Brandywine High School
AVID Course Syllabus
AVID Purpose: Brandywine School District AVID is a fourth- through twelfth-grade program designed to prepare students for
four-year college eligibility. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination.
AVID Course Description: AVID class meets everyday and is driven by the WICR method, which stands for writing, inquiry,
collaboration, and reading. The AVID staff and students will work together as a learning community to build the skills necessary
for academic success. This course is meant to ensure that students who have the potential, and put forth the effort, can successfully
apply, enter, and achieve in a four year college.
AVID Tutorials: Tutors will come twice a week to work with our students (This semester we will have the tutors coming on
Tuesdays and Thursdays). It is the students’ responsibility to have their Tutorial Sheets filled out before they come to the Tutorial
session. Notes are taken during the tutorial session along with a reflection and summary of what was discussed and learned during
this important academic collaboration. These Tutorial Sheets are part of the AVID grade. The tutors are a great support for our
students as they strive for success in their more difficult classes. No late tutorials will be accepted. It is the student's responsibility
to go online and download the Tutorial Sheet from the AVID website. Students are able to do this from home or the school library.
AVID Binder Checks: An organized binder, complete with Cornell Notes, is a big part of the AVID success story. Students will
receive a handout outlining the requirements and expectations of their AVID binder. Every Friday will be a Binder Check,
however some random checks may occur. Keeping this binder is one of the single most important tasks you have in AVID. The
binder is worth anywhere from 10 to 50 points each week. A rubric will be provided. It is very important to keep your binder well
organized by date and full of key academic information!
AVID Learning Logs and Cornell Notes: Learning logs are class-learning reflections. If you did not take Cornell Notes for a
class period you are required to complete a Learning Log. The Cornell Note taking format will be taught to students at the start of
the semester. Students are responsible for printing Learning Logs from the AVID website (a maximum of TWO Learning Logs
per week). Each grade-level will have a specific number of Cornell Notes that they will be required to take in each of their core
classes. Your class requirement is _______.
AVID Calendar: AVID students will receive a BHS Agenda Book where they will record assignments and homework for their
courses. Other entries should include tests, quizzes, projects, scholarship deadlines, club meetings, fund raising dates, school extra
curricular activities, field trips, school holidays, and other special occasions. Tutors will check the calendar weekly as part of the
Binder Check grade.
AVID Field Trips/ Guest Speakers: Numerous speakers from colleges, businesses, professions and motivational groups will visit
our class. Students are required to take Cornell Notes and collect information and materials. AVID also includes field trips where
students visit various colleges and universities. Cost for field trips vary and students must participate in fund raising programs to
help with program costs. If a student is financially unable to pay for a trip sponsorship and other fundraising may be available.
AVID Community Service: All AVID students are required to complete 90 hours of Community Service prior to graduation. To
facilitate this, each AVID student will be required to complete five hours of community service each marking period. There is an
AVID community service sheet that students complete for credit. Check the school announcements if you need some ideas for
community service hours.
AVID Student Leadership: As an AVID student you are expected to exemplify leadership qualities, maturity, and responsibility.
You are not only role models for the school, but you represent our program in each class that you attend. AVID students are
required to become active in school activities; there are many clubs, organizations and sports teams that students can become
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involved in both at BHS and in the community. Involved students are successful students! Remember colleges want students who
are involved in extra curricular activities!
AVID Grading Policy:
Binder Checks – will be used to note the academic progress or lack thereof as well as organization of the student in AVID. These
binder checks will lead to a discussion of the learning process as incremental and a daily task. It will also lead to discussions about
goals for the future, how to achieve them, etc. On binder check days, students will also be engaged in cooperative activities
designed to foster trust among students and building a learning community that they will be a part of for four years.
Tutorials – allow students to discuss specific questions related to the content area classes they are taking. AVID is an academic
support class that uses tutorials and college tutors to help support students academically. Students take Cornell notes throughout
the tutorial session and ask all levels of questions (Level 1- you can look up the answer, Level 2- getting through the topic, and
Level 3-advanced-going beyond the topic) to reach new understandings of the material, together with AVID college tutors as
facilitators.
Class Activities – twice a week students will be engaged in activities designed to develop the learning process. These activities
include writing assignments, Philosophical Chairs, Socratic Seminars, group problem solving, and in class projects. We will also
be doing goal setting and a plan of how to achieve their goals.
The grading scale follows:
A
93%- 100%
B
85%- 92%
C
77%- 84%
D
69%- 76%
F
Below 68%
AVID Materials:
Your binder which will contain: Tab subject dividers to separate each academic class (including AVID), zipper pouch to store
supplies, two or more pens, two or more pencils, filler paper, BHS Agenda book, TRF’s (tutorial request forms), and learning
logs. On tutorial days bring necessary materials for tutorial (books, notes, etc.)
BHS AVID Content Teachers
Please feel free to contact any of these staff members for assistance in their subjects
First Name
Chontoinette
Sande
Kimberly
Tomica
Nancy
Shawndra
Eunique
Nader
Jamar
Amanda
Kathyrn
Wallace
Bonnie
Last Name
Blair
Caton
Flanagan
Fletcher
Guy
Johnson
Lawrence
Makarious
Money
Nersasian
Van Such
Waite
Wilson
Subject
Math
LFS
English/ AVID 11
Guidance
Science
English
Business/ AVID 10
Science
Social Studies
Guidance
Social Studies/ AVID 9
Vice Principal
Science
Telephone
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
(302) 479-1600
Extension
2370
5015
2030
5021
1110
2050
2000
1150
2170
5019
2250
3007
1130
Please note: Emails are listed as firstname.lastname@bsd.k12.de.us
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Brandywine High School
AVID Student and Family Agreement
Please sign on the lines below and return to your AVID Teacher by Thursday, September 2, 2010
AVID Student and Family Agreement
We have read and understand the AVID Course Syllabus and agree to support the efforts of this student in meeting the
AVID Course Requirements outlined in this document.
AVID Student Name: __________________________________________________________________
Student Email Address: _________________________________________________________________
Signed: __________________________________________________Today’s Date: _________
(Student)
AVID Parent/ Guardian Name(s):___________________________________________________
Telephone #s: __________________________________________________________________
Email Address: _________________________________________________________________
Signed: ______________________________________________Today’s Date: ______________
(Parent/Guardian)
Failure to adhere to AVID Program Guidelines and Requirements, Classroom Guidelines, Behavior Expectations,
and School Policies and Procedures may result in being dropped from the AVID Program.
Questions, comments, concerns or special information about this AVID student:
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