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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Appreciation Dinner:
Wednesday,
Nov. 30, 4:30 - 5:50 p.m. Report Card Conferences: Wednesday & Thursday, Nov. 30 & Dec. 1 Early Dismissal: Thursday, Dec. 1
Financial Aid Night:
Tuesday, Dec. 6,
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
West Side Story Musical Auditions:
Monday & Tuesday, Dec. 12 & 13, 3:15 p.m.
HSA Meeting:
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Coat Drive Ends:
Friday, Dec. 16
Widener Program:
Tuesday, Dec. 20
Winter Concert:
Thursday, Dec. 22, 7:00 p.m.
School Closed for Winter Break:
Monday, Dec. 26 - Monday, Jan. 2 |
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HELP WANTED
Newsletter staffers:
Interested in working
on the newsletter? Contact
Dave Kalkstein
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Bring Your Photo ID
Just a reminder:
When you come to visit Central High School, you must have a photo ID.
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| Telephone - Main Office 215-276-5262 |
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Welcome!
Welcome to our Thanksgiving issue!
The other day I was in the school and something struck me as new and different. At first I could not quite figure out just what it was. After a bit I figured it out - it was the lockers! The lockers have been painted, and it seemed to have brightened up the whole place. For this we have the alumni to thank. There are another 1,387 reasons to say thanks to the alumni - that's how many new seats are going into the auditorium, another of many great alumni contributions to Central.
We have said this before, and we will say it again - keep your eyes on the Daily Bulletin, especially to see when colleges and universities are visiting the school. Another important item for families is information about Peer Tutoring. Students should see Mr. Crawford in room 121 for more details.
Please note an important schedule change! The Central High School and Girls' High School Financial Aid Night has been moved from Thursday, Dec. 1 to Tuesday, Dec. 6. The program will take place at Central High School in the auditorium from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Also, we have heard about "Outta Sight with Reuben Dickstein," 271, the newest sound from Germantown on Gtown Radio on Friday nights from 10 to midnight. Check out the Facebook page, "Like it/Recommend it" and get an on-air shout out.
We hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and remember:
Got news?? Tell us -
Dave Kalkstein and Jane Von Bergen, co-editors
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New Auditorium Seats a Hit
When Joan Spain, wife of Bernie Spain, 198, heard that the School District would pay to refinish the auditorium flooring at Central but would then just reinstall the old (uncomfortable) seats, she said, "That just doesn't make sense." Putting their money where their mouths are, Bernie and Joan Spain, with the Associated Alumni of the Central High School of Philadelphia (AACHS), hired the provider of seating at the Kimmel Center to replace the auditorium seats at a cost of almost $300,000. Resplendent in crimson, the new seating "looks great" according to Harvey Steinberg, 209, AACHS president, and he is "so proud of the alumni, in particular, the Spains" for this concrete demonstration of Central alumni's deep dedication to their school.
Cassandra Vidal, 271 class secretary, stage crew manager and "boss" of the new auditorium, is awestruck at the look of the new room. Ramon Guzman-Segura, 271 class president, and Alex Neff , 271 unofficial "biggest guy," gave the new cushy, comfy auditorium chairs a tryout along with Dr. Pavel just after their installation. Ramon and Alex gave the new chairs a huge thumbs-up and lamented that they didn't take their PSSAs in these more comfortable chairs, although both expressed concern that the new seating is soooo comfortable that students may fall asleep!
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For those looking to memorialize their own place in Central's history, chair plaques that can be installed on each of the 1,387 seats' wooden arms can be purchased and personally engraved for a contribution of $300. More than 100 plaques have already been sold. When the money from this fundraiser is accrued, Mr. Steinberg advises that the Alumni Association will again "pay it forward" for another worthy Central cause.
Dr. Pavel, invited the entire Central community to the "lighter and brighter and beautiful" new auditorium, on Nov. 28 for an evening Celebratory Concert with performances by the Orchestra, Choir and Jazz Band.
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A Warm Gift for Homeless Feet
Brian Hamilton, 272, knows more than most about the care of feet and, in particular, the need for a good pair of socks. Brian has been a driving force in a mission called Socks for Shelters for the past two years. After spending a weekend with the homeless three years ago in Washington, D.C., as part of a charitable project, he became aware of their often-overlooked need for socks. In fact, Brian was recognized for his efforts in collecting socks for the homeless on the Pennsylvania House floor last March by representatives Josh Shapiro, Brendan Boyle and Thomas Murt.
Socks are donated by dropping them off at various collection sites, and they are distributed monthly to shelters, as well as to a homeless organization in Atlanta, Georgia. Every year, Brian and others from Socks for Shelters travel to Washington D.C., and this year they delivered 300 pairs of socks. More information, including collection locations, can be found at Socks for Shelters and on facebook.
Kudos to Brian!
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Central Up for a GRAMMY!
Central is in the running as a 2012 semi-finalist school for a GRAMMY! This award is sponsored by an organization called GRAMMY in the Schools, a group that works to make a difference in young peoples' lives through music. As the Grammy Award signifies excellence in recording, GRAMMY Signature Schools awards are designed to honor exceptional public high school music programs across the country with special awards and grants (some need-based) up to $10,000.
Anyone who enjoyed last year's fantastic performance of "Annie Get Your Gun" witnessed one of many musical achievements by Central students.
The organization creates opportunities for high school students like Central's to work with music professionals to get real-world experience and advice about how to have a career in music. And that includes any kind of music career - audio engineer, concert promoter, electronic music producer, manager, musician, music journalist, singer, songwriter and many others.
We look forward to hearing more!
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Column Heaps Praise on Central
Take a few minutes to read Karen Heller's fine column "Teens on a Mission of Caring" in the Nov. 6, Sunday Inquirer. Heller refers to Central as "one of the region's academic treasures," and Afaq "Fofo" Mahmoud, 273, shines as a budding activist. It is a great story about Central, Central students and a Central graduate - we could not tell it any better ourselves.
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New Alumni Hall of Famers Recognized
Each year Central alumni select a few of their colleagues to become members of the Alumni Hall of Fame. This year is especially noteworthy because two of this year's inductees are women. Many folks do not know that Central, until the early 1980s, was an all-male school.
Among the nine inductees is Betty Liu, 250, who aside from a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize in 2000, has had a distinguished and award-winning career with The Financial Times, CNBC and now anchors the Bloomberg News (8 a.m. - 10 a.m.).
The second female inductee, Quiara Alegria Hudes, 254, wrote the book In the Heights, on which the 2008 Tony Award -winning musical of the same name was based. She is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and her works include Yemaya's Belly; Elliot, a Soldier's Fugue; and 26 Miles.
The other inductees are Walter Lomax, MD, 192, a pioneer in the field of managed-healthcare systems, most notably AmeriChoice, which he founded in 1995; Phillip Frost, MD, 200, inventor of a disposable biopsy device and later Chairman of Teva Pharmaceuticals; Barry R. Bloom, PhD, 202, faculty dean of Harvard School of Public Health; Professor Emeritus Edwin M. Epstein, 202, of the Haas School of Business and International and Area Studies at the University of California at Berkeley; Alan Wolfe, PhD, 213, currently the John Gilbert Winant Professor of American Government at the University of Oxford; Richard Silverman, PhD, 221, inventor of the drug Lyrica for fybromyalgia, neuropathic pain and epilepsy; and Charles R. Bridges, MD, ScD, 232, the first African American to attain the rank of Full Professor of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held on Oct. 27, at the Hyatt Regency, with Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, Esq., 244, as master of ceremonies.
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"Eat Fresh" program keeps Central Healthy
Central is one of 30 participating Philadelphia public schools that takes part in Eat Fresh Here, a farm-to-school program bringing fresh, healthy, locally grown fruits and vegetables to school lunches. Cafeterias order and receive whole, fresh, healthy foods from local farms and serve them one to three times per week, depending on the availability of certain farm-fresh foods. Eat Fresh Here posters and cards help students identify what is fresh and healthy. Eat Fresh Here is led by the Division of Food Services, and supported by these nonprofit organizations: Fair Food, The Food Trust, the Philadelphia Urban Food & Fitness Alliance and Common Market. |
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Help for Needy Female Students
One of the highlights of the November Home and School meeting was a presentation by Ms. Rafaela Torres, Director of the Charles E. Ellis Trust for Girls. The Trust helps young women of limited financial means living in single-parent households to enrich their high school experiences and be prepared for postsecondary success.
The Ellis Trust provides grants for education-related expenses, basic school-related needs, school supplies, clothing, and academic and personal development for girls attending Philadelphia's public or charter schools. Currently, the Trust is interested in funding girls participating in SAT prep programs through Kaplan Test Prep and the Princeton Review, although other providers will be considered. The date to receive priority consideration for summer 2012 funding requests is March 15, 2012. Ellis Trust will also support music lessons and other types of academic enrichment programs. The Trust does not fund computer equipment or study-abroad programs. Girls who meet the Ellis Trust criteria are encouraged to apply.
The Ellis Trust also has secured 10 spots at the Putney School Summer Program in Putney, Vermont. It offers three- or six-week programs in visual arts, performing arts and creative writing. Eligible girls must submit an application to the Ellis Trust by Jan.15 for priority consideration. Students should see their counselor for an Ellis Trust application.
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Help Wanted
Newsletter staffers: Interested in working on the newsletter? Contact Dave Kalkstein.
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Thank You
Thanks to Nancy Winter, Kathie Conrad, Pat Toy and Marty Franklin, our writers for this issue. Thanks to Johnette Miller and Jane Von Bergen (our founder) for their editing. Thanks to Dan Cason for formatting the newsletter, making sure things work and getting great leads for stories. Thanks also to parent Stan Hamilton for letting us know about his son's fine work, and to Jill Saull for her radio show tip. Last but never least, thanks to Dr. Pavel, Lori DeFields and others from Central's staff for their support and help.
Speaking of thanks, whenever you happen to take a seat in the auditorium or discover the wonderful artifacts in the Library or attend a meeting in the Spain Conference Room, thank the alumni. These are just some of their many gifts to the school.
This newsletter is a volunteer effort sponsored by the Home & School Association. We devote our time to make this happen because it is fun!
Got news? Feel like writing? Let us know -
Dave Kalkstein and Jane Von Bergen, Newsletter Co-Editors
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