Dear Avenues Families,
As I step into my seventh year at Avenues Shenzhen and my tenth year with Avenues, I find myself reflecting on our incredible journey. Remember our First First Day of the Early Learning Center? It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, with three vibrant divisions thriving across our campus. I’m truly grateful to share this exciting path with you as we work together to ensure success for your children.
For those of you who have been with us since 2019, you might remember me as Mr. B, the Kindergarten teacher. Since then, I’ve transitioned through various roles, including Instructional Coach and Associate Division Head. Today, I’m thrilled to write to you in my new position as Director of Academic Innovation and Pedagogy, leading our Curriculum Innovation Team.
This is a pivotal moment for Avenues! We’re solidifying our role as a leader in transformational education. In my new role, I’m dedicated to ensuring our curriculum aligns with Avenues' mission and meets the diverse needs of our students. My top priority is to establish Avenues Shenzhen as the premier center for project-based learning in China.
Over the past year, we’ve built the Curriculum Innovation Team (CIT) with this goal in mind. Our team includes talented individuals from Avenues Silicon Valley and Shenzhen, as well as new colleagues from external organizations who share our vision. The CIT consists of Academic Excellence Coaches focused on curriculum design and teacher growth, Technology Integrators enhancing digital learning, a Mastery and Community Engagement Lead collaborating with regional experts, and a Library and Media Specialist dedicated to teaching informational literacy in the age of AI.
- Joseph Brown, Academic Excellence Coach, Math
- Mia Xu, Academic Excellence Coach, PBL
- Pedro Ramos, Academic Excellence Coach, PBL
- Lisa Kopacka, Academic Excellence Coach, PBL
- Technology Integrator, Tim Lu
- Technology Integrator, Barbara Amador
- Mastery & Community Engagement Lead, Bonnie Ye
- Library & Media Specialist, Iris Xiang
To create a seamless experience for our students, the CIT will conduct a curriculum and assessment review during the school year. This will help us:
- Revise existing projects and create new ones better aligned with Avenues World Elements
- Ensure key experiences are vertically aligned from Early Learning Center through grade 12
- Enhance the integration of technology and 21st-century skills
- Reform our internal and external assessments
This review will help us ensure our projects and assessments are relevant, accessible, and engaging for all students. The CIT will work closely with Associate Division Heads and teachers, modeling excellent teaching and maintaining strong connections with students.
Strategic planning is vital for the Curriculum Innovation Team. We’ll be exploring pilot programs like Toddle, a robust learning management system. By analyzing student performance data, engagement surveys, and teacher feedback, we aim to create a more effective learning environment. We’re also committed to developing professional learning cohorts, communicating with parents about our practices, and partnering with experts like Dr. Li, our Scientist in Residence.
Our journey began with the CIT completing a course in Instructional Coaching Through Change from Harvard University. This commitment to excellence is at the heart of everything we do at Avenues Shenzhen.
At Avenues, our mission is to cultivate future leaders who are equipped to tackle global challenges. Together, we can foster a learning culture that prepares our students for the future. The CIT is excited to embark on this transformative journey, and we invite you to join us in shaping the educational landscape at Avenues.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to Avenues. Together, we evolve. We grow. We thrive.
Warm regards,
Ryan J. Baxter
Director of Academic Innovation and Pedagogy
Avenues Shenzhen
Previously on Avenues
September 10 | Curriculum Night
This Wednesday evening, we had the pleasure of sharing Avenues’ curriculum design and implementation with you during Curriculum Night. If you stayed for the entire event, you devoted a full four hours, and we sincerely thank you for your participation. In addition to the on-site presentations, we also encourage you to review the Program of Study (POS) distributed that evening, which outlines the learning plan for each subject across the school year.
Families who were unable to attend may contact the operations manager and pick up a copy of the POS, along with this year’s customized calendar, at the gate of each division during student drop-off or pick-up.
In addition, during the five special Lab @Avenues sessions at Curriculum Night, teachers prepared documents that highlight the research foundations behind Avenues’ educational practices. These materials are designed to help you better understand our teaching work. To ensure all families have access to this information, we are sharing them here for those who were unable to attend the sessions—please feel free to click and explore.
Spoiler
ACC: Raising Resilience | Supporting Kids Through Change
Speaker: Shelly Leng, Hannah Cooper
Date: Wednesday, September 17
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Open.Scholar: Unlocking the Brain’s Navigational Compass
Friday, Sept 19, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM | 5th Floor Common Area, A8 Secondary Division
Lecture Introduction: Join us for the first Open.Scholar lecture of the new school year, where we’ll explore the brain’s extraordinary “navigation system.” Discover how specialized brain regions and neurons work together to create our sense of space and form spatial memories. This groundbreaking research, which reshaped our understanding of the human mind, earned the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The lecture will also reveal how scientists have used ingenious experiments and advanced technologies to decode the brain’s navigational compass.
Divisional Updates
In addition to school-wide information sharing, each division also has important updates for your attention. Please click the link for the relevant division below to view the dedicated updates related to your child’s division.
Important Reminders
Avenues Explorers Summer/Winter Program Survey
Thank you for your continued support of Avenues’ Extended Learning programs! To better provide Avenues students with Summer and Winter programs that meet their needs, we sincerely invite you to click the link below and complete a short survey. Your feedback is very important to us and will help us improve and refine our program design.
Sign-Up | Meal Tasting
To provide children with more nutritious and delicious meals, the school will regularly hold Parent Tasting Events. During these events, we will introduce the Avenues FOOD Program. You will be able to try new dishes that are about to be launched and share your feedback with the kitchen team for improvements.
At last year’s tasting events, we received many constructive comments from parents, which laid a solid foundation for adjusting and improving our dining program. We sincerely thank the APA Dining Committee and all participating parents for their valuable opinions and feedback.
Based on the feedback from last semester, this semester’s tasting events will be held separately for the Early Learning Center and the Primary and Secondary Divisions.
First Tasting Event
- Date: September 18
- Time: 2:45 – 3:30 PM
- Location: ELC Teaching Kitchen
- Menu: Early Learning Center meal offerings
Please click the link below to register. After the registration deadline, we will confirm the details of your participation.
Dress Code Reminder
To help create a neat, welcome, and positive learning environment, we encourage students to wear their school uniforms every day on campus. If not in uniform, students may wear solid black, white, or gray clothing, but should avoid the following:
- Other Colors
- Large brand logos (small, discreet logos are acceptable)
- Excessive embellishments such as patterns, stripes, glitter, or sequins
- Clothing with rips or tears
- Sleeveless tops, overly short shirts, or sheer garments
- Slippers
- Shoes with lights or wheels
Thank you for your support!
Good News
After-School Access to School Outdoor Space
To provide Avenues families with more outdoor options and parent-child time, the school will open the A19 Primary Division U Shape Playground for after-school use this semester, while ensuring safety and order:
- Eligible Users: Currently enrolled students and their parents (only parents may accompany students).
- Open Hours:
Wednesday: 3:15 – 4:15 PM
Thursday: 4:15 – 5:00 PM - Access Areas: Limited to the A19 playground and the first-floor lobby restroom. Other areas are restricted for teaching preparation.
- Capacity: Maximum of 8 families at a time. Please register at the security desk.
- Effective Date: October 7
- Notes:
Parents must accompany their children at all times.
Be respectful, safe, and leave on time.
Families are responsible for their own personal and property safety during use.
Please read and follow the guidelines carefully, and bring your parent pick-up badge to register with the A19 Lower Division security desk. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Parent Cafe New School Year Special
Please stop by our school Cafe to grab a New School Year special for 9.9 RMB, and there are many delicious new treatment awaiting
