AVID field day celebrates four years of impact

BY ZACHARY NEWMAN Sta

Reporter

Students from each of the San Mateo Union High School District’s (SMUHSD) Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) programs met for an off-campus field day on Wednesday, April 26.

The AVID program helps students prepare for college by working to improve their writing, inquiry, collaboration and time management skills. The elective class first became available at Burlingame in the fall of 2019.

“There are a lot [of] students on this campus that benefit from AVID and it’s encouraging information is getting out there to the community,” AVID teacher Mary Dhyne said. “We have the time to work on those [skills] and then apply them to our other classes.”

During a spring season that has been dominated by gloomy weather, the sun came out to honor the fun day. A scavenger hunt aimed to enhance team-building skills marked the beginning of the celebration. Bouncy houses offered students a way to get out their energy. Soccer and badminton games offered friendly competition and the music and popcorn only added to the excitement.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things from my students,” AVID teacher Thomas Bennett said.

“They all enjoyed a day out and got to meet a lot of other people.”

The purpose of the field day, according to Bennett, was to allow AVID students to connect with others in the district and celebrate their hard work throughout the school year.

“One of the biggest parts of

AVID is creating a community that helps build each other up to reach our goals,” Dhyne said. “The highlight for me was seeing students go meet other people and interact with them in a fun, safe environment outside of the classroom.”

For students, the impact of the program — both in academic support and social opportunities — is profound.