Melanie Peterson-Nafziger at Great River School

CAS updates and deadlines are posted on the GRS ManageBac website as of September 2011. Please contact Melanie, IB Coordinator, with questions at melanie@greatriverschool.org.

Fulfilling the CAS requirement each semester of your junior and senior year at GRS is a graduation requirement, which means that you must complete CAS each semester or you will not graduate. You will receive a "pass" or "fail" from your CAS advisor each semester on your report card. Over the course of your A3 years at GRS, every CAS experience will involve: � real, purposeful activities with significant outcomes � personal challenge � your tasks must extend you in new ways � thoughtful consideration, such as planning, reviewing progress, and reporting � reflection on outcomes and personal learning CREATIVITY: arts and other experiences that involve creative thinking ACTION: physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle SERVICE: an unpaid, voluntary, exchange that has a learning benefit for the student GRS expects you to work on CAS activities for 3 to 4 hours each week. You will work with a GRS staff member as your CAS advisor throughout your two years in A3. Log your CAS activities on your log in your CAS folder. Talk with your advisor about how you intend to reflect on your CAS activities (journal, scrapbook, digital voice files, e-mails to advisor, etc.). Remember, you need to reflect on your CAS work every 1-2 weeks, and share some of your reflections with your advisor regularly. Some of the following websites may spark ideas for your CAS activities: INTERNATIONAL � Volunteer in the US or in Guatemala for a week or a year. Check out Common Hope. � Check out how to support strong girls in Tanzania at The Image Project. � Help kids at a school in another country have clean water to drink and wash their hands with the organization H2O for Life. � Travel for CAS with Amigos de las Americas � GRS hosted a screening of Inside North Korea, a cool new documentary, and a talk by volunteers from LINK (Liberty in North Korea). Get involved with one of their projects! � Looking for a meaningful issue to tackle? Check out the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Millennium Goals. � Would you like to travel abroad to undertake meaningful work in the world? How about a project like this one in the Dominican Republic? � Expand your understanding of what's going on in the world by learning about Doctors Without Borders' Top 10 underreported stories each year � Check out the CAS work that students from Southampton have completed, including service in Tanzania! � Learn about youth from around the world who have earned the International youth award. Sounds pretty cool and connects with CAS goals! � The state of the world is the focus at this site. Cruise around the site to learn more about issues of global significance. � Many IB schools have built relationships with the Tabitha Project and have worked on building houses in Cambodia. � Bead for Life jewelry is beautiful and fun to sell, and all the proceeds support women artisans in Uganda. You could begin it at GRS! � Build a relationship with this hopeful school in Guatemala or offer to volunteer there! � Have you yearned for a mosquito net? Maybe not, but check out Nothing But Nets to find out how something so simple can make such a big difference! � Who's your hero? If it's not a rat, maybe it should be. Check out Hero Rats to find out why! � Take a trip with Minnesota's own cool organization Global Citizens Network or volunteer at their office. � Ever want to be a savvy financier? Start investing your allowance or money you fundraise now! Check out Kiva. FOOD AND HUNGER � Volunteer at a neighborhood foodbank. Keystone Services has welcomed GRS volunteers in Roseville or at its Rice Street location in St. Paul. See CAS documents at bottom of page for application materials. � Provide help to support people suffering after the earthquake in Haiti. Organize a shift of GRS volunteers at Feed My Starving Children in Eagan. More at FMSC. � An amazing story from a survivor of civil war in Sudan -- if you are concerned about child abduction in southern Sudan and would like to help with a campaign to try to help retrieve two abducted nieces of a friend of Melanie's, check out Save Yar. � Another incredible organization, Wings of Hope, serves poor people across the Earth, but has lots of volunteer opportunities that might work during Fall or Spring Break. � "Africa is on fire and we need firefighters." How can you not read more? � Have you read Three Cups of Tea? You should, especially if you like adventure and mountaineering! Check it out from Melanie. Also check out how you could organize Pennies for Peace as part of CAS. � You could travel to Afghanistan to volunteer to support this wartorn country. You could also volunteer in all sorts of ways right here in Minnesota to support Children in Afghanistan. Check out how at this website. � Build a relationship with a cool school in Guatemala, which is supported by Friends of the Poor, an organization with seven high school students from California on its Board. � Montessori is everywhere! Check out this International Montessori School Directory to find a Montessori school almost anywhere in the world. How could you connect a new relationship with that school to a CAS activity? ENVIRONMENT � Make GRS greener. Start at Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon. � Restore nature at Dodge Nature Center � Interested in native plants and the environment? Check out Project BudBurst. � Glean some good ideas from this Montessori EcoArticle. � Join Friends of the Mississippi River for some eco-activism to help protect and improve water quality in MN. One possibility is organizing a 2-hour drain stenciling expedition. � Step It Up can kick start your enviro-activism. � Interested in environmental sustainability? The Alliance for Sustainability website is loaded with ideas and resources. � Join the GRS Green Team. � Look for an internship at NextStep Jobs. LAW AND JUSTICE � Interested in youth justice and teen criminal issues? Check out this youth justice website. � Spend Wednesday afternoon volunteering with a St. Paul City Council member � Intern at the Immigration Law Center of Minnesota (position available-see Melanie) � Contact the MN State Bar Association and investigate whether you could volunteer in the legal world � Ask the MN Justice Foundation if they know organizations that welcome high school students to volunteer to work on legal justice issues � Check out the International Justice Mission for all sorts of ideas about how to get involved in human rights activism. � Become a High School Page and volunteer at the Minnesota House of Representatives. � Take a school day off on voting day in November and volunteer as an election judge trainee. SPORTS AND ACTION � Like sports? Volunteer with St. Paul Parks and Rec or Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board � If you could shoot free throws and keep someone from becoming an orphan, would you? Check out Hoops of Hope for more info. � Coach a youth sports team. Check your local rec center or Sports and Recreation Department website. � Take a yoga or other movement class. � Become a ballroom dancer. CREATIVITY AND ART � Paint a portrait of an orphan from someplace in the world for CAS with The Memory Project. � Learn how to create a film. Ask Melanie about an internship available with a small grass-roots freemarket enterprise that has a trio of sole-proprietor entrepreneurs, who are extremely personable, friendly & non-threatening ... and eager to share knowledge/experience with somebody embarking upon adult life. � Create some beautiful bowls; sell them; and donate the proceeds to the Empty Bowls project. � Make a no-sew blanket and donate it to Project Linus, which donates homemade blankets to children who need some love. � Step into the art world and volunteer at MIA, the Walker or another art museum, gallery or nonprofit organization � Urban Arts Academy is looking for tutors. Get involved! Ask Tailana or Olivia for details since they have volunteered at Urban Arts. � Like to play? Play with kids at the Minnesota Children's Museum. � Write a novel in November for National Novel Writing Month. � Create a piece of art for the Young Artists Showcase for Sister Cities International. � Interested in art and youth activism? Contact Adrianna Rimpel, Program Manager for the Walker's Teen Programs at adrianna.rimpel@walkerart.org or 612.375.7628 EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY � Become a homework tutor at St. Paul Public Library. � Begin a tutoring service at GRS or volunteer at Crossroads Elementary School just about a mile from GRS. � MLK Day is in January. Plan an MLK CAS project. Check out this MLK Service site for connections. � Volunteer at the Minnesota Center for Victims of Torture. One of their projects rehabs donated bikes to give to new refugees in the Twin Cities. � Looking for a local CAS opportunity to help serve the needs of impoverished Minnesota? Check out Caring and Sharing Hands. � Volunteer every Wednesday evening at the Wellness Center. Many other GRS students have volunteered there in the past. http://lovegrowshere.net/wellnesscenter.html � Want to return to New Orleans to give more to the healing communities of this cool city? Find out how! Or volunteer for them from here; read more at the website. � Learn how to build peace at the Carter Center website. Full of amazing information and connections. � Tackle an important issue and volunteer with the Sexual Assault Advocacy Centers. � Raise money for vital medical research. Set up Pennies for Patients at GRS to raise money for Leukemia research. OTHER COOL RESOURCES � Find a CAS activity that aligns with your interests at volunteer match. � Check out the endless ideas for volunteering with your friends and family at Doing Good Together � Join youth from all over the country and take the Learn and Serve Challenge. � Apply for a grant to fund your cool service idea with Youth Service America � Get inspired! Read interviews with inspiring people. � Who are some of the heroes of 2007? Read about them in the UK newspaper The Independent. � Read a story from an interesting youth activist. � There are endless cool service learning projects. � Do Something awesome after reading these great ideas � Check out these inspiring videos of Oakland, California students' Urban Dreams projects � What have other Minnesota high school students done for CAS? Check out this article on a recent CAS Fair.

past

view calendar

Current Events and Homework

There are no current calendar items.

Class Downloads

5 W's of CAS reflection

(22.02 KB)

Wondering how to write a thoughtful CAS reflection? Read on!

Arab-Israeli Conflict Background

(827.9 KB)

This powerpoint presentation is filled with detailed information about the Arab-Israeli Conflict from before 1947 all the way until 2003 and beyond.

A great reference (much like a chapter in a textbook).

Arab-Israeli Historiography

(1.2 MB)

Great summary of different historical perspectives on the Arab-Israeli conflict. I highly recommend reading this if you are taking the IB exam.

Causes of the Mexican Revolution powerpoint

(46.59 KB)

Interested in learning more about the causes of the Mexican Revolution? Check this out!

Chicago Style guide

(53.76 KB)

Please use Chicago Style for footnotes and bibliographies in history class. This is the standard expectation for college history students as well. This guide shows you examples of how to cite within your paper and how to create Chicago Style bibliography entries. It also provides a list of great websites for Chicago Style.

China Intro Powerpoint

(3.85 MB)

Slides we used in class to explore Chinese history from 1850-1949 when you made frozen statues in class.

Chronology of the Cold War and Arab-Israeli conflict

(69.63 KB)

Here's the full timeline you created with your peers in class. All in the right order! Great idea to read and understand the shifting alliances in the Middle East during the 50s. If you're interested in more detail, ask me for chapter 6 from the Lesch Arab-Israeli conflict book, if I didn't already give you a copy of that chapter. Happy reading!

DC fundraising plan

(36.86 KB)

Don't remember what you agreed to lead for meeting our group fundraising goal? Check here!

EE Biology

(92.54 KB)

Sample EE

EE Biology 2

(8.63 MB)

Another Sample EE

EE Business and Management

(1.66 MB)

Sample EE

EE Chemistry

(4.27 MB)

Sample EE

EE Chemistry 2

(4.27 MB)

Sample EE

EE Economics

(634.76 KB)

Sample EE

EE English A1

(668 KB)

Sample English EE

EE Environmental Systems and Societies

(94.96 KB)

Sample EE

EE Film

(5.27 MB)

Sample EE

EE Geography

(2.43 MB)

Sample EE

EE History

(996.73 KB)

Sample EE

EE Human Rights

(1.02 MB)

Sample EE

EE Human Rights 2

(1.15 MB)

Sample EE

EE Info Tech

(9.74 MB)

Sample EE

EE Info Tech 2

(12.89 MB)

Sample EE

EE Islamic History

(443.65 KB)

Sample EE

EE Math SL

(8.24 MB)

Sample EE

EE Music

(6.52 MB)

Sample EE

EE Peace and Conflict Studies

(1.25 MB)

Sample EE

EE Philosophy

(5.24 MB)

Sample EE

EE Physics

(974.58 KB)

Sample EE

EE Politics

(909.73 KB)

Sample EE

EE Politics 2

(1.05 MB)

Sample EE

EE Psychology

(787.73 KB)

Sample EE

EE Spanish

(3.81 MB)

Sample Spanish EE

EE Spanish #2

(8.83 MB)

Second Spanish EE

EE Theater

(1.72 MB)

Sample EE

EE timeline 2011

(36.35 KB)

Class of 2012 IB diploma candidates - here's your guide for planning and writing your extended essay.

EE Visual Arts

(2 MB)

Sample EE

EE Visual Arts 2

(2 MB)

Sample EE

EE World Religions

(21.03 MB)

Sample EE

Examples of good and inadequate CAS journal entries

(52.44 KB)

Examples of Good CAS Practice

(100.9 KB)

Check out these examples of CAS activities that involve Creativity, Action and Service. This guide will help you choose activities that involve a new challenge for you, a real task, real consequences, and reflection.

Examples of Historical Investigations

(3.97 MB)

Here are some examples of IB Historical Investigations from past IB students. The paper on Reading Abbey scored 16/20 points, and the paper on the Sopot Spa scored 17/20.

Extended Essay Guide

(985.9 KB)

This document is the official IB guide to writing the extended essay. The first 30 pages are especially important to review as you write your extended essay.

Extended Essay Powerpoint-very helpful!

(225.79 KB)

Want to skim a helpful Powerpoint without a lecture? Check out this thorough, helpful presentation I downloaded from the Web.

Frequently Asked IB Questions at GRS

(103.94 KB)

Great Chicago citation guide!

(1.33 MB)

Here's a handy step-by-step guide for citing all sorts of sources.

GRS Academic Honesty Policy

(78.85 KB)

Wondering about citation, plagiarism, collaboration versus collusion, etc.?

Read on!

GRS CAS Guide

(71.17 KB)

All kinds of details that might help you plan your CAS activities. You received this CAS guide at the beginning of the school year.

GRS IB and Montessori guide

(331.78 KB)

Montessori and IB seek many of the same outcomes in helping to guide the development of adolescents. This document compares GRS and IB mission statements and outcomes.

Guardian permission form for DC trip

(96.26 KB)

Your guardian should complete this form, sign it and return to Melanie by January 7, 2011.

Guide to the IB Diploma Program

(806.16 KB)

Interested in pursuing an IB Diploma? Great idea! Check out this colorful, incredibly informative guide for details.

Historiography of the Mexican Revolution

(89.6 KB)

Here's an article that discusses the historiography of the Mexican Revolution. This would be a great source for expanding your integration of historiography into your paper!

How to write a critical annotated bibliography

(76.43 KB)

IB at GRS powerpoint

(38.77 MB)

Missed the IB information night? Peruse an overview of information about IB options at GRS in this Powerpoint presentation.

IB Course objectives for 20th Century World History

(41.98 KB)

What are we supposed to accomplish academically in this course anyway this year? All you want to know here.

IB History of the Americas syllabus 2008-2009

(40.96 KB)

IB Learner Profile

(38.15 KB)

The aim of IB at GRS is to help GRS students to develop into internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. The IB learner profile describes essential characteristics of IB learners.

Key Command Terms

(121.39 KB)

When I ask you to "analyze" versus "evaluate" versus "compare and contrast," what do I mean? Learn here!

Key thinking and analysis terms for history

(121.39 KB)

What's the difference between evaluating and analyzing? Find out here!

Keystone Community Services Volunteer Application

(42.5 KB)

Fill out this application and begin volunteering at the Keystone food shelf!

Keystone Rice Street Food Shelf Application

(28.67 KB)

Fill out this application to become an ongoing shopping aide at the Rice Street food shelf with Keystone Community Services.

Literature and Art of Justification assignment

(47.62 KB)

Lost your assignment sheet for the Art and Lit of Justification of European conquest in the Americas? Download a new one here.

Maps and key points on the roots of the modern Middle East

(14.98 MB)

Maps, bulleted lists, notes from presentation in history class 9/10/10

May Book Study - 20th Century Books - choose one!

(3.15 MB)

Here's a list of books you could read for our May book study. Choose one and bring it to school during the first week of May.

Mexican Revolution Paper Rubric

(54.78 KB)

I will use this rubric to grade your final Mexican Revolution paper.

Mexican Revolution powerpoint

(1.44 MB)

This is the powerpoint that we viewed and discussed in class.

NextStep Sustainability newsletter

(114.67 KB)

This monthly newsletter is loaded with cool local environmentally sustainable ideas and connections.

Painting analysis sheet

(39.94 KB)

Questions to spark reflection

(28.16 KB)

If you're having a hard time reflecting on your CAS experience, check out these sample stem sentences.

Research guide for IB History

(594.02 KB)

How do you strategically and effectively plan for and carry out a research project? This guide lays out a detailed research strategy.

Rubric for Art and Literature of Justification assignment

(48.13 KB)

Syllabus History 12 2011-2012

(80.9 KB)

Here's the syllabus for the year. Keep it handy for reference.

Truth Against Truth from Gush Shalom

(202.41 KB)

This is the bridging narrative document we were reading in class. Take a few minutes to read the rest of the items on your own!

Written primary source analysis sheet

(52.22 KB)

Great River School
Melanie Peterson-Nafziger