AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is an RMHS program that helps high school students academically in their post secondary goals. These students would be the first generation in their families to attend college. Therefore, they generally have limited knowledge about the application process and how to choose where to attend or what to major in. 

In AVID, students complete tutorial request forms (TRFs) and Cornell Notes on topics that they do not understand, so that they will be able to review and remember later. This allows AVID students to grasp material within their classes more in-depth.

 “The AVID program helps us with our note-taking in high school, but it is also going to help us when we go to college,” senior Nayeli Torres said. 

At the beginning of each school year, all of the members of AVID come together to sign a contract. This is called “AVID Signing Day.”  AVID Signing Day confirms that the students will be fully dedicated to the expectations of the program.  

“As much as it is an obligation, the contract is just a reminder of what we do throughout the year,” senior Adan Ramirez said. 

Although AVID Signing Day happens every beginning of the school year, the students take the contract as well as the commitments that come with being part of the program very seriously.

“I take the AVID contract as seriously [now] as I did [my freshman year] because we promise to get good grades and to follow the AVID code, which is important,” Torres said.

The contract is also a reminder to the AVID teachers of the commitment that they have to the AVID program, just like the students.

“To make the contract official, we have our staff members sign the contract just like the students to show that the contract is taken seriously by the whole program,” AVID coordinator Daniel Wawrzyniak. 

Regarded as important, the contract is a symbol of student and staff dedication. However, a breach in the contract is not irreversible. 

“On certain occasions, students may have struggling grades, which is against the contract, but it is because we in the AVID program encourage our students to take rigorous classes,” Wawrzyniak said. “There are no issues with the student as long as they try to fix it.”