Granite Couselor Raul Bermudez, along with AVID Coordinator Jane Kisling, has brought to attention the need to recruit AVID students from several feeder schools.

Students will help to excite incoming freshmen about AVID
Sabrina Ziegler | 4/04/08 | News

Next week, Raul Bermudez and Jane Kisling are calling for the assistance of students to go recruit at several feeder schools and set the pace for the recruitment of bright and motivated students to fill next year's freshman Advancement Via Individual Determination classes, by getting them excited about what the program, and Granite Hills have to offer.

Beginning Tuesday of next week, Kisling, AVID coordinator and Bermudez, Granite Hills’ counselor, plan to take a select group of Granite Hills’ students to Bartlett, Sequoia, Pioneer and Alta Vista middle schools, to hold informational presentations and discussions, with next year’s potential AVID members, during their lunch time. Granite Hills’ AVID students will be able to share their testimonies of achievement, through the program, with their underclassmen, as well as answer any questions they may have about high school.

"We go there, of course, with the angle of AVID, but we also go to promote Granite Hills. We just do, kind of, a sales' pitch. It really helps when students talk to [the eighth graders]. They like to hear from students and not adults," Kisling said.

Often, the eighth graders will end up asking their presenter more general questions about high school, she said.

Presenters have not yet been appointed. However, Kisling's intention is to assign the responsibility of presenting at each of the feeder schools to the AVID freshman and sophomores who attended them. The purpose of assigning this job to an alumnus is so that the middle school students will be able to recognize their presenter, and become more influenced by their testimony.

"[This] way they get to see one of their own and the success that they're having, and hopefully be motivated to join the AVID program," Bermudez said.

Kisling's biggest problem with booking presenters is getting the students out of class.

"I would love to have the top-notch students go, but it's hard getting them out of their AP classes," she said.

The AVID coordinators for each middle school have each prepared a list of their own students and sent applications to other teachers, for the recommendation of students, they feel, are most qualified for the program at the high school level.

Bermudez and Kisling will look at each of the students' referrals of recommendation, Grade Point Average, behavioral record, extra-curricular involvement and family history to decide whether they are qualified to stay in or join the AVID program.

"If their parents are non-college, we look at that; especially if they’re really motivated and it looks like they have a need for a program to help them be successful. We're not just looking at kids that are academically involved, but we're looking for kids who are in band and sports; that way they're well-rounded." Bermudez said.

Past showings of commitment and a background of family support are important to the recruiting process, Kisling said.

"We do want a high quality of students," Kisling said.  

Kisling looks at whether students are college-bound, and whether they're willing to do whatever it takes to get there, she said.

The AVID program offers college-bound students the opportunity to acquire skills for long-term success, through excellence in High School.

The objective of Granite Hills for next year is to fill two ninth grade classes, with a determined group of students. Bermudez feels this will be a challenge, with the upcoming opening of the Harmony Magnet Academy.  

"We might be affected a bit because of Harmony [Magnet Academy]. I'm very sure that the students attending Harmony would otherwise be here in the AVID program,” Bermudez said.

On the other hand, Kisling feels that the Harmony Magnet Academy will not affect the Granite Hills freshman AVID program.

"I don't think Harmony is going to affect us. I'm going to keep the standards the same [for the AVID program],” she said. “That is why I have a zero period class."

The class includes students are not in AVID because they do not have enough room in their schedule, or they aren't yet up to the level that the class requires. The majority of the class is ninth graders, but there are a few tenth and eleventh graders.

"We have some really good kids, but they have to take 2 English classes and 2 math classes, so they don't have the room in their schedule,” Bermudez said. “[The zero-period class] is sort of a watch-and-serve. If they're academically capable, [Kisling will] mainstream them into a regular AVID class."

 Kisling and Bermudez have high hopes for the freshman AVID class of next year.

"We get a good feel when we sit down and talk to them," said Bermudez.

The hope for the AVID program, is to preserve the standard it puts forth for students to engage in strong work ethic and become determined to excel.

"We go there, of course, with the angle of AVID, but we also go to promote Granite Hills,” Kisling said. “We just do, kind of, a sales' pitch. It really helps when students talk to [the eight graders of feeder schools]. They like to hear from students and not adults.”

Often, the eighth graders will end up asking their presenter more general questions about high school, she said.
 
Presenters have not yet been appointed. However, Kisling's intention is to assign the responsibility of presenting at each feeder school to the AVID freshman and sophomores who attended them. The purpose of assigning this job to alumni is so that the middle school students will be able to recognize their presenter, and become more influenced by their testimony.
 
"[This] way they get to see one of their own and the success that they're having, and hopefully be motivated to join the AVID program," Bermudez said.
 
Kisling's biggest problem with booking presenters is getting the students out of class. "I would love to have the top-notch students go, but it's hard getting them out of AP classes," she said.