Written by Nathan Tomochko (CP Campus CAS Coordinator)
The Lower Secondary Community and Service (CAS) programme at Century Park campus enhances YCIS’s commitment to holistic education by encouraging students to become active, contributing, and reflective members of their communities. The programme encourages students to take on new responsibilities, develop new skills, and work collaboratively with others.
Year 7-9 students are required to fulfill a minimum of 10 service hours per semester (15 for years 10 & 11), as well as complete one written reflection per semester based on their experiences. Activities and reflections are entered by students onto the school’s Managebac system, and monitored by the student’s CAS Advisor (Homeroom Teacher).
Our year 7-11 Community and Service programme also serves as preparation for CAS at the year 12 and 13 IB Diploma year levels. Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), along with Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay, is at the core of the IB Diploma. The CAS programme aims to provide a ‘counterbalance’ to the academic rigour of the IB academic programme, and encourages students to engage in experiential learning and reflection. IB Diploma students are expected to extend themselves in meaningful ways through creative endeavours, physical challenges, and service of their communities. Students must successfully fulfill the CAS requirements, including an extended collaborative project, in order to receive the IB Diploma.
CAS projects have been especially rewarding when IB students have created opportunities for others within the school community to get involved. Examples have included the now annual Make a Difference (MAD) Run to raise funds for cancer treatment and research, a student who planned and taught English lessons (along with recruited classmates) at a local migrant school, and a student who organized and ran a successful debate competition for lower secondary students. The projects encourage students to explore their interests while serving others, and at the same develop collaborative and leadership skills.
