An integrated learning experience

NSEP components are integrated into the entire learning experience of students throughout their four or five years of secondary school. As Mrs Lee Sing Yee, Subject Head of Pastoral Care, explains, "We actively make sure that they are developed under these domains: cognitive, aesthetics, physical, social moral, student morale and student leadership."

No reading on the job! Sec 1 students are hard at work in a community newspaper collection drive.

In Mathematics classes, for instance, Sec 2 students might learn to intepret statistics by using actual data from charts based on the Kyoto Protocol to combat global warming. "With environmental issues being a hot button topic, we expose students to different sides," says Mrs Karpagam Yoga, HOD for Maths and part of the team who developed the NSEP. "For Science, they might touch on the acidity of soil or water, linking it back to the envionment." Even PE sessions come with a little environmental food for thought, as the teacher would explain how the air quality affects the performance of sportsmen.

A key pillar of NSEP is a 'Ready for the World' Seminar for Sec 4 and Sec 5 students. An annual extravaganza designed to help students jumpstart the process of planning for their future, the line-up features talks by teachers as well as presentations by speakers from external organisations and various ITEs, polytechnics and junior colleges. Apart from topics covering post-secondary education and career choices, the students are exposed to valuable life-skills such as financial literacy, social etiquette and networking, sexuality education and cyberwellness.

Mrs Yoga and Mrs Lee have overseen NSEP for several years and witnessed how it has equipped students with life-skills.

These talks are already paying dividends for Ong Li Yen. "I learnt how to read people's expressions and how to phrase what I want to say," states the student from Sec 4I. "It comes in handy because when we disagree with friends, we tend to have 'cold wars."

Learning how to manage conflicts was a vital skill for Li Yen in her role as former head of the Student Council. "I put such techniques to work when the Council had to decide on the executive committee for the Teacher's Day programmes," recalls Li Yen. "We all had different views as to who should be in charge for logistics or finance, for example. But this time, we were able to air our points of view and come to a compromise."

And they are off! Sec 4 and Sec 5 students embark on a walkathon, a chance for them to bond and reflect on the NSEP activities they have shared over the years.

Other highlights of NSEP include a Sec 1 bonding camp, a learning journey to Kuala Lumpur for the Sec 2 cohort and an adventure camp for Sec 3 students. And this year, the students gathered their collective strength to give back to the community in a big way by celebrating CIP Day-CVSS CAReS (Compassion in Action, Ready to Serve) on the final week of the first semester. Sec 3 classes planned and organised a fun-filled Green Carnival to raise awareness of environmental issues.

Their Sec 1 counterparts held a newspaper collection drive, while the Sec 4 and Sec 5 students headed out for a neighbourhood walkathon to raise funds for needy schoolmates as well as the school's adopted charity homes. The Sec 2 students had earlier completed a service learning project on meeting the needs of the elderly, so they made CVSS CAReS Day a time to reflect on how they could improve family bonding and inter-generation relationships.

Overcoming fears with a positive spirit

Recounting how NSEP has helped him overcome the anxiety of meeting new faces, Hung Sean of Sec 5B relates, "The Sec 3 Adventure Camp was not something I looked forward to, since our classes were split and I didn't know anyone in my group then. But there was this incident where one of the girls was stuck while navigating the obstacle course. I didn't even know her name then but yet we all cheered her on!"

Speak up, don't be shy! There is plenty of frank interaction during NSEP seminars, such as this one on Sexuality Education.

Besides fostering a spirit of camaraderie, NSEP camps also have a hand in getting students to face their fears head-on. "I was afraid of heights and when I got down I was close to tears!" recounts Png Gene of an obstacle course in a recent camp. But she emerged with a greater resolve, and the Sec 3H student now confidently declares, "You have to take risks if you want to do something. When I'm in difficulty, I tell myself, 'I have survived that, so now what is there to be afraid of?'"

Boldness is one thing. Learning to deal with different people, not all of whom are encouraging, is another. For Nur Amira Bte Roslan of Sec 2I, going from door to door to collect newspapers was a real character-building experience.

"Out in the neighbourhood, there were kind-hearted people who opened their doors," she recounts. "There were indifferent ones, and then there were those who slammed the doors in our faces." Though at times frustrated and saddened, Nur Amira refused to let such incidents affect her. "We decided at that moment that we are going to be the nice ones!" she declared, displaying a readiness to take on the world with a positive spirit that captures the very essence of NSEP.