Lynwood Unified School District launched the 2023-24 school year on Aug 16, marked by anticipation and optimism and bolstered by a $24.5 million state grant awarded in May to provide social-emotional services and community resources to students across 16 schools over the next five years. Through the California Department of Education’s Community Schools Partnership Program grant, the District this year will implement a “whole-child” school improvement strategy, extending learning time and opportunities, providing integrated student support, and collaborating with families and the community to elevate student success. The campuses join Lynwood High, which has been a Community School since 2019.
Demolition of Lynwood High Building Expected to Start in October
Construction plans for the new 150,000-square-foot classroom building at Lynwood High School’s Imperial campus and the reconfiguration and upgrade of its athletic fields continue to move forward, with demolition expected to start in October 2023. During a July 23 Board of Education study session representatives from the Huckabee construction firm reviewed the planned phases of the project, which include the construction of the new 70-classroom building, the rerouting of a fire lane and the upgrading of the baseball and softball fields.
LUSD and NBPA Host All-Girls Basketball Camp for Student Athletes
Dozens of female student-athletes from the Lynwood community received once-in-a-lifetime coaching and mentoring opportunities during the inaugural Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) all-girls basketball camp, held at Lynwood High School July 10-12. During the three-day program, the entire Lynwood High School girls basketball coaching staff served as camp coaches. The organization also donated basketballs to Lynwood High and provided 40 local girls with scholarships to participate in the camp for free. The program – which included a gaming lounge, financial literacy session and awards ceremony – aimed to support students as they develop into leaders on and off the court.
LUSD Admins Accepted into Google Education Innovation Fellowship
Lynwood Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Gudiel R. Crosthwaite and Assistant Superintendent of Technology and Innovation Dr. Patrick Gittisriboongul have been accepted into the inaugural 2023-24 Google GSV Education Innovation Fellowship, an achievement that recognizes their steadfast leadership and dedication toward being among the nation’s most innovative and forward-thinking leaders in K-12 education. The Google GSV Education Innovation Fellowship is designed to empower 25 top-level instructional district leaders who are committed to leveraging technology to transform education and drive rigorous outcomes for student achievement within their school districts.
Lynwood Unified Recognizes Pride Month with Inaugural Pride Summit
Lynwood Unified kicked off Pride Month by hosting its first-ever Pride Summit for middle and high school students, providing the students with a safe space in which to come together, share ideas and be represented. Students from each school’s LGBTQ+ clubs and allies were invited to participate in the June 2 event, which was hosted by the District’s Equity, Access and Instructional Services Department and included workshops that allowed students to express themselves authentically. They also had access to community resources and heard from special guest speakers who shared the challenges they faced, as well as their journeys of self-discovery and empowerment.
Lynwood Unified Students Honored With Student Success Scholarships
Twenty Lynwood Unified students were honored with the Every Student Succeeding Award Scholarship for prevailing against all odds and winning the hearts of the educators who helped them achieve their goals. The scholarships were presented by the Lynwood Association of School Administrators, who honored the students with a scholarship check and award certificate during a special ceremony on May 24. The scholarships reward students who have made a concerted effort to succeed and overcome obstacles such as returning to school, leaving behind negative influences, improving attendance or behaviors, or overcoming other barriers.
Lynwood Unified School District brought another year of success to a close during ceremonies that recognized nearly 900 high school students for their perseverance and academic excellence as they crossed the graduation stage to receive their diplomas. The District, which live-streamed the ceremonies, celebrated 186 graduates from Vista High School and Pathway Independent Study on June 12, 302 seniors from Firebaugh High School on June 13 and 389 scholars from Lynwood High School on June 14. Graduates plan on attending such colleges and universities as Stanford, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Long Beach City College, Cerritos College and more, with others attending private universities, trade schools or enlisting in the armed forces.
LPEF – a nonprofit organization established in 2015 to support and enhance educational opportunities for Lynwood Unified School District students – will give $87,000 in scholarships to students from Firebaugh, Lynwood and Vista high schools as they pursue trade schools, community colleges or four-year colleges/universities, including Stanford University, Mount Holyoke College, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton and Cerritos College. LPEF has secured approximately $1 million in funding for students in Pre-K through grade 12 in the form of college scholarships, STEM programs and other resources that are crucial to students’ success. LPEF also supports teacher grants, school grants, arts education and wellness initiatives.
Future female trailblazers from Lynwood Unified School District got an inside look into the world of STEM and explored potential professions through the District’s career technical education programs during the annual Girl STEM Conference held on June 1. The conference brought together elementary and middle school students from across the District to celebrate female empowerment and hear from women in STEM careers, including biological sciences and nursing. Students also engaged in hands-on activities that ignited their interests in biology, robotics, physics and more.
Lynwood Unified students from Firebaugh High School’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) engineering program and Lynwood High School’s various Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and career technical programs put their talents to the test, taking home silver and gold medals during the SkillsUSA State competition in April. Lynwood High School’s Biomedical Sciences, Engineering and Culinary Arts programs made their presence known throughout the thrilling competition held April 13-16. After earning gold in the Occupational Health and Safety and Drafting categories, seven Lynwood High students will advance to the National Leadership and Skills Conference on June 19 in Atlanta.
