CAS (Creativity, Action Service) Handbook

What is CAS?

“Man does not learn by intellect alone. That is one powerful reason why involvement in human needs and personal encounters with social problems are vital if we are going to develop concerned young citizens.”

This opening statement from CAS Activities Handbook for IB Schools is the basis for the CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) component for the International Baccalaureate Diploma. IB students are encouraged to excel beyond the minimum 150 CAS hours required during the junior and senior years, making meaningful contributions through a broad range of activities. 

The CAS Program is based upon three premises:

• IB students, because of their talents, have much to offer, so it is right that they should give of themselves to their community. A properly balanced and adequate number of CAS ventures can permit an equal opportunity for creativity, action, and service within the community.
• Service should not be viewed as “just a requirement” to gain an IB Diploma. IB students are, in fact, pioneers and catalysts in a worldwide movement of service.
• Students must be progressively stretched by problems they are tackling, with the expectation of progressing to more demanding tasks. CAS provides students with the opportunity for experiential learning outside the classroom, to stretch themselves in more than academics. 

Nature and Aim of the CAS Program

CAS emphasizes learning through experience. Students are expected to be involved in the equivalent of at least one to two hours a week over the two-year time period. Creativity is interpreted as imaginatively as possible to cover a wide range of arts and other activities. Action does not restrict itself to expeditions, sports, or physical training, but may include carrying out creative or service projects. Service emphasizes community or social service. Activities that lead to academic credit or for which the student is paid may not be included in CAS.

The aims of CAS are to complement the academic disciplines of the curriculum and to counter-balance the academics, to challenge and extend the individual student by developing a spirit of self-discovery and self-reliance, and to encourage the development of a student’s individual skills and interests. Because community service, extra-curricular involvement, and the ability to balance these activities are integral in any student’s development, schools are encouraged to include comments regarding CAS performance in references and recommendations.

Performance Criteria

• A completed CAS Activity self-evaluation form is required from the student for each activity. Upon completion of any CAS activity, students must immediately and thoroughly complete the form and secure feedback from the adult sponsor of the activity. 
• The forms should be secured in a CAS notebook, which the CAS Coordinator will check each fall and spring. The notebook will be submitted in early April of the senior year, at which time all 150 CAS hours must be completed.

How does the Program Work?

• During the spring of the sophomore year, the CAS Coordinator will visit students in the PIB 2 English classes to explain CAS in greater detail, to give some direction about appropriate activities, and to answer questions about the required verification and self evaluation.
• Students may begin earning CAS hours during the summer before their junior year.
• Students are strongly encouraged to exceed the minimum 150 CAS hour diploma requirement. However, using the 150 hour minimum as a “rule of thumb”, CAS hours should be divided into thirds or, using the 150 hour mark, a 50-50-50 division (50 in creativity, 50 in action, and 50 in service).
• Because we consider community service the most important part of our CAS Program, students may opt to obtain all of their CAS hours in community service.
• Additionally, a single activity in creativity or action may count for no more than 30 hours over the two-year period.
• Irrespective of the number of hours verified during the junior year, IB seniors must be engaged in and verify at least 50 CAS hours during the senior year.
• Since each student’s CAS activities are unique, some students may not have an even 50-50-50 division. To compensate for limited hours in creativity or action, students may compensate by substituting community service hours to meet the 150-hour requirement.
• Countless opportunities exist for Creativity, Action, and Service. The IB office constantly receives requests for community volunteers. These opportunities are posted on the bulletin board outside the IB office. It is the student’s responsibility to check the board often for new opportunities and to follow up on those opportunities.

“CAS in a Nutshell”

• Students are challenged to excel beyond the minimum requirement of 150 hours for the IB Diploma.
• Continuous participation in CAS activities is expected. IB seniors must be engaged in at least 50 CAS hours during the senior year.
• All students must observe the 50-hour community service minimum.
• A single activity in creativity or action may count for no more than 30 hours during a student’s two-year CAS program.
• Students must document their hours by completing the CAS activity self-evaluation form, and to maintain those forms in a CAS notebook, which will finally be submitted in April of the senior year.
• Juniors are required to complete a year-end self-evaluation summary in May.
• Activities that lead to academic credit or for which the student is paid may not be counted as CAS hours.

Wichita High School East Creativity and Action Possibilities

Listed below are several suggestions for creativity and action activities. Check with the CAS Coordinator for more suggestions, if one of your activities is not on the list.

Creativity

• Art exhibitions and presentations
• Choral groups (church, community)
• Debate/Forensics (local and state competitions)
• Drama productions
• Instrumental groups (church, community)
• Journalism (competitions, workshops)
• Creative writing (contests, workshops, writing groups)
• Literary events (author lectures, literary societies)
• Music (state competitions, City Band, City Orchestra)
• Private art, photography classes
• Private dance instruction
• Private music instruction

Action

• Athletics
• Athletic Managers
• Chamber of Commerce committees
• Wichita’s Promise Youth Council Committees
• Salvation Army Youth Council Committees
• National Conference for Community and Justice Anytown Camp
• Scout activities (Girl Scout, Boy Scout)
• Church ministry activities
• Church Youth groups
• Competitive scholastic clubs/organizations
• National Honor Society
• National French Honor Society
• National Spanish Honor Society
• Red Cross training/ CPR training
• Science Olympiad
• Scholars’ Bowl
• School clubs (Latin, Spanish, French, German club, SADD, Interact, other)
• Spirit Cabinet
• Student Government

Community Service Opportunities

(Note: This list is by no means comprehensive. Consult your United Way handbook for additional opportunities, or call the United Way Volunteer Center at 267-0202, and check the CAS bulletin board regularly.)

Children and Youth Care

• Angel Tree (Salvation Army)
  Students supervise sign-up and drop-off for the needy during the Christmas season. Contact Liz McClure at 686-8528.
• ARC of Sedgwick County (Association of Retarded Citizens)
  Students participate in activity days, athletic events, and holiday programs, as well as summer camps. Call 943-1191.
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters
  Serve as a big brother or sister, participate in Bowl for Kids’ Sake, or other events. Call 263-3300
• Communities in Schools
  Students serve as mentors and tutors at various elementary schools. Call 973-5110.
• Heartspring (School for children with multiple handicaps)
  Call 262-8271.
• Kansas Children’s Service League
  Call 942-4261.
• Kansas Special Olympics
  Athletic competition for handicapped. Call 1-800-444-9803.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation
  Needs volunteers on a regular basis. Call 264-9474.
• Wichita Children’s Home
  Emergency shelter for children in crisis. Call 684-6581.
• YMCA
  Coach youth sports, perform office work. Call 685-2251 or 942-2271.

Culture/Arts

• Botanica Gardens
  Garden care, gift shop, tour guides. Call 264-0448.
• Cowtown
  On-going activities, October festival, December holiday events. Call 264-0671.
• Exploration Place
  Assist with science exhibits. Call 263-3373.
• KPTS
  Educational/public television. Volunteers needed for clerical work, receptionist, telethons. Call 838-3090.
• Orpheum Theatre
  Volunteers needed to help with fund-raisers, clean-up, office work. Call 263-0884.
• Sedgwick County Zoo
  Animal care, special events, group projects, etc. Call 973-2213.
• Wichita Art Museum
  Special events, typing, gift shop. Call 268-4921.
• Wichita Center for the Arts
  Call 634-2787.
• Sedgwick County Historical Museum
  Volunteer in gift shop, tour guide. Call 265-9314.
• Wichita Public Library
  Volunteer at central location or branches with reference rooms, internet and computer, Children’s Room, reshelve books, help as needed. Call 262-0611.

Environment

• Ecology/ Environmental Education
  Call City Naturalist at 722-7929.
• Trees for Life
  Plant fruit and trees in third word countries to provide food and income for impoverished people. Students are needed to do office and computer work. Call 945-6929.
• Wichita Parks Department
  Volunteers are needed to clean up parks and paint playground equipment. Call City Parks Administration at 268-4638.

Literacy in Education

• Communities in Schools
  Volunteers needed for family literacy projects, tutoring or mentoring children. Call 973-5110.
• Coleman Middle School
  Volunteers needed for tutoring. Call 973-6600.
• Elementary and Middle Schools
  Many schools welcome volunteers. Call the school of your choice and ask about tutoring and mentoring.
• IB Tutors
  Students may sign up to tutor East High students with the CAS Coordinator.

Medical Care

• Wesley Medical Center
  Summer and year-round teen volunteer programs. Call 688-3117.
• Veterans Administration Hospital
  Teen volunteer services. Call 685-2221.
• Via Christi, St. Francis
  Summer and year round teen volunteer program Call 268-5172.
• Via Christi, St. Joseph
  Teen volunteer services. Call 689-6075

Poverty/Social Justice

• American Red Cross
  Students help with blood mobiles and in blood center doing registration work. Call 268-0812.
• St. Anthony Family Shelter
  Shelter for homeless families. Help with babysitting, do clerical work, yard work, sort donations etc. Call 264-7233.
• Inter-faith Ministries
  Needs volunteers to help with seasonal efforts for needy families and for on-going projects. Call 264-9303.
• Mennonite Housing
  Construction and repair of homes for low income people. Call 942-4848.
• United Methodist Urban Ministries
  Compile, distribute food boxes. Call 267-4201.
• Venture House
  Provides lunches, medical assistance, literacy program. Call 269-4160.

Senior Citizen Care

• Cherry Creek Nursing Home
  Visit with the residents, help with crafts or recreation. Call 684-1313.
• Lifeline
  Work with a personal response system for elderly who subscribe to the program. Install and check equipment and help with service calls. Call 265- 1700.
• Lincoln East Nursing Center
  Singing and music activities, arts and crafts for residents. Call 683-7588.
• Manor Health Services
  Games, arts and crafts, etc. Call 684-8018.
• Senior Services
  Help the elderly shovel snow off their walks, and provide other services. Call 267-0302.