Lynwood Unified High School students received nearly 400 college acceptances and more than $5.8 million in scholarships at the Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) Caravan Tour on Jan. 30. Hundreds of Lynwood students filled the gymnasiums at Lynwood and Firebaugh high schools to meet HBCU recruiters, who presented them with on-the-spot acceptances and, for some, full scholarships.
Lynwood Unified High School students will have the opportunity to earn on-the-spot acceptance to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and get their college application fees waived when a caravan of college recruiters and admission counselors visit District campuses. The Lynwood Unified Equity Department has worked with seniors to ensure they have prepared transcripts and test scores for the caravan, which will include Tuskegee University and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
Lynwood Unified received a $50,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center that will allow the District to increase college readiness through new programs, award scholarships to students and provide additional financial support to inspire success in higher education. The grant is a part of the Healthcare Scholarships & College Completion Initiative, which provides support for students pursuing college. The program allows the District to combat barriers to higher education success, such as affordability, lack of access and limited learning tools.
Parent volunteers are helping keep Lynwood Unified schools safe through the Burning Calories and Crime program. Volunteers walk campuses in groups to ensure safety while promoting health and fitness. For more information, or to volunteer, contact the District’s Student Services department.
Early Childhood Education hosted a literacy event on Dec. 20 in all ECE classrooms that sent each child home for the holiday break with a new book. Parents and students made crafts and sang seasonal songs before each child selected a book of their choice to develop their home library.
Lynwood Unified has increased its District graduation rate by more than 6 percentage points through programs that focus on college and career success and build on the achievement culture of the District. Lynwood Unified’s graduation rate has surged to 90.8 percent for the 2018-19 school year, up from 84.6 the previous year, according to recently released California data.
Early Childhood Education will host a literacy event in all ECE classrooms from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20, during which each child will be gifted with a new book to take home. Parents and students will make crafts and sing seasonal songs before each child selects a book to develop a home library.
More than 75 Abbott Elementary School first-graders took slapshots with hockey sticks, performed reading exercises with celebrity guests and received bags of gifts from Santa Claus during the annual Delta Airlines Holiday Event on December 10. The special event was put on by P.S. Arts, which provides students with arts education through programs and community events. Abbott students were joined for the day of fun activities by Delta partners, including Los Angeles Laker Girls, the Los Angeles Kings Ice Crew and members of the local fire department.
Lynwood Unified Board of Education members voted to retain their leadership roles on Dec. 4 as the Board builds on the success of the past year. Gary Hardie Jr. was reelected president, Maria Lopez remains vice president and Briseida Gonzalez stays on as clerk. Members Alfonso Morales, Esq. and Alma-Delia Renteria round out the Board.
Rosa Parks Elementary School parent Erica Rodarte remembers how her busy parents were sometimes unable to attend school events and has vowed to participate in the school functions of her three children – including the District’s celebration on Nov. 21 of National Parent Involvement Day. Hundreds of Lynwood Unified parents and guardians received curbside coffee and were treated to student presentations and performances across the District on the special day, which presented a variety of involvement opportunities.
