2023-2025 CAS Journey - written by Mina Kang.  After 18 months of CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service), the Class of 2025 at Xi’an Hanova International School has successfully completed its CAS journey. This achievement is worth celebrating, as it represents our growth, challenges, and achievements throughout the Diploma Programme. CAS is one of the core components of DP, and it requires students to engage in various activities beyond academics, fostering personal development and a well-rounded education.

Through CAS, we developed essential skills such as planning, communication, teamwork, leadership, self-management, and time management, which are beneficial for university and future careers. Additionally, we embraced challenges, explored new passions, and made meaningful contributions to our community. Whether organising school events, leading extracurricular activities, volunteering for service projects, or pushing ourselves in sports and creative pursuits, each experience uniquely shaped us.

Reflecting on our journey, we want to share our insights.

“During my CAS Programme, I learned the importance of starting with a clear initiative and detailed planning. The initial plan significantly impacts the process and outcome, as, without a clear plan, it is easy to get lost on the track of any project.” Hyeyun (Ellie) Bae

“Leadership is one of my many achievements. Each CAS experience related to leadership has, in my opinion, helped shape my abilities. I learned how to communicate effectively with my team members, be responsible, and plan the entire process. I am confident that in the future, if given the opportunity, I can be an excellent leader.” Tianyue (Tony) Wang

“In this CAS journey, I was able to improve myself positively. I participated in various experiences and activities related to my hobbies and future career. By engaging in these experiences, I enhanced my artistic and communicative skills. Also, CAS developed my time-management skills.” Yubeen (Ashley) Cho

“During the 18 months of CAS, the biggest achievement I have acquired is the skills to plan and balance my life. CAS has pushed me to participate in extracurricular activities while handling academics in my Diploma. Furthermore, by periodically writing the reflections and planning forms, CAS has helped me to know how to initiate and plan, which is helpful for overall time management and will also guide me in university.” Yutong (Yulia) Yuan

For future DP students, we strongly encourage seeking guidance from the CAS coordinator, Ms. Alex, and supervisors, as their perceptions and advice can make the CAS journey manageable and rewarding. More importantly, CAS should not be seen merely as a requirement but as an opportunity to explore personal interests and create a meaningful impact. By embracing challenges, being proactive, and keeping a balanced approach, CAS can become a journey of learning and personal success.

Wansheng (Samantha) Chen and Tianyue (Tony) Wang led a Crochet ECA. At the end, they donated scarves and hats to charity.

Hyeyun (Ellie) Bae participated in the High School Student Stanford Summer Internship (online) at the Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center at Stanford University.

Mingshan (Will) Li, Yutong (Yulia) Yuan, Ruoyi (Steven) Jiang, Mina Kang, Yubeen (Ashley) Cho and Suhyun (Grace) Park participated in the MUN conference at Dalian American School (DIASMUN).

Minjoo Lee, Mina Kang, and Yubeen (Ashley) Cho volunteered as Teacher assistants at the Korean Hangeul School in Xi’an.

Yutong (Yulia) Yuan participated in the Gender and Culture in the American Society Summer Scholar program at the University of Notre Dame in the USA.

Noah Smith and Akemi Saiful supporting whole school events such as Christmas Market, Carnival, and International Day.

Trigonometry in Comics: Y8 HL Class Creative Project - written by Mr Greg Chmielinski.  As part of their trigonometry unit, the Year 8 HL class embarked on an exciting project to integrate math into storytelling through comic strips. The challenge was to craft a creative narrative that featured trigonometric problems, specifically sine, cosine, and tangent, along with their solutions. Students had the option to hand-draw, print, or use digital software to bring their comics to life. The results were impressive—each piece a colorful and imaginative representation of their understanding of trigonometry, showcasing both creativity and effort. The comics are a testament to the hard work and innovative spirit of the class, and we’re excited to share their outstanding creations with you.

Math Kangaroo.