| Cathedral Chapel School opened on
September 8, 1930. Twenty-eight students comprised
the first graduating class. When the school was
built, two rooms were specifically designed for
music, and piano lessons were given outside school
hours for $1.00 per hour. The monthly tuition was
$2.00 per month for the oldest child, and $1.00 for
additional children in the family. The cafeteria,
which opened on the second day of each school year,
served hot lunch items for five cents each. There
were ten sisters of the Immaculate Heart community
on the faculty who commuted from the Hollywood
Motherhouse in Mr. Henry’s mortuary limousine which
he graciously loaned to them. Eventually the sisters
moved to an apartment complex adjacent to the
school. The building contained sixteen apartments.
In 1935 after extensive remodeling, the site became
the sisters' permanent residence.
Monsignor Dolan, the pastor, made arrangements
with a cab company to transport students to and from
school in taxicabs. School opened each morning with
the raising of the flag as the cab drivers stood at
attention with their students. At three o’clock,
the taxis would line up to take the students home.
Two school buses, which were rented for student
transportation in 1940, were purchased by the
Mother’s Club in 1948. These buses made their last
run in June of 1972.
In successive years many other improvements were
made to the school plant. The school yard was paved
for the first time in 1936. Automatic bells and a
fire alarm system were installed in 1954. The
auditorium was completely refurbished in 1958.
Paramount Studios installed new stage curtains and
window drapes. An electrical panel was obtained
which included a dimmer system, border lights,
automatic record players, and microphones.
In 1968, the Sisters of Saint Louis replaced the
Sisters of the Immaculate Heart as teachers in the
school. The Sisters of St. Louis lived in the
convent from 1968-1987. When they moved in 1987, the
Guadalupana Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, were
invited by Cardinal Roger Mahony to use the
facilities as their novitiate. In 1994, Cathedral
Chapel Parish sold the convent to the Guadalupana
sisters.
Beginning in 1973, Cathedral Chapel School was
under the guidance and support of a new pastor,
Reverend Earl G. Walker, a graduate of Cathedral
Chapel School, the sisters, lay faculty and students
worked together to carry on the school's tradition.
In 1986, the last religious principal served the
school community. The first lay principal assumed
the administration of the school in September 1987.
At the present time, Cathedral Chapel continues to
be a viable model of Catholic education under lay
leadership.
Reverend Walker retired in 1998 and was replaced
by Reverend Charles Schwehr, who has continues to
work with the school and parish to provide support
and guidance. The students, parents, and parish of
Cathedral Chapel strive to maintain values and to
live in service to others as members of a faith
community.
In recent years, annual maintenance repairs have
included interior and exterior painting, resurfacing
the playground, new playground equipment,
replacement of stage curtains and window coverings,
carpeting 1st floor classrooms and the upper hallway
and stairs, replacing lower hall carpeting with
linoleum, installing additional lighting and
electrical outlets, and ceiling fans, updating the
circuit breakers, updating the bell system and the
auditorium sound system, and an installing an
intercom system throughout the school. In
preparation for the 21st century, the technology
curriculum was advanced by updating the internet
connection to DSL in the computer lab and connecting
classroom computers and televisions for interactive
internet lessons and research.
At present, the staff consist of a lay principal
who was appointed in 1991, ten fulltime lay
teachers, one computer teacher, one music teacher
and one art teacher, three part-time aides, an
office manager, a part-time office assistant, one
Extended Day Care Director and five EDC supervisors. |
