Nexus International School (Singapore) has an ambitious vision: equipping this Apple Distinguished School’s learners for an ever-evolving world. Like other good schools, it aims to help learners build the capacity to support their own personal well-being and prepare for change. Only by nurturing individuals who can deal with failure positively and bounce back, can a school say it has produced adults who function well in society and can contribute to their communities.
Looking at what Nexus offers, it has what it takes to make this happen. The curriculum is constantly updated with the latest research and technology, enabling learners to tackle the most pressing global issues head-on. With educators holding over five years of experience and two or more qualifications, Nexus can support each individual as they hone life skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and independence.
Still, the school acknowledges that there are some unprecedented challenges educators today face: the rising prevalence of social media and artificial intelligence. Both are reshaping what we know about life, work, and how we relate to one another. Rather than just reacting, the school sees this as a call to channel efforts towards a-must-seize opportunity for Nexus: a focus on resilience.
Purpose-built campus facilities provide a conducive setting for learners to try new things and achieve more. Source: Nexus International School (Singapore)
Resilience is the new readiness
Resilience is a multifaceted concept. It is the capacity to bounce back from difficulty and trauma. It is the presence of high-quality relationships, the type that makes darker days brighter. It is about taking a challenge that you think is just going to be a little bit too hard for you, but you work your way through that process successfully, eventually. It’s the cognitive flexibility to face new and unexpected conditions fast.
“When you recognise that you can do things, you’re more willing to try new things and you’ll be quicker to get up if the things you’re doing don’t work out. We have a major opportunity to do that in schools,” shares principal Simon Mann. “However, most of the time in schools, many play towards trying to make everyone successful. So, we’ve got to balance allowing failure while ensuring the possibility of success.”
Nexus achieves this by giving its learners a safety net. When mistakes happen, they can learn from them and become stronger. At every step of this journey, dedicated teachers are there for them, using the best and latest practices in pedagogy. With their guidance, a learner emulates the same and, in turn, becomes their own safety net.
“In the workplace, it is essential to know our own strengths and limitations while knowing when to draw others in,” says Dr. Heather Millington, Head of Secondary. “As such, developing learners who are self-aware and have good collaboration skills is one of our fundamental goals at Nexus.”
Nexus offers the IB curriculum to children aged three to 18 years old, with rich and engaging curricula reflected throughout the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme . Comprehensive and forward-thinking, coursework here enables learners to push boundaries and explore innovative possibilities. It grasps the learner’s interest through action-focused experiences that relate to real-life situations. Immersing in the real world and going global can feel challenging to children – and that’s exactly the point.
Nexus educators use their advanced degrees to push learners beyond their intellectual comfort zones. Source: Nexus International School (Singapore)
Exploring the greater world
With over 115 co-curricular activities on offer, Nexus provides learners with ample room to explore — and refine — their passions.
“We all remember our early experiences, whether standing on a stage, singing in a choir, playing our favourite games or discovering new experiences. While our interests may change during our formative years, each involvement plays its role in shaping our individual character,” says Andy Jefferson, Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) Director.
“Starting in Primary School, learners take part in a variety of age-appropriate activities, whether it’s sports, music, leadership opportunities, or other opportunities to volunteer and/or serve others. We encourage all learners to get involved so they can broaden their horizons and discover new interests that might well stay with them forever.”
If learners are interested in performing, the school has partnered with the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) to let them take the stage through a world-class drama school. But whether they are aspiring performers or not, all Nexus learners are given the platform to go on stage and put themselves out there, whether it’s a line in a class presentation or a musical showcase.
Meanwhile, learners who are into sports often compete in local and international competitions like the Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools (ACSIS). They train in the kind of spaces the pros do, such as the school’s FIFA and World Rugby specified turf field. If they’re not looking to compete, there are non-competitive opportunities as well and they can pursue other activities, like inline skating, simply to try something new.
“It is very important to help learners find their meaning and purpose, so they understand what makes them tick and know what they care about,” says Mann. “Whether learners pursue these passions as a career or something that they continue to engage in for personal fulfilment, this is an area central to their development.”
Sounds like the right school for your child to succeed? Check out Nexus International School (Singapore) here.
