Avenues seeks to work in partnership with our students and families to create a positive school climate and to help students thrive individually and in society.
In alignment with our community values of welcome, safety and respect, we believe all members of our community—including partners and guests—must be treated with equal fairness, opportunity and respect without regard to differences in ethnicity, national origin, race, creed, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, sexuality, body size, disability, age or marital status. We believe there are many ways to understand and experience life and that multiple perspectives and different experiences are the foundation of an excellent education.
To ensure a school environment that is safe for all and conducive to learning, Avenues will respond promptly and privately to situations of behavior on the part of any community member that violates our values and are inappropriate, unethical or illegal.
Recognizing that students may exhibit poor judgment from time to time, Avenues will strive to use such occasions as opportunities to help students grow and learn from their mistakes. Thus, in most cases, the consequences for poor choices will be serial and increasingly more serious with successive violations. That said, certain serious violations of community standards may warrant suspension or termination of enrollment even on the first occasion.
Students should conduct themselves in accordance with Avenues community values of welcome, safety and respect at all times and in all their communications, both in-person and electronic.
Classroom teachers usually handle behavioral issues on an individual basis as challenges become evident. If necessary, students may go to the dean, associate division head, deputy head of school or another school administrator. If a problem is recurring or of a very serious nature, parents are notified and children may be sent home, suspended or enrollment may be terminated.
Avenues reserves the right to respond to each student with a broad range of options, from conversation to suspension to possible termination of enrollment. It is in such an environment that students learn to assume responsibility for their actions and to understand the consequences of their behavior. Handling of behavioral issues will be guided by the belief that while errors of judgment may have consequences, they also are opportunities for learning.
As part of the learning process, it may be appropriate, in some situations, for a student to make an apology or otherwise attempt to heal the harm they have caused to another person or persons. When an apology is appropriate these will be done directly to the person impacted, with the goal of repairing relationships and resolving conflict. These attempts to reconcile and repair need to occur in a safe and supportive environment. Therefore, in no circumstances will a student be asked to make an apology in front of others who were not directly impacted by their action.
Avenues reserves the right to dismiss any student whose behavior or conduct, or whose parents’ behavior or conduct, at the school or at school-sponsored events or in locations or activities unaffiliated with Avenues is determined by Avenues to be contrary to its rules, regulations or standards, or is otherwise determined by Avenues not to be in its best interest. As part of due process, prior to termination of enrollment, students, parents or guardians will have the opportunity to meet with a panel of administrators to hear the school’s concerns and to present the family’s perspective. The panel will make a recommendation to the head of school, who will render a final decision on whether or not to terminate enrollment.
In case of dismissal for any reason, the school will not refund any tuition, fees or other charges, and any outstanding balance becomes due and payable.
Student Rights
To learn and work in a safe and secure environment
To be treated with compassion and kindness
To be treated fairly
To be treated with respect
To be included by others
To hear and be heard
Student Responsibilities
To make the school a safe and welcoming place for others
To treat others with compassion and kindness
To respect others as individuals and treat others fairly
To respect others’ physical space and property
To be responsible for oneself
To include others in work and play
To listen with openness and empathy
As a member of the Avenues parent community, you have joined an important partnership that is founded on the belief that parents and Avenues must establish and maintain a relationship of mutual trust and respect in all aspects of school life. This partnership is intended to clarify and formalize the relationship between the parents and the school for the benefit of your children and all of our students, both present and future. It reflects the strong sense of community that characterizes Avenues.
Parents’ Expectations of Avenues
Fulfill our mission
Treat each student with courtesy and respect
Provide our students with appropriate learning opportunities
Provide a welcome, safe and respectful environment
Communicate promptly, honestly and openly about your child
Communicate regularly about relevant school news
Encourage positive involvement from parents in school life
Respond to parent concerns
Avenues Expectations of Parents
Believe in and support our mission
Treat faculty and staff with courtesy and respect
Provide an appropriate environment for home learning
Communicate promptly, honestly and openly about your child
Be forthright and prompt in sharing any information which could have an impact on your child’s school experience
Read school communications and attend meetings relating to your child
Contribute your time, talent or other support to the extent that you are able
Seek information and raise concerns directly with the school through appropriate channels
The Avenues Parent Association (APA) is established for the purposes set forth below:
To support Avenues Shenzhen in its efforts to provide high-quality education;
To build a strong sense of community within Avenues Shenzhen among the students, their families and the school;
To facilitate communication and foster partnership among parents, the faculty and the school management;
To support Avenues Shenzhen in its efforts to realize the Avenues mission and vision;
To provide a forum for the expression of views of general interest to the parents and the school;
To support new families as they enter Avenues Shenzhen.
All parents and guardians of students currently enrolled in the School shall be considered to be members of the APA. The APA members shall conduct an annual election for membership on the General Committee, which is responsible for the governance of APA and its work in support of the Avenues Shenzhen community. Subcommittees have been established and all interested APA members are welcome and encouraged to join any such subcommittees by contacting the appropriate Chair, Co-Chairs, if any.