Character & Citizenship Education

Character & Citizenship Education (CCE)

Welcome to the heart of Greendale’s holistic education. In line with our school motto, Ad Astra (To the Stars), the Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) Department is dedicated to nurturing every student into a Confident Individual, Self-directed Learner, and Gracious Citizen.

Our curriculum is intentionally designed to anchor students in our core GRAC2E values - Graciousness, Resilience, Appreciation, Commitment, Collaboration, and Excellence while inspiring minds, nurturing hearts, and empowering growth.

1. Our Core Focus Areas

We believe that strong character is the foundation of all learning. Our CCE curriculum focuses on:

Social-Emotional Competencies & e21CC: Equipping students with critical skills for the 21st century.
A Caring & Enabling Environment: Fostering positive Teacher-Student Relationships (TSR) and a robust peer support ecosystem driven by peer bonding, peer helping, and peer influencing.
Citizenship & National Identity: Deepening students' understanding of their roles as Singaporeans to actively contribute to the nation’s well-being and security.

2. Key Curriculum & Programmes

Our classroom and experiential programmes provide a multi-faceted approach to citizenship and personal growth:

Form Teacher Guidance Period (FTGP) & CCE (Mother Tongue Language): Dedicated spaces for deep conversations, values instillation, and life-skills development.
Cyberwellness & Education and Career Guidance (ECG): Navigating the digital world safely while exploring future aspirations.
Sexuality Education: Developmental guidance for our Primary 5 and Primary 6 students.
National Education (NE): Commemorating critical milestones to strengthen national cohesion - Total Defence Day, International Friendship Day, Racial Harmony Day, and National Day.

Cyber Wellness at GDPS

Students taking part in small-group activities during a cyber wellness event.

Recess activities during Cyber Wellness Week

– Students playing games interactive games that teach the importance of online safety and the power of digital respect. Building a kinder, safer internet at GDPS.

Students playing a cyber wellness board game during a school activity.

Students discussing cyber wellness topics using activity cards in small groups.

Recess activities during Cyber Wellness Week

– Students mastering the rules of the digital road—from protecting their privacy to lifting others up in online spaces—all through play!" #Cyber Wellness #Memory Game #Snakes and Ladder

Total Defence Day at GDPS

Student signing a safer internet pledge at a school cyber wellness booth.

Students completing safer internet pledge activities during a school event.

Recess activities during Total Defence Day (in conjunction with Cyber Wellness Week)

– Reinforcing Digital Defence, students making their pledge for a Safer Internet Space

Display board filled with students' safer internet pledge cards.

Digital Defence at GDPS – Our Safer Internet Pledge Board

International Friendship Day at GDPS

Students taking part in a cooperative team-building activity with classmates.

Students participating in a movement-based team challenge during CCE.

What better way to celebrate International Friendship Day than by stepping into someone else's culture? Students got a hands-on lesson in the rich traditions of the Philippines by learning the Tinikling dance. It was a wonderful reminder that friendship is all about collaboration, trust, and sharing new experiences together.

3. School Initiatives

To bring our core focus areas to life, the CCE curriculum is supported by a suite of signature, school-based initiatives designed to strengthen relationships and build a safe, enabling environment for every child:

• Fostering Positive Teacher-Student Relationships: Beyond the classroom, our unique Let's Chat initiative provides dedicated, meaningful platforms for teachers and students to converse, connect, and build strong bonds of trust.

• Fostering Positive Peer Relationships: We actively encourage peer bonding and mutual support through targeted initiatives like Let's Buddy Up and the Breakfast Club, ensuring every student feels a sense of belonging from the very start of their day.

Breakfast Club at GDPS

The best way to start the day? Together! Our Breakfast Club is in full swing, with students fueling up for a day of learning right alongside their classmates. Sharing a morning meal in the classroom isn't just about good nutrition—it’s about building bonds, catching up with friends, and starting the school day with a smile.

Students performing a role-play during a classroom character education lesson.

Students joining hands during a classroom team-building activity.

Breakfast, buddies, and building character! From high-stakes strategy to laughs over tabletop games, our Breakfast Club is where Greendale students learn the true value of collaboration and graciousness.

#Breakfast Club #The Great Hoop Escape #Tangled

4. Experiential Learning & Global Perspectives

Learning at Greendale extends far beyond the classroom through authentic, real-world experiences:

• Cohort Learning Journeys: Museum-based learning experiences for Primary 4 to Primary 6 students to appreciate local history and culture.

• Trips for Internationalisation Experience (TIE): An opportunity to deepen in our students the e21CC of civic, global, and cross-cultural literacy. We also aim to cultivate an appreciation of the region’s cultures, growing economic opportunities and dynamism; and develop students’ awareness of our contemporary realities, to strengthen their confidence and commitment to Singapore.

• Building on the success of our 2024 and 2025 trips to Kuala Lumpur, we expanded horizons by bringing our Primary 5 student leaders to Suzhou, China, with an exciting upcoming trip for our Primary 4 students to Bangkok, Thailand in 2026.

2026 Cultural and School Immersion Trip in Suzhou, China

A beautiful exchange of culture and smiles! Our students immersed themselves in school life at Suzhou Pingrun Experimental School, sharing laughter and even taking the stage for a special performance. Proud of our students for being such wonderful ambassadors!

5. Values in Action (VIA): 'Gracious Greendalites'

Our signature VIA programme empowers students to develop empathy, take ownership, and become socially responsible citizens. Using a scaffolded, three-phase developmental approach, students expand their sphere of care as they grow:

Developmental Phase	Level	Theme & Focus
Lower Primary	Primary 1 – Primary 2	Graciousness in Personal Habits and Home: Starting with self-discipline and appreciation for family.
Middle Primary	Primary 3 – Primary 4	Graciousness within the School Community: Cultivating positive peer relationships and care for the school environment.
Upper Primary	Primary 5 – Primary 6	Graciousness toward the Wider Community and Environment: Actively contributing to society and environmental sustainability.

Gracious Greendalites (VIA)

Students cutting activity sheets during a classroom learning lesson.

Students recycling paper as part of a classroom environmental activity.

Spreading joy, one secret note at a time! Our latest VIA project aligned with the Singapore Kindness Day movement, encouraging our students to look out for and appreciate their peers. By writing anonymous notes of encouragement to their 'Secret Friend', our students are learning that kindness doesn't need a spotlight to be powerful.

#Gracious Greendalites #Overcoming with Kindness #Secret Friend

6. Student Leadership: Nurturing GRAC²Eful Leaders

At GDPS, we believe every child has the potential to lead and make a positive difference. Leadership is about developing character, taking initiative, and making a meaningful impact. Through our Student Leadership Framework, we nurture GRAC²Eful Leaders who lead with purpose, confidence, and integrity.

Our Leadership Philosophy

Our framework draws inspiration from the geese "V" formation, where each member takes turns leading while supporting one another toward a common goal. This reflects our belief that leadership is a shared responsibility built on collaboration, communication, and mutual encouragement. Students embark on a developmental journey of:

• Leading Self: Striving for personal excellence, responsibility, and self-management.

• Leading Others: Serving the community, inspiring peers, and contributing positively to the school.

At GDPS, leadership is a journey open to every student. Together, our GRAC²Eful Leaders make a positive impact, not only within the classroom and school, but also in the wider community.

Developing Leadership Capacity

We actively equip our leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to lead effectively through:

• Leadership Camps: Strengthening resilience, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving through indoor and outdoor experiences.

• Role-Specific Training: Specialised training conducted by various school departments to prepare leaders for their specific responsibilities.

• Learning Beyond GDPS: Engaging with secondary school leaders and external partners (such as Republic Polytechnic) to broaden global and leadership perspectives.

Student Leadership Training

Student leaders attending a leadership workshop in the computer laboratory.

Empowering the leaders of tomorrow! Our student leaders stepped out of their comfort zones and into an intensive leadership training session. Through hands-on challenges and team-building exercises, they explored what it truly means to lead with empathy, communicate effectively, and guide their peers with confidence.

#Student Leadership #LeadershipTraining #Leading with Purpose

Leadership Camp

Students posing for a group photo during an outdoor learning programme.

Taking leadership to new heights! Our student leaders traded the classroom for the great outdoors at the Dairy Farm MOE Adventure Centre. They pushed past their comfort zones, built trust, and discovered what it truly means to lead with resilience and empathy.

#Leadership Camp #Resilience #Future Leaders

7. Shaping the Future, Anchored in Values

Character and Citizenship Education at Greendale Primary School is more than a curriculum. It is a lived experience. From daily classroom interactions and scaffolded Values in Action (VIA) projects to global immersion trips and progressive student leadership opportunities, we intentionally design every experience to mold the hearts and minds of our students.

Guided by our school values and inspired by our motto, Ad Astra, we stand committed to nurturing resilient, empathetic, and forward-thinking individuals. Through the collective efforts of our dedicated educators, peer support networks, and student leaders, we continue to build a vibrant community of confident, self-directed learners who are proudly anchored in values and ready to contribute meaningfully as gracious citizens of Singapore and the world.