Interviews over - work still to be done!

I have nearly finished the interviews for this term.  You will have one more interview next term.  The point of the final interview will be to reflect on what you have learnt by doing CAS.  You will be asked to show how you have worked towards each of the learning outcomes and how you have developed as a learner.  We will do some work in advisory time with regards to making sure everyone has clearly shown how he/she has met the outcomes.

Most red flags are because people do not have projects or have not shown the CAS stages for the projects.  Don't leave this too long - or it will be too late.

Don't leave it too late

Originally drawn in a fan art group app for Alice in Wonderland at Sketchfu.

© 2014 Miss A.. Licensed under CC-BY.

'Electric' Chair

Over the next weeks in school

The Amnesty International group is collection signatures for a petition to get the case of death row prisoner in the USA to have his case reheard.  There is some doubt about Kevin Cooper's guilt and activists would like this to be investigated before he is put to death.  Look out for the Amnesty students with the 'electric chair'.

The Rhino group is planning a gala evening to raise money to protect rhinos.  You can donate to the cause at: https://www.givengain.com/activist/136687/projects/12381/

You can also purchase tickets for the event, friendship bands, post cards and guess the candy in the jar.  Look out for rhino warriors asking you to support this cause.  Watch the rhino video below and follow Riley's adventures. Subscribe to the SIS Rhino group on youtube.

Also don't forget to keep up with all the latest news at the Quirky Quibbler.  This week there is an exciting account of the Nordic Championships.  Why not subscribe so that you never miss an article?

CAS status changes

Today I started the interviews and have been pleased to be able to change some red flags to green and even award a gold cup for a great CAS portfolio.

To make your CAS interview go smoothly, please look at your portfolio before the interview.  Read the notes and make the changes necessary to achieve a green flag.

You will not get a green flag without a project and evidence of the CAS stages.

I might not get time to check all the CAS portfolios each week while the interviews are going on so please don't be surprised if you make changes and I don't change you status.  I will change it when we have the interview.

Learning Outcomes and Reflections - what is the connection?

When writing reflections (or recording) please note what learning outcomes you have selected for that experience.  When I am going through the portfolios at the end of the year, I will be looking for specific evidence/reflection that shows that you met each of the 7 learning outcomes. In order for you portfolio to be considered complete, I must be able to find experiences that clearly show how you met the outcomes.

If you have chosen : Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences - You must show how you did that.  

• It might mean that you went to the gym every week.  
• That you continued training outdoors even when the weather was cold and you really wanted to stay in bed.  
• That you turned up to help someone with their homework even when you had a test the next day. 
• That you kept on working towards a date for an event even when other members of the group started to drop out.
• It might mean continuing with something even though you don't like it, because you made a commitment. 

Show some commitment and perseverance! 
Picture by https://www.flickr.com/photos/htakashi/5420516454

From Red to Green to Flags

Some of you have managed to move from red to green flags over the last week.  Great work.  The main reason that people still have red flags is the CAS project.  For a CAS project you must show the CAS stages of: investigation, planning, taking action, demonstrating and reflecting.   You can find more details about each of these and what you should include on the 'links to documents page'.

Raise Money to buy Xmas Presents for Refugees

I am still looking for a group of people to help with this project.  We will need 5000kr so buy movie tickets for everyone in the group.  These are people around your age - many of them here in Sweden without other family members.  They meet regularly for homework help through a group called Fånga Framtiden Tillsammans (Seize the Future Together).  FFT is a completely volunteer organisation with no paid staff.  If you can help to raise this money, you will make life a little better for a few people who otherwise don't have much.

Volunteers Wanted:

"We are looking for a volunteer photographer for the Civil Society Gala. We need someone to take pictures of participants, speakers and genre pictures of the event. We also want you to sort and edit images, and deliver a portfolio within a few days. For us to follow-up the event and to use in our future communications work. The long-term aim of these images, as well as with civil society gala, is to support and spread the idea of ​volunterism is worth celebration, and that the NGOs have an indispensable role in society. We hope that you want to help out with this! There is no financial compensation, but you may participate in the dinner, your images will be spread and you get a reference for your work. You also get the opportunity to do something important for the Swedish civil society!"

More details can be found here 

Some of the QQ team

Rhino Gala - 21st of October

Don't forget that our intrepid Rhino group are planning a fun evening with music, films and art on the 21st of October.  Look for the posters.

Quirky Quibbler

This week the QQ is featuring an article by Elena in grade 11 and it's all about CAS!  You haven't forgotten to subscribe to the student newspaper have you?

Impending Interviews

I will be starting interviews on Wednesday 12th October.  Click here to see your time.  Please write 'confirm' if your time is OK.  By OK, I mean it is a time when you have class in annexe C.  If you are in another building at that time, please see me to change it.

Red Flags

It was good to see some activity on the portfolios after I had put up the red flags. Mostly, I have left red flags there for people who do not have a project that follows the CAS stages.  This is mandatory. Without it no diploma.  Please try to get your portfolio up-to-date before the interview so that it is not a waste of both your and my time.  

Santa Run

Would you like to be part of a fun run in a santa costume?  You can help out or you can run.  It is to raise money for charity.  To find more about it you can check out https://www.facebook.com/stockholmsantaclausrun/

If you are interested you can email Kiana at info@stockholmsantarun.com

Sounds like great fun!

Still don't have a project?

I am hoping to get a group who can raise money for a group of refugees that I do volunteer work with.  We are hoping to be able to buy them movie tickets for Christmas this year.  We would need around 5000 kr (50 tickets).  If you think this is something you could help out with please let me know.  I will be speaking to the grade 11s about it on Tuesday.  

Rhino Group Events - Go Rhinos!

Rhino gala evening on the 21st October.  Be there or be square.  Talking of the rhino group, it was great to see so many 12s and even some 11s at the annual march for Rhinos and Elephants.  This is the 3rd year that SIS students have participated.  

Stockholm Film Festival is looking for volunteers!

If you are interested you need to send a CV and a short personal letter to volontar@stockholmfilmfestival.se. You should say what kind of work you are interested in.  See the web page for details: stockholmfilmfestival.se  The information is in Swedish but every year they have taken volunteers who don't speak Swedish so don't be afraid to apply.  Ask for help if you need it.

More

There are plenty off opportunities on volontarbyran just now so take a look.

Red Flag Blitz!

I have taken a careful look at the folders this week and issued a lot of red flags.  What I have really focussed on is the CAS project. You will have received at a red flag if:

• you do not have a project
• you have started a project but it hasn't really gone anywhere
• you have done/are doing a project but there is not evidence to show the CAS stages
• you have completed a project but do not have enough evidence of the CAS stages.

The CAS stages document can be found in the pages of this blog - under 'links to documents'

You are only going to get busier now so it is important to get the project done!

Reflections

Take a look at some great reflections here.  Be inspired to make really good quality reflections that address the learning outcomes and show that you have really gained something from doing CAS.

Project Opportunity

I am involved with a group that works with refugees - mostly unaccompanied minors - and we are hoping to buy movie tickets for the young people for Christmas.  If you are interested in raising money for this it is a potential project.  I will be talking about it to the grade 11s in a week or so.  We will need around 5000kr by the beginning of December.

Other Opportunities

Film competition

Amnesty International has a film competition called 'Angeläget'.  The theme is Human Rights (human rights are defined according to the 30 articles in the United Nations declaration of human rights)

• Films should be - max. 8 minutes long
• You should be under 20 to participate
• You have to sign an agreement that they can use your film. 

You can find all the regulations and some sample films from previous years on the Amnesty Page. The deadline is December the 16th. All the details are in Swedish so if you need help ask a Swedish friend or come and see me.

Volunteers wanted for the Brazilian film festival

The only requirement for volunteers was that you can speak English or Swedish. Click here to apply to help with this exciting cultural festival in October. Information is in Swedish so ask if you need help

Stockholm Fringe theatre festival 

Volunteers are wanted to help out at this event in October - you get free entry to events. Information in Swedish here.


Rhino March
I hope to see many of you at the rhino march this Saturday - the rhino group have put in a lot of effort to make posters for the march.

Keep up with your CAS Portfolio!

I just did my weekly check of the the CAS portfolios and was a little surprised by the lack of changes. Only a couple of people had actually made any changes since last week.  Don't forget your CAS! You might be on track now but you can easily fall off and you do not want to be having to put in major effort in January when you have exam stress.  CAS must be ongoing.  You should be working on something all the time.

Check my comments!

Act on my comments!

Keep up with CAS!

Events coming up

Rhino March - 24th September.  Join us to march to protest rhino (and elephant) poaching.  Everyone is welcome even if you are not a member of the rhino group.  We meet at 2PM outside the Thai Embassy on Florgatan (just behind Humlegården).  

Opportunities

Would you like to volunteer to help people with dementia?  A home in Sköndal is looking for volunteers to spend time with the people who live there - just to talk.  They are particularly looking for people who can speak Polish or Finnish.  

See: skondal/vara-boende-med-demenssjukdom-behover-medmansligt-stod for more details. It is in Swedish so ask for help if you can't speak Swedish.

There are may other jobs available on www.volontarbyran.org particularly if your speak Swedish, or are good at maths or IT.

The easiest 10 km in Stockholm

Hässelbyloppet is thought to be one of the easiest 10 km runs in Stockholm - it's very flat.  See here for more details of this and other runs coming up.

Portfolio Updates

I have been through the CAS portfolios a couple of times this term.  I have left notes on quite a few.  Please check your notes and make sure you take action to rectify issues.  I will be starting interviews in late September/early October.  Please see that you have:

• finished off any completed experiences by doing the CAS questions and requesting a review.
• acted on any notes that I have written
• have evidence for all experiences 
• shown the CAS stages for one of your projects
• done high quality reflections addressing each of the learning outcomes
• Covered all 3 strands and all 7 outcomes

Reflections

Don't forget to check out the good examples of reflections on the pages at the side or click here: reflections

There are some very inspiring and honest reflections done by your classmates.

Rhino Warrior

Coming Up

Rhino Gala Evening

The Rhino Preservation group is planning an exciting evening of entertainment to raise money to help protect the rhinos in Africa.  More details to come.

Opportunities

Lidingö Loppet

A fun run with many categories on the 24th September.  Details: .lidingoloppet.

Computer Help

An organisation is looking for people to help others use computers.  They are in the International Library at Odenplan on Thursdays between 17.00 and 19.00.  More info: individuell-manniskohjalpim.  It's in Swedish but I think it is Ok if you speak other languages.  Let me know if you need help.