Follow-up Story: Scores of elementary students crafted miniature powered windmills while their parents learned how to prepare for college on Feb. 19 during Lynwood Unified’s fourth annual Noche De Ciencias, or Science Night, an event designed to promote interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Nearly 200 Lynwood Unified elementary students and their parents attended the engineering workshops and college planning meetings conducted in English and Spanish at Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School. Twenty students from Firebaugh and Lynwood high schools’ chapters of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers guided the elementary students as they built their windmills – which produced enough power to lift weights – and other STEM-related activities.
Lynwood High’s Open Access Curriculum Featured at Statewide Conference
The success of Lynwood High School’s open access curriculum continues to draw the attention of school districts throughout California. The policy allowing students to challenge themselves with Honors or Advanced Placement courses without pre-requisites was a topic of high interest during a recent gathering of superintendents and principals at the Association of California School Administrators Delegate Assembly in Orange. Principal Carlos Zaragoza discussed the positive impact the change has made since its implementation in 2011.
Lynwood High Presidential Mock Election Sparks Interest in Civic Engagement
Lynwood High School held a Presidential Mock Election on March 8 to help students learn the primary election process and hear about the candidates and the issues. Students campaigned to win the votes of their peers with colorful and informative hand-made signs that lined a “Presidential Walk” between the school’s administrative building and library, where the election was held. More than 1,000 students from 50 classes heard social and economic policies debated among the candidates – played by students – before stepping into the voting booth to cast their votes.
Lynwood Unified Students to Benefit from $1.6 Million in Career Tech Grants
Lynwood Unified students will see a significant expansion of career technical education opportunities thanks to a $1.05 million California Career Technical Education Incentive Grant (CTEIG) announced March 9. The matching grant comes on top of a $650,000 grant provided by the California Careers Pathways Trust (CCPT) to a consortium of Lynwood USD and other local districts led by Cerritos College. The funds will pay to expand middle and high school career pathways and dual-enrollment college courses allowing students to earn college credit and career certification. Students will also enjoy broader access to internships at workplaces in high-demand career fields through the Linked Learning Hub, a partnership led by California State University, Long Beach.
Follow-up Story: More than 400 parents of preschoolers gathered March 17 at the city’s Bateman Hall to learn about engaging kindergarten and transitional kindergarten programs offered by Lynwood Unified. Parents met Lynwood educators and were able to enroll their students in both programs during the event. Photos are available.
‘Black Minds Matter’ Theme Inspires at Lynwood Unified Black Teen Summit
Follow-up Story: Lynwood Unified high school seniors learned about higher education, professional opportunities and job skills from educational and professional leaders, and discussed positive how to deal with the socio-economic issues that face many African Americans on Feb. 25 at the third annual Black Teen Summit. Organized by the Lynwood Unified School District African American Advisory Parent Council in partnership with Lynwood Unified School District and the City of Lynwood, the event carried the theme “Black Minds Matter.”
Follow-up Story: Lindbergh Elementary School students were greeted March 2 by a stream of 150 famous actors, musicians and sports figures, who came to read to them as part of Read Across America Day, an annual reading motivation and awareness program held on the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss. Actors from “General Hospital,” “Dolphin Tale,” “Deal or No Deal,” “Big Bang Theory,” “Supergirl,” and “Bring It On” joined sports personalities from the L.A. Lakers and USC cheerleaders to read their favorite children’s stories to enthusiastic audiences. A class of second-graders listened to “Power Ranger” TV series and “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” film actress Erin Cahill’s animated read of Dr. Seuss’ “There’s No Place Like Space.” “House of Lies” actor Donis Leonard, Jr., 16, chose the Seuss tongue twister “Oh, Say Can You Say” to share with first-graders.
Enrolling young learners into transitional kindergarten or kindergarten is now much easier for parents of Lynwood Unified preschool children thanks to a student information system and access to tools that allow educators to help make more meaningful placement decisions for each child. Aeries, a Districtwide system now being utilized for preschoolers, updates data collection practices as educational shifts in California occur. With an easy-to-use interface for administrators, counselors, teachers, parents and students, the system also gathers data and holds it in one place online. As Lynwood Unified students enrolled in the Lynwood’s Early Childhood Education program this year, their data was entered into the system.
Lynwood Unified Holds Black College Expo
Follow-up Story: Lynwood Unified teamed with community partners to provide Firebaugh and Lynwood high students with college-going opportunities for students of color. The event, held Feb. 4 in the Firebaugh High School gym, featured 14 colleges from across the nation. Some seniors who had applied to colleges in attendance received acceptance notifications at the event. Photos are available
Follow-up Story: More than 4,500 Lynwood Unified students had the unique advantage of taking the PSAT or the SAT examinations in the comfort of their own classrooms during Lynwood Unified’s extensive College Day on March 2. Seventh-graders and seniors attended workshops that included assistance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), mentorship, peer networking and information on scholarships. Students in grades eight through 10 sat for grade-appropriate PSAT exams. Juniors took the SAT. Photos are available.
