What is AVID?
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a two-year elective course that seeks to ensure ALL students succeed in rigorous curriculum via peer collaboration, have post-high school support, participate in community service, and have opportunities to explore passions and future endeavors. Ultimately, our goal is to not only prepare students for college and a career but to get them through college and/or into a career!
Who is Eligible?
AVID is a program that, above all, must be chosen by the student. The focus of our efforts is on first generation to college students, those under-represented in colleges and universities, and students facing significant challenges. These often are students who are very bright but not performing to their abilities in middle or high school.
To be admitted to the program, students must:
Fit the profile as detailed above
Be determined to be successful in school
Apply, be interviewed, and be accepted into the program
What Happens in AVID?
All classes elect an AVID government that empowers students in their leadership role not only to support the program but also the larger school community. Students from all classes enjoy a variety of field trips that engage them in considering their future options such as college tours and workplace visits; we also participate in community building events that allows AVID to truly be a team that can depend on and work with each other for the last two years of high school to ensure the success of all students in whatever they wish to pursue.
Junior Year Focuses:
Note taking and Organization Skills
Community Service Participation
Problem solving and critical thinking
Financial Literacy
Job Shadowing and Future College & Career Exploration
Senior Year Focuses:
Foundational Skills are Reinforced (organization, note taking, problem solving, etc.)
Financial Literacy
College Preparation (essay writing, editing, financial aid support, etc.)
Future Preparedness (cooking basics, eating healthy, exercise and water in-take, managing time, navigating relationships, etc.)
Who is the AVID Team at GWHS?
The AVID Teachers include Emily Selekman, Mariah Rigsby, Boden Zhou, and Steven Bonaccorso.
The AVID support team also includes teachers Shani Nelson & Larry Tak
Counselors Vivian Chinn and Efrain Orozco-Flores work with all AVID students.
Assistant Principal Francisco Morales-O'Connor
Where can I get more information?
For further information, please contact Emily Selekman, the AVID Site Coordinator at (415)750-8400 x 13102.