Our Stories
Captured here:
Pictures tell some of the stories
of educational partners
involved with AVID implementation
in the Pomona Unified School District,
as the success stories of our students continue!
AVID Testimonial - S.M.mov
Garey High AVID students engage in the Tutorial process during the school day
AVID Diamond Ranch High School students soak in the college environment on a fieldtrip to CSUSB
Pomona High School AVID seniors share their journeys with their families
College-age tutors attend their District-Led training to support AVID Tutorials for the 2023 AVID Elective classes around the District.
Marshall Middle schoolers critically read Plato to prepare for a Socratic Seminar
Student-lead AVID Late Start Friday at Lexington K-8
Lexington teachers reinforce college awareness with college shirt Wednesdays
Kellogg PolyTechnic Elementary teachers work on AVID site goals during a Professional Development day
A college and career ready culture is reinforced at Simons Middle School
Allison Elementary shows how they "AVID" for future-readiness
The designated tutorial classroom is the laboratory for achievement and student success at Marshall Middle School. Reinforced by a College and Career Readiness culture, students thrive as college-aged tutors facilitate inquiry around student points of confusion originating from initial questions in their content classrooms.
AVID students from @allisonElem, @SimonsPUSD, @GareyHighPUSD, @GareyAvid spoke at the school board meeting about the WICOR strategies that are supporting their college and career readiness! #proud2bePUSD #AVID4possibilities
A former PUSD AVID student, now an AVID teacher reunites with former PUSD AVID school principal at an AVID conference.
IMG955215.jpgTour guides at UCLA provide a cultural context for college life with Cortez Mathematics & Science Magnet School students during a recent fieldtrip.
"There was definitely some excitement about going to college".
Pomona High School senior class of 2023 considered Cal State University San Bernadino, University of Southern California, and the University of La Verne during AVID college fieldtrips. So many options!
A growing number of AVID enrollees at Fremont Academy of Engineering and Design pause their studies to capture their enthusiasm for the opportunities awaiting them beyond 2023.
Biddle, Denise.HEICLouis, Carolyn.HEICFebruary 6, 2023 highlighted Garey High School's AVID Honor Roll Rally in the Gymnasium with games and cheers! Garey High is celebrating their 60th Anniversary this year and their16th AVID Certification Year! Students were awarded Silver Certificates for a 3.0-3.49 GPA; Gold Certificates for a 3.5-3.99 GPA, and a Platinum Certificate for a 4.0 GPA and above. Please join us in celebrating these students for their involvement, perseverance, and academic accomplishments!
IMG_4103.HEICIMG_4106.HEICPlatinum Group.HEICRoyalty-free stock footage provided by WeVideo.com
Background Music: (n.d.). Human Nature Instrumental. YouTube Reborn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaffI9_nHaI
Part of our PUSDAVID story includes technology use by Pomona students and staff. It is our hope that this original video project (left) will encourage educators in Pomona to continue initiating projects from Essential Questions like this:
"In what creative ways can AVID themes be highlighted while using technology to remind teachers, educational partners and students of the "AVID Effect?"
IMG_2735.jpgTalk about AVID Culture Reinforcement!
9th-12th grade AVID students at Garey High wear t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts designed by freshman AVID student, Omar Islas-Flores. Omar's design was selected as the "Most Favored" from all designs submitted!
Diamond Ranch High School AVID students learn about college traditions on their fieldtrip to UCLA at the Inverted Fountain!
On May 18, 2023, PUSD celebrated the accomplishments of 110 graduating senior AVID students from Diamond Ranch, Fremont Academy, Garey, Ganesha, and Pomona High Schools. These students were awarded and presented with AVID stoles to wear at their respective graduation ceremonies by their Principals, Site Coordinators, Teachers, District Administrators, and School Board Members. Ganesha's valedictorian, Hannia Chavarin spoke of her journey through AVID while the proud Pomona community of parents looked on.
Emerson Middle School AVID Site Team Members
In late July, Lexington's K-8 AVID team gathered around Communities of Practice and Site Teams (and perhaps a meal or two) to discuss their next steps for student success.
AVID Site PD '23-'24.mp42023-24 PUSD secondary school sites (Fremont Academy and Vejar K-8) continue their learning around two significant WICOR strategies!
Now, let's turn our attention to 2024!
The AVID 2023 Summer Institute begins a new Continuous Cycle of Improvement throughout the Pomona Unified School District. We kick off our 2023-2024 planning with a pair of vertically-aligning North Pomona schools, Allison Elementary School and Emerson Middle School. Teams of volunteer teachers, administrators, and PUSDAVID support educators met in Anaheim late in June over three days to learn how to write AVID-related goals and align their work for student success this coming Fall.
Stories from the Pomona Unified School District continue their beginnings at AVID Summer Institute in San Diego. After site teams gathered in their Communities of Practice to experience AVID WICOR strategies for their desired instructional pathway, they come together in Site Teams to discuss, plan, and have a little fun. We asked them to take a silly picture just for laughs (below). 😜
PUSD AVID students visit college campuses; and sometimes they get opportunities to hear from and ask questions about college admissions in their own classrooms. After this Grand Canyon University presentation, Ganesha seniors consider their options for post-secondary readiness.
...and these hard working, focused Ganesha AVID seniors, as of October 2023 have been accepted to Grand Canyon University! Congratulations Giants!
October 2023 brought AVID Site Coordinators together to meet and discuss vertical alignment of the AVID College Readiness System for PUSD.
IMG_4589.jpgIMG_4590.jpgIMG_4591.jpgEvery new schoolyear brings new opportunities for new educational partners equipped with newly embraced strategies to apply in newly populated classrooms. At Kellogg Elementary (Left), a new AVID principal and two new site-team coordinators present new goals as they come together at a Late Start Friday meeting.
2023-24 PUSD AVID Community/College/Career awareness activities promote a culture of college and career readiness that...
ensures students throughout the school participate in enrichment activities, internships, community service, or service learning to explore careers like business leader guest speakers (left) speaking to students about career possibilities....
and ensures students throughout the school attend college fairs, campus visits (in-person or virtual) like this one to UCLA (right), and college and career readiness activities (e.g., goal-setting, time management, etc.), and/or research colleges and ensures students are knowledgeable about an increased number of colleges/universities. Shown here happening at Vejar K-8 school!
Lexington AVID Site Coordinators lead professional learning at their December 1st Late Start Friday meeting by allowing students to showcase their critical thinking.
This philosophical chair activity highlights the reading and discussion of a high-interest topic.
K-8 teachers at the site witnessed their former and current students displaying college and career ready skills.
"If you could open the doors to new learning opportunities for your students, what would they be?"
Seen here (left), PUSD PK-8 teachers take time to post responses to this prompt.
Which doors might you open for students?
Before Kellogg Polytechnic Elementary School teachers and principal enjoy a well-deserved winter break, they take a Gallery Walk of student work during a Late Start Friday to examine and inform the schoolwide writing process.
Below: Marshall Middle School students participate in an AVID tutorial, with a college-age tutor while being observed by teachers during the January PUSD professional development day. What a wonderful way to see the learning process in action!
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2024 Garey High School Honor Roll students (above) celebrate their accomplishments together during an assembly designed just for them. Each of the 9th through 12th grade students here have 4.0 to 4.75 grade point averages. Each of them has a story to tell, and a bigger one to write, as they continue on their paths to college and career success!
ABOVE: An AVID Philosophical Chair activity facilitates college and career preparation by compelling students to first hear an issue, then based on evidence, stake a claim either for or against a statement. Student's listen to their peers and respond respectably while agreeing or disagreeing. In these photos, 6th grade students at Simons Middle School read an article with a classmate and annotate key information to support their claims. Philosophical chairs is a proven way for students at every level to engage AVID WICOR.
On February 15th and 16th, 2024 six of our PUSD AVID members at
Garey High School, Fremont Academy of Engineering and Design, Simons Middle School, Marshall Middle School, and Ganesha High School
were awarded the inaugural AVID Legacy Award.
The trophy was presented by PUSD dignitaries with the following words:
Today, we want to acknowledge an individual who has demonstrated dedication over time, and commitment to student success through AVID; someone who has more than 15 years of supporting the implementation of AVID in the Pomona Unified School District.
The awarding of this inaugural “PUSD AVID Legacy” trophy acknowledges their long standing and effective alignment to the AVID mission. It is a recognition of transformative and enduring contributions and applied approaches to the successes of Pomona’s student-scholars.
Countless PUSD collegiate graduates can, and do, trace their successes back to your instruction and guidance. As an educator, you’ve connected “WHAT you do”, and “HOW you do it”, to your “Why?”
We are blessed to have worked alongside you, and hope that your legacy-work will continue for as long as you wish.
So, in harmony with the thousands of unnamed student-voices this award represents, please accept this small token of appreciation from us, for the footprints you’ve left through the years, with AVID.
Thank you,
Mark, Eva, Keith, Kevin, Refugio, and Joseph
An auditorium is adorned and prepared. Chairs are aligned and ordered. Sashes reflect brightness and dignity. Lighting sets the backdrop for what will soon be.....
...PUSD's Successful
2024 AVID Senior Celebration
When there is an intersection between student learning and highly engaging activity, it's a win! Shown below, Vejar AVID students are pictured at Disneyland, in Anaheim California reinforcing the values of community, enrichment, communication, and collaboration.
What a way to finish their rigorous 2023-24 school year!!!
Highlighting AVID @ A PUSD K-8 School
"Here is the 2023-24 Cortez AVID 8th grade class. These students have worked hard to earn excellence in WICOR within the AVID program. They have pushed through many obstacles and demonstrated individual determination, which is a key AVID student characteristic. I am very proud of these Cortez AVID Wizards." -- Mrs. J. Lopez, Middle School AVID Teacher
IMG_5119.HEICOk, ok! How could you better conclude a year highlighting AVID student accomplishments than with fun rewards?
Right: Marshall Middle School AVID students enjoyed food and dessert; and were honored with uniquely distinct awards like:
Most/Best...
Awesome Attitude
Cool Collaborator
Growth Mindset
Little Spot of Sunshine
Outstandingly Organized
Social Butterfly
Super Sharer
Loudest
Best Bromance
Most Likely to Get Married
Longest Lasting Friend Group
Excellent Achievement in AVID
Most Likely to Talk in Their Sleep
Most Likely to Be Best Friends Forever
Most Likely to Be late to Their Own Funeral
Teacher’s Pet
Most Likely to Snack in Class
Chismoso
Thank you Co-Coordinators, Ms. Soussens and Mr. Sandoval!
IMG_5958.jpgIMG_5957.jpgBelow: AVID Seniors at Pomona High School and their parents cheered their accomplishments and recognitions at the 2024 AVID Senior Celebration in May. These students were the focal point for all in attendance (including 11th grade AVID students and campus administrators), as seniors walked across the stage to accept a gift, and to be recognized for their qualifications for admission into college, career choice, or military enrollment. All in the audience were attentive to these accomplished students as they spoke of thanksgiving, and in sharing the hopes they have for their futures. Thank you, Ms. Nguyen, for organizing this event and your leadership as the AVID Site Coordinator!
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