Overseas Family School (Elementary) offers the International Primary Curriculum to students from Grade 1 to Grade 5.
At Overseas Family School, we offer the International Primary Curriculum (IPC).The IPC aims to improve learning at schools to develop globally competent learners willing to take action to improve the world. The focus is not only on academic learning but on the development of the "whole child" through clearly defined Personal Learning Goals and International Learning Goals. The Subject Learning Goals along with the Personal Learning and International Learning Goals form the foundation of the curriculum. They define what students are expected to know, what they should be able to do, and the understandings they will develop. The IPC follows a thematic approach offering a wide range of units with different subject learning within each unit.
Learn more about our Elementary School
Learn more about IPC from the International Curriculum Association website
Each IPC Unit of Work in the International Primary Curriculum is designed around one core purpose: improving student learning. The cross-curricular units are based around themes to help children make sense of the world they live in and to develop in them a sense of international-mindedness. The Subject Learning Goals are broken down into different types of learning: factual knowledge, important life skills and conceptual understanding. Teachers plan experiential activities that provide for both choice and challenge. Students are provided opportunities within units to research and record their findings and lead their learning based on the feedback they receive from their teachers.
The development of language is central to a student's intellectual, social and emotional growth, and is seen as a key element enabling students to access the curriculum. Learners construct meaning based on their previous knowledge, attitudes, experiences and abilities. English language skills are developed across the curriculum; the strands of written, oral and visual language are interrelated and interdependent. Language learning is most effective when learners are engaged in the meaningful use of language in authentic contexts. In Reading, to best meet the needs of our students they are assessed and lessons are planned according to their needs. Reading is taught through a balanced program that allows students to develop their reading and comprehension skills. Students who need additional support are provided support by a Reading Support teacher.
All students have five lessons of Mathematics per week, including one period of Coding. Students in Grade 2 to 5 are assessed within the first few weeks of school to determine their mathematical understanding. Based on this data, previous assessment results and teacher recommendations, students are then assigned a Mathematics teacher and performance group. Emphasis is placed on meeting the students at their level of understanding, tailoring a program that suits their needs and helping them reach their full potential. Grade 1 students have Mathematics with their homebase teacher.
All students have one lesson of Art and Music per week. Physical Education is taught twice a week. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Library lessons occur once per fortnight for Grade 3 to 5 and weekly for Grade 1 and 2. Our ICT lessons are fully integrated within our thematic IPC Units of Work along with the development of computing skills and understanding cyber safety. Library lessons complement our curriculum in several areas. These lessons occur in our purpose-built library. All students receive one period per week of Chess instruction. These specialist sessions are taught by fully trained specialist teachers. Students who are passionate about these areas may join optional lunch-time activities in the library, organised sport, art, music, chess and ICT.
Our Health and Social Education (HSE) curriculum empowers students with the knowledge and skills, to understand themselves and be able to play an active and positive role in our diverse community. With a strong focus on kindness, respect, and empathy, students learn how to care for their personal well-being, build positive relationships and know that they can seek help from trusted adults when needed. Through engaging and age appropriate learning, we equip our students with strategies to regulate their emotions and keep themselves and others safe, both within and beyond the school environment. Learning within the HSE is closely related to the Personal Learning Goals of the IPC which encourage students to develop learning dispositions that build collaboration and problem solving skills. All students will have one lesson of HSE every two weeks.
Overseas Family School acknowledges the significant research and evidence on the importance of maintaining and developing each child's mother tongue wherever possible. The Mother Tongue program at Overseas Family School aims to maintain and further develop students' mother tongue within the school program, primarily utilising elements of relevant national curriculum and making links to the IPC Units of Work where appropriate. Students work on the four strands of language: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.
Mother Tongue program teachers are trained teachers in the mother tongue they teach. There are 15 mother tongue languages offered: Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. Students have four hours of Mother Tongue lessons per week.
Students proficient in English can choose to learn a new language, choosing from French, German, Hindi, Mandarin and Spanish. Foreign Language classes operate at the same time as the Mother Tongue classes.
As an international school, we have many nationalities and cultures in our student population. Even though most of our students are already bilingual or trilingual, we believe that continuing to learn languages enhances communication as well as cultural understanding. Our classes are taught by highly qualified staff members who make language learning fun and engaging. The beginner levels focus mostly on oral skills, while higher language levels place a balanced emphasis on reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Overseas Family School offers students for whom English is not their first language instruction from specialist teachers trained to teach English as an Additional Language to elementary classrooms.
Students can participate in pre-season trials to be selected for our competitive sports teams (OFS Tigers) and take part in the Athletic Conference of Singapore International Schools (ACSIS). With the exception of our Competitive Swim Team and Girls Gymnastics Team, the OFS Tigers train twice a week within the ACSIS season for the particular sport and age group.
Students can participate in our Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs), to widen their personal interests. These sessions are held once a week. Students will join others from their grade levels and rotate through different activities like origami, drawing, book club, readers’ theatre, quiz club and much more. Additional opportunities include our annual Musical Production for Grades 4 and 5 students, music ensembles, lunchtime sports and Enrichment Program activities.