Our IJ Experience
Empowered Learners who are future – ready.
The school’s Strategic Objective 1 aims to prepare CHIJ KCP girls for the challenges that they will face in the real world and in the future. The world is changing rapidly. Building strong literacy and numeracy, acquiring social-emotional competencies, and inculcating sound values and developing them in 21st century competencies will be needed to prepare them for the future and make them Learners for Life. The school’s curriculum and the learning experiences that it offers play an integral role in ensuring that the Strategic Objective is achieved.
The 3 Strategic Initiatives are:
1. Authentic Learning Experiences that bring about the Joy Of Learning.
2. An Empowering Curriculum to develop resilient learners and future – ready learners.
3. A vibrant learning environment that enhances teaching and learning.
SI 1 Authentic Learning Experiences that bring about the Joy Of Learning.
The Joy of Learning is about having a Purpose of Learning based on intrinsic motivation. This builds in our students Passion for Learning driven by the desire to learn more, explore and develop their interests and strengths. With that, we will see Engagement in Learning and students will experience a sense of accomplishment.
Pedagogy
Authentic Learning Experiences
At CHIJ KCP, The Joy Of the Learner is fostered through authentic learning experiences where connections are made between the content and the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed in the 21st Century. These authentic learning experiences are opportunities and platforms for students to apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes that they have learnt in to their current and future lives. These experiences will deepen the learning of students, enabling them to become self – directed and confident, innovative, collaborative, and resilient.
Pedagogy
ICT to engage and empower
The effective use of ICT in the classroom will focus on how technological tools can activate learning, promote thinking and discussion, facilitate demonstration of learning, and be used for monitoring and feedback by both teachers and students. Through this active learning process, students are empowered as they learn 21st Century Competencies such as being self – directed and collaborative. In addition, the use of ICT in the classroom will engage and motivate digital learners who have spent most of their lives surrounded by digital communication technology and who prefer to be engaged through learning that is relevant, active, and instantly useful.
The Joy of Assessment
To encourage deep engagement and intrinsic motivation for life – long learning, Assessment is also an essential part of the learning process – the curricular objectives, content, and pedagogy. The continuous use of assessment information to guide teachers in improving their instructional practices to meet the needs of their students is key. Feedback is also designed to support students' further learning and encourage them to monitor and take responsibility for their own learning. Finally, students are able to learn about themselves as learners and become aware of how they learn. Students reflect on their work on a regular basis, usually through self and peer assessment and decide what their next learning step will be. Assessment helps students to take more responsibility for their own learning.
SI 2 An Empowering Curriculum to develop resilient and future – ready learners
Creating an empowering curriculum first begins with re – defining what success means at CHIJ KCP. In our school, success is visible when our girls become living examples of the school vision and virtues. When we are able to create an empowering curriculum that is anchored on these definitions of success, then our girls will have the opportunity to shine based on their own talents and strengths. This will in turn give them the confidence and empowerment that they need for the future.
Empowered CHIJ KCP girls are those who have become the best versions of themselves, with the power to pursue their own definitions of happiness and success. This empowered self is one who is courageous and confident. She is able to face her fears and step out of her comfort zone because she believes that nothing can hold her back. She has a strong vision of what she wants to achieve in her life and the lives of others. She is steeped in a mindset of inquiry that always has a focus on the future.
Empowered CHIJ KCP girls also believe in the power of having a growth mindset - everyone can learn anything, improve and achieve any goal with effort and the right strategies. Through the setting of personal goals, self – assessment and self – reflections, positive self – talk and a mindset of gratitude, we hope to develop resilient girls who can adapt to any challenge. Resilience is an important value in shaping the beliefs, attitudes and actions of a child. A resilient student is adaptable, flexible and resourceful, has good mutual social support, is able to cope with stressors positively, is able to navigate change and ambiguity, has a “can do” attitude and a sense of hope and purpose, and is confident to face challenges.
SI 3 A Vibrant Learning Environment that enhances teaching and learning.
A Vibrant Learning Environment is created through the fostering of a stimulating school environment and a vibrant classroom environment.
Vibrant Learning Environment:
Place-Based Learning: A Multifaceted Approach
Place – Based Learning connects learning to students’ surroundings—the buildings, the landscape while covering content and pedagogical goals and building school and community pride.
Place-Based Education (PBE) is an approach to learning that takes advantage of geography to create authentic, meaningful and engaging personalized learning for students.
Place-Based Education enables student agency, boosts access and opportunity and prioritizes deeper and more personalized learning.
Vibrant Classroom Environment
A vibrant classroom environment ensures pupil engagement through a conducive environment for teaching and learning. In this environment, pupils develop self – discipline during teaching and learning and have a great sense of pride and ownership of their classroom.
Inclusive Learners who embody the mission of CHIJ.
The school’s Strategic Objective 2 places a great emphasis on a values – driven and inclusive culture where all are included and accepted. It is this inclusivity that ensures that students enjoy coming to school, are engaged in learning and are motivated to give their best.
An inclusive learner views others from a strength perspective – unique individuals with specific talents, interests, and passion. They believe that everyone has the potential to learn and shine regardless of their differences. As examples of the mission of CHIJ, they aim to see the best in each person and strive to include the disadvantaged, the last, lost and least.
The following Strategic Initiatives enable the school to foster a CHRIST – centered community where the mission of CHIJ can be achieved.
S1 4 Community Student Leaders who actively contribute
The focus of Student Leadership development in the school is based on these main principles:
· Every student CAN be developed as a leader.
· Every student SHOULD be developed as a leader.
Leadership is no longer seen as the domain of a few who hold the expertise or authority but is learnt and developed in all. The development and cultivation of leadership competencies and dispositions in all our students is intentional through customised programmes in the Total Curriculum.
Through a three – tiered approach, students are provided with authentic leadership opportunities and experiences that will provide them with the knowledge, skills and values needed to navigate the current and future world. Most importantly, as a CHIJ school, leadership development is values – driven and aims to create girls who have a strong sense of service and who are able to show care and compassion to those who are in need.
SI 5 CHIJ (KCP) Girls who have a sense of pride for school and nation.
The identity of a CHIJ KCP girl is a strategic area needed to develop women of grace and substance. The CHIJ KCP girl embodies the mission of CHIJ in her pursuit for truth, justice, freedom and love. She is unique in her care for anyone who is disadvantaged. It is this mission that gives a CHIJ KCP girl her sense of pride not just as a CHIJ girl but as a citizen of Singapore. This deep sense of pride will ensure that our girls have a strong sense of belonging to school and country and will eventually motivate them to play a contributory role to their school and community.
SI 6 A CHRIST – centered community that embraces all.
A Christ–centred Community believes in the worth and dignity of each person. This inclusive community pays special reference to the needs of persons who are disadvantaged in anyway and where the last, the least, and the lost are welcomed and embraced. Every member of the community feels safe, supported and loved, regardless of their differences, unique contexts and backgrounds. It is a collaborative, integrated and interdependent community where all give generously of themselves and receive likewise and where the learning and well – being of all become a shared responsibility for each member.