Growing Years

Student Leadership

Student leadership development is a key focus in Zhenghua Secondary School. We seek to develop every student to be a principled, future-ready leader. This means a leader who does what is right, seeks to serve and improve the lives of those around him or her, and is able to adapt and overcome challenges. Our leadership development framework is based on the Leadership Challenge Model, which was adopted in 2012. The 5 practices of exemplary leadership are taught and infused into level-wide programmes.

MORAL REASONING PROGRAMME (2012 TILL PRESENT)

This programme was developed in partnership with MOE’s Character and Citizenship Education Branch in 2012 based on Kohlberg’s 6 stages of moral development. Over the course of the programme, students use a visual compass to help them in the thinking process of making responsible decisions based on values by considering factors of self, others, legal norms and the common good. The programme leverages CSI (Clarify, Sensitise and Influence) questioning techniques and has served as a good guide for our teachers in facilitating the character development of our students.

Anchored on the Theory of SelfDetermination, the learning programmes help students identify their needs, develop self-confidence and build competencies both academically and psychologically. Through experiential learning, the school aims to inculcate values, build competencies and cultivate 21st century skills in our students.

Our Applied Learning Programme (ALP) was introduced in 2014 to provide students with the opportunity to acquire Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related skills through authentic and practice-oriented learning experiences. The focus of our ALP is Game Design & Simulation and Robotics, where students learn to programme robots for simple tasks and games.

The Humanities aim to provide students with multiple lenses to understand our world, to understand past and present trends, and to allow them to thrive in the future. One such platform is our signature programme - E3: Explore, Experience, Engage. The inquiry process in E3 involves sparking students’ curiosity, guiding them in gathering data and exercising reasoning and reflective thinking.

LEARNING FOR LIFE PROGRAMME (2013 TILL PRESENT)

The Outdoor Education Programme is one of the key platforms for the school’s Learning for Life Programme and goes beyond instilling a passion for sports and physical activities to maintain a lifelong healthy lifestyle. Through a spectrum of physical and outdoor activities, our students are imbibed with values and qualities that will stand them in good stead for the challenges in the 21st century.

Environment Education Programme

The school strives to inspire generations of students to preserve, protect and care for our environment through programmes to promote a green and sustainable lifestyle.

STRETCH PROGRAMME (2015 TILL PRESENT)

The Stretch Programme was started in 2015 to develop and nurture students who have shown potential to excel beyond their academic achievements. From 2017, the focus has been in the areas of skills acquisition, learning experiences and mentorship. Through this programme, students are given opportunities to pick up life skills beyond the curriculum and their Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs).

EDUCATION AND CAREER GUIDANCE (ECG)

In line with our school vision, we prepare our graduating students for the future through a robust education and career guidance programme. The March Sabbatical Programme features our annual ECG Fair where our students get to interact with professionals from various industries, and the various post-secondary institutions to gain a better understanding of the pathways available for them to pursue their educational interests beyond Zhenghua.

Positive Education

In line with our school vision, and with the increased emphasis on students well-being, we adopted Positive Education (PosEd) as an undergirding philosophy from 2016 to guide our planning of student development programmes . PosEd is an evidencebased approach which integrates the science of positive psychology in learning and teaching; PosEd focuses on the development of personal traits such as grit and optimism, and guides students in forming positive and meaningful relationships with others. In a supportive and caring environment, our students will be well-equipped to face any future challenges with the skills and knowledge gained.