Leading in Nexus, Leaders for Life
At Nexus, we are passionate about supporting our learners’ development into well-rounded individuals. As an international secondary school in Singapore, our focus isn’t just on academics; it’s about nurturing future-ready learners and equipping them to thrive in an ever-changing world. Through skill-based learning, we understand the importance of providing opportunities and experiences for them to thrive. In fact, there are a variety of ways that we foster holistic development within our secondary school programme.
Leading in Experiences: Helping Secondary Learners Discover Their Passion
Nexus International School (Singapore) offers a diverse range of Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) designed to complement academic pursuits and support personal development. These opportunities help learners discover hidden talents and develop essential leadership qualities.
CCAs allow learners to explore diverse interests and hone their talents – participating in a robotics club might ignite a passion for engineering, while the drama club could unleash a love for performance. The exploration offered through CCAs broadens their skill set and helps them identify potential career paths. Additionally, they provide different opportunities compared to classroom learning and help learners maintain a healthy balance between academics and other passions or hobbies.
At our secondary school in Singapore, learners also have many opportunities to develop their leadership skills. For example, the Secondary Learner Council provides a platform for learners’ voices to be heard as the leader learners take initiative while collaborating with their peers and teachers. With their critical thinking skills, they address concerns and propose improvements within the school community. Through fundraising events and social initiatives, the Learner Council cultivates leadership qualities including responsibility, problem-solving, and effective communication.
Similarly, the Care for World Ambassadors provides a platform for learners to champion sustainability. From organising recycling drives to spearheading awareness campaigns, learners can identify environmental issues affecting the local and global community. For example, in their first project, the Care for World Ambassadors took a deep dive into finding out how much food waste was generated during lunch and shared their findings to generate awareness within the school.
Nexus also encourages learners to participate in the Model United Nations as we strive to develop globally-focused individuals. The simulation transports learners to the heart of global diplomacy as they represent different countries, debate pressing issues, and propose solutions. Being aware of current affairs is essential for learners to stay relevant and informed. It supports learners’ research, communication, and negotiation skills, all essential to enhance their successful futures.
Leading With Empathy: The Care Movement
Nexus International School (Singapore) fosters a culture of empathy and social responsibility through the Care: MVMT, an impactful school initiative, including Care:Self, Care:Others and Care:World. There is a strong focus on creating positive change through three pillars: within themselves, the communities they are a part of, and the world. It empowers our learners to identify societal issues, brainstorm solutions, and actively engage in projects that address real-world needs.
Care: MVMT goes beyond traditional service learning projects. It guides teachers and learners to become more aware of how the things they engage in around school are often related to one of the three pillars. Starting with Care for Self, this pillar embodies our school’s holistic approach to personal well-being. This focus on empathy for oneself allows learners to then go to the next step to connect with and contribute to others on a deeper level through Care for Others.
As a part of this component, Nexus Care:MVMT Ambassadors became internationally accredited Mental Health First Aiders to learn effective approaches to supporting others.
Care Ambassador Mohan shared, “I really enjoyed the training course. It was fun, very interactive and the content covered was very interesting. I was surprised to know so much about how our mind works when we are not at our mental best and how this can affect everything in our lives. I enjoyed learning about how to help other people when they go through things like depression and anxiety, and I feel equipped to help my friends and people in need with this knowledge.” – Mohan
Another perspective that learners gain is through the Care for World pillar, where they realise and appreciate the impact their actions have on the world. Learners understand their contributions, no matter how small, create a positive sense of community, responsibility and belonging. Secondary Learners work together to develop solutions with a global perspective.
For example, year 12 Nexus learners organised a beach clean-up at East Coast Park as part of their CAS programme, making a direct difference to the local community. They also went on a meaningful CAS trip to Cambodia, staying at Kong Maha village to improve the local school and provide lessons about oral hygiene. They gathered toothbrushes and toothpaste that was contributed by their year group and the Nexus community as a donation to the village. Nexus encourages learners to pursue causes that they care about and these are just a few examples of the many projects that our Secondary learners undertake as part of their personal interests.
Leading Through Action - Service Learning Through the IB Curriculum
With developing well-rounded learners at the forefront of our academic programme, the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum supports our ethos through service learning and creative projects. Learners participate in service learning through Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) which encourages them to step outside the classroom and contribute to wider communities. Thanks to Nexus’ strong connections with many businesses and organisations around Singapore, learners have access to ongoing projects and work experience. Because of these long lasting partnerships, learners can build on work done by previous years and see the impacts on the community.
Within the CAS framework, learners also design and implement service projects that address community needs. This can range from organising a food drive for a local shelter, volunteering at an animal rescue centre, or leading workshops on social issues affecting youth. Beyond volunteering, it is about allowing these learners to lead and take ownership of their personal projects. Learners develop agency alongside other essential leadership qualities as they learn to identify needs, plan strategically, delegate tasks effectively, and take responsibility for the success of their initiatives.
Empowering Secondary Learners For A Changing World
Nexus empowers learners to become leaders with passions, purpose and hobbies. By actively participating in a variety of groups and initiatives, learners are exposed to knowledge and skills beyond the classroom. From critical thinking to teamwork, these skills that they develop not only enrich their academic experience but also prepare them for success in higher education and beyond.
Being a confident communicator is like having a superpower – this means that our learners can articulate their ideas persuasively and advocate for change. Nexus advocates strongly for developing and supporting learner agency as it encourages them to speak up and out. That’s why our learners are willing to take risks, try new things and share their thoughts. Fortunately, as an international school in Singapore, we have plenty of opportunities for them to do so. Ultimately, they become role models to younger peers and have the confidence to aim high with their aspirations.
Nexus aspires to nurture learners who not only possess strong academic credentials but they are also equipped to confidently thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. By fostering empathy and a commitment to making a difference, our Secondary learners become changemakers who will shape a brighter future for all.
Nexus International School (Singapore)
As a school for learners aged 3 - 18 years old, we love sharing our insights on education, learner wellbeing and learning in general.
