Beyond the Classroom

At Atlanta International School, representing the AIS Eagles Community on the field, the court, or wherever the competition takes place is a huge source of pride for our students. Find out more here.

Yet another unique way in which Atlanta International School fosters world-ready change leaders and problem solvers is through Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), an essential element of the IB curriculum that extends learning beyond the classroom.

As part of CAS, students initiate and participate in CAS experiences representing three strands:

• Creativity: Arts and other experiences that involve creative thinking.
• Activity: Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle.
• Service: Collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need.

For each CAS experience, which often connects to something students study in the classroom, students learn how to initiate and plan an experience; implement and take action; and reflect on the experience and adapt course, as necessary.

In doing so, they hone their leadership, organizational and collaboration skills as well as develop an entrepreneurial spirit and a service mindset that propel them to act in the face of global problems versus remaining silent.

Diploma Program students are required to complete CAS experiences weekly for 18 months with a balance between creativity, activity and service. Students must also complete a CAS project and reflect on their personal growth.

All students are required to participate in the Service as Action (SA) program. Students work with their advisors to reflect on service activities.

Each student must demonstrate achievement in the seven learning outcomes outlined in the IB curriculum:

• Identify and become aware of their own strengths and develop areas for growth.
• Undertake challenges that allow them the opportunity to develop new skills.
• Discuss, evaluate and plan student-initiated activities.
• Show perseverance through a service or other activity.
• Work collaboratively with others.
• Demonstrate international-mindedness through global engagement, multilingualism and multicultural understanding.
• Show understanding of and consider ethical implications of their actions.

Written reflections are the primary evidence of growth and are driven by the student (and guided by an advisor).  Students are also encouraged to reflect through oral presentations, emails, journals, photo essays, videos or weblogs.

At AIS, student leadership allows students to express their unique talents and gifts—and there’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to how students can lead. Whether they direct a CAS group, serve as their grade’s representative or read the morning announcements, students become agents of change and active participants in advancing the school’s mission or tackling issues (both local and global) they care deeply about.