Art Trek and

Catholic Schools Connect

Since 2006 Art Trek has brought visual art to what is now 38 LA Archdiocese K-8 elementary low-income schools through the support of the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF), the Specialty Family Foundation, The Hartenstein Family Foundation, and the extraordinary, continued funding from the Porteous Family Foundation.

To meet the needs and interests of the schools Art Trek has developed two programs. One is Art Trek 4 Teachers, which meets twice a year in workshop style with classroom teachers, a format which allows teachers to do several projects to learn process and techniques, gain artistic confidence, receive materials, share ideas, and develop best strategies for their classrooms.

The other half of our CEF schools invite our Art Trek staff to teach on campus. Art Trek on-site has given us the opportunity to create long term relationships with the students and teachers on campus. Both programs offer their own advantages: training teachers in the arts infuses these educators with the inspiration, skills, and knowledge not only to teach our lessons but also to explore their own art interests as individuals and educators. Going into the classrooms brings Art Trek closer to the students, to the core of Catholic education, and allows our experts to bring their best to these students.

Our art lessons begin with the elements of art, include art expression, collaboration, and cross-cultural exploration. This year we are emphasizing social justice art themed “Together We Rise,” recognizing our common threads as caretakers of our communities.

2022 – 2023

CEF LA Archdiocese Schools via Porteous Family Foundation

Art Trek for Teachers – 19 schools

Art Trek Site – 19 Schools

-Nancy Young

Executive Director

Smet Foundation Partners with Catholic Schools to Support Students, Teachers, Principals, and Staff

The Smet Foundation partners with the Department of Catholic Schools in Los Angeles in a variety of Onward programs that benefit students, teachers, principals, and staff in the Los Angeles area.

The Onward Scholars Program (OSP) is a competitive scholarship and enrichment program for selected high school students with strong academic backgrounds. OSP provides a unique four-year pathway to success for high school students who demonstrate academic excellence, impactful leadership, and motivation to dream big in their college search. The three main components of OSP are scholarship, mentorship, and college access. Currently Onward Scholars are at six Catholic high schools in the greater Los Angeles area and when those programs are fully enrolled, we will have 288 students on our scholarship.

The OSP is committed to the support and development of exemplary Catholic school leaders. The Onward Leadership Program (OLP) provides a unique one-year program for select resident principals from both within and outside of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to develop knowledge and skills of the Archdiocesan leadership competencies in Catholic Identity, Academic Excellence, and Operational Vitality. Since we started the program in 2015, we have trained 40 elementary principals for the Los Angeles Archdiocese Catholic schools. 

The key driver of the success of Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (ADLA) is a dedicated and talented team of teachers and administrators. Our Onward 4 Educators honors educators in ADLA Catholic schools by providing professional development grants for teachers and principals and scholarships for the children of the school staff in selected deaneries who attend ADLA Catholic schools. Last year we granted $275,000 in scholarships for the children of ADLA school staff and $125,000 in professional development grants for teachers and principals. 

Developed by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and supported by the Smet Foundation, Onward 4 Excellence supports student learning by fostering the learning of leaders and teachers. Onward 4 Excellence supports collaborative professional growth in three areas: Curriculum and Instruction, Instructional Leadership, and Data Assessment. 

Onward 2 High School is a bridge program designed to give students direction to achieve academic excellence and college readiness beginning in elementary school, and to encourage attendance at Catholic high schools. Onward 2 High School hosts college readiness presentations and activities for 6th-8th grade students and, to bridge the gap between middle and high school, has created a Summer Institute for rising 7th and 8th graders. The Summer Institute services many students from different schools and areas in an exciting, vigorous academic environment that includes field trips and engaging courses.

-Cindy Lee Smet

Co-founder

Great Day for

Cathedral High School

The new theater building was dedicated in honor and memory of Richard Grant. On hand was the entire student body for an assembly in the gym along with donors that have contributed to the success of the school, including the board members of the Dan Murphy Foundation that was chaired by Mr. Grant for many years, the Catholic Education Foundation, The Smet Foundation, members of Cathedral High’s Board among others.

The program included blessing of the new field upgrades, a new cafeteria make-over and upgraded classrooms. Cont. on right side 

Cathedral High School is located near Dodger Stadium and is an all-boys school taught in the Lasallian tradition. The school serves about 700 students predominately from low-income families and has one of the highest levels of tuition and scholarship support of any Catholic school in the Archdiocese.

President, Martin Farfan and Principal Fr. John Montgomery, have led the school for over 25 years and have a strong governing board that supports the mission and fiduciary responsibility of the remarkable facilities, the scholarship programs and curriculum.