AVID's mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society.

💥 AVID Anecdotals will be emailed monthly to all Nichols AVID families. We hope to further clarify the AVID program and provide information to those who are new to AVID 💥

AVID educators link the focused note-taking process to the "forgetting curve" (see video below) because doing so establishes a strong “why” for having students engage in all five phases of the focused note-taking process and provides guidelines for when, and how often, students should return to their notes if they want to retain what they learned in class. We want students to own their learning, to carry note-taking with them as a tool that will help them thrive in their most rigorous classes.

6th grade AVID recently has been placing emphasis on collaboration. The scholars started with the Pringles challenge, which helped them explore teamwork. Following this, they reflected on their "glows and grows", identifying areas for improvement and the tools needed to support their development. Two key tools that emerged were defined roles and discussion stems, which will aid in facilitating their collaboration.

Students have been working their way through their first TRFs (tutorial request forms) and getting ready for their first tutorial sessions. The process has provided a great way for students to identify their POC (point of confusion) in various subjects.

Ms. Vernon (7th grade Science & Math teacher) and Ms. Jackson (7th grade ELA teacher) are serving as tutors as the class kicked off their first tutorial session this week!

Ms. Stone's 8th Grade AVID class just completed their first Literary analysis on Chalk Art. Annotating skills they have learned from ELA and SS classes were used. Such as highlighting in different colors, marking the text with certain symbols and students were able to note their thinking in the margins about other connections they can make.

A core part of the AVID curriculum is the Tutorial Process. Our 8th grade AVID students are using some of the skills that they have learned in 6th and 7th grade AVID classes to launch themselves into productive and meaningful tutorial sessions. Starting in the coming weeks.

In addition, student are diving into Binder checks - getting rid of materials they don't need and organizing papers into specific folders. This rhythm and pattern will help to solidify consistent organizational skills.

7th grade AVID students traveled just 2 1/2 miles to the S & C Electric Company for "National Manufacturing Day" on Friday, October 4! Students learned about modern manufacturing careers and about S & C's products provided for homes and communities.

Two weeks ago Ms. Stone launched their new virtual “Talk 2a Pro Thursdays” in 8th grade AVID where the students spend 15 min on a class Zoom with a professional every Thursday. The talk is a personal narrative from the professional about who they are, what they do/their professional title, what they had to do to achieve their profession, what university they attended, and any tips or words of advice for a 14 year old who is an aspiring professional.

Ms. Stone hopes/plans that the AVID scholars will eventually create an AVID Student Podcast while establishing a new habit of speaking with professionals every week. These Young Scholars will eventually be running the show and interviewing the professionals or the young scholars may be inspired to want more for their lives or may see that there is now a possible path to achieve their own dreams. Our Podcast can be shared with parents too! More to come as this evolves!

Ask your scholars about the professionals that have participated in the first two weeks!

6th Grade

Favorite thing about AVID: The teacher

How has AVID helped you as a student: I am not sure yet

Would you Rather... go to school in a tree house or underwater? in a tree house because I have thalassophobia

Favorite thing about AVID: I am with my friends

How has AVID helped you as a student: Get better at organization

Would you Rather... go to school in a tree house or underwater? underwater, it's cool

Favorite thing about AVID: It's sooo fun

How has AVID helped you as a student: by teaching me new things that I didn't know

Would you Rather... go to school in a tree house or underwater? in a tree house so I don't have to get wet

Favorite thing about AVID: That it is very active and fun

How has AVID helped you as a student: to be more organized and get to classes on time

Would you Rather... go to school in a tree house or underwater? in a tree house

7th Grade

Favorite thing about AVID: The people

How has AVID helped you as a student: It helps me want to go to college more.

Would you Rather... go to school in a tree house or underwater? A tree house because underwater is cold!

Favorite thing about AVID: Collaboration

How has AVID helped you as a student: To be more organized

Would you Rather... go to school in a tree house or underwater? A tree house because I've never had a tree house.

Favorite thing about AVID: The people and the community

How has AVID helped you as a student: Keeps me more organized

Would you Rather... go to school in a tree house or underwater? Underwater because I like swimming and I love the ocean.

8th Grade

Favorite thing about AVID: The activities like writing notes and career day.

How has AVID helped you as a student: With my classes with notetaking and help with high school and the future.

Would you Rather... go to school in a tree house or underwater? Treehouse!

Favorite thing about AVID: How joyful Ms. Stone makes the class.

How has AVID helped you as a student: Helped me to be more organized with my class and my materials.

Would you Rather... go to school in a tree house or underwater? Treehouse!

Favorite thing about AVID: Helps prepare me for high school with notes, other skills for my academic life. Learning processing a lot better. Sometimes time to catch up on things I have missed.

How has AVID helped you as a student: Improved my grades a lot, taught me how to take notes and write emails to teachers.

Would you Rather... go to school in a tree house or underwater? Underwater, cooler experience.

Favorite thing about AVID: How it usually helps me with my work, helps me advance with my classwork. Good switch from normal academic class. Even though I've had AVID for 3 years, it still feels like a fresh experience.

How has AVID helped you as a student: Helped me boost my grade, write proper emails, better note taking. Overall advanced my academic future.

Would you Rather... go to school in a tree house or underwater? Underwater.

• Important dates are listed on the Incoming Freshman Deadlines & Events webpage. Information about transition events is available on the New Student Information pages.

• October 28-November 1: Registration Days

• November 9-17: World Language Placement Testing, if necessary

• December 5: Special Education Transition Information Night for parents of incoming freshmen

• December 13: Online registration and documents are due to ETHS.

  Are you and your student interested in a tour of ETHS? The ETHS Virtual Tour can be viewed at any time from anywhere via laptop, desktop or mobile device. We also host Campus Tour Days on select Saturdays during the school year. Registration is required for these 60-minute guided tours, which offer an optional Q&A session.
  
  Have Questions?
  For questions about the freshman transition process, please contact me at harta@eths202.org or 847-424-7047.
  

  For registration questions, please contact Adriana Aviles, Student Enrollment Specialist, at 847-424-7915 or email avilesa@eths202.org. You may contact Adriana Aviles in English or Spanish.

  For help in languages other than English or Spanish, contact Mercedes Fernández, ETHS Latino Liaison/Minority Languages Coordinator, at 847-424-7166.

Family engagement is an essential part of student success and can serve as a positive reinforcement of the organizational systems that are utilized at school. In order for this to happen, educators must determine key elements of organization that should be communicated to families, and what tools should be provided to families to support development of organizational skills.

All AVID scholars have been provided binders with folder and notebooks for each subject. They have also been given a pencil pouch, assignment notebook and writing utensils. Please let the counselors know if you need any organizational supplies for at home.

Please download the pdf below for specific examples of how to support organization at home. Ask your child what is being done at school and work together to see how to support at home.

SchooLinks lessons, which is our college and career readiness platform, will continue this year throughout the grade levels.

6th grade students will work through several self-discovery activities to learn their personality type, skills and what they enjoy doing. Students will then begin to explore careers that fit their personality and aspirations.

7th grade students will complete more self-discovery activities that will help determine their learning style and skills. Students will explore career pathways, which will help inform their career speaker choices for the Seventh Grade Career Day held later in the year.

8th grade students will further explore career pathways and college options. These activities will help inform their 9th grade course selection at ETHS.

6th Grade AVID Teacher

lopezv@district65.net

7th Grade AVID Teacher

mcdermottmeg@district65.net

8th Grade AVID Teacher

stonec@district65.net