Extending our Privilege

Weaving Joy, Crafting Change: CAS at Aadhar Learning Centre - July 2025

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." – Mahatma Gandhi

The students of IBDP Year 1 and Year 2 had a memorable and meaningful CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) experience through their visit to Aadhar Learning Centre, Shaishav School.

On 29^th and 30^th July 2025, they spent quality time with the special children of the centre, helping them create beautiful handcrafted rakhis and festive products. The warmth and joy shared during this creative collaboration not only brought smiles to the children’s faces but also helped our students understand the true value of empathy, patience, and teamwork.

The excitement continued on 1^st August 2025, when the students proudly participated in the exhibition of the rakhis and products they had helped make. Seeing the children’s work being appreciated by visitors was a deeply rewarding moment for all.

The event was covered by a local news channel, recognising the collective efforts of our students in making a positive difference in the community.

This CAS project was a wonderful reminder that small acts of kindness can create lasting impacts, and our students returned with a sense of fulfilment, gratitude, and stronger bonds with the community.

CAS- CREATIVE SERVICE TOUR- AMBALI HAMLET- 08 OCTOBER 2022

Cygnus International School (IBDP) believes that education includes sensitizing children to the needs of the society and inculcating responsibility in each towards building a progressive society. This is the Premise of CAS in IB Schools.

As an IB World School, CIS has a formal Civic and Social Responsibility program called ‘Teaching Training Awareness & Rural Community Empowerment-

The Cygnus family has adopted a hamlet named Ambali near Vadodara to bring about changes in the lives of the people of this village. 

On 08 October 2022, at Ambali, many CAS activities were conducted which include the following:

• Teaching Mathematics, English, Natural and Environmental Sciences,
• Planting saplings on the school premises,
• Distributing books and stationery, items to their students,
• Distributing toys, hygienic food packets, Colourful Crayons & Chocolates to the Anganvadi kids
• Distributing sanitary napkins to the village women and the teenaged girls. Through various activities awareness was created about menstrual hygiene amongst the women and teenage girls.

This entire programme is funded by year-long fundraising done by the students.

The entire trip was a leap out of the comfort zone, one that forced the learners to look at another side of life.

This would be succeeded by many more such visits with new novel innovative approaches!!!

CAS

What is IB CAS?

CAS (Creativity Activity Service) in the IB Diploma Programme aims to learn more about themselves, their strengths, their interests and how they can challenge themselves.

Creativity–exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance

Activity–physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle

Service–collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need.

Students develop aptitudes, attitudes and general tendencies through a variety of individual and group experiences that provide students with opportunities to explore their interests and express their passions, personalities and perspectives. CAS complements a challenging academic programme in a holistic way, providing opportunities for self-determination, collaboration, accomplishment and enjoyment.

At Cygnus International School(CIS), the CAS programme encourages students to develop their emotional and social quotients.