8 Critical Learning Outcomes

The IB developed a list of 8 critical outcomes to act as a criteria of sort for the CAS program. Any aspect of CAS that you interact with has to connect to one of these learning outcomes. By doing this the IB allows you to reflect on why you do what you do in the CAS program, rather than just doing CAS to accumulate hours and be done of it. Below are the 8 critical learning outcomes:

• Increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth: They are able to see themselves as individuals with various skills and abilities, some more developed than others, and understand they can make choices about how they wish to move forward. 
• Undertaken new challenges: A new challenge may be an unfamiliar activity, or an extension to an existing one. 
• Planned and initiated activities: Planning and initiation will often be in collaboration with others. It can be shown in activities that are part of larger projects, for example, ongoing school activities in the local community, as well as in small student-led activities. 
• Worked collaboratively with others: Collaboration can be shown in many different activities, such as team sports, playing music in a band, or helping in a kindergarten. At least one project involving collaboration and the integration of at least two of creativity, action and service, is required. 
• Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities: At a minimum, this implies attending regularly and accepting a share of the responsibility for dealing with problems that arise in the course of activities. 
• Engaged with issues of global importance: Students may be involved in international projects but there are many global issues that can be acted upon locally or nationally (for example, environmental concerns, caring for the elderly). 
• Considered the ethical implications of their actions: Ethical decisions arise in almost any CAS activity (for example, on the sports field, in musical composition, in relationships with others involved in service activities). Evidence of thinking about ethical issues can be shown in various ways, including journal entries and conversations with CAS advisers. 
• Develop new skills: As with new challenges, new skills may be shown in activities that the student has not previously undertaken, or in increased expertise in an established area.     

Through out the year im going to try and meet all these learning outcomes. To reach this goal im going to join SAISA'S, work on CAS and interact with other groups and get involved with what they are doing.

IB Orientation

On our IB orientation trip we went to the MAS insitute of teachnology. (next to Kandy)

When we got to the insitute, we didnt like it at all.. I didnt mind but the rooms were a mess and had no AC.

Learnt more about CAS and got a booklet

Did some Art work and a play for the whole grade

SAISA season 2

I have started to help with the girls SAISA soccer team along with Bharat, Karl and Rasmus. We are basically coaching them and helping them with their skills and teaching them new things. I have also signed up for game supervising (event crew) while SAISA girls football was happening at OSC.

The SAISA tournament had finally started. Seven teams came to OSC and it was a tournament to remember with the rain and the muddy field. the OSC girls came 2nd while AES came first. We were proud of our lady geckos and everyone enjoyed the tournament.

My CAS - Sun Flower Village

SunFlower Village is on every Thrusday after school and its finishes at 4:15 or 4:30 and its run by Mr. Simms and Ms Bertus. So far in my CAS, Sunflower Village we havent done anything yet but we have had some meetings and we start next week, 23/9/2010. At the end of the day we give them each one milo or a vanilla/chocolate milk shakes

In this CAS we usally teach kids from the school "Vidyawardene" how to swim and teach them new skills in swimming. Half the time we are teaching them and then the other half we give them free time, where we usally play water polo or just have swimming races.

We are doing something new this year by, us the students acutually teaching them instead of Standly teaching them. So that way we are improving our skills as well and maybe learning new techniques. We have started to get into the pool and we have spearted the children into two groups which are, strong swimmers and weaker swimmers. We have been in the pool four times now but we have had some days where the kids cant make it or it was raining to much for us to swim.

We have not had Sun Flower Village in a while so i have not be able to post anything about the progress in this CAS.

For about two months we have been swimming with the kids and they have all improved a lot. It helps us that we have three students including me, that can speak sinhala.

My Goals For This Year in CAS

Creative: Try and help in school events. Suggesting new ideas to our new SGA and making this school knew better.

Action: I mainly only do SAISA boys soccer, but this year im doing soccer and track and field as something different since I have never been on the track team. By doing this im improving my skills and helps me in other sports and my health.

Service: The service i always do after school on thrusday is Sunflower Village, I have been in this CAS for a long time and im going to stick with it because im used to the support and other people that work in the same CAS. Although this tends to change every year.

Goals: Help OSC and to try and make changes that will improve the school.