Achievement Via Individual Determination
What is AVID?
Our nation’s schools are full of students who possess a desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard, but many of them do not truly have the opportunity to be college-ready. These are often the students who will be the first in their families to attend college and are from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education. AVID Secondary equips teachers and schools with what they need to help these students succeed on a path to college and career success.
To address this need, AVID has developed the AVID Elective course. For one period a day, students receive the additional academic, social, and emotional support that will help them succeed in their school’s most rigorous courses.
The power of AVID is the ability to impact students in the AVID Elective class and all students throughout the campus. AVID Secondary can have an effect on the entire school by providing classroom activities, teaching practices, and academic behaviors that can be incorporated into any classroom to improve engagement and success for all students. Teachers can take what they've learned at AVID training back to any classroom to help all students, not just those in AVID, to become more college- and career-ready.
The AVID Elective Class
Some highs of the year are learning how to do online school, becoming closer with my family and the best of all JOINING AVID!! Avid has helped me grow as a person and a learner, the amount of skills I've learned are truly uncountable. I would love to thank all the AVID teachers for adjusting to the circumstances of the year. Im am just so proud of everyone for pushing through and making it.
-Carli Kmetz
AVID Student Characteristics
AVID targets students in the academic middle
Students earning mostly B and C grades
Have a desire to go to college and a willingness to work hard
Regular attendance and minimal discipline problems
These are students who are capable of completing rigorous curriculum, but may be falling short of their potential
Typically, they will be the first in their families to attend college, and many are from low-income or minority families.
What do we actually do in AVID? We learn and have fun! We learn organizational skills, how to take better notes, time management skills, how to set SMART goals. We have fun; working together, playing team building games, and working on projects that benefit our school and community
Want to join the AVID family? See the information below.
Avid Elective Grade 8 Application Process
At the start of the second semester, the selection process begins for 7th grade students.
Students are recommended by teachers to apply for the class but students can also self recommend.
Applying to join the AVID Elective Class must be a voluntary decision by the student, NOT the parent
Student must complete an application and participate in an oral interview
AVID APPLICATION AND SELECTION TIMELINE
*The application process for the 2021-22 school year is closed.* The process will begin again in second semester 2022.
Applications due to Site Team Coordinator March 2022
Student interviews conducted March 2022
Acceptance letters emailed to students and parents in April 2022
Bednarcik AVID Site Team
Administrators: John Francis, Principal and Adam Lester, Assistant Principal
AVID Coordinator: Maggie Sadler
AVID Counselor: Mary Konken
AVID Elective Teacher: Michelle Smith
AVID Site Team Members: Leigh Apple, Miranda Borneman, Mike Linden, Joe Mann, Amy Overstreet, Joyce Shumate, Amy Truemper, Cathy Vugteveen, Elizabeth Carlisle
AVID Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the requirements for AVID?
Generally, students in AVID have a 2.5 to 3.5 GPA and are motivated to succeed in school.
2. Is AVID a class?
Yes. AVID is an elective class that fits in a student’s regular schedule.
3. Is there a grade in AVID?
Yes. Because AVID is a class in the student’s schedule, there is a grade.
4. What do you do in AVID?
During the AVID class, students learn how to take Cornell Notes in each of their classes. They also learn test-taking strategies as well as time management and effective study skills. Students explore college and career options while working with WICOR strategies (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, Reading to Learn). All AVID students maintain some form of an AVID binder, which holds all of their materials from all of their classes. Teachers grade students’ notes from other classes as well as give binder grades for organization in other classes. Students participate in weekly tutorials to help them identify points of confusion in their assignments, improve their higher level thinking and questioning skills, and strengthen their collaboration skills. Field trips to local colleges occur each year. Each year students research careers and/or colleges they are interested in.
5. Is AVID an easy A?
No. Students in the AVID program work harder than many students because they are taught an effective way to study; AVID students put in the time and energy that other’s sometimes lack. Even though students work harder, they come to realize the work is worth it when they see the benefits of the program reflected in their grades, study habits and engagement in the school community.
6. Is AVID for every student?
No. AVID is only for students who want to be in the program and will work harder to be stronger students. Sometimes parents think the program is a good idea for their student; but if the student has no desire to be a part of AVID, it will not help them. AVID is only for students who have a desire to improve and have the intrinsic motivational trait to be successful.
7. IS AVID a remedial program?
No. Students chosen for the AVID program demonstrate strong academic potential.
8. If my student enters AVID, will I see immediate results?
Not necessarily. It varies from student to student. The AVID strategies must be implemented and used continuously to see results. Students and parents that expect AVID to be a quick fix have unrealistic expectations. AVID works after the students learn the importance of the strategies and begin using them throughout middle school in ALL of their classes. Some students see results as fast as the end of first quarter, while others do not see those benefits emerge until later.
9. Is AVID a tutoring program?
No. AVID is not a tutoring program.
10. Does my student have to maintain a certain GPA to remain in AVID?
Yes. Students in the AVID program must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and receive no Ds or Fs on grade reports. There are interventions that we take when students struggle and the students are expected to be accountable for their grades and seek help from teachers as well as other ways to improve. Students may be put on probation and removed from the AVID elective if they are not meeting the AVID classroom expectations.
11. How are AVID students selected and notified of acceptance?
Students are evaluated on the basis of grades, attendance, discipline, standardized test scores, special circumstances (first to attend college, etc), the written application and the interview. Final notifications will be provided a few weeks after the student interview.
12. If my student signs up for the course and does not like it, can they drop it?
If a student is not progressing or is unhappy with AVID, they can request to begin the process to exit AVID. They will need to meet with the AVID teacher and coordinator and parents will be involved in this process as well.
14. Where can I get more information about AVID?
Go to the AVID website at www.avid.org.
Have more questions about the AVID elective at Bednarcik? Contact Mrs. Sadler, Bednarcik AVID Coordinator at msadler@sd308.org