Senior Timeline
Summary:
CAS completion for the IB Diploma: CAS needs to be completed appropriately in order for IB Diploma candidates to become eligible for the award of the Diploma.
The minimum period of CAS engagement is 18 months during the two-year Diploma Programme.
Every IB Diploma student needs to design and implement at least one meaningful CAS project.
It is necessary for you to understand your CAS student responsibility.
So, in your Senior Year, continue to engage with meaningful CAS experiences regularly, with the following guidelines:
Balance in the three strands of CAS: Focus on the strand that you did not explore very much in Year 1.
Activity Experience: Please do some moderate exercising to lead a healthy life style to manage your stress and well-being.
CAS project completion: If you did not lead and complete one in Year 1, make it your priority in Semester 1.
CAS portfolio completion: Tuesday, 12 March 2024: Log onto ManageBac to update your CAS portfolio regularly.
Attend these compulsory CAS meetings:
Second Year Planning Interviews: in August (individual; 10 - 15 minutes)
CAS check-in meeting in Semester 1 during the GAP/ Senior Week.
CAS check-ins in Semester 2: CAS Core Classes #3 and #4 in January 2024.
Other support meetings: By appointment or invitation as needed during Panther Blocks/ prep periods/ non-class times.
CAS Exit Interviews: 25 March- 9 April 2024 (individual; 10 - 15 minutes).
CAS Programme completion final date: As soon as you have attended your CAS Exit Interview or by 9 April 2024.
AUGUST - SEPTEMBER
*Important: Timely and successful completion of CAS is required for the award of the IB Diploma. Not completing CAS will result in your Diploma not being awarded.
CAS must be continued for at least 18 months during the two-year IB Diploma Program, so make reasonable plans to participate regularly in CAS experiences with a balance in Creativity, Activity (fitness), and Service.
Attend the mandatory individual CAS Second Year Planning Interview with the CAS Coordinator/ CAS Advisor in August.
Continue with your CAS project(s) or begin leading one if you did not do so last year.
If you completed a CAS project last year, then you do are not required to do another one this year. If you wish, you can still initiate or join another project this year.
CAS Year 1 entries on ManageBac: Complete all the reflections from your Junior Year. Obtain all of your supervisors' reviews from last year as well, even if you are continuing with the same CAS experiences this year.
Update your CAS worksheet on ManageBac with your new CAS experience/ project entries for this semester/ academic year.
CAS Completion Requirements: The most important requirements are:
1) your achievement of the seven CAS learning outcomes through your CAS experiences for at least 18 months
2) a reasonable balance in the three strands of CAS,
3) your successful completion of at least one CAS project.
Evidence for the above needs to be captured in your CAS worksheet on ManageBac, in each of your CAS experience/ project entries:
The 'Description and Goals' tab needs to show your context or participation, goal setting, and the relevant CAS learning outcomes.
The 'Reflections and Evidence' tab needs to show how you achieved your goals and the targeted CAS learning outcomes through your reflections in words, photos, videos, planning documents, proposals, certificates, etc.
You need to obtain your supervisor's review for each of your CAS experience and project entries.
Goals:
Develop further skills for your time management: Allocate weekly time (about 30 minutes) for CAS in your planner/ schedule.
Develop further skills to reflect on your progress in the seven CAS learning outcomes. Visit the 'Reflections' section of the CAS Home Page to learn more.
Review the five CAS stages to understand the significance of planning for your CAS project and evaluating your progress by writing short reflections about every 2 - 3 weeks.
OCTOBER - DECEMBER
*Important: Timely and successful completion of CAS is required for the award of the IB Diploma. Not completing CAS will result in your Diploma not being awarded.
In Grade 12, it is still necessary to maintain your regular participation in clubs, athletics, or other co-curricular activities of your choice until February in Semester 2.
CAS Expectations and Completion Requirements:
Maintain regular involvement in your CAS experiences, with a reasonable balance in the three strands of CAS.
Successful completion of at least one CAS project.
Attend the student-led conference in October if there are concerns regarding your CAS progress.
Attend the mandatory individual progress interview during the GAP/ Senior week.
Achieve the seven CAS learning outcomes through your CAS experiences for at least 18 months.
Evidence of your achievement of the CAS learning outcomes needs to be captured in your CAS worksheet on ManageBac, in each of your CAS experience/ project entries:
The 'Description and Goals' tab needs to show your context or participation, goal setting, and the relevant CAS learning outcomes.
The 'Reflections and Evidence' tab needs to show how you achieved your goals and the targeted CAS learning outcomes through your reflections in words, photos, videos, planning documents, proposals, certificates, etc.
You need to obtain your supervisor's review for each of your CAS experience and project entries.
You do not need to continue with CAS during the school holidays. However, if your CAS portfolio is showing very little or no CAS experience at all this semester, you will be asked to engage with some CAS experiences during the holidays. The same applies to CAS projects that require extra time and effort to be completed. So, if you need or want to do some CAS experiences during the December/ January break, then please contact your CAS Coordinator in advance.
Always ask for help if you are having some difficulty or facing challenges that are beyond your control. We are here to support you.
*CAS progress report (see the support material here) will be issued in October and December along with your academic subjects. CAS progress will also be recorded regularly in Power School using the SBAR proficiency scale (Secure, Developing, Needs Attention).
Goals:
Continue to work on managing your time.
Continue to engage with your goals and the CAS learning outcomes, especially with 'engaged with issues of global significance' and 'considered ethics of choices and actions'.
Work on your CAS project and update the Reflections and Evidence section of your project entry on ManageBac to show your progress.
JANUARY - FEBRUARY
CAS Completion Requirements: The most important requirements are:
1) your achievement of the seven CAS learning outcomes through your CAS experiences for at least 18 months;
2) a reasonable balance in the three strands of CAS;
3) your successful completion of at least one CAS project.
Evidence for the above needs to be captured in your CAS worksheet on ManageBac, in each of your CAS experience/ project entries:
The 'Description and Goals' tab needs to show your context or participation, goal setting, and the relevant CAS learning outcomes.
The 'Reflections and Evidence' tab needs to show how you achieved your goals and the targeted CAS learning outcomes through your reflections in words, photos, videos, planning documents, proposals, certificates, etc.
You need to obtain your supervisor's review for each of your CAS experience and project entries.
Ending Your CAS Experiences and Projects:
Plan on completing your CAS experiences at the end of February.
Be sure to meet in person with your CAS supervisor (club sponsors, coaches, project supervisors, and others) to discuss your termination of participation. Just 'disappearing' without notifying them does not give you and your supervisor to have a proper closure.
Of course, if you wish to continue with your favourite co-curricular activities in Season 3, then you can do so until the end of Season 3 (early April).
CAS Project Completion: Complete it now or by the CAS worksheet completion due date in March.
CAS Worksheet Completion by Tuesday, 12 March 2024: Complete all of your reflections and upload the required documents for the CAS experiences off-campus and CAS project(s), and obtain your supervisor's reviews. Exceptions: Ongoing Athletics, Community Partnership, and other clubs, and any CAS projects that have the concluding dates in April.
Support and Assistance: Promptly seek help from your CAS Supervisors, CAS Coordinator, and CAS Advisor if you are having difficulty in completing your CAS experiences and/ or project(s) or in any other aspect of the CAS Program.
*Important: Timely and successful completion of CAS is essential for the award of the IB Diploma. Not completing CAS will result in your Diploma not being awarded until it is completed. You and your parents will be notified that your Diploma is 'at risk' if there is insufficient evidence of your CAS completion by this time.
Goals:
Plan and adhere to the IB due dates to the best of your ability.
Become efficient at time management.
Work on having a balance for your own well-being during the final semester of your high school years.
MARCH - APRIL
*Complete your CAS worksheet on ManageBac by Tuesday, 12 March 2024.
**Important: Timely and successful completion of CAS is required for the award of the IB Diploma. Not completing CAS will result in your Diploma not being awarded. You and your parents will be notified that your Diploma is 'at risk' if there is insufficient evidence of your CAS completion by this time.
Complete the reflections and evidence for all of your CAS experiences and project(s) in your portfolio by 12 March 2024. Please note that you can continue to participate in your co-curricular activities after this date; just obtain your supervisors' reviews for your participation up to end of February/ early March 2024. Please communicate this with your club advisors/ coaches.
CAS progress report will be issued before the HS parent-teacher conferences in March. Attend the conference if you still have concerns or items that need to be sorted out.
March Break: If necessary, use this time to complete all of your reflections to discuss your CAS learning outcomes and obtain all the documents to verify your completion of CAS experiences and projects.
Attend the mandatory individual CAS Exit Interview in April with the CAS Coordinator/ Advisor to officially complete the CAS Programme. See this CAS Exit Interview Form for the range of possible questions that relate to the CAS learning outcomes and other important aspects of CAS.
CAS must be completed by 9 April 2024 before the IB exams in May.
CAS Exit Interview: Below are the sample questions that we will discuss for the summative reflection of the CAS Programme:
1. Can you verify that all the CAS experiences and project(s) that you entered on ManageBac are your own, authentic work?
2. How would you summarize your CAS experience in one or two words?
3. How did you achieve the seven CAS learning outcomes? What are some memorable instances or significant achievements that you can cite as evidence?
Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth.
Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.
Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.
Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.
Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.
Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.
Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions.
4. Which CAS learning outcome was the most important to you? What will you take away from it?
5. What were some difficulties you faced in your CAS experiences and project(s)? How did these challenges contribute to your personal development and growth?
6. How did your CAS project(s) actually benefit the individuals, community, environment, or the cause that you intended to advocate for and serve? If you were to do it again, what would you do differently?
7. What did you learn from CAS as a whole?
8. How might you use what you have learned here in the future?
9. What kinds of support for CAS were helpful to you? What suggestions might you have for the current and future students?
10. Will you consent to sharing your reflections with the general public within the ISKL community and possibly beyond?
Nearly there! Congratulations on completing the CAS programme -- what a journey!