Firebaugh High School English and IB Theatre teacher Kate Thomas Butiu has gone from camera shy to YouTube personality. Accompanied by her two teaching assistants, a pair of pit bulls, she leaves her students motivational messages, assignments and personal anecdotes. Thomas is among the Lynwood Unified educators who are embracing technology and channeling new ways to inspire learners amidst school closures that will extend to at least May 5 as the District works to protect the community from COVID-19.
The Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation (LPEF) has launched an emergency fund in response to the COVID-19 global coronavirus pandemic that will meet the immediate and emerging needs of Lynwood Unified School District (LUSD) students and families. LPEF is working together with LUSD and its staff to identify the immediate needs of students and families, and has set a target to raise $100,0000 to cover costs associated with expanding services for families in need.
Lynwood High School senior Jaren Johnson had his share of college options. A standout student-athlete with a 4.1 GPA and basketball skill to match, Johnson was always destined to find higher education opportunities for his enormous potential. But for Johnson, who grew up just outside of Lynwood, choosing a school wasn’t just about himself but the community that helped to inspire him. This was a motivating factor when he officially committed to Dartmouth College.
Lynwood Unified to Complete Playground Renovation Projects
Students from Roosevelt, Will Rogers and Marshall elementary schools are enjoying new playground areas that encourage increased physical fitness and fun thanks to a $774,000 facilities renovation. Abbott, Rosa Parks and Mark Twain elementary schools are nearing completion of their own new playgrounds.
Lynwood Unified students will receive surprise appearances from LA Galaxy players, authors, and community leaders when the District celebrates Read Across America Week, the annual reading awareness program.
Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite and Lynwood Unified Board President Gary Hardie Jr. will make appearances, as will author Eric Ramos who is set to release his new book “Super Torta!” The guest readers will read classic tales like Dr. Seuss classics “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” and “There’s a Wocket in My Pocket” to classrooms across the District as they encourage children to explore books.
Firebaugh High School students joined Lynwood Unified Board members and community leaders on Feb. 21 to unveil a new campus mural as a crowd of nearly 500 celebrated arts and student achievement. Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite welcomed the Office of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon to Firebaugh, Lynwood Mayor Aide Castro, Board President Gary Hardie Jr., PepsiCo North America West Division President Johannes Evenblij and Los Angeles Lakers great A.C. Green to the ceremony.
Firebaugh High School sophomore Elijah Arch always imagined the college experience as a stressful one, full of exams, assignments and little else. Arch has revised his thinking after attending the District’s seventh annual Black Teen Summit where he met college students who shared enriching experiences that transcend any midterm. Arch was one of nearly 250 students from Lynwood Unified’s high schools who learned about college life, entrepreneurship, and job and career resources during the Feb. 18 event, which was themed “Proud to be me - From Struggle Comes Strength.”
Lynwood Unified to Host 7th Annual Black Teen Summit
Lynwood Unified will partner with the District African American Advisory Parent Council (DAAAPC) to host the 7th annual Black Teen Summit from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18 at Bateman Hall, 11331 Ernestine Ave., Lynwood. The event aims to boost high school student academic achievement, college-going rates and access to career resources.
Lynwood Unified will provide Firebaugh High School students with a new state-of-the-art STEM lab beginning in fall 2021 after receiving a donation of $225,000 from the W. M. Keck Foundation, which will inspire young learners to pursue success in science, engineering and medical fields. The new lab will allow Firebaugh to double enrollment in its biomedical science and nursing program, along with its advanced manufacturing and engineering program. Those programs currently share a space that limits activities and projects.
Firebaugh High School senior Cheyanne Roberts moved a step closer to her dream career in dentistry when she was offered a $92,000 scholarship to Benedict College during the Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) Caravan Tour Jan. 31. Roberts was one of nearly 400 Lynwood Unified Students who filled the gymnasiums at Lynwood and Firebaugh high schools to meet with HBCU recruiters, who presented them with on-the-spot acceptance and, for some, full-ride scholarships.
