Thank you Alliance Data for sponsoring the 2011 AVID Leadership Retreat.  Over 90 AVID students representing all 21 secondary schools in Plano participated in the 2011 retreat.  During a 1 night/2 day program, they learned what it means to be a true leader by participating in team building activities, leadership seminars, and low-ropes course challenges. 

What did students learn on the retreat? 

“I am a great leader and a great follower.  My purpose is to be who I am and just have fun with it.”
“Teamwork, cooperation, honesty, responsibility and trust make a good leader.”
“My fellow AVID members are all unique and have a lot to contribute to our immensely large AVID family.”
“Trust and communication are very important.  If you don’t communicate, then things don’t happen the way they are supposed to.”
“I am capable of doing things I didn’t think I was capable of doing.”
“I learned to speak up and be heard by others.”
“When you fail, get up and try again no matter what happens on the way to success.”
“We all have different stories, but we are all on the same path.”
“Being a leader isn’t being in control of everything.”

ViewPoint Bank has been a proud supporter of AVID since 2007. In addition to providing grant funds for the program, the bank has provided employee volunteers to teach financial literacy classes to AVID students.

Gary Base, president of ViewPoint Bank said, “As a community bank, it’s critical that we take the time and effort to educate and provide the children in our school districts with the life skills needed to make smart financial decisions as adults. We are proud to support such a worthy program as AVID with both our personal time commitment and much-needed funding.”

The American Bankers Association's Teach Kids To Save Day was April 12, 2011. In honor of this national initiative, ViewPoint Bank conducted financial literacy classes at schools in the areas the bank serves, including AVID students at the following schools:

Plano East Sr. High -March 25th
Bowman Middle School-April 8th
Williams High School-April 11th
Vines High School-April 13th
Clark High School-April 15th

Thank you ViewPoint Bank for your commitment to the AVID Program in Plano ISD.

Plano ISD's first graduating seniors who are enrolled in the AVID program were honored at a reception held on May 20 at Collin College. “Endless Possibilities" was the theme at the event which was attended by approximately 300 guests, including 50 AVID seniors, their family members, teachers, program coordinators, principals and district administrators. Student speeches and graduation presentations highlighted the evening reception.
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Click the play button below to watch a Photo Story video of this event.

"It's not the disability, it's the ability," is U.S. Army Sergeant First Class (Retired) Dana Bowman's message that he shares with people across the country. On March 4, he brought his message to 1,000 students in Plano ISD's AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, during a skydiving demonstration and motivational presentation that brought students to their feet in ovations of applause.
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Click the play button below to watch a Photo Story video of this event.

AVID students from across the district had the opportunity to participate in two AVID Leadership Retreats at Collin County Adventure Camp during the 2009-2010 school year. The first retreat was held in September, the second was in February. Over 100 AVID students from 16 different campuses participated in the Leadership Retreats this year. During the retreat, students were given the opportunity to take part in team building activities, challenge courses, leadership lessons, rock wall climbing, archery and canoeing. The goal of the retreat was to bring together leaders from each of the AVID schools in an environment where they could explore what it means to be a leader. What did you learn about others during the retreat?

What did you learn about others during the retreat?

• “You have to really know someone to find out what they are like.”
• “You can become friends with anyone no matter what age.”
• “Everyone has some quality of a leader and we all play an important part.”
• “Talk to people, because some of the quiet people have the best ideas.”
• “We have young leaders too.  No matter what age, you can be a leader.”
• “Some people can be impatient, but kindly letting them know can help.”
• “All AVID students have many great leadership qualities.”
• “People can be trusted.”
• “The seniors have been through a lot and I’ll take their advice.”
• “People have different ideas and everyone’s input matters when working in a group.”

Click the play button below to watch a Photo Story video of this event.