Watch this video on the AVID program at Elkins Pointe Middle School.

Q: AVID – Why that name?

A: AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. The program is based on the belief that if students are willing to work hard, they can be taught skills needed to take ownership of their own learning, to complete rigorous courses and be prepared for high school and college.

Q: How are students selected for the AVID Connections class?

A: AVID targets students who have the desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard. Students who are capable of completing rigorous curriculum but are falling short of their potential are good candidates for AVID. AVID looks to promote students who are often the first in their families to attend college and provides a means for socio-economically disadvantaged families to be exposed to and learn a path for college. However, AVID is not a program only for students who are from families who need help evening the playing field, it is for students who are motivated to do well, but could use extra skills to reach their full potential.

Q: My child is not in the AVID Elective. How does he/she benefit?

A: AVID is designed to impact the leadership, systems, instruction and culture of a school to support high expectations and levels of achievement for all students. AVID impacts students throughout the school when trained teachers use AVID strategies to influence the academic and behavioral skills of their students in all content classes. Although AVID is an elective course for selected students, ALL students will benefit because the methodologies, strategies, and expectations are school-wide and impact the learning environment and culture of an entire campus.

Q: What is the deadline for applications?

A: March 21, 2018

Q: What grades can apply?

A: We have room in ALL Grades!

• 6th grade - Two new classes
• 7th grade - space available
• 8th grade - space available

Q: Who is the AVID teacher?

A: Mrs. Meredith Tonge is our Connections AVID Teacher. Mrs. Tongue taught 8th grade Social Studies at EPMS, and has moved over to be our lead AVID instructor. Mrs. Tongue was the 2016-2017 Fulton County Teacher of the Year.

Click on the videos below to see Mrs. Meredith Tongue address the State of Our Schools & her Legacy Speech.

Q: How does AVID work at EPMS?

A: AVID is a year-long Connections class, much like Band, Orchestra and Chorus are year-long Connections classes. AVID is an elective class for one period a day during the Connections. Students learn organizational and study skills, work on critical thinking and asking probing questions, get academic help from peers and AVID tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities to focus on path in high school that leads to college.

Q: Is AVID an ELECTIVE class, or is it a track of classes that the kids take all year?

A: AVID is a year-round Connections class, taken during the Connections portion on the schedule. It is akin to how Band, Orchestra and Chorus operate. Your child can still participate in the music program and in World Languages. There will be no room in your child's schedule to cycle through: PE, Health, Art, Business Computer Science, Adventure Quest, Family and Consumer Science (FACS) or General Music.

Q: "I'm completely confused about this program. When it was first introduced I went online to the AVID website to read about it, and it sounded like a program intended to assist and encourage students who might not typically be on a college prep track. Now my daughter is telling me her impressions of the program, which make it sound more like a TAG-type experience--field trips, study skills, etc. It sounds more like an elective now--I thought in the past, it was a group of kids taking specialized classes geared toward getting them on the path to college. Can you please clarify?"

A: The short answer to your question is Yes, it is "a program intended to assist and encourage students who might not typically be on a college prep track" and it is like a "like a TAG-like experience--field trips, study skills, etc." It is both. PLEASE NOTE: THIS PROGRAM IS NOT DESIGNED FOR TAG STUDENTS. The program is designed to help students at the bottom, middle and the top reach their full potential.

Q: Does AVID give homework in addition to the 1-2 hours a day of homework from the other classes?

A: AVID rarely assigns homework, and actually is a compliment to homework. Two times a week the AVID class has students pulls a question they need help with and addresses it in class.

Q: Is it true that AVID takes field trips?

A: Yes, the AVID classes take field trips. AVIS classes visit colleges campuses, but also participate in real world experiences. Our Avid classes this year have visited CNN, GA Tech, UGA, Kennesaw State, and to a "Rope Course" for a Team Building experience.

Q: Can you take AVID and also do a World Language & Band/Chorus/Orchestra?

A: Yes! World Language doesn't affect it all since all students take either World Language or Reading. However, students who take a music course (band, chorus, or orchestra) and AVID, will only have those two electives. They will not take P.E., art, etc.

Q: What are the impacts of AVID?

A: AVID Impacts:

Leadership:

• Provides meaningful and motivational professional learning opportunities
• Develops campus-based leadership through the AVID Site Team
• Supports campus leadership in opening access •Develops family and community outreach

Systems

• Addresses issues of access and equity
• Increases vertical articulation
• Increases enrollment in advanced academic courses
• Provides data collection and analysis

Instruction

• Supports Common Core and other state standards
• Develops students as readers and writers
• Teaches specific strategies for critical and higher-level thinking
• Utilizes WICOR (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading) as a foundation for learning
• Employs Socratic methodologies •Cultivates time management and goal-setting behaviors

Culture

• Acts as a catalyst to improve the belief system, culture, and instructional strategies for all students
• Provides support so students can meet high expectations
• Empowers students with academic, career, and life skills
  

These Title I Parent Workshops were presented by our AVID trained teachers.

1. Part I - Inquiry: Costa's Level of Questioning by Mr. Tim Feilin
2. Part II - Collaboration by Mrs. Meredith Tongue

(Please enjoy the presentations by clicking on the videos below.)

AVID Information Night - @ EPMS on 3/7 & 3/8

• Date: March 7th and March 8th
• Time: 6:00-7:00 PM
• Location: Elkins Pointe Middle School - Room C-118
• All parents and students are invited
• Download the application: English or Spanish

AVID Recruitment - 3/1 thru 3/17

The window for AVID recruitment will be open from March 1-17. AVID is a college ready program in which motivated students apply to the program. The AVID program is a year long elective where students learn WICOR strategies, such as organization, collaboration, using Cornell Notes, and more. The application process entails students to complete the application, acquire recommendations from a teacher(s), and to interview.

• Download the application: English or Spanish
  
• Questions? Email Dr. Lesia Griffin
• Learn more about AVID program on the middle school level here.

Note: There is limited space available in the AVID program; candidates are selected based on AVID qualifications and not on first come basis.

If you have a question, please do not hesitate to ask one of the Elkins Pointe Parent Liaisons:

• Lisa O'Hanlon Cowles, Parent Liaison, Title I @ email: ohanlon@fultonschools.org or 470-254-8379

• Isabel Lopez, Bilingual Parent Liaison, Title III @ email: lopezi@fultonschools.org or 470-254-8380

11290 Elkins Road, Roswell, Georgia 30076

Email: ohanlon@fultonschools.org
Website: http://school.fultonschools.org/ms/elkinspointe/Pages/default.aspx
Phone: 470-254-2892
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ElkinsPointeMSParents/
Twitter: @elkinspointe