NOVA Learning Intervention Programme
NOVA (Nurturing One's Valuable Attributes)
The NOVA Learning Intervention Programme was created in 2006 by Morning Star Community Services. It is a school-based programme that provides support to mainstream Primary 1 and 2 children with Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) difficulties, a service gap which was lacking in the community.
NOVA Learning Intervention Programme is an early intervention programme which adopts a preventive rather than a remedial approach.
How are Children Referred to NOVA?
Children are referred to NOVA by their school’s Form Teachers after they have been observed struggling with social-emotional issues due to stressful personal or family situations which they find hard to cope with or do not comprehend. As a result, these children are unable to adequately follow classroom teachings in school and exhibit weak social interaction skills such as:
- Low self-esteem and low self-confidence
- Difficulty managing anger
- Risk of adopting anti-social behaviours and becoming vulnerable to negative peer influence
- Risk of being the negative influencer (not just the victim)
Who do We Partner with?
Besides working with these children individually, NOVA also partners closely with schools and parents through frequent meetings and home visits. During these meetings, parents and teachers are equipped with positive strategies which they can apply at home or in the classroom. We believe that a Systemic Partnership helps extend teaching outside the NOVA Lab and provides children with a more holistic support.
Our Approach
NOVA adopts the CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning) research-based intervention which focuses on 5 core competencies:
- Self-Awareness
- Responsible Decision-Making
- Relationship Skills
- Social Awareness
- Self-Management
Children are taught these skills through:
With the right methods, at-risk behaviours (e.g. fighting, bullying, stealing) can be reduced and even avoided. We also strive to help children develop life-long abilities such as self-awareness, anger management, impulse control, and positive qualities such as empathy and compassion
Be Part of Our Programme!
The NOVA Learning Intervention Programme provides a structured daily programme for 4 hours after school, Mondays to Fridays. Email us at nova@morningstar.org.sg to find out how you can establish a NOVA Learning Lab in your Primary school.
Success Stories
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals
Javier, 9 years old
Javier was referred to the NOVA programme as he faced difficulty in managing his emotions and following instructions in class. He had low self-esteem and had difficulty accepting negative feedback and failure. Thus, Javier would refuse to do academic worksheets that were given to him.
During his time in NOVA, Javier learned how to identify and express his emotions more positively. With NOVA’s structured environment and routine interventions, Javier showed more willingness to ask for help and attempt topics that he was weak in. His self-esteem increased gradually, and Javier was able to accept correction from friends and teachers. We’ve received feedback from schoolteachers and family members that validate the positive changes in him.
Mrs Tan, Mother
My child and family have gained a strong family bonding through the NOVA programme. My child has also stopped using vulgarities and has learned how to show respect towards his elders. Our relationship has been improving since he enrolled in NOVA. The facilitators were very helpful and cooperative in helping me by sharing different strategies in communicating and handling my anger when dealing with my child better.
Natasha, 9 years old
Natasha was referred to the NOVA programme as she showed difficulty in grasping what was taught in class and required instructions to be broken down into simpler terms. When she was first enrolled in the NOVA programme, the NOVA Facilitators observed that she struggled with managing her emotions which eventually led to anger. Natasha also faced difficulty in accepting her mistakes.
Natasha displayed great progress during her journey of 1 year and 9 months in the NOVA programme as there was stability and a structured routine for her to follow. Natasha learned various cooling down strategies and was able to calm down by herself without any prompting from the NOVA Facilitators. Through weekly Special Time activities, such as playing with Pyssla beads and Kinetic sand, Natasha found trust in the NOVA Facilitators and was able to freely express her concerns and emotions to them. The NOVA Facilitators also worked closely with Natasha’s mother, whose mother-daughter relationship has since improved.
Aiden, 8
Aiden was referred to the NOVA programme as he struggled with anger issues. He used to hit his peers over minor disagreements and would shout unpleasant comments at them whenever he was angry.
During his 1-year-4-months journey in NOVA, the NOVA Facilitators were consistent and patient in working with him on regulating his emotions through various interventions such as the exploration of different calming down strategies like soft humming and reading. These interventions proved to be effective as Aiden gradually learned to express his displeasure towards his friends in a more polite manner. He was also able to utilise the calming down strategies which helped him in regulating his emotions independently whenever he was upset.
NOVA Learning Labs
St. Joseph’s Institution Junior
3 Essex Road
Singapore 309331
Montfort Junior School
52 Hougang Ave 8
Singapore 538786
St. Stephen’s School
20 Siglap View
Singapore 455789
Valour Primary School
49 Punggol Central
Singapore 828728
