Just 50 days ago, our Year 7 learners stepped into secondary school with blank notebooks and endless possibilities. As they reflect on their first term, it is quite incredible to see how far they have come.
Year 7 Share Learning From Their First 50 Days of Secondary School
Building Confidence and Personal Responsibility
At Nexus International School Singapore, we believe learning goes far beyond textbooks and test scores. Equally important are the practical habits, resilience, and positive mindsets that help our learners navigate everyday challenges and thrive in our IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) curriculum.
Moving from primary school to secondary classes is a big, exciting step. This term, our Year 7 learners focused on essential self-management skills—learning how to organise their days, reflect on their progress, and handle pressure like stage fright or exam nerves. Above all, they are learning that making mistakes is simply part of learning and getting better.
Subject Spotlights: What Year 7 Have Been Learning in the MYP
Year 7 took to the stage to share with parents what they have been learning in some of their subjects this term. From Individuals and Societies to French and Spanish, the learners took us on a journey of their first 50 days in Secondary School.
Individuals & Societies: Unravelling a 5,300-Year-Old Cold Case
In I&S, learners turned into historical detectives to investigate Ötzi the Iceman—asking whether his death was due to natural causes, murder, or sacrifice. By adopting the perspectives of archaeologists analysing artefacts, pathologists examining physical injuries, and climatologists evaluating environmental conditions, learners developed their critical thinking skills. Using the PEEL writing framework (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link), they learned to distinguish facts from inferences and build compelling, evidence-backed arguments.
Languages Other Than English (French & Spanish): Connecting Beyond the Classroom
Learning a new language at an international school in Singapore is about far more than grammar rules; it is about building empathy and real-world connections. This term, our French and Spanish language learners shared their highlights, and explained how these key skills overlap across different languages.
- In French, learners explored identity and relationships while discovering that nearly 30% of English vocabulary shares French roots. They practised active listening, decoding strategies, and comic strip character analysis.
- In Spanish, learners discovered just how widespread the language is, connecting to a global community of over 600 million speakers through meaningful speech practice and cultural exploration
Visual Arts: Perspective, Identity, and Singapore’s Heritage
Exploring orientation in space and time, Year 7 artists mastered 1-point and 2-point perspective drawing. Taking inspiration from renowned local artist Yip Yew Chong, learners reflected on their local environment and historical shifts whilst embarking on a field trip to apply their classroom skills in the real world. Working on location, producing stunning watercolour and pen shophouse artworks that express their individual creative identities, our learners were able to observe Singapore’s architecture, culture and environment directly, rather than relying on photographs or teacher-provided examples. This encouraged them to slow down, look more carefully and notice the details that they may typically work past without ever considering. Importantly, field trips like this give learners a greater sense of ownership and authenticity as they have to make decisions about what to draw and what details to include. Working in a public space helped them develop confidence, independence and adaptability, whilst showing them that artists can work in a variety of environments and respond creatively to the world around them.
Physical & Health Education (PHE): The “Gymtastic” Unit
Through gymnastics, learners discovered how positive relationships and collaborative teamwork unleash creativity. Working in groups, they planned, performed, and filmed their routines, using video reflection to evaluate their performance and support one another in achieving their best work.
Drama: Unlocking Ancient Storytelling
Stepping back in time to Ancient Greece, learners explored the origins of theatre through Sophocles’ Antigone. Developing key communication and collaboration skills, they mastered choral speech and ensemble movement, learning to speak and move as one cohesive unit on stage.
An Exciting Year Ahead
50 days ago, our Year 7s arrived with empty notebooks and plenty of questions. After just one term, they have shown incredible growth, curiosity, and confidence.
Congratulations to all of our Year 7s for a successful first term! We can’t wait to see what next term will hold!
Learn more about how the MYP works at Nexus here or book a tour to see learning in action.
