| STUDENT SUPPORT BSF Supported Programs 2011-2012 Project Readiness Students in Bellevue's schools that serve our low-income neighborhoods need extra support to help kids be ready to learn. For the 2011/12 school year, BSF is investing in projects that help students who struggle successfully transition to new schools. These projects focus on students entering Kindergarten, entering middle school and entering high school as well as helping elementary students with behavior intervention. See the 2010-11 Project Readiness Outcomes for a summary of student outcomes at individual schools over the last school year.  Kindergarten Early Literacy Intervention helps students entering elementary school get the help they need to meet literacy standards. This project expands on the success of the last year where 80% - 98% of students at Ardmore, Sherwood Forest, Spiritridge, Stevenson, and Woodridge met year-end literacy standards.
Positive Behavior Intervention Specialist helps students at Lake Hills Elementary and Stevenson Elementary be ready for school by providing needed intervention and instruction to students who need help navigating a new school or help with dealing with behavior and related issues such as homelessness.
Middle School Starting Strong, adapted from the successful high school Starting Strong program, targets incoming 6th graders identified as academically "at-risk." Teachers and counselors helped the new middle schoolers learn study skills, introduced them to their core classes, and worked on building positive relationships with their teachers and peers. On the first day of school, teachers noticed that these boys and girls were already showing leadership in their classrooms.
I’ve been in education 20 years and Starting Strong is one of the Top 5 best things I’ve ever been a part of in all those years.” – Eric McDowell, Odle Middle School Principal High School Starting Strong gives incoming 9th graders and other new students identified as academically “at-risk” a head start at Interlake High School. At Sammamish High School, Starting Strong 2011 will provide support for struggling 9th -12th grade students as part of the i3 project to focus the curriculum to science, technology, engineering and math. Teachers and counselors at both schools work on academic and study skills, help students complete summer homework, build a positive community at school, and focus students on their futures and college. Academic, counseling, and mentor support is continued for the students through the school year.
 Click here to read the 2010/11 Starting Strong summer report
AVID - Advancement Via Individual Determination AVID's mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. In the BSD AVID program, secondary students-in-the-middle have the opportunity to develop their academic and leadership potential by strengthening higher level inquiry and collaboration skills. AVID students receive a full year of college-preparatory instruction and coaching in: Cornell note taking; high-level critical thinking and inquiry skills; and organization strategies. They also participate in regular classroom instruction to strengthen reading and writing expertise. The program seeks to develop the leadership of AVID students and teachers in order to have an impact school-wide on the achievement of all students.  Solomon, an orphan from war-torn Sierra Leone who immigrated to Bellevue at the age of 15, found academic success at Sammamish High School through the AVID program. Click here for his story.
Click here to view the Seattle Times video on AVID at Sammamish High School. Click here to read the 05/11/2010 Seattle Times article. Click here to read the 05/14/2010 Seattle Times editorial.
VIBES - Volunteers in Bellevue’s Educational System
VIBES is a highly successful volunteer program that has been operating in all Bellevue schools for 18 years. VIBES has provided a safety net for thousands of Bellevue students (K-12) that are at risk for academic failure or dropping out. VIBES helps students succeed in school by fostering their personal growth and improving their academic skills and work habits. This success is made possible by matching students with trained, caring, and dependable adult mentors who meet with them weekly during the school day in the classroom or designated area at the school. VIBES volunteers support struggling students in school in various ways, including: 
Microsoft employee Isaias Formacio-Serna mentors a 5th grade student at Ardmore Elementary School. Isaias helps him with math and science, but his impact goes beyond that: he fosters a positive attitude toward learning and toward life. Isaias noticed his student became a lot more dedicated to school and much more focused on his learning. “My favorite part of volunteering is seeing how the kids get excited when you get there and always ask you to stay during recess and play.”
- ONE-ON-ONE mentors are matched to students that need help and guidance from a responsible adult mentor. VIBES mentors meet weekly with individual students to help them with their school work (academic tutoring) or help them deal with difficult issues. Typically mentors do a little of both.
- CLASSROOM mentors support individual students or small groups of students. Their role in the classroom depends on the teacher.
- AVID mentors provide study skills coaching and facilitate small group discussions for students enrolled in AVID (see above).
- Legacy Leadership Initiative targets support for youth of color in Bellevue’s middle schools. Mentors of color lead groups or work one-on-one with African American boys (Groundbreakers), African American Girls, Latina Girls, and Latino Boys.
- COLLEGE CORPS helps high school seniors with college applications at Sammamish and Interlake High Schools. Many of these students are the first in their families to be on track to graduate from high school and attend college.
- STEM mentors is a new program beginning in 2011 to match science, technology, engineering, and math professionals with students and classrooms at Sammamish High School.
- BIG PICTURE SCHOOL mentors and internship mentors is new beginning in Fall 2011. Mentors are needed for every student in Bellevue's new Big Picture School. Click here for more about Big Picture School opportunities.
In 2010/11, VIBES served over 4,000 students through one-on-one mentors, classroom, and group mentors. More than 50% of VIBES students were from low-income households, 33% were learning English (ESL), and 20% had disabilities.
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More than 18,000 students in our district benefit directly from your generous support.
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