Oak Park is sweet to Casa kids





LOTS OF LOVE—Oak Park Independent School students, from left, Benjamin Royer, Riele Downs and Matthew Royer, take part in a Valentine’s Day party at the Casa Pacifica campus in Camarillo.

LOTS OF LOVE—Oak Park Independent School students, from left, Benjamin Royer, Riele Downs and Matthew Royer, take part in a Valentine’s Day party at the Casa Pacifica campus in Camarillo.

This year Valentine’s Day may be a little sweeter for students at Casa Pacifica with the memory of a party hosted for them yesterday, Feb. 10, by the youth at Oak Park Independent School.

Casa Pacifica serves abused and neglected children as well as those who have severe emotional, behavioral and mental health issues. The center operates schools on a 24-acre campus in Camarillo, where the party took place.

Kate Thompson, a teacher at the independent study school, said her students had participated in other events to benefit Casa Pacifica but this was the first time they’d hosted a party.

Twelve-year-old twins Benjamin and Matthew Royer travel from West Hills to attend the independent study school to accommodate their schedule as actors on the Disney Channel’s “Best Friends Whenever.” They were excited about the upcoming party when they spoke to The Acorn last week.

Benjamin said that at OPIS the main lessons taught are that “everybody is the same” and helping others is vital. He said he and his brother work at a homeless shelter when they have free time.

The boys gave stuffed animals to the kids attending the party.

Matthew said he also enjoys helping others.

“I really like making people smile,” he said. “I hope to do more in the future.”

Riele Downs, who appears on the Nickelodeon show “Henry Danger,” commutes from Sherman Oaks to the OPIS campus.

“It’s really important to me to give back,” she said.

The party at Casa Pacifica featured craft stations where kids made keychains, bookmarks and valentines. There was also a cookie decorating station and a photo booth with props, which Thompson said is a crowd- pleaser.

Another party activity was “Blind Date with a Book.” Casa Pacifica students could choose a wrapped book that was only identified by genre.

Thompson said about 40 of the 240 OPIS students participated in the party yesterday.

Oak Park Independent School serves students who need a flexible school schedule, such as actors, athletes and musicians or children who have health issues.

Some students attend because of religious affiliations, while other families like the blend of coursework at the school with their own home-school programs.

OPIS principal Stew McGugan said some students are training for the Olympics.


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