CSUSB Field Trip

Seventh grade AVID students visited California State University, San Bernardino on Monday, October 29th. Students toured the campus with our HJH teachers. Stops included the CSUSB museum, the gym, the Pfau Library, and peeks into classrooms and lecture halls.

We're currently in the works of planning our upcoming, second semester eighth grade college tours. This year we plan on visiting UC Riverside, the University of LaVerne, and Cal Poly Pomona. A special thanks to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for their generous donations for making these trips possible!

Philosophical Chair

One of the skills promoted in AVID is the use of evidence to articulate an argument. On Wednesday, students did just that with a Philosophical Chair! A Philosophical Chair helps the development of students’ abilities to give careful attention to other students’ comments and to engage in dialogue with one another to gain a greater understanding of the topic presented. On Wednesday students debated the topic of schools start times.

Preparation for this began with reading two articles, one pro and one con.  Afterwards, students chose a side, outlined two claims based on evidence. Next, students looked at the opposing side, possible claims and evidence to prepare them for the counterargument. On the day of the debate students chose a side and gave their arguments. Through this experience, it is our hope students learn to use evidence to defend their positions but also gain an understanding of the opposing viewpoint.

New Focus Notes for the 2018-2019 School Year

AVID students have welcomed a change to our class! This year students are able to revise more than Cornell notes to turn in each week. Beginning this year focus notes can include: Cornell notes, graphic organizers (bubble maps, tree maps, t-charts, etc.), one-pagers, worksheets. Students MUST revise these focus notes using the rubric below. Every Wednesday students will come to class with an organized binder and four sets of notes for their core classes: Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies.

The past few weeks students practiced revising Cornell notes, a worksheet, and a graphic organizer. We also held a question and answer session to help students feel more comfortable with their first Binder Check this Wednesday.

The goal of AVID is to provide support for our students in their classes, and note taking and revising notes is just one part of that support.

Welcome 2018-2019 AVID Students!

Mr. Adams, Mrs. Callahan, and Ms. St. John are excited to welcome our 2018-19 AVID students. We've spent the first weeks of school getting to know one another, working on organization, and learning how to take and revise Focus notes (more on that to come soon!).

In addition, students have been completing team building activities on Fridays. Pictured here are some of our shenanigans!

University of LaVerne & Cal Poly Pomona

Eighth grade AVID students went on another successful college field trip! This time students were able to visit two college campuses: LaVerne and Cal Poly Pomona. Before we went on the field trip students completed a college tour preparation assignment to give them information on both colleges. Afterwards, students completed a post field trip lesson where they were asked various questions, such as what they had observed and learned.



These field trips are so valuable for our AVID students! They get to witness future possibilities.  These trips also serve as a reminder as to why they are working so hard. The reward is college! This would not be possible without the generous support of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Thank you for your continued support!

University Research and Pennant Project

AVID students spent the past several weeks researching and creating a university pennant. Research began after students were assigned a university and completed definitions on various college terms. Then students took notes on topics, which included tuition, housing, campus life, etc. The culmination came this week when they turned in their pennants.

What is AVID?

Our amazing 5th period AVID peer tutors put together a presentation describing AVID. The tutors made presentations in 7th grade Language Arts classes to help recruit future AVID students. These same awesome kids also did an incredible job giving this presentation at our 6th grade orientation. After the presentation, they passed out flyers, applications, and answered questions.   The response from the 6th and 7th graders has been extraordinary.  We cannot wait to welcome even more AVID Roadrunners next year!!

AVID Applications & Teacher Recommendations!

Incoming 6th graders!  

Interested in being part of the HJH AVID Family? 

Click the link or use the QR code below 
to apply for AVID!! 

https://goo.gl/u7oUbL

Current HJH Roadrunners!

Interested in being part of the HJH AVID Family? 

Click the link or use the QR code below 
to apply for AVID!! 

https://goo.gl/n8ryr8

**Teachers** 

Below are the links and QR codes to the recommendation forms.  If you have any issues, please email Ms. St. John at jonna.st.john@hesperiausd.org.

  

6th-grade recommendation form:  https://goo.gl/pvi3TM 

 

                   

7th/8th-grade recommendation form:  https://goo.gl/FFXr2K

CSUSB Part 2!

Eighth grade AVID students recently enjoyed a tour around California State University, San Bernardino. On Monday, over 90 8th grade AVID students boarded busses and trekked down the hill!



Students walked through halls, peeked inside lecture rooms, ventured through CSUSB's museum, and looked at the cost of textbooks (the most expensive being a Biology book for $300!). We are thankful to take this field trip with the support of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. A huge thanks to them!

Binder Checks

Every Wednesday students are required to have their binders checked. This entails a check of their actual binder for organization, as well as a check of their notes.

The requirements:

• One set of notes for each core subject (Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, Science)
• Recent notes from that week (Wednesday-Wednesday)
• Follow the rubric

Binder Check Form

Cornell Note Form

Students are required to complete four sets of notes each week. Students can use notes they've completed in class as part of an assignment or they can create their own. If their teachers do not assign notes, students are responsible for taking or creating notes on what they are learning that week. For instance, if students are completing a science lab they can take or create notes on the process, steps, content, etc. If students are reading a story in Language Arts, they can complete notes on the topic, setting, plot, or whatever is relevant to the story. The purpose of these notes is for students to use them as a study tool. By going over the content in each of their core subjects every week, they are reviewing information, and through repetition, will gain a greater understanding of content.  AVID students were taught this process in depth in the first few weeks of the school year, and we reviewed the process again when we returned from Winter Break.  Below are some excellent student created examples of Cornell Focus Notes. 
        

Site of Distinction

We are proud to announce that HJH AVID has received the title of AVID Site of Distinction! AVID is occuring in our elective classes and throughout our school. Teachers are utilizing AVID strategies to fulfill our school's mission of creating students who are college and career ready!

An AVID Schoolwide Site of Distinction represents the highest level of AVID implementation fidelity, demonstrating excellence in instructional practice and the promotion of college readiness schoolwide. This elite group of schools represents less than 10% of all AVID middle and high schools worldwide.