IB Creativity, Action, Service
As part of the IB diploma programme, BIHS students are required to devote at least 150 hours to Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) projects during their junior and senior years. CAS participation encourages students to be involved in artistic pursuits, sports and community service, thus fostering awareness and appreciation of life outside the academic arena.
This web page will compile potential options for 11th and 12th grade students to fulfill their IBCAS requirement. Students can start participating in CAS activities during the summer before junior year. The BIHS Summer 2008 CAS Student Guide (PDF) has a full description of the goals of the CAS program, as well as questions and answers about CAS and information about recordkeeping of CAS hours. In addition, students can download printable forms (PDF) to record individual CAS activities and keep track of long-term projects and activities. For questions over the summer, you can contact the CAS team at bihscas@gmail.com.
Creativity ideas
Wooden wheels: Marco Facciola, a 16-year-old International Baccalaureate student in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, took his creativity in an all-natural direction for his CAS project by building an all-wooden bicycle. (Yes, even the chain has no metal parts.) Marco's mind-boggling piece of woodworking, highlighted by Canada's Lee Valley Tools, was inspired by huis Dutch grandfather, who ha to build his own wooden bicycle wheels in World War II Holland because of rubber shortages.
Action items
Action can include not only participation in individual and team sports but also taking part in expeditions and in local or international projects.
Service opportunities
Satellite Housing is a Berkeley-based nonprofit affordable housing organization that runs a few large buildings within walking distance of the BHS campus. They are looking for Berkeley High students to work with senior residents of these buildings in two areas:
- Creating biographies of senior residents through student-conducted interviews and production.
- Building gardens and learning about gardening, nutrition, food and culture through cooperative efforts between senior residents and high school students.
Satellite Housing would like to get students involved in these programs beginning in spring semester 2008. For more information, please contact Asha Beene, Satellite Housing's community activities coordinator, at abeene@sathomes.org.