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Home and School
Association
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We're here to support Central students, parents, and staff with our time, talents and dollars. Let's help each other make Central High School an even greater place for our students to learn and grow.
Click HERE to read more about the Association. Click HERE to download a membership form. Your student can take the completed form to the main office.
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Telephone
Main Office
215-276-5262
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Welcome
Happy Valentine's Day. We hope you love the Central High School newsletter -- a volunteer effort brought to you by the Home and School Association with assistance from the Associated Alumni of Central High School. 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 centralhighschoolnewsletter@yahoo.com.
Thank you,
Jane Von Bergen and Diane Luckman, co-editors |
Celebrate a Magnificent Gift More than 250 works of African and Oceanic art, many of them hundreds of years old, will be displayed permanently at Central High School, thanks to a donation by Dr. David Rilling, 209, and his wife Karina. This is a truly wonderful gift to the Associated Alumni of Central High School and to Central High School. The entire Central family is invited to celebrate at an exhibit opening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Spain Conference Center and the Dr. William M. King Communications, Media and Research Center at the Barnwell Library. This superb collection includes numerous items from Nigeria, Cameroons, Cote d'Ivoire and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The Oceanic items come from various places in New Guinea. The collection was assembled over many years by the Rillings who are devoted to this field of art and to Central High School. The Rillings will be at the opening to describe the collection and how they went about assembling it. Dr. Rilling also plans to make himself available to address art and African-American history classes at Central. Such a collection is a true treasure in and of itself; it is enhanced a great deal by Dr. Rilling's ongoing interest in Central and its art and African-American history programs. This event is an outstanding culmination of Central activities celebrating African-American history. For additional information, contact Debbie Zarwin Rose, Alumni Affairs Coordinator, in the alumni office at 215-927-9550 or email her at chsalumniphl@aol.com.
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Our Deepest Condolences |
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College Night: Juniors
Now's the time to really get started with your college planning. Come to Central at 7 p.m on Thursday, Feb. 26 to get advice from an array of panelists assembled by Central's guidance department. Plan on arriving early enough to check out African Art exhibit and opening in the Barnwell Library, starting at 5:30 p.m. Speaking of college, the North Light Community Center in Roxborough is hosting a college prep workshop with panelists from the school district from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23. Recent college graduates will also speak. The center is located at 175 Green Lane, zip code 19127. For information call 215-483-4800. |
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Once more with feeling: Report card conferences You've read the report (or you should have -- report cards were issued Monday, Feb. 2). Now hear the story -- not the snow job! The previously snowed-out report conferences will now take place Tuesday, Feb. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. Because fewer parents can come during the day, the pace tends to be more relaxed, but the same etiquette applies. Most teachers will have sign up sheets. If you have two adults, you can tag team, signing in two places and keeping in touch by cellphone. The conferences are not long conversations -- you can always make a separate appointment if there is a more serious problem. Just try to be considerate of each other's time and privacy. One other point: Of course, it is important to visit the classes where there are problems. But it's also nice to hear your child praised. And speaking of praise, it doesn't hurt to pay an honest compliment to the teachers. Everyone needs encouragement! |
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Money, Money: What is it that they say about death and taxes? For parents of college-bound students, it also applies to the FAFSA form, which is the gateway to need-based financial aid. Filling out the form can be tricky, but help is available at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday Feb. 17 in the Barnwell Library's computer lab. Just call the office, 215-276-5262, to register. Speaking of college money, check out the guidance department website for advice and information.
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Coming soon: Drinking, Drugs With prom season coming up, now is the time to learn how to talk to your children about drinking and drugs. (Of course, that's important anytime). The Home and School Association is bringing an excellent speaker with a lot of experience in this topic for the next Home and School Association Meeting on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Spain Conference Center. Please bring a friend. Membership is not necessary to attend, but we'd like you to join.
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Class 272: Talk It Up Some 3,856 eighth graders applied to join Central High School's 272d class. They are competing for 579 freshman slots in a school with a current enrollment of about 2,200. Here's where your very important part comes in: Yes, applications were up 500 over last year, but we want the very best and most fantastic kids to choose Central. We we cannot afford to take that for granted. If you know a great student -- smart, honorable, creative, hardworking, energetic and fun -- who is trying to decide between Central and some place else, speak up! That child needs to be at Central! Central's continuing reputation as an excellent school depends on attracting the best and brightest of the city's students.
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See the World Maybe some day the rest of the world will be like Central High School with its rich mix of people. In the meantime, you can sample it on International Day, Thursday, Feb. 19. This is truly one of the most fabulous days in the life of Central High School, a true joy! Students decorate the halls to portray various global cultural aspects. Cultural clubs sponsor an international bazaar and world language students share a huge potluck in the International Cafe, contributing dishes from their ethnic backgrounds. Last year, there were 628 dishes. In the morning, the cultural groups perform for the upper grades, with the performances broadcast in classrooms by the Central Broadcast Network. Parents are welcome to squeeze in for the 8 a.m. performance. (If you can't make it on Thursday, there is also a performance at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.) Speakers from different nations share their worlds with students in various classrooms all morning. To get an idea of what the day is like and the energy involved, check out the International Day website/wiki, created by assistant principal Mr. Speir. "Walking throughout the school one is transported to the exotic, alluring places where our roots were planted," said Ms. Ginsberg, who chairs the language department. "It is a celebration of who we are, where we are from and how far we have come."
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Bring Your Photo ID Just a reminder: When you come to visit Central High School, you must have a photo ID.
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Acme and Target Fundraisers
Acme will give us one percent of total receipts, so please have your student deposit Acme receipts in the Acme box in the office. Target will send us one percent of what you spend on a Target Visa Card or Target Guest Card. Apply online at Target.com or at your local store. Our ID number is 90781. Last year we raised $900 from Target. Also send in labels from Campbell's products. They donate educational supplies in return. Thanks!
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Help Wanted
1. The Home and School Association is looking for officers for next year's executive board. The board's secretary and membership vice president are "graduating," so we need to elect their replacements. Contact Miriam Foltz, the president, at chs_hsF@yahoo.com if you'd like to nominate yourself or someone else. It's actually fun! We'd especially like to encourage people of color to apply, so our board better reflects Central's diversity.
2. The Home and School Association needs lots of hands to help set up the International Cafe. Students bring in tons of food for a potluck. Parent helpers receive the food and organize the cafe. We need help from 7 a.m. until about 3:30. Come when you want and stay as long as you like. Participation bonus: You'll enjoy fabulous student performances and you can sample the goodies. Contact Jane Von Bergen at janevonb@msn.com to say when you are available.
3. An assistant reporter/editor or two for the newsletter. Should be a 269, 270 or 271 parent with good writing and reporting skills. Contact Jane Von Bergen at centralhighschoolnewsletter@yahoo.com
4. The Associated Alumni of Central High School is looking for a volunteer who can work three hours a week to assist with various membership functions. Contact Debbie Zarwin Rose, Alumni Affairs Coordinator, in the alumni office at 215-927-9550 or email her at chsalumniphl@aol.com 5. Speakers wanted: The Home and School Association is looking for ideas for speakers, especially for next year. Do you know someone (maybe you!) who is an expert in a topic that would interest parents? Would that person speak to us for free (our favorite price)? Please contact centralhighschoolnewsletter@yahoo.com. We are right now looking for a psychologist who could speak about coping with the empty nest syndrome. We may have one available, but we aren't sure. |
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Job Opening: Let's Do Lunch Central High School is looking for a lunchroom assistant for several hours of paid work a day. Being part of the Central community would be a plus in getting the job. Contact the office at 215-276-5262.
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Thanks Thanks to new newsletter staffers, parents Dave Kalkstein and Kate Spellissy. Dave Kalkstein contributed the item on the African Art opening and Kate Spellissy will have an item in the next issue. Continuing thanks to Dr. Pavel, Mr. Speir, and Mr. Walsh from Central's staff, and to co-editor and parent Diane Luckman.
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Sincerely,
Jane Von Bergen, Newsletter Editor
Central High School -- Philadelphia |
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