Lynwood Unified’s Board of Education appointed Gary Hardie Jr. as its new president, Maria Lopez as vice president and Briseida Gonzalez as clerk during its reorganization meeting on Dec. 6. Recently re-elected members Alfonso Morales and Alma-Delia Renteria were sworn in during the meeting and commended for their service by a representative from the office of state Sen. Ricardo Lara.
Firebaugh High School students delivered more than 1,000 Thanksgiving packages full of food and supplies to Los Angeles homeless shelters on Nov. 22. Students collected food and personal hygiene items to prepare the packages as part of the school’s Helping Hands community service club. The items were taken to the Midnight Mission, 601 San Pedro St., Los Angeles, and handed out to homeless in the nearby Los Angeles area.
Lynwood Unified community members voted on Nov. 6 to re-elect Board of Education President Alfonso Morales and Vice President Alma-Delia Renteria.
Lynwood Unified’s Pathway High School unveiled three new bungalows and a basketball court during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 1. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon joined community leaders, students, staff and parents to dedicate the new facilities. The school’s independent studies program provides an alternative to a traditional high school schedule.
Lynwood Unified has received a California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award for its Guided Planning program, where teachers from the same grade level meet to collaborate, network and share lesson plans that strengthen the District’s curriculum.
Lynwood Unified parents and guardians received curbside coffee, video tributes and were treated to student performances on Nov. 15 when the District celebrated National Parent Involvement Day. Schools across the District engaged parents with various activities and workshops that offered tips on involvement.
More than 100 Washington Elementary School families engaged in STEM and college prep workshops during a Noche de Ciencias event on Oct. 26 on Washington’s campus. California State University, Long Beach partnered with Washington on the event, which exposed students to fun activities like engineering bridges. Noche de Ciencias is a national program that promotes engagement in STEM among the Hispanic and other underrepresented communities.
Abbott Elementary School will launch its Turnaround Arts: California program with a showcase of a mural at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 18. Nearly 100 students and staff will “activate” exterior campus walls using a photobooth truck, black-and-white portraits and wheatpaste. Abbott was accepted this summer into the Turnaround Arts national program, which will provide teacher training, a regional coach to facilitate Abbott’s strategic arts plan and coordinated support for public arts events. Abbott is at 5260 Clark St., Lynwood.
The Lynwood Unified School District Board of Education has committed to better prepare students for higher education through college partnerships, improve community engagement by establishing a parent center at each school and increase access to technology for the 2018-19 school year. Board members defined their priorities as part of Lynwood’s Promise 2020 Vision during a retreat that kicked off the school year.
Lynwood Unified parents received helpful advice about college requirements, deadlines and financial aid during Lynwood High School’s Parent College Conference on Sept. 29. The event was geared toward parents of seniors, providing tools for the college application process.