Lynwood Unified Winter Session Students Build Roller Coasters, Visit Disneyland

Blending classroom creativity with real-world experience, more than 900 Lynwood Unified TK–8 students spent the first three days of Winter Break, December 15-17, designing roller coasters and bringing their learning to life with a visit to Disneyland.

The Winter Session was part of LevelUp Lynwood, the District’s Extended Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), which offers free before- and after-school enrichment for elementary and middle school students in partnership with organizations such as Think Together. During the winter session, Think Together supported the program through staffing, funding, hands-on curriculum and activity coordination across District sites.

“Our Winter Session is so important to our community, as it gives students an extra three days of learning, and is a big boost to working families who are not on break. For many of our students, this was also their first-ever trip to Disneyland,” Lynwood Unified ELOP Coordinator Thelma Gonzalez said. “Lynwood Unified afterschool programs are a lifeline for our families and lots of fun for our kids, and it’s wonderful to continue supporting them during Winter Break.”

The Winter Session offered students a dynamic mix of social-emotional learning activities and hands-on science, technology, engineering and math experiences, including designing and testing model roller coasters, which allowed students to display their ingenuity and creativity ahead of the session’s most anticipated moment – a field trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Lynwood Unified provides supportive, hands-on learning opportunities beyond the school day through engaging programs and community-centered activities. The District ensures continued learning in safe, enriching environments that support students and families while fostering curiosity, confidence, and lifelong success. For more information about how to enroll in LevelUp Lynwood, visit the District website or your school’s After School Site Program Manager.