Lynwood Unified Elementary Students, Alumni to Perform at Music Fest
Banda Nueva Dinastia de Zoochila – a second-generation Oaxacan philharmonic brass band composed of current and former Lindbergh Elementary School students – will give a free performance during the inaugural Oaxacan Philharmonic Bands Audition from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 outside the UC Riverside Performance Lab Arts 166 building, 900 University Ave., Riverside. Musical director Jessica Hernandez, a Lynwood High Class of 2006 graduate, is the first female Oaxacan brass band director in California.
More than 200 Lynwood Unified African American students were inspired when they connected with successful leaders at the Martin Luther King Jr. “Against All Odds” Leadership Conference on Jan. 19. Young Black Achievers Student Union Members from Firebaugh, Lynwood and Vista high schools were joined by guest panelists as the group explored ways that students can make a positive impact. Ten presenters guided panel discussions, including Lynwood Unified Board of Education Member Gary Hardie as well as YBASU coordinators from each high school.
Follow-up Story: Nearly 60 Lugo Elementary School third-graders, inspired by talks from Delta Air Lines employees during a Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) celebration on Jan. 11, studied the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and wrote letters thanking the civil rights leader for fighting to obtain racial equality during the 1950s and 60s. Photos are available
Lynwood Unified Families to Explore Tech during Workshop Series
Lynwood Unified families will learn how to use email to connect with teachers during a 21st-century learning workshop at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 at Abbott Elementary School, 5260 Clark St., Lynwood.
Nearly 100 Abbott Elementary School students enjoyed clearer outlooks when they received new eyeglasses on Jan. 19. The service was provided by Vision To Learn, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating vision issues as a barrier to education. Students received eye examinations in fall 2017 to determine if they needed glasses.
Follow-up Story: Michael Tidwell, the newly installed president of the University of Texas at Tyler, still muses on the lessons he learned as a Lynwood Knight, especially from Donald Jones, the school’s former accounting teacher. Tidwell considers Jones a mentor since even though he was never enrolled in his classes, Jones still took the time to provide him with guidance about his future. “Mr. Jones was always so intentional about helping us students think about our future and helping us understand that where we are today is not necessarily where we would be tomorrow,” Tidwell said. “He never let us rest on our laurels and he constantly pushed us to think bigger and better.”
Lynwood Unified Forum Offers Immigration Policy Advice for Legislators
Follow-up Story: More than 50 students and community members on Dec. 7 discussed ways to strengthen communication and trust between government agencies and the Lynwood community, during Lynwood Unified’s inaugural Immigration Discussion forum. Firebaugh junior Ricardo Ortega, a foster child of immigrants, organized the forum.
Lynwood Unified Serves Homeless and Foster Youth at Holiday Event
Follow-up Story: More than 40 families gathered at Lynwood Middle School on Dec. 12 for an annual holiday event where District staff served food and delivered gifts to homeless and foster youth. The Lynwood Rotary Club donated toys and gift cards while Firebaugh High School students were among the volunteers Photos are available
Follow-up Story: Firebaugh High School senior Kimberly Wenceslao still remembers her first college visit to an East Coast campus three years ago when the unfamiliarity of a new environment left her in tears. Wenceslao, who had rarely journeyed beyond her Lynwood community, said she was overwhelmed by culture shock. But she was also determined to see what the world had to offer, and would soon visit new colleges each summer as a part of the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth program, including Princeton, Skidmore College and Dartmouth College.
Follow-up Story: Lindbergh Elementary sixth-grade teacher Myrna Vergara had heard that educators at fellow District school Roosevelt Elementary were using the Conga Line technique to inspire students, but she wanted clarification on how it worked. Vergara would soon learn that the Conga Line combines music and dance to help children actively learn new concepts. She had the opportunity to seek direct answers when she joined more than 360 Lynwood Unified K-6 teachers for the first ever districtwide collaborative guided planning which was held from Nov. 29-Dec. 8 at the District office.
