John Marshall High School
The historic goal of the Los Feliz Improvement Association from its earliest beginnings has been to enrich and enhance all aspects of life in Los Feliz. With our busy lives we tend to lose interest in schools once our own children are grown, out of school and possibly moved away. However, our community is grounded in the continuing success of each and every neighborhood school and the students thriving therein.
There are several kinds of schools in Los Feliz: public, private, charter, and parochial, from pre-school through high school. The LFIA has supported all our public schools in many ways throughout the years, working with the principals to help meet the needs of programs that may not flourish without that support. This is one way in which your annual dues are utilized for our neighborhood’s enhancement.
Over the last five years, the LFIA has donated nearly $25,000 to our schools, and the amount has increased each year. The funds have allowed the purchase of mimeo boards and technology equipment for Franklin Avenue School, and supported a program known as “Caught Being Good” which encourages good citizenship, attendance and scholarship at Los Feliz Elementary School. We also contributed to the Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts with acoustic paneling for their Visual Art Center. Our backing for Thomas Starr King Middle School includes contributing to their Whole School Film Festival, an Art Show, an end of the year school bus for LACER students, and the program “College Begins at King.”
For many years LFIA has given major financial contributions to the John Marshall High Academic Decathlon Program. This endeavor has enjoyed incredible success that benefits not only the students directly involved but the atmosphere across campus. In addition, vigorous serious study in academic subjects is an important and rewarding thing to do. The Academic Decathlon is an expensive program, including travel each year to the State Competition and with hopes of attending the Nationals. Our team is always at or near the top, and team members move on to the most prestigious colleges and universities in the country.
While the team is eventually made up of just nine students (three A students, three B students and three C students) it begins with over 50 others vying vigorously to be part of the class and team. The students typically study over 500 hours on Decathlon subjects in addition to their regular classes. The ten subjects include language and literature, music and art, economics, history, math, science, a prepared speech and an impromptu speech, an essay, an interview and the Super Quiz, a public quiz on a specially selected subject, this year: Russia.
Fine schools are essential for fine neighborhoods and the Los Feliz Improvement Association is devoted to supporting our outstanding schools.
