Follow-up Story: About 40 Lynwood High Advanced Placement students took over classes on Wednesday at Lynwood Unified’s Washington Elementary to give younger students a taste of Spanish as part of a program that concludes Thursday, May 21 at Will Rogers Elementary, 11220 Duncan Ave, Lynwood. Teams of three to four high school students will take over classes at different grade levels from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide language lessons. Washington Elementary first-graders, for example, learned the alphabet, numbers, colors and months of the year. Lynwood High junior Mike Inocencio, 17, even brought his guitar and played “La Bamba” during his lesson Wednesday. This is the second year that teacher Viviana Vargas has brought her AP Spanish students to District elementary schools to share what they’ve learned.
Firebaugh High Rocks During Lunchtime Hip-Hop Concert
Follow-up Story: Hundreds of students crowded into the Firebaugh High courtyard May 13 for a short, lunchtime concert from emerging hip-hop artists as part of a visit from the Celebrity High Magazine tour. Singers Eva Universe, JaNINA and Hero shared anti-drug and anti-bullying messages along with their talents. The event featured dance contest. Hero, who grew up in Long Beach said he hopes the concert helps bring together students and give them a spirit of community.
Lynwood High Students Gain Financial Savvy from Simulation
Follow-up Story: About 120 Lynwood High seniors received a hands-on lesson in financial responsibility during a real-world scenario May 8. The exercise required students to deposit money in accounts and visit tables representing such life expenditures as homes, cars, dining, childcare and shopping. To survive the simulation, they had to balance their income and spending. Held in the gym, Mad City Money was funded by SCE Federal Credit Union and its nonprofit arm, the Center for Financial Empowerment Learning.
Lynwood High Students Construct Gazebo as Campus Legacy
Follow-up Story: A group of Advanced Building Construction Trades students at Lynwood High are leaving a legacy in the form of a gazebo they designed, engineered and built. The project was unveiled during a ceremony May 8 in the campus courtyard. Initiated in November 2014, the gazebo was prefabricated by a team of 14 sophomores, juniors and seniors. The pieces were assembled over the past month, including a shingled roof with a cupola. Students had to work through plans and apply math skills to create and assemble the structure. About $3,000 in materials was provided with the help of Dr. Jean Jones, principal of the Lynwood Community Adult School and head of the Regional Occupational Program.
International Drama Program Introduces Lynwood Students to Theater
Building Relationships and Inspiring Dialogue through Global Exchange (BRIDGE), an internationally known drama program, is introducing Lynwood elementary students to playwriting while also teaching them to collaborate, direct and speak in front of an audience. Led by BRIDGE co-founders Joe Quintero and Adam Kalesperis, students at four elementary schools spent two months this spring developing ideas and turning them into short plays, which they later performed in front of an audience. In the process, the children learned their experiences are similar to those of other children. Media contact: Andrew Landeros, 909-445-1001 (office)
Firebaugh High Invites Community to Help Plant Trees for Scientific Garden
With the help of a $5,000 Tool Box Grant from Lowe’s Home Improvement, students and staff will plant gingko, pine and mulberry trees from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 16 to develop a scientific garden at Firebaugh High School, 5246 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lynwood. The new trees will not only beautify the campus, but will enable students to use the new plantings for scientific purposes, such as growing silkworms in the mulberry trees. The community is invited to help with the effort. For information, call 310-886-5200.
Former Lynwood High School basketball standout Tyonna Outland, a 2010 graduate, has taken a step toward taking the floor at Staples Center as a professional player. Outland has signed a training camp contract with the Los Angeles Sparks. The former Knight recently earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from California State University, Bakersfield. While at Lynwood, she helped lead her to team to three league titles.
Lynwood Unified School District is inviting the community to celebrate Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School’s 10th anniversary with a program of activities showcasing the great work of the students from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 1 at the school, 5246 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lynwood. The school will honor top students with scholarships during the event. The evening will feature music performed by student bands, a student art show, a resource fair and speakers. The school, named for the former state assemblyman from the 30th District who was a great advocate of education, pushes students with a rigorous curriculum, including the International Baccalaureate Programme, Advanced Placement and Honors courses.
Community Partnership, Lynwood High Feed 4,000 Students After School
Two Lynwood High School coaches have sparked creation of a community partnership that is providing daily afternoon meals to more than 300 students who remain on campus into the evenings for extra classes or activities such as band, athletics and clubs. More than 4,000 students have been fed so far in April through the program, which grew from outreach by baseball coach James Bishop and football coach Kendrick Knox to 180 Degrees and Still Standing, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that combats malnutrition and homelessness.
Lynwood Unified School District, in partnership with the City of Lynwood and St. Francis Medical Center, are seeking donations for the upcoming Young Parents and Pregnancy Fair, to be held at Bateman Hall in Lynwood on Thursday, May 14. Gift cards and larger gifts from baby-specific merchants such as Target, Babies R Us and Toys R Us will serve as raffle prizes for teens, while coupons, discounts and other small gift items will be graciously accepted for inclusion into gift bags distributed to all attendees. Close to 200 teens from inside and outside the District are expected to attend the fair. The fair will focus on preparing expectant mothers for what they face before, during and after childbirth. Workshops, motivational speakers, college and career guidance, nutritional advice and discussions on the father’s role in child rearing will be presented during the day-long event.
