[Ken Marsh]

To: Los Angeles High School alumni

From: Los Angeles High School, Class of 1958 alumni, Roman Circle

Re: ALUMNI on CAMPUS

Due to low test scores and poor graduation rates for multiple years, LAHS is now on the Public Schools Choice list, which means that management of the school is going out for bid. Included among the possibilities are a charter school and even closure.

Two decades of year-round classes have contributed to the loss of many extra curricular and after school programs. Five different principals in the past ten years and diminishing funds for education have added to the difficulties. Missing from today’s high school experience are a school newspaper, drama and choral clubs, etc.

“Alumni on Campus” is a project to help LAHS regain a quality of education and student body spirit similar to what we knew. Whatever its future configuration, as long as there is an LA High, we the alumni have a role to play.

ALUMNI on CAMPUS (AoC)

Los Angeles High School alumni have thousands of years of collective experience. This potentially represents a vast resource to share with current students and staff that can enrich the educational experience at the school.

Members of the LAHS Class of 1958 started Roman Circle. It focuses on maintaining alumni social interaction and taking action to meet critical challenges of our time. Our initial effort is to give back to LAHS and to engage all LAHS alumni in the endeavor.

ALUMNI on CAMPUS is a three-part project created by Roman Circle. We think that alumni role models working with students and teachers on campus can serve as positive influences in the lives of high school students and on the school’s culture. The project’s first year is intended for development and demonstration.

Companion Alumni

To provide one-on-one tutoring in specific subjects and mentoring individuals and/or small groups in the arts, trades, citizenship, athletics, life skills, etc. We are looking for individual and team tutor and mentor-companions to work with students on campus.

Campus Communications Network

To help set up and support a student-driven campus communications network that includes a newspaper, a website and an outreach arm to involve the larger community which the school serves. We are looking for a mentor group of print and new media savvy alumni to guide and work with a select group of students to define the network's goals and initiate its development.

Media E-Museum

To establish an electronic archive of alumni and student oral histories, documentaries and products of creative output including art, poetry, prose, music, performance, etc., for use in classrooms and accessible via the internet on the network website. We are looking for a mentor group of multi-media production savvy alumni to guide and work with a select group of students to define the program's goals and initiate its development.

First Year Budget:

1) Expenses for establishing an alumni pool of tutors and mentors — $1,000

2) Materials fund for alumni tutors/mentors — $5,000

3) Honoraria for students working on CCN21 and MediE-M projects — $5,000

4) Operating costs for CCN21: monthly newspaper, website, outreach — $7000

5) Equipment for MediE-M: video cameras, editing — $4500

6) Administrative overhead in support of all program operations, $1500

Grand Total — $24,000.00

The project received a matching $5000 grant from the Harrison Trust, established by Alice G. Harrison, alumna 1895, who left her estate to the students of Los Angeles High School. Since 1963 the Trust has been providing educational opportunities to students, including travel experiences and student scholarships.

We are appealing to you to respond with a commitment of financial support, in any amount, and/or more to the point let us know if you will participate as an alumni tutor/mentor and in which of the program(s) outlined above.

We are also looking for guest speakers for an alumni speaker program; mentor to lead special workshops promoting skills in running a business, maintaining a home; going on a job interview, creative self expression through music, words and and images, assisted language learning, etc.

If you can make a contribution, make your checks payable to "Roman Circle Los Angeles High School". The Harrison Trust Tax ID# is 95-600 1937; note it for claiming a deduction on you taxes. Mail your donation to Roman Circle, c/o Ken Marsh, P.O. Box 642815, L.A., CA 90064.

Thank you in advance.

Respond to romancircle@ymail.com or call Ken Marsh at 310-903-2173

Roman Circle Steering Committee: Barbara Mathieu, Ken Marsh, Susan Gary, Tamara Bogorad Hoffman, Ron Vaughn, Judy Donin and Bob Kurkjian in Los Angeles; Charles Diamond from Toronto.