We know our children’s futures don’t depend on academics alone: creativity and innovative thinking is what sets us apart. Here’s why this top international school in Singapore is nurturing curious, creative kids through theatre and the arts…
Want to teach your child soft skills that matter in the real world? Encourage their creativity. International school XCL World Academy (formerly known as GEMS World Academy Singapore) – which we love for its balanced approach to education – is keeping kids thinking on their feet and building big imaginations with its fantastic arts program. Check out what the kids got up to during the school’s latest drama and theatre festival, and what you can do at home to keep those creative juices flowing…
Get creative, kids!
It’s all about a holistic education at XCL World Academy (formerly known as GEMS World Academy Singapore) : from kindergarten all the way to Year 12, students enjoy a balanced school life that’s not just about academics, but about sports and the arts too. After all, challenging kids outside their comfort zone and keeping them trying new things is how you teach life skills such as flexibility, encourage innovation and help young people realise they have talent in ways they never expected!
Putting the arts in STEAM…
So you might have heard that XCL World Academy (formerly known as GEMS World Academy Singapore) is big on STEAM, a teaching approach that helps build problem-solving skills (check out this cool video to see a class in action!) – but did you know that the ‘A’ in STEAM is for Arts? Every child at GEMS (Singapore) is exposed to visual arts, music and drama. Even the littlest students enjoy music classes, and in a pioneering move, all students Grades 1 to 5 are provided with a violin or cello as part of the instrumental string program. Older students continue to explore music, visual arts and drama, and each year, the school puts on a great show for the families: this year’s production of The Wizard of Oz was a huge hit!
A festival of creativity
XCL World Academy (formerly known as GEMS World Academy Singapore) ) recently hosted the Primary International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) Drama Festival for 93 students from five international schools around the country – which was a wild success. Following a central theme of ‘City in the Sky’, visiting artists worked with the youngsters on hands-on workshops, from designing and building cardboard structures to making abstract skyscrapers with elastics and bodies, to storytelling and role-playing exercises.
Learning along the way
The ISTA Drama Festival was all about learning to collaborate, experiment, develop empathy and connect with new people – and have fun! It’s all part of the commitment at XCL World Academy (formerly known as GEMS World Academy Singapore) to nurture young individuals who can think outside the box, stay curious and use their creativity to show the world what they can do!
Keep it going at home
Parents, we know it’s hard, but here’s where you relinquish control. Focus on the fun. Embrace the mess. Then help your child develop responsibility by making them clean everything up afterwards!
- Shake things up during your dinner table conversations. Try asking: ‘What if…?’ ‘ What changes would you make to…?’
- Make a game that uses uses everyday objects. What can you do with bowls, spoons, shoes, water bottles, cushions, pillows…
- Don’t throw out the garbage: what can you make out of junk?
- Spend time cloud gazing. What do you see?
- Turn on the music and just dance. Or wiggle!
Find out more about XCL World Academy (formerly known as GEMS World Academy Singapore) at gwa.edu.sg, or tour the school at an upcoming Open House!
This post is sponsored by XCL World Academy (formerly known as GEMS World Academy Singapore) .