What is CAS?
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Welcome to the CAS Page! This page is intended for IB Diploma Candidates to provide inspiration and information to help you complete CAS. Complete CAS requirements can be found in the CAS Handbook, a document linked to this page. Here students will find CAS ideas, locations, links and potential projects.
- CAS involves all the extra-curricular activities you take part in, and gives you a fully balanced education and to develop your personal qualities in a way that academic work can’t. These 3 components can either be followed separately and discretely or in one big project. Whichever route is followed, the key is that involvement in any activity should never be passive and that at all times you should reflect on your motivation, objectives and achievements and be prepared to modify your involvement accordingly. Basically, CAS is an interesting variety of activities that you find intrinsically worthwhile and rewarding, and which is mutually beneficial to you and to your community.
- Creativity includes most types of arts activities. This area also includes the creativity students express in designing and implementing service projects. It is being actively involved in creative activities like music, drama, art, computer web design, theatre production, technology, construction.
- Action can include any varsity, recreational, competitive, intramural team or individual sport. Also: taking part in special trips, excursions, and in local or international projects. And.. participation in individual and team sports, physical activities, physical work in service project.
- Service encompasses very numerous community and social service activities. Some examples include helping children with special needs, visiting hospitals and working with migrant workers, refugees, or the homeless. interaction with others in the community, doing things not only for others but with them.
| Think about creating your own CAS opportunity: do you want to do “hands-on” or “support a cause” you believe in? Do you find yourself thinking about Public Relations or Public Health? Would you rather organize for a non-profit or help organize an event of some kind? Do you want to help actually change the way things are done, or would you rather film or write about the change that takes place? Do you want to tutor, deliver meals, help build a house, or raise Money for something you believe in and want to support? Would you like to create your own interesting and challenging service type of internship with any of the United Way agencies, from Hospice to CASA to Citrus United Basket? Reading about some of the organizations, non-profits, and NGO’s here may help spur you on and open a door to a great CAS opportunity. At the very least you will begin to learn more about Social Services, Public Health, international issues, how people are helped, and how you can become involved locally, regionally, or internationally. |
"A Page of Hope"(Click on the link above to view the technical details of this project)
Local & LHS CAS Opportunities and Organizations
American Cancer Society 140 N. Sportsman Pt. Inverness, (352) 637-5577 American Red Cross 7449 W. Gulf to Lake Hwy Crystal River, (352) 564-8455 Annie W. Johnson Senior Center Food baskets; 1991 West Test Court Dunnellon, 489-8021 Big Brothers Big Sisters 701 White Blvd. Inverness, 344-0400 Blind Americans Services 6055N. Carl G. Rose Hwy Hernando, 637-1739 Boy’s & Girls Club – Citrus County Boys and Girls Clubs of Citrus County (352) 621-9225 CASA (Citrus Abuse Shelter Association) 112 N. Pine Ave. Inverness, 344-8111 Citrus County Chamber of Commerce Citrus County Child Centers 795-2667 Citrus County Library System Floral City, Lakes Region, Crystal River, & Beverly Hills Citrus Memorial Health System Citrus United Basket 210 North Apopka Food 344-2242 Citrus United Soccer Community Learning Center of Citrus County 2415 N Florida Ave Hernando, 560-0000. Crystal River State Archeological Preserve. Crystal River United Methodist 718 NW 1st Avenue Crystal River, 795-3148 Daystar Life Center, 6751 W Gulf to Lake Hwy, Crystal River 795-8668 Deaf Service Center Counseling 105 NE Hwy 19 Crystal River, 795-5600 Disabled Veterans #139, Assistance for Veterans, 8940 W Veterans Circle Homosassa 795-5155 Family Resource Center Parenting support classes, 120 N. Montgomery Ave. Hernando 344-1001 Fort Cooper State Park: Good Counsel Camp Gulf Archeology Research Institute (GARI): http://www.gari.org/ Habitat for Humanity 34428 Norvell Bryant Hwy , Crystal River 563-2744 Hospice of Citrus County 3350 W Audubon Park Path Lecanto, 527-2020 HPH Hospice Key Training Center 1315 N Van Northwick Rd Lecanto, 795-5541 LHS has dozens and dozens of clubs, teams, and organizations to get involved with. All of these count for CAS. The complete list can be found on the LHS web sites, under clubs. Don’t forget that starting your own club or group to support a cause or activity you are interested in CAS as well. Lions Club 3705 S Indiana Terrace, 628-4442 or 628-2461 Assists with eyeglasses and vision aids. Meals on Wheels 206 Washinginton Ave Hernando, 726-6350 Nature Coast Soccer Nature Coast Volunteer Center:ncvc@bocc.citrus.fl.us . NCVC recruits volunteers on behalf of over 100 organizations throughout Citrus County. Volunteers are "matched" with sites based on their interests and skills. Path Homeless Shelter and Thrift Shop: http://www.pathofcitrus.org/aboutus.html Pregnancy and Family Life Center 317 W Tompkins Inverness, 344-3030 Promise Village 650 N 10th Avenue Crystal River 795-7887 Provides homework assistance, tutoring, computer training, academic lessons, music and arts program, GED prep and adult education Rainbow Springs State Park: Salvation Army of Citrus County 3975 W Grover Cleveland Blvd , Homosassa, 621-5532 Senior Care Services 1300 S Lecanto Hwy , (352) 527-7640 Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve, The Path of Citrus County 27 S Melbourne St., Beverly Hills, 527-6500/746-6746 United Way of Citrus County; http://www.citrusunitedway.org/ All of the United Way Agencies, from Hospice to CASA to Citrus United Basket, are a great source for projects. Find out what these agencies are, research them, then reflect on what you might like like to do for one of them, then contact them. United Way Director Mr. John Marmish has been informed IB students from LHS will be interested in contacting him regarding service hours, service projects, and internships. If you are interested in getting experience with a United Way agency, please see Mr Carella, or feel free to contact Mr. Marmish directly with your proposal and questions at: john.marmish@unitedway.org Veterans Service 3600 W Sovereign Path, suite 178, Lecanto, 34461 746-7787
Regional & National Service Organizations
A New World of Hope Foundation, America Votes: http://www.americavotes.org/ American Friends Service Committee (AFS), Americares: AmeriCorps: http://www.americorps.org/ Amigos De Las Americas: http://www.amigoslink.org/ Amnesty International http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Org/63158-111 Appalachia Service Inc. : http://www.buildanewyou.org/ Bike & Build: http://www.bikeandbuild.org/ Capturing Change on Camera: http://www.cfw.tufts.edu/501c3 CARE: Caritas Internationalis: Carter Center: Catholic Charities USA: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/ Catholic Relief Services Change for Change: http://www.changeforchange.org/ Christian Appalachian Project: http://www.christianapp.org/vol CIEE Foreign Exchange Program: http://www.ciee.org/highschool Clinton Global Initiative: http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/ DonorsChoose.org, Florida Campus Compact: http://www.floridacompact.org/ Fresh Air Fund: http://www.freshair.org/ Fulbright Association: http://www.fulbright.org/ Global Policy Forum http://www.globalpolicy.org/ Global Visionaries: http://www.global-visionaries.org/ Habitat For Humanity International: http://www.habitat.org/getinv Hands On Gulf Coast: http://www.handsongulfcoast.org/ Highnoon – 20 global issues I 20 years challenge http://www.global-issues-network.org/page/about-gin Interaction: International Campaign to Ban Landmines http://laptop.org/en/laptop/ International Rescue Committee: http://www.theirc.org Make A Wish Foundation: Mercy Corps: My Giving Point.com, Network For Good: http://networkforgood.org/ Nothing But Nets: One Laptop Per Child – OLPC, ONE: http://www.one.org/ Organizing For America: http://www.barackobama.com/ Outward Bound: http://www.outwardbound.org/ OXFAM Pacific Crest Trail Association: http://www.pcta.org/ Pathways To Peace http://pathwaystopeace.org/ Pennies For Peace (Greg Mortenson) , Ronald McDonald House Charities: http://www.rmhorlando.com/ Regional & National Service Organizations continued: Roots and Shoots: http://www.rootsandshoots.org/ Rotary International: Share Our Strength: http://strength.org/ Teens In Public Service: http://www.teensinpublicservice.org/ The Hague International Model United Nations http://www.thimun.demon.nl/ The Hauser Center for Non Profit Organizations, http://hausercenter.org/iha/ U.S. PIRG: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Org/15880-330 UNICEF: WorldTeach: http://www.worldteach.org/ Youth For Understanding USA: http://www.yfu-usa.org/ Regional & National Public Health – Disaster Response Organizations
Best Shot Foundation: http://www.best-shot.org/ CAMO (Central America Medical Outreach) http://camo.org.org/ CardioStart Doctors without Borders, Global Youth Coalition On Aids / HIV: http://www.youthaidscoalition.org/ International Aids Vaccine Initiative: http://www.iavi.org/ MedShare International, Partners In Health (Dr. Paul Farmer), PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation: http://www.pkdcure.org/ Project C.U.R.E. Relief Web http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc100?OpenForm ShelterBox.org, Susan G. Komen: Regional & National Environmental Organizations EarthWatch Institute: http://www.earthwatch.org/ Earth Share: http://www.Earthshare.org/ GlobalWarming Service Learning Guide (Maria Edlund) Green Corps: GreenPeace: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/ National Audobon Society: http://www.audubon.org/ National Wildlife Federation Headquarters: http://www.nwf.org/ Nature Conservancy: http://nature.org/ Rain Forest Alliance: http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/ Sierra Club: http://www.sierraclub.org/ UNESCO: World Vision: World WildLife Fund (WWW) :
What are student Responsibilities? All students are required to: Self-review at the beginning of CAS, and set personal goals for what you would like to achieve. Plan activities, carry them out, and then reflect on what you have learned. Communicate with your CAS advisor at the beginning, the mid-point, and end of the 18 month program to discuss your plans and how you progressed. Generally plan on 150 hours, spread equally among the three areas of CAS. However, a continuum of approx. 3 hours weekly is required. Take part in a range of activities, including at least one Project. Some of the activities and projects you need to initiate yourself. One Project must contain two of the three CAS components (creativity, action, service.)
How Do I Document CAS on ManageBac? Managebac is a web-based software program, specifically for IB students, All of all your CAS activities and documentation will be entered on ManageBac. Propose, reflect, and report on all CAS activities thru e-mail on ManageBac. Keep records of your activities and achievements on ManageBac including a list of the principal activities undertaken. All communication and evaluations by CAS supervisors will be thru e-mail on ManageBac. If a supervisor does not have e-mail, the required form can be printed off of ManageBac. Communication between Students, CAS Advisors and Supervisors will take place and be documented on ManageBac as well. All CAS journaling, reflections, along with evidence and documentation in any media in all forms and media must be uploaded digitally onto ManageBac. This can begin NOW. ManageBac is up and running. Over the summer, everyone should learn how to use ManageBac, and begin maintaining a calendar on the web site. You must provide a narrative to go with each calendar logged activity. Upload documentation of documents, video, photographs, and all media on to ManageBac. This will be permanent documentation of completion of CAS. How should I choose my CAS activities? Where possible you should take on new activities and roles within activities as this will best extend your learning experience. Questions to ask when deciding on CAS activities: Is the activity a new role for me? Is it a real task I am going to undertake? Does it have real consequences for other people and for me? What can I hope to learn from getting involved? How can this activity benefit other people? Students are encouraged to not only find but create your own activities ( this would clearly satisfy the creativity requirement). Ultimately it is up to each student to choose and / or define their own CAS activities from the very broad array of existing endeavors that already exist at LHS, in our community, and in the U.S. & world at large. The key is for each student to get involved. If you need help, the CAS advisors will assist you with ideas and contacts---many of which are already listed on this web site. However as you learn more about CAS, you will probably realize that you already have been doing CAS all along. The main difference simply may be that beginning summer (now) Junior year you will need to document your activities and accomplishments. What are not CAS activities: CAS is not simply counting hours—when this happens, the purpose is lost CAS is not taking place when: you are in a passive rather than an active role. There should be interaction. If you are passive, no real reflection is possible. Any class, activity or project which is already part of the student’s Diploma Program. An activity for which a student is personally rewarded either financially or with some other benefit (unless this benefit is passed on in full to a worthy cause). Doing simple, tedious and repetitive work, like returning school library books to the shelves. Volunteering for an organization when: You have no idea how the organization really operates You Are involved only in repetitive tasks You have no contact with people being served You actually help provide no service for other people. A passive pursuit, such as a visit to a museum, the theatre, art exhibition, concert or sports event, unless it definitely inspires work in a related activity in which you are already engaged. All forms of duty within the family. Religious activities. Work experience which only benefits the student. Fund-raising with no clearly defined end or goal in sight. An activity where there is no leader or responsible adult on site to evaluate and confirm student performance and participation. Activities which cause division amongst different groups in the community. What are General CAS requirements? The general requirements are approximately 3 to 4 hours a week should be devoted to CAS activities. CAS is done on a continuum. IB students should be engaged throughout the year, being involved with a few hours each week. CAS is not designed to be simply tabulating hours. A student should aim for steady commitment to all your activities over the 2 years, as only continuous involvement will give you the opportunity to develop. You can have short term projects (one day – one week), medium term projects (one week to 6 months) and long term projects (the whole academic year). You must have at least one long term project each year. Bright Futures and LHS service hour requirements should be completed prior to beginning CAS. Final CAS Essay: This essay is a final self-evaluation, as well as the evaluation of your CAS activities that you have completed. Keep up with CAS, OR, teachers may need to withhold recommendation letters for students In all reflective writings, students must relate the learning outcomes to their activity. Please remember to not relate all eight of the learning outcomes to one activity. In order to cover all of the learning outcomes, strive to become engaged in a variety of CAS activities. The eight learning outcomes to be documented throughout CAS are: Increased awareness of personal strengths and areas for growth Undertake new challenges Planned and initiated activities Worked collaboratively with others Show perseverance and commitment in activities Engages with issues of global importance Considered the ethical implications of actions Developed new skills.
What are some possible methods of documentation? Video Interviews Submit copies or videos of performances, events, and of activities in general. Photographs, newspaper articles, web-blogs, or other similar media. Submit e-mails detailing the planning and work involved behind a project Submit letters of recommendation or reference from a coach, advisor, or adult supervisor of the activity you were involved with. MP3 files with soundtrack or interviews of or about your activity There are more ways and methods of documentation than these, as you can see there is flexibility here, especially if your activity is an inspiring one with your having a lot to share. What is the CAS Coordinator’s role: The CAS coordinator (Mr. Carella) works with IB director (Mr. Buettner) to make sure all students are engaged in and completing Creativity, Action, and Service activities sufficiently to satisfy IB requirements. The coordinator Works with other teachers, IB students, community members and organizations to help arrange potential CAS activities.
What are the CAS Advisors role? The CAS Advisors for this year will be Mr. Buettner and Mr. Carella. Our roles will be of mentor, motivator, and resource persons. This does not mean you can not consult with a favorite teacher, coach, pastor, or community member or leader to help you—you are encouraged to do this as other teachers and community leaders are the CAS Advisors of the “future” as IB grows. This web site, and a monthly newsletter I will provide will serve to give you ideas, and hopefully the information contained here so far will get you started. You can bounce ideas off of us, ( or other adult leaders and teachers) however, it is of course primarily up to you get involved creatively, in action, and in service to fulfill your IB CAS mission.
What is the CAS Supervisor’s role? The CAS Supervisor is the coach, director, seminar or institute teacher/ leader / counselor, or adult in charge of whatever CAS activity you are engaged in. A CAS supervisor could be your varsity coach, the director or supervisor of the United Way agency you are volunteering for, or any adult in charge of what, how, and who you are volunteering for or participating within the capacity of a CAS activity. CAS Leadership Team – Student Union Board Some IB Schools have a CAS leadership team, or Student Union Board. This group can take the lead in planning activities--- everything from social events to actual service events. The events could be school-wide, or inclusive of only the IB group. |