Springtime will be here soon and with the arrival of spring comes the decision on courses and programs for your students in the fall. Some students will face those transitions from second grade to third, from fifth grade to sixth, and from eighth grade to ninth.
These are critical benchmark years for students. Some may be entering pre-kindergarten or kindergarten for the first time. Whatever the age, knowledge about the programs, deadlines and processes for admission is essential, and you can’t go wrong with any of the programs at Lufkin ISD. Our qualified teachers and administrators will make sure that your child has the best experience possible and challenge your child to limitless possibilities.
Don’t just take my word for it. Allow me to introduce to you some of our students who are currently thriving in these programs:
Gifted & Talented Program
Nikhil Gajaraju, first-grader, said, “I really like everything about this school! Everything is totally awesome! We code; we have book character parades, Greg Tang Math, and I even love the art, too!”
Adeline Mopur, fifth-grader: “One of my favorite things was to design and build a mechanism that can help disabled dogs without legs to swim. I enjoyed creating cars out of paper. We put an egg inside the paper car and smashed it into a wall to see if the egg was safe.”
Grant Ashby, eighth-grader: “I feel like I am harnessing my max potential by being in the GT program. Not only am I learning about literature, I’m learning the history of the literature and reading between the lines. We also have an amazing teacher who pushes us all to succeed and be prepared for high school.”
Dual Language Program
Jayleene Escobedo, kindergartener: “I talk in English and Spanish, and I just love reading in Spanish. I love doing Word Work in both languages. I love getting library books in Spanish, too.”
Kynleigh Oliver, first-grader: “I love Dual Language because I get to learn Spanish and other things that I don’t know how to do. The other reason I love Dual Language is because I have the best teacher ever and I love Spanish.”
Leah Akridge, senior: “The dual language program gave me a family of students that I was able to grow with since kindergarten. This program has also gifted me not only a new language but a new culture. It has taught me the beauty of relationships built through a language.”
Stephen F. Austin State University STEM Program
Katy Trotty, right, a clinical instructor in Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Nursing, shows Lufkin High School junior Abby Mason how to take a person’s blood pressure during a STEM exercise as LHS teacher Ryan Cantrell watches during fourth period Thursday in Cantrell’s classroom. (Photo by CHELSEA HOLMAN/Lufkin High School Panther Growls News)
Madison Davis, junior: “I enjoy STEM because it provides fun, hands-on lessons our generation is facing or are likely to face using science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”
Jaxon Griffith, junior: “The reason I enjoy our STEM program is because it allows students to learn new, effective skills that could be useful in our future careers or lives.”
Hilda Guello, junior: “The STEM program not only allows us to learn about the many different categories that it contains and skills used, but it allows us to put those skills into practice while working as a team.”
Early College High School
Trenton Mosby, freshman: “Lufkin Early College High School has brought new opportunities, a challenge, and a new chapter in my life. I am honored to be a part of such a great program.”
Itzel Castellanos, freshman: “I enjoy being part of ECHS because it is an opportunity to accomplish my goals and build my future. It is difficult to be part of ECHS because of everything it implies but nothing is easy in life. Thanks to the ECHS program for their dedication and great effort, they are helping me achieve my goals.”
Devin Garcia: “I like ECHS because it gives me a chance to be someone. It gave me a chance at something I wouldn’t have been able to do.”
In addition to the programs described above, students at Lufkin High School have access to 21 different Advanced Placement courses. To find out more about our Advanced Academics programs and which opportunity will be a good fit for your child, join us at the Advanced Academics Night at 6 p.m. Feb. 7 at Lufkin High School. This event is a “one-stop-shop” to find out about all of the advanced programs Lufkin ISD has to offer. Come and be a part of our limitless possibilities.
Lynn Torres is the superintendent of Lufkin ISD. Her email address isltorres@lufkinisd.org. This column originally appeared in The Lufkin News.