Read on to find out what “holistic education” is all about and what it looks like at International Community School (Singapore).
All parents want the best for their children. For those with young and school-going children, it’s only natural that you’re constantly on the lookout for ways to provide them with the best form of education. Chances are you’ve already heard of the term “holistic education” as well as its benefits. But what exactly does a “holistic education” mean, and what does it entail? We’ve broken down the buzzword in parent-friendly terms right here.
Holistic education is about educating the whole child
As the term suggests, a “holistic” approach to education means that educators place emphasis on the overall development and growth of a child. As opposed to an approach that focuses solely on academic outcomes, a holistic education supports a child’s social and emotional needs on top of academic ones. In simpler terms, this approach believes that education is more than just about achieving amazing grades. It focuses on helping a child develop emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually.
Environment plays an important role in enabling holistic learning
The holistic education approach places a lot of emphasis on creating a positive learning environment for children. Educators believe holistic learning can only occur in an environment where children feel safe and supported. A school that provides holistic education isn’t just equipped with physical facilities that stimulate a child’s curiosity to learn, but comes with student support as well. Some examples of support include counselling – both academic and social-emotional – and learning support. A positive learning environment filled with support and without judgement is believed to help a child discover their unique strengths and unlock their full potential.
What holistic education looks like at International Community School (Singapore)
As a school that follows the holistic education approach, International Community School (ICS) (Singapore) believes that education is more than just helping students achieve academic excellence. The school strives to create a nurturing environment where students can thrive and develop holistically.
For starters, ICS has a reputation for having a rigorous and challenging academic offering through its comprehensive American curriculum. This is delivered and taught by its highly experienced faculty, composed of a team of passionate educators committed to helping their students grow not just intellectually, but socio-emotionally, too. In fact, the school has an excellent Counselling Department, with dedicated social-emotional counsellors for Elementary, Middle and High School students. ICS is also recognised as the Gold Winner for Student Wellbeing Award in the Singapore Education Awards 2022, on top of winning Best Small School of Singapore.
Service learning is at the heart of holistic education at ICS, too. It’s essential to a student’s experience in the school and helps them grow into well-rounded, compassionate individuals. Starting from its youngest learners, Elementary students are taught meaningful service to use their skills and talents to serve others. As they progress to High School, students plan and tackle larger community service projects and face real-world challenges, putting their time, skills, and abilities to good use. Service learning is also a tangible way for ICS students to make a difference and positively impact the world around them.
Find out more about holistic education at ICS’ upcoming Virtual Open House
ICS will be having a Virtual Open House on 19 April 2023, where its educators will be talking about how the school provides a holistic education for your child. This is a free event for families, and attendees will receive a $500 waiver on application fees. Sign up now for your spot!
This post is in partnership with International Community School (Singapore).
