The “art” of uplifting students in troubled times

From K-pop classes to painting lessons, here’s how Xishan Primary got some of their students to stay engaged and upbeat during the Circuit Breaker. We spoke to Mdm Janice Leong, Year Head (Upper Primary). By Tung Yon Heong

---

The school is quiet. Singapore is under Circuit Breaker, but a handful of students are decorating Merlion sculptures in their after-school enrichment class.

“For some of my students, staying home during the Circuit Breaker was a challenge,” said Mdm Janice Leong, the Year Head of Upper Primary at Xishan Primary School. So, a group of 60 students continued to come to school with 25 of them staying on for after-school programmes.

As Mdm Leong explains, “Schools are not just places to study subjects; they provide a structure for students to develop their character and life skills. (Without school) I was worried that some students would not only fall behind in their studies, I was also concerned about other aspects of their personal growth and emotional well-being.”

Once in school, a team of teachers supervised these students during offline and online lessons. They followed the same lessons as their classmates at home.

After school, there were a series of enrichment classes that Mdm Leong and the teachers put together with The RICE Company, a not-for-profit organisation that works with children and youths. Their programmes ranged from dance and theatre classes to art and craft workshops, and the goal was to let students exercise their creative muscles after their academic lessons in the morning.

A student learns to draw over a Zoom session with an instructor from The RICE Company

“By giving students the space to express themselves creatively, we wanted to help build confidence and lift their spirits. These activities also taught students how to problem-solve and take charge of their learning process. It wasn’t just about the end result but also finding joy in the process,” said Mdm Leong

Some students gravitated towards handicraft and practised making their own wallets. Some learnt the basics of speech and drama, while others practised the art of doodling and painting. Some even took to trying their hand at making a type of flavoured milk called Milo Dalgona.

These programmes were conducted five times a week during FHBL, with each session lasting up to one and a half hours, from 2pm to 3:30pm. They were carried out by the school teachers and instructors from The RICE Company.

Overcoming roadblocks

Running these after-school enrichment programmes with the Safe Management Measures in place presented some logistical challenges.

All classes that involved The RICE Company, such as the doodling classes, as well as the dance and drama classes, had to take place online. The RICE Company instructors would talk to the students over Zoom, aided by the teachers in the classroom.

And then there was the question of getting the right materials.

“There was this one lesson that required acrylic paint. But the art shops were not open during the Circuit Breaker period, so we had to improvise by using watercolour that was already available in the art room,” said Mdm Leong.

She also roped in her students to bring in additional materials like old newspapers and magazines, which they used in their artwork. “This allowed them to learn about recycling and reusing discarded items,” said Mdm Leong.

The students got to make a flavoured milk called Milo Dalgona

At the end of every session, Mdm Leong and the teachers would take stock of how the day’s lesson had gone and what they could improve.

Making an impact

Mdm Leong feels that the enrichment programmes conducted by the school and The Rice Company produced tangible results.

“One student who used to be shy learnt how to project her voice effectively through the Speech and Drama lesson. At a recent opening of a café in school, she was able to confidently sing solo in front of guests,” she said.

Another student became adept at doodling and was invited to showcase her artwork during an online art festival held by The RICE Company, Mdm Leong added.

All in all, the enrichment classes achieved their goal of helping students remain positive during the Circuit Breaker. “It’s because they were able to meet their friends and teachers in person,” said Mdm Leong. “And that, I think, cheered them up and strengthened their emotional bonds with one another.”