Welcome!

 Just in time for Thanksgiving, we at the newsletter would like to appreciate Central's fine faculty and staff, not only for what they do in the classroom, but for how they manage to make a big school like Central feel like a close-knit family.

 Case in point: Track team member Max Abu, 271, performed great in practice, but nervousness kept him from matching his practice time in the meets. Physical education teacher Bob Barthelmeh, 228, a soccer coach, took Max aside, advising him to envision the course and envision success. In an athletic contest, he said, mental preparation is as vital as physical preparation. Sure enough, at the next meet, Max beat his record. That's when Mr. Barthelmeh's cell phone rang. Max was calling from the track to share his triumph. Great story and here's why: Mr. Barthelmeh was not Max's coach, nor was he his teacher. He just knew Max as an athlete. Max had Mr. Barthelmeh's cell phone number and so do lots of the kids. And when there was a success, Max felt close enough to Mr. Barthelmeh to want to call him and to know that Mr. Barthelmeh would not consider it an intrusion. That story - so typical, so wonderful - is why we are grateful to Central's staff.

 In other news, Dave Kalkstein's daughter, Abigail, 269, reports that, so far, her workload at Ursinus is easier than her work was at Central. We have heard this about Penn, Yale and others, by the way. CONGRATULATIONS to the over 80 students of 270 who were selected to participate in last month's Temple University town hall meeting about the importance of great teachers and about the initiative aimed at bringing a new generation of talented recruits into the teaching profession. Panelists included School District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Governor Edward Rendell, Mayor Michael Nutter, Comcast chief executive Brian Roberts, and actor Tony Danza. 

This newsletter is a volunteer effort with the Central Home and School Association, and we hope that you enjoy keeping in touch with Central this way.  If you have stories, ideas, or comments, or if you want to have a lot of fun and join us in this effort, don't be shy! Write us at centralhighschoolnewsletter@yahoo.com right away!

Last but not least - thank you for all you do to support our Central students!

Thank you for reading,
Jane M. Von Bergen and Dave Kalkstein - Co-Editors

Early arrivals to the Home and School meeting on Wednesday, November 10 received a guided tour of the auditorium that had been damaged by arson on October 11.

One window and the wall below it were fully destroyed by the fire, and other windows were partially destroyed by firefighters gaining access to fight the fire. There is an approximately two-foot by six-foot hole in the ceiling above the destroyed window, and a few seats were broken while fighting the fire.  Hidden from view was the extent of damage to the wood structural members supporting the balcony, which may have been weakened by the water used to put out the fire.  A faint smell of smoke lingers in the room.

Dr. Pavel explained that on the evening of Columbus Day, an arsonist stuffed rags under a wooden auditorium window frame and set it on fire.  A passerby walking her dog saw the flames and called the fire department.

Beginning the week of November 15, the School District cleaning crew will clean the auditorium so that it can be used during the month of December for a number of assemblies and events, such as the Honors Convocation and the orchestra's winter concert.  In January 2011, the auditorium will be closed once again until repairs are complete.  It is hoped that by mid-January a contract will be in place for repairs to begin so work will be complete by April.  The cost is approximately $500,000.

Wednesday's meeting was the second time the fire came up on the Home and School agenda. At the first meeting, held October 13 with a great turnout in a packed house, Dr. Pavel expressed his "awe and admiration" of the responders who were able to "put our school together" so students could attend and take the PSATs that Wednesday. Dr. Pavel, who arrived at Central within 12 minutes of hearing of the fire, said the police, fire department, School District personnel, and teachers worked together to disperse pervasive smoke and restore the building. It was "overwhelming how everyone from the custodian to the cleaning team helped the situation," he said. Devoted alumni, including former Central students Bill Cosby and District Attorney Seth Williams, checked in on things. Dr. Pavel was also impressed with the number of dedicated Central students who called and emailed him to ask what they could do to help.

In Dr. Pavel's tenure, the entire student body has always been too large to be accommodated at one time in the auditorium.  However, he is anxious to return to providing weekly auditorium programs for each grade as well as to hold other events.  Currently, each class is brought down in halves to the gym for presentations.  As another alternative to auditorium programs, recordings will be distributed to students during advisories.

It is anticipated that, once fully repaired, the auditorium will be in better condition than before the fire, with new drapes and windows to be installed in the summer.  Dr. Pavel had no update on the status of the criminal investigation.

site lists your student's classes, activities, grades, as well as individualized calendars. It is an invaluable way to keep current with your student's progress and to communicate with teachers.

"Edline" is part of a general upgrade of CentralHigh.net, the school's website. Students and parents now have more easily accessible resources for keeping track of assignments, grades, sports, clubs, and other activities. Many parts of the site are still under construction, but as teachers learn to use it, there is more available every day. Check out the video tutorial links on the right side of the page - "Welcome to the New CentralHigh.Net" and "How to Activate an Account."  This may take a few minutes to load, but it's well worth the time.

Parents need to activate their accounts and enter an email address. Students were sent home with their parents' activation codes and instructions for signing up. Please be aware that no password will be sent by email for security reasons. Also, it may take the system one or two days to reflect changes in rosters or grades. Questions?  Please contact any of the following teachers: Steve Kolman skolman@philasd.org, Tom Quinn taquinn@philasd.org, Ben Walsh berwalsh@philasd.org, Andrea Keefe akeefe@philasd.org.

"Any kid.  Any size.  No competing  - except against themselves."  Those words of Paul Sherman, who coaches co-ed weightlifting, welcome all Central students to the second-floor weight room after school several times each week.  An average of 40 kids show up each week, ready to support and advise newcomers, including girls. "Girls shouldn't feel intimidated,"  said Mr. Sherman, a Central physical education teacher. Mr. Sherman touts weightlifting as a terrific and natural alternative to street drugs because "the body has its own system. The kids walk out with a sense of well-being. They don't need to go to a drug bottle."  Mr. Sherman, who has been lifting weights for eight years, believes this activity builds self-image along with body mass and strength.  Ronald Khol, 272, said he joined weightlifting "to stay fit."  Thang Vu, 272, wants "to get stronger."  Both Ronald and Thang can bench-press 165 pounds.  Rodney Khol, 272, calls weightlifting "a great opportunity to work out" and has bench-pressed up to 133 pounds.  All three caught the weightlifting bug as freshman and keep coming back for more.

There is more than one good reason that Central starts PSAT testing of students in their freshman year when many schools administer them just to juniors.  Although practice improves SAT scores, the PSAT test also presents a fabulous scholarship opportunity for students.  Juniors who test well on the PSATs qualify for National Merit, National Achievement and National Hispanic scholarship competitions.  The National Merit Scholarship Program announced that Central has two qualifying National Merit semi-finalists, Summer Hu, 270, and Jill Winter, 270. Both girls will next compete to be named finalists and then, hopefully, National Merit Scholars.  To advance to the next level, the semi-finalists need to do very well on the SAT test, as well as complete a college-like application that seeks not just recommendations, curriculum and grades, but also information about what the semi-finalists do outside the classroom. 

Summer, a talented cellist who attends Central as well as the elite Curtis Institute of Music full time, has classes until 9 p.m. every school day.  In college, she plans to double major in music and another discipline, possibly attending the Columbia University-Julliard School of Music joint program in New York City. Why not? She goes to two schools now.  "I am not sure of my ultimate career, but I know it will be tied together with music," she said.

An all-around athlete, Jill plays varsity softball and golf, along with club soccer and softball. A member of the blood drive committee, she assists vice principal Lori DeFields and serves on an informal "class cabinet" helping 270 sponsor Michael Horwits, 251, plan class activities. Like Summer, Jill is somewhat undecided about her college major, but is considering Dartmouth or Brown Universities. 

With 80 voices, a full-time faculty member leading it, a dedicated advisory, and practice time at 7:15 every morning, Central's choir is singing a new song. Longtime music support faculty and itinerant music teacher Benjamin Blazer finally was able to put away his traveling bags and move in full time. Katie Schatz, 271, choir vice president, described the choir as being improved.  It "is a lot bigger now, and there's more dedication."  "Everyone is a lot more diligent, and morale is good," she added. There is also a smaller more advanced concert choir, and choir president Jordana Composto, 271, is planning to organize an even smaller madrigal choir.

The choir will appear with the school orchestra on Wednesday, December 22 at Central. Mr. Blazer will conduct the group in the aptly named "Halleluiah Chorus,"  to be performed with the orchestra. Handel's crowd-pleaser "is hard enough for them to make them work, but it is easy enough that they can achieve it," Mr. Blazer said.  Mr. Blazer, who traveled to Hungary with the orchestra four years ago, said he's thrilled to be at Central. "I love it. The kids are great. They are hard-working. There's no place that I'd rather be."

Central graduate Quiara Alegria Hudes, 254, has reached the heights with her play about life in New York's Washington Heights barrio, which is now playing on Broadway. This winter, "In the Heights" will come to Philadelphia's Academy of Music, and orchestra-level tickets are available to students for $55 as a 271 fundraiser.  The tickets are for a 7:30 p.m. show on Wednesday, January 19 and can be bought from class sponsor Fred Barthelmeh, 228, until December 1.  If the tickets are not sold out by then, some may be available for adults, particularly faculty. The Associated Alumni of Central High School filled a couple of buses to see the play on Broadway and gave it great reviews.

Installation of new windows began November 1. Installers Graboyes Window and Door, of East Norriton, made their first delivery of the new windows to the basement, where the windows will be stored and prepped. Installation began the next day on the third floor.  On average, three rooms will receive new windows each day depending on the number of windows in each room.  Monday deliveries will be ongoing. So far, the entire third floor, south side, has been completed.

An installed sample window can be seen in the lunchroom beside the vending machines, assistant principal Lynada Martinez said.  The windows will be double-hung, extruded aluminum with a thermal break. Both top and bottom sashes will be fully operable, provided with insect screens and be painted dark red, similar to Central High crimson.  Their appearance will be similar to the existing windows, including the division of each sash into six panes or "lites."  The existing trim around the windows will remain in place.  The architect for the window project is the Ray Group of Lancaster, Pa.

Please watch where you park on Mondays due to the ongoing window deliveries. No parking will be allowed along the lower driveway right side so deliveries can proceed and to prevent damage to parked vehicles.

More improvements: Central High sports fans have been enjoying new bleachers this fall at the Central High field.  For the last two years, the old bleachers were unusable, as they had been condemned for safety reasons.  School President Dr. Pavel reports that the new bleachers were paid for by the School District, but the beautiful new signage was provided by the Associated Alumni of Central high School. 

The bleacher seats are painted Central High crimson as is the signage background. The signage lettering, "Home of the Central Lancers," is yellow.  Vertical riser panels are provided between each row of seats so that nothing can fall to the ground below.