Join Central's
Home and School
Association
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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.
Download a membership form. Your student can take the completed form to the main office.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Predictive Testing Grades 9, 10 & 11:
Tuesday to Thursday, Jan. 31 - Feb. 2
Junior College Night:
Wednesday, Feb. 1, Auditorium, 7 p.m.Start of 3rd quarter rotation for half-year & quarter-year courses: Monday, Feb. 6Math Competition: Tuesday, Feb. 7, Auditorium, 8 a.m.The "Finland Phenomenon" with a Central Twist: Wednesday, Feb. 8,
Rm 206, 3:15 p.m.
HSA Meeting: Wednesday, Feb. 8,
Spain Conference
Room, 7 p.m.
Student Blood Drive:
Monday, Feb. 13
FAFSA Workshop: Monday, Feb. 13,
Barnwell Library Computer Lab,
3:30-5 p.m. Report Card Conferences, Half Day for Students: Wednesday & Thursday, Feb. 15 & 16
Alumni Midwinter Luncheon:
Friday, Feb. 17,
Hilton Garden Inn, Center City,
11:30 a.m.
School Closed, Presidents Day: Monday, Feb. 20International Day: Thursday, Feb. 23
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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!
At last - some snow on the ground!
This season we usually hear of student achievements, and this year is no exception. To start with, just two examples:
Central's Trial Advocacy Team (Mock Trial) placed first out of 30 regional high school teams at La Salle University's Blue & Gold Invitational this January.
Lucy Van Kleunen and Maurice White, 272, are first-place winners of the 2012 Philadelphia Orchestra's Martin Luther King Tribute Concert Essay/Speech Contest. Lucy and Maurice delivered their essays at the concert Jan.17, and Simone Avratiner and Thomas Macolino, 272, were also recognized. Thanks to all contestants and their English teachers. Great job 272!
For a really nice article about Central in the local press, take a look at this recent piece in the The Philadelphia Tribune. For those who would like to see past issues of the newsletter, we are pleased to advise that an archive is available. Hint to parents, students and counselors: Newsletter articles about student activities won't hurt on those college applications.
Since it is now 2012, it's time for 271 to file FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms. That's "free" as in no charge. So if you are on a website that has a fee, you are in the wrong place! File the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
International Day is coming up in less than a month, on Thursday, Feb. 23. This is not to be missed!
Barnwell Library has MP3s! Find more information on the Twitter page @BarnwellLibrary. And last but not least, next year Italian high school students will be visiting Central. Hosting one of these students would be a great way to polish your Italian! Check with Ms. Walker of the World Languages Department.
That's it! Don't forget, if you tell us, we know! Write us.
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Christmas Role was a Labor of Love
Over the busy holiday season, Central students took a break from their sometimes hectic school schedules. However, Camari Fitzgerald, 274, only increased his workload with a unique acting assignment. He played the role of 23-year-old "Gee," in "A Christmas Carol Urbanized," a contemporary twist on the traditional tale, which was performed to a full house before Christmas at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church.
"The performance was awesome, I felt like I was watching a Broadway production," Camari's proud mom said. Camari, who like most Central students has a very full school schedule, participated in a vigorous rehearsal regimen starting in September.
 | Camari Fitzgerald, 274 |
The story substituted a smug and selfish record producer for the traditional Scrooge and dealt with Scrooge's stressed employees' concerns about how to pay for college tuition and health insurance. "I think we really captured the feeling of the original, but gave it a Christian twist to give people hope and inspiration," Camari said of his first big production. Having caught the acting bug, Camari advises he will be trying out for more productions both in school and out.
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Clubs an Attractive Part of Central Culture
The vast selection of Central clubs offer students all manner of after-school activities as well as great opportunities to burnish college applications. The school website alone contains pages for 59 of the clubs. While some of the sites are more lively and informative than others, just about anyone can find something of interest.
You'll find clubs ranging from belly dancing to Ultimate Frisbee. Interested in the arts? We have Art with Heart, Sound Check and Stage Crew. Math or history? Central has both. Social involvement? buildOn and P.A.W.S. just to name two. Clubs like Mock Trial or Robotics foster some pretty intense competition between Central and area high schools, in which Central usually does very well (our Trial Advocacy Team's recent victory, for example).
How do clubs get started? Assistant Principal Lori DeFields said "it starts with a vision." Students who share the vision formulate a "constitution" describing the club's purpose, connection to students' cultural, social, athletic or academic growth, how it will be run and who their adult (teacher) sponsor will be. The students submit their constitution to Karen Schromsky, sponsor of the Student Association, who will determine if the club has substance and will be successful. If the students get the "green light," they advertise for their first meeting and later determine whether they want to go forward and establish themselves as an active club. For a listing of the clubs, visit the Central home page and at the top you'll see the Clubs link.
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"buildOn" Chapter Excels at Helping
Despite being one of the newest chapters of buildOn, a national organization that promotes community service and global awareness to urban high school students, Central's group is one of the most active in the Philadelphia region.
Julia Yanoff, 271, who is the chapter president, says she can count on about 30 early-rising regulars at the weekly meetings, which convene before school on Wednesdays. Philadelphia buildOn program coordinator Aubrey Millert also attends those meetings to talk up service, fund-raising and buildOn's signature overseas school-building "treks." "Central has been really great with suggestions for projects we can do," she said.
buildOn was founded in 1991 but only came to Central last year. "The coordinator in Philadelphia got in touch in with Miss Burton (Central's community service coordinator and librarian), and they presented at advisories," Julia said. Latin teacher Elizabeth Szleijko is the faculty adviser.
At the Wednesday meetings, Ms. Millert presents the service opportunities for the following weekend. Depending on the scope of the project, Central members might collaborate with students from other local buildOn high schools (Delaware Valley Charter, Furness, Germantown, Lower Merion, Masterman, Robeson, Science Leadership Academy, Upper Darby and West Philadelphia). Activities this school year have included neighborhood cleanups, helping out with the Philly AIDS Walk and Books Through Bars, and trips to Inglis House, a nursing care facility for adults with physical disabilities.
The other focus of the weekly meetings is community building on a global level. The program culminates in a service trip for two students from each chapter to one of buildOn's overseas school-building sites. "A lot of the buildOn idea is to give inner-city kids the opportunity to travel," said Julia, who represented Central in Dulce Nombre, Nicaragua, last summer.
This June, Bijan Makarechi and Mikaela Kristo, 272, both buildOn chapter officers, will join some California buildOn members in Nicaragua. In addition, Ms. Millert said, 14 students from other Philadelphia chapters are headed for Malawi over spring break.
Which brings up CHS buildOn's other major activity - raising money, both to build schools and fund the trips.
"We already exceeded our fund-raising goal [of] $1,500," Julia said. The students held bake sales, sold "How Will You buildOn" bracelets and had a letter-writing campaign. "One student was able to raise $500 through contacting family members."
Since they've made their goal, what's next? Aim higher, of course. "Now we're raising our goal to $2,000," Julia said.
 | buildOn is a Movement |
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The "Finland Phenomenon" with a Central Twist
Dr. Leonard Finkelstein, 185, former Regional Superintendent in Philadelphia, Superintendent of the Cheltenham School District and consultant to the schools of Thailand and China will meet with a group of CHS faculty members on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 3:15 p.m. in Room 206. Central staff, alumni and parents are invited to attend this fascinating presentation.
They will explore the statement in the summary of the film, "The Finland Phenomenon," which states that Finland's students are just like Americans, only smarter. Discover what makes public education in Finland so effective and discuss some recommendations for future actions here. This will be a powerful experience ... even after a full day of teaching and learning!
For more information see this Forbes article: The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World's Most Surprising School System
 | The Finland Phenomenon: Inside the World's Most Surprising School System |
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"Party Central" to Raise Needed Funds
Central High School Home and School Association's first-ever social for parents, teachers, staff, alumni and friends, "Party Central," will be held on April 14 at Mt Airy's Commodore Barry Club, 6815 Emlen Street, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
This special fund-raising event will be "an evening of fun with a purpose" with all proceeds to benefit Central High School. Shackamaxon Catering will provide a delicious buffet dinner. There will be an open bar serving beverages, including wine and beer. Music will be provided by a DJ sure to get everyone on the dance floor. The main focus of the evening will be the chance to win fabulous auction and raffle prizes, door prizes, 50-50 chances and themed baskets. There will be sporting events tickets (Phillies included), as well as sports memorabilia. There will be tickets to the Philadelphia Orchestra, Pennsylvania Ballet, Opera Company of Philadelphia and tickets for the Arden, Wilma and Walnut Street Theaters, among others. There also will be gift certificates to some of the best restaurants in Philly, artwork, household and handmade items, jewelry and much more.
This is an important fund-raiser with a serious purpose - to raise whatever funds we can to help fill some of the holes in our school budget this year. You can help by buying a ticket and attending the event. You also can purchase an ad in the event program book and even donate or solicit an item that we can use for an auction or raffle prize. We are soliciting a variety of things including gift certificates to restaurants and retail shops, professional services, spa services, fitness club memberships, museum memberships, vacation stays, travel packages, sporting events tickets, concert and theater tickets, household items, decorative objects, art, jewelry and more.
Tickets are just $35 per person and are limited so you are encouraged to purchase in advance. This is a small price to pay for a fun evening and a chance to help our school. More information, tickets, ad space and donation forms can be found here. We hope to see you there!
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Roster Update
This year, student rosters will be completed online. The Subject Selection Directions & Process can be found on the centralhigh.net home page (top right, yellow button). The Subject Selection Guide also can be found here (green button). Next year, only those who are in two varsity sports will get 7th period lunch. If you have any questions you can contact Teacher and Roster Chairperson, Ms. Nicole Gaughan, 257.
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Help Wanted
Helpers for the International Cafe: The Home and School Association needs a lot of help setting up the vast buffet of international foods brought in by students for International Day, Thursday, Feb. 23. Stay for as long as you like. Help is especially needed from about 7 a.m to 9 a.m. or so. You'll be amazed at the amount of food. Bonus: You can watch the performance and sample the food. Contact Lisa Kallas.
Newsletter staffers: Interested in working on the newsletter? Contact Dave Kalkstein.
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Thank You
Thanks to our volunteer reporters Nancy Winter, Pat Toy and Mary Sweeten, as well as to Johnette Miller and Tamar Magdovitz for editing. Also thanks to Central's Mr. Quinn and to parent Ayanna Fitzgerald for their leads on great events at the school. And as always, thanks to Dr. Pavel, Lori DeFields and the staff at Central for their support.
Special appreciation to our founding editor, Jane Von Bergen, who, we are advised, will continue to write fine stories for us.
This voice of Central High School is a volunteer effort of the
Home & School Association. Teachers, parents, students - if you have news, send it!!
Very best regards to all,
Dave Kalkstein and Dan Cason, Co-Editors
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