My name is Lauren Dowdy. This is my 4th year teaching at CityLab and my 12th year teaching in DISD. I am the Lead English teacher and senior sponsor this year.

I can’t believe it’s already the end of the first 9 weeks! I keep telling the seniors this year is going to fly for them, and it certainly seems like it is. One of the special aspects of our small school is that the teachers get to know the students well. I have taught most of the seniors twice, and I am so excited to support them as they get ready to graduate!

The seniors have already been very busy this semester. They are demonstrating leadership as they prepare for their post-secondary plans and support school initiatives and programs. Here are a few things they’ve been working on:

• We held our first senior meeting! Students got an overview of graduation requirements and important senior expectations for the year.
• Senior Ambassadors supported programming for 130 6th graders from Ignite Middle School when they visited campus. The seniors helped organize groups, facilitate rotations between teacher sessions, and field student questions.
• Senior Ambassadors and Student Council, along with other student clubs, are planning activities for our CityLab Fall Festival on October 25th.
• This week, Mr. Henery will work with all of the seniors in his English IV and AP Literature classes on their college essays, brag sheets, and recommendation letter requests.
• Seniors and their parents came to campus for an informative FAFSA/TASFA night and started the process of applying for federal and state financial aid for college.
• Working with our college support provider, ASP Dallas, and our amazing counselor, Ms. Crawford, students have been researching and applying to colleges. Some have already received acceptance letters!

We are so excited to celebrate the growth and accomplishments of our seniors this year!