·         You should have opportunities to choose your own CAS activities

·         You should undertake activities in a local and international context as appropriate

·         You should initiate new activities where appropriate

You are required to:

·         self‑review at the beginning of your CAS experience and set personal goals for what you hope to achieve through your CAS program.

·         fill out Activity Proposal Form and have it approved and signed by CAS coordinator before undertaking an activity.

·         plan, do and reflect (plan activities, carry them out and reflect on what you’ve learned)

·         partake in beginning, mid, and end-year reviews with the CAS coordinator

·         take part in a range of activities, including at least one project, some of which you have initiated yourself

·         keep records of your activities and achievements, including a list of the principal activities undertaken

·         keep your reflections organized in a CAS portfolio (the portfolio is not limited to writing, it may include dvd’s in ziplock bags, links to websites, photos, folders with journals, etc.)

·         show evidence of achievement of the eight CAS learning outcomes (see student completion form).

Developing reflection

The fundamentals are simple. Of any activity, it is appropriate to ask the following questions.

·         What did I plan to do?

·         What did I do?

·         What were the outcomes, for me, the team I was working with, and others?

The difficulty lies in the complexity of the possible answers. Writing is not the only possible type of reflection. You can present your activities orally to peers, parents or outsiders. Some ideas include scrapbooks, photo essays, videos/DVDs, weblogs, journals, varied portfolios.

Consider, for yourself and others, and for each stage of an activity (before, during and after):

·                 how you felt

·                 what you perceived

·                 what you thought about the activity

·                 what the activity meant to you

·                 what the value of the activity was

·                 what you learned from the activity and how this learning (for example, a change of perspective) might apply more widely.

Examples of activities that involve CREATIVITY:

n      Plan or organize activities, games, parties, etc. for a school or Orphanage or other institution.

n      Instrumental or voice music performance or composition

n      Painting, drawing, photography or other media classes outside of  school

n      Reading good literature outside class and writing analyses of works read to share.

n      Dance performance,  choreography, teaching

n      Playing a role on a theater production –acting, lighting, costuming, casting, production, directing, props

n      Creative writing, film-productions, newspaper layout

n      Debate programs: HACIA, PANAMUN, THIMUN, etc.

n      Designing and administering lesson plans for an orphanage or school

n      Thematic bulletin board displays

n      Planning and organizing activities for the school

n      Designing computer programs for their use in the school or other institutions

Examples of activities that involve ACTION:

n      School related sport teams – a blend of practice and playing time.

n      Sports endeavors outside school – football, hiking, league team sports, fitness workouts

n      Dance –jazz, ballet, tap, modern – a blend of practice and performance

Examples of activities that involve SERVICE:

n      Cerro Viento School “ Sister school” – special events, weekly visit to teach English, food, clothing and educational material drives

n      Hogar San Jose de Malambo orphanage and school - special events, weekly visit, food, clothing and educational material drives.

n      Visits to orphanages and old-folks home (Asilo Bolivar, Hogar de la Infancia, etc)

n       Madre Teresa de Calcuta Orphanage -food and diaper drives, visits, help, etc.

n      Camp Hope (Camp for children and young adults with special needs)

n      Tutoring – for peers,     younger students

n      Hospital del Niño

n      Make a Wish Foundation

n      Patronato Luz del Ciego

n      National Library

n      Medical Trips

n      Patronato de Nutrición

n      Recycling activities

n      Hogar Luisa (for single mothers and their babies)

n      Teacher aide

n      Independent projects