NY & VA DDESS Communities

Dahlgren's Fairy Tale Museum

Story adopted from the April 2 Free Lance Star

GOLDILOCKS was eyeing the por- ridge. Mama and Papa Bear were in the midst of a make-believe tiff. One of the Three Little Pigs was checking the computer program that would track would-be wolves as they tried to "huff and puff" the miniature houses down.

"Remember, stay in character," cautioned teacher Ms. W.

Moments later, the first class of grade-schoolers paraded through Dahlgren School's Fairy Tale Museum--a creative celebration of last month's Read Across America Day.

But there was another distinction to the fun and games at the school on the King George County naval base. The museum day was organized by Dahlgren School's AVID class-- an innovative program aimed at nudging more students into high achievement and, eventually, on to college.

Rigorous study, collaborative activities, and academic and social support are key elements to the program.

Ms. W is sold on AVID, which involves selected sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at Dahlgren. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is also being used in schools in Culpeper, Orange and Westmoreland counties.

They're not alone. Created almost three decades ago, AVID is at work in 3,500 schools in 45 states and 15 countries, including many Department of Defense schools like Dahlgren. The program can be used in grades four through 12. Ms. W calls it "life-changing."

"In the five years I've taught the class at Dahlgren," she said, "I have seen it change the lives of students and send them to high school with a one-way ticket down the road to college--a path many did not think was on their road map."

Ms. W worries that some college applicants are finding out too late in their high school careers what it takes to get into higher education.

Her AVID students "know that your choices for college start with your performance on Day One of high school," says Ms. W. "They know that leadership and community service are important parts of an application.

"Above all, they know they need to take the most rigorous courses offered at their high school, and they have the study skills to be successful in them."


	Dahlgren's Fairy Tale Museum Story adopted from the April 2 Free Lance Star GOLDILOCKS was eyeing the por- ridge. Mama and Papa Bear were in the midst of a make-believe tiff. One of the Three Little Pigs was checking the computer program that would track would-be wolves as they tried to "huff and puff" the miniature houses down. "Remember, stay in character," cautioned teacher Ms. W. Moments later, the first class of grade-schoolers paraded through Dahlgren School's Fairy Tale Museum--a creative celebration of last month's Read Across America Day. But there was another distinction to the fun and games at the school on the King George County naval base. The museum day was organized by Dahlgren School's AVID class-- an innovative program aimed at nudging more students into high achievement and, eventually, on to college. Rigorous study, collaborative activities, and academic and social support are key elements to the program. Ms. W is sold on AVID, which involves selected sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at Dahlgren. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is also being used in schools in Culpeper, Orange and Westmoreland counties. They're not alone. Created almost three decades ago, AVID is at work in 3,500 schools in 45 states and 15 countries, including many Department of Defense schools like Dahlgren. The program can be used in grades four through 12. Ms. W calls it "life-changing." "In the five years I've taught the class at Dahlgren," she said, "I have seen it change the lives of students and send them to high school with a one-way ticket down the road to college--a path many did not think was on their road map." Ms. W worries that some college applicants are finding out too late in their high school careers what it takes to get into higher education. Her AVID students "know that your choices for college start with your performance on Day One of high school," says Ms. W. "They know that leadership and community service are important parts of an application. "Above all, they know they need to take the most rigorous courses offered at their high school, and they have the study skills to be successful in them."

	Updated April 16, 2008