More Evidence Please!

It is good to see so many green flags on the CAS portfolios.  Just because you have a green flag doesn't mean that you can stop adding evidence.  Also, try to keep up with the reflections - it gets harder the longer you leave it.

Volunteer Opportunities

This year the school is having the Nordic Network teachers' conference in April.  Volunteers are required for the 23rd - 24th April.  This is a weekend.  You do not have to work for the whole time - but can choose a whole day/half day.  You will be helping with showing people to rooms, giving out information and setting up rooms.  If you are interested, please send an email to Pawel: p.lubanski@intsch.se

Perseverance 

Three students have started up a football club for the Primary school students.  You might see them after school a couple of days a week showing the youngsters all they know about football.  The students, Stine, Ilman and Angela, have been working on this project since the beginning of the school year.  It has not been easy to find a location, get permission and publicize the group but they have finally succeed and they should definitely be applauded for their perseverance.This shows that it is important to have a goal and go for it.  I am sure that they have learnt a lot in the process.

Interviews

After the break, I will start the second round of interviews with everyone in grade 11.  This is will be a chance to check that you really are on track and won't find yourself at this time next year scrambling for CAS experiences to fill your portfolio - or having to reflect/provide evidence for experiences that ended a year ago.  Keep up-to-date and you should have no trouble getting a 'complete' and qualifying for the IB Diploma.  

Keep up with the Strands - What about a Service Project?

I have been going over everyone's portfolios and have noted that some people are missing certain strands.  Remember you should have a balance between Creativity, Activity and Service. Service is one that quite a few people find difficult but last week's post should have given you a few ideas.

Service Projects

You must also have at least one project that follows the CAS stages - investigating, planning, action, demonstrating and reflecting.  You must keep a record of what you did at each stage.  One great way to do this is to start a service project.  The best way to do this is find a 'cause' that you are interested in and investigate how you can help.  It can be through advocacy or research, and it can be direct or indirect service.  The other requirements for a project are that it is long term (more than a month) and is done with other people (collaboratively).

MUN - ideas for projects  

MUN Students 

Last week we have a fantastic MUN with a focus on disease.  I am sure it must have inspired many of you to think about how we can help with this issue.  The Zika virus is a current problem, affecting many people.  What kind of organisations work with disease control?  You could investigate this further and see if there is someway in which you can contribute.

Delegates touched on other relevant issues such as child vaccinations, sanitary conditions and water quality.  All of these could be a starting point for a CAS service project.

Refugees in Stockholm

Another issue that is very current just now is that of refugees.  There are many organisations that help refugees here in Stockholm.  One group: Refugees Welcome Stockholm  is currently trying to get Swedish books, note books and pen as well as white boards to help teach refugees.  They are hoping to start a centre where refugees can come to learn Swedish after the sports break.  If you are interested in starting a project to help buy these items you can come to me or contact najma.mohamed@refugeeswelcomestockholm.

Another group looking for volunteers is the Syrian Förening.  They need people to sort clothing, babysit, take people around the city etc.  You can see me for more information or contact vol@islamic-relief.se or kristina.hogdahl@svenskakrykan.se

Other volunteer work

There is still time to volunteer to help at the junior film festival in the sport break - see last post for details or look at the pages on the side.
The library is still looking for more people to help after school.  See last post.

MUN and Quirky Quibbler 

Baked goods were sold to raise money

Last week many students participated in the MUN conference and it was great to see such engagement from the grade 11 students.  A big congratulations to the organisers.  A special mention must go to Afnan, Sofia W. and Shashank who kept up the coverage in the QQ all day.  By the end of the day they had published an incredible 8 articles.  If you missed them you can read them at: http://thequirkyquibbler.com/  Elle raised money for the Red Hand Day organisation and a MUN scholarship fund.  

Press team - Sofia W, Afnan and Shashak

Great work everyone!

Plenty of Opportunities

Many of you have found yourselves with red flags over the last week or so.  It could be because you are not up-to-date with your evidence and reflections.  Or perhaps you are lacking some 'service experiences'.  If that is the case, I have a lot of opportunities that are coming up that are great for both service and creativity.

Opportunities:

Creativity: debating

Debaters wanted.  Kungsholm's  Gymnasium is hosting a debate competition and have invited us to join.  You do not need to have any debate experience as they have a novice category.  More detail can be found on http://kgdebate.com/.  You can see the text of the invitation on the pages at the side of this post (Debate at Kungsholmen).

We need to register by March the 3rd.  Teams should be around 3- 5 people, though only 3 will actually debate at one time.  Let me know if you are interested.  The school can pay the fees - but you need to guarantee to turn up at the weekend 18 - 20 March.

Service: film festival volunteers
Film Festival Junior - volunteers wanted for week 9 (Sports holiday week) See details on voluntarbyran.com
https://www.volontarbyran.org/en/node/77231

Creativity: Short film competition 
For people ages 16 -19.   Films need to be 1 - 3 minutes long.  See poster in the pink notice board.  Or at the page on the side of this post called 'Film  Competition.' The deadline in March 27th.

Service: English conversation 
Two people required to help a grade 10 student improve his speaking skills on alternate Tuesdays at 15.30.  (In annexe B) See me if you are interested.

Service: Library Staff
There is a new librarian in the the main building and she would like some students to help re-organise the library after school next week. Email Ms Kerwin: s.kerwin@intsch.se.  Make sure you say the times and days you are available.  She will be there until 5PM most days.

CAS project idea

Good vibes club article
Click on the link above to see about a club that some students started in their school.  A great idea for a CAS project.  

Status Updates - red flag warnings

I have started to get tough on all you people who have not up-dated your CAS portfolios.  You MUST have evidence and reflections for every experience that you did last term in order to get a green flag.  If I am particularly concerned about your progress, I have sent an email to your parents.  I will be holding interviews with people who have red flags this month. Later in the term I will interview everyone else.

Evidence is not hard

• If you go to the gym - upload your membership and attendance records
• If you run - keep a record with an app and upload it regularly
• If you go to any classes - swimming, dancing, piano - upload the payment receipt
• If you play a sport - upload the match listings, table of results, pictures
• If you write for the paper - put in the links to your articles
• If you have a blog/website/youtube channel - put up the link
• Whatever you do - take photos and upload!!!!!!!!

Reflections take more thought

They do not have to be in writing - they can be recorded - film or audio.  You can do them in groups.  We will have some time to do this in Advisory class.  

Having difficulties?

Come and ask me, I am sure we can solve the problem together.

Coming up 

There is a short film festival for people ages between 16 and 19 http://www.stockholmfilmfestival.se/sv/junior/2016/1-minut-film There is some information in English and you can see last year's winners.

You can find the brochure at: film festival brochure

It's in Swedish but you can googletranslate or see me if you want help with it.  The deadline is March 27th - the film must be 1 and 3 minutes long - no professional equipment required and a prize for the winner.

Volunteer Work

For those of you still looking for service opportunities the Stockholm Film Festival Junior is looking for people to help out during the break in week 9.  You will find this in both the English and Swedish pages on https://www.volontarbyran.org/en/english

MUN conference in school

Usually MUN doesn't qualify for service, but if you are part of the organising team for the MUN conference in the school, you can count some of your hours as service.  Otherwise, they should be counted only as creativity.  A lot of you have marked 'demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance' and 'recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions' as learning outcomes for MUN.  Make sure you think about this during the conference and are able to reflect on how you met these outcomes. 

P.S.

If you don't have any flag, it means that your CAS portfolio is OK but there are a couple of things that need to be fixed.  Fix them and get yourself a green flag.  Rewards will be given to all people with green flags on Friday.