Cape Henlopen School District Celebrates National AVID Day

Cape Henlopen School District proudly joined schools across the nation in celebrating National AVID Day on September 12.

AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a nationally recognized program designed to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college, careers, and life. All three of Cape Henlopen’s middle schools, as well as Cape Henlopen High School, have implemented AVID strategies to strengthen student engagement, foster academic success, and encourage college and career readiness.

Throughout the year, AVID students participate in a variety of activities that showcase their learning, including:

• College and career readiness activities such as goal-setting exercises, binder and organization checks, and motivational discussions about future pathways.
• Classroom visits and demonstrations where teachers modeled AVID strategies like focused note-taking and Socratic seminars.
• College visits that introduce students to a variety of college campuses, where they take tours, hear from current college students about their majors, and gain a broad overview of the college experience.

To celebrate all that AVID does throughout the year, students at Fred Thomas created and participated in interactive team-building challenges that highlighted AVID’s focus on collaboration, inquiry, and critical thinking. Mariner coordinated an AVID aerial photo with the help of one of their seventh-grade peers who manned the drone, and Beacon is planning for guest speakers to visit their class in the coming months, and will participate in college visits.

“AVID is more than just a program, it’s a culture that helps students believe in themselves and take ownership of their learning,” said Dr. Michael Young, Supervisor of Secondary Education. “National AVID Day helps our students and staff to celebrate the progress they’ve made and the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Dr. Jenny Nauman, Superintendent of Cape Henlopen School District, emphasized the importance of the program: “The AVID program aligns with our district’s mission of preparing every student for success. We are proud of the work being done at all three middle schools and the high school and are excited to see the impact it has on students’ futures.”