Keeping up with your reflections

Exams have arrived and grade 12 students will soon enter the last term of the IB Diploma.  In the midst of all the internal, external other kinds of assessment it is easy to push CAS to the back of your priority list.  Remember that you must have activities going right up until May.  It is not possible to 'finish' CAS early.  Please take some time after the exams to check the following points to ensure that you have a completed CAS folder in May.  Remember that you MUST complete CAS in order to qualify for the IB Diploma.

You must:

• Cover ALL 8 outcomes
• Have activities that cover a sufficient amount of Creativity, Action and Service
• Have reflections for all activities - these can be in any form (written, oral)
• Have evidence of participation in activities - this can be a supervisor report, gym statistics, membership cards, pictures etc. (or a combination)
• Complete the CAS questions for finished activities
• Get a supervisor report for finished activities
• Do a final reflection about what you have learned from CAS (we will do this together next term)

A note about supervisor reports:

It is up to you to contact the supervisor - if they do not respond to the Managebac email - call them, send a personal email, check the email is correct, go speak to them.  It is your responsibility to chase them up.

Request reports as soon as the activity is complete - people leave, emails change, memories are not always that good.  I notice that no one has a report from the Stockholm film festival.  Check that the email you sent really went to a person and not just a general office.  Contact them immediately as they will close down those emails.  

Red Flags

I have given out a lot of red flags to people this week.  If you have one, check carefully to see where the issues are.  I will be calling in some people for interviews over the next weeks to make sure that you all can complete your CAS.  

No flags

If you have no flag on your CAS folder is means you need to check some points.  Look at the messages I have written this week and see me if you are unsure about what I mean or what you should do.  

Green Flags

If you have a green flag - you are on track but still check any notes that I have put on your folder to make sure that you maintain your status.

Volunteer Opportunities from http://www.volontarbyran.org/eng/for-volunteers/

There are  opportunities that are only written up in Swedish but can still be done even if you don't speak much Swedish.  Red Cross (Röda Korset) is looking for people to work at Vinternatt 2.  This is shelter for homeless people and shifts are at night.  They are particularly looking for people who speak Spanish, Romanian, or Bulgarian.  There is an information evening on the 8th of December - you need to sign up for it - see me if you need help with this.  

There are still opportunities to help with Christmas events on the Swedish page from various organisations - I can help with this for anyone who doesn't read Swedish.  

Below are some opportunities that are in English

Join Make Musik Sthlm!Make Musik Sthlm

Description of the volunteering opportunity: 
Make Musik Sthlm is a music event happening on June 6th in Södermalm.
The concept is for all musicians (amateur and professional) to take over the streets and create a lively atmosphere.

Here are the main areas we need people:
social media
design
webmastering
global organisation
translation

Web Developer & Designers for a Chamber of Commerce  (Distance Job)

Ghana-Sweden Chamber of Commerce (GSCC)

Description of the volunteering opportunity: 
We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated web designers/developers who will be responsible for the design, layout and coding of the website of the chamber of commerce, and in particular in developing a database for members data and login. They will be involved with the technical and graphical aspects of the website - how the site works and how it looks. They can also be involved with the maintenance and update of an existing site. 

Adapting existing website and graphics to meet the chamber's requirements.
Create a database on the website, to include members data and login and event updates.
Update site with new pictures, activities etc.
Test the website and identify any technical problems

When and where will the volunteering take place: 
The assignment is between 1-2 months. It can be done remotely/virtual. You will be reporting to the President. After the assignment (and if you are interested) you may be invited to the join the management team as a director of chamber and help develop trade, shape public policy between Ghana and Sweden and other African countries.

Specific requirements and information: 
Website and database development (responsive websites)
Have skills in software programming and graphics
Have creativity and imagination
Be adaptable and able to pick up new techniques
Have good interpersonal and communication skills

Remember CAS must be on-going and check the list above to make sure you don't miss out on having a complete folder in May.

Extended essays and exams approaching

The grade 12s have a lot of deadlines to meet just now.  It is easy to forget about CAS around this time of year.  Most students are on track and have many of their major activities underway or completed.

Some students are a particularly busy with the Stockholm film festival this week.  It is a good experience to be involved in this international event and maybe even get to see a few interesting films.

The Nepal project within the school is really taking off and the PTA are working with teachers to get the DP students more involved in this project.

Now is the time to have a look at your folder and make sure you have covered all the outcomes and have a good range of activities covering all the area of CAS.  Don't leave it too long as you will find that life in grade 12 gets very hectic after Christmas.

On voluntarbyran.org - there are still requests for people to help with organising Christmas events.  Jobs range from baking to serving up lunch for people.  These jobs are advertised Swedish but can be done by anyone.  Ask for help if you can't read them!

Over the next few weeks I will pay a visit to advisory lesson for the grade 12s to talk about what you need to do as you finish up some of your activities.  Remember to do the reflections along the way and fill in the CAS questions at the end - BEFORE requesting a supervisor report.

Great work by the annexe council for Halloween and the MUN group for UN day.