"Imagine your legs burning, every muscle in your body screaming in protest, your mouth dry and your brain inflamed; your body is drenched with sweat, tears and a little blood. Someone yells at you to push harder. Every day, you work as though someone is trying to kill you, you pull until your hands are raw with blisters, even your eyeballs are sweating. You practice until you have the same flawless stroke each time; your blade pulls through the water smoothly and efficiently. Of course, you keep pulling because in the end you feel the buzz of victory, knowing that you have tried your hardest."  According to Eleanor St. John Sutton, 273, this is crew, and it's real serious business.

Eleanor St. John Sutton, 273

Philadelphia's Schuylkill River is home to Boat House Row and has long enjoyed a rich and robust rowing community. Until recently, there was very little opportunity for public school students to take up crew, or rowing, seriously. Now Central students take part in Philadelphia City Rowing (PCR) which was created in order for public school students to have the same chance to row as the private schools. Central students who started at the beginning of PCR last year include Eleanor as well as Nona Sharp, 273; Uriah Myers-Doyle, 272; Michael Palamountain, 272; Danielle Kroesche, 271 and Amir Lovelace, 271. Since then, public school rowers from Central, Masterman, Science Leadership Academy, CAPA and Parkway Center City have won medals in multiple regattas, including city championships. All the team members were novices when they started out. Rowers work out on the river as much as six days a week and "relax" in winter when they compete most intensely against themselves on machines three days a week.

Students who want to work real hard, gain their rhythm and become, in Eleanor's words,  "invincible and swift" on the water can try out for Philadelphia City Rowing by contacting the coaches, Dana Schmunk or Nicole Ritchie.

PCR First Season

Join us on Dollar Dog Night, Monday, April 30, at 7:05 p.m. to cheer on the Philadelphia Phillies as they battle the Chicago Cubs in what promises to be an exciting National League matchup. Students, parents and alumni are welcome to purchase tickets for $25 until Monday, April 9, at which time the ticket price will increase to $30.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to show your support for the Phillies and our Central High community. Act quickly; tickets are limited and will sell out fast!

Mr. Jonathan Fabrey, IB coordinator at Central, has a unique and exciting opportunity for the International Baccalaureate juniors (272). The IB World Student Conference at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver will take place this July. The junior IB class is a phenomenal collection of bright, creative, open-minded students. There are about 10 students who are very interested in making this trip. The cost of the conference is $800, plus about $500 for the flight. Anyone who can help him get in touch with individuals or local companies that might be interested in supporting our students, please contact Mr. Fabrey.

Also, Central is a finalist for the $5,000 Beneficial School Challenge Grant. We need YOUR help. Go to the Beneficial Foundation School Challenge to watch the Central video and vote for Central. You can vote as many times as you want, and voting will continue until Friday, March 16. Vote. Vote. Vote. Thank you!

Support Central Baseball!

The Central Baseball Apparel Order Form is now available! The sale of these items helps to offset the costs incurred for uniforms and equipment. The order form can be found on the Varsity Baseball page.  

Home and School Association Executive Board 

Anyone interested in serving on the Executive Board next year can send an email to the Central Home and School Association.