SNOWBOARDING!!!

In the past, I have spent my February Ski Breaks inactive in Paris. This year, I travelled to Chamonix Mont-Blanc in the Alps to learn how to snowboard! I have never snowboarded (or skiied!) before so this 'winter sport' is one that is really new to me. With the help of a friend, he taught me how to snowboard during the week we spent there. I decided to count this aquiring a new skill as part of my CAS programme, under Action.

On the first day, we spent the afternoon on very small slopes so that I could understand how to maneouvre and steer the snowboard where I wanted to go, as well as break! - which of course was beneficial to me. After falling a few hundred times that day, I was able to finally do it on my own, slowly.

The next day, again in the afternoon, we returned to the same area but pursued the larger (real!) slopes and pistes. We descended very slowly, with my friend holding my hand as I was terrified that I would go too fast! This was good because I could see how others were doing it and try to reenact what they were doing. We tried several times until I was able to do a large portion of the piste by myself. I was then used to the steepness of the pistes.

The following day, we were able to meet with a few more friends who were in the same area, and we all agreed to go to Les Grands Montets, which was one of the largest skiing areas in the vicinity. We descended many slopes, stopping at intervals for a rest. We went down a couple of 'red' pistes (which are one of the hardest ones) which was a real challenge because they were very long with many curves and drops. I was managing very well, in my opinion, for keeping up with my friends who had done it for several weeks already until I had a pretty bad fall. While descending a slope which was practically vertical, I had gained too much speed, snow had collected on my board and I toppled over, hurting both my back and head. Before calling it a day because I was in so much pain, my friend and I snowboarded down a few easier slopes at a manageable pace (i.e. not very fast!) and then we rested the next day.

Before leaving, I returned to the large slopes (the same as I had snowboarded down on the second day!) for a few final runs.

Although I was not able to snowboard as much as I had wanted, I'm really proud of what I have achieved because I was able to learn how to snowboard fairly well in a matter of days. It was a really great, fun, new and painful learning experience but it was well-worth the trip and I would love to do it again in the future. Below are a few photos, in order of progress. :)

Total no. of hours completed for this activity? 10 hours. (Action)

CAS at ISP (Three)

My Documenting CAS at ISP activity is still progressing. Here is my latest article:

For over 8 years, Victoria Andre, (former) ISP student has attended weekly Ballet lessons. Proven to be extremely motivated, Victoria has grown and flourished through investing time to develop new skills and styles of dance. Most importantly, she feels she has learned how to overcome various difficulties (both technical and personal) in making this a part of her CAS experience.

Although allotted time for warm-up and practice are completed individually, the group pulls together and interacts when preparing for a performance. There are a variety of opportunities to exhibit the work of the dancers, including an annual performance organized by the company itself. These generally remain in the classical style (such as Swan Lake) but more modern shows also take place (such as The Magical Boutique). Victoria took part in both these recitals. Between these, she has also performed in many theatres, hospitals and homes.

There are many benefits to practicing ballet, in Victoria’s opinion. She enjoys the physical and mental challenges which she must face with each class. Ballet obviously requires a lot from the individual – including endurance, flexibility and perseverance. Apart from these fairly obvious demands, She has also been able to learn more about the history of dance in general, ballet and classical music so she feels she has become more cultured as an outcome of this exercise.

Victoria counts this activity for both Action and Creativity. She has been able to (and will) continue this, in her words: ‘therapeutic’ hobby where she lives. It is clear that there are many benefits to studying dance, whether it’s Ballet or not! ISP would like to congratulate Victoria on her commitment to this activity and encourages other students to find and take part in a dance class of their choice! – INB

CAS Update - Term 2

Completed CAS Activities:
I will work on getting the sign-off sheets for these projects filled this week by the appropriate supervisors.

CREATIVITY
1. Piano (20 hours)
Classes with Bonnie continue successfully and progressively. Took part in my first piano recital with her and have started practicing to possibly take part in the annual ISP Music Soiree (February 2011)

2. Yearbook (20 hours)
The yearbook is starting to come together and is looking good! However, as I will be starting Basketball on the same day, I will start to go on alternating weeks and continue work on the Yearbook at home. I have already started to do this and it is a system that still works well.

3. Ambassador for International Day 2010 - Nordic Countries stand (5 hours)
This was a fun task to take part in, I think I was helpful as I remained organized throughout the alloted time for preparation. Our stand ended up being awarded 5 stars at the end of the day!

ACTION
1. Football (20 hours)
This was a challenge for me as I am generally not a very athletic person, however being a part of a team and getting some exercise weekly was beneficial.

SERVICE
1. Christmas in Cambodia Donation Project (5 hours)
This project was definitely a success, and something I was very proud to have completed! I was able to send about 10 boxes of donations to the organisation, Objectif Cambodia. I will probably try to do this project again next Christmas.

TOTAL (so far): 72 hours

CAS Activities - in the process:
These are the projects which I feel I have not completed a substantial amount of hours and will be ongoing throughout the year. This includes the expected amount of CAS hours for each.

1. Documenting CAS (approx. 10 hours)
2. Classroom Assisting (approx. 10 hours)

Future CAS Activities:
I have already signed up for the following activities and will begin planning for projects this term. This includes the expected amount of CAS hours for each.

1. Basketball (approx. 20 hours)
2. Soup Kitchen (approx. 2 hours)
3. Creative Photography for the Literary Magazine (approx. 5 hours)
4. Art for Children of Ranelagh (approx. 20 hours)

PREDICTED TOTAL (by the official CAS Deadline): 130 hours

What's going on? (THREE)

Hi! Just a quick update on how my CAS activites are going!

My Christmas for Cambodia project has been initiated and seems to be going well. I have tried to get in touch with primary school to see if they can take part but I have yet to hear word on whether or not this will be possible. I have put up posters and let people know of my project, the bright blue donation box has been stationed in the first-floor of the A Building and a few donations have already been placed. I am continuing to remind all the grades in Secondary to help with donations and hope that it will turn out to be a success! The organization has already written to thank me for having the motivation to embark on this little project. I hope not to disappoint! Haha!

I have a piano recital on December 11th, which I have been spending a lot of time practicing and preparing for. I am nervous but the excitement is also there! I will be playing both movements of Beethoven's Sonatina in G.

Football, Yearbook and Classroom-assisting are also going very well.

CAS at ISP (Two)

This week, my second article documenting CAS at ISP was published. Here it is:

Travelling is a hobby in which most of us international globe-trotters like to invest our time doing. However, students are probably finding this increasingly difficult to do because of the amount of work and requirements which need to be invested and accomplished in order to obtain the IB Diploma. Rustic Pathways gives you an opportunity to see the world and clock-in your CAS hours simultaneously!

Rustic Pathways is an American organization which focuses on organizing summer travel programs for adolescents (aged 12 and above) who are motivated to help out and merge with communities outside their own. This company has been successful for over 20 years and offers experiences to students from all over. Their customizable travel programs promise Adventure (with activities such as skydiving and mountain climbing), the teaching of Life Skills (such as filmmaking/photography and obtaining a scuba diving license), the chance to practice or learn another language (such as Chinese or Spanish), as well as grow from Community and Service experiences (such as teaching children or building homes). The company offers summer programs in over 16 destinations ranging from Peru, to China and Costa Rica.

June Cadenhead, Grade 11, has already taken part in two summers with Rustic Pathways and is very enthusiastic when she speaks of the time she spent in the program. She travelled to Thailand and Laos and in each, participated in two weeks of Community and Service, one week of photography classes and one week of travelling. These options took place roughly six hours a day and included activities such as rice planting, assisting vets, teach children, the construction of roads and buildings as well as making food for and feeding the elderly. She worked with others in her age group (15-18 years) and remains in touch with the people she shared such fulfilling experiences with. When asked about how she felt after taking part in the Rustic Pathways summer program, she explained that she had never felt a more gratifying and overwhelming sense of accomplishment after taking part in a project.

ISP would like to recognize June as an eager IB student who allows her curiosity to guideline her CAS program and remind others that many interesting opportunities for CAS are available everywhere! – INB

For more information about Rustic Pathways, visit their website: http://www.rusticpathways.com/ OR contact June Cadenhead (student) at pamelacadenhead@yahoo.com

I am currently working on my third CAS article about rowing - a sport for Action - which Adrian and David practice with a club outside of the school facilities.

Stay tuned for more!