WHAT IS CAS - Fort Myers High School

C A S
CREATIVITY – ACTION – SERVICE
AT
FORT MYERS HIGH SCHOOL
IB PROGRAM
CLASS OF 2015
NAME ____________________

The nature of creativity, action, service
...if you believe in something, you must not just think or talk or write, but must act.
Peterson (2003)
WHAT IS CAS?
Creativity, action, service (CAS) is at the heart of the Diploma Programme. It is one of
the three essential elements in every student’s Diploma Programme experience. It involves
students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies throughout the Diploma
Programme. 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.
Action: physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing
academic work elsewhere in the Diploma Programme.
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.
CAS enables students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development through
Experiential Learning. At the same time, it provides an important counterbalance to the
academic pressures of the rest of the Diploma Programme. A good CAS programme should
be both challenging and enjoyable, a personal journey of self-discovery. Each individual
student has a different starting point, and therefore different goals and needs, but for
many their CAS activities include experiences that are profound and life changing.
For student development to occur, CAS should involve:
• real, purposeful activities, with significant outcomes
• personal challenge-tasks must extend the student and be achievable in scope
• thoughtful consideration, such as planning, reviewing progress, reporting
• reflection on outcomes and personal learning
All proposed CAS activities need to meet these four criteria. It is also essential that they
do not replicate other parts of the student’s Diploma Programme work.
Concurrency of learning is important in the Diploma Programme. Therefore, CAS activities
should continue on a regular basis for as long as possible throughout the programme, and
certainly for at least 18 months.
Successful completion of CAS is a requirement for the award of the IB diploma. Students
need to document their activities and provide evidence that they have achieved eight key
learning outcomes.

Experiential learning is the process whereby knowledge is created
through the transformation of experience.
David A. Kolb (1984)
The benefits of experiential learning are that students are enabled to:
• See the application of academic learning, social and personal skills to
real-life situations
• Bring real benefits to self and/or others
• Understand their own capacity to make a difference
• Make decisions that have real, not hypothetical, results
• Develop skills to solve problems
• Develop a sense of responsibility and accountability for their actions
PLAN – ACT – OBSERVE - REFLECT
PLAN
Identify goals – use the SMART goal technique:
S: Specific (Name it and claim it!)
M: Measureable (What are the benchmarks?)
A: Attainable (How will this occur?)
R: Realistic (Is this reasonable?)
T: Time bound (What is the deadline?)
ACT (Do)
Real tasks, concrete experience: Does it have real consequences for other
people and for me?
OBSERVE
Think about feelings and interactions.
How does this change your perception?
REFLECT
The fundamentals are simple. Of any activity, it is appropriate to ask the
following questions:
• What did I plan to do?
• What did I do?
• What were the outcomes, for me, the team I was working with, and
others?
Identify achievements and outstanding issues, personal strengths and
challenges.
Express the results of your actions.
Express how your participation gave you a new understanding.
How can I apply what I have learned in new situations?

The main focus of CAS is achieving the eight Learning Outcomes. This focus on
Learning Outcomes emphasizes that it is the quality of a CAS activity (its contribution
to the student’s development) that is of most importance. By involving the student in
150 hours of CAS activities, students should have ample opportunity to achieve these
Learning Outcomes.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
__________________________________________________
As a result of their CAS experience as a whole, including their reflections, there should be
evidence that students have:
increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth
They are able to see themselves as individuals with various skills and abilities, some
more developed than others, and understand that they can make choices about how
they wish to move forward.
undertaken new challenges
A new challenge may be an unfamiliar activity, or an extension to an existing one
planned and initiated activities
Planning and initiation will often be in collaboration with others. It can be shown 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.
worked collaboratively with others
Collaboration can be shown in many different activities, such as team sports, playing
music in a band, or helping in kindergarten. At least one project involving
collaboration and the integration of at least two of creativity, action and service,
and of significant duration (typically 25 or more hours) is required.
Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities
At a minimum, this implies attending regularly and accepting a share of the
responsibility for dealing with problems that arise in the course of activities.
Engage 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)
Considered the ethical implications of their actions
Ethical decisions arise in almost any CAS activity (for example, on the sports field,
in musical composition, in relationships with others involved in service activities).
Evidence of thinking about ethical issues can be shown in various ways, including
journal entries and conversations with CAS advisers.
Developed new skills
As with new challenges, new skills may be shown in activities that the student has
not previously undertaken, or in increased expertise in an established area.
All eight outcomes must be present for a student to complete the CAS
requirement. Some may be demonstrated many times, in a variety of activities, but
completion requires only that there is some evidence for every outcome.

AIMS
The CAS program aims to develop students who are:
reflective thinkers – they understand their own strengths and limitations,
identify goals and devise strategies for personal growth
willing to accept new challenges and new roles
aware of themselves as members of communities with responsibilities towards
each other and the environment
active participants in sustained, collaborative projects
balanced – they enjoy and find significance in a range of activities involving
intellectual, physical, creative and emotional experience
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STUDENT
Students are required to:
self-review at the beginning of their CAS experience and set personal goals for
what they hope to achieve through their CAS program
plan, act, observe and reflect (plan activities/identify goals, act/real tasks,
carry them out, observe/think about feelings and interactions, and reflect on
what they have learned)
take part in a range of activities, including at least one project, some of which
they have initiated themselves
maintain online documentation of their activities and Learning Outcomes
show evidence of achievement of the eight CAS Learning Outcomes
Students should be involved in CAS activities that they have initiated themselves. Other
CAS activities may be initiated by the school. Activities should be both challenging and
enjoyable, a personal journey of self-discovery. Therefore, CAS activities should continue
on a regular basis for as long as possible throughout the program, but certainly for at least
18 months.

CREATIVITY
This aspect of CAS is interpreted as imaginatively as possible to cover a wide range of
arts and other activities outside the normal curriculum which includes creative thinking in
the design and carrying out of projects. This could involve participation in dance, theater,
music and art, for example. Students should be engaged in group activities, and especially
in new roles, whenever possible. Nevertheless, individual commitment to learning an art
form is allowed, such as learning to play the piano or dance lessons, where it respects the
requirements of all CAS activities, which are that goals are set and the student reflects
on their progress. Required completed hours for the Creativity component is 50.
“The legs are the wheels of creativity. ” Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
ACTION
This aspect of CAS can include participation in expeditions, individual and team sports, and
physical activities outside the normal curriculum; it also includes physical activity involved
in carrying out creative and service projects. Action involves participation in activities
requiring “physical exertion” contributing to a healthy lifestyle, such as school or
community team sports, skiing, cheerleading, mountain climbing, or any charitable activity
participation such as Walk for the Cure. Students should be encouraged towards group
and team activities, and undertaking new roles, but an individual commitment is acceptable
(taking tennis lessons, for example) where the general requirements of CAS are met; that
goals are set and that the student reflects on their progress. Both Creativity and Action
can be enhanced by incorporation the service element. Students involved in the arts and
physical activities might consider coaching a youth sports league or working with seniors in
a non-profit residential home. Required completed hours for the Action component is 50.
“Act as if what you do make a difference. It does. ”
William James (1842-1910)
SERVICE
Service projects and activities are often the most transforming element of the Diploma
Programme for the individual student; they have the potential to influence to global
citizen. Service involves interaction, such as the building of links with individuals or groups
in the community. The community may be the school, the local district, or it may exist on
national and international levels (such as undertaking projects of assistance in a developing
country). Service activities should not only involve doing things for others but also doing
things with others and developing a real commitment with them. Service work would
include volunteering at a non-profit hospital, working on a Habitat for Humanity home site,
or working on or starting up a school or community recycling program. Required completed
hours for the Service component is 50.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. ”
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

WHAT IS NOT CAS?
What is, or what is not, CAS is a question coordinators are frequently asked. If CAS
becomes an “hour counting” exercise rather than an interesting variety of activities that
the student finds intrinsically worthwhile and rewarding, and which is mutually beneficial
to the student and to his or her community, then its purpose is lost. It is important that
the SPIRIT of CAS be considered at all times.
Generally, CAS is not taking place when the student is in a passive rather than an active
role. There should be interaction, If the student is passive, nothing of real value, either
for the student or for other people, results from what the student is doing and no real
reflection is possible. In such circumstances the student will be able to meet the
programme objectives only to a very limited extent. Examples of activities which at first
sight would appear to be inappropriate would include:
• Any class, activity or project which is already part of the student’s Diploma
Programme course
• 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)
• All forms of duty within the family
• Religious devotion and any activity which can be interpreted as proselytizing
• An activity where there is no responsible adult on site to evaluate and confirm
student performance (parents and family members may not serve as supervisors)
GUIDING QUESTIONS
The following questions aim to help students determine whether or not an intended
activity qualifies as CAS.
• Is the activity a new role for me?
• Is it a real task that I am going to undertake?
• Does it have real consequences for other people and for me?
• What do I hope to achieve from getting involved?
• How can this activity benefit me and other people?
• What can I reflect on during this activity?
CAS is a necessary and mandatory component of the IB program. IB, as well as the
colleges and universities that you will be applying to, wants to see well-rounded students
who step outside of the academic arena and stretch into other areas of their school and
community, particularly those places that students would not normally venture, such as
volunteering at a hospital, hospice, soup kitchen and so forth. You CANNOT receive
all 150 hours volunteering with one core group (i.e. your church group,
scouts, theater group) or in one core area (all hours involve music, or
sports, for example). The responsibility for abiding by the above rests entirely with
the student.

The following information will help you as you begin documenting your CAS requirement.
Please do not hesitate to call (334-8280 X 308) if you have questions or email
TeresaKS@LeeSchools.net.
FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES
1. Submit your proposal first. Prepare and submit a proposal on ManageBac
BEFORE you begin the activity.
2. Upon finishing your activity, complete the CAS Questions and/or
Reflections explaining the Learning Outcomes you have achieved.
3. Request the Supervisor’s Review: click Request Supervisor Review.
ManageBac will send the supervisor an email allowing them to complete your activity
review online. Should your supervisor not have an email address, you may print a
CAS Completion Form to have signed by your supervisor.
4. You must complete your reflection questions and request the supervisor to review
within two weeks after completing the activity.
*NOTE: Once your activity has been marked Complete, you will not be
able to add additional evidence or update any of the details. Only click
Request Supervisor Review once you have finished documenting your
activity.
CAS opportunities are listed under the “Messages” tab at
the top of your worksheet on the ManageBac website.
Remember, although they are appropriate activities, you
MUST submit a proposal if you intend to adopt one as your
activity.

IDEAS FOR CAS ACTIVITIES
CREATIVE – Arts and other activities that include the creative genius or designing
service activities.
ACTION – Physical exertion to include participation in an individual or team sport,
physical training, participation in expeditions, or carrying out creative or service activities.
SERVICE – Are for work in the community which may include the school community, the
local community or the global community.
C A S
Music Baseball ACT
Dance Basketball Alliance for the Arts
Photography Club/Competitions Cross Country Big Brothers/Sisters
Drama Cheerleading Children’s Home Society
Language Clubs Hockey Habitat for Humanity
Mock Trial Sailing Hope Hospice
Phi Delta Y Skating Humane Society
Marching Band Softball Imaginarium Museum
Symphony Soccer Calusa Nature Center
Student Leadership Conference Swimming Food Banks
Odyssey of the Mind Track Meals on Wheels
Mu Alpha Theta Tennis Soup Kitchen
Art Club Wrestling Hospital Volunteer
Web Page Design Volleyball Library Volunteer
Planning/Decorating for events Walks for the Cure Teen Court
Multiple Category Activities
Beach Clean Up (A + S)
Camp Counselor (C + A + S)
Canned food drives (A + S)
Meals on Wheels/Soup Kitchen (A + S)
Habitat for Humanity (A + S)
Humane Society (A + S)
Imaginarium (C + A + S)
Calusa Nature Center (C + A + S)
The lists above are not meant to be exhaustive. They are merely to give you ideas
about what works for each area so that you may design your own CAS activities.

PROJECTS, THEMES, CONCEPTS
Students MUST be involved in at least one project involving teamwork that integrates two
or more of Creativity, Action and Service, and is of significant duration (typically 25 or
more hours). Larger scale activities of this sort may provide excellent opportunities for
students to engage with “issues of global importance.” From time to time, the IB may
identify broad themes that schools are invited to support. “Sharing Our Humanity” is the
current theme. Such themes may provide a context that will enable students to generalize
further in their reflections, following the maxim “Think globally, act locally. ”
Examples of projects that integrate two or more of Creativity, Action and Service and of
significant duration (typically 25 or more hours) could be:
Mission trips organized through local ministries
Habitat for Humanity
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Hospital Volunteer
Local Museums and Nature Centers
Camp Counselor
Humane Society/Animal Shelters
Soup Kitchens
Food Banks
Examples of global issues that can be acted on locally are:
Disease
Environmental
Housing
Hunger
Literacy
Poverty
War

SOME PITFALLS TO AVOID
1. Not submitting your proposal before beginning the activity is a major
pitfall to avoid! Although many activities have been approved for CAS, you
MUST submit your proposal BEFORE you begin the activity. There are NO
EXCEPTIONS to this rule.
2. Do not volunteer for a for-profit organization or business (attorney’s office,
doctor’s office, bowling alley). Be cautious as most nursing homes and some
hospitals are for-profit. All volunteering must be for non-profit
organizations.
3. Do not attempt to receive more than 50 or 75 hours from one area. Example: If you
receive 50 creative hours for a theater performance one year, do not attempt to
receive 50 action hours for a similar activity the next year. This would also apply to
activities such as playing an instrument, for example. You cannot play an instrument
for 50 creative hours then expect to earn 50 action hours for Marching Band,
and/or 75 service hours for playing that instrument at non profit events. A single
creative or action activity cannot count for more than 50 CAS hours and a single
service activity cannot count for more than 75 CAS hours towards your required 150
total. Any hours exceeding these limits cannot be applied towards CAS. For
example, if you worked 100 hours on a single service activity, a maximum of 75 hours
will count towards your CAS requirement.
4. While IB does not allow CAS hours for teaching Sunday school or Bible class/school
or for any type of church/religious activity that could be considered proselytizing,
you may receive hours for other church related activities. If interested, see the
CAS coordinator for more information.
5. IB also refrains from any activities that support or push any particular political
party or ideal, however, an activity that promotes involvement in politics or voting
and is non-partisan may be approved. If interested, see the CAS coordinator for
more information.
6. Hours done during the school day DO NOT COUNT. You may not take time off
from school to engage in CAS activities.
7. Parents and family members cannot serve as supervisors of your CAS activities.
8. Do not delay. Seize every opportunity to complete your activities.
*You must have completed a minimum of 75 hours (in any of the three CAS
components) by the end of your junior year. It would be unreasonable for you
to attempt to get all 150 hours during your busy, and shortened, senior year.
Therefore, juniors who do not have at least 75 hours completed by May 1,
2014 may be required to exit the IB program. Seniors have until March 31 st
of their graduation year as the final date for completion of their CAS
requirement.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
ALL CAS ACTIVITIES REQUIRE
SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL FOR APPROVAL:
There are numerous clubs, sports and activities on campus and
in the community that are appropriate CAS activities. However,
EACH INDIVIDUAL participating in the activity for CAS hours
MUST submit a proposal BEFORE you begin the activity so that
the hours will count for you! No Proposal–No Hours! There will
be NO EXCEPTIONS to this requirement.
NEVER TRUST HEARSAY: If you have
questions of any kind regarding CAS, get your answer straight
from the source! Never trust information from your peers.
Rely on the CAS Coordinator, or Mrs. Friedrich and Mr.
Sizemore for accurate information. Don’t let someone’s
misinterpretation cost you CAS hours.
SUBMITTING COMPLETED ACTIVITIES:
Complete your CAS questions and/or Reflections explaining the
Learning Outcomes you achieved then request the Supervisors
Review within two weeks of completing activity. Delay in
finalizing the activity could expose you to the risk of your
activity hours not being credited.

What is CAS?
Much more than 3 letters
CREATIVITY ACTION SERVICE
It’s about building a BETTER WORLD
Applying your skills to solve real problems
AND Challenging yourself to be…
A better person…
A responsible global citizen…
A reflective thinker…
Engaged and aware
Taking Action
Pushing through limits to improve lives
The Value of CAS
Isn’t in the hours you collect…
It’s in the LEARNING PROCESS
Discovering smiles and Knowing YOU have
made a difference!

CAS IN 3 EASY STEPS
1. CHOOSE AN ACTIVITY AND SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL:
BEFORE you begin the activity, Login to your ManageBac account
and click Add CAS Activity. Complete the proposal information
thoroughly and submit. (MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THE STUDENT)
2. ANSWER CAS QUESTIONS AND/OR REFLECTIONS:
During your activity and upon completion, answer the CAS Questions and/or
write your reflections explaining the Learning Outcomes you have achieved.
Enter any Reflection evidence such as Journal, Photos, Videos, Websites, etc.
that you choose to. Be very thorough in answering the CAS Question relative to
Learning Outcomes. Define each Outcome(s) that you achieved through the
activity and the experience or responsibility that enabled you to achieve the
Learning Outcome(s).
3. REQUEST THE SUPERVISOR’S REVIEW:
Once you have finished the activity, answered the CAS Questions and/or
Reflections and entered any Reflection evidence you choose to, Click the
indicator to Request Supervisor Review. You must have the supervisor’s
email address entered. ManageBac then sends an email request to your activity
supervisor to complete a review of your participation. After the supervisor
completes your review, your activity will then be checked as Complete.
HELPFUL TIPS
Always remember to submit your proposal BEFORE you begin the activity!! As
long as you follow the guidelines in your CAS Guide for an appropriate activity,
it is not necessary to wait to receive the approval before you begin the activity.
Use good time management skills and complete your documentation in a timely
manner. Do not procrastinate and put your activities at risk by not following
through with the documentation process once you have finished the activity.

MILESTONES
May 10, 2013: Final day to submit proposals for summer activities.
September 6, 2013: Summer activities must be completed. Make
sure your CAS Questions are answered AND/OR Reflections
written explaining the Learning Outcomes you achieved, you have
requested the Supervisor’s Review and the Supervisor’s Response
has been received.
January 17, 2014: You must have a minimum of 50 hours
Completed and show progress of achieving the Learning Outcomes.
May 1, 2014: You must have a minimum of 75 hours Completed and
show progress of achieving the Learning Outcomes.
August 31, 2014: You must have a minimum of 100 hours
Completed and show progress of achieving the Learning Outcomes.
March 31, 2015: All 150 CAS hours Completed and all eight
Learning Outcomes must be achieved.
NOTE: It is extremely important that you stay organized
throughout the CAS program; remember to complete a detailed CAS
activity proposal on-line, periodically reflect on that activity online
and provide some evidence for your learning outcomes within two
weeks after completion of that CAS activity.

ManageBac Instructions
To Submit Your Proposal
The ManageBac program has many features, but the only one we are utilizing is for.
Go to the web address: http://fortmyers.ManageBac.com/login
On the login screen, you will enter Your E-mail Address with the Password: fmhs2015
From the first page after accessing your account, locate the Tab at the top of the screen and Click
DP Manager, then select CAS. The next page is your CAS Worksheet.
To submit a proposal, Click “Add CAS Activity”. Thoroughly complete the proposal
information :
Activity name: The Organization Name, The Sports Team, The Club, The Event, etc.
C A S: Enter the estimated number of hours you hope to achieve in the activity and the
category that it is most applicable to.
In School/Out of School: Think of this as whether the activity is school initiated or
Community involvement.
Start Date: Can never be before your submission date
End Date: Estimate the date you think you will finish the activity
Supervisor’s Information: This is the person that will be verifying your participation in
the activity: Name, Email address and Phone #
Activity Description: Describe the activity and Define Goals for participating in
the activity. A proposal without the activity description will be deemed as “incomplete”
and will not be approved
Target Learning Outcomes: Check the ones you anticipate you will achieve through this
activity.
CLICK “ADD CAS ACTIVITY” AT BOTTOM OF SCREEN ON
RIGHT: This is what submits your proposal through the system.
Immediately after submitting your proposal, the system will take you back to
your CAS Worksheet page. You should see the activity name listed on your
Worksheet with the Status of “Needs Approval” in red.