CAS Week 2024 (Part 1)
This year CAS Week saw our Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 students taking part in many Creative, Active and Service activities both overseas and here in Hong Kong.
For Years 7, 8, 9 and 10, CAS Week is modelled on the core element of the IB Diploma and aligns with our strategy, IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum) and IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education). We incorporate it into our curriculum to develop our spirited and confident students beyond the classroom.
- CAS Week not only prepares our students for the challenge of IB, but it also allows our students:
- A period of time off-timetable to explore creative, active and service experiences
- To try something new or further their interests
- To rise to challenges
- To apply their knowledge in the real world
- To build relationships with their peers and teachers outside of the classroom
- To encourage resilience by stepping out of the comfort zone
- To use journaling as a means to reflect on their learning
It is without question that each of these aims were met by those attending the week. Over the next couple of weeks, we will feature write ups and reports from each trip.
We hope you enjoy and we look forward to an even better CAS Week next year.
Bali
In an historic first for the French International School International Stream, students from years 7, 8, 9, and 10 embarked on an unforgettable CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) experience in the breathtaking destination of Bali, Indonesia. This week-long adventure was filled with sunshine, rain, skill-building, games, and environmental service, leaving an indelible mark on the students.
Our journey began at the serene Brown Sugar Surf Camp, nestled in a secluded part of Bali’s Sumbul Beach. With each day commencing before daybreak, we eagerly assembled on the beach, ready to embark on our surfing lessons, either at 6:00 or 6:30. Divided into small groups of two or three, each accompanied by a dedicated surf coach, we spent hours riding the waves and honing our skills. After an invigorating morning in the water, we returned to the camp to refresh ourselves with showers and a change of clothes. Energized by a sumptuous breakfast, we delved into surf theory before lunch, followed by another session of surfing in the afternoon. As the sun began to set, we engaged in beach games and fun activities, culminating in dinner and a reflective session where we watched a surfing movie and recorded our newfound knowledge and experiences in our journals. Day after day, we witnessed the remarkable growth and confidence of every student and teacher alike, as longer and more impressive rides adorned the waves.
Time flew by at the surf camp, and with a mix of excitement and nostalgia, we bid farewell to the surfboards after one last surfing session on Wednesday morning. Our next destination was the enchanting Menjangan Ecolodge, nestled amidst natural mangroves, towering hills, and lush greenery. Here, we commenced our first service activity—eradicating the invasive plant species known as lantana. Armed with axes, a friendly competition was set up among the students to determine which group would earn the privilege of being the first to indulge in the buffet dinner by eliminating the most lantana. The competition was fierce, and the ground witnessed a tremendous effort as lantana was uprooted.
Thursday took us to the waters surrounding Menjangan Island, as we joined forces with the local environmental group, “Friends of Menjangan,” in a collective effort to clean up plastic debris that had washed ashore in the mangroves. Working diligently in small teams, we filled 14 large mesh bags with the discarded plastics. Following this crucial task, we embarked on a snorkeling adventure along the vibrant coral reef, encountering a breathtaking array of fish and coral. Some fortunate souls even caught a glimpse of graceful turtles, albeit briefly, as their presence elicited excited exclamations from our group. We concluded our aquatic escapades with a well-deserved lunch at a National Park Ranger station before returning to the Ecolodge, where we packed our belongings and prepared for our departure the following morning.
Friday morning dawned as the beginning of the end of our extraordinary Bali escapade. A five-hour drive awaited us, leading us to the airport. After the necessary check-ins and immigration procedures, we enjoyed a final lunch before boarding our homeward-bound flight. Although fatigue had accumulated throughout the long day, the sight of parents eagerly awaiting their children’s return at Chek Lap Kok airport ignited a renewed sense of excitement and joy.
To provide insight into the students’ sentiments and reflections regarding this remarkable journey, here are a few excerpts from their journal entries:
“I experienced an exhilarating day, where I conquered the art of surfing! In the initial lesson, I could only kneel on the board, but in the subsequent one, I triumphantly stood up and caught the waves.”
“Today, we rose at 6 am to indulge in the thrill of surfing. I learned the essence of independence, successfully navigating the waves without Coach Ryan’s guidance. I realized that failure is an integral part of success.”
“On the second day, we resumed surfing after breakfast. My coach entrusted me to surf independently, and after a few attempts, I achieved triumph. I felt an immense sense of pride in my accomplishment.”
“Today, I ventured into the forest to eliminate invasive plants. Initially, we underestimated the task’s difficulty, assuming that uprooting the plants would be simple. However, the reality proved challenging. My teammates and I collaborated closely, working together to extract the stubborn plants from the soil.”
“During this service activity, I learned the value of coordination and cooperation within my group. Together, we tackled the invasive lantana, contributing to the ecosystem’s preservation and the welfare of its inhabitants. Our team secured the second-place position in the invasive plant removal competition, overcoming various obstacles, including minor cuts and obstructions. This experience taught me resilience and the ability to thrive under pressure, fostering not only physical but also mental strength. In future endeavors, I will strive to enhance efficiency by effectively dividing manual labor among group members.”
“Through this engagement, I witnessed the devastating impact of plastic on our oceans and realized the importance of minimizing my plastic waste to protect marine environments.”
“Communicating underwater during snorkelling proved challenging, but we found a way to overcome it. We resorted to hand signals, tapping fellow snorkelers to draw attention to something fascinating and pointing in the direction of our discoveries. It was a unique form of communication that enabled us to share our underwater encounters.”
“As our last day in Bali dawned, a tinge of sadness enveloped me. I wished for more time to explore this captivating place.”
These heartfelt reflections capture the transformative experiences, personal growth, and profound connections forged during our unforgettable journey to Bali.
Borneo
On Sunday 21st May 2024 38 students from years 7-10 of the international stream embarked on a CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) adventure to beautiful Borneo. This week-long trip was filled with sunshine and rain, laughter and hard work, and bravery and friendship. And blue paint… lots and lots of blue paint!
The group was split into two for the week – with each group alternating activities so students had the chance to complete all of the exciting things in store for them.
Community Service Project:
The Service part of the trip involved the complete renovation of a village Community Centre. Each group spent two days cleaning, painting and sanding – both the interior and exterior of the building. The stage within the building was completely transformed with students working as a team to demolish the old stage to put a shiny new one in its place. Hammers, paint brushes and crowbars at the ready FIS students worked tirelessly over four days (two days per group) and were rightfully proud of their achievements. Creativity was also exercised during this activity as a beautiful mural was produced on the external wall – with students all contributing their handprints to the finished design to signify a successful team effort.
At the end of a day of hard work students were rewarded with a well deserved fruit smoothie and some time at the nearby beach to enjoy the sand and a splash in the tide.
I learned that after hours of work, the feeling of accomplishment is WORTH IT!
Year 7 Student
The mayor was really happy, this made me work more. It does not only benefit the mayor, but the entire village. If it wasn’t us who washed and cleaned it, the meeting house wouldn’t be as clean as it is now.
Year 8 Student
What a day today was – scents of paint and sawdust wafting through my nose seemed to make up a large part of today. To be perfectly honest, we did some hard work today. It was hot, it was sweaty, paint dripped all over my weary limbs. Yet at the end of the day, there was a fulfilling feeling about it. After all, the community hall renovations aren’t about us, it’s for the villagers that need to use them for their gatherings and announcements.
Year 9 Student
I was quite successful in achieving my goals . I left the site with a set of new skills and a feeling of satisfaction because my work would benefit others.
Year 9 Student
The activity part of this trip was threefold; abseiling, zip lining and rock climbing, white water rafting and snorkelling.
Abseiling, Rock Climbing and Zip Lining:
Students displayed their bravery abseiling down a huge tower. There were so many success stories, however one which stood out was a year seven student who displayed particular bravery and determination, she commented she had been unable to complete the abseiling task in year six, so was completely focused on achieving this in year seven.
With no time to rest and enjoy their abseiling success the next task was rock climbing – involving more skill but just as much bravery students were successful in navigating the route up a tower and ringing the bell to signify they had made it to the top.
And finally on the same morning, the favourite of many was the zip lining. Students in turn sped across the river that they would later raft down, and then sped back again on another zipline to return back to base to enjoy their lunch before on to the afternoon activities.
After rock climbing, we did zipline, which is the best part. At first, I was scared, but then I realised it’s not scary at all. I overcame fear!!
Year 7 Student
White Water Rafting:
In teams of five or six students and a guide, students navigated the rapids of the Kiulu River, learning valuable teamwork and motivational skills. Despite some initial nervousness, the students had a thrilling experience and returned to base with a sense of accomplishment and confidence, ready to enjoy a well deserved ice cream. Students kept cool with a few swims in the river at designated safe areas – and several students and one teacher opted for an involuntary swim when they misjudged one of the rapids!
During our river rafting experience, we encountered rocks which made us feel like we were going to flip but we kept calm and concentrated to reach our goal and win. Our team had a lot of fun using our collaboration skills to the fullest.
Year 7 Student
The water rushing under my feet, the breeze blowing in my face, and adrenaline coursing through my veins, through every minute of our rafting trip, I experienced a feeling of bonding and teamwork that I’ve never felt before.
Year 9 Student
Snorkelling:
This day began with a boat trip to the nearby island of Mumutik Students were kitted up with their snorkelling gear and headed off to practise snorkelling just off the coast of the island. Later that morning with all equipment being successfully tested, we headed out on another boat to participate in some deeper sea snorkelling. An array of fish were visible in the crystal clear waters against the backdrop of the beautiful coral. After lots of exploration it was back on to the boat to head back to the island for a delicious buffet brunch.
The afternoon involved relaxing and playing by the pool, beach music and beach relay games. The most popular game for group one being a long standing version of a variation of beach volleyball. This same evening the group dined at a restaurant at the local mall, feasting on pizza and pasta and enjoying some post dinner souvenir shopping.
I’ve never found myself developing a specific interest towards marine life or boat rides, but today truly changed my mind. I’ve spent tens of minutes just looking and observing life – learning about their mannerisms and behaviours. I never even found myself being bored in the slightest on the boat ride – just enjoying the wind, splashes of water and the view.
Year 9 Student
I learnt that I’m pretty good at snorkelling and the land underwater is very pretty. One of the values I have gained is a respect for the environment from an aspect that I didn’t have before. I think this contributes to attitude as well.
Year 9 Student
Cultural Village
Maximising the time in Borneo, on the last day both groups visited the Cultural Village together. Here students enjoyed learning about the five main tribes of the Sabah. We were treated to some culinary delights from each of the tribes; pancakes, rice wine and rice dishes to name but a few. We also enjoyed visiting each of the tribe’s traditional huts, being entertained by their customs; such as a wooden trampoline game, henna tattoos, shooting darts and being shown how to make fire. The morning finished off with a dance and music show in traditional costume, followed by a buffet lunch. An excellent location for our last day before we made our way to the airport to return to Hong Kong.
My goals (at the cultural village) were to learn about other cultures and the older inhabitants of Sabah. My other goal was just to have fun.
– Year 7 Student
Students were successfully returned to their parents on the evening of Friday 26th April with tired eyes, happy faces and several with a few specks of blue paint in their hair! A very successful second trip to Borneo for FIS – roll on Borneo 2025.
I have learned a lot of skills that I didn’t know I have. For example, communicating skills, focusing skills, comedy skills and determination skills.
– Year 7 Student
We are returning to Hong Kong today! Bye Borneo! It’s been a very interesting trip! I really enjoyed it! Thank you Borneo and FIS.
– Year 10 Student
