The aims of Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) are to enable students to develop:

• • An understanding that education is more than the acquisition of knowledge

  • A willingness to inquire and an enjoyment of discovery

  • New knowledge, skills and lifelong ethical responsibilities stemming from a better understanding  of those within and beyond their own social context

  • An appreciation of their own abilities and the talent of others

  • An awareness of humanitarian issues across the world

  • Their ability to be rational risk-takers willing to operate outside their ‘comfort zone’

  • Confidence in their ability to initiate change, both individually and collaboratively

  • Autonomy and self-reliance

This philosophy is based on several assumptions:

• Education is not confined to the classroom or lecture hall and the most important and memorable elements of education often exist outside of both;

• An international education must go well beyond the provision of information to involve the development of attitudes and values which transcend barriers of race, class, religion, gender or politics;

• Service to the community (including school, local, national or international communities) is an essential complement to intellectual development;

• International schools have a special opportunity to establish links between different cultures and, by doing so, to further international understanding;

• Creativity, activity and service should play equal parts.  However, service is often the most transformative experience for students;

• CAS experiences are often the source of genuine pride and satisfaction for students and create a distinct and lasting impression of their Post 16 experience at West Island School.  

Creativity: Exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance.

Creativity in CAS provides students with the opportunity to explore their own sense of original thinking and expression. Creativity will come from the student’s talents, interests, passions, emotional responses, and imagination; the form of expression is limitless. This may include visual and performing arts, digital design, writing, film, culinary arts, crafts and composition. Students are encouraged to engage in creative endeavours that move them beyond the familiar, broadening their scope from conventional to unconventional thinking. 

Activity: Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle: 

The aim of the “Activity” strand is to promote lifelong healthy habits related to physical well-being. Pursuits may include individual and team sports, aerobic exercise, dance, outdoor recreation, fitness training, and any other form of physical exertion that purposefully contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Students are encouraged to participate at an appropriate level and on a regular basis to provide a genuine challenge and benefit.

Service: Collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need:

The aim of the “Service” strand is for students to understand their capacity to make a meaningful contribution to their community and society. Through service, students develop and apply personal and social skills in real-life situations involving decision-making, problem-solving, initiative, responsibility, and accountability for their actions. Service is often seen as one of the most transforming elements of CAS by promoting students’ self-awareness, offering diverse occasions for interactions and experiences and opportunities for international-mindedness.

Service within CAS benefits all involved: students learn as they identify and address authentic community needs, and the community benefits through reciprocal collaboration. Service fosters development of abilities, attitudes and values in accordance with the IB mission statement and the IB learner profile. As such,CAS service experiences are unpaid.  

Reflection is the essential process that allows students to learn from their experiences. Reflection is the self-appraisal of goals and achievements and provides the opportunity to document feelings and healthy self-criticism, a vital part of the CAS process. Students will use their CAS Portfolio (Datahub; online reflective tool) to record their aims, goals, participation and reflections.   

The IB requires Diploma students to demonstrate that they have achieved the following outcomes across their two-year programme. 

The following are a small number of the options open to students: 

Creativity   

• • Music (choir, orchestra, music lessons, music practice)

  • Drama (performing, costume design, make-up, stage management)

  • Oration (debating, Model United Nations, public speaking)

  • Visual Art (drawing, photography, sculpting)

  • Website design and computer graphics

  • Writing (creative writing, magazine writing and editing)

  • The planning of service projects and special events

Activity

• • Sport (athletics, badminton, cross-country running, fitness training, football, hockey, netball, sailing, squash, tennis etc.)

  • World Challenge

  • The Award for Young People expeditions and physical activities

Service

• • Community service

  • Tutoring and peer support

  • Leadership in and creation of school-based activities

  • Giving time and energy to produce meaningful benefits for others

It is helpful to look at examples of activities that do not count as CAS:

• • Operating passively 

  • Service where there is no real benefit for someone else

  • Activities with no opportunity for reflection

  • Class activities/projects that are part of your academic studies

  • Activities with a financial reward or other tangible benefit

  • Repetitive, tedious tasks with no value for others

  • Activities where you do not understand why you are completing tasks

  • Fundraising with no clear goal

  • Activities with no leader or supervisor able to confirm your involvement

For further information on CAS please review the CAS website or contact Ms Jessica Gilbert at jessica.gilbert@wis.edu.hk​.