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

TUTORIALS are one of four pillars of AVID

(W.I.C.O.R. Strategies, Focused Notetaking and Organization & Binder Checks are the others)

The Tutorial Process is the primary component contributing to the success of AVID students. Based on the Socratic method, tutorials are an exercise in higher level thinking and questioning. College students facilitate the tutorials so that they operate in much the same manner as cooperative college study groups. A new tutor from Northwestern University started in Ms. Lopez' class this week!

In order for students to benefit from tutorials, they must come prepared with their Tutorial Request Form (TRF) completed.

We are committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe and welcoming places for all children and families.

Please make sure your student’s emergency contact information is updated with their school. To make updates to your contact information, please email registrationinfo@district65.net. For more information, view the PowerSchool webpage on the District 65 website.

Immigration enforcement guidance was shared with our staff to ensure consistent procedures are in place and ways in which we can best support our students. In the meantime, here are some helpful links to understand how we are providing support:

• Read District 65’s Safe Haven resolution in English and Spanish
• Review resources for immigrant and refugee familie

In 6th grade students in Ms. Lopez's class have focused on developing students’ academic conversation skills within the context of AVID tutorials. By engaging in structured academic conversations, students have practiced thinking critically, articulating their understanding and ideas clearly, and collaborating effectively. Our scholars had the opportunity to teach each other skills from a student's perspective. 6th graders are contuing to explore SchoolLinks. They are especially enjoying the assessments that match up their interest inventories with careers and celebrities who have the same qualities.

Students in Ms. McDermott's AVID classes are spending time goal setting, mapping out the week's academics, completing TRF's in preparation for tutoring on Thursdays, and completing SchooLinks tasks.

Students have really focused on making sure they do not have any missing work and if so, completing it.

💥💥 Thank you 7th Grade teachers for regularly updating the One Stop Shop, which supports our AVID efforts in completing work 💥💥

Our 8th grade AVID class participated in a field trip to ETHS (please see details below). Our AVID scholars took notes on their "notices" and "wonderings" throughout all 3 sessions. They then created presentations and presented to their class for communication points. They created a slide deck presentation with 5 slides, they had to insert images and study the poem "Our Deepest Fear" by Marianne Williamson. They had to take excerpts from the poem that spoke to them. They could also choose their own poem or write their own poem.

During the field trip a few of our AVID scholars saw a junior ETHS football player that they highly respect. We engaged with him and our scholars were able to ask some questions about what it takes to be a student-athlete. The following week, the student wrote a poem and sent it to Ms. Nelson. The poem was titled "What it Really Takes". Ms. Nelson shared it with both AVID classes and we all felt the full circle connection between Nichols, ETHS, sports/extracurricular activities and putting in the hard work. Ask your AVID scholar about the poem! Two people connected this poem in their presentation.

Our next town hall is Mon. Feb. 3 and we have a second round of leadership opportunities for our 8th grade AVID scholars to present something they have created. There will be 3 speeches, 1 poem and a dance all under the umbrella of responsibility.

8th grade AVID scholars were invited to spend the morning at ETHS on Jan. 8, 2025. Scholars participated in 3 sessions -

• Tour of ETHS including visiting elective classrooms, world language classrooms, libraries and visiting the HUB.
• One of the ETHS school counselors presented an overview of 4 year course planning for high school students. Our AVID scholars were able to ask specific questions about daily life as a student at ETHS and any questions about course electives.
• Junior year current AVID students participated in a panel with our AVID scholars in which they shared the following -
• What they have learned from AVID
• What they like most about AVID
• What they will use with them in their post-secondary journeys.

6th Grade

Favorite thing about AVID: being able to keep up

How has AVID helped you as a student: it helps me keep track of my work

Would you rather ride your bike to school without a seat or without pedals? without a seat because I need pedals

Favorite thing about AVID: learning about careers

How has AVID helped you as a student: it helps me with note-taking and learning about college

Would you rather ride your bike to school without a seat or without pedals? without a seat because I can hold my butt

Favorite thing about AVID: we do fun activities

How has AVID helped you as a student: I am learning new things

Would you rather ride your bike to school without a seat or without pedals? without a seat or I won't be able to move

Favorite thing about AVID: the teacher

How has AVID helped you as a student: it helps me organizing and learning not to rush

Would you rather ride your bike to school without a seat or without pedals? without a seat so I can stand up

7th Grade

Favorite thing about AVID: We get to do things that help us in all classes, it's not just about 1 class.

How has AVID helped you as a student: It's helped me study for tests and prepare for stuff like MAP testing.

Would you rather ride your bike to school without a seat or without pedals? No seat.

Favorite thing about AVID: Doing the TRFs because it's a more productive way to learn because you have to ask what you need help with without being afraid.

How has AVID helped you as a student: AVID has helped me especially with the TRFs. It's making me try and find the answers I need. It solves problems.

Would you rather ride your bike to school without a seat or without pedals? No seat.

Favorite thing about AVID: AVID helps me connect with people in different ways. We help each other with our questions when we do TRFs.

How has AVID helped you as a student: It definitely helps me help others and understand others.

Would you rather ride your bike to school without a seat or without pedals? No seat.

8th Grade

Favorite thing about AVID: Teamwork!

How has AVID helped you as a student: Being organized.

Would you rather ride your bike to school without a seat or without pedals? Seat.

Favorite thing about AVID: Helps me prepare for high school, college and real life.

How has AVID helped you as a student: Helped me be organized and preparation again.

Would you rather ride your bike to school without a seat or without pedals? Seat because I can stand up.

Favorite thing about AVID: Prepares me for high school.

How has AVID helped you as a student: Helps me understand the importance of taking notes.

Would you rather ride your bike to school without a seat or without pedals? I've ridden my bike without a seat before. It would be hard to ride without pedals.

Favorite thing about AVID: We learn about colleges and be prepared for the future and talk about jobs sometimes.

How has AVID helped you as a student: Helped me as a student with leadership and responsibility. It helps me get out of my comfort zone.

Would you rather ride your bike to school without a seat or without pedals? Without pedals!

Students attend school 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Tuesday, February 11th (in-person) & Wednesday, February 12th (virtual)

All parents and caregivers are able to sign-up for a 5 minute conference(s).

February 11 - 13

Bring $5 - $25 to buy something for you or somebody else.

You can also buy secret candy grams!

We are halfway through the school year!

This is a great time to recenter with your child and check in on their

executive functioning, organization, schoolwork completion and grades.

Please reach out to your AVID teachers and/or

AVID school counselors if you have any concerns or questions!

Please read your monthly newsletters - The Sixth Scoop - for updated information among the 6th grade!

Please check the 7th Grade One Stop Shop for weekly updates of what each 7th grade classroom is working on.

Please read your weekly newsletters from Ms. Ernvall - An Eighth Grade Exchange - for updated information among the 8th grade!

AVID seeks to support students in developing the knowledge, skills, and characteristics that they need to plan for and achieve college and career success. AVID provides teachers with lessons and activities to reinforce these skills and enhance understanding.

The four key characteristics of college and career ready students are:

💥 Self-Awareness: Self-awareness is the knowledge of one’s own character, including strengths, weaknesses, feelings, and motivations. Teachers guide self-awareness development in students by focusing on a growth mindset, self-knowledge, and identifying learning preferences.

💥 Self-Care: Self-care is the proactive and intentional maintenance of one’s health and well-being. Teachers focus on habits of health, wellness, social-emotional learning, and positive support

systems.

💥 Self-Monitoring: Self-monitoring is the ability to be in control of one’s behavior to adapt successfully to a variety of academic and social situations. Teachers guide the development of self-monitoring by focusing on intrinsic and extrinsic motivators and highlighting perseverance and grit in action.

💥 Self-Advocacy: Self-advocacy entails all 3! Self-awareness, self-care, and self-monitoring. Teachers guide self-advocacy development by focusing on communication, mental flexibility, and leadership opportunities.

6th Grade AVID Teacher

lopezv@district65.net

7th Grade AVID Teacher

mcdermottmeg@district65.net

8th Grade AVID Teacher

stonec@district65.net