Creativity, Action, Service is known by its acronym, CAS and is a fundamental part of the diploma curriculum. The CAS requirement takes seriously the importance of life outside the world of scholarship, providing a fresh counterbalance to the academic self-absorption some may feel within a demanding school programme. Participation in theatre productions, sports and community service activities encourages young people to share their energies and special talents while developing awareness, concern and the ability to work cooperatively with others. The goal of educating the whole person and fostering a more compassionate citizenry comes alive in an immediate way when students reach beyond themselves and their books.*
*excerpt from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) program description book
Introduction
Your CAS project is important. It's important for the following reasons:
- You need to complete the CAS project successfully in order to earn the IB diploma.
- These hours of service certainly bring your college applications to the attention of admissions offices.
However, the CAS project is important in a larger sense. One dimensional people live shallow lives regardless of their intelligence and their financial success. By completing a CAS project, a student becomes a much more balanced person and hopefully, a happier one. Once students start the CAS program, they begin to see the benefits. By the time they complete the program they will see the importance of a well-balanced life.
Elements
CREATIVITY should be interpreted as imaginatively as possible to cover the widest range of arts and other activities and to include creativity by the individual student in designing and carrying out service projects.
ACTION does not necessarily restrict itself to expeditions, sports, or physical training, but may include carrying out creative or service projects.
SERVICE does not mean exclusively social service, but can include environmental and international projects.
The entire CAS activity is a minimum of 150 hours. It is essential to monitor carefully each activity or project in terms of appropriateness, quality and student participation. Evaluation, both by the school and self-evaluation by the student, should be an on-going process throughout the two-year diploma period.
The entire CAS program requires a minimum of 150 hours, but encourages students to do more.
CAS Projects
In the IB CAS project, the student, using his/her own initiative, identifies an independent activity. This project carries with it several responsibilities.
- Must choose an appropriate activity that satisfies the requirements.
- Must have the agreement of both parent and CAS Advisor before the CAS project begins. This agreement is demonstrated by signatures on the official CAS proposal form.
- Must take responsibility for the verification of the hours. The method of this verification must be explained clearly on the official CAS proposal form before the CAS project begins. Summer projects should be approved by the CAS Advisor before the end of the previous school year.
- Must take responsibility for turning in all forms and keeping copies of all forms. A CAS project may consist of one large activity that encompasses the required number of hours in all three of the required areas. Alternatively, it could consist of several smaller activities that, when added together, equal the required number of hours in all three of the required areas.
- An adult who is not the student's parent must sign off on the project as a supervisor.
- CAS projects that become available after the summer begins must be approved by the IB/CAS coordinator before the activity begins.
- A CAS project or series of activities should show a continuous development or commitment for the full two years.
CAS Director: Mrs. Cate Dossetti, e-mail: ibdossetti@yahoo.com
