Central newsletter banner
HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER - MAY 10, 2010

In This Issue
Voting Party
Heidi Hamels Throws a Pitch
Parent List-Serve
Earth Day
Best of the Class
Central Scientists
Cancer Research
Junior Prom
Shakespeare and Less
Immigrant Dream
Parents' Survey
Help Wanted
Quick Links
Central Home Page
Join Our Mailing List
Join Central's
Home and School
Association
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. 
Voting Party
The Central Home and School Association will hold its final meeting of the year on Wednesday,
May 12 at 7:30 p.m.
in the Spain Conference Center. Before the association's annual pot luck party (bring an appetizer or dessert to share), elections for next year's executive board will be held. You need to be a member to vote, but not to party! 
  

MARK YOUR
CALENDAR

FRESHMAN ORIENTATION
Welcome 273!
6:15 p.m. Thursday,
May 13, in the auditorium.
 
COMMUNITY SERVICE DEADLINE: All hours must be completed and all documentation delivered to advisors by Friday, May 14. 
 
MATH & FOREIGN LANGUAGE PLACEMENT TESTS (incoming students):
8 a.m. Saturday, May 15, at Central.
 
CENTRAL NIGHT @ THE PHILLIES:
It's the Phils vs. the Pirates at Dollar Dog night, 7:05 p.m. Monday, May 17. Tickets are $20. See Mr. Barthelmeh, Mr. Brannon or Mr. Horwits. Open to students, parents and alumni.
 
THE TELL-TALE HEART: Drama Club production at 3:15 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 17, 18, and 19, in the auditorium.
 
SPRING MUSIC CONCERT: 7 p.m., Thursday, May 20, in the auditorium.
 
BLOOD DRIVE:
You may not be able to get blood from a stone, but the Red Cross can from 269. Last blood drive of the year, Monday,
May 24, all day at school.
 
MORE THEATER: "Into the Woods,"
Room 101, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, May 25, 26, and 27. After school.
 
269 vs. 270 SOFTBALL: 
Big game! 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2, a fitting end to 269's last day of classes before graduation rehearsals begin.
 
SENIOR PROM: June 3.
 
COMMENCEMENT:
3 p.m. Wednesday,
June 16, the Kimmel Center.
 
LAST DAYS: Friday, June 18, for students,
and Monday, June 21,
for staff.
Bring Your Photo ID
Just a reminder:
When you come to visit Central High School, you must have
a photo ID.
Telephone
Main Office
215-276-5262

Welcome!


Happy Spring everyone! A quick congratulations to science teacher John McMillian, Central's winner of this year's Distinguished Teachers Award from the Lindback Foundation. More on Mr. McMillian in our next issue. 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 [email protected].

Thank you for reading,
Dave Kalkstein - Editor

Heidi Hamels Throws a Pitch

When Heidi Hamels and her Phillies husband, Cole, visited Central on April 16th, Cole spoke to an assembly of the 270 class not about his stellar baseball career, but about his shared passion with his wife for their foundation.  It was Ms. Hamels' second visit that month. On April 5th, in response to an invitation from 270 class sponsor, Michael Horwits, 251, Ms. Hamels came to Central to meet with a few members of 270 who spoke with her about running a fund-raising drive for the Hamels Foundation.  The Hamels Foundation (thehamelsfoundation.org) has a dual mission to provide support for quality education here and to establish a school in Malawi, Africa, where, as the Hamels Foundation notes on its website, "it is hoped that female empowerment, education and AIDS awareness programs will help to break the cycle of disease and poverty and improve the futures of its students."  For those who only knew Ms. Hamels from her pre-marriage stint on Survivor or from glimpses of her on television when attending Phillies games, this opportunity to meet her and have her share her passion for helping kids really opened their eyes to her amazing works.  "She is a really impressive woman who travels several times a year to Africa to work directly with the kids,"  said Jill Winter, 270. Her classmates have collected money for the foundation through contributions and campaigns in advisory. They also plan future fund-raising events, to include the much-loved bake sales. 270 students Patty Fox and Megan Whelan presented a Central shirt to Cole Hamels.  Look for him in his Central tee shirt soon!

Pilot Project: Parent List-Serve
During the SEPTA strike, it would have been handy for parents to have a way to communicate with each other quickly to arrange rides. For that and other reasons, the Home and School Association is proposing the creation of a parent list-serve focused on helping parents help each other find needed school information or discuss parenting issues. We're trying to set up a quick pilot project for this last  month to iron out the kinks before deciding what to do next year.
 
This list-serve is in addition to this newsletter, Centralhigh.net website, and Home and School Association meetings, but it is not an official service of the district or of Central High School, according to district regulations. Support for effective communication among parents in service of students' academic and social success is a hallmark of the school.
 
If the term list-serve is not familiar, think of it as a group email. Accessible only to parents or guardians, parents will need to register through the link provided. Their information will be verified before they can be added to the list.
 
A volunteer panel of three to five parents will moderate the list for appropriate messages. Any violators will be dropped from the list after two offenses. Appropriate messages include requests for rides, information about tests, or advice on what to do, for example, if a child is always up to 1 a.m. studying. Inappropriate messages would be discussions about particular teachers or feedback about Central academic or behavioral policies. Those questions should be put directly to the people involved. For privacy purposes, no child's name should be mentioned. All conversation should be respectful. The Home and School Association can end the list-serve at any time.
 
The service is free; it will be handled through Yahoo groups. Yahoo may add clearly identified advertisements at the end of any messages. The entire list of subscribers will be private, but when you post your email, your email will be accessible to other members on the list. You can unsubscribe at any time; instructions will be at the bottom of each email.
 
Click here to subscribe:  http://bit.ly/chs-listserve 
 
 
super earth manEarth Day

The Student Environmental Action Society (SEAS) took time on April 30 to belatedly (because of PSSA testing) honor Earth Day.  SEAS presented fourteen speakers throughout the day who ably presented the message, as summed up by SEAS' class sponsor, Galeet Cohen, 256, that "having an environmental job means more than saving manatees."  These speakers ranged from the director of sustainability for the Four Seasons Hotel to a local farmer, and from a representative of the mayor's office who is working on the Solar Cities initiative to the Philadelphia Streets Commissioner. Speakers also included an environmental film maker, a landscape architect, and lawyers who represent companiesearth day on environmental issues.  Ms. Cohen gave all credit to the club's co-presidents, graduating seniors Tashara Jones, 269, and Caileigh Felker, 269, for organizing this terrific day, which included a "patio festival."  There, students were collecting items such as books, electronic devices, and sneakers to prevent their ultimate disposal into a landfill, having found companies to send each of the waste products to for reprocessing.  Using informative posters, students explained the significance to the students wandering the patio.  Ms. Cohen: "I was excited to see the pride and pleasure they took in their peers' enthusiastic responses to their efforts."  Justin Cardona, 269, also dressed up as Captain Planet to remind us that we can each be a superhero and help our planet.  For the first year, SEAS had a garden competition where clubs applied to SEAS for a $50 "garden start-up grant" and then planted a box garden representative of their club.  Teachers and speakers voted on the three top club entries and awarded one-of-a-kind trash trophies created by the Sculpture Club to First Place finisher, Close to Home, second-place finisher, the Mosaic, and to third-place finisher, the Recycling Club.  
William FeldmanBest of the Class

President Bush is surprisingly tall, said William Feldman, 269, who has met the former president more than once, although probably not at Dick and Lynne Cheney's home where William had a long chat with the former vice president's wife. Then there were the conversations with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, news anchorman Peter Jennings, and in another realm all together, rock star Jon Bon Jovi. As the longtime "kid" reporter for the Northeast Times, William, 269 class valedictorian, has met and interviewed many famous people. "They definitely open up to you when you're a kid," he said. Maybe his fellow Central students aren't famous - yet --, but William said he really values the connections he has made with them. "I love meeting people from all the different cultures and from all over the city." William is editor-in-chief of the Centralizer, the school newspaper, and was recently honored by WPVI-TV 6ABC in its annual "Best of the Class" salute to academic excellence. Next year, William will head to the University of Pennsylvania where he undecided whether to pursue pre-med or pre-law. 
Central Scientists - Changing the World

If you want to see one of the places where our world changes, take a look at the ceiling tiles in room 406. These are decorated by Central seniors who have won prestigious and important science contests for real achievements in basic research. In two years Susmitha Ganti, 271, Gold Medalist for 10th graders in the 31st Benjamin Franklin Science Contest of the Delaware Valley Science Fair (drexel awards) will put up hers. You can read why in the next item.

Susmitha did her research, titled "Effect of TEM7R Antibody on Angiogenesis," at Fox Chase Cancer Center. More than 40 Central students intern at real laboratories in the area, according to Michael Fowler of the Science Department, who serves as their mentor and teacher. "The students get the internships on their own, and this work is on top of the lab requirements here at school," he said. Students have to put in 200 or more lab hours each year, enter science fairs and keep extensive research journals. Many have schedules that allow them to leave early so they can work at their labs nearly every day for several hours after school.

Central students also take part in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science, a statewide organization of junior and senior high school students and teachers designed to stimulate and promote interest in science through the development of research investigations. Mr. Fowler reports that some 70 Central students will compete at the state level in 13 categories later this month at Penn State University where the three-day event is held.

And if you happen by room 406, after checking out the ceiling, take a look at the posters on the wall. These posters describe student projects that would fit well in most colleges, and when you read them (not easy) you can almost feel our world changing.
Cancer Research

If a cancerous tumor wants to live long enough to do its damage, it needs blood vessels to provide its blood supply. But Susmitha Ganti, 271, has other ideas. Her prizewinning research, "Effect of TEM7R Antibody on Angiogenesis," is aimed at stopping tumors from creating blood vessels. Her work won her a huge honor in the world of science fairs. As you read this, she is competing, all-expenses paid, in the 59th International Science and Engineering Fair in San Jose. Her faculty mentor, Michael Fowler, estimates that a student's chances of being asked to compete in that event are one in 3,000, based on the number of people who are winnowed out of a hierarchy of increasingly rigorous competitions. Susmitha was the Gold Medalist for 10th Graders in the 31st Benjamin Franklin Science Contest of the Delaware Valley Science Fair. All gold and silver medalists get sponsored for the ISEF. There are about 15 of 800 contestants going from the region, but those 800 were top winners in many fairs with a total about 3,000 contestants, calculates Mr. Fowler. While Susmitha ranked highest, Central had several first place winners at Del Val. They are Olivia Ngo, 271, Puja Upadhyay, 269, and Amy Lam, 272.
270 Cleans Up Good

On Friday, April 30th, more than 300 members of the 270 junior class, and their guests, put on their best finery and traveled to the Franklin Institute in Center City Philadelphia for the Junior Prom.  The weather cooperated and the sun shone brightly as students arrived.  Faculty and fellow students alike were amazed at how handsome/beautiful the 270 students looked, since they are used to seeing each other in jeans and sneakers, with the girls' hair in pony tails.  Patty Fox, 270, remarked, "Not only was the venue spectacular, but seeing everyone in their snazziest attire really put the evening over the top."  All enjoyed the buffet of chicken parmesan and pasta, which they burned off with their high energy dancing around the statue of Benjamin Franklin.   270 classmates voted Chamille McKay "Prom Princess" and Patrick Vihn "Prom Prince." Class sponsor Michael Horwits, 251, was pleased to see the students' enjoyment in this much-anticipated special night that his "homeroom helpers" had worked so hard on for many months.  The evening was truly memorable and all were sorry to see the night end at 11:00. 
Drama clubAll You Need to Know About Shakespeare ... and Less

The Drama Club finished its season by performing Hamlet backwards. Among other things.

Actually, the troupe performed Hamlet several times, including one version in only two minutes. It also played all Shakespeare's history plays as a single football game, tossing the crown from one monarch to the next. (King Lear drew a whistle from the ref for being fictional.) It smooshed all his comedies into one 10-minute show, on the grounds they all use the same plot devices. And there was lots of cross-dressing.

That's how The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) usually goes. This wacky British spoof packed the auditorium four times between April 6 and 12 to wrap up the season. By hook or by crook, it packed 37 of the Bard's works into the show.

The show is normally performed with lots of improvisation, explains the club's sponsor, Alan Bronstein of the Science Dept. This production was no exception. Club President Ben Polson, 269, adapted the script for a Central student audience ... which is how "Dr. Pavel" is now a character in the Shakespearean canon (abridged).

"It wound up full of adolescent humor," Mr. Bronstein recounts. That's as it should be. He relies heavily on his club members to plan and shape their pieces.

It can pay off. Drama Club treasurer Sara Group, 269, is heading to the prestigious acting program of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Although the abridged Shakespeare was originally developed as a three-person ensemble, the Drama Club expanded it to three teams of performers. Besides Polson and Group, treading the boards were Sabrina DeJesus, 269, Eben Eleazer, 269, Mary Guarnieri, 271, Jake Griffith-Rosenberger, 271, Reagan Hagins, 271, Chris Hale-Sills, 270, Rachel Meirson, 272, Mataio Nuualiitia, 269 and Kit Zauhar, 272.
Dream for Immigrants

Reuben Dickstein, 271, is involved in organizing a benefit for the Dream Act (http://dreamact.info/) to raise money and awareness in support of high school kids deprived of educational opportunities due to the illegal status of their immigrant parents. Reuben's band, Vernon Park, will be one of several bands performing at a benefit at Mishkan Shalom, 4101 Freeland Ave. in Roxborough (19128) on Sunday, May 23, noon to 4 p.m.
Parents: Answer Your Survey

Beginning in late April, parents and guardians of Philadelphia Public School students will receive surveys in the mail asking them about each school their children attend. Please take the few minutes necessary to complete the surveys and return them in the postage-paid return envelope. This is the chance for parents to weigh in on the good, the bad, and the ugly about our schools with the hope that these surveys result in accentuating the good and reducing the bad. Clearly, our gifted Central students shine as examples of what an excellent urban public school program produces. Let's make sure the District understands that what we have at Central is working and let them know where it can be made even better to continue to produce outstanding students! 
Help Wanted
Pretzel servers: Help the Home and School Association sell pretzels, cakes and other refreshments at the spring freshman orientation at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 13. This is a tremendously fun night to volunteer because of the enthusiam and energy in the building as our future freshmen and their parents receive an overwhelming Central welcome. Just show up in the main corridor between 5 and 6 p.m. and someone will give you a job.
  
Newsletter staffers: Interested in working on the newsletter? We have one more issue this year, so there's still time to participate. Contact Dave Kalkstein at [email protected].
Thank You

Thanks to all the parents who work on the newsletter: John Newcomb, Johnette Miller, Tony West, Nancy Winter, and Jane Von Bergen for their fine reporting and the time they give to this effort, and to Diane Luckman who makes us all look good. Most importantly, thanks to Dr. Pavel and teacher Ben Walsh for their continuing assistance. Any parent who would like to have a really great experience with the Central community should get with us to take part in the newsletter.

Got news? Want to let others know about special achievements? Have an idea for an article? Tell us about it at [email protected]

All the best to all hands!
 
Sincerely,
Dave Kalkstein, Newsletter Editor
Central High School - Philadelphia