Support Ms. Rosen's 2026 AVID Class HBCU College Tour

Hello family and friends,

My name is Ms. Rosen and I am currently one of your child’s educators. We have all heard the stories now about education, students and the effects of COVID, but it wasn't until 2022 when I had my freshman AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) class walk in that I truly understood for myself. I had been teaching for 17 years, teaching AVID for 16 of those years and I had never encountered a class like this. Not unlike my other AVID classes they each have a story, they each are a beautiful human beings, and to they have personality is an understatement. But to put all these delightful personalities in one space with new ways of learning that I sure didn't know about, well, it was a bit rocky. There were moments of triumph and failure, but with each year we have grown, we have learned, and we have become the family we were meant to be. This struggle to get here brought us closer together and has pushed us to try new things, go on new field trips, and work with our unified program to be a team in our classroom and in the community. This has helped lead to our new and last final adventure. Before the last year has come and gone and it is time for our family to move on to their own individual journeys, there is one last new adventure we are determined to take. We would like to be the first AVID class from our school to go on an HBCU Virginia based college tour. Our goal is to see Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Hampton University, and Norfolk State University, as well as, some sight seeing in the area. A majority of students have not been out of the state, so this experience is bigger than a college visit, but it is also a life experience. For some the experience of an HBCU as an option could be a reality that they had not known before, this is the trip to help them find out. But this trip is not just a chance to make life long memories, to experience college life, but it is to be able to immerse themselves, in a meaningful way, in their future, whatever that might entail. However, the downside to this experience is the cost, the reason that so many have not gone out of state is because they have not had the funding to do so. We have only ever be able to do in-state college tours, so this could set up, and expand what we will be able to offer students now and in the future. That is where we graciously ask for any and all support you are willing to give us. We cannot do this alone and hope that you can help support the wonderful benefits of this amazing opportunity.