Mission

Think Critically, Act Kindly

Mission: Kentucky Avenue School is a progressive  K-8 community where we challenge and support each other to become critically thoughtful, creative, and compassionate global citizens through academic achievement, self-discovery, and social engagement. 

Vision: In a supportive setting, KAS students acquire the skills to succeed academically through experiential learning, personalized instruction, collaborative problem-solving, and artistic expression.  Students are empowered to develop a strong sense of self, responsibility, and advocacy to affect and create change in their own communities and the world. 

 

Our school prioritizes programming on the following 4 guiding principles:

Whole Child, Individualized, Experiential Approach:

• Social-emotional learning and students’ connections to each other are just as vital as academics.
• Each child is celebrated and known.
• We create meaning and knowledge by doing and making.
• Cooperation, kindness, and collaboration are central to promoting and modeling healthy interactions with peers.   
• We value self-care and wellness for each student, educator, and community member. 

 

Social Justice and Civic Engagement Emphasis: 

• We commit to a social justice curriculum that promotes a culture of service, responsibility, and civic engagement. 
• Our goal as a learning community is to foster open and honest dialogue. 
• We celebrate and value diversity and difference,and acknowledge that not all members of our community enjoy the same privileges, historically and presently. 

 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: 

• KAS must be a nurturing and safe space, respectful of students’ racial, cultural, and ethnic identities, religion, family structure, social and cognitive style, sexual orientation, and gender identity and presentation. 
• Inclusion and support of neurodiversity benefit all students and generate a more vibrant, empathic, and innovative community.
• KAS fosters an inclusive learning environment where diverse perspectives are recognized, respected, and seen as a source of strength.

 

Creative, Curious, and Critical Thinking:

• We hold space for collaborative, experimental, and creative thinkers. 
• Students’ interests and passions guide and inspire emergent curricula and projects.
• A strength-based approach empowers students to achieve their fullest potential.
• The arts are integrated with everyday learning. 
• Students are encouraged to reflect, question, and develop intellectual curiosity.
• Facilitating understanding and thinking critically is part of the classroom culture.
• Students take ownership of their learning.  Classrooms are safe for students to explore, discover, and creatively problem solve.