade," Delvescovo said. "I didn't know her personally but it was really sad when she passed away [from cancer]. It was just a really, really sad day in class." Putting on the play, "The Big Bad," as a benefit for foundation is a way to pay tribute to Arrington, who died in 2007 at age 12, and all the other children in the area who have been stricken with cancer, "We all still remember her," Delvescovo said. "We're thinking about her and we'll never forget her."
"You know that cancer exists but you never think it will happen to you or someone you know, especially at this age," Delvescovo said. "This is the age you're supposed to be having fun and growing up and finding out who you are supposed to be. Taylor didn't get a chance to do that." Delvescovo added that the sixth-grade class at Randall put together a video for Taylor, their classmate, "and she got a chance to watch it before she passed away."](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/Randall-Area-Youth-Service/i-QjKjQBx/0/Ti/DSC_0397-Ti.jpg "Daniela Delvescovo, along with Maria Jose Ayala, is credited with coming up with the idea for the Randall Area Youth Service to put on a play as a fundraising activity for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. \"Taylor Arrington was in my grade,\" Delvescovo said. \"I didn't know her personally but it was really sad when she passed away [from cancer]. It was just a really, really sad day in class.\" Putting on the play, \"The Big Bad,\" as a benefit for foundation is a way to pay tribute to Arrington, who died in 2007 at age 12, and all the other children in the area who have been stricken with cancer, \"We all still remember her,\" Delvescovo said. \"We're thinking about her and we'll never forget her.\"
\"You know that cancer exists but you never think it will happen to you or someone you know, especially at this age,\" Delvescovo said. \"This is the age you're supposed to be having fun and growing up and finding out who you are supposed to be. Taylor didn't get a chance to do that.\" Delvescovo added that the sixth-grade class at Randall put together a video for Taylor, their classmate, \"and she got a chance to watch it before she passed away.\"")
Students involved in the Randall Area Youth Service league take to the stage with "Big Bad," the story of the "trial of the century" featuring the Big Bad Wolf. The students decided to stage the play as a fundraiser for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, in memory and support of the many kids in the area diagnosed with cancer. The students performed the play at Randall Middle School on Sept. 9, 2009, and a day later at the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association in Brandon.
The Randall Area Youth Service grew from a Randall Middle School effort involving teacher Kristy Verdi and a grant she received for bringing service learning to her school. "We're the R.A.Y.S," she said. "We're the 'RAY' of light of hope and help."
Among the cast members are, from left, in back: Jackson Brown, Katelyn Brown, Chase Tappan, and Maria Jose Ayala. Middle row, from left, Tessa Lavarta, Ethan Scarcelli, and Jazmine Johnson. In front, Cristina Delvescovo, left, and Kate Donnellan.
The Randall Area Youth Service grew from a Randall Middle School effort involving teacher Kristy Verdi and a grant she received for bringing service learning to her school. "We're the R.A.Y.S," she said. "We're the 'RAY' of light of hope and help."
Among the cast members are, from left, in back: Jackson Brown, Katelyn Brown, Chase Tappan, and Maria Jose Ayala. Middle row, from left, Tessa Lavarta, Ethan Scarcelli, and Jazmine Johnson. In front, Cristina Delvescovo, left, and Kate Donnellan.
Students involved in the Randall Area Youth Service league take to the stage with "Big Bad," the story of the "trial of the century" featuring the Big Bad Wolf. The students decided to stage the play as a fundraiser for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, in memory and support of the many kids in the area diagnosed with cancer. The students performed the play at Randall Middle School on Sept. 9, 2009, and a day later at the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association in Brandon.
The Randall Area Youth Service grew from a Randall Middle School effort involving teacher Kristy Verdi and a grant she received for bringing service learning to her school. "We're the R.A.Y.S," she said. "We're the 'RAY' of light of hope and help."
Among the cast members are, from left, in back: Jackson Brown, Katelyn Brown, Chase Tappan, and Maria Jose Ayala. Middle row, from left, Tessa Lavarta, Ethan Scarcelli, and Jazmine Johnson. In front, Cristina Delvescovo, left, and Kate Donnellan.
The Randall Area Youth Service grew from a Randall Middle School effort involving teacher Kristy Verdi and a grant she received for bringing service learning to her school. "We're the R.A.Y.S," she said. "We're the 'RAY' of light of hope and help."
Among the cast members are, from left, in back: Jackson Brown, Katelyn Brown, Chase Tappan, and Maria Jose Ayala. Middle row, from left, Tessa Lavarta, Ethan Scarcelli, and Jazmine Johnson. In front, Cristina Delvescovo, left, and Kate Donnellan.
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