XCL American Academy stands out for its mission to harness and ignite the ‘Pioneering Spirit’ in each of its students. Two of its teachers gave us the lowdown on how the school does it.
Every child at XCL American Academy (XAA) has the potential to become the Pioneer of tomorrow. One distinguishing aspect of this school is its objective to tap into and ignite the innate ‘Pioneering Spirit’ within children. As such, XAA’s curriculum and programmes are designed to help children develop a challenger mindset. At the same time, students are encouraged to embrace core American values of respect, honour, and courage.
But how exactly does XAA mould its students into Pioneers? We had the chance to find out from some of the best people – the very educators who teach and nurture them! Joanna Cory (Grade 3 Homeroom Teacher) and David Garrison (Grade 6 Homeroom Teacher) share their thoughts with us.
Thanks for speaking to us, Joanna and David. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to learn from you about what makes XAA special. Let’s start with talking about where students learn most, class activities at XAA. Are there any memorable ones to highlight?
Joanna: When it comes to something memorable, I would say it’s the first year of our school’s establishment as everything is memorable as we create experiences together. But if I have to choose something particularly memorable, it has to be our class trip where we went exploring the beautiful surroundings of our school. The field trip was specially designed for our students, and is aligned with our Science class objectives to learn about environmental changes. We deliberately brought the lesson outdoors to Yishun Park where we were surrounded by nature.
This allowed the students to actively explore and observe the wonders of their natural environment. They took pictures and notes of their discoveries in groups. It was a great opportunity to bond and see all the excitement in these Grade 3 pioneers. It is simply beautiful.
Following the trip, my students examined the pictures and notes they had taken and discussed whether these changes were caused by human activities or occurred naturally. They also reflected on their feelings about these changes. For instance, they noticed litter and identified it as a negative change, and then brainstormed ideas on how to reduce litter on a global scale.
How does this activity help your students achieve their learning outcomes?
Joanna: The main objective of this activity was to get my students out of the classrooms and encourage them to make their own observations about the world. After spending several weeks learning about plants, animals, and habitats, it was beneficial for them to have a firsthand experience of nature. With so many beautiful parks near the school in Yishun, my students were really happy outside. During their trip, they became thrilled when they stumbled upon a monitor lizard. It was incredible to see such a creature finding space in a crowded city, and we all shared the excitement.
What about you, David? Are there any memorable school moments to share?
David: Certainly! As an American international school in Singapore, we don’t only expose our students to traditional events like Halloween and Thanksgiving, but we also embrace local festivals like Deepavali and Chinese New Year.
Personally, I knew very little about Deepavali, so I was just as excited as the students by all the activities we did together in school. We decorated our classroom doorstep with a rangoli using coloured sand, got henna tattoos, sampled various traditional Indian snacks, performed a Bollywood dance, and learned about the mythological origins of the festival from one of our parents.
Does XAA have any activities that are student-initiated?
Joanna: Yes, we do. At XAA, we strongly believe in fostering learner agency whenever possible across the curriculum.
One example from my class is the recent student research project on natural hazards. Students were able to choose their own topics, conduct their research, and independently decide how to present their findings. The projects included posters, handwritten books, and some booklets created using iPads.
We also employ an interdisciplinary approach, fostering student-driven initiatives, cultivating their inquisitiveness, and empowering them to assume responsibility for their education.
As a great example, we tasked our students with composing persuasive letters to our Superintendent outlining the amenities they envisioned for our upcoming school facility. A recurring request was for a new garden.
Later that academic year, our students had the opportunity to co-plan a garden area for our new campus. During their Art classes, they researched plants, generated illustrations of their chosen flowers and trees, and wrote care instructions. In Math classes, they meticulously constructed a miniature version of the planters to scale. Concurrently, their Science curriculum involved crafting bar graphs employing Singapore’s yearly climatic data. This information was used together with what plants need and how the garden should be arranged to decide the best spots to plant things in the garden. It was fascinating to see how a simple idea can venture into an aspiration to create, innovate, and design.
David: Speaking of student-led initiatives, one of the most significant ones in my class was when my students approached me with a curiosity about how the US stock market operates. This serves as a prime illustration of students embracing responsibility for their learning. In response to their questions, I designed a mini unit to explain the fundamentals of the stock market and its operations. To add an engaging element into the class and offer students a hands-on experience, I allocated a hypothetical sum of $1,000 to each student and encouraged them to handpick and monitor stocks in the upcoming weeks. After this, we discussed and assessed the performance of the stocks they had chosen. The students are obviously mini investors in the making.
Sounds amazing! Last question: what do you love most about XAA?
Joanna: The aspect I appreciate the most about XAA is the student body. We have a highly diverse group of students who are eager to learn and grow. Observing them share their unique ideas and perspectives is truly amazing. Additionally, being a parent at this school myself — my daughter attends the Nursery here — I can vouch for her genuine love for attending school every day. An especially cherished memory for me was stepping into her classroom to read a book to all children, as the classroom always exudes warmth and friendliness.
Having observed firsthand how much my daughter’s teachers care about her development, I firmly believe that XAA is an exceptional learning environment for all students. As an educator, I can confidently say that we genuinely prioritise the growth of every student. We ensure that they receive a well-rounded education and have opportunities to express themselves while acquiring new skills in art, music, foreign languages, physical education, and swimming. All of these experiences take place within a supportive and nurturing atmosphere.
David: XAA stands out for its remarkable commitment to fostering an open dialogue about ways to elevate the academic and socio-emotional welfare of our students, consistently providing the space for such discussions. Furthermore, I deeply value how students are encouraged to be actively involved in initiating what they would like to learn through experiential learning. In addition, when educators from various disciplines come together to design how learning can be personalised to individual students to cater to their strengths and passion, it would truly benefit the students’ development.
Uniquely to XAA, our PioneerTown programme stands as a testament to our commitment to holistic education. This innovative curriculum empowers students to delve into practical, real-life subjects: including civics, economics, business, marketing, communication, and commercial law. Led by experienced teachers, our students are equipped with the skills to create, innovate, lead, and oversee businesses or even an entire city. This distinctive curriculum exemplifies our dedication to cultivating and nurturing the next generation of trailblazers and pioneers.
Thank you for sharing with us, Joanna and David!
This post is in partnership with XCL American Academy.