Roosevelt High School’s AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program hosted Shadow Day for incoming eighth grade AVID students from Krueger and Ed White middle schools. 

AVID is a program that is designed to get first generation-college students, which are typically under-served, college and career ready. Shadow day is an opportunity for the younger AVID students to experience a day of high school life. Each eighth grade AVID student is paired with a Roosevelt AVID student that they shadow. The “shadows” participate in all aspects of their partner’s day; attending classes, passing periods, lunch and cooperative activities.
 
An important aspect of Shadow Day is the team-building piece, with collaboration and communication skills being tent poles in the AVID program. Students in the program form stronger bonds than most of their peers. This is due, in part, to these cooperative games. Despite a fun way to spend some time, these activities enhance and build characteristics and skills related to communication, trust, confidence, and leadership.

“Shadow day also compliments our efforts at vertical alignment. Mentorship is vital for our students. We (the coordinators) really strive to help these engaging, enthusiastic young adults build relationships with each other in an effort to strengthen their personal resources and the family-aspect of our programs,” said Jean Bullock, Krueger’s AVID Coordinator. “We encourage our students to take as many higher-level courses as they can handle with our support. Pre-AP, AP, and Dual-Credit courses are challenging on a good day as is navigating the labyrinth of getting into college and university. The AVID program helps these kids by gently pushing, guiding, and supporting them along the way; and the AVID peers are another important aspect of this support.” 

Elizabeth Tennant, the White Middle School Coordinator says,

“The comfort zone created at the middle school level often adds a source of insecurity to the transition into high school,” said Elizabeth Tennant of Ed White Middle School. “This shadow opportunity allows for a more individualized and AVID–centric approach to easing fears and reassuring AVID students they will have a ‘home’ with Roosevelt AVID.” 

Brock Stewart, the dedicated host of Shadow Day as well as the Roosevelt High School Coordinator reminds that, “it is not only important for the students to see what high school is like but to start making the right choices before they arrive on that first day of their freshman year. High school is a marathon, but you have to start the race as a sprint.”