The Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) component of the International Baccalaureate is part of the core requirements of the IB Diploma and is at the heart of WAB’s mission to develop students that ‘Connect, Inspire, Challenge and Make a Difference’.
CAS is a wholistic approach to learning, which allows students the flexibility to explore their interests and talents in the areas of creativity, physical activity, and community service engagements in local, national, and international contexts. The CAS component amplifies and supports subject area experiences and demonstrates a student’s ability to develop and reflect on themselves as a Global Citizen.
The program formally begins at the start of grade 11 for all WAB students and continues regularly, ideally on a weekly basis, for at least 18 months with a reasonable balance between ‘Creativity’, ‘Activity’, and ‘Service’ strands. Students are expected to complete at least 2 experiences for each C-A-S, and one Long-Term Project. At WAB, students have various opportunities to participate in CAS experiences, such as during DAY 9, in Student Led Clubs, WABx and other self-directed time. Students have time set aside during Flex/Mentor to develop a CAS portfolio and reflect on their experiences supported by their mentor.
Your Mentor will be the ongoing person of support and contact for the student during the CAS program.
Their role will be as follows:
The CAS coordinator facilitates understanding of CAS and oversees the effective implementation of CAS experiences, working directly with students, staff, Mentors and CAS supervisors. The CAS coordinator is responsible for reporting the progress of CAS students to the Diploma Programme. CAS coordinators are ultimately responsible for determining whether students have met the CAS learning outcomes at the end of the Diploma Programme.
Their role is as follows:
The CAS supervisor assists, offers guidance and oversees the students’ CAS experiences when needed. A supervisor may not be necessary if a student is able to undertake a CAS experience without assistance or supervision. Students should take responsibility for their own CAS experiences where possible and be provided with opportunities to report on their own attendance and participation. Dependent on the nature of the experience, the school should decide whether a supervisor is required to guide and assist the student, to ensure safety and to provide feedback on student involvement to the school. CAS supervisors can be teachers, non-teaching members of the school or wider community, or volunteers with the skills and/or knowledge of the CAS experience undertaken by the student.
Their role is as follows:
“The school and students must give CAS as much importance as any other element of the Diploma Programme and ensure sufficient time is allocated for engaging in the CAS programme.” IBO CAS Guide [2019]
Student responsibilities:
Note: Experiences completed as part of the requirements of the IB Diploma subjects including Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay cannot be counted as part of your CAS portfolio.