Month: April 2023

CAS Journey Reflection:

cascoordinatorGoals / Reflections

CAS Journey Reflection:

Throughout my CAS journey, I was able to participate in and initiate many different non-academic experiences. Some highlights include: Being a service leader, being a part of OSC’s Eco-Schools Council, participating in SAISA Art, Orientation & Week Without Walls trip, planning and creating my own 3D designs and helping OSC achieve their Eco-Schools Green Flag. Special thanks to Mr. Lockwood, who as the Service teacher, helped with service-related experiences, and Mr Poulus, who gave me the opportunity to participate in the Eco Schools Council, The Eco-Schools audit, and OSC’s open day.

 

Creativity:

Learning Outcomes [LO]: 

  1. Identify your own strengths and develop areas for personal growth.
  2. Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.
  3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.
  4. Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.
  5. Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.

 

Creativity has been the aspect I focused and developed on the most during my CAS experience. All of my explorations into the creative aspect of CAS, with the exception of the CAS project, have been largely individual. This means that for creative projects, I initiated, planned and completed them individually. For example, my 3D-designed and printed Nerf Turrets or 3D Designed and Printed Watch Charger all show LO1 LO2 LO3 and LO4, as these projects took a long time to complete, were completed myself, and I had to learn new skills to complete them. There was also collaboration in some of my explorations into creativity. For example, my posts on my SAISA Art Trip, highlight how I worked collaboratively to explore different types of art, in Jordan, LO5. My CAS Project also focused on creativity, in addition to service, demonstrating LO3 and LO4.

Activity

Learning Outcomes [LO]: 

  1. Identify your own strengths and develop areas for personal growth.
  2. Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.
  3. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.
  4. Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.

 

When I began my CAS journey, I struggled to think of ways I could remain active. I was not the biggest fan of afterschool sports as they are very competitive, so I decided to do individual activities to keep myself active, all of which I planned individually, for my own personal benefit. I would frequently go on 10-20km bike rides around Colombo, demonstrating LO2, and LO3. Also, frequent long walks, as not only does it improve my physical fitness, but also help clear my mind, and keep me focused. For long weekends or holidays, my family often goes to Amba Tea Estate in the hill country of Sri Lanka, which has numerous hikes and walking trails demonstrating LO2, and LO4. Hikes are one of my favourite ways to be active and whenever I get the chance to do one, I will. Near the end of my CAS journey, I began a swimming routine and was able to track my progress using my smartwatch demonstrating LO1, LO2, and LO4. 

 

Service

Learning Outcomes [LO]: 

  1. Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.
  2. Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.
  3. Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.
  4. Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.

 

Service has been a large part of my CAS journey. I am a service leader for OSC’s Recycling and Sustainability, so a lot of my posts focus on what our service is working on, and our future goals. I am also a part of OSC’s Eco schools Council. For the Eco schools council, I played a major part in representing OSC in our Eco-Schools Green Flag Audit demonstrating LO4, and LO6. We are the first school in Sri Lanka to receive the eco school’s green flag, making Sri Lanka the 74th country to have an eco-school. I also was a part of OSC’s open day, where new families are able to see the campus and learn about OSC. I gave a presentation during the open day about OSC’s environmental progression. Demonstrating  LO6. My CAS project was also aimed at service, as I designed, created, and printed signs on our service new recycling room demonstrating LO2, LO3, LO4, and LO6.

CAS Project: Creativity & Service Recycling Signs

cascoordinatorCreativity

CAS Project Process: 

 

When brainstorming ideas for my CAS project, I knew I wanted to focus on the service aspect of CAS. I am a service leader of OSC’s Recycling and Sustainability program, and I was brainstorming different projects I could do involving the service. I wanted to leave a mark on OSC, and the service group, something physical that will outlast my time at OSC, and remain useful for several years after. My original idea was to upgrade the current recycling room, as we had problems with insects and organization. However, we were relocated in January as new security turnstiles replaced the recycling room. We were relocated to a small section of the open parking lot, under a metal cover. We had a room built in that location to help protect the recyclables from rain, and falling debris such as leaves. 

 

One major problem we face as a service is that non-recycling items are mixed into the recyclables. Additionally, we would often find that people would dump a large amount of paper and cardboard into the room in a disorganized manner. This would mean that we would spend the whole service block time cleaning and organizing the room. We also had no clear signage. So I decided for my CAS project, was to create a sign that indicates the rules of the recycling room, what can and cannot be recycled, and who to contact if they have any questions.

 

I decided on having 3 total signs, two outdoors in the room and one indoors. The first outdoor sign would indicate that this is where the recycling room is. Since we recently have moved location, it is important to make it clear to people where recyclables go, because otherwise they end up in the trash, and go to a landfill. The first sign will also have text highlighting OSC’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint, how the recycling room is run, and rules regarding placing items in the room. I wanted to have this text in English, Tamil, and Sinhala, the national languages of Sri Lanka. I translated the text into Tamil and Sinhala and asked my housekeeper’s husband, who is fluent in both languages, to check the translation. The second sign will indicate what items can and cannot be recycled by the room. Currently, we collect mainly paper and cardboard, however, our scrap dealer will also accept (intact) glass and metal, but this is very rare to find on campus. We often get dirty cardboard, such as food-filled pizza boxes and tissues, both of which we do not deal with as it is both a hazard for our service group and attracts insects and rodents. The sign clearly shows that all items must be clean, this should reduce the amount of food and tissues we get in the recycling room. At the bottom of sign two, there is also contact information for Mr Lockwood, the service leader, and also the student leaders. The third sign will be placed inside the room and will highlight the information outside of the room, such as organization, and what materials can and cannot be recycled. Once I got a grammar and spelling check for all languages I downloaded my design as a PDF and went to my local print shop. The place I went to is called Leaf Next Day Print. I talked with a consultant, and they recommend that since these signs would be exposed to Sri Lanka’s humidity, temperature, and rain, the signs should be on compact foam board, and also laminated. I decided on an A2 size for the signs, which is 42, by 60 cm. A2, in my opinion, was the best dimension for these signs, as they both have to be readable from a distance, but also fit within my price range. The designs were printed by the next day, and I will hang them up in the room when we get back to school when Sinhala & Tamil New Year Holidays end. 

 

CAS Project Reflection:

This CAS project allowed me to explore both the Creativity and Service aspects of CAS. Creating this poster allowed me to improve and develop my graphic design skills. Additionally, I had to do research during the process. The information I learned from the research during this process I could use in other academic, and non-academic projects. Additionally, this project allows me to engage with a global issue, pollution, as this sign will make recycling at OSC more efficient. 

 

CAS Learning Outcomes: 

#1 Identify your own strengths and develop areas for personal growth.

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

#3 Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.

#4 Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.

#6 Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance.

 

Photos:

Finished Printed Sign 1 & 2, on Compact Foam Board
Finished Printed Sign 3, on Compact Foam Board
Digital Design of Sign 2

Creativity: OSCARS Preparation

cascoordinatorCreativity

Summary of OSCARS Preparations:

As a grade representative of G12 within the SGA, I had the opportunity to help organize OSCARS, OSC’s prom. The initial start of the planning process was pretty rough. A Lot of our preferred venues were not available, and we had a budget problem. The DP grade reps, including myself, Eloise, and Pep were in charge of decorations for OSCARS. 

 

The theme of OSCARS was old Hollywood. We brainstormed decorations that would fit under the theme. Our first idea was a red carpet. We organized with the venue providers to get a red carpet to have on one side of the room. We also thought about balloons. The issue of environmental impact was raised and we tried to replace the balloons with paper lanterns. However, we could not find any paper lanterns in Colombo that could arrive for the event in a week. We also negotiated with the venue providers to give a basic flower arrangement on each other’s tables in addition to black tablecloths and chair covers, with gold ribbons. And the final decoration we decided on was a senior’s card. Zoe was in charge of the senior poster, which was not completed in time for use at OSCARS, however, I used the photos of the G12 members for the senior card. I designed a card that fit the theme of Hollywood but also represented each of the 20 seniors. I got 30 of the cards printed out at a print shop near my house, called Leaf Next Day Print. 

 

On the day of OSCARS, Saturday, I sent the designs to the print shop at 8 am, attended the OSC open day at 10 am, then collected both the balloons and cards at 2 pm, and DP grade reps and EXCO at 3 began to set up the OSCARS venue. OSCARS began at 7 pm, and ended at 10 pm, besides minor details such as the senior board, OSCARS turned out successful. 

 

Learning Outcomes: 

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

#3 Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience.

#4 Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences.

#5 Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively.

 

Photos: 

Front of senior’s cards
Red carpet & balloons at venue
Table arrangement at the venue
Back side of senior’s OSCARS card