Nearly 15,000 students flocked to Lynwood Unified School District campuses on Aug. 22 to start the 2016-17 school year, greeted by eager principals, teachers and new performing arts and college preparation courses.High school freshmen are now required to take a college preparation elective, which shows them career technical education pathways, how to apply to college, how to seek federal financial aid and more. Students pursuing the District’s biomedical pathway also have the opportunity to enroll in a third-year course that increases their exposure to the medical field and meets college application requirements.
Some 320 Lynwood Unified elementary and secondary school teachers learned about coding through Minecraft and Google CS First through the District’s summer seminar, held Aug. 8-12. This was the first year teachers were in charge of choosing the featured workshops and discussions. They focused on Microsoft Sway, Turnitin writing programs and ways to engage students in lessons.
Lynwood Unified Offers Drawings, Health Checks at Back-to-School Event
Lynwood Unified families are invited to a free back-to-school event with parent workshops, blood pressure checkups, food and drawings for backpacks, school supplies and a bike. The event, hosted by the District African American Advisory Parent Council, runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 at Firebaugh High School, 5246 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lynwood.
Follow-up Story: Nearly 50 students walked across the stage July 21 to receive their high school diplomas after completing Lynwood Unified’s summer school program. Most students are moving on to higher education or getting a head start for next year with the help of the District’s credit recovery system, The Movement adviser program and independent study options offered over the summer. Photos are available.
Jasmine Landeros, a rising third-grader at Washington Elementary, placed fourth in the age 8 and younger girls shotput division at the California State Games in Escondido. This was the first time Jasmine had competitively thrown a shotput, learning how to hold and throw it just 15 minutes before her event. She advanced through the Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation’s quarterfinals and championships for the softball throw. This qualified her for the shotput at the state championships. Jasmine was the only member of a team of 28 students from Washington Elementary to qualify for the State Games, which hosted about 9,000 athletes.
About 28 students and their parents participated in Lynwood Unified’s first Kids-N-Technology science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) summer training session on July 25 at the Lynwood Unified District office. Students in grades five through 12 received hands-on experience in programming, coding and robotics as they created video games, phone apps and 3-D designs. Parents followed along on their computers to learn about programs students will use during the school year.
Lynwood Unified is showing young students how their love for computers and online gaming can lead to possible careers in computer programming by offering coding clubs that teach students how to animate, engineer and problem-solve using computer science. More than 300 third- through eighth-grade students from 12 elementary and middle schools took part in the District’s first-ever Google CS-First coding clubs this past school year and additional students received coding experience this summer as a part of the District’s Summer Enrichment Program. The extended education has exposed students to computer science while teachers polish their ability to convey the coding language.
Lynwood High Hoops Player Gets Surprise Visit, Practices with Clippers Star
Follow-up Story: Oscar Lopez, Jr., a Lynwood High School freshman on the school’s varsity basketball team, received a surprise visit from Los Angeles Clippers’ Paul Pierce, who practiced and provided tips to Lopez. A video released July 12 shows Pierce surprising Lopez with a one-on-one interview for The Player’s Tribune, a website founded by former Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter that allows athletes to share their stories with fans. They watched footage of a Lynwood Knights game against Warren High School while Pierce gave Lopez suggestions, then took to the court to practice some techniques. Photos are available.
Seven Firebaugh High School graduates learned July 6 that they have earned International Baccalaureate diplomas after two years of rigorous coursework and community projects: Mikhail Brooks (UC Berkeley), Itzel Burgos (UCLA), Naciely Hernandez (UC Irvine), Michelle Rincon (UCLA), Juan Robles (UC Irvine), Susana Salinas (UCLA) and Lesly Torres-Gonzalez (UCLA). The diplomas are awarded after review of final IB examination scores.
Lynwood Unified Students Create Video Games through Coding Clubs
Follow-up Story: Students in grades three through six at Lynwood Unified’s Helen Keller and Will Rogers elementary schools learned how to create their own video games and interactive presentations as part of the schools’ Coding Clubs. Helen Keller teachers Elizabeth Cline and Sandra Naranjo and Will Rogers teachers Stephanie Aguon and Martha Arroyo dedicated their time after school to help students gain more interest in computer coding and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) topics. Photos are available.
