CAS Opportunities

By Alicia Sprague & Tammy Lee

Continued from the front page.

 

In the IB program, the completion of CAS is essential in order for IB students to graduate with an IB Diploma. CAS can be broken down into three categories: creativity, activity, and service. As you progress through your CAS experience, it’s important to keep in mind the requirements. There should be 75 hours of service and 75 hours of a roughly equal combination of creativity and activity. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, completing CAS can be a challenge; however, we have amazing seniors willing to provide helpful tips and ideas!

 

Considering the difficulties of safety regulations and virtual-school circumstances, students may find it difficult to come up with potential CAS ideas. But, it’s important to keep your interests in mind so you enjoy yourself. Sadia Barua recommended “to do CAS activities that you can personally set goals to.” 

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In addition to completing general CAS activities, it’s required to complete the CAS Project. The CAS project should consist of a minimum of 20 hours and is extended over at least a one-month period. It’s also important to demonstrate a leadership role, and the project must overlap two of the three elements of CAS. Some potential ideas for the CAS project include creating cards for retirement centers or hospitals, creating training programs for students, and creating artworks to donate to an institution. Other suggestions from Larisa Popovic include: “making blankets for charity, crocheting beanies for kids with cancer, and selling artworks to donate for a charity.” Ultimately, as Aliyah Hackett suggests, “try to do your CAS project with a friend” as it’s “easier and more fun” to complete this way.

 

Current IB seniors who finished the CAS experience have provided insightful advice for the IB juniors. The most crucial advice from Ishika Patel and Zoe Sinacola is to avoid “procrastination” so the CAS experience won’t be “stressful.” Sadia Barua also advises students to “organize and update all the hours, reflections, and journals” in a timely manner to avoid cramming it before the CAS meeting in March of senior year. After receiving all of these suggestions, IB juniors should have a better understanding of CAS and be confident that they can successfully complete it.