Central newsletter banner
HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER - October 12, 2010

In This Issue
Flash Mobs
Stacking Cups?
Honored to Teach
College Night
Home and School
Help Wanted
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. 
MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Remember the Home and School Association meets at 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month from October through May!! Spain Conference Room, second floor. Next meeting October 13.


 October 13: PSAT testing at school, Museum Day for seniors.


 October 14: College Fair

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Central

 

October 19: Freshman Tea/Club Fair

 

October 20: Half-day, professional development


November 10: Home and School Association meeting, 7:30 p.m.

 
HELP WANTED
Baked goods, volunteers:
Interested in helping out at the Freshman Tea? How about contributing baked goods? Read below for more information.
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
Quick Links
Central Home Page

Welcome!


Here we are again at the start of a new school year.  270 will be getting ready to move on, and 273 is here.


Just for the record, we have just learned that Central scored second highest in the state -- all of the state, public and private -- in 11th grade math, edged out only by Masterman in Philadelphia. Both are public schools. Central's score was 97.8% advanced/proficient. We like starting the year with this kind of news. Congratulations to all the staff and especially to the students of 270.


And at long last there is brand new seating over at the football field so home games should be a lot more exciting this year.


The school year has barely started and already we are able to report on student achievement. Congratulations to Joi Dallas, 271, Brooke Holmes, 271, Shanelle Harrison, 271, Amanda Cohen, 270, and Gabriela Bloch, 270. These ladies were named "National Cheerleaders Association High School All- American."

 

Just as we were going to press (in an email kind of way), we learned that word of a fire in the auditorium had been circulating on Facebook. While damage from the fire was minimal, there was smoke and water damage. Students have been asked to stay home on Tuesday, October 12 so the room can be properly cleaned. The faculty is convening at Widener Memorial School on the other side of Central's athletic fields. While we are upset about the fire, we are very grateful that no one was hurt.


This newsletter is a volunteer effort brought to you by the Home and School Association. This newsletter helps connect the entire Central family -- students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. If you know a family with a great kid who wants to attend the best high school in Pennsylvania, have them subscribe to the newsletter, so they can learn more about Central. We hope that you enjoy reading the newsletter and that you will never hesitate to send your comments, suggestions, stories and ideas to us any time at [email protected]


Welcome again, especially to 273 and their families! Thank you and we are looking forward to the new school year

Dave Kalkstein and Jane Von Bergen, Co-Editors

Flash Mob
 
Last spring, the mobs of unruly teenagers who surged along South Street and elsewhere in Center City made headlines, but they don't tell the real story. That was the job of the "Yes! And" theater company and one of its members, Emma Harris, 273, who presented the production "Flash" during the Philadelphia Fringe Festival last month. The teenaged acting troupe seemed to appear out of nowhere on South Street, like a flash mob in the making. Then they broke into song and dance. "Flash mobs are usually seen as violent," Emma said, "but the original idea was a bunch of kids getting together to dance." The songs and dances in the production told the teenage back story of adjusting to life amid the complications of drugs, alcohol and messy relationships. "Teens aren't just rambunctious and violent. They are kids with feelings," Emma said. She said she provided the comic relief as she interacted with the audience. The group's goal is to build community, especially in troubled areas, through theater.
Central High Parents' List Serve

 

During the summer orientation for new students, the Central High Home and School Association began accepting members into the new Central High Parents' List Serve.  The List Serve was created late last year when the idea was recommended at a Home and School meeting.  From that point on, the project was overseen by a Home and School sub-committee lead by Class 272 Representative Nancie Zane with advanced technological guidance and support from Shai Gluskin, a Central High parent of a 272 student. 


So far, the list serve, which is essentially a group conversation via email, has focused on many school-related questions, ideas and issues.  Parents have shared their thoughts on the new school website, the amount of homework their children are receiving, and safety concerns. 


The Central High School Parents' List Serve is open and FREE to all Central High parents!  The Home and School Association encourages all Central High parents to sign up to the Central High Parents' List Serve.  In order to sign up, please go to centralhighparents sign-up.


From Gilmer, Texas to Stacking Cups: 273 


Central's largest incoming class ever is here! How and why did they come to Central? What will they bring? We don't know all the answers, but we do have a few.


Elizabeth Shakleford, from Gilmer Junior High in Gilmer, Texas (population 3,000, just a bit bigger than Central) found Central online and thought it would be a good fit, according to her mother Laura. Anthony DeVito's mom, Debbie, reports that they know Central grads and Central sports and that Anthony has hoped to go to Central since the sixth grade. Not to be outdone, Markeya Menefee tells us that her daughter Michele, from Northwood Academy Charter, has been seeking the challenge of Central since the fourth grade!


Emma Palacio comes to Central from Girard Academy of Music, has friends at Central, and noted that she wanted to go to a "really good school." That's music to our ears.  Siani White, from Laboratory Charter School in Northern Liberties, had the same goal. Her choice was obvious: Dr. William M. King (Dr. William M. King Communications, Media and Research Center at the Barnwell Library) was her great uncle.


Laurie Peartree's daughter Alexis comes to Central from Springfield Township and sought out "the best of private and public schools."


Darrell McPherson II, from Cedar Grove Christian Academy, Brandon Rivera from Roxborough and Tajmir Cannon from Wilson Middle School will find that they have chosen well for a rigorous learning experience, as will Tunde Zeitlin from J.S. Jenks Elementary School in Chestnut Hill, whose brother went to Central.


And the Stacking Cups? Look out for Zhewei Wu from McCall School, a champ at the competitive sport of stacking cups. His relay team came in first in the World Sport Stacking championship in Denver. Never heard of stacking cups as a sport? Check out youtube.com/purperxo.


"Every Day I Am Honored To Be Called A Teacher."Davenport classroom


The Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (fellowships/teaching/scope) has awarded a teaching fellowship to Central biology teacher Katie Davenport. The teaching fellowships aim to support, sustain, and inspire exceptional young men and women committed to making a difference as teachers. Renewable for up to five years, the program provides Fellows with comprehensive professional development, mentoring and a community of peers to help them stay in the profession and become leaders in education.


"Teaching is more than a profession," Ms. Davenport told the Swarthmore College Bulletin. "It is a vocation. Every day I am honored to be called a teacher." Ms. Davenport, a 2005 Swarthmore graduate, obtained  her master's degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009.


"The Knowles fellowship has given me some amazing opportunities to stay current in my field and to try new things," she said. "For example, I wanted to know more about plants, so last summer they supported me in taking a class about using botany in high school biology and in purchasing equipment so students can do their own plant experiments here at Central. The fellowship exposes me to new ideas and challenges me to take my teaching in new directions." 

College Night

 

More than 80 colleges and universities will send representatives to Central High School from 6 to 8 p.m. on October 14. For juniors and their parents, this is an excellent opportunity to shop around, get preliminary information and take home a big pile of brochures. For seniors, it's a chance to ask serious questions about programs, majors, financial aid, and application procedures. Freshmen, sophomores, and parents are also welcome. Central co-hosts this event with Girls' High, where it will be held next year.

Your Home and School Association

 

Beginning in 1963, when parents of students in the Advanced Placement Program joined together to successfully petition for an additional AP teacher, the Central Home and School Association has played a major role at Central High School.  Money raised, mostly through membership dues, donations and minor fundraising, is used to purchase needed items for the school (including this newsletter by the way).  The association provides direct grants to teachers and helps to fund school plays and publications. The association also foots the bill for extras such as updated equipment for science labs and enhancements to the sound system. Some of the requests are obscure, yet necessary -- a padded case for the orchestra to transport percussion instruments and a shredder for the discipline office. Besides raising money, the association contributes helping hands for school events such as the Freshman Tea (see Help Wanted item below), International Day, Museum Day and College Night.  Most importantly, the association serves as a liaison between parents and the school.  A key component is the monthly meeting (usually the second Wednesday of the month in the Spain Conference Room, second floor). At the meetings, school news is discussed and Dr. Pavel  and other school officials are there to answer questions. Guest speakers discuss sports anxiety, class selection, and adolescence and alcohol, among other topics. Refreshments are served and this is a great time to meet other parents. 

 

Co-presidents Teri Ranieri and John Newcomb lead the association. Other top officers are Lena Bilynskyj, fundraising vice-president; Joann Quigley, hospitality vice-president; Angela Ahmad, treasurer, and Sue Brune, secretary. There are also parent representatives from each class and two board members at large. All board members graciously donate their time and do a phenomenal job of keeping the association running smoothly and efficiently, but volunteers are always welcome to pitch in. Just show up and speak up. Membership is open to all Central parents, guardians, and faculty and costs just $10 a year. If you have not done so, please consider joining this great group. We will help! Just e-mail the newsletter at [email protected] with your name, address, and phone, and we will follow up right away!

Who Does This Newsletter?

The Home and School Newsletter is prepared entirely by parent volunteers. Now reaching over a thousand families, the newsletter is in its third year and was started by Jane Von Bergen, who serves as co-editor with Dave Kalkstein, even though Jane's sons and Dave's daughters have graduated. Along with Jane, Johnette Miller and Tamar Magdovitz edit and proofread. They will be joined this year by new volunteer Dan Cason. Diane Luckman polishes and formats the newsletter that you actually read.


Last year our readers enjoyed stories by John Newcomb, also co-president of the Home and School Association, along with wonderful contributions by Nancy Winter and Tony West. Dave and Jane also enjoy reporting stories.


This year we are joined so far by three new volunteer writers, Ro Gleason, Marian Nasuti and Sherry Van Ness. Sherry said she wishes she had been able to attend Central and Marian's son Mark Gervasi, 270, almost went to Masterman, but now he enjoys Central so much that he'd like to become a fifth-year student if Dr. Pavel would let him. What Mark needs to know is that students and their parents are always welcome at Central as volunteers through the Home and School Association and the Associated Alumni. You can graduate, but you can't leave.


Always room for more, by the way!  The newsletter is a great way to get involved with the school, so feel free to contribute some news or time. Get in touch at [email protected] - write early and often!

Help Wanted
Baked goods, volunteers: We need copious quantities of cookies, cupcakes, brownies and other goodies (homemade or store-bought) for the freshman tea on October 19. Why copious quantities? Because there are more than 700 hungry 273 students. Please send your individually wrapped contributions with your children that morning. They can deliver them to the dance gym. We also need help serving the tea. (It's actually apple juice). Lots of hands are necessary for set up starting at about 7:30 a.m., but we need help throughout the day as the  freshmen visit during their lunch periods. Volunteer bonus: You can visit the club fair in the adjacent gym to get an idea of what activities are available at the school. To volunteer, contact Anita Quain at [email protected].

Newsletter staffers: Interested in working on the newsletter? We'll be having a staff meeting on October 19. Contact Dave Kalkstein at [email protected]. Even if you can't make the meeting, you can still participate.
Thank You

Thanks to all of our volunteers and the time they devote to this effort.  Thanks also to Dr. Pavel, teacher Ben Walsh, and the Home and School Association for their continuing support.


Got news? Have an idea for an article? Want to let folks know about special achievements? Teachers and coaches - let us know what's happening in your classes and with your teams! Contact us at [email protected].


 Thanks for reading the newsletter, and have a fine year!!

Sincerely,
Dave Kalkstein and Jane Von Bergen, Newsletter Editors
Central High School - Philadelphia