Advancement Via Individual Determination

Important AVID recruiting dates:
Potential AVID families must attend one of the meetings:
   Thursday, 2/15 PEN @ 7:00 PM in the PAC
   Friday, 2/16 PVHS @ 7:00 PM in the MPR

AVID candidates must submit a portfolio to Jennifer Egan or the PVIS, MIS, RIS 8th grade counselor by Monday, 2/27.
3 teacher recommendations are due to Jennifer Egan or the PVIS, MIS, RIS 8th grade counselor by Monday, 3/5. (Teachers will submit the forms.)

AVID candidates must participate in one of the interview dates:
   Monday, 2/27 PVIS @ 8:30-11:30 AM
   Wednesday, 2/29 RIS @ 8:00-8:45 AM and MIS @ 9:30-11:30 AM
   Tuesday, 3/6 PVHS @ 7:30 AM
   Wednesday, 3/14 PVHS @ 7:30 AM

Additional Materials
AVID Open House Presentation
- large file - allow 2 minutes for download

Jennifer Egan, AVID Coordinator and Teacher, AVID Class of 2012, 2013
Room: 401
Phone: 310-378-8471 Ext. 703
Email: eganj@pvpusd.k12.ca.us

A Redondo Beach native, Ms. Egan is the happy mother of three small children.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Literature and Women’s Studies from UC San Diego and Master of Arts degrees in Literature and Education from Loyola Marymount University.  Ms. Egan began her teaching career at Notre Dame Academy in 1997.  After teaching at NDA and then Bishop Montgomery (her Alma Mater), she made a permanent move to PVHS where she has taught since its reopening in 2002.  She has been teaching AVID since 2004.  After her first AVID class graduated in 2008, Ms. Egan jumped right into teaching her second class, the class of 2012.  When not teaching or coordinating the AVID program, Ms. Egan teaches AP Literature (her other passion).

Ms. Egan’s AVID class focuses on College preparation.  While her students have sometimes referred to it as “AP AVID,” they all walk away from the class with the skills they need to succeed in high school and College.   There is a strong emphasis in note taking, organization, collaboration, comprehension, College test preparation and College exploration.  AVID class not only prepares students for College, but also helps them to determine the College that fits them best.

While there is no other course that has challenged her more, there is also no other course she finds as rewarding to teach.  Ms. Egan believes in the AVID program because she has witnessed its effectiveness.  “I love teaching AVID because I am able to develop such a close relationship with my students.  I have the unique privilege to watch them grow into adults and to support them in making the most important decisions of their lives.”

Jim Whalen: Teacher, AVID Class of 2014
Room: 402
Email: pvteacher@gmail.com

Born in New York (on Long Island) and a graduate of Boston College, Jim Whalen is a father of three young sons.  Mr. Whalen has been teaching at PVHS for 7 years and is in his 6th of teaching the AVID elective.  Mr. Whalen can seem all AVID, all the time, but is also dedicated to his algebra 2 classes and coaching on the baseball staff.  Mr. Whalen loves bonding with his AVID students and seeing them excel in their core classes at PVHS.  After graduating 60 AVID seniors in 2009 and 2010, Mr. Whalen is excited for the newest venture with the 69 students in the Class of 2014.

Mr. Whalen’s AVID class focuses on skills needed to be high school successful and College ready.  There is an emphasis on reading, whether it be a novel (we do one a semester) or something featured in the New York Times or something else.  Current events are also an AVID “go to” topic and are delivered through newspaper articles or watching the latest 60 Minutes episode.  There is also a steady diet of vocabulary building, SAT preparation, writing, College exploration units, and regular AVID style tutorials.

“I really enjoy working with students inside the AVID classroom, but I think all of us love the outside activities as well.  Fun Fridays are a great break from the regular routine, and College day trips and overnight trips are awesome.  And the AVID Car Wash is one of my favorite days of the year and the Knott’s excursion is great too.”

Alex Morales: Teacher, AVID Class of 2015
Room: 307
Email: moralesa@pvpusd.k12.ca.us

The AVID Student

AVID targets students in the broad academic middle.  The typical AVID student at PVHS has earned roughly a B average, but there are a lot of students who have earned plenty of A’s and students who have earned C’s are not excluded.  Students have the desire to go to College and the willingness to work hard. These are students who are capable of completing rigorous curriculum but are quite possibly falling short of their full potential. Sometimes, they will be the first in their families to attend College, and at times they are from low-income or minority families.   Although most PVPUSD students are on a College track, AVID would pull students out of their unchallenging courses and put them on the College track.  Acceleration, honors and AP classes are encouraged over remediation.

The AVID Classroom

Not only are students enrolled in their school's toughest classes, such as honors and Advanced Placement®, but they also taking the AVID elective. For one period a day (every other day on the block), they learn organizational and study skills, work on critical thinking and asking probing questions, get academic help from peers, teacher and College tutors, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities that make College seem attainable. Their self-images improve, and they become academically successful leaders and role models for other students.

The AVID Curriculum

The AVID curriculum, based on rigorous standards, was developed by middle and senior high school teachers in collaboration with College professors. It is driven by the WICR method, which stands for writing, inquiry, collaboration, and reading.  AVID curriculum is used in AVID elective classes, in content-area classes in AVID schools, and even in schools where the AVID elective is not offered.  The WICR curriculum is broad enough such that the AVID elective teacher can directly target the needs of the AVID student.  Different skill sets are addressed at different times.  Study skills and time management are the focus in early years while in later years the focus is more standardized test prep.  Finally, students are guided through the College application process late junior year and into senior year.

The AVID Facility

One key to a successful AVID program is a site coordinator/teacher who is a respected site instructional leader who works well with secondary school personnel and College students and faculty, who can organize curriculum as well as activities, and who is committed to serving the needs of target students. The coordinator also works with colleagues to implement AVID methodologies school-wide, to place students in College preparatory curriculum, and to work with counselors to guide students through the College application process.

The AVID Tutor

Tutors are essential to the success of the AVID elective class, where they facilitate student access to rigorous curriculum.  As students from Colleges and universities, tutors receive formal training and also serve as role models.  AVID students who continue their education in College often return to the program as tutors.  PVHS has a dedicated tutor corps that everyone is proud of.

The AVID Parent

AVID parents encourage their students to achieve academically, participate on an advisory board and in AVID parent and site team meetings, and maintain regular contact with the AVID teacher.  Parents enjoy knowing they can turn to AVID teacher on a variety of academic and social issues.  Parents know the AVID teacher will be there from the first day of high school all the way through to graduation day.

Results

Below are results for AVID students state-wide.  The AVID student at PVHS (like PVHS as a whole) has had results that exceed these state averages.  While there are a few students who have chosen to go to a two-year community College, a large majority of our students are accepted and attend a four-year university.  Recent College acceptances and enrollment include:  UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz, USC, SDSU, University of San Diego, Santa Clara University, University of Oregon, University of Washington, University of Colorado at Boulder, Whitman College, University of New Mexico, DePaul University, Tufts University and many more.

UC College-Going Rates

While fewer than seven and a half percent of all California grads attend one of the University of California's nine undergraduate campuses, more than thirteen percent of AVID grads plan to enroll in the country's best public university system.
AVID Center. AVID Senior Data Collection, CA Seniors, 2009-2010.
n = 13,985

California Post-Secondary Education System (CPEC). Enrollment of First-Time Freshmen age 19 and under in Public Institutions For 2008. Aggregated by Higher Education System  Where High School County is All Known School Type is Any Public School Including Total of Public High School Graduates. n = 375,973

CSU College-Going Rate

AVID students plan to attend the 23 California State University campuses at over three times the rate of all of California's high school graduates.
AVID Center. AVID Senior Data Collection, CA Seniors, 2009-2010.
n = 13,985

California Post-Secondary Education System (CPEC). Enrollment of First-Time Freshmen age 19 and under in Public Institutions For 2008. Aggregated by Higher Education System  Where High School County is All Known School Type is Any Public School Including Total of Public High School Graduates. n = 375,973

Percentage of Students That Have Completed "a-g" Requirements

In order to attend prestigious University of California schools, students must complete a rigorous set of courses called the "a-g" requirements.  The vast majority of AVID's California students complete these courses, preparing them for world-class public higher education.
AVID Center. AVID Senior Data Collection, CA Seniors, 2009-2010.
n = 13,985

California Post-Secondary Education System (CPEC). Enrollment of First-Time Freshmen age 19 and under in Public Institutions For 2008. Aggregated by Higher Education System  Where High School County is All Known School Type is Any Public School Including Total of Public High School Graduates. n = 375,973