the the

MTSD AVID Update Update Advancement Via Individual Determination

Every AVID school has an AVID Site Team, comprised of educators across all disciplines who are committed to implementing AVID’s rigorous best teaching practices into their classrooms. An effective AVID site team functions as a leadership group that fosters the development of a schoolwide learning community, collaborates to achieve the mission of AVID, and focuses on the achievement of every one of its students. Strong site teams work to become a catalyst for the institutionalization of AVID. See below for the AVID Site Team members at each secondary school.

HOMESTEAD STEFFEN

Debbie Anderson, Natalie Block, Katelyn Albright, Sheri Christman, Katie Janssen, Mary Lock, Brenda Long, and Kelly Matthias

LAKE SHORE

Kate Dunning, Ben DeJong, Nicole Brown, Luke Hlavacek, Sheila Jentsch, Rose Riege, Deb Stone, and Barb Duenk

W I N T E R 2 0 1 5

AVID Elementary!

MTSD is preparing for the launch of AVID Elementary at Donges Bay,

Oriole Lane, and Wilson during the 2015-2016 school year. Each school will implement AVID Elementary in

all 4th and 5th grade classrooms.

AVID Elementary is the foundational component to AVID’s College

Readiness System and intended to provide equal access to all students by

developing organizational skills, instilling student success skills,

inspiring a belief in academic rigor and success and smoothing the

transition to middle school.

Next year, MTSD will be the only school district in the state of

Wisconsin to offer AVID at all academic levels.

Kris Besler, Brett Bowers, Joe Ciurlik, Kathy Connelly, Tony Engle, Susie Godfrey, Tracy Grace, Lori Keiser, Julie King, Susan Lueders, Lindsay Nass, Rachel Rauch, Paul Sivanich, Emily Weitekamp, Suzy Zellman, and Jen

Zortman

Site Team Members

What is the AVID Site Team?

MTSD AVID UPDATE WINTER 2015

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The AVID 9s have been working hard to ask the right questions during tutorials so they can lead their peers to that "a-ha" moment. They've uncovered how poverty affects the United States economy, identified the best way to convey the dehumanization in Elie Wiesel's memoir Night, and differentiated between convergent and divergent species in biology. As we approach final exams for 2nd trimester, our focus is to

The AVID 10 class visited Concordia University on February 20th to experience and learn about what it would be like to attend a smaller, private school. College tours always energize the college-going culture in AVID! For our service-learning project this trimester, the AVID 10 class served dinner to 60 people at the Ronald McDonald House.

11th & 12th grade AVID students do not have class in Trimester Two. During this “off tri”, the AVID 11s and 12s have been supporting 9th and 10th grade tutorials. Their expertise with the tutorial process allows them to step in and facilitate a group. Leadership opportunities such as these serve the Juniors and Seniors well, not only to model an on-going commitment to AVID for our freshman and sophomores, but as they transition to their post-secondary experiences.

Homestead High School Homestead’s mission is to equip all students with transferable skills, promote academic independence, foster

social responsibility and inspire a passion for learning.

9th Grade

10th Grade

11th & 12th Grades

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secondary experiences.

to to

The AVID 10 class visited Concordia UniversityThe AVID 10 class visited Concordia University

what it would be like to attend a smaller, private what it would be like to attend a smaller, private

grade AVID students do not have class

MTSD AVID UPDATE WINTER 2015

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Building our College-Going Culture

In an effort to grow our college-going culture, MTSD purchased college banner sets – a total of 96 pennants - for all six of our schools. Believe it or not, college awareness begins as early as elementary school!

It's been a busy winter, in and outside the classroom, for the AVID 7 students at Steffen! They worked hard preparing artifacts to demonstrate their learning for multiple events aimed to educate prospective AVID students and families. During our Parent Night in February, AVID 7 students showed off their collective questioning skills by participating in mock tutorials. The AVID 7 students recently started researching possible career clusters and colleges for their next long-term project!

Steffen Middle School Steffen’s mission is to foster students’ intellectual, emotional, and social growth by promoting mutual respect,

high expectations, and personal integrity.

7th Grade 8th Grade

Steffen's 8th grade AVID class is gearing up for high school. Students created Google presentations in which they researched one of the grade levels at Homestead. Course offerings, Clubs, AP classes and Honors level classes were all examined. This helped to prepare them for high school registration and to set goals as they generate their five year plan. Recently, students have also become adept at writing complex sentences when given a list of 10 words. It is wonderful to see AVID’s W.I.C.O.R. strategies starting to shine through!

MTSD AVID UPDATE WINTER 2015

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In 7th grade AVID at Lake Shore, the students are plugging away with tutorials. Collectively, they have demonstrated solid growth in the completion and execution of their Cornell Notes, which is a major component of the AVID elective. Starting next week, students will begin a unit dedicated to college. They will be selecting a specific school to research in depth. Not only will this unit reinforce and refine students’ research process skills, but students will also gain a greater understanding of the academic and financial requirements of post-secondary education.

In AVID 8 at Lake Shore, we have been focusing on High School and College readiness. The class has been looking at HS courses, not just what students want to take as 9th graders but what they would need to complete in order to be prepared for rigorous courses in 10th - 12th grade. Mrs. Stone, our Guidance Counselor, came to speak to the class about college placement tests. We have been researching colleges and the requirements needed to get into those colleges.

Lake Shore Middle School At Lake Shore Middle School our mission is to provide meaningful instruction using responsive practices so all students make continuous progress academically, socially and developmentally

in order to be contributing and informed members of a global society.

7th Grade 8th Grade

Ms. Dunning as “The Binder Doctor”!

MTSD AVID Update Advancement Via Individual Determination

During the month of January, Homestead, Lake Shore, and Steffen all hosted Family Nights to share information regarding the AVID Elective class for prospective students. Interested students apply to be part of AVID, go through an interview process, and are notified of acceptance into AVID for the 2015-2016 school year.

MTSD AVID UPDATE WINTER 2015

AVID’s mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness

and success in a global society.

Twitter @AVID4College @AVIDMWStates @angusAVID Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AVIDCenter https://www.facebook.com/MequonThiensvilleSchoolDistrict?ref=br_rs

hosted Family Nights to share information regarding the AVID Elective class for prospective students. Interested students apply to be part of AVID, go through an interview process, and arinto AVID for the 2015

Mequon-Thiensville School District’s mission is to maximize the academic achievement and

personal growth of all students so they have the skills necessary to meet the challenges of a

changing global environment.