Creativity, Activity & Service

 

The CAS requirement is a fundamental part of LIS and takes seriously the importance of life outside of the world scholastics, providing a refreshing counterbalance to academic studies. CAS is a compulsory element within the IB Diploma programme and is also a curriculum requirement for our secondary school students.

Creativity is interpreted broadly to include a wide range of arts activities as well as the creativity that students demonstrate in designing and implementing service projects. LIS students are involved in a range of creative activities such as school plays, performances at the local theater, music performances, art and design projects, just to name a few.

Activity can include not only participation in individual and team sports but also taking part in local or international expeditions. Being on an island, many students participate in a wide variety of water based activities, such as sailing and diving for example. LIS high school students also participate in the Bahamas government sponsored Governor General Youth Award which represents the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

 

Service encompasses a host of community and social service activities, and the idea of giving something back is an integral part of the LIS philosophy. LIS encourages primary school students to actively engage in community service whenever possible, and all students from Year 7 onwards are expected to participate in community service programs. Students are encouraged to participate in some sort of service activity whether it is for the school or the wider community.

At LIS, CAS is incorporated throughout the entire school. In Years 7-11 students focus on a group project through their homeroom. Students plan, implement, execute, report and reflect on their project. CAS helps further points in the IB learner profile that are not as easily taught in a traditional classroom like caring, risk-taking and balanced to name a few. We also use CAS to teach skills we feel important like working as a team, leadership, and presentation skills. In our IB Diploma Program students follow the learning outcomes outlined by the IB for their graduation requirements.

We are lucky at LIS to have many motivated students and parents, who are actively involved in many community projects. Some of our ‘regular’ projects include the Grand Bahama Children's Home, the Humane Society of Grand Bahama, the Home for the Aged, the YMCA Soccer League and the Girl's Soccer Development League. LIS participates in the Annual Beach clean-up, sorting and collecting the trash. Some of the IB students have also been cleaning sections of the beach on a regular basis as part of their community service for CAS. In addition to these commitments, charitable organizations will often contact us looking for volunteers to assist at fund-raising events, and again our students are eager to assist.

The LIS community is very generous and adept at fund raising for charitable events. At Christmas, we collected toys for the less fortunate children in the community, as well as food items and clothing. Each Spring, LIS organizes a Charity Run and Walkathon which, besides being an enjoyable event, raises a significant amount of money for the Grand Bahama Children's Home.

For a small school community, LIS is proud of the amount of community service provided by its students and school family. We feel it is very important to give back to the community in whatever ways we can, and hopefully in a small way have a positive effect on the lives of others less fortunate than ourselves.

CAS aims to educate the whole person and foster responsible, compassionate citizens. Through CAS activities, students should develop greater awareness of themselves, concern for others, and the ability to work cooperatively with other people. Participation in the LIS CAS program encourages students to be involved in artistic pursuits, sports and community service work, thus fostering their awareness and appreciation of life outside the academic arena.