Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
Corona Edition
Written and Produced by the CAS Newsletter Team: Adam, Christina, Emily, Guido, Mathilda, Tom and Urav
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
What is CAS Insights? The ‘CAS Insights’ newsletter provides a medium by which we can highlight the amazing CAS projects and experiences which our IB students are doing continuously throughout their time in the sixth form. Each issue of the CAS Insights will feature articles or relevant issues, and student endeavours; as well each month ‘featured’ CAS projects. The CAS newsletter is an open project, and anyone is able to submit articles or insights by simply communicating with the CAS newsletter team. CAS is a vital part of our IB diplomas, and it can often be overlooked, but it is important to share and reflect upon your co-curricular experiences throughout the sixth form.
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
In This Edition: 1. CAS in the Time of the Coronavirus 2. A Recipe Book for Charity 3. Panic is never the Answer 4. Death is inevitable, is aging? 5. What can you do for CAS this June? 6. ART X CAS 7. Featured CAS Projects: Tom Major Jay Marthur Chengyi Xu Sitara Gupta Lucy Wheeler
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
CAS in The Time of the Corona Virus As of March 26, more than a third of the world’s population is living under some form of lockdown due to coronavirus. More than three billion people in almost 70 countries and territories have been asked to stay at home. When the Government closed schools in UK our students returned to their countries and homes. They also were asked to spend two weeks in isolation and begin lockdown with their families. The important role of CAS in the wider education of students within the DP has never been more evident. Students rely on CAS more than ever for their well-being. Research has shown that a sense of engagement is important to well-being. Adolescent engagement in a rich and varied CAS Program is positively associated with well-being, and those experiencing engagement report greater levels of psychological well-being than those who did not. CAS students learn perseverance and the tenacity to continue with a task or activity, even though challenges may occur. At school, even if remotely, we continue to support our students in these weeks with suggestions and ideas to remain healthy and positive. The 2021 Cohort is developing CAS projects and they will be engaged in a range of real and purposeful activities. Every day they write to share their experiences on the CAS blog. They participate in daily challenges and express their creativity in many ways from photography and gardening to Lego. One of our students, Sara, writes words to inspire all: “In a world with crisis, life can be consumed by panic. Sanity needs to be found within it. Use the time you have to explore. Find passions and learn about what you love. This is an opportunity to find out more about yourself. As hard as the pandemic has been for so many people around the world, hope and positivity can help us through this. Try to help in any way you can, while still maintaining what your government advises. You could donate to a charity helping the fight against the virus. Never let panic get the better of you.” As CAS project she decided to produce masks to distribute to her local community with recycled Indian traditional sari. Another student, Greta, has started a new course in “International Humanitarian Law in Theory and Practice” to gain a broader insight into legal systems of modern times. Finally, Pauline wrote some memorable pages in her diary describing her weeks of isolations. Now in her hometown she decided to work in a local shop as a shop assistant as there is a shortage of workers. I am sure that this unusual and difficult time will produce unique and meaningful CAS portfolios that will give a perspective and learning opportunities for others in the future. By Ms Giovanna Iorio
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
A Recipe Book for Charity CAS (creativity, activity, service) as a mandatory component of the IB is meant to provide a counterbalance to the educational programme. It ensures that the students achieve outcomes like collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need. In Charity society, students have the opportunity to do exactly that. At the moment we are organising and creating charity events to raise money for charities supporting the NHS in honour of key health and care workers. Our latest idea, designed to the discomfort of being in quarantine is a recipe book created by Lily, Lexi and Leo Zneimer. It will consist of favourite recipes used during lockdown by members of the Haileybury community. The recipes can be for anything at all: simple, individual, traditional or self-created. The book should feel personal to the Haileybury community including a photograph of what has been made. Once the recipes are collected and the book has been produced, it will be accessible as an eBook in exchange for a small donation, which will go to charities supporting the NHS. The book itself will be a wonderful memoir of Haileybury during this difficult time and people will with certainty have fun with it while having the chance to explore and try out new recipes from maybe different cultures that they have never heard of. Or maybe one will find a recipe that they have always looked for but never found a good recipe for. All submissions will be included and we hope that everyone has fun taking part!
You can access the book through going on the connected school co-curricular website-> on activities.> Creative-> Connected Cooking-> Charity recipe Book By Emily Giers
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
Panic is never The Answer Panic is never the answer. Throughout history, many periods of global panic have occurred. The AIDS crisis, y2k, and Ebola, are just a few examples of times where the world as a whole feared what the future would hold and went into a period of desperation and fear. But, buying 20 rolls of toilet paper is not the solution. If Covid-19 can be a thing of the past, we have to work towards it without letting panic consume us. The best thing to do is to follow what your country’s government advises, and to use the free time some will have with lockdowns usefully. The Media playing a big part of our lives during this, we need to know how to ground ourselves and separate fact from fiction. As I write this, the number of people locked down under severe restrictions in the world is around 3 billion people. People under these restrictions can only go out for grocery shopping and other basic needs, a medical need, and going to work (for medical professionals, police workers, first responders and other jobs necessary for the fight against the pandemic). The rule when you are out is to be 2 meters apart from everyone at all times. Currently, the amount of people with Covid-19 in the world is 802,556, the number of deaths is at 39,012 and the amount of recovered people is 172,319. These numbers are unfortunately bound to rise in the coming weeks. Through data that numerous countries that had the virus earlier, scientists have come to conclusion as to how to attack this. From countries like Taiwan and South Korea, the world has learnt that there are two techniques to decrease the spread of the virus. The first is through lockdown and shutdown measures, which is very effective statistically after a three-week period for a decrease in death rates, and after a one-week period for a decrease in new cases. The second is through extreme amounts of testing and then tracking where the confirmed people have been and testing the people they have come in contact with. This way, all avenues have been explored and less people with Covid-19 will be roaming around. There are two types of tests. The antigen test and the antibody test. Groups of scientists have been trying hard to find ways to make these tests cheaper, more accessible, and making the amount of time to get the results faster. Unfortunately, when it comes to a vaccine, it is unlikely that there will be a commercially approved and distributed vaccine until 2021 at the earliest. It has been very interesting to see how different countries and people have responded to the outbreak. Some responses have been really alarming. Notably, in Florida beaches through spring break, college students were partying in very close proximity even though it was discouraged. People in the world need to be aware that this is very dangerous and thinking that it doesn’t matter because it won’t affect you is very selfish. Perhaps it is true that college students won’t be very affected by this virus, but their grandparents, or immune deficient people they come across in the grocery store could be in grave danger. Practicing social distancing is necessary and extremely helpful. It should be practised not just for the good of the individual, but for the good of the world.
By Sara Yaqouti
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
Death is Inevitable; is Aging? The once mythical goal of increasing life span may not be as far away as we once assumed. Until recently, the pursuit to slow ageing or even reverse its effects was the stuff of legends – or fictional movies. For years, beauty companies have demonstrated and sold chemicals that ‘assumedly’ take years off your look – introducing a staggering: $56 billion market. However, what if we could reduce the ageing process on a cellular level? Up until recently, this was laughable; today, an evidence-based race to delay or prevent ageing is invigorating scientists worldwide. Financed by businesses, academics, governments and investors in an industry worth $109 billion – which is expected to be worth $611 billion by 2025 – scientists are exploiting the knowledge of artificial intelligence and genomics to extend health and life spans. Senescence is a natural process in which cells permanently stop multiplying as they have aged, this has recently been highlighted as a key cause in age-related decline. Senescent cells have been defined as the opposite to stem cells – which have unlimited potential for division. Once a cell becomes senescent it is usually cleared up by the immune system, or, it accumulates and leads to physical weakness. Senescent cells may influence nearby cells; inhibiting them from carrying out their function effectively. A recent study conducted by Nick Graham and his team in California discovered that ageing, senescent cells stop producing a class of chemicals known as nucleotides – these are the ‘building blocks’ of our DNA. Graham took young, healthy cells and forced them to stop producing nucleotides. This led to the cells becoming aged; senescent. This meant that the production of nucleotides is essential to keeping our cells ‘young’, therefore, if we could prevent cells from losing nucleotide synthesis – the process by which nucleotides are formed – we could delay ageing. Incredible, isn’t it? Still theoretical? With this ground-breaking research at the fingertips of progressive scientists, Mayo Clinic in Rochester pursued this theory using a senolyctic drug – a class of drugs that target and eliminate senescent cells. The senolyctic drug coded as: AP20187 was administered in mice. This compound removed all the aged, senescent cells. The researchers observed not only a reduction in tumours and deteriorating cells; also, an extension in lifespan from between 17 to 35 percent. Treated mice also exhibited a healthier appearance and reduced inflammation of fat and muscle tissues. Surely too good to be true? Not only this, the mice showed no apparent side effects from the treatment. Multiple studies validating the ‘magical’ properties of senolyctic Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
drugs demonstrate that the search for the fountain of youth is approaching quicker than you may have imagined. Although senolyctic drugs are a vast step in the right direction, more extreme technological advances are being used to redefine the impossible. Studies show that meditation, dieting and sport promote a healthy lifestyle which may increase your lifespan. But by what, months? Why not think on a larger scale? What if we could increase the average lifespan from 79 to 179? Many stimulating research projects are being carried out to accomplish this ‘fictional’ vision. These projects think beyond senolyctics, beyond what you already thought was impossible. They will make you rethink the possibilities of science. Cryonics is the procedure of preserving human bodies using temperatures lower than -196oC, after death, for revival in the future. This procedure must occur immediately after a person is declared legally dead. Once your heart stops beating, there is still brain function occurring. Speed is key. Immediately, a heart-lung resuscitator – a device used to inflate your lungs and keep your body oxygenated – is utilized to stabilise the body and to keep the brain supplied with blood and oxygen. The body is then cooled in an ice bath to slow down metabolic demands – these demands include, excretion of urine and digestion. The ice bath also protects DNA and organ structure. Instantly, protective chemicals are injected to stop the blood from clotting. The body is then transported in an ice bath to a cryonics facility where a process known as vitrification occurs – this process replaces your blood with an ‘antifreeze’ solution to prevent cells from freezing. Finally, the body is placed into a computerized cooling chamber and then into a storage container for the years to come. Surely this is far-fetched? The theoretical possibilities of cryonics are endless; this is happening in practice. The US – based ‘Cryonics Institute’ is spearheading this revolutionary procedure. The president of this institute, Dennis Kowalski, said: ‘if you take something like CPR, that would have seemed unbelievable 100 years ago; now we take that technology for Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
granted’. The firm already has 160 humans frozen in storage containers and almost has 2,000 people signed up to be frozen after they die. The cost of this procedure is $28,000 and this is paid at the time of death. Dennis Kowalski predicts that in 9 years, these cryonically frozen humans will be able to be recreated. However, there are some issues with this procedure. Firstly, the cancerous cells that caused death and cells damaged from the freezing process would have to be repaired. Secondly, the cells damaged by the ageing process would have to be repaired. This is repairable using new techniques such as the administration of senolyctics. So, the pending question: ‘why is the cryonics market worth $16 billion when no human has been revived?’ Well, a less vigorous procedure with slightly higher temperatures has been performed on dogs, monkeys and other organisms who have survived this practice. As well as this, full organs and human tissue have been revived using cryonics. The possibilities of cryonics are endless, and this procedure will change the direction that science is heading in. Who knows what the future holds, but with advancements in this area of technology, that future will be here quicker than you realise.
By Jay Marthur
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
What Can You Do for CAS this June?
International Day Date World Environment Day June 5 World Pest Day June 6 World Oceans Day June 8 World Day Against Child Labour June 12 World Blood Donor Day June 14 Global Wind Day June 15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought June 17 Autistic Pride Day June 18 World Refugee Day June 20 World Music Day, International Day of Yoga June 21 International Widow’s Day June 23 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking June 26 United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture June 26 Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
These Internationally significant dates in June 2020 can be used to build up your CAS portfolio in a few simple ways. Anything you do in regards to these days is counted as CAS; perhaps you would like to make a poster, an article, a letter, a drawing, some cupcakes, or organise a zoom discussion about one of these issue with some friends. They all count towards CAS and can help you build your CAS portfolio. If you would like any help to peruse one of these CAS experiences, or you would like ideas for more activities, please do not hesitate to contact the Haileybury CAS Coordinator, Mrs Iorio.
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
CAS X ART I am here to explain to you all what my CAS Project: CAS X ART, really is. The main idea of CAS X ART is to promote the smaller, unplanned or possibly disregarded art projects you may be creating. My job as the coordinator for this is to ‘make your art shine’ and bring everyone’s talents and creations forward to the school community. I essentially do this by planning exhibitions, events and mainly different ways for you to enjoy and learn about art in a wide range of forms. I am always open for new ideas and projects, if you have any suggestions. Since I am currently unable to make these happen (not being at school), I have come up with two main projects. There is currently one ongoing project for you all to partake in: I wanted to remind you all of the CAS X ART submission project, mentioned last term. The theme being anything you can create during this current pandemic. Here you have the opportunity to create ANYTHING* at all - this meaning there are no limits to using materials and media. It can be as simple as a quick sketch/doodle or a big/well thought-out project. This is not a competition and please do not think you cannot take part because of your art insecurities. Everything is welcome. It simply is an opportunity for you to show off your incredible creations. A due date for this has now officially been placed on: Friday, June 26th, 2020 (the last day of school), whereby an upcoming email from Ms. Iorio and I with information how and where to upload it will be explained. Once we return back to school in September, developed photographs and/or electronic displays of your projects or (the best option, if possible) your actual pieces will be presented in an exhibition set during the first weeks or returning back to school. Simply as a recognition to your hard work and talents. I also am planning a bigger, extended version of this for over the Summer break, starting officially from Friday, June 26th, 2020. The main concept is the same, where you have the opportunity to create anything at all*. Again, not a competition. However, given that there will be more time and you most likely at some point might reach the state of boredom, I am asking for these projects to be as big or extravagant as you can make them. This can either mean (e.g.) you paint a huge painting, or you create (e.g.) many versions of a small drawing/sketch. There is no official due date yet, as there aren’t any official dates for returning back to school, but plan for it to be due some time through mid-August. You may send it to me and upload it in any way you desire, same as before. As Ms. Iorio loves to say, “everything is CAS”, so if it helps you-why not do it? Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
I hope to see many submissions coming in and if you have any project ideas, questions, or concerns at all - do not hesitate to contact me at: CV1002@haileybury.com.
Written by: Christina Van Baal
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
JUNE 2020: Featured CAS Projects -
Tom is an ambitious IB student who was keen to talk to me about his passion for biology and why he chose biology society as his CAS Project. I’ve known Tom for 4 years now and he still gets just as excited about biology as he did when he was a small remove. So, when I recommended that he should join the biology society a few months ago he signed up straight away. Biology Society is for anyone in the school who would like to learn and evolve their scientific knowledge while having fun and meeting new people. When I asked what the reason was behind him choosing this as his CAS project he said, “I absolutely love everything about biology from ecology to human anatomy. I want to give the future biologists of Haileybury the experience that I had with it and give them a rare outlook about my own little world.” The work ethic he shows in order to “fulfil a dream of mine(his)” is different to what other strive to achieve. The passion that Tom shows to this project is truly unique and I don’t think this is due to his nature or the way he has been brought up. I simply believe it’s because it makes him happy. CAS gives us the opportunity to do something that makes happy and distracts us from a repetitive schedule that many of us have in our lives. Who wouldn’t want to strive for happiness? Written by: Adam Mackay
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Jay’s CAS project is extremely fascinating. Jay is planning to write a series of articles based on research he is doing into BioChemistry. Jay plans to write about the advancement of BioChemistry in multiple fields of research and aims to complete 3-4 of these articles. The first one, which has already been written, and is truly incredible, is about how scientific innovation has proven to eventually delay the ageing process through different techniques. Its aim is to show that you spend so much money on products that claim to improve your looks but in the near future one may be able to do this chemically. These articles will allow other people to gain insight into areas of science that otherwise we would not hear about. Jay is letting us explore extremely interesting advancements in science which are innovative and may change the future of humans. If humans are able to advance in these ways through BioChemistry, then we can harness many more abilities from plants and animals. Jay now has future plans to write about cross species genetics, he will expand on how scientists plan to copy and paste genes from different organisms to enhance certain character traits. The scientists will observe how this changes organisms then how it will be applicable to humans. I for one cannot wait to read more of
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
Jay’s articles and this CAS project is a great way to do some extra reading, about science but out of your syllabus. Written by: Tom Major
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Chengyi Xu, a talented Lower Sixth IB Art student, has decided to put her Art skills at the service of the NHS to make her part in helping to raise funds for the British healthcare system, which is seriously being challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her CAS project consists in drawing photos in exchange for donations to the NHS. She draws them on her iPad and uses an app called Procreate. She began advertising her initiative on her social media profiles. The response was fantastic and went well beyond her expectations. In fact, she managed to reach her goal of raising £100 in just two weeks. Chengyi has always been interested in working on people’s commissions as she wants to go down the route of creative art. Hence, this initiative is a great way for her to also experience the field first hand, since this project is very much like working as a commission artist. In fact, some donors have certain requests and she has to work on their liking, whilst when they do not provide a photo or reference then her work is even harder as she has to create a design from scratch. This is one of the many examples of CAS projects that combines nurturing an interest and having a real positive impact on the world. The CAS Newsletter team believes that we can all learn from this CAS project and encourages all students to think about ways in which they could help their community in this challenging moment by putting to use their many talents and skills.
Written by: Guido Gnecco
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
Making Masks for Local Community We feel as though two students in particular deserve to be highlighted for the hard work that they are both putting into creating face masks for their local communities and people in need. Both pupils are defining the meaning of CAS through their actions alone! Sitara Gupta has been making face masks in India to help provide for her local community; similarly, Lucy Wheeler has been recycling old clothing and pillow covers to make face masks for those that need them the most near her home. More to come on these two amazing CAS projects in the next issue of CAS Insights!
Thank you and be ready for our next CAS Insights Issue which will highlight CAS Projects from this year!
IB pupils: please submit your ideas and suggestions to the CAS Newlseletter Team
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020
Meet the CAS Newsletter Team
Top Urav, Adam, Tom, Bottom: Guido, Emily, Mathilda CASXART: Christina Email: CASNewsletter@haileybury.com
Where can you find more about Haileybury CAS? Twitter: @HaileyburyCAS CAS Blog: giorio.edublogs.org/ CAS Newsfeed: Haileybury.com > Connected Co-Curricular > CAS
Haileybury CAS Insights: Issue 1
June 2020