My name is Peter Riehle and I am the AVID Site Coordinator at Sultan Middle School this year. While this is a new position to me professionally, I am not new to AVID.  This is my second year as an AVID Elective Teacher (7th grade this year), and I have been a member of the AVID Site Team for close to 10 years now.

Sultan Middle School is in it’s second decade of being an AVID School. What is AVID you might be asking, and why is that important to me? AVID's mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society.

 AVID has always believed in the importance of setting all students up for every aspect of future success. For many students, that path includes a traditional college route; however, in many other instances, students choose other routes such as trade school, certification, military, or directly entering the workforce. Regardless of a student’s ultimate path to a career, AVID can support the development of rigorous academic preparedness, student agency, and opportunity knowledge. A student will be better prepared for college and career, which is core to the mission at AVID.

 At Sultan Middle School, AVID strives to reach this goal two ways.  First, AVID strategies are taught to all students in all classes.  AVID strategies are research-based strategies that help students in the areas of WICOR – Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading.  Some of the strategies include: Focused/Cornell Notes; One-Pagers; Socratic Seminars; Interactive Notebooks; and Philosophical Chairs.

 Secondly, SMS AVID offers students participation in the AVID Elective. The AVID Elective is a course that supports students by placing them in rigorous academic situations, providing them the knowledge and agency to persist through challenges to be better prepared for college and career. Students can work collaboratively in small groups, learn how to help each other solve problems and points of confusion, hear from guest speakers, complete service projects, and do college visits.

 To participate in the AVID Elective, students need to complete an application packet and then do an AVID Interview with the Elective Teacher and other AVID Site Team teachers.  If selected, students agree to maintain a binder and a calendar/planner, and work in tutorial groups to maintain a 2.5 gpa, have good attendance, and avoid behavior problems. This commitment lasts through the end of middle school. Many students choose to also stay in AVID through high school. Sometimes AVID ends up not being a good fit for the student, and those students are transitioned out of the Elective at the end of a grading period. 

 In closing, I want to present an opportunity to you as parents and students – especially if you are in 7th grade. SMS is always accepting AVID applications. And now that students have two electives, they can continue taking music, art, STEM or other electives AND choose to join AVID.  Specifically, AVID 7th grade is looking for students to fill out the class. But we take applications for all grades all the time.  If you believe this opportunity is something for your student, please email me – peter.riehle@sultan.k12.wa.us and I can make sure you get an application packet. Or if you have further questions, please do not hesitate to ask myself or one of the staff below.

 Mr. Broughton – 6th Grade AVID Elective – blair.broughton@sultan.k12.wa.us

Mr. Riehle – 7th Grade AVID/Site Coordinator – peter.riehle@sultan.k12.wa.us

Mr. Lambert – 8th grade AVID Elective – quinn.lambert@sultan.k12.wa.us

AVID SMS Application 24-25

Spanish AVID SMS Application 24-25

 Sincerely,

Peter Riehle – SMS AVID Site Coordinator