Student Leadership

Discover how Orchid Park Secondary School grows every student into a confident, compassionate leader through structured programmes, community outreach, and hands-on experiences.

Last updated 3 July 2026

Student Leadership in OPSS

Vision: Every Student An Empowered Leader.
Mission: To nurture and develop every student to become an engaged leader
Motto: Leading and Serving with Compassion

Our Beliefs

Student leadership development

is a personal journey; and
every student can be nurtured to be a leader to lead themselves and/or others.

Our Framework

Circular diagram showing Student Leadership Development Framework with a triangle inside labeled Training, Mentoring, Opportunities, and Assessment.

Theoretical Underpinning

In Orchid Park Secondary School, we subscribe to the Student Leadership Challenge Model (Jim Kouzes & Barry Posner) and the Practices Inventory. Below are the outcomes we desire our student leaders to achieve:

Student Leadership Challenge Model

Practices	Outcomes
Model The Way	An Orchidian with a ‘can do’ attitude who has initiative and volunteers
Inspire a Shared Vision	An Orchidian with a positive outlook who is able to rally others to work towards set goals
Challenge the Process	An Orchidian who is resourceful and perceptive
Enable Others to Act	An Orchidian who fosters collaboration and values diverse views
Encourage the Heart	An Orchidian who is compassionate towards their fellow men

Driven by a conscientious ATOM approach by the school:

ATOM approach

Approach	Description
Assesment	iLEADER (Customized to our needs) NYAA achievement LEAPS 2.0
Training	Customized in-house workshop for different groups External seminars, conferences and workshops with various partners, vendors
Opportunities	Various leadership positions in school Organisational role(s) in school events Participation in community outreach programme(s) in partnership with external partners
Mentoring	Feedback by teacher-in-charge Seniors mentoring juniors Peer mentoring

The student leadership learning and development in OPSS is broken down into a 4-stage LEAD cycle, (Learning, Envisioning, Acting, and Developing) where students demonstrate the behaviour indicators and social and emotional skills of a leader through opportunities given to them:

4-stage LEAD cycle

iLEAD	Key Domains Of Social & Emotional Skills
iLEAD	Self Management Self Awareness	Social Awareness Relationship Management Responsible Decision Making
iLEARN Self-discovery & Working with others Team & Project Management	A role model with a ‘can do’ attitude	Social Awareness, Relationship Management Listens and values diverse views (No idea is a bad idea)Encouraging and shows appreciation through understanding, care and concern towards team members
iENVISION Goal setting for Self & Team Planning & Organisation	Sets clear, attainable goals for self and team	Social Awareness, Relationship Management Motivates and influences team members to achieve set goals
iACT Application of Knowledge & Skills Lead by Example	Has initiative and volunteers	Relationship Management, Responsible Decision Making Builds on the strengths of the members of the team
iDEVELOP Self-Reflection & Review of Team Performance Challenge the process: Improve & Innovate	Improvises or experiments with new ways of doing things	Relationship Management, Responsible Decision Making Looks at a problem from many different angles Celebrates success (No matter how small)

Our Key Programmes

CORE Leaders Programme

[click here for more info on our CORE Leaders Prog]

Elderly people and young volunteers engage in a craft activity together at tables in a bright community center.

CORE (Community OutReach Education) leaders are the key drivers of the school’s vision to equip our students with the necessary competencies to become community leaders of influence, who are actively engaged and effecting positive changes in the community.

In this 4-year, multi-tiered programme, students are equipped with the necessary project management and leadership skills through workshops, learning journeys and experiential learning projects in collaboration with our community partners.

Students in green shirts sit at a table working together, alongside a wider room with groups of people doing activities.

Sec 1 Orientation

Two uniformed military personnel speak with students and a woman in a hijab outside a school building.

Our Sec 1 Orientation Programme is thoughtfully planned and executed by our student leaders.

CCA Leaders work with our student councillors in this mega project where they will have an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learnt throughout their leadership journey in the school.

Students in green and yellow uniforms sit in a circle indoors while two peers stand in the center presenting.

Students in blue uniforms and caps stand at a table displaying trophies while speaking with visitors.

To student leaders, this project is a culmination of their leadership training in the school. The team is responsible for the entire process, from self-discovery to team management, goal setting to programme planning, execution to self-reflection and finally, performance review.

In-House Student Leadership Camp

Two students present at the front of a classroom while others sit on the floor facing a projector screen showing Task 3.

Designed and run by our own staff, the student leadership camp aims to bring our student leaders out of their comfort zone and circle of friends, to forge new friendships and to inculcate the key self and group leadership skills of empathy, communication and teamwork.

It also marks the start of the planning process of the (next) Sec 1 Orientation, where student leaders are challenged to critique current processes and initiate positive changes where required.

Two photos: a group seated by the waterfront listening to a speaker, and a large group posing at Yishun Sports Hall.

Tri-Generational Home Care Project (Tri-Gen)

Students in blue gloves perform health screenings at tables with blood pressure monitors and testing supplies.

The Tri-Gen project is a tripartite collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS), Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and our students. It is financed by the North West CDC.

Through providing home care and social support, this 6 to 12 months project aims to raise awareness among the youths on the needs of the elderly.

Three young people stand around a table examining a small device, with a microphone and water bottle on the table.

This project sets the students to take their first step towards community leadership with an in-depth look at one of the most salient social issues faced by Singapore.

Students in green and yellow uniforms play a card activity at a round table, some wearing blindfolds and gloves.

The extended commitment and responsibility to provide regular care and support means it is also an invaluable lesson in self and group leadership.

Cross Country Race

A large group of children in colorful jerseys doing warm-up exercises outdoors near a waterfront park.

The annual Cross Country Race is organized and run by all Sec 2 and 3 Executive Committee members of the various CCA groups as part of their leadership training. It covers the entire process of envisioning, planning and execution of the event.

Students in yellow uniforms pose near a sign outdoors; others stand on a covered stage raising hands.

The event presents an excellent experiential learning opportunity where students learn about each other’s strength and weaknesses and how to work together toward a common goal. Teachers act as mentors to the organizing committee, facilitating rather than instructing to enable self-discovery and constructive reflection. Each year’s committee is encouraged to develop their own leadership style and implement their own programme ideas.

Play Inclusive Programme

Kids in blue and yellow jerseys playing basketball at OCBC Arena, Singapore Sports Hub.

Play Inclusive brings together students with special needs and students from mainstream schools to promote greater inclusivity through sport. Our secondary 2 sports leaders take on roles such as unified partners or coaches and work together with student athletes from Rainbow Centre Yishun Park School (RCYPS) to train and compete in a competitive event.

We believe that a good leader must first know how to serve, empathise with and appreciate others around him/her. These values are what we work towards in weekly sessions when students come together to learn a new sport, forge new friendships and nurture a greater understanding and appreciation for each other. Student leaders will also get to put their communication skills, patience, and empathy to test while learning values of teamwork, perseverance, and resilience.

Two photos of youth in yellow shirts posing in an indoor sports hall at Play Inclusive 2019 event.

Student Council

Students in uniforms raise their right hands during a pledge ceremony, one speaking at a podium labeled O.P.S.S.

Aspiring student councillors should embody the school ORCHID values and be a role model to the rest of the student population.

Students in red and green shirts work together at tables with laptops and materials in a classroom.

Student councillors are the voice of the student population, surfacing student concerns to the school leaders and working selflessly to provide their fellow students with a more enriching school experience.

Two photos: a group in blue shirts posing together, and people in red shirts sitting with elderly individuals at a table.