News from Central High School -- Philadelphia

About this time of year we often hear about the "winter doldrums," cabin fever, and being in the "grip of winter." The school year is half over. People and things seem to hunker down and wait for Spring, as if in some sort of hibernation. Not so at Central; there are some really big things going on these days. Read below to find out Central being one of only five city high schools to be designated as a Vanguard School. And in another "first," Temple University will be starting a very exciting program with Central, the first of its kind in this part of the country with any high school. These initiatives do not take place out of the blue, and they cannot be wished into being. They are just some of the results of some serious, continuing efforts by students, teachers, staff, parents and alumni over many years.

In this issue we write of the Associated Alumni of Central High School, whose gifts to the school are too numerous to mention. When students go about wearing Central T-shirts or hoodies and find themselves greeted warmly by complete strangers asking their class number and how it's going now at Central, they should realize that these are not strangers at all. They are school mates. Thousands of Central graduates stay connected via the Associated Alumni.

This newsletter is a volunteer effort brought to you by the Home and School Association with help from the Associated Alumni of Central High School. We hope that you enjoy reading the newsletter and that you will never hesitate to send your comments, suggestions, ideas and stories to us any time at centralhighschoolnewsletter@yahoo.com.

Thank you for reading,
Dave Kalkstein - Editor

Aquatic Lancers

Call it the Michael Phelps effect. Since Phelps won those eight gold medals in the Olympics last year, the popularity of swimming has increased -- just ask Central High School Coach Jeff Blank, 231. "Yes, I have a large team, 39 swimmers. I do my best to get them all involved. I am not that concerned about winning. I am more concerned about each swimmer getting better, that they consistently improve week to week and have fun," said Coach Blank.

A physics teacher, Mr. Blank has been coaching the swim team for the past eight years, with one City Championship in 2005. "That was one of my proudest moments as a coach, in the State Championship that year. We weren't competitive, but all my swimmers ended up with their best times ever."

This year's swim team is led by Captains Lucas Koerner, 269, and Petr Jurgielewicz, 269, and anchored by Franke Thompson, 269. "I feel that Franke is the best all-around swimmer in the public league this year," Mr. Blank said. Mr. Blank tells his swimmers about "streamlining," Petr said. "He stresses how important it is to become thinner, to move through the water faster."

As a recent meet with the West Co-op team continued, the fun that Coach Blank stresses was evident. The level of constant team cheering and motivation during each race was overwhelming with each member consistently encouraging the others.  "We love Blank, he likes to joke around a lot with us," said swimmer Mike Vaysburd, 270.  "Coach Blank is fun," Petr added, "especially after the Championships, he likes to jump into the pool fully dressed with all of us."

At the end of a successful 130-34 victory over the West Co-op team, Coach Blank took the time to talk to his team, handing out criticism, praise, and most importantly -- the Tiger Pops! "Yeah, it was something that they were doing before I became coach and I just thought that I would continue the tradition," Coach Blank said.  "It kind of finishes up our meet with a sweet ending!" Lucas said.

An Experiment in Teaching

A major national experiment in teacher development for mathematics and science will be coming to Central High School next month, courtesy of Temple University. "TUteach" is an innovative program that offers undergraduate students in the hard sciences a structured introduction to pedagogy, along with hands-on classroom practice. When they graduate, they will have both a bachelor's degree in their field and a teacher's certificate. Central will be the program's first high school. Four math majors, six chemistry majors and 10 biology majors will arrive in early March and leave in late April. They will develop lesson plans and run 9th- and 10th-grade classes, mentored by both Central faculty and Temple School of Education coaches.

Assistant principal Lynada Martínez, who is coordinating the program at Central's end, is thrilled about it. "You get a lot of theory in school, but teacher formation really needs to be more hands-on," she said. Ms. Martínez did not come from an undergraduate education background herself, so she advocates recruiting good teachers from scholarly disciplines.

The need for talented, committed young teachers is especially great in math and science, said Dr. David Kanter, Master Teacher for TUteach. American students underperform their peers in many developed countries, partly because teacher education programs do not produce enough specialists in these fields. As a result, students are too often taught by teachers with little relevant technical background.

The University of Texas, where the program has a 10-year track record, has found its graduates who go on to teach have a 70% retention rate, compared to 50% for new teachers generally.

Videotaping is a fundamental part of the experience. "Our teachers get to review themselves in action and see how they were reaching students at one moment, missing them at another," noted Temple's Dr. Herbert Green, a program leader. For that reason, parents of Central kids in TUteach classrooms will be asked to sign waivers so that their children can be taped.

Interested? Click here to learn more.

In the Vanguard

Buried in the news about the district's struggling Renaissance schools was the tidbit that Central High School has been named one of the city's Vanguard schools, a designation earned by superior performance in achievement, attendance and yes, parent satisfaction. The main advantage is increased autonomy in curriculum and evaluation, with the possibility that Central may be able to replace some of the district's Benchmark tests with tests that more closely correlate to Central's more advanced curriculum. For example, Central has "exponentially expanded" its Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate offerings -- each of which comes with its own evaluation system, explained school president Dr. Sheldon Pavel. In some of those classes, the traditional district Benchmark tests wind up taking away important instructional time required for students to master the material and, of course, perform well on the tests. A school advisory council will also be created to implement strategies that will maximize the benefits of increased autonomy. Most of this is nothing new for Central, more or less a ratification of what has already been happening.

The First-Ever Junior Ring Ceremony

270 has started what they hope will be a new tradition - a "Ring Ceremony" for Juniors receiving their class rings, organized by Assistant Principal Lori DeFields, class sponsor Michael Horwits, 251, and teacher Dr. Joseph O'Donnell. These three wanted to create an opportunity for parents to share a significant and memorable experience with their children, as well as provide an opportunity for the student to thank their parents for their critical role in their high school experience. Central's ceremony is patterned after similar ceremonies in colleges and other high schools. Ms. DeFields believes that this ceremony is perhaps even more important for the parents than it is for the students. She still has vivid memories of her now 23-year-old son's ring ceremony: "It was very emotional and I will never forget it." Central's first-ever Ring Ceremony banquet was held on January 28th at Romano's, and over 200 Juniors and their parents attended. Speakers included Dr. Pavel and Mr. Horwits, as well as a representative from the ring company, Josten. At the pivotal moment, the Juniors received their rings and their parents later ceremonially turned the ring on their child's finger. More than one joyful tear was shed. After the ceremony, parent Diane Henigan wrote to Mr. Horwits: "I'm still 'floating' just remembering everything about the evening, especially the look on my daughter's face when she saw her ring for the very first time." Alex Wexler, 270, said "It was so beautiful. I will remember it forever." 270 class president Nikita Shah, the final speaker who led the group in the school song, viewed the Ring Ceremony as a chance to bring the 270 family together and sees her ring as a sign of Central pride: "I will wear it the rest of my life, not just in high school." For students who were unable to attend the ceremony, Josten will be coming to the school in early February to distribute the remaining class rings. Class 270 is hopeful that 271 - and then all classes moving forward - will continue this custom and make it a lasting part of Central tradition.

Central Alumni Are Everywhere

It is just about impossible to be at Central, even for a short visit, and miss the huge impact of the school's alumni. As David Kahn, 220, President of the Associated Alumni of Central High School says, "the alumni are everywhere at the school." The Alumni Association's support for the school is extremely practical and well directed. Central's fabulous library, the William King Communication Center, and all those computers are results of a $4.5 million effort of Central's alumni. Other contributions include the faculty lounge, the Spain Conference Center, and the truly outstanding collection of African and Oceanic art that adorns the library. Right now, the Alumni Association is working on funding for music and technology improvements on the third floor.

The Alumni Association lends a helping hand across all departments of the school in the form of endowed funds to support numerous educational projects in an ongoing effort to make sure Central students have the tools to make them successful. 269 graduates will receive about 100 scholarships from the alumni, and this support is given to Central students each and every year. Central alumni also organize Career Day, with about sixty taking part to give students a "real world" take on their future in the work place. The upcoming induction to the Faculty Hall of Fame is organized by the Alumni Association, as is the Alumni Hall of Fame.

Among the challenges facing the Association are, or course, raising funds for the capital campaign in a down economy, and bringing young graduates into the organization. Joining the Alumni Association is easy, and the cost is not at all great. What is great is the continuation of the connection to Central, and the ability to take part in supporting the school in the future. Check it out at central high alumni. (Where else would you find out about Bill Cosby's comments about Central but on The Jay Leno Show?)

Skating Success

Congratulations to Olivia Haley-Schmitt, 270, whose synchronized skating team, "Team Reflections," won First Place (out of fifteen teams) in the Intermediate Division of the Colonial Classic Invitation - and then followed that up January 29th, with a Third Place finish in the "Eastern's," where eighteen teams from all over the East Coast competed to go to Nationals. As one of the top four teams, Team Reflections now goes on to the national competition, to be held in March in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Synchronized skating is much like a coordinated dancing, but on skates, with the accompanying twirls, complicated choreography, step sequences, and passes. Olivia has been skating since the age of five and practices with her Harrisburg-based team one to two times a week; she also practices many additional hours on her own, nearer to home, spending part of that time volunteering to teach at a public rink. Olivia, who hopes to continue her team skating at the college level, enjoys coaching as much as competing. She recently helped coach a 9-10-year-old Hatfield team and loved it: "It is even more rewarding to me to see someone achieve something they didn't think they could do because you helped them to achieve it." Join us in wishing good luck to Olivia and her Team Reflections at the national competition.

Central Jazz Star

Plays the Grammys

When comedian Adam Sandler introduced the Dave Matthews Band at the Grammy Awards last month, Central parent Jaye Divine was about to get one of the thrills of her life. Enter Matthews, vocalists, violinists, and -- rocking on the back platform clutching his sax- Dahi Divine, 269. "When we saw him we all screamed, and jumped, and cried, and laughed," Dahi's mom said of herself and the family members who gathered at their home January 31 to watch the show.

Dahi, a member of the Central High School Jazz Band, was one of 28 high school musicians and singers (and the only Philadelphian) nationwide chosen by the Grammy Foundation to participate in its Jazz Ensembles Program. Students were flown to Los Angeles to participate in a week's worth of pre-Grammy performances, capped off by the actual awards show. Dahi had to submit an audition tape as a part of his application, and after being selected from more than 600 student applicants, he got busy rehearsing the required music sent by the foundation.

The Grammy show odyssey served as a valuable lesson for 17-year-old Dahi, who had heard about the program through word of mouth. "I learned that (being a musician) is a busy job. You've got to keep yourself healthy, get your rest, and learn to manage your time," he said. Dahi's list of wins had been growing. He had been beating out the competition left and right: being one of only two tenor saxophonists chosen for the program and getting selected to perform with Dave Matthews. The list continued with an interview on the Tavis Smiley Show, a national radio program. During the program he recounted events in his musical career and graced the listening audience with a smooth saxophone solo.

"It's hard to describe the feelings we had -- pride of his accomplishments, joy for what he was experiencing, elated at seeing him having so much fun," his mom Jaye said of watching him perform at the Grammy's. Dahi's parents had flown to Los Angeles to be with their son a few days after his arrival. They attended daily student performances and then headed back to Philly to watch Dahi's big day on their big-screen TV. Dahi's dad, Knowledge Divine, compared watching his son perform to Dahi's birth. "It was close to the feeling you had when he was first born. He was emerging. " You can watch Dahi's performance at Dave Matthews You and Me Video.

On the Board

The legacy of last year's graduating class, 268, lives on in the main hallway where students daily pass a multi-media board. Besides showing the weekly Central Broadcasting News show, the board includes a continuous streaming feed of news from CNN and another feed of news from Central's Daily Bulletin. Also on the board are opportunities for community service. These opportunities come directly onto the board from a Twitter account which librarian Loretta Burton, coordinator of community service, immediately updates as opportunities occur. The board was 268's class gift to the school.

Mark Your Calendar

The next meeting of the Home & School Association is Wednesday, Feb. 10th at 7:30 p.m. in the Spain Conference Room. There will be a discussion on the committees of Home and School Association as well as the always enlightening and often entertaining report from Dr. Pavel. Obviously, if there's no school, there's no meeting.

270 Ski Trip to Jack Frost - Excitement mounts for 270 as they plan their annual ski trip to Jack Frost on Friday, Feb. 26th. Students will be marked as "present" for this day of fun and bonding with their classmates. The total cost of the 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. event is $70 and includes coach bus travel from the school to Jack Frost, ski rentals, lessons, lunch, dinner, dancing, and a DJ. Students who wish to attend must bring a non-refundable $40 deposit (cash or check to Central High School), along with a signed permission slip from parent or guardian, to advisory on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 9th, 10th, or 11th. (The remaining $30 is due the day of the trip).

Don't miss it! International Day Thursday, Feb. 18, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. People interested in speaking to classes during International Day may contact the International Day Committee at: chsintday@gmail.com or call 215-276-5262 ext. 2351 for details. See the Help Wanted item below to help the Home and School Association with the International Cafe.

Central Night at the Sixers - Friday, Feb. 19. Sponsored by the Pep Squad, the African American Student Union and 269, tickets range from $25 to $65 for the game against the San Antonio Spurs. See AASU sponsor Ms. Valerie McFarland to purchase tickets, or ask your student to stop by her room to buy tickets for the family. If 200 are sold, Central's prize-winning Pep Squad will perform in center court before the game. Otherwise, they'll step out in the lobby.

Alumni Teacher Hall of Fame Induction Thursday, Feb. 25, noon to 2 p.m., Society Hill Sheraton

270 Class - Parent Night, Thursday, March 4, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Guidance counselors will walk parents and juniors through the college application process.

269 Class Trip - Wednesday, March 24. New York City.

Hall of Fame

Sometimes the competent and compassionate attention of an adult can make all the difference in a young person's life. The Associated Alumni of Central High School will honor 10 teachers who made a difference at Central: Bill Brooks, Rose Conway, Dale Donnelly, Dennis Erlick, Lucille Hamill, Pat Hansbury, Bernard Harmon, Karen Kreider, Joe McCloskey and Bob Sanders. "We want the faculty to recognize who has come before them and we hope they find it inspiring," said David Kahn, 220, president of the Association. "There are some faculty working here now who will someday be in this Faculty Hall of Fame." The celebration will take place at noon on Thursday, Feb. 25 at the Sheraton Society Hill. For more information and to find out how to reserve your spot, click here. That link will also provide instructions on how to send brief messages to the inductees ($15 for 20 words). The messages will be published in a booklet printed for the occasion.

Help Wanted

Speakers for International Day: Assistant principal Lori Defields is looking for speakers who have international experience to talk to students in classrooms. Here are some ideas: Are you a recent immigrant? Do you often travel for business or nonprofit purposes to another country? Do you have strong connections in Philadelphia's immigrant community? Share your knowledge and experience with students on International Day, Thursday, Feb. 18. Contact chsintday@gmail.com or call Ms. Defields at 215-276-5262, ext. 2351 for details.

Helpers for the International Cafe: Home and School Association president Miriam Foltz needs lot of help setting up and serving the vast buffet of international foods brought in by students for International Day, Thursday, Feb. 18. Stay for as long as you like. Help is especially needed from about 7:00 a.m until 9 a.m. or so. You'll be amazed at the amount of food. Bonus: You can watch the performance, and snitch a few samples. Contact Ms. Foltz at chs_hsF@yahoo.com.

Thank You

Thanks to all who helped with this newsletter with great stories by great volunteer parents. Johnette Miller gave us the story about Dahi Devine, 269, at the Grammys; Tony West wrote of the Temple University program, and John Newcomb reported on the Lancer swim team (it took four schools to form a co-op to edge the Lancers from first place in the Championships by just six points, by the way). We learn of the Ring Ceremony and Central's ace skater from Nancy Winter. Editor Emeritus Jane Von Bergen contributed the Teachers' Hall of Fame and the On the Board pieces; and Dave Kalkstein wrote the Alumni Are Everywhere article and worked with Jane on the Vanguard school. Our Library Tip is from Kate Spellissy. Thanks to Diane Luckman, who makes our issues look so good, and to Jane, Marcella Brown and Tamar Magdovitz, who helped with editing. We appreciate the continued support and assistance of Dr. Pavel and Mr. Walsh.

Got news? Want to let others know about special achievements? Have an idea for an article? Tell us about it at centralhighschoolnewsletter@yahoo.com.
All the best to all hands!

Sincerely,

Dave Kalkstein, Newsletter Editor
Central High School - Philadelphia