Creativity, Action, Service, or CAS, is the centre of the
IB programme, which is the median of education for year 12 and 13 students
at Garden International School and Regent School.
On October 10, year twelve RS students arrived at GIS to
begin the first ever CAS weekend; where both IB orientated schools
collaborate, plan and carry out activities that fulfil the three areas. The
first challenge was to pitch tents on the GIS football pitch. This took
nearly half an hour and due to some missing equipment from RS, a makeshift
tent was made using the existing tent material and a goal post.
Both
schools boarded their buses en route to a beach in Sattahip, where a sand
sculpture competition commenced.
Starting the BBQ was another challenge. Students from GIS
and RS organized groups of 5 students, each group with their individual mini
BBQ and food.
Mini games of football, basketball and volleyball were
played on the newly surfaced covered area at GIS. The lighting from the
overhead floodlights was optimal and the performance from the mixed teams
was undeniably superb.
Starting
the BBQ was another challenge. Students from GIS and RS organized groups of
5 students, each group with their individual mini BBQ and food.
To end the evening a bonfire was lit and students and
teachers from both schools gathered around the fire to enjoy singing and
campfire games. Time sped by and before anyone knew; it was time to settle
down for a relaxing night of sleep under a sky full of stars.
After a peaceful night inside a tent we were awoken by an
Eastern European ‘morning yodel’. While breakfast was arriving, the
tents were carefully folded up and placed into their carrying bags. An
authentic Thai-style breakfast was provided by the noodle store, situated
across the road from the GIS campus.
The
first challenge was to pitch tents on the GIS football pitch. This took
nearly half an hour and due to some missing equipment from RS, a makeshift
tent was made using the existing tent material and a goal post.
Stomachs full, students from both schools made their way
to the GIS assembly room, where an hour-long video was shown about an infant
girl in England who suffered burns on 90% of her body from a domestic fire.
A discussion was then started on a method to raise money to support the
expensive surgical operations that are required to help the young child live
a normal life.
At around 10:30 both schools boarded their buses on route
to a beach in Sattahip, where a sand sculpture competition commenced. On
arrival at the beach both schools rushed onto the beach in their groups in
search of a shaded area. Students were given 1 hour to transfer the white
sand into a masterpiece. An hour later the beach was transformed into an
outdoor art gallery with sculptures ranging from mermaids to ancient Incan
ruins. These structures were judged by the 3-year-old GIS in house art
connoisseur ‘Blue Watson’. Since she could not decide upon the best
sculpture, all the students were rewarded with ice cream, courtesy of Mr.
Watson GIS IB coordinator. After some refreshing ice cream, the students
from both schools had to bid farewell, some exchanged numbers and some made
arrangements to meet at a later date.
The CAS weekend held at GIS was a success and it has been decided that
this would be an annual event for the two schools to integrate and have a
fun and educational experience.
