Royal Oak Schools is proud to highlight the inspiring CAS project undertaken by Julia Malone, a full Diploma Programme (DP) student at Royal Oak High School. For her Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) project, a requirement for the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, Julia engaged with 5th graders at Keller Elementary, fostering their understanding of global issues through art.
Julia's project was intricately connected to the fifth-grade exhibition, where students chose an issue of global significance and devised potential solutions. During her project, three exhibition groups from different classes presented their topics. Julia then showcased how artists around the world have addressed these same issues through their work.
"Presenting to the fifth graders made me feel more connected to the Royal Oak Schools community. I attended Keller K-5, and I really enjoyed the IB primary years program during my time there, which culminated in Exhibition. However, I hadn't returned to Keller post-pandemic, and I was a little nervous (I even got lost trying to find the Main Office)," Julia said. "This nervousness was alleviated when I met the fifth graders, all of whom were a very attentive and participatory audience. This made it easy for me to give my presentation and get my point across, which made me feel confident about my project."
The 5th graders analyzed various artworks and participated in enriching discussions about the art and the issues it represented. The project culminated in a creative session where the students created their own artworks inspired by the exhibition topics.
This project not only enhanced the students' awareness of global issues but also demonstrated the power of art as a tool for expression and change.
"My favorite part about this project was that I got to combine two of my favorite things--current events and contemporary art," said Malone. "I love how self-guided the entire IB program is and how my teachers (across the district!) have supported me through this project and all of my projects since Kindergarten. I'm grateful I got the opportunity to return to Keller and talk to current 5th graders embarking on the same Exhibition process I did six years ago. I didn't have many expectations going into the presentation, but my audience exceeded all of them. It felt like a full-circle moment for me, and I greatly appreciate the teachers, administrators, and students who made the experience so great!"