Green Dot Public Schools

All semester long, students at Ánimo City of Champions partnered with to turn their ideas into real apps and websites. 💻✨

From fitness and teen empowerment to homelessness resources and community services, these young entrepreneurs built solutions that matter and proudly demoed their projects to a panel and their peers.

The future of tech and innovation is bright. 🚀

Ánimo Voices is today! Catch our Stories after 5:30 PM for Peter’ IG takeover 👀 Get a behind-the-scenes POV of Animo Voices and get ready to celebrate our amazing students! 🎤✨

Your voice matters! Join us at the Green Dot Voter Registration Drive at Launch to College and Career and take the first step in making your voice heard. Registering to vote means having a say in the decisions that impact our schools, communities, and future. Every vote counts, make yours matter! 🗳️✨
Did you know? You can pre-register to vote at 16 or 17 and you’ll automatically be registered when you turn 18!

¡Tu voz importa! Acompáñanos en la campaña de registro de votantes de Green Dot en Launch to College and Career y da el primer paso para hacer oír tu voz. Registrarse para votar significa tener voz y voto en las decisiones que impactan a nuestras escuelas, comunidades y nuestro futuro. ¡Cada voto cuenta; haz que el tuyo importe! 🗳️✨
¿Sabías que...? ¡Puedes preinscribirte para votar a los 16 o 17 años y quedarás registrado automáticamente al cumplir los 18!

A new chapter begins. Today, the LAUSD Board officially approved Green Dot as the operator of Extera Public School #2, marking the launch of Green Dot’s first elementary school.
Together with Extera and Ánimo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle School, we’re excited to build a stronger, more seamless educational experience for students and families rooted in high quality, student-centered education. 💚

Teacher Spotlight ✨ 🍎 Bagni Maldonado Barrios, math teacher at Locke, brings energy, humility, and a deep sense of purpose to his work in the classroom. He is motivated by the opportunity to help students see the real world power of the subject. “I always tell my students that most things they love were once a math equation on a paper,” he says, reflecting his belief that mathematics is at the heart of so many innovations and interests.

Bagni also values the strong sense of support within his school community, sharing that he feels equipped to succeed because of the collaboration among curriculum specialists, administrators, and colleagues. That spirit of teamwork fuels his commitment to growth, both for himself and his students. He encourages new teachers to approach the work with humility and patience. “Take one day at a time,” he advises. “Make sure that the joy you feel on day one of your teaching career is what you purpose to feel on day ten thousand.”

His dedication and positive mindset have made an impact well beyond his classroom. As Principal Belen Ramirez shares, “Mr. Maldonado comes to this work with a very positive attitude. He believes his students can all learn and grow and holds them to high academic and behavioral expectations.” Whether leading his grade level team or adjusting a lesson in real time to meet students’ needs, Bagni continues to show what it means to be a true LockeStar.

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🍎✨Teacher Appreciation Week is a time to honor the dedication, care, and expertise educators bring to their classrooms each day. At Green Dot, teachers do far more than deliver lessons.

They build meaningful relationships, create spaces where students feel seen and supported, and help young people grow into confident, capable leaders. This week is a chance to recognize the lasting impact they make in our communities every single day.

College Decision Day! 🎓 So proud of our students for committing to their next steps.

A heartfelt thank you to our school staff for their your support who've played a role in making these journeys possible.

Swipe to see just a few of the places our students are headed. No matter the path, we can’t wait to see what’s ahead.

Students, you did this! Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Ánimo Voices Competition! Your writing, art, and spoken word showed real strength, resilience, and courage. You pushed back against limits, celebrated your identities, and imagined a kinder, fairer world.

Winning entries will be shared soon. In the meantime, please join us in celebrating our talented student winners across the three categories: writing, art, and spoken word!

# Writing

113 seniors, 11 partner orgs, 1 epic day of mock interviews, headshots, and 
real-world practice! 🎓💼

From nerves to confidence, our seniors got  a taste of the real interview world and leveled up their career skills. Huge thanks to all the volunteers who made it happen!

Please join Green Dot Public Schools an Uprooted Academy on April 30th @9:00am (via Zoom) for a workshop centered around mental health well being for students!
- Explore different types of wellness
- Identify common stressors for students
- Practice stress-management techniques

🍕✨All families in attendance will be entered into a raffle to win a $100 Dominos Pizza giftcard!