COURTNEY CAS JOURNAL 2011-13 @cccasjournal-blog - Tumblr Blog

Weekly Routine Throughout CAS

So basically my main commitments which I had throughout was my dancing, this was long running over the whole of the two years, and I loved it. I will continue this activity long after the end of completing the IB diploma, as I had done before I began. I also carried on coaching trampolining at the gymnastics club, and still remain a member of United, the pupil "councilling" service that me and a group of others run within the school. I feel like throughout my time doing CAS i have helped alot of people in many different ways, and also improved in myself aswell. I feel that CAS has helped me to achieve many things that I could never have dreamt of right from the beggining and I have definitely grown up as an individual aswell. It has helped me gain some long term commitments which I hope to carry on for a long time, and it has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

My weekly routine throughout CAS normally consisted of, dancing on a tuesday, wednesday, thursday and Friday, Coaching on a monday and/or thursday, United on a thursday lunchtime. And then an extra few activities dotted throughout.

Group Activity - Carol Singing - December 2012

For our group activity we decided to (as it was near christmas time), go out and sing christmas carols to those less fortunate than ourselves. We decided to perform in an old folks home near our school. At first I was extremely apprehensive about this choice of activity as I do not like hospitals and homes, so I didnt know if i would be comfortable going round and singing. But once we got there it all went fabulously. All of the people in the home seemed to thouroghly enjoy our singing and it seemed to make them happy that we had put in this effort to come and see them at this time of year.

We did alot of rehearsals prior to the performance, and although very few of us were singers, we actually managed to get a pretty good sound, and we all had a laugh.

I took on the role of photographer at the event, as we thought that we may need photographs for a display we were going to make describing our CAS experience. Although, we were unable to take photos inside the venue as it was unethical to take photos with people in the background who may not give consent to have their photo taken. So we only managed to get a photo outside of the care home.

This was a really rewarding experience, and made me realise how lucky I was to be around so much of my family at this time of year, and that not everyone around the world is as lucky as I am. This was saddening, but I felt that I had done a something to bring happiness to those who may be alone this christmas, and although it is only a very very small thing that we did, it did appear to make them happy.

#working collaboratively with others #engaged with issues of global importance #Consideration of ethical implications

IB TRIP- June 2011 (putting it all in the one place)

This is my post from my old diary which I used before I had this tumblr account.

IB TRIP - June 2011 To begin our bonding as a group of IB students as we would be working together very closely for the next two years we went away on trip for a few days up north to have a fun weekend of group activities. White Water Rafting We went white water rafting; and I was terrified before I went in. I am not a very strong swimmer and am slightly scared of the water and especially fish. So going white water rafting was my first BIG challenge of IB. Getting in the boat, and setting off was probably the hardest bit, and once I got going, being around my peers made it enjoyable. I felt that I made friendships through my fear, and that I was helped out alot by the fact everyone was so supportive. I even got a chance to sit on the very front of the boat as we went down one set of rapids. I feel that through this experience I really grew, and became more confident in myself to make new friends with people I didnt really know, and enjoy what I thought Was going to be a terrifying experience. Cookie Competition Another thing I thouroghly enjoyed on the trip was the cookie competition. I learnt a new skill in being able to cook, especially baking has never ever ever been something I could do, but with the help of my friend James we managed to win an award for the texture of our cookies. I personally feel that our cookies were the best, and we should won the award for overall looks and tastiness. I really enjoyed this trip, and Im glad I went, as it helped me to bond with fellow IB students that I would be working with over the next couple of years.

#Undertaking new challenges #working collaboratively with others #showing perseverance and commitment #developing new skills

Footloose - August 2012

During three weeks in August I took part in a project called "Stage Experience" with the Edinburgh Playhouse. This being a chance for young people aged 14-21 to audition and take part in a musical on the Edinburgh Playhouse stage. I took this as an oppotunity to widen my horizons, and work on a big project with lots of new people. I also had the chance to work with new choreographers, developing my range of dance ability and increasing my awareness of the different aspects of dance that I can improve on. This helped me through the realisation that the way in which others teach can help me pick up on parts that I may not be so good at (for example in this show I worked hard to make sure my attitude placing in an arabesque was proper and also that my jumps were very good and I managed to impress new choreographers.)

Stage Experience consists of 3 weeks of intensive 9am-5pm rehearsals every day, but although it was extremely hard work, it was definately worth it, because I learnt alot about how to perform to such a large audience, but also more importantly the rehearsal process, which is a necesssity for the industry i want to go into when I leave school.

So learning how to deal with the challenge of working with such a large cast (100 people) alongside the stage crew teams was an exciting experience. I had to make sure that I was working closely with everyone, as without the team aspect of a show of this scale, the show would not go on! The three weeks were tough, but I enjoyed it so much that the weeks flew by.

One new thing I definately took away from this experience was the training I got on my singing, before, I never thought I could sing at all, but taking part in a musical of this scale has certainly developed this skill.

The show itself ran excellently, and we got a very good review. This is available at : http://thomdibdin.co.uk/review-footloose/

I really enjoyed performing on such a large stage but I do realise that this opportunity for me may have taken away from others who did not manage to get into the cast, also that the playhouse theatre possibly could have been losing a large amount of business, and in hard economic times like now, this is a significant part of my experience. But i am very grateful for the opportunity I got, and I feel that I benifited from it greatly.

#developing new skills #Consideration of ethical implications #showing perseverance and commitment #working collaboratively with others #Undertaking new challenges #increased awareness of strengths and areas for growth

Party leader - July/August 2012

Over the summer holidays I did 3 days a week for 4 weeks I was a party leader for children’s party at the gymnastics club I train at. Because the club is down in money, I volunteered to help out for free to give the club some help to save some money. So as a party leader, what I did was help make sure kids birthday parties ran smoothly so that they enjoy their parties. I run games with the younger children (because just playing on the equipment gets boring for the 3-6 year olds, but after that they just play on the equipment for their party, with a short break in the middle to eat and watch a movie.

What I learned from this was the challenge of looking after, and having the responsibility for, lots of children all at once and making sure they didn’t get hurt whilst in my care. I also learnt the ethical problems that came with this volunteering, such as making sure that children didn’t cuddle you (especially the younger ones who do get attached easily) but also making sure you aren’t entirely afraid so if a child falls you can still help them and catch them, because that is ok. It was also a new challenge for me as I am not confident talking to members of the public, and it was one of my duties to welcome the kids and their parents at the start so I had to overcome this.

Bake sale for love Oliver. - May 2012

As a group of ib students we decide to put on a bale sale in our shool for a local children’s cancer charity called Love Oliver. This was difficult for me considering I am the worst cook in the whole world ever. So I decided to take the challenege and make my own set of cakes.

I made chocolate fairy cakes with vanilla icing. I put marshmallows on top, and I think that’s what made them a good seller.

We made a lot of money around £170 and this brought home how much help we can be from such a small effort. Cancer charities and especially children’s cancer charities are something that are close to me, but also something that happens all around the world, and although we were raising money for a local charity, the issue was rasied about how many more children across the world are suffering and not getting the required help that they need.

#issues of global importance #engaged with issues of global importance

Dance classes - June

After the exam, I moved up to the advanced one class. This was a big jump and as a 'newby' I realised how hard I was going to have to work to keep getting better and better. But it gave me a chance to realise what I was good at and what needed most attention to get me up to the standard of the few dancers that were in the advanced one class aswell, and had been for a while.

I found out that my jumps, and allegro were my main strong points, and that this would probably be a reasonably smooth transition into this new class.

One thing I was alerted to needing work on was my pirouettes, and managing to control these to make the triples and fouettes easier and my core strength would be what would help me with this. So I decided that over the summer I would work on these things, so that when I came back, they would be alot easier to execute.

The end of June is when the dance school shuts for summer, so I wouldnt have any dancing for about 6 weeks.

#increased awareness of strengths and areas for growth #showing perseverance and commitment

Dance Exam - 27th May 2012

RAD Intermediate Ballet Exam - The day finally came for the exam, and I felt as if I was prepared, but still, I was incredibly nervous about going in. Although dance is something I am confident with, performances and exams always make me really nervous, so overcoming these nerves to perform at my best is a challenge I have to face. This is something that made me more nervous - What if my nerves got the better of me and I messed up because of that? This was something I have been aware of before and this was a chance for me to work on that area of weakness.

Well I got ready (luckily hadn't forgotten anything) and waited for that little bell to ring to say that the examiner was ready for us (the other girl sitting the exam at the same time as me and myself) to go through. The bell rang, and that was when the adreniline kicked in, but I also started shaking like a leaf. We went in, said good morning to the examiner, told her our names and numbers for the exam, went and put our pointe shoes, which we would change into later, at the corner, then headed over to the barre to begin the exercises in the exam. I was number one meaning I was at the front, putting extra pressure on me as it meant I had noone infront of me to guide me if I got completely lost, but luckily this never happened at all. Once the music started playing I knew exactly what I was doing and everything went really well. So, I began to calm dow, I did make a few mistake (head going the wrong way, or closing infront rather than behind) but other than that it all went well at the barre. The same goes for the centre practices, although on one exercise I almost began on the wrong foot, but i managed to catch the others girls eye, and the look she gave me told me to swap, and I dont think the examiner even noticed, which is good because in the exam you are not allowed any communication with the other candidate in the hall with you. I am aware that these ethical implications mean that if i passed would it mean that I had cheated my way to the top? But I feel that this is just an example of one friend helping out another, and if she had made the same mistake I would have done the same for her, so I feel that means that this particular thing was not wrong.Then the exam moved onto the solo dance. I chose the dance, out of the two options, that suited me better. I was aware that the classical ballet piece, even though the steps werent an issue, the more contemporary ballet piece was definitely more suited to me, and so this is the one I did on the day. The dance went extremely well and when I looked up the examiner had a smile on her face (which is always a good sign that she enjoyed it ). I then had the quick change into my pointe shoes, my feet were already agony but I knew this was the last section and once these last 7 exercises were done, it was all over, i performed to my best in all of these and continued smiling through the pain.

After the reverence, and I had left the hall I was so happy, and ecstatic that it was all finally over. And that all that hard work I had put in had paid off in the end, as I hadn't messed anything up too badly.

RESULTS DAY - AUGUST 2012

The day I got the phonecall from my dance teacher to be told that I had not only passed, but had achieved a merit I was extremely happy, and felt a huge relief, because this exam was the difference between me being able to apply to the dance universities I wanted to and not being able too.

Then to make me even happier, when the dance school opened again and recieved my certific, I realised i had gained 72 points, meaning I was only 3 points off recieving a Distinction, and also had got the highest mark that anyone had achieved at our dance school in the new syllabus. So I was incredibly happy, and realised that maybe my nerves werent as big a problem as I thought they were. And that maybe they were a strength because they gave me the extra boost to do well.

#increased awareness of strengths and areas for growth #showing perseverance and commitment #Consideration of ethical implications

Dancing - friday 20th april 2012

Dancing was a real struggle today as I have tonsillitis, torn ligaments and pulled tendons. I was in agony all lesson, but if I want to pass this exam, I have to just work through the pain.

Trampolining coaching - thursday 19th april

Today we had 4 trampolinists in the whole class that turned up. It was disappointing that people didn't even bother to turn up to a class they are actually pretty good at. With the 4 though, we still taught them just the same, and they all made up and learnt a new routine. Some of the kids didn't have any ideas what to put in their routines, so I had to help them, by going through what moves they could do, and picking their best 10 to put in a routine to make it look as best as possible. And at the end of the session all 4 of them had a brand new routine that they could (if they wanted) go to competition with. Even though most the kids are there for fun.

#working collaboratively with others

Dance class - wed 18th april 2012

Today was first day back to exam classes, and luckily I had revised over the holidays, so I still knew all the excersises, nd this made me feel like I had acheived something good, as I felt I had worked hard, and it had paid off. But, then it came to near the end of the class and I thought I had broke my foot. I collapsed to the floor after coming off pointe, and almost cried, I thought it was broken so I wouldn't be able to do the exam. Luckily, it is only tendons, a few day rest, and it won't be healed but it will be okay enough for me to just dance through the pain.

House dance

29/3 Today was competition day for house dance. Me and Erin have been working towards this day for months. For about 2 months I haven't had a full lunch time to do what I want, as I have been in Miss Fletcher's room working on getting our house dance perfect. Choreographing house dance was a tough job, it's tough because I didn't know the abilities of everyone who wanted to be in it, so it had to be simple enough for non-dancers to be able to keep up, and then difficult enough that it still looked good. But before the choreographing started we had to pick songs. After long discussions, we picked:- Skinny Love - Birdy You Make My Dreams - Hail and Oats Baby - Justin Bieber Sexy And I Know It - LMFAO Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO So we started choreographing the girls bit first, this was You Make My Dreams. And to be honest, this was the easiest part to choreograph, we did the whole thing in 1 lunch time, it was the teaching the younger girls, and getting them to turn up, that was the hard bit. We ended up having to change a bit of it, because it was too hard, and it looked messy, so we made it more simple, so that everyone kept in time. This was a last minute change, but luckily on the day, everyone remembered. Then we choreographed the boys to sexy and I know it, which was slightly harder, but we made it very simple and it ended up looking great on the stage. Especially the one little first year who was an AMAZING dancer. When he did his solo, it looked great. After that, I choreographed my solo and the lifts with Ross, there was never any definate choreography for my solo bit, just aslong as I got to DSR, by the certain point in the music. Then the lifts, were made up, but then completely changed to ones that looked millions better on the night before. Finally we choreographed the group to party rock, and it looked amazing, we spent about 4 lunch times on that alone, so make sure everyone was in time, and it was really worth it, cause it looked fabulous. And after all that work, everyone loved being on stage, everyone smiled, everyone had loads of energy, and I couldn't thank the Prestonians enough, because we WON. And I am the happiest I could be, because, I put in all that effort, even though I dance choreography was a new thing to me, and it really really payed off.

#planned and initiated activities #undertaking new challenges #developing new skills

Dance Class

28/03

I twisted my ankle tonight as dancing, but luckily it was right at the end of class. for the first part, because it was such a lovely day, we got to dance outside, but dancing on a sloping grass hill is very very hard, but it was a good laugh. Then we had to go back inside for exam practice, we went through all of the pointe work, which i feel i am finally fully okay for for the exam, and that I know all of that work solidly in my head. We then went through the solo variations, and i have picked to do the second one, the quicker more contemporary dance, as it works better to my strengths of big leaps and jumps, in comparison to having long arm and leg lines for the more classical first piece. I also got the DVD today, so i can now watch this and it will help me practice.

Dance class

March 1st Action We are now down to just the 4 of us in out ballet class, well there still are others, but they are in seperate hall from us with a different teacher. We are in the small class to make sure we are fully prepared for the exam in May. My revision book came today, and I feel like I really need to start using it. It is becoming a panic that I amnt going to be prepared in time.

Gymnastics training

Febuary 26th Action Lo-gy So the personal goal that I set for having more abdominal muscle definition by easter holidays is going to be a massive struggle. As tonight, I tried to push myself way too hard, and I have pulled every single stomach muscle. And I am in agony. I am going to not be able to do gymnastics for a few weeks, cause I am in a huuugeee amount of pain.

House drama - december 2011

Creativity and Action Taken place at school. Preston Falconhall Aladin Part played by me - The flying Carpet The rehearsal process for this performance in front of the whole school, was very long and tedious. I turned up for every single rehearsal even when I wasn't needed, and it was very annoying and stressful when other people who had larger parts than mine didn't turn up. I had to make up my dance for the part of the flying carpet alone, so this was a creative process, trying to work out how a "magical carpet" should move and dance. It was also action as I had to dance and flip on the stage during the performance. I feel that the actual performance of Alladin went very well, and we came first place. During the judge's speech at the end, she mentioned how graceful my performance, and movements were.

Dance Class -

1 February

Tonight i thought that my teacher was working me very hard, making sure all technique was precise and perfect. Later only did I find out that this is because she wants me and 3 other girls to be put in for the Intermediate ballet exam in May. This will be the big exam i need to get into university. So from now on i need to start working even harder than before.

GOAL FOR THIS PART OF CAS - PASS THE EXAM WITHIN THIS YEAR.

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COURTNEY CAS JOURNAL 2011-13