News from Central High School -- Philadelphia

We hope that everyone has cleared out the snow, not just from the sidewalk but from our everyday schedules as well. Speaking of snow, there will be four extra school days to make up for the lost time. They are the first two days of what was spring break, Monday and Tuesday, March 29 and 30; election day on Tuesday, May 18, and one more day at the end, Friday, June 18. Stay tuned. This may change.

Despite the snow and the missed days, huge things were happening at Central. It was one of those months when I worried if there would be news for the newsletter, but as always this worry was unfounded because so much is always going on. It could have been tempting this month to fill the whole newsletter with reporting from International Day; in fact a complete issue could well have been consumed by just covering the food served.

But we can't since Central is too active a place with too much action. Like the Central Gymnastics Team that won the City Championship for (are you ready for this?) the fifteenth consecutive season, or the Team Honors won by the Mock Trial Team. We won't spare you the news that the Co-ed Bowling Team captured the Public League Championship with four winners of All-Public Honors and we need to pencil in news about eight awards for Central artists in the High School Art Show at the Philadelphia Sketch Club. We can't forget Coach Jeremy Julian, Wrestling Coach of the Year, the Lancer Wrestlers "burdened" by six medals from the Sectionals or last, but not least, the 216 pints of blood donated by Central students at the Red Cross Blood Drive. By the way, we did not cover all of these stories; your newsletter volunteers could be kept busy full time covering what goes on at Central, and still not capture it all.

This newsletter is a volunteer effort brought to you by the Home and School Association. 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

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Filip

The official course title, "Victorian Literature," sounds innocent enough. But the students in George Filip's English elective soon discover its inner name: "Gothic Studies." Designed with college-level thinking in mind, this innovative new course has few, if any, models elsewhere in the state. It is a survey that takes students across centuries to study the development of horror as a school of literature. "The Gothic is one of the most misunderstood genres," Mr. Filip explained. "However, it has great value educationally because it has lasted for hundreds of years. So much of our culture - film, theater, poetry and visual arts - is based on it." Students begin with "Grimm's Fairytales," where they encounter the thriller archetypes rooted in medieval folklore. They study "Dr. Faustus," the Elizabethan drama by Christopher Marlowe. Halfway through the year, the students have finished "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," by Robert Louis Stevenson, and "Frankenstein," by Mary Shelley. "Whenever I announce the next book, the students cheer, which is the opposite of what happens in most lit classes," Mr. Filip recounted with glee. Are there Goths - kid Goths - taking Gothic Studies? A few, said Mr. Filip. There is also a strong faction of fans of the "Twilight" series. "It makes for interesting class discussion," he said.

Red Shirts, Loud Talk

Italy was little more than a handful of city-state kingdoms, when, in the decades following 1850, the Red Shirts, a political group based in Naples, wanted to see Italy united under their influence. In the north, leaders from the Piedmont-Sardinia area sought France's help to accomplish the same goal and to regain territory under Austria's control. Leaders in the middle papal states had concerns as did nearby countries, including France. In Ken Hung's AP European History class, six teams of students took on the interests of each group and attempted to persuade the others. "All the kids were walking around trying to convince each other and it was really boisterous. A lot of fun." (That was the teacher talking!) But Aaya Kingsbury, 271, agreed. "That was a very fun aspect of it, trying to convince people to be on your side. You have to have a good amount of evidence and reasoning." And as she pointed out, the result was key in shaping dynamics that led to World War I. "I think the value of it is that kids see that there are multiple perspectives," Mr. Hung said. "History is a series of decisions and, decisions are influenced by perspectives."

Tuskegee Airmen Visit Central

It was one of those special moments in history when retired Central history teacher Burt Fogelman, 204, stood beside two of the original Tuskegee Airmen for photos in the Spain Conference Center this month. Sporting nearly identical light-blue blazers, Mr. Fogelman joked with World War II veterans John Harrison and Henry Moore and allowed Central students to interact with the heroes as well.

Mr. Fogelman, an active member of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. since 1999 and a licensed pilot himself, hosted several presentations throughout the day to give students a real taste of American and African American history -- just as he has been doing for the last six years. The original pilots, accompanied by three other members of The Tuskegee Airmen Greater Philadelphia Chapter, briefly shared military experiences, answered questions and signed autographs. Though Mr. Moore expressed that he could never tell his whole story in just a few minutes, Central students were thrilled enough just to be photographed with true American heroes, the nation's first black military aviators. "They never lost a bomber to enemy fighters. These men were very, very good at what they did," Mr.Fogelman said.

However the number of original Tuskegee Airmen is dwindling. According to Mr. Fogelman, in the last six months, Lee Archer passed away, and the Philadelphia Tuskegee Airmen chapter lost Luther Smith. A tribute video for Smith was shown at the presentations. Another Airman, Ben Calloway, a 1938 Central High School grad, also passed away in the fall. But Mr. Fogelman is determined to preserve the legacy of these pilots who challenged barriers to serve their country, yet came home to a segregated society full of racism. He was not reluctant to discuss how racism is intertwined with their compelling story. "I have very, very strong feelings about racism," Mr. Fogelman said, explaining why he joined the organization to support these veterans. For information, click here.

270 Ski Trip to Jack Frost - Not a Bad Way to Spend a School Day

After a postponement because of snow, (oh, the irony), the 270 class enjoyed a fantastic day at Jack Frost. On Wednesday, March 3rd, almost one-half of the class, 260 juniors, climbed aboard five luxury coaches and hit the road for Jack Frost. There, the class converged on the slopes where lessons were offered for those who wanted them. Most students started out on the "bunny" slope, slipping and sliding down the mountain on various parts of their anatomy. However, by the end of the day, many were testing themselves on the intermediate slopes and a few, along with teachers Paul Deschamps and Bob Barthlemeh, 228, even tried the most difficult black diamond runs. Others took to the slopes on tubes. Perhaps inspired by the great feats of Americans at the recent Olympics, quite a few brave souls also tried snow-boarding, which requires surfboard-like balancing - and which led to some spectacular spills and lots of laughter. The organizer of the event, 270 class sponsor Michael Horwits, 251, sees this as another opportunity for city students to be exposed to a skill that they may enjoy and make a permanent part of their life, saying: "Every new experience is a chance to expand their world a little more." At least half of the juniors had never skied before - but all really enjoyed it. Everyone took a break from the cold at 5:00 and enjoyed a buffet dinner. Jack Frost usually closes at 4:30 but stayed open late just for Central students. A DJ during and after dinner got those who were still able to move - most of the kids, but few of the adults! - up on the dance floor. Assistant Principal Lynada Martinez, a seasoned skier, also showed the class her slick dance moves, and the evening ended with a rousing "270" chant from the students. Mr. Barthlemeh commented on the great school spirit that the large turn-out for this event demonstrated, apparently setting a new school record for student attendance on a class trip. The students send a shout-out of thanks to the twelve parent chaperones and thirteen amazing teachers who made this trip so much fun. As the evening drew to a close, in a genuine show of appreciation, dozens of students thanked and hugged not just Mr. Horwits, who was the moving force behind this trip, but also the teachers and parents who made this trip possible. In fact, Jack Frost personnel told Ms. Martinez that our Central kids were one of the best high school groups that they had ever had at their lodge. A tired bunch returned to Philadelphia around 9:30. Perhaps the event was best summed up by Jake Lerner, 270: "It was a great event with great people."

Pennies for Peace

Greg Mortenson's best seller "Three Cups of Tea," an inspiring book about one man's efforts to bring peace in Afghanistan through building schools for girls, inspired the students in Central's famous Conflicts class, now taught by Ken Hung. Students decided to raise money for the project through a program called "Pennies for Peace," which is an outgrowth of the Central Asia Institute founded by Mr. Mortenson. So, to move away from the tea theme, they ran an open-mike coffeehouse in the Spain Conference Center after school on Monday, March 1. Kids played guitar and sang. The Improv Group showed up to perform. Coffee and baked goods were served. Admission was pay-as-you-wish. At the end of the afternoon, they had raised $400. We'll raise a cup of tea (or coffee) to that!

Honor Roll

Just as students receive report cards, so do the city's schools -- and no surprise, Central earned a number one ranking in the School Performance Index, a composite that includes academic achievement as well as the satisfaction and engagement of teachers, students and parents. Among other schools with a number one ranking, Central came in second, just behind Masterman. But the two schools are very close. In the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests (the all-important PSSAs), Masterman scored 99.5 percent in mathematics, while Central scored 98.1. But in reading, Central surpassed Masterman, scoring 98.2 percent, compared to Masterman's 97.9. Central was third in attendance at 95.1 percent, behind Masterman with 96.6 percent attendance, and the Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP) with 95.9 percent.

Extra Credit

Parents: Sometime in April, you should receive a parent survey in the mail. (Please make sure Central has your proper address so you do receive it.) When the survey arrives, please respond properly and send it back. Part of our "grade" as a school is measured by parent satisfaction and responsiveness.

We are Family: International Day

The movements were simple - the curve of a thumb and forefinger, the bend of a wrist, two hands folded, palm-to-palm. The tranquility of the "Dance of a Thousand Hands," performed by Central's Cambodian club managed even to quiet an audience of lively seniors gathered in the auditorium to watch International Day performances. The young women dancers wore a sap'ut, a Cambodian tunic. The young men dressed in simple shirts and slacks. Most of the group were Asian, but two dancers, Amanda Hunter and Christkelly Dornevil, both 270, were African-Americans. "They needed people so I decided to help out," Christkelly said. Christkelly didn't understand why anyone would question her participation. "It's really common at Central. There's not any one culture thing that's just for one group. We're open to everyone." Con Quach, 269, president of the Apsara Khmer Association, agrees. A Cambodian born in Thailand, Con came to the United States with his family in 1993. He said the diverse group includes Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, Chinese and African-Americans. "When you join this club, you are family," he said. "We treat each other like family."

Sold on International Day

Philadelphia Inquirer immigration reporter Michael Matza, the newspaper's former foreign correspondent in Jerusalem, had just returned from covering the earthquake in Haiti when he joined other speakers sharing their world views in Central classrooms on International Day. He had been recruited by a colleague who enthusiastically extolled Central's energy and intellectual spirit, but being the cynical reporter, he didn't completely believe it. Instead he found the experience amazing and told his colleague that she had actually undersold the school. He thanked her for convincing him to volunteer. What Mr. Matza saw at Central, besides the students, were the hallways draped and decorated for international themes. He saw the first floor gymnasium filled with food, nearly 600 dishes in all. He saw the performances and he noticed the parent volunteers from the Home and School Association. Parents: Next year try to be among the volunteers, either as a speaker or food server. You will be thrilled.

Not even close to boring

To Ali Miller, 270, Central's 2010 African American History Month Program was unlike any other he had seen. "A program about African American history is usually boring, but this one was exciting," he said. The multifaceted production of Central talent showcased actors, spoken-word artists, singers and dancers. Headed by history teacher Dana King, the show was a combined effort of Central student groups and academic departments.

This year's shows, performed in assemblies for Central students, included jazz musicians, a short play, African dancers, tributes and other artistic elements. When asked about standout acts in last month's program, Ms. King gave the Lorraine Hansberry tribute a thumbs-up and called the acting "phenomenal." Four students performed a scene from Hansberry's "Raisin in the Sun" as part of a tribute to the playwright. "The other thing that stood out was the jazz musicians," Ms. King said. "Also, there was a tribute to Michael Jackson." During the Jackson tribute, student Tyrek Brown (270) danced to a medley of Jackson classics. "I think I speak for everyone when I say this was a favorite," Ali said. "Everyone started cheering." Included in the program was an art exhibit spotlighting original student artwork.

Mirror, Mirror on the Web

you know
i think i much prefer
winter to spring.
i mean sure
spring is pretty
but in the cold
i can tell that i'm
still breathing
Nirvan West, 271

Nirvan has a point, and while you are breathing, go on the Central website to read the Mirror, Central's literary journal. On the same page with Nirvan's poem is an amazing photograph titled "Emerald Snake" by Olivia Haley-Schmitt.

Just Stop By

Liston Knowles knows a lot about high school and high school students. After retiring from Roxborough High where he served as principal, Mr. Knowles found his way to Central. At Central he continues to help students by supervising the Mentoring Program. "We have a chance to just talk to kids," which he and the tutors find extremely important. This takes place via the school's Academic Support Center, which opened in November. Tutors are available after school in various classrooms.

Central can be a more competitive place than students have been used to, and the school recognizes the need to provide support here and there for many students. Seven of Central's teachers devote time after school to this effort, from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Additional help is provided in Math during the day in the Barnwell library by Mr. Spector, who retired from Central but comes in Tuesdays. He is available throughout the day. Tutors offer help in Algebra, Calculus, Geometry, Social Studies, Chemistry and Physics.

According to Mr. Knowles, "Central is a demanding school, and sometimes that takes some getting used to." Students from all classes take advantage of the program, with tenth grade perhaps the most difficult since that seems to be when the prospects of college become more real.

This is help that is easy to get - "just stop by." To see where and when students can stop by, click here.

Mark Your Calendar

Don't forget - Home and School Meeting Wednesday, March 10, 7:30 p.m. As always all parents are invited.

Come celebrate Women's Day on Thursday, March 18 with the students at Central High School. The day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. To learn more, click here.

The 269 Class Trip to New York City is on Wednesday, March 24th.

Help with navigating the world of college financial aid is available at the Financial Aid Workshop on Wednesday, April 14 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Auditorium. Come to the Home and School Association meeting later.

Mr. Greco will host the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Tuesday, March 23, at 8 a.m. in the Auditorium

Help Wanted

Women's Day speakers: Central, the former all-boys school, celebrates Women's Day on March 18. Women speakers are needed to speak to classes. The day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m., but there 's no need to stay all day. If interested, please email chswomensday@gmail.com with your name, occupation, a brief description of what you would like to talk about with classes, a three-linee bio for our brochure, and the times you are available that day.
Contact Assistant Principal Lori Defields at 215-276-5262 ext. 2351.

Thank You

Thanks to all who helped with this newsletter with great stories by great volunteer parents, including Johnette Miller, Dave Kalkstein, Nancy Winters, Tony West and Jane Von Bergen. Thanks to Diane Luckman, who makes our issues look so good, and to Jane Von Bergen, 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