What
is CAS?
The CAS requirement takes seriously the importance of life outside
the world of scholarship, providing a refreshing counterbalance
to the academic self-absorption some may feel within a demanding
school program. 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 co-operatively with others.
The IB 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. |
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It is important to remember that CAS is experiential learning followed
by ongoing reflection. Experiential learning involves Creativity,
Action and Service.
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Creativity |
| This is interpreted as imaginatively as possible
to cover a wide range of arts and other activities which include
creative thinking by the individual student in designing and
carrying out service projects. |
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Action |
| Action can include participation in expeditions,
individual and team sports and physical training outside the
normal curriculum; it can also include physical activity involved
in carrying out creative and service projects. |
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Service |
| The service component is often the most transforming
for the individual student; it has the potential to nurture
and mould the global citizen. Service can take place at the
school, local, national and international levels (such as undertaking
projects of assistance in a developing country). |
Lifestages CAS Project
As part of their CAS hours, some SDHS IB Diploma students participate
in Lifestages, a writing project in conjunction with the
Playwrights Project. Lifestages is a program that enables seniors
in health care residences and convalescent homes to express themselves
creatively. The partnerships pair senior "storytellers,"
with a lifetime of tales to tell, with young writers who use the
material to create theatre.
Last year, eight junior and senior IB Diploma students partnered
with senior storytellers from a local senior center. The students
interviewed the senior storytellers and, together with a writing
mentor, worked the material into a 10-15 minute vignette based on
the stories collected. The resulting vignettes were performed at
the senior center and at SDHS. This year another eight SDHS students
will participate in Lifestages.
The Playwrights Project is a non-profit organization based in San
Diego whose mission is to promote literacy, creativity and communication
skills through drama-based activities, with an emphasis on youth
and seniors.
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