AVID and AVID Excel programs showcased at Highlands Middle School

Educators from across the region visited Highlands Middle School today, as the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) and AVID Excel programs were showcased to districts interested in implementing or expanding AVID programs. 

The showcase was highlighted by a student panel, where seventh and eighth grade AVID Excel students answered questions about their experience in the program. Educators also toured AVID classrooms, seeing the strategies used first-hand.

“It helps my vocabulary, and I like how AVID is one big family and community,” said Abigail Guaman, a seventh-grade student at Highlands, in one of her answers. 

AVID Excel is geared towards students that are long term English language learners, and it strengthens their academic and language skills using innovative learning strategies. It also prepares them to take the most rigorous courses at the high school level, explained Douglas Cronk, the district’s AVID director and coordinator of English 7-12

The White Plains City School District has offered AVID classes since 2010. The program started with one class in one grade level, and it has grown to one class in sixth grade and two classes per grade from grades 7-12. 

The purpose of the day was “to showcase our AVID and AVID Excel programs in action and really zoom in on how we support our English language learners and multilingual learners in our district,” said Caryn Friedman, who has taught AVID in the district for 14 years.

“Listening to the student panel is such a great experience because it really supports why we do what we do,” she added. “It’s so nice to hear what they’re internalizing and how they benefit from the program and how it helps them in the long term.” 

Students discussed strategies that they have learned in AVID Excel, such as “#CUBA,” which stands for circling, underlining, bracketing and annotating. AVID has also helped students with their confidence.

“I learned a lot of strategies to become a leader,” answered Santiago Rodriguez, an eighth-grade student at Highlands, when asked about the favorite things he’s learned from AVID Excel. “I’ve become more organized, better at public speaking and learned more writing strategies. Because of AVID, I’ve become better and better.”

“It helped me because I was not so confident with public speaking in English,” eighth-grader Salome Beltran Alba confidently answered – in English – to the audience of educators when explaining the benefits of the leadership project they worked on in the AVID Summer Bridge Program. 

“When I started in AVID, I got more confidence, and I started to talk to more people in English,” she added.

Students discussed how much the opportunity has benefited them outside of school as well. Some explained how they are now able to help their family members who may not speak as much English as they do now.

“Since I’m in AVID, I’ve learned a lot more skills; my English has gotten better, and I love AVID for that because it helped me a lot in my life,” said Martin Erraez Lazo, an eighth-grade student.

Teachers were shedding happy tears by the midway point of the panel discussion, as students confidently answered questions and explained the impact AVID has made on their lives and education. 

(Photo, left to right): AVID teacher Diana Lopez, Keysi Canales (7), Abigail Guaman (7), Salome Beltran Alba (8), Martin Erraez Lazo (8), Fabricio Fernandez Anazgo (8), Santiago Rodriguez (8), Esperanza Santiago (8), AVID teacher Catherine Barrera, AVID teacher Caryn Friedman