News from Central High School -- Philadelphia

This is the first Central High School email newsletter -- a volunteer effort brought to you by the Home and School Association with assistance from the Associated Alumni of Central High School. We hope you find it interesting and useful. Our goal is to build up the Central community by spreading the word about all the interesting things happening at the home of the Lancers. With support from you, this newletter will help Central tap into the talents and resources of the entire Central family -- students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. Tell your friends to sign up for the newsletter. Please send your comments, suggestions, ideas to centralhighnewsletter@yahoo.com. We need your eyes, ears and noses for news! The more the merrier. Speaking of merry, happy holidays to you and your family.

Thank you,

Jane Von Bergen and Diane Luckman, co-editors

Friends and neighbors

A longtime tradition of friendship takes place this Friday, Dec. 19, when Central students host a dozen or so seniors from the Widener School, located on the other side of Central's athletic fields. Central students have been writing to their Widener buddies and will accompany them to Friday's talent show at Central. On stage are Central singers, dancers and magicians, performing for the Widener kids and members of 268.he jazz band will probably play and the whole production will be recorded by the Central Broadcast Network. After the talent show, Central and Widener buddies eat lunch together. Besides the show, Central students contribute to a scholarship fund for Widener's students, who are physically challenged. Encourage your student to donate to this worthy cause.

Summer in Winter

Proud parents gathered at Central twice this month for special ceremonies and breakfast receptions honoring scholastic success. Students were inducted into the National Honor Society on Dec. 4. On Dec. 8, the kudos went to 32 seniors winning national scholastic distinction in several programs, some in multiple programs. The programs were the National Achievement Competition for Outstanding Negro Students, the National Hispanic Scholar Recognition Program, the National Merit Scholarship Competition, and the Advanced Placement National Recognition program. But the standing ovation on Dec. 8 was for a tenth grader, cellist Summer Hu, who played a remarkable and passionate rendition of Chopin's Polonaise Brillante. Summer, 270, has a special roster that includes calculus, which is normally taken by seniors. Her roster also allows her to leave school early so she can attend her "second high school," the Curtis School of Music. It was delightful to see Summer, dressed in a Central T-shirt and giggling like a teenager, play with a professional's physicality and connection to the music.

In the classroom

"You ARE a polymer with personality and you're competing in the First Annual Polymer Pageant. " So began as a recent assignment in Mr. Patton's Material Sciences class. Students and their polymers (teflon, kevlar, saran etc.) were given points for talent, lifestyle and fitness, interview and evening wear. Yes, evening wear! (Describe your uses and functions that make you the most elegant and beautiful of all polymers.) The first round was held in the Spain Conference Center where students exhibited poster boards describing their polymer's physical properties. Semi-finalists made presentations. And the winner was... Gemma Tierney, 268, representing Poly paraphenylene terephthalamide (which we all know much better as kevlar).

From a school of one

Parents whose children attended small private schools often wonder how their kids will adjust to Central, population 2,100 plus. Team co-captain Lucas Isakowitz, 268, provided some insight when addressing his fellow players, their parents and his coaches at the soccer banquet Dec. 4. Lucas' school could not have been smaller or more private. He attended class at home and arrived at Central for 10th grade, coming in August to practice with the soccer team. Lucas said he felt intimidated at first, but the friends he made on the team eased his adjustment and gave him a solid base. Young Central men tend toward the sarcastic, but his speech was emotional and heartfelt and he finished by hugging his co-captains, whose speeches were equally moving. Lucas has been active in planning for International Day and was honored as a finalist in the National Hispanic Scholar Recognition program. His family is from Argentina.

No crying, no sighing

Ninth and tenth graders shouldn't be disappointed if their scores on the PSAT tests aren't as high as they would like them to be. Their scores are being compared with those of 11th graders nationwide. Central's ninth and tenth graders take the 11th grade PSAT test to practice for the SATs.