What Others Say....

STUDENTS

“AVID is a really helpful program. Before I was in AVID I got mostly C - C+ in my classes. Since I have joined AVID, I get mainly B’s and I have straight G’s in all my classes. I am glad I took AVID.”

Ian Pohl - February 2004
Grade 10 AVID Student , Chilliwack Secondary School

“AVID has helped me think more seriously about my future.”

Reanne Copley - February 2004
Grade 9 AVID Student, Vedder Middle School

“AVID has helped me in many ways. It has helped me recognize my goals and headed me towards them. AVID enforces weekly binder checks and tutorials. I like being an AVID student because it made me realize how important school is, and that you can’t slack off. AVID was definitely the difference.”

Melissa Simmill - February 2004
Grade 10 AVID Student, Chilliwack Secondary School

“In Science I went from a C- to a B and AVID really helped. The studying skills and Cornell Notes have really helped . AVID has given me a chance for success and a hope to do well in school. My wish is to do well in everything and to do the best I can. I want to be organized and have fun doing it.”

Raisa Bartsch - February 2004
Grade 9 AVID Student, Chilliwack Middle School

“AVID gave me the ability to show myself that if I try really hard, I can succeed.”

Chandrella McEvoy - February 2004
Grade 10 AVID Student, Chilliwack Secondary School

“AVID has helped me in a number of ways. AVID has helped me to be more organized, to take better Cornell Notes, to write better paragraphs, and it has helped me on hard problems and questions in my other classes. I like being an AVID student because of the help it gave me and the encouragement to do better in my classes and to achieve my goals.”

Carissa Wall - February 2004
Grade 10 AVID Student, Chilliwack Secondary School

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“The activities that I have enjoyed the most in AVID are the tutorials, because the tutors come and help you with a subject that you don’t understand. No one will make fun of you because you don’t understand. AVID has helped me get better grades in my subjects because it has taught me how to study for tests and quizzes.”

Sarah Clay, February 2004
Grade 8 AVID Student, Chilliwack Middle School

“AVID has helped me a lot. I am more organized now than I have every been, I use my agenda book daily and I’m prepared to complete and study for any assignments or quizzes. AVID has helped me become more persuasive and aware of my opinions by doing Socratic Seminars. I like AVID and being an AVID student because there is always, at least one other student from AVID in your classes that you can have a study group with.”

Lindsay Kornelson - February 2004
Grade 10 AVID Student, Chilliwack Secondary School

“AVID has helped me with my self-esteem, career possibilities and my way of life.”

Danielle Billinghurst - February 2004
Grade 9 AVID Student, Vedder Middle School

“I love that AVID has refocused my attention to developing my curriculum through the eyes of my students and not through the demands of time and access.”

Leanne Raad - April 2003
AVID Teacher/Coordinator, Vedder Middle School

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“Chilliwack School District began AVID three years ago with pilot programs in Vedder Middle School and Chilliwack Senior Secondary. This year the program was expanded to Sardis Secondary, Mount Slesse Middle and Chilliwack Middle. Over the last three years, through the dedication of staff and the commitment of both students and parents this project has grown to the point where we feel our District is able to take the lead in supporting the implementation of AVID in the province. We have an excellent working relationship with AVID Centre in San Diego, our schools and staff have had very positive experiences with the Summer Institutes and additional training that they have undertaken with AVID."

Jacquie Taylor, Superintendent of Schools
Chilliwack School District

“It is my good fortune to be in my second school that uses AVID strategies and has AVID classes. In my first school, I saw the AVID program develop for the discovery stage. At VMS, I arrived to see a program going into its third year, with two AVID classes and 15 staff who attended at least one summer institute. In a very short time, two things about VMS AVID program stood out:

1. The incredible leadership and teaching provided by the AVID Coordinator, Diane Chapman
2. The influence AVID was having on the whole school culture with AVID strategies and terminology showing up in many teaching areas.”
   

Rick Jones - April 2003
Principal, Vedder Middle School

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“If I think about AVID’s impact on my role as a teacher it has been large. I have discovered a number of different activities that allow my students to inquire and collaborate to discover new information. I have learned and taught my students skills to enable them to improve academically. But for me, AVID has reassured my beliefs in education and student achievement.”

Sharon Lindsay - April 2003
Teacher, Vedder Middle School

“As a result of my work with AVID, I am not the same teacher I was before AVID. The pillars of AVID have provided a framework for building and sustaining a community of learners whose focus is the same - post secondary training. Along with sharing a common goal, their connections with each other strengthen over time as a result of the field trips to universities and all the presentations and fund raising events that go along with that.”

Jan Gladish - February 2004
Former AVID Teacher/Coordinator, Chilliwack Secondary School
Currently SFU Faculty Associate

“Initially when you look into AVID is seems to be targeted to creating post secondary opportunities and successes for underserved students - kids in the middle. This is true, however there is another powerful aspect involved, it has the ability to change a school culture! AVID is about creating and supporting a comprehensive professional development program for staff which addresses teaching practices, a rigorous curriculum and the social emotional support that students need to be successful. It is about creating a learning community within a school.”

Stan Watchorn - February 2004
Dir. of Instruction
Chilliwack School District

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“My teaching partner, Leanne Raad and I are both AVID teachers and coordinators. All of the students in our grade 7 team are “AVIDized” (not just the AVID elective class). We teach our core curriculum while embedding AVID strategies (Skills For Success) such as Cornell Notes, agenda use, master binder, organization, time management, goal setting, study skills, career awareness, etc. Our teaching strategies revolve around AVID’s core elements - WIC-R (writing, inquiry, collaboration and reading).”

Angie Maxwell - February 2004
AVID Teacher/Coordinator, Vedder Middle School

“I was pleased to be able to be part of the AVID site team at Vedder Middle School this year. At the grade 9 level, we are not teamed as teachers are at grade 7 and 8. Therefore, the opportunity for me to collaborate with other teachers on the AVID Site Team is appreciated. I am convinced that the AVID “culture” that has been engendered in our school the last couple of years, will continue to benefit not only AVID students specifically - but all students in our school!”

John Caulfield - April 2003
Teacher, Vedder Middle School

“Of course implementing AVID doesn’t mean instant success for students. It can be difficult for AVID students to accept the changes that they need to make in order for them to reach a higher level of achievement in school than they may have experienced in the past. This alone takes dedication and a commitment to improvement. It is not an easy thing for the typical grade 8 student to think about what they want to do after they graduate from school and then to begin mapping out the road on how they will get there. AVID helps students realize their dreams! AVID is about teachers talking about ways to help more students reach success. It is about communicating concerns and successes with each other. It is about working as a school team to help more students reach their potential. What schools will find is that AVID students are not the only students who benefit from the skills learned through the AVID program, eventually all students will benefit as more and more staff implement AVID strategies in all of their classes."

Bob Young - February 2004
Principal, Chilliwack Middle School

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“The most beneficial part of being involved in AVID for me has been the incredible professional development I have received as part of the AVID training. I have learned so much from collaborating with other teachers and administrators and I would encourage other teachers to implement AVID strategies to improve their students’ chances for success."

Julie Erskine - April 2003
Teacher, Vedder Middle School
AVID Site Team Member

“As a Sci-Math core teacher who supports AVID, I have watched the students with academic potential learn how organization is a key factor in their success. The support of tutorials in preparation for final exams, working on assigned problems in Math and other assignments has been excellent. Students come to the realization that working together in groups collaboratively is beneficial for all involved."

Wendy Sun - April 2003
Teacher, Vedder Middle School

“From my first glimpse of AVID, I knew that it was an educational program that I wanted to be involved in. It has given me solid teaching practices that enhance my teaching style and allow me to reach learners in my classroom that I was unable to reach before. Cornell Notes, reflective writing, organizational techniques, study skills and time/priority management are just a few examples of the strategies that AVID has introduced to me. While they are just strategies aimed to enhance the goals of AVID, they are teaching practices that help all students strive to be responsible and accountable.

Leanne Raad - April 2003
AVID Teacher/Coordinator, Vedder Middle School

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