Student Development

“We must put values and character development at the core of our education system”

Education Minister Heng Swee Keat
MOE Work Plan Seminar 2011

Vision:

Confident students of good character who exemplify school values of integrity, excellence, compassion, enterprise and loyalty.

Mission:

Nurturing a community of caring, morally upright, enterprising and socially responsible individuals, equipped with life skills for life-long learning.

Framework

Our Programmes

The school has put in place processes and programmes that promote the character development of its pupils. These include Personal & Social Education Programme, Citizenship Programme, Leadership & Enterprise Programme and a range of varied and challenging CCA Programmes to meet the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) needs of the pupils.

The guiding principles for the Pupil Development Programme are value-based, holistic and developmental as illustrated by the Pupil Development Framework. They are driven by the school’s core values ‘Integrity, Excellence, Compassion, Enterprise, Loyalty’ and are in strategic alignment with its vision, ‘Every Individual a Thinker, an Achiever, a Global Citizen’

Key Programmes

Personal & Social Education Programme
Comprises mainly of Character Education Programme, Restorative Practices using Circle Time strategy and supplemented by various other care programmes in collaboration with external student care service providers and agencies to build our students’ confidence and self-esteem.

Citizenship Programme
Inculcates good citizenship through infusion of National Education in curriculum, service learning in Community Involvement Programme (CIP) through care for the elderly and the environment and active participation in community events in collaboration with Taman Jurong CC and South West CDC.

Leadership & Enterprise Programme
Aims to provide every student an opportunity for leadership in class, CCA, school and community level, supported by leadership and enterprise training and exposure to external leadership forums for all student leaders.

Character Education Programme (CEP)
CEP integrates Pastoral Care Life Skills, Education & Career Guidance, Civics & Moral Education, National Education, Community, CIP, Service Learning, Sexuality Education and Financial Literacy Programme. It aims to provide a systematic and thematic approach towards understanding and internalising the school values. Pupils will also be able to access Online Career Development Portal ecareers.sg where they can assess their interests, work skills, values and create E-portfolio.

Enrichment/Special Programmes

- ‘Value of the Month’ Programme - To promote and inculcate school and CME values in students and staff and create opportunities for all to share their thoughts on values and reflect on their actions

- Circle Time for all classes to encourage sharing of thoughts and values, help build pupils’ confidence and self-esteem and resolving conflicts.

- Project ACT – To value and respect students’ views in decision making by engaging them in the thinking and reflecting processes.

- Your Voice Our Commitment, One People, One School, One Yuan Ching Family - The long term goals are to cultivate an ethos of care and respect in the school community and nurture all Yuan Ching students into a Thinker, an Achiever, a Global Citizen.

- Trybe ‘You Can Do It!’ Programme – A 1-day programme for all Sec 1 students based on the DISC behavioural profile to help youths be aware and understand their unique behavioural strengths as well as accept and appreciate themselves and the people around them.

- Trybe ‘Dare To Dream!’ Programme – A 1-day programme for all Sec 2 students based on ‘Multiple Intelligences’ by Howard Gardner. It aims to inspire and guide youths to create and own a vision for their life.

- MindChamps’ ‘Champion Skills’ Programme - A 1-day programme for all Sec 3 students based on Champion Mindset concept of world-renowned neuroscientist Professor Allan Snyder. It aims to equip students with the 3 qualities of Champion Mindset and explore ways to apply these to their life and studies.

- Pupil Work Experience Programme – A 1 to 2-week programme for 8 to 10 selected Sec 3 students to be attached to companies and industrial partners identified by the school. The main objective is to provide pupils with the opportunity to learn about the world of work by direct participation and observation.

- Advanced Elective Module on Tourism and Hospitality – A 40-hour programme for 20 selected Sec 3E/NA students to give them an overview of the tourism, hospitality and leisure industry through an understanding of basic concepts and principles. This is a collaborative project with Singapore Polytechnic’s School of Business.

- Advanced Elective Module on Perfume and Fragrance Applications – A 40-hour programme for 20 selected Sec 3E students to introduce them to the field of Fragrances and help them to appreciate and apply the knowledge of Organic Chemistry to Fragrances. This is another collaborative project with Singapore Polytechnic’s School of Chemical and Life Sciences.

- Advanced Elective Module on Basic Health Skills – A 40-hour programme for 20 selected Sec 3E/NA students to introduce them to the basic health skills offered in the Diploma of Health Sciences (Nursing) course by Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Students will have opportunities to learn essential skills such as good body mechanics, taking vital signs and blood glucose monitoring.

- Elective Module on Hospitality Skills – A 20-hour programme for 24 selected Sec 4N students to introduce them to the various career opportunities available in the world of Hospitality. Students taking the module will acquire basic skill sets related to the key operational areas of a hotel business.

- Elective Module on Hairstyling – A 20-hour programme for 24 selected Sec 3N students. This will broaden the learning experiences of students and provide for their varied learning needs and styles. It will create an awareness in hairstyling and through product and technical knowledge, increase skills and employability.

- Elective Module on Motorcycle Servicing – A 20-hour programme for 20 selected Sec 3N students. Students will learn mechanical and electrical concepts through the servicing of electrical and transmission components of a motorcycle.

- Elective Module on Sports & Fitness Management – A 22-hour programme for 20 selected Sec 3N students. Students will learn to plan and design a customised fitness programme and exposed them to a possible career in the Fitness and Sports industry.

Behavioral and Emotional Support Programme

The school has in place a support system where students with learning, behavioral and emotional difficulties, are systematically identified and assessed for support as early as possible. Support is provided promptly by specially trained resources within the school. Clear referral process is in place for students needing external specialized support.

Student Leadership Programme

The school’s key guiding principle for student leadership development is ‘every pupil has the potential to become a leader and should be given opportunity to develop his or her leadership potential’. The school believes that student leaders can be nurtured through the development of leadership skills and that leadership development is a concerted effort of the entire school. This is in strategic alignment with the school’s mission of ‘Enriching Minds, Unleashing Potential, Impacting Lives’.

The leadership development programme is built on the school’s core values of ‘Integrity, Excellence, Compassion, Enterprise and Loyalty’. Student leaders are identified, groomed and trained through a structured programme which provides leadership opportunities for all. The training programme is based on the Leadership Challenge Model, designed by renowned leadership experts Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, in which five key leadership practices are identified. They are:
1. Modeling the Way
2. Inspiring a Shared Vision
3. Challenging the Process
4. Enabling Others to Act
5. Encouraging the Heart

Leadership Structure

There is a variety of student leadership positions available and a process is in place to identify and train students with leadership potential. Leadership opportunities are available for all its students in the Student Council, CCAs and Class Committees such as National Education (NE) Ambassadors, Youth Lifestyle Ambassadors, ICT Champions and Environmental Champions.

Student Council
The Student Council is the top echelon of student leaders. Its mission is ‘We Lead for the Welfare of our Fellow Students’ and motto, ‘We Lead to Serve’. It performs a pivotal role in pupil management as it acts as a link between the school administration, teachers and the student body. In addition, student councillors render invaluable services at various school functions such as Teachers’ Day and Annual Speech and Prize Presentation Day. They also help in the efficient running of the school by enforcing school rules. The goals of the Student Council are:
- to work as a dedicated and cohesive team, always looking for ways to improve the academic, behavioral and social well-being of our students
- to distinguish ourselves as role models through dedication to our work, moral courage and exemplary conduct

The Executive Committee comprises the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Publicity Head and Discipline Head.

Class Committee
Its objectives are:
- to nurture the spirit of co-operation, teamwork, sharing and caring among students
- to promote a sense of duty and responsibility among our students
- to develop self-reliance, self-discipline, diligence and initiative among students
- to develop the ability in making sound and discerning decisions among students
- to cultivate leadership qualities in students

The class committee comprises 13 members. There are the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, IC for Discipline, NE Ambassadors (2), Youth Lifestyle Ambassadors (2), ICT Champions (2) and Environmental Champions (2).

The Chairman and Vice-Chairman chair the monthly meetings with Form Teachers and Co Form Teachers as advisors. Both the class leaders will work together to foster better class co-operation and ultimately a greater sense of school spirit through active student involvement. They will also assist in the enforcement of discipline and class cleanliness.

The NE Ambassadors assist the NE Committee and HOD/Humanities in
- promoting and encouraging class participation in NE programmes and events
- planning and organising selected NE programmes and events
- disseminating information related to NE issues and activities to fellow classmates
- updating the NE section of the class notice board
- taking up other duties and responsibilities as and when assigned by HOD/Humanities, NE Coord or Form teacher on NE-related matters

The Environmental Champions’ role is to:
- liaise with the Environmental Education Committee on all matters pertaining to the school and community’s environmental activities
- promote, coordinate and monitor environmental activities carried out by the class
- take part in environment-related projects and competitions organized or supported by the school and environmental stakeholders
- plan and lead environmental activities in school eg. assembly talks, seminars, camps
- lead recycling projects
- champion for sustained positive environmental impact through best practices

CCA Leaders
CCA leaders are elected by members of the co-curricular activities to lead the group in fulfilling their objectives. Apart from helping teachers with matters pertaining to CCA administration and discipline, CCA leaders also take on the responsibility of promoting CCA spirit and school spirit. They are given leadership opportunities and training during the weekly parades, practices and meetings.

Sports Leaders are selected based on their interest, aptitude and attitude. They are given opportunities to attend the Sports Leaders Award (SLA) leadership development programme. The objective is to encourage students to develop the interest and skills to serve the school community in a variety of areas in sports. Sports leaders are also given on-the-job leadership training by organising the Sports Day, X-Country race & Inter-class sports competitions.

Major Achievements:

1. MOE Development Award (Character Development) (2007 – 2012)
2. National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) 65 Silver, 237 Bronze (2004 – 2011)