Welcome to J-Term: 2024-25

J-Term Information Page | Primary Division

In alignment with our mission to cultivate future leaders with a global perspective, uniquely equipped to understand and address global-scale challenges, we are continuing the J-Term program this June. During J-Term, our Avenues ecosystem will offer globally coordinated, immersive learning experiences. The program remains committed to uniting Avenues campuses worldwide in a shared experience that connects students and families to one another and to the world beyond the campus.

This year, J-Term offers a variety of locations and opportunities for you to engage with other campuses and the world. In addition to staying at your home campus or visiting another campus, older students can also apply for the newly added domestic trip to Dali. The available options include: 

  • Campus Exchange: Families can choose to join the New York campus or host families from the New York campus in Shenzhen. 
  • Co.Lab: Students engage in service-learning projects within local communities, deepening their understanding of global challenges and developing critical problem-solving skills. 
  • New Addition: This year, in addition to all the options from last year, we are offering domestic trips outside of Guangdong. By participating in impactful service projects, students will collaborate with local organizations and communities to tackle real-world challenges, while fostering empathy, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Co.Lab

During our PD Co.Lab this year, students will focus on the Rights of Children in an age-appropriate way through hands-on explorations and collaborations across campuses. Opportunities to transfer learning outside of the classroom will take the form of community days, experiential learning opportunities, and service projects.  

 

You may access an overview from the United Nations document by clicking this link. 


G1: Food, Clothing, and Safe Home 

G2: Rest, Play, Culture, Arts 

G3: Children with Disabilities 

G4: Respect for Children’s Views 

G5: Aims of Education 

Campus Exchange

J-term campus exchange is designed to immerse Shenzhen students in the vibrant academic and cultural environment of Avenues New York during a two week campus exchange in June. The program will be led by Avenues Shenzhen teachers, to ensure the continuity of the learning taking place in Shenzhen.

Dates: June 2-June 13 (students will return to Shenzhen campus for the last week of studies).


Objectives:  

  1. Personal Growth: Provide opportunities for students to step out of their comfort zones, develop independent learning skills, and build confidence.  
  2. Cultural Exchange: Facilitate meaningful interactions between Shenzhen and New York students to enhance cultural awareness and appreciation.  
  3. Collaborative Learning: Encourage teamwork on projects that address real-world challenges, leveraging diverse perspectives.  

Program highlights:

  1. Academic Immersion: Avenues Shenzhen faculty will lead the Co.Labproject in NY, enhancing connections to the grade level's current project cycles and Learning Outcomes. When students come back after June 13, they will be able to continue the Co.Lab experience with the rest of Shenzhen students.
  2. Cultural Activities: Students will explore New York City through guided ELOs to experience the city's rich cultural fabric.
  3. Campus Interactions: Teams of students from both campuses will interact at specific moments of the day.

Please read the following carefully if you are considering Campus Exchange for your family:

  • If you enroll in Campus Exchange at New York campus, your family (or at least one parent) is required to be in the New York City with your child for the entirety of J-Term as students are expected to be at campus each day. Homestays are not available.

     

  • Families are responsible for their own accommodations, transportation, relevant visas, and required immunizations so advance planning is essential.

     

  • While the majority of Campus Exchange requests will be granted, there may be instances where it is not granted due to the following considerations: capacity at the desired campus, general standing on your home campus, and language proficiency.

Domestic trip to Dali for Grades 4-5

This year, domestic trip outside of Guangdong has been added on top of all the offerings from last year. By engaging in meaningful service projects, students will collaborate with local organizations and communities, addressing real-world challenges while developing empathy, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Regarding domestic trip, please note:

You will see a price range for the trip below. The final price of each trip will be determined by the registration number of students.

The final date to make program changes is February 20. Program fee bill will be sent out to families after February 20. If your family decides to enroll in any domestic journey program, families are required to pay program fee by March 1. 

4th Grade:
This interdisciplinary project empowers students to act as real-world travel agents, utilizing design thinking to create a child-friendly Yunnan travel itinerary. Spanning four phases, the project integrates literacy, math, and experiential learning. It emphasizes student agency, aligning with Article 12 of the Rights of the Child, which advocates for children’s right to express their views freely on matters affecting them and requires adults to listen and take them seriously.

Phase 1: Skill Development(Pre-J-Term) 

In preparation, students practiced trip planning and itinerary recommendation during their Chinese literacy and math lessons. They learned descriptive writing to articulate scenic spots and budgeting skills to price travel packages. These foundational skills gave students a taste of real-world travel agency work.

Phase 2: Pre-Planning the Yunnan( June 2-June 6)

Trip (First Week of J-Term)Students will collaborate with professional travel agents to design a one-week children-friendly Yunnan itinerary. Using the Design Thinking Cycle, they will:

  • Empathize: Explore the unique needs of children as travelers by researching preferences, challenges, and safety considerations.
  • Define: Identify key characteristics of a successful children-friendly trip (e.g. engaging activities, manageable travel times).
  • Ideate: Brainstorm creative solutions to design engaging and educational activities suitable for young travelers.
  • Prototype: Draft an itinerary that combines cultural exploration, outdoor activities, and age-appropriate experiences.

Students will present their plans to teachers and travel professionals for feedback.

Phase 3: The Real Trip ( June 9-13) (2nd week-J-Term)
Students will travel to Yunnan to test the trip they designed. Acting as both travelers and evaluators, they will assess: The suitability of activities for children. The practicality of logistics, including timing, transportation, and accommodations. The overall experience for children in terms of fun, safety, and engagement. This experiential phase allows students to observe their designs in action and collect real-time feedback.

 

Phase 4: Revision and Finalization (June 16-20) 

Upon returning, students will revisit their itineraries using their observations and reflections. They will:

  • Test: Analyze which aspects of the trip succeeded and which need improvement. 
  • Iterate: Revise their itineraries to address identified challenges.

The goal is to produce a polished, realistic itinerary that could be implemented by future travel groups or marketed as a children-friendly travel package.

 

Price: RMB 5,300-5,700 

Dates: June 6-13 (Five days, four nights) 

5th Grade:

Gear up for an exciting adventure! Students are traveling to rural China for an immersive experience where they'll see firsthand how local schools bring Article 29 of the Rights of the Child to life. In collaboration with a local charity, they'll discover how free reading spaces are provided for children in these communities. They'll also connect with a primary school high in the mountains to understand the challenges students face getting to school with limited infrastructure. As they engage with the community, students will gain new perspectives and create lasting memories, making this journey as enlightening as it is unforgettable. 


Phase one (June 2-6) : 
In this phase, students will build the essential background knowledge needed before embarking on our journey. They will be introduced to UNICEF and the history of its goals. By delving into children's rights, students will gain a deep understanding that all children worldwide have the right to access high-quality primary education.

 

Phase two (June 9-13): 
In this phase, students will journey to the village to experience life from a local perspective. Building on the theoretical knowledge acquired in phase one, they will enhance their understanding by actively engaging with the community. Students will record observations, conduct interviews, and fully immerse themselves in the villagers' daily lives. This hands-on experience will allow them to connect classroom learning with real-world applications, deepening their insights into the cultural, educational, and social dynamics of the village. 

 

Phase three (June 16-20): 
During this phase, students will consolidate the research and interviews they conducted throughout their journey. They will engage in thoughtful reflection on their learning experiences, synthesizing their insights and discoveries. This reflection will inform the creation of a compelling presentation, where they will share their newfound knowledge with the Avenues community.

 

Price: RMB 5300-5700 

Dates: June 6-13 (Five days, four nights) 

Travel Logistics

Q: How are flights booked? Am I able to purchase my own flights? 

A: All students are expected to fly with our program leads.We will arrange corresponding arrangements about tickets, and coordinate arrival and departure transportation for students. 

Q: Can I arrange for independent travel arrival and departure? 

A: We are unable to accommodate independent travel for students. This is due to unexpected travel logistics that could cause flight cancellations, delays or rerouting which could disadvantage students independently traveling versus as part of a group. 

Q: Are flight upgrades allowed on the group booking? 

A: No. All students fly economy class. Baggage fees will be included in the flight costs. If you book independently, please be sure to pay for checked baggage as needed in advance.
 

Q: Can I have a friend as a roommate or flight seatmate? 

A: We will try our best to accommodate requests, however this is not guaranteed.  

Q: What is the cell phone policy? 

A: Cell phones can be brought on the program. However, students’ access and use will be limited so as to ensure that students are as immersed as possible in the destination. There might be times when cell phones are taken away from students during the trip, or set hours for phone usage for example.  

Q: How is travel to and from the airport arranged? 

A: School will organize campus-based bus transportation to and from the airport. 

Program Costs

Q: What is included in the program fee? Are there additional costs I should plan for in each program? 

A: Program fees include:

  • All meals and lodging, including homestay, if applicable
  • In-country transportation, program activities and orientations
  • Program Lead supervision throughout the program
  • Health, accident and medical evacuation insurance 
  • Travel insurance, however it is strongly encouraged that families purchase additional insurance
  • 24-hour medical and travel security assistance and advice before, during and after travel

The program fee does not include:

  • Airfare fees
  • Pre-program medical examinations or immunizations if needed
  • Personal spending money

Q: What is the payment schedule for programs? 

The final date to make program changes is February 20. Program fee bill will be sent out to families after February 20. If your family decides to enroll in domestic trip program, families are required to pay program fee by March 1.

 

Q: What is the cancellation policy for programs?  

A: Avenues reserves the right to cancel or modify domestic Journey programs in cases such as health and safety concerns, including pandemic related issues, natural disasters,, or air transportation costs, among others. Families will be informed accordingly. If Avenues suspends or cancels a program, whether before or after it commences, Avenues will refund the program fee, minus any costs that Avenues is unable to recover. Avenues will not refund flights and any credit or refunds will be contingent on the specific airline policies.

 

If you withdraw from the program, any request for a refund must be submitted to Avenues by email to the J-Term team at jterm-sz@avenueschina.cn.

 

Upon receipt of a refund request, Avenues will process the request within one month of receipt. Avenues will work with families on a case by case basis around the policies below. The likelihood of a refund diminishes the later the student/parent chooses to withdraw. 

 

Refund Schedule
For students traveling in June 2025: 

  1. Withdrawal prior to March 15, 2025: Refund 50% of the program fees paid (airfare purchased will not be refunded) 
  1. Withdrawal after March 15, 2025: Refunds for program fees will not be provided (airfare purchased will not be refunded)
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