Leading with Empathy, Serving with Compassion @ YSS
Leading with Empathy, Serving with Compassion @ YSS is our Learning for Life Programme. Here in YSS, the area of focus of the programme is Community Youth Leadership, which was piloted in July 2015.

A Whole School Approach
Leading with Empathy, Serving with Compassion @ YSS programme is a school wide leadership in community outreach programme where students collaborate with and contribute meaningfully to the school and beyond the school community. Students are given authentic learning platforms through VIA to better understand and serve the needs of the community. During the process, students apply the leadership skills learnt as well as learn new skills.

As depicted in the middle ring of the VIA framework, the approach to the Values-In-Action (VIA) programme is through the Head, Hands and Heart. In engaging the Head, we teach our students to understand and think through the issues either in school, the environment or community. When we engage the Heart, we instill a sense of empathy in our students and a sense of satisfaction in giving back to the community.

In engaging the Hands, we equip and motivate our students to contribute actively. The four quadrants of the inner most circle show the VIA theme for each level, anchoring on our school values. As shown in the outer most ring, the VIA programme strives to achieve the desired outcomes of a Yishunite which is a thinker, an innovator and a contributor.

All lower secondary students will be trained in leadership skills of leading self and leading others. The 3 days training is conducted at the end of Term 2.

Selected students who show greater aptitude and interest in making an impact in the community will be equipped with skills of leading community to lead in community engagement projects. Some examples of the projects are the Amazing Race, Teachers’ Day Celebration and 4-day trip to Cambodia (part of YSS Goes Global programme).

In Amazing Race, the student leaders planned class bonding activities where students with Form Teachers are required to visit various stations outside of school compound based on the clue given at each station. At each station, students will attempt a team challenge together as a class. The planning and running of the Teachers’ Day Celebration is also lead by the student leaders. Students who are interested to go for the overseas 4-day trip are required to attend an interview before being selected to lead in the project.

Desired Outcomes
Through the Leading with Empathy, Serving with Compassion @ YSS programme, we hope to achieve these outcomes.

• students will hone their leadership skills through the development of empathy skills and cultivate a sense of belonging to the community through purposeful service
• school will establish itself in the community
• community-school partnerships will be strengthened through sustained and meaningful engagement

 

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