Creativity, activity, service (CAS) is one of the three essential elements that every student must complete as part of the Diploma Programme (DP).
Studied throughout the Diploma Programme, CAS involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies.
It is not formally assessed. However, students reflect on their CAS experiences as part of the DP, and provide evidence of achieving the seven learning outcomes for CAS.
The three strands of CAS, which are often interwoven with particular activities, are characterized as follows:
- Creativity – arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking.
- Activity – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing academic work elsewhere in the DP.
- Service – an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student. The rights, dignity and autonomy of all those involved are respected.
In order to demonstrate these concepts, students are required to undertake a CAS Project. The project challenges students to:
- show initiative
- demonstrate perseverance
- develop skills such as collaboration, problem solving and decision making.
What is the significance of CAS?
CAS enables students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development by learning through experience.
It provides opportunities for self-determination and collaboration with others, fostering a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment from their work.
At the same time, CAS is an important counterbalance to the academic pressures of the DP.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am in partial IB, do I have to do CAS?
Yes, every IB student at Diefenbaker is required to complete CAS, even if they are only in one IB course.
When can I start to collect CAS hours?
Grade 10 students can start to collect their hours September 1st of their grade 10 year. Volunteer work completed in the summer before you became a grade 10 student does not count, but you can work on your CAS in the summers between grade 11 and 12. IB likes to see “concurrency of learning,” meaning you need to be working on CAS and IB classes at the same time (and therefore need to balance your time), but at Diefenbaker we don’t want to see you miss out on meaningful CAS opportunities that arise during the summer months.
Do I have to complete to complete my CAS hours at school?
No, but you can! CAS hours can be completed with in-school activities, or working with community groups, teams, etc.
How will I ever collect 20-25 hours in each of the three areas each year?
- Make a plan!
- Budget your time, don’t leave it all until the last minute.
- Try to find activities that are meaningful for you. If it isn’t enjoyable, then try a new activity.
- Activity includes team try-outs. Some “no cut” teams at Diefenbaker include cross-country, track, and swimming.
- Creativity involves making something new, as well as planning and teaching to others. You do not need to be “good” at your “creation” for it to count!
- Service activities don’t need to involve raising funds or be “big” activities. Small gestures go a long way!
What are some general guidelines for what counts as a CAS experience?
- You can’t be paid for the work or activity (small thank you gifts are allowed).
- If should not be of a religious or a political nature (protests, preaching, etc.) – you can still complete CAS activities with religious organizations though (e.g. helping children with a craft at a church picnic).
- Activities conducted for school credit in a mandatory course or IB course can not be counted as CAS experiences. If the course is not a core course (i.e. an option course), activities conducted in these courses can count as CAS experiences, but you can not just count the hours in class as CAS hours.
- It should challenge you in some way (e.g. A track and field athlete should not count walking to school as action).
- STUCO hours: once you have completed your hours for your leadership course, any additional hours can count for CAS.
- Choir and Band: you receive credit for these classes, so you can’t count class hours as CAS hours, but your performances and choir camp/band camp will count for CAS, as will any “extra” performances you complete. Many students may also perform as a part of other service opportunities (e.g. at a senior’s home, hospital, etc.).
- Junior Achievement: you will receive money for any products that you sell, but some of your proceeds are to be donated to charity. Whatever percentage of your profits that are donated to charity, that is the percentage of your JA hours that you can count towards CAS.
What are the CAS assignments for Grade 10 students and what are their deadlines?
All CAS assignments are to be completed electronically and submitted to D2L.
- January 15: At least one CAS experience form, interim log sheet.
- June 15: A minimum of three CAS experience forms, with each strand represented (Creativity, Activity, Service), final log sheet.
What are the CAS assignments for Grade 11 students and what are their deadlines?
All CAS assignments are to be completed electronically and submitted to D2L.
- September 30: CAS planning form and CAS project proposal.
- Feb 1: Log sheets and at least one CAS experience form.
- June 15: Final log sheets, reflective essay, a minimum of three CAS experience forms, with each strand represented (Creativity, Activity, Service).
What are the CAS assignments for Grade 12 students and what are their deadlines?
All CAS assignments are to be completed electronically and submitted to D2L.
- September 30: CAS planning form.
- Jan 15: Log sheets and at least one CAS experience form.
- May 1: Final log sheets, reflective essay, a minimum of three CAS experience forms, with each strand represented (Creativity, Activity, Service), CAS portfolio.
Do I need to list every single time I completed a CAS activity in my log sheets?
No - it is acceptable to sub-total your hours, you do not require individual entries each time you performed the activity. Hours do not need to be completed when you submit your interim log sheets. You may submit as an excel spreadsheet or a word document, whatever you prefer.
Where can I find all of the forms I need to complete? (log sheets, planning, experience, etc.)
All forms are found on D2L and in the "CAS Forms" section of this website.
Do I have to hand in my assignments/forms through D2L?
Yes! D2L is paperless, and also will store all of your work for the three years that you are at Diefenbaker. Some students may be selected by IB to submit samples of your CAS activities to IB, and if it is all stored in one place it is easy to find. It can also be a great summary of your extra-curricular activities when you apply for a scholarship or a job.
What is the CAS project (grade 11 and 12 IB students only)?
- The CAS Project is a major student initiated collaborative project integrating one or more strands of CAS (Creativity / Activity / Service).
- Minimum 10 hours in duration, including planning, execution and reflection, over the course of approximately a month.
- Must be collaborative – planning/executing project in groups of 2 or more (can be with other students or with an adult).
- CAS project hours can be counted as part of your total hours.
- Only one CAS project needs to be completed for your CAS requirements, but more projects may be completed if you wish!
If I have questions about CAS who can I ask?
