The CAS Program

Roland Schmidt-Bellach CAS Coordinator

What is CAS?

CAS or Creativity, Action, and Service, is experiential learning designed to involve Taejon Christian International School (TCIS) students in new roles. The emphasis is on learning by doing real tasks that have real consequences and then reflecting on these experiences over time. CAS seriously takes the importance of life outside the world of scholarship, providing a counterbalance to an academic and a demanding school curriculum.

The TCIS CAS program involves doing and reflecting on the doing which provides an excellent opportunity to extend what is learned in the classroom. Participation in the TCIS CAS Program encourages students to share their energies and special talents while developing awareness, concern, and the ability to work cooperatively with others.

At TCIS, all International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) Diploma candidates are required to participate in CAS during the two-year program. All graduates and IB certificate students must have participated in CAS during their junior and senior years. The TCIS and IBO goal is to educate the whole person and foster more caring and socially responsible attitudes as students reach beyond themselves and their textbooks. CAS should extend students. It should challenge them to develop a value system by which they enhance their personal growth. It should develop a spirit of openmindedness, lifelong learning, discovery and self-reliance. It should encourage the development of new skills on many levels including creative skills, physical skills and social skills. It should inspire a sense of responsibility toward all members of the community. It should also encourage the development of attitudes and traits that will be respected by others, such as determination and commitment, initiative and empathy. Because TCIS is a Christian school, CAS should also inspire Christ-like qualities such as love and caring for others.

IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT THE TCIS CAS PROGRAM
- The bridge between taking on new roles and learning is reflection. Students are expected to continue reflecting on these experiences over time. It is an essential part of, ”stretching oneself” which is what CAS is all about.
- The most meaningful CAS experience comes from spending time with others to build relationships and develop the self-worth of both the server and the served.
- When well carried out, CAS builds self-esteem, self-confidence, autonomy and self-reliance.

WHAT IS CAS?

“CAS is the quality difference of the IBO”

There are three elements or types of CAS:

Creativity, Action, and Service

The three elements (Creativity, Action, and Service) of CAS are interwoven. The service element is the most significant, but the other two are very important as they provide access, balance, and flexibility to meet individual students’ interests and preferences. It is the interaction of them all that creates the richness of CAS.

“The whole of CAS is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Creativity — Arts and other experiences that involve creative thinking.

- Creativity in CAS is interpreted as imaginatively as possible to cover a wide range of arts and other activities outside the normal curriculum, which includes creative thinking in the design and carrying out of service projects.
- Creativity could involve doing yearbook, newspaper, dance, theatre, music (learning an instrument, participation in a musical production, choir, orchestra, band), art (both personal and community), or designing a coaching program,
- Creative work must be NEW to students; it must be a stretch for students in order to be considered CAS hours.

Action — Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle = SWEAT

- Action in CAS includes participation in expeditions, individual and team sports, and physical activities outside the normal curriculum; it also includes physical activity involved in carrying out creative and service projects.
- Action could involve participation in sport or other activities requiring physical exertion such as expeditions and camping trips, coaching, self-defense classes, peer tutoring, environmental concerns groups, student council led projects, backstage team, and leadership roles in outdoor education or service trips endeavors.
- The key to suitability of action is that goals are set up and carried out and students reflect on their progress.

Service — An unpaid and voluntary exchange that has benefit for the student and others.

- Service could be the most meaningful and transforming to the student. Service in CAS involves participation in projects and activities inside and outside of school. These activities and project are often the most transforming elements of the Diploma Program for the individual student; they have the potential to nurture and mold the global citizen.
- Service involves interaction, such as the building of links with individuals or groups in the community. The community may be the school, the local area; it may exist on national or international levels.
- Service activities should not only involve doing things for others but doing things with others and developing a real commitment with them. The relationship should, therefore, show respect for the dignity and self-respect of others.