CAS: CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY, SERVICE Robinson IB CAS GUIDELINES 2015-2016 CAS Advisors are the students’ homeroom teachers. CAS Coordinator: Erika George henderika.george@sdhc.k12.fl.us CAS Opportunities are posted on the RHS IB Website Pre IB Diploma Programme (DP): (Freshmen & Sophomores ) (Juniors and Seniors) 1. Freshman- 25 hours in any category must be completed by the last day of classes prior to semester 2 exams freshmen year. 2. The total 50 hours, with the required minimums, must be completed by the last day of classes prior to semester 2 exams sophomore year. 3. 50 HOURS TOTAL with minimum of 10 hours Creativity 10 hours Activity 25 hours Service 4. A minimum of one CAS Form and Reflection Statement must be turned in each semester, by the last day before the start of semester exams. 1. 150 HOURS TOTAL with a minimum of 25 hours Creativity 25 hours Activity 75 hours Service (Includes 50 hour CAS Project) 2. 75 hours in any category must be completed by the last day of classes prior to semester 2 exams junior year. 3. 125 hours in any category must be completed by the last day of classes prior to semester 1 exams senior year. 4. The total 150 hours, with the required minimums and all completion paperwork, are due by the designated deadline in spring, senior year. All experiences must be entered on ManageBac. 5. Student achievement of ALL Seven CAS Learning Outcomes documented through Reflection Statements. 6. 50 HOUR CAS Project: An experience that involves personal growth, planning, and initiative. One or more experiences may be included. (The 50 hours is included in the required 150 hour total.) Project Proposals are due to CAS advisor the first 9 weeks of junior year. 7. Students attend and display their Project at the CAS Fair in the spring junior year. 8. Minimum of one completed CAS form & Reflection Statement each semester on Project progress todate. 9. Minimum of one documented progress meeting with CAS advisor each semester. Preapproval: Prior to earning any hours, the experience must be on the Preapproval List (see RHS IB website) or a request must be made for pre-approval by students’ homeroom teacher. During the school year requests for preapproval are submitted to the student’s CAS Advisor (homeroom teacher.) During the summer, requests can be sent to the CAS Coordinator via email henderika.george@sdhc.k12.fl.us (A student may request an exception to preapproval when the student participates in an unforeseen activity on a weekend or day off from school. The request for this exception must be made to the CAS Advisor within 3 days of being back at school.) CAS Evaluation Forms: In order for earned hours to be counted, completed CAS Forms with Reflection Statements are due to your CAS Advisor as follows: FOR SUMMER EXPERIENCES: BY THE 2ND FRIDAY AFTER SCHOOL BEGINS. During the school year, within 30 days of completion of EXPERIENCE. 2/9/2016 A minimum of one CAS form and reflection Statement is due each semester. General Guidelines: a.Students are not to include travel time as part of the CAS activity. b. Students may appeal CAS decisions made at the homeroom level, first to the CAS Coordinator and then to the IB Coordinator. Creativity Hours – arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking (IBO, 2008) a. Creativity experiences are those in which the student plans or designs something and then carries it out with a tangible final product. Examples include creating a sculpture, painting a picture, music lessons, participating in a musical performance, planning sports practice and then overseeing the practice, planning a tutoring lesson and then tutoring a student, or planning and creating an event. b. Passive activities such as visiting museums or attending performances are not applicable. c. A creativity project done in school may be approved if supervised by a teacher. Activity Hours – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle (IBO, 2008) a. Activity hours are earned for those activities which promote physical fitness. Examples include dance class, organized sports, karate classes or organized fitness classes, etc. b. Activity hours may also be earned through activities which require physical effort. Examples include helping to build homes through Habitat for Humanity, participating in a walk-a-thon for a charitable cause, marching band, etc. Service Hours – a voluntary exchange that addresses an identified issue of global concern a. The CAS identified issues of global concern are the following: abuse, elderly, health & fitness, human rights, animal welfare, disaster/safety, conservation/environment, education, literacy, mentoring/tutoring, poverty/homelessness, mentally/physically challenged b. Service hours must be done under the auspices of a nonprofit organization. Exceptions for service learning and other student-created projects. These must be approved by the CAS Coordinator. c. Service club projects count; service club activities, such as meetings, socials, recreational activities, etc. do not count. d. Fundraising for specific non-profit organizations or charities counts, e.g. band activity to raise money for the homeless counts; an activity to raise money for a field trip does not count. e. Volunteering at a school is acceptable if the student clearly indicates in his/her reflection statement that he/she is addressing the issue of education. Students are encouraged to work directly with students tutoring or mentoring. Students may assist teachers for service as long as they are not currently taking a class with the teacher. Performing or assisting at a musical, drama or athletic event, or assisting at a school festival or carnival is not considered service, but can be used for creative or action hours. f. Religious devotion and any activity containing religious instruction does not qualify as service. Volunteering at Vacation Bible school does not count as service. g. A religious group helping people in need in the larger community outside their own congregation does count as service. A church youth group serving food to the homeless counts as service. A youth group painting or cleaning up church grounds does not. h. Assisting at summer camp as a counselor does not count as service unless the camp is sponsored by a nonprofit organization and is specifically designed for disadvantaged or disabled children, children of deployed military or if the purpose of the camp is to address one of the identified social issues such as the environment. Assisting at YMCA, City of Tampa Parks and Recreation, MOSI, Tampa Museum of Art, Girls and Boys Club, and Glazer Childrens Museum are okay for service. j. Helping with a political candidate’s campaign does not count as service. Assisting on a service project with someone already in office is acceptable. Registering people to vote also counts. Guidelines pertaining to graduation: a. b. c. Students must earn all required CAS hours to be eligible for the IB Diploma. Completion of the CAS requirement is a high school graduation requirement for students in the IB Program at Robinson. Any student who does not complete the CAS requirement by the day of graduation will not be awarded a high school diploma. The Florida Bright Futures program requires all students to earn 100 community service hours. All IB curriculum completers will meet this requirement. Students that transfer into the program after their freshmen year, must meet the 100 community service hour requirement as well. 2/9/2016