The 3 Strands of CAS

Creativity

Exploring and extending ideas leading to an original product or performance.

In order for something to meet the standards for Creativity, a final product/performance/publication must take place.

Question to ask yourself: What will be the final product/performance, and how will I share it?

Activity

Physical exertion and/or healthy habit that contributes to a healthy lifestyle.

In order for something to meet the standards for Activity, there must be a measurable goal.

Question to ask yourself: How will I measure my success in this activity? How will I know if I met my goal?

service

Collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need.

In order for something to meet the standards for Service, it must be voluntary and unpaid. The expectation is that you show initiative, responsibility, and accountability in helping confront an authentic need.

Question to ask yourself: What is the authentic need here? How are all parties benefiting from my involvement?

More About Service

There are four types of service - in many cases a service experience can meet more than one service type.

Direct service: Student interaction involves people, the environment or animals. For example, this can appear as one-on-one tutoring, developing a garden in partnership with refugees, or working in an animal shelter.

Indirect service: Though students do not see the recipients of indirect service, they have verified their actions will benefit the community or environment. For example, this can appear as re-designing a non-profit organization’s website, writing original picture books to teach a language, or nurturing tree seedlings for planting.

Advocacy: Students speak on behalf of a cause or concern to promote action on an issue of public interest. For example, this may appear as initiating an awareness campaign on hunger, performing a play on replacing bullying with respect, or creating a video on sustainable water solutions.

Research: Students collect information through varied sources, analyse data, and report on a topic of importance to influence policy or practice. For example, they may conduct environmental surveys to influence their school, contribute to a study of animal migration, compile effective means to reduce litter in public spaces, or conduct social research by interviewing people on topics such as homelessness, unemployment or isolation.

DIRECT SERVICE EXAMPLES

PEOPLE:

Coaching children in sports
Delivering meals to people living with a medical condition
Organizing or assisting at a blood drive
Playing music with senior citizens to have an exchange of skills and learn about each other's music preferences and talents, and then performing as an ensemble for others
Distributing plants at a farmer's market to promote home- grown container gardens
Serving food at a soup kitchen

ENVIRONMENT:

Restoring a stream
Preparing the soil and beds for an elementary school garden and planting with the children
Growing seedlings for distribution
Installing raised-bed gardens for a senior center
Establishing a recycling program at city hall
Making a storm-water garden

ANIMALS:

Helping at an animal shelter with data entry and dog-walking
Assisting with a pet adoption outreach program at community events
Leading a workshop on pet care
Setting up a turtle sanctuary in partnership with a community organization

INDIRECT SERVICE EXAMPLES

PEOPLE:

Assembling a photo exhibit about poverty for a gallery
Preparing meals in a soup kitchen
Writing brochures for service or charity organizations
Assisting with the creation of a museum exhibit
Creating a newsletter for a retirement community
Recording audio books for people who are visually impaired

ENVIRONMENT:

Preparing signage for a local wetland
Growing seedlings for distribution
Initiating a school compost to reduce food waste in landfills
Creating a website with information about flora and fauna for a local park

ANIMALS:

Making zoo toys for animals
Collecting needed supplies for a wildlife rescue center
Baking dog biscuits for an animal shelter
Making coloring books on local endangered animals for elementary schools and for tourists with protection tips

THE CIS APPROACH TO SERVICE

STUDENT initiative

It is the expectation that students will seek out and find needs within the community, rather than waiting for a call for help. At CIS we strive for students to understand the difference between free labor and quality service.

Student initiative is a key part of CAS at CIS. Students are highly encouraged to seek service opportunity both in and outside of the CIS community.

COLLECTIONS & DONATIONS

For students who wish to collect and donate as part of their Service experiences, we require written evidence from the receiving party that the donation is what is needed. Our aim is for students to move outside of their comfort area, and the first step in this process is researching what is a perceived need versus what is an actual need. Collection/donation service experiences will only be approved once written evidence of need is in place from the identified receiving party.