PTA >
Carpenter Avenue School PTA
HISTORY OF OUR GROWTH AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
By Debra Van Tongeren PTA HISTORIAN
The Carpenter branch of the PTA was founded and organized February 3 1926
with twenty-two charter members. During the initial first two years of the
PTA, the work was carried on with the idea of community spirit and of drawing
together the community to unite with the school, laying a foundation which
to build the work for years to come.
1927 A bazaar was held that generated enough funds to purchase a portable
Victrola for the school. The school consisted of a one unit building with
three teachers and a small enrollment of forty pupils.
Our members worked diligently and won $100 for the highest percentage of
cakes according to membership. Proceeds from this and a bazaar was used to
buy a bird bath to help our students study nature, a Still Film Machine
(Payments were made in installments)
1928 The PTA worked to bring a a branch of the LA Library to our school and
the PTA membership was twenty eight while the school enrollment had grown
to two units (classrooms)
1929 Carpenter enrollment grew to three units, four teachers and over 100
students; PTA membership grew to fifty! Work was done to try and procure
kindergarten but the school fell short of the required 25 children.
1930 Through the efforts of the PTA, a kindergarten has been promised for the
forthcoming year. In February 1931 after much solicitation by the PTA,
parents and teachers a kindergarten was established!
1931 Room parents are elected to help disseminate information to school
families.
1932 A cafeteria was established at Carpenter, sponsored and conducted by
mothers and the PTA members. Because of the increasing numbers of needy
cases in the community, the balance of the year was devoted to child relief.
Carpenter children brought food to the school to be given to children in
need at Lemona Street School.
1933 The PTA work of the year has an emphasis on child welfare, free lunch and free milk
for those needing.
1934 The children participated in a play, the theme being International Good
Will, and the annual track meet was held in June and greatly enjoyed by all.
1935 The PTA held a dinner dance at the Studio City Rec. Center, and it was
very successful both socially and financially. Membership increased to 72.
1936 Carpenter PTA has parent speaker Edgar Nilerman gave a talk on the
modern trends in home furnishings. Fourteen members attended.
1937 Membership increased to 118! A proposal for a cookbook compiled of
recipes of Carpenters mothers to be sold at .50.
1938 Carpenter Bake sale raises $37.15. $15.00 was voted to be used for a
duplicator for the school. $10.00 for the purchase of bells for the school
orchestra. The sale of cookbooks have cleared $65.00 and membership
increased to 180. School was closed for three days due to the Great Flood
of 1938, and when school reopened, the PTA and Carpenter students held a
clothing and canned food drive for flood victims from Saticoy School.
1939 When school opened in September, the biggest event in Carpenter history:
the completion of the beautiful new school building. However, due to
increasing enrollment, it was already necessary to hold classes in
additional bungalows. On October 15th a hot lunch was served that realized
$40.79 for the PTA. Membership is 280.
We lost 30 members to the new Riverside School.
1940 School enrollment is 420 children, making it necessary to add another
bungalow. The PTA purchased shoes and clothing for needing students.
1941 The PTA sponsored two hot lunches and held a very successful paper
drive. December was perhaps the most momentous month because of the national
emergency after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th. Out of a blue
sky, we found ourselves engaged in Home Defense work such as sewing for the
Red Cross and first aid classes. We were asked to cancel all evening
meetings. The children of Carpenter were required to bring in a blanket and
enough food to last two days should a emergency arise. We have our largest
school enrollment so far: five hundred children, fourteen teachers and for
the first time, a clerk in the office at all times.
1942 The Carpenter PTA is encompassed with World War Two activities and
committees and organizes Block Mothers through the Office of Civilian
Defense, who would give shelter in the case of a war incident and helping
teachers with task of rationing. Registering men for the armed forces was
asked of the teachers and mothers of the PTA .
1943 Victory Garden classes were held and garden was planted.
1944 -1945 School enrollment grew to 635. President's message was that we
are all drafted to keep the home fires burning while our men in uniform are
fighting for the freedom of our Country. The Red Cross gave talks on
services provided in times of war. The PTA helped sell war bonds and do war
canvassing. Our paper drive netted 17 tons of paper!
Our Carpenter children collected two truck loads of clothing for the
children of liberated countries. The biggest accomplishment at school has
been the new library.
1945-1946 A long awaited crossing guard was placed at Laurel Canyon.
$350 was given from the PTA towards a beautiful new grand piano.
747 members.
1947 With the support of the Carpenter PTA ad the sponsorship of the Studio
City Chamber of Commerce the sum of four thousand dollars was appointed for
the installation of sidewalks on Laurel Canyon. Carpenter students no longer
had to dodge oncoming cars. The new signal at Laurel Canyon and Carpenter
and Laurel Canyon and Ventura and our new sidewalks are partial solutions to
the growing traffic in our community.
The PTA sponsored its first ambitious Halloween Carnival on Wednesday
October 30th. Our Holiday program was held at the Studio City Theater.
Carpenter is cracking at its seams with 815 students and our teachers look
impatiently towards the fulfillment of our promised building program.
As you have read, many of our early programs here at Carpenter continue
today including: ongoing used clothing drive for HOOPER SCHOOL, food drive
held each November, recycling, student aid, bake sales, Halloween Carnival,
community and educational advocacy and many more!
