Community and Service in grades 6 - 10 

What is CAS?           

Creative          Action             Service. 

Each year you study in the Middle Years Program, Grades 6-10,  you are expected to contribute to developing the ‘whole you’, but what does that mean?  The MYP wants to prepare you for the future and help you find you place in this ever changing world, so it created CAS to push you into exploring yourself and the world, and discovering who you really are.   You are expected to participate to each of these during each year you are in the MYP.  Read on to find out what it all means for you

What is service?

Community and Service is a very important component of the Middle Years Programme. Its purpose is to promote citizenship, develop values and encourage students to identify ways to serve the local, national or international community. It is also for students to identify opportunities for themselves which will help them to engage in positive action, discover themselves as creators and find their ethical values.

By committing to service in our communities we believe that students will develop positive attitudes and a values system, which will guide their lives as thoughtful and active members of local and global communities into the future.

Students will therefore:

• better appreciate their role beyond the classroom
• increase their awareness of the world and community around them through constructive and meaningful engagement
• increase their sense of responsibility and self esteem
• provide an opportunity for students to gain an insight into different perspectives and ways of life
• work with peers across grade levels
• develop their awareness of the natural links between community   service, subject areas and other areas of interaction.
• Be able to reflect upon your experiences

How much do I have to do?

There is a Community and Service log for recording your hours in your student agenda, this will be checked throughout the year by your Advisor and your progress checked.

What counts as service?

The world is open to you and the list of things you can complete for Community and Service is almost limitless. The one hard rule is that you can’t get paid for what you do and you must provide service. 

The better question is what do you want to do?.  First, think how you would like to spend your time committed to Community and Service.  If there is a particular cause or project you would like to join or do something for, check the clubs, projects and opportunities C.I.S has on offer.  Decide if you would like to work directly with people e.g. helping the elderly or would you rather assist from a distance, e.g. contributing to  an awareness campaign.  Maybe you would like to take a topic or experience from your classroom and look to see if you can get involved with it somehow.

Your Community and Service can be conducted either through a club or project offered at C.I.S or independently outside of school on a cause with meaning to you, or a mixture of both.

Speak to others at school and see if they have ideas or worthwhile causes you could get involved in. 

What do you need to be eligible for the Student of the Year award?

To be eligible for student of the year a student must have completed the following:

1. Completed 25 hours of service for MYP1, 30 hours for MYP2 and 40 hours for MYP3-5.
2. Have committed to a creative experience during the year.
3. Have participated in at least one sporting activity, or something regarded as ‘action’.
4. Have an accurately and fully completed Community and Service recording sheet, handed in to your Advisor on the due date or before.
5. There are other requirements for Student of the Year, ask your Advisor for the full list.

What is creative?

We all have the power to create.  To express yourself in different ways to learn skills that allow you to be a more … person.  MYP asks each student to commit to developing the creative spirit within them.  You could learn a musical instrument, write short stories or poems, design eco friendly areas, join the drama club, learn a skill, any skill, design a school logo, the list goes on…

One section of the Community and Service recording sheet is titles ‘Creative Hours’ use this section to list your creative achievements.  You can gain your creative hours inside or outside of school. 

The After School Program has many creative opportunities for you to choose, from dance classes to the Hawks Skateboard Club.  If there’s a club you would like to get started at C.I.S. come and talk to Mr. Cooper, contact details at end of booklet.

What is action?

Healthy body healthy mind, its time to get active! It is an expectation that each student participate in a sporting activity during the year.  There is so much you can do, join a team or go alone, get competitive or play for the fun of it. 

The N.E.C.I.S sports program at C.I.S has 3 action packed seasons of sport throughout the year.  Join a school team and benefit from fantastic coaches, great team spirit and great end of season tournament playing against International School from around Northern Europe.  Sports include – for all ages:  football (girls and boys), volleyball, swimming teams, basketball, rugby 7s, tennis and baseball.   The After School program has lots of action available too, check out the schedule.

Don’t forget to record your action hours on the Community and service recording page in your agenda.

A chance to reflect

To help us get the most from our experiences we often need to reflect on what we have done to fully realize our achievements or gain a deeper meaning.  Below are some questions which Community and Service encourages students to ask themselves and others:

How do we/I live in relation to each others?

How can (or how did I) I contribute to the community?

How can I help?

What are my values?

How have they been formed and / or changed?

What action did I take and why did I take it?

What are my responsibilities ?

But I arrived at C.I.S after the year started.

Firstly, Welcome to C.I.S.!

Even though you are joining us during the year, we would still like to discuss with you what your Community and Service goals are for the rest of the year.  If you arrive late in the year we can alter the amount you will be required to complete, making sure it is realistic for you to achieve.  Please ask your Advisor to put you in contact with the Community and Service Coordinator when you have had a chance to settle in.