CAS is a part of the Core of IB. It is one way that IB helps student develop and grow in other areas of their life, besides academics. In many ways, CAS provides the extra-curricular aspect of student life.

All IB students at Pearson complete CAS activities, whether they are earning Certificates or a Diploma. The following are the minimum hours required by each student, each year:

• Grade 10: 15 hours/category, total of 45 hours
• Grade 11: 25 hours/category, total of 75 hours
• Grade 12: 25 hours/category, total of 75 hours

Creativity

Learning and producing something that didn’t exist before.

Possible activities:

• dance, learning/playing a musical instrument, singing
• photography
• painting, drawing, sculpting
• writing prose, poetry
• blogging
• baking, cooking, decorating
• and many others

Activity

Keeping your body healthy through physical activity

Possible activities:

• walking, jogging, running
• team sports (in school or in a league)
• individual sports
• weight lifting/training
• anything that keeps your heart rate elevated for a sustained amount of time

Service

Giving back to others in your community

Possible activities:

• volunteering with a community organization (ex. Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Reading Buddies, Computer Buddies, The Mustard Seed, etc.)
• joining a group at school (ex. Yearbook, Pearson Press, etc.)
• school activities: helping with Fine Arts productions, score keeping during games, leading tours for the Open House, etc.
• individual activities: shoveling the sidewalk for a neighbor, weeding or mowing the grass for a neighbor, baby-sitting

IB stipulates that CAS activities should be non-secular in nature (non-religious). For any student that wishes to complete some of their activities within their church, mosque, synagogue or other place of worship, please speak to the CAS Coordinator to find out if that activity is appropriate.

The activities a student chooses must also be outside of their regular family obligations. Picking up siblings from school, making supper, doing chores, etc do not qualify as CAS activities. Students can not be paid or receive credits for CAS activities. The idea of CAS is to do things BEYOND your regular activities and obligations.

It is the responsibility of each student to keep track of their time and activities on a (paper or electronic), including the type of activity, time spent on each activity, and a contact person. At the end of each year, students will also submit a portfolio, summarizing and reflecting on their activities. This portfolio can be in a number of different forms: a scrapbook, a PowerPoint presentation, a memory box, a blog, etc. This portfolio should address the eight learning outcomes of CAS. Expectations, the eight learning outcomes, and key dates (including check-in dates) are shared with students at the beginning of each year when they meet with the CAS Coordinator.

For more information about CAS, visit the IB CAS webpage, read the IB CAS Subject brief, or see the full IB CAS Guide.

Expectations

International Baccalaureate Students…

Develop their natural curiosity. They develop the skills necessary to show independence and to work effectively and collaboratively with others. They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with forethought and courage. They understand the importance of intellectual, physical, and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.

C-A-S provides an opportunity to expand upon the things you are learning about yourself and the world by developing new experiences and then reflecting on these experiences over time. This helps you to assess and understand your strengths and limitations in order to support your learning and personal development.

How do I show that I am involved in CAS activities?

Each student is responsible for keeping their own record (log) of their activities.  A hard copy and electronic copy to use for recording your activities will be provided.

CAS Activity Logs

Your CAS logs are the proof that you have completed your hours. This record must include the activity name, date of activity, time spent, supervisor name and contact information (in case we need to verify your activities), and a brief description of the activity to provide some clarity about the nature of the activity- is it creative, active, or service oriented?

Students are responsible for keeping a personal record of their hours and contact information, AND for completing the required CAS activity logs, which become a part of their permanent CAS file.

What cannot be considered part of your CAS hours?

Students may not count work/chores for parents or relatives. (Ex. baby-sitting)

Volunteer hours obtained in your church with a religious group cannot count. Volunteer hours must be secular (non-religious). If you have further questions, please speak to Miss Hein, the CAS Coordinator.

Required Time

Grade 10: minimum of 15 hours in each category (total of 45 hours)

Grade 11: minimum of 25 hours in each category (total of 75 hours)

CAS Portfolio

Purpose of the portfolio: The purpose of this portfolio is to reflect on your experiences, and identify the personal qualities and characteristics that you have developed through your activities.

Assignment: You will show evidence of your activities (pictures, mementos, certificates, etc.) and write a personal reflection for each entry, in which you may use the personal pronoun, “I”.  Each different activity should have one (or more) entries.

Learning Outcomes: You need to provide evidence that you have:

1. Increased your awareness of your own strengths and areas for growth. You are able to see yourself as an individual with various skills and abilities, some more developed than others, and understanding that you can make choices about how to move forward
2. Undertaken new challenges. This may be an unfamiliar activity or an extension to an existing one
3. Planned and initiated activities. This will often be done in collaboration with others, in activities that are part of larger projects, for example, ongoing school activities in the local community, as well as in small student-led activities.
4. Worked collaboratively with others. Team sports, playing music in a band, or helping in a kindergarten are all examples of collaborative work. At least one project that integrates at least two of creativity, action, and service, is required.
5. Shown perseverance and commitment in your activities. At minimum, this implies attending regularly and accepting a share of the responsibility for dealing with problems that arise in the course of activities.
6. Engaged with issues of global importance. Students may be involved in international projects but there are many global issues that can be acted upon locally or nationally (for example, environmental concerns, caring for the elderly)
7. Considered the ethical implications of your actions. Evidence of thinking about ethical issues can be shown in various ways, including journal entries and conversations with C-A-S advisors, and they can arise out of any C-A-S activity, from playing on the sports field to musical composition.
8. Developed new skills, or increased expertise in an established area. As with new challenged, new skills may be shown in an area not previously undertaken, or in increased expertise in an established area.

Examples:

Identifying strengths and areas for growth, and perseverance:

“Since I’m not usually active, I had troubles keeping up with everyone else because of my lack of endurance. At the end of the Track and Field tryouts I didn’t do too well in either event, but I know that I tried my best and that is all I can ask of myself at the moment. As long as I keep doing more physical activities such as sports or regular jogging, I will be able to improve my endurance and trying out next year might be slightly easier.”

Identifying the development of commitment to activities:

“The virtue of patience does not only apply to playing the piano, but in every aspect of my life. I have learnt that being patient with the frustration and stress that comes with school, will lead to my completion of the IB program, and leave me with the feeling of fulfillment and joy.”