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.
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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.
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