Follow-up Story: Lynwood Unified’s Early Education program has been recognized by the Quality Start Los Angeles Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for its focus on evidence-based child assessments, working with families to ensure health screenings of all children and creating quality educational environments at its 12 elementary sites. Lynwood schools improved or sustained their 2016 QRIS rating, which measures schools in areas of child observation, development & health screenings, minimum qualifications for lead teacher, effective teacher-child interaction, ratio and group size, program environmental rating scales and director qualifications.
Lynwood Unified Elementary School Stages Live Black History Museum
Lynwood Unified’s Lincoln Elementary School will celebrate Black History Month with a live-action museum featuring students portraying significant African American historical figures. The museum will be open from 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 in the school auditorium, 11031 State St., Lynwood.
Follow-up Story: Nearly 250 students from Lynwood Unified’s high schools attended the District’s fifth annual Black Teen Summit on Feb. 22. Guest speakers and workshops aimed to extend opportunities to the District’s African-American students.
Follow-up Story: Five-time NBA champion Michael Cooper, who played on the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1980s, shared secrets of his success with about 100 Lynwood Unified students at Cesar Chavez Middle School on Feb. 6. Cooper put students to the test during shooting drills and imparted his five Ds of success: determination, dedication, desire, discipline and decision-making.
Follow-up Story: Jon Bernthal, star of “Marvel’s The Punisher,” shared his life story with about 75 drama students from Firebaugh High and Lynwood Middle schools on Feb. 6. Bernthal, who also had pivotal roles in “Baby Driver” and “The Walking Dead,” struggled to find direction as a high school student before discovering acting. He urged Lynwood Unified students to pursue their passions.
Follow-up Story: Washington Elementary School hosted students and their families for a night of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experimentation at the Family STEM Night on Feb 7. Guests experienced a gaming truck that featured science activities and explored a portable planetarium. An opportunity drawing awarded one lucky winner with a tablet.
Lynwood Unified Elementary School to Host Beautification Day Cleanup
Thurgood Marshall Elementary School will gather community members to enhance its campus during a beautification day at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. Students will receive school credit as they join parents and staff for the campus cleaning. Water, snacks and gloves will be provided. Marshall is at 3593 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lynwood.
Lynwood Parents to Celebrate Completion of Communication Program
Twenty-five Lynwood Unified parents will hold a commencement ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 2 to celebrate completing a program that taught them how to build digital-age bridges with their children and the community. The 12-week parent workshop, called Project-2-INSPIRE, was hosted by the California Association for Bilingual Education. The ceremony will be at Cesar Chavez Middle School, 3898 Abbott Road, Lynwood.
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.