Honors/AVID Parent Night

Benefits of the Honors Program:

• Competitive classroom environment

• Challenging curriculum• Gateway to high school honors• Higher-level thinking• Fosters academic & personal

growth

Honors Expectations/Responsib

ilities • 7th and 8th grade honors is a

performance based program • English Honors students will read a

required summer reading list• Approximately 60-90 minutes of

homework per night• 7th grade honors covers both 7th

grade & 8th grade standards!

Summer Reading Program

• Students will be required to read 2 books– 1 fiction– 1 non-fiction– Students are responsible for obtaining

the books– More information will be in the

acceptance letter

Entrance to honors is determined by a

matrix composed of multiple measures:

• CST Score of Proficient or Advanced

• Report Card• Work Habits• Honors Assessment

About the VMS Honors Program

• The Honors program is a “linked” program.– If a student is in Math Honors they are

also in Science Honors– If a student is in English Honors they

are also in Social Studies Honors• Students can be in Math/Science and/or English/Social Studies.

Honors Assessments

• Saturday, March 29th @ 9 a.m. at VMS in library

• Tuesday, April 1st @ 6:00 p.m. at VMS in library

• This assessment will be required for:– All 6th grade students interested in being in

Honors. This includes current GATE students.– Any student that wants to transfer from regular

7th grade to Honors 8th grade

Notification

• Notification of acceptance/denial in the form of a letter will be sent home mid-May.

• Please note: April/May 2012 CST scores could affect placement.

What is AVID? AVID is:

AdvancementViaIndividualDetermination

Key Components and Benefits

• Organization • Study Skills• Reading, Writing,

Inquiry, Collaboration

• Tutorials• Service• College & Career

exploration

• Binder Checks• Planners• Progress checks• Contracts• Cornell Notes• Graphic organizers• Test Preparation• Tutorials

Expectations

• Earn C’s or higher in all academic course work

• Learn and model successful classroom behaviors

• Be accountable for practicing strategies• Utilize the tutorial sessions• Complete a community service project• Complete college & career projects

Application Process/Requirements

• Teacher recommendations• Student essay• Interview• Student/Parent Agreement• Decent grades • Solid CST scores• Student interest and desire

Notification

• Teacher recommendations are made by mid March

• Applications and interviews are due by mid April (when possible)

• Notification letters will go out early May

More Information

• AVID is a national program with a wonderful website www.AVID.org

• You can also contact Becky Sausker at sausker.becky@lusd.org

• Please stop by the table in the MPR as well