AVID's mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global

society.

Here in Omaha, at Northwest High Magnet School, a quiet, good-natured kid named Jerrell daydreams about his future as he hears his math teacher try to motivate the students around him. Math and most of his other classes come relatively easy to Jerrell, so his mind sometimes drifts along, onto something bigger as he sits in class. His eyelids slowly bounce and he dreams about an ideal someday. He can see himself confidently striding into a tall office building wearing a tie and nice shoes. He can hear his mom as she brags to her friends back in the neighborhood about how well her sons doing. He can feel the key unlock the door to his own home, away from the landlords, lawyers, and lost hope of his youth. But the bell rings and Jerrells eyes snap open. As he shuffles to his next class, he casually wonders what it would take to make those dreams real. His stomach feels hollow because he doesnt know where to start This next school year, over 400,000 Jerrells across our nation will be put on track to turn those daydreams into realities through AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination). Omaha Northwest High Magnet will begin its first year with the AVID system by embracing 50 students like Jerrell. These students will be placed in honors and AP courses to improve their chances for success in college. In addition to the heavier course-load, Jerrell and his cohorts will have class with their AVID elective teacher each day where they learn techniques and study skills to excel in their new, more challenging class schedule. Jerrell and his AVID classmates will organize all of these newfound strategies in a comprehensive binder that they will lug from honors classes to AP classes to home. These massive binders will house their notes, weekly planners, pens, pencils, and other items to ensure success. In short, these binders will be their vital lifelines. Heres where you savvy, pro-social types come in. If our high school buys Jerrell and his AVID classmates binders and supplies, they will use them, period. However, if they receive the materials as a gift from a member of the community someone like you who truly invests in their educations, they will protect these resources with pride and respect. Beyond that, our AVID team hopes that if you do choose to sponsor a student, you will accept our invitation to get to know your AVID student on a personal level through our Northwest AVID cookouts, banquets, and appropriate correspondence. We detest asking for money, but nothing tugs at our heartstrings or makes us open our own wallets like eager students. If you would like to be attached to one of our Northwest AVID students, we are looking for one-time donations of $25 for the 2011-12 school year. This money will go directly to AVID-related missions (student binders, college visits, etc.) at Omaha Northwest. Please make checks payable to Northwest High Magnet School attn: Jackie Nielsen and mail them to: Northwest High Magnet School 8204 Crown Point Avenue Omaha, NE 68134 Attn. Jackie Nielsen We hope that this sponsorship blossoms into more than a monetary donation. Furthermore, we hope your support will connect with students like Jerrell so that he understands that strong people in the Omaha area are behind him, encouraging him to turn his dreams into reality. Sincerely,

What is AVID?
A structured, college preparatory system designed to challenge students Places students in honors and AP courses Teaches students organization and communication skills

Students with Academic Potential

Average to high test scores 2.0-3.5 GPA College aspirations Desire and determination

One or More of the Following

First to attend college Historically underserved in four-year colleges Low income Special circumstances

Why AVID works

Facilitates rigorous curriculum and gives students support to achieve Provides the explicit hidden curriculum of schools Incorporates a team of students for positive peer identification Redefines teachers role as that of student advocate

AVIDs historical impact

Over 30 years of experience Reaches more than 400,00 students in approximately 4,500 schools in 47 states and 16 other countries/ territories

Learn more about AVID here:

Home page http://www.avid.org Video http://www.avid.org/med_vidpop_yt_i ntheirvoices.html

The AVID team at Omaha Northwest High Magnet School