Personal Profiles

 Together we looked at the CAS STRANDS and now you all should have a better idea of what CAS is about.  We also looked at the CAS OUTCOMES and using this information, you should now be able to start creating your CAS personal profile.  Your profile should describe who you are, what you can do and what you want to improve.  Look carefully at the Learning Outcomes as they are what you need to achieve with CAS.  Write about what you think you can do to meet these 7 outcomes.  

Look through the CAS student handbook and this blog - see the pages at the side - for ideas.  Come and talk to me if you have any questions.  Further down this post you can see pictures from the work we did in the introduction week.  Due to many other commitments during advisory time, we won't have a chance for another workshop until after the September break.  I will start interviews in week 39  - that gives you some time to work on your profile.  I expect everyone to bring a profile to the interview.  Your profile can be on the form I gave you - but you can also add in other information.
Here are some other questions to help you think of things to include:

What are your talents?

What do you enjoy doing?

What skill or talent would you like to improve?

What are you already doing that could be part of your CAS programme?

What would you like to be involved in?

Describe a time when you helped someone else or helped with a cause.

Describe a time when someone helped you.

About what issues do you have concern or feel most passionate?

Are there any local clubs or community associations in which you could be involved?

What would you like to learn more about?

What have you always wanted to try but haven’t yet?

New CAS guide for grade 11 students

Welcome to grade 11 students

This blog is where I will publish information about CAS opportunities as well as good examples of CAS.  This year there is a new CAS guide so information in previous posts can be out of date.  Here is a link to the CAS student handbook for students graduating in 2017.

You will all have received a copy of the SIS CAS Student Handbook.  You can also find an electronic version of the handbook by following this link: CAS - student handbook 2015-17

Links can be found in the handbook to help you find ideas for CAS experiences and contact people.

Over the next few weeks we will be learning more about what CAS involves and how you can develop your CAS portfolio.    Most of this will take place during Advisory time.

Everyone will be called to an initial CAS interview in September.  You will be expected to bring your CAS profile form and your CAS proposal form (signed by you and your parents).  Once we have looked at them together you will be given an electronic version of the forms to fill and upload on ManageBac in your CAS folder.

All links to the forms/documents that you will need can be found under pages to the right of the posts.

Want something to get your started right away?  September 21st is International Peace One Day. There is an organisation that has loads of ideas about what you can do to promote this cause.  http://www.peaceoneday.org/ It includes playing football, dancing and many other fun ideas.  Check out the site and see if you can get something together before the 21st.

I am looking forward to working with you all and hope that you will find CAS and enjoyable and enriching part of your IB Diploma Programme.

Status updates

Do you have a red flag??????

If you do, it means I am  worried about your  CAS folders. Most of you have done the activities but you have not followed through with CAS questions and supervisor reports.  Without these the CAS folder is not complete.  Remember that supervisors can need reminders and often take a few weeks to respond - don't leave it to late to send off that request and contact your supervisor.

Remember - if CAS is not completed you will not be eligible for the IB Diploma.

No flag?

That means you probably have done some reports but not enough to make me feel like it is 100% certain that you will get it all done on time.  Take a look at your folder and finish it up.  Don't forget the final refection.  There is an example on the blog and 2 examples on the pink notice board.

Green Flag?

I am fairly confident that you will get it all finished but  you are not there yet so keep going.  You also need to upload your final visual reflection - see previous post for details or take a look at the examples on the pink notice board.

Gold Medal?

There are only a couple of those.  They are for people who have only one incomplete activity and just need to do the final visual reflection ( actually one person has already done that!  You can see his example on the pink notice board).

DON'T WAIT

Complete your CAS now - you  do not want phone calls from me during study week!

Final Reflections

As you near the end of your studies, it's important that you make sure your CAS folder is completed.

• CAS questions should be done for all activities
• Supervisor reports in for all activities
• Check that you have covered all the 8 outcomes
• Check that you have all the hours worked out for Creativity, Action and Service

Final Reflection - a visual representation of what you have learned from CAS

In the last post I gave an example of how to do your final reflection and you have had time to do that in Advisory.  There is no advisory lesson this week, so I will not be able to come and help you with these until the following week - your last day.  I know that some people have already done them and that is great.  When it is finished upload it in the CAS documents. 

If you did it by hand (rather than electronically) you can take a picture and upload that .  Once that is done and your reports are in you will receive a gold medal to show that everything is complete.

Status

I have updated the status markers and people who have not done much (often have done nothing) since our last interview have been down graded. Green flags are only given to people who have mostly green ticks (that is completed activities)

Gold Medal - basically completed and final reflection uploaded in documents

Green Flags - most activities completed, still need to do final reflection

No flag - some complete. some not, no final reflection

Red flag - very few completed activities - AT RISK OF NOT BEING ELIGIBLE FOR DIPLOMA

If you have any questions please come and see me.

If you have a red flag on Monday, I will have to notify your parents.  This must be completed before you go on study leave.

It's nearly over!

As you rush towards your exams, you will start to be winding up with your activities.  I know that some of you will continue some activities long after the IB is over.  It is great that you have found activities that have interested you and that you wish to continue.  I hope that you have even gained value experience from all the other activities and that the skills you have gained will help you  in the future.

What do you have to do now?

Before you start your exams, you should get your CAS folder in order.  

• upload any evidence or refections that are missing
• check that you have reflections for all the outcomes - a yellow bar means that you have missed on
• check that the dates and hours are correct.  It is not possible to get a 'complete' for an activity of 50 hours if you only did 20.  Be real - otherwise you might find yourself way short of your target at the end
• write up the CAS questions for all activities
• send for a supervisor report for all activities

If you have your supervisor report on paper, please scan it in and then let me know so that I can close off the relevant activity.  You can print out the supervisor reports if it is easier than getting a reply by email.  Ask me if you don't know how.

Final Reflections

I talked to you last week about doing some a final reflection about CAS as a whole.  Here is an example from last year.

You should try to include all the CAS outcomes and the learner profile attributes in your reflection.  I will come into advisory after the Spring break to help with these.  If you have completed yours, please upload it under CAS documents in your CAS folder.  Some of you uploaded your initial CAS goals at the beginning of grade 11.  Take a look at these and see if what you achieved is that same as what you wrote back then!  How have you changed as a learner?

Good luck with your exams but don't forget to finish off the CAS folder if you want a Diploma.  You don't want me chasing you during exams!

Final interviews and reflections

Exams are over and internal and external assessments are being handed in.  Don't forget that CAS is also a requirement for the Diploma so you need to make sure that you are up-to-date.

In the previous post I went through all the things you need to check.  Go back and look if you can't remember.

I will come to advisory lesson on Friday the 20th and talk about how to make your final reflections.

Final interviews and reflections

I will start final interviews on Wednesday the 25th March.  I will send out the schedule through Managebac.  Make sure you check that the time works for you (if you are in the main building you will have to change times).  This is your responsibility.  I am often around in the mornings and at breaks - you can find me in C10.  Don't hesitate to see me if you are unsure about something.  It's better you ask before the interview so that you have time to fix problems.

Want to continue CAS in the summer?

Remember it's quality not quantity that counts but that there is a requirement for around 50 hours for each of creativity, action and service.  If you don't meet minimum requirements you can make up your CAS in the summer break and get your diploma issued later but I am sure no one wants to be in that position!

Red flags, green flags

Do you have a red flag?

If you do, make sure you read my comments at the bottom of the worksheet.  You should be able to work out what you need to do in order to change that to a green flag.  

It could mean you  are missing hours, or haven't been doing reflections.  Fix the problems as soon as possible or see me if you are not sure what to do.  Don't let an incomplete CAS folder stop you from getting your Diploma!

Do you have a green flag?

That doesn't mean you can sit back an relax!  Check any notes that I have left on your folder - look right down the end.  

I can only judge your folder by what you put in it.  If you have said that you will do 50 hours at the gym, I will think that you are on track.  You will need to have evidence for this and if the evidence is only for 10 hours you will find yourself with an incomplete CAS and no Diploma.  Make sure you follow though on all you plans.  

Have enough hours?  Can you stop now?  NO!

It is a requirement of the IB that your CAS continues right up until May.  At least one activity must remain on-going.  For many people that easiest and the one that makes most sense is often going to the gym or something like that.  Keeping active during exam time is a good idea and helps you to meet the CAS requirements.

If you have a blog - you might not make as many posts as before but keep it going until May.

Covered all the outcomes?

You all have activities planned that cover the 8 outcomes but make sure you show how - that is usually by writing a reflection that relates to each of the outcomes.  Look at the green and yellow bars on your folder.  Green means that you have done a reflection on that outcome.  Yellow means that you have an activity that you planned to cover a certain outcome but have not reflected on it.  Try to make it all green.

Supervisor reports.

Any activity that is complete should have a supervisor report along with evidence of participation.  Make sure you follow the following procedure in order:

1. write reflections and upload evidence ( can be photos, gym membership/attendance, certificates, references)
2. complete the CAS questions
3. click the 'request a supervisor report' button
4. follow up with your supervisor if you don't get a report.

Final reflections and interviews

After the mock exams, I will call each of you in for a final interview.  I will also attend advisory time and you will all do a 'visual' reflection poster summing up your experience in CAS.