We do things differently at B.D. Somani. We’re different. It’s in our DNA. After all the “B.D.” in B.D. Somani stands for Be Different. This is no truer than with our CAS (Creativity/Action/Service) program. Though CAS is an IBDP requirement, elements of CAS are introduced to our students as a voluntary program in Grade 5 and as part of the curriculum from Grade 6 onwards.
CAS consists of three strands, often interwoven with specific activities, and characterised as follows:
CREATIVITY: Explore and extend ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance
ACTION: Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle
SERVICE: Collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need encourages students to participate in activities taking place in local, national and international contexts as individuals and as part of a team.
CAS encourages students to participate in activities taking place in local, national and international contexts as individuals and as part of a team. This allows IBDP students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development as well as their social and civic development, through experiential learning, offering an important counterbalance to the academic pressures of the rest of the IB Diploma Programme. The program should be both challenging and enjoyable – a personal journey of self-discovery that recognises each student’s individual starting point.
CAS enables students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development by learning through experience. The shared experience of ‘unlearning learning’ makes CAS an enriching and fulfilling experience for our students. It provides opportunities for self-determination and collaboration and fosters a sense of accomplishment.
Clubs, MUN, sports and field trips are common to all students. B.D. Somani is associated with various groups, institutions, and NGOs for community service. These include Step 1 Balwadi (WTC), Balwadi (Fishermen’s colony), the primary and secondary sections of the Municipal School, Colaba, Spastic Society of India (ADAPT), Vatsalya, Oscar, Habitat For Humanity, Project Chirag, Nadukuppam (Pondicherry), Budeezz and WSD (Welfare of Stray Dogs).
CAS kicks off in Grade 5 with a completely voluntary program at Step 1 Balwadi. Students volunteer once a week, from Monday to Friday in groups of four and are accompanied by teacher volunteers. This program is run after school hours (3:00 pm to 5:00 pm) so our student and teacher volunteers make a weekly commitment to ensure an ongoing relationship with the young children at the Balwadi. They work with children between the ages of 3 and 6 and help with the teaching of basic English, creativity and hygiene.
Grades 6 and 7 are expected to engage in community service once a month while Grades 8, 9 and 10 it increases to once a week.
For Grades 11 and 12, CAS is a part of their IBDP core. They participate in a compulsory program once a week and can choose from several optional volunteering opportunities.
Grade 11 works with Oscar while Grade 12 works with the Municipal School, Colaba. At both, our students teach English, Hindi, Math, Arts and Crafts to children and young people between the ages of 6 to 21. Particular emphasis is given to spoken English. All our other programs are volunteer opportunities.
CAS is an unmatched opportunity for B.D. Somani students to apply academic learning to real life situations and conditions. Through CAS our students can identify their strengths and develop areas of growth, work collaboratively and set challenges for themselves as individuals and as a group. They can recognise and consider the ethics of their choices and actions. They show commitment and engage wholeheartedly with issues of global significance.
