CAS Handbook

IB Diploma Programme students and their families may access the LPHS CAS Handbook as a PDF by clicking the image. Alternatively, please scroll down this page for important highlights from the handbook.

This handbook contains information from the International Baccalaureate Organization. It also contains specific directives for LPHS students.

Questions may be directed to CAS Coordinator Sarah Lovinggood (srlovinggood@cps.edu).

What do IB Diploma Programme Students need to successfully complete CAS?

  1. Over a period of 18 months (grades 11 and 12), engage in activities and experiences that show a balance of Creativity, Activity, and Service.

  2. Demonstrate mastery of the seven CAS Learning Outcomes.

  3. Complete a collaborative CAS Project.

  4. Compile and maintain a CAS Portfolio.

  5. Complete three CAS Interviews with the CAS Coordinator.

1. Balance

CAS consists of three strands. Each experience students engage in must include at least one of these strands.

  • Creativity: Exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance.

  • Activity: Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle.

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

Most IB students are able to quickly identify at least one CAS strand that is a clear strength. On the other hand, they are usually also able to identify at least one CAS strand that challenges them more.

For example, a student athlete may be able to use all of their sports practices and games as part of their Activity strand, but that student may also feel daunted with the idea of creating anything.

While the IBO encourages students to continue activities that they love (and that bring them pleasure!), they also encourage students to try new things to show balance in their CAS experiences. By thinking creatively, many students are able to expand their own expectations of what a particular strand might mean for them.

Another example: A student artist who loves photography and painting may not seem thrilled at having to complete a lot of physical activity and is hesitant to join a sports team. Upon personal reflection and conversation with the CAS Coordinator, this student may develop a plan to incorporate meditation and yoga exercises into their weekly schedules.

The idea of balance in CAS is not to maintain perfect balance, but to encourage students to participate in CAS experiences that contribute to their well-rounded development.

2. Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcome #1

Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth.

Students are able to see themselves as individuals with various abilities and skills, of which some are more developed than others.

Learning Outcome #2

Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.

A new challenge may be an unfamiliar experience or an extension of an existing one. The newly acquired or developed skills may be shown through experiences that the student has not previously undertaken or through increased expertise in an established area.

Learning Outcome #3

Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.

Students can articulate the stages from conceiving an idea to executing a plan for a CAS experience or series of CAS experiences. This may be accomplished in collaboration with other participants. Students may show their knowledge and awareness by building on a previous experience, or by launching a new idea or process.

Learning Outcome #4

Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.

At a minimum, this outcome implies attending regularly and accepting a share of the responsibility for dealing with problems that arise in the course of activities.

Learning Outcome #5

Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.

Students are able to identify, demonstrate and critically discuss the benefits and challenges of collaboration gained through CAS experiences.

Learning Outcome #6

Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.

Students are able to identify and demonstrate their understanding of global issues, make responsible decisions, and take appropriate action in response to the issue either locally, nationally or internationally.

Learning Outcome #7

Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions.

Students show awareness of the consequences of choices and actions in planning and carrying out CAS experiences.

3. CAS Project

At least one of your CAS experiences should be a CAS project. This is a collaborative and sustained experience of at least one month’s duration that challenges you to show initiative, demonstrate perseverance, and develop skills such as problem solving and decision making. Your CAS project can address any single strand of CAS, or combine two or all three strands. You should use the CAS stages as a framework for implementing your project.

Please see page 8 of the CAS Handbook for more information.

4. Cas Portfolio

Every CAS student is required to maintain a CAS portfolio. Students can choose the form of the portfolio. Some students may create a slideshow of their experiences, while others may choose to keep a journal or create a scrapbook. Others may choose to build a website. The possibilities really are endless.

Portfolio Requirements:

  • The portfolio should demonstrate how the student has fulfilled all seven Learning Outcomes.

  • The portfolio should showcase some of the student’s most important CAS experiences, including the CAS project.

  • The portfolio should allow students to show how they have maintained a balance of Creativity, Activity, and Service in their experiences.

  • The portfolio should be reflective in nature and allow the student to show how they have grown from engaging in CAS experiences.

Please see pages 11-15 in the CAS Handbook for more information.

5. CAS Interviews

There will be three formal documented interviews that you will have with your CAS Coordinator.

Each interview will serve to support students in the following ways:

  • Ensure that students understand the CAS programme and are able to fulfill all expectations

  • Support students in finding CAS experiences that help them maintain balance with the CAS strands

  • Clarify and help students reflect on the seven Learning Outcomes

Prior to each interview, the CAS Coordinator will send a list of potential questions and an interview schedule to students. It is important that students attend their interview appointments. Completing all three interviews is a requirement of CAS.

During the final interview (toward the end of grade 12), students will share their CAS portfolios and reflect on their overall engagement with CAS.