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        HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER             May  2013

In This Issue
Party Central!
Students Step Up
Jazz Band
LAX
Young Playwrights
Professional Development
Prom Dresses
Quick Links 

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

 

Dodgeball Tournament: Friday, May 31, Main Gym, 

3:15 p.m.

 

Alumni Dinner: Monday, June 3, Sheraton Society Hill Hotel, 1 Dock St. (2nd & Walnut Streets), 

5:30 p.m.

 

Finals: Monday - Thursday, 

June 3 - 6

 

272 Nature Outing: Friday, June 7

 

Athletic Awards:

Tuesday, La Salle, June 11

 

272 Senior Prom: Thursday, 

June 13, 

Crystal Tea Room, 100 Penn Square East, 

8 p.m. - 1 a.m.

 

272 Commencement Practice: Monday, June 17

 

Barnwell Luncheon:

Tuesday, June 18

 

272 Commencement Ticket Distribution: Wednesday, June 19

 

272 Commencement: Thursday, 

June 20, 

Kimmel Center, 260 South Broad Street, 10 a.m.

 

Last Day of School, Report Cards Distributed: 

Friday, June 21

 

Last Day for Staff:

Monday, June 24

HELP WANTED
Newsletter staffers:  
Interested in working  
on the newsletter? Contact  

Dave Kalkstein 

Bring Your Photo ID
Just a reminder:  
When you come to visit Central High School, you must have a photo ID.
Main Office
215-276-5262

Welcome!

 

Our biggest welcome to Class 276, whose orientation took place on May 16. For those who have never seen the members of a new class make their first real entry to CHS, this is always a fantastic event. Upper-class students greet them with cheers. When walking with the new students and their families from the parking lot, one always notices a degree of trepidation - what is all the noise? Is it friendly? Of course it certainly is, and many of the newcomers are awestruck.

 

 

Congratulations to Bijan Makarechi, 272, the Office Depot Senior of the Month for May. Bijan will be heading off to Yale next fall.

Bijan Makarech Office Depot Senior of the Month
Students talking about Bijan Makarechi, 272, 
Office Depot Senior of the Month

 

And kudos to Shante Dorin, 273, on being selected to be part of Fresh Artists, a nonprofit organization that promotes student artistic achievement. To see how Fresh Artists works to fill the gap in school arts funding, and to see samples of students' artwork, visit Fresh Artists.

 

Not to be outdone, Central boys took first and the girls snagged second in All Public track, continuing a long Lancer tradition.

 

Enjoy the newsletter! And if you stumble onto news, don't keep it to yourself - tell us.  

 

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From Party Central! to a Week in France
 
The second annual Party Central! on Saturday, April 20, was a memorable night.

  

A new tradition coordinated by the Central Home and School Association, Party Central! focuses on two things: Bringing students, parents, faculty and alumni together as a crimson and gold family for a night of entertainment and fun together, and raising money for Central High School.

Photo by Shakarr Hawkins, 271, HawkEye Photography

  

Not only did Party Central! 2013 bring more than 200 people to the Commodore Barry Club in Mount Airy, it brought in $18,000 for the Home and School Association, eclipsing last year's figure of about $13,000.

  

Some 150 items were donated and auctioned, including fine cigars, jewelry and vacation trips, one of which was a week stay in France that went for $1,500. There were many familiar faces in the crowd, including former Central President Dr. Sheldon Pavel and current President Tim McKenna. 

McKenna & Pavel
Mr. McKenna and Dr. Pavel
(Photo by Shakarr Hawkins, 271, HawkEye Photography) 

 

Lynn Cesario, a 273 mother, said, "The food was great and it was such a fun night, I can't wait to come back next year." Of course, an event of this magnitude could not have happened without the dedication of the Party Central Committee, led by Al Bixler, Anita Quain and Holly Rehfuss. Home and School President Lisa Kallas said, "Our Party Central! Committee has done a fantastic job organizing this event," adding, "This will enable the Home and School Association to continue to support the students at Central."

 

Party Central! 2013 was a night to remember, a fun and exciting night for all who attended. Expectations are now even higher for Party Central! 2014. Hopefully more donations and attendees will lead to even more money raised for this exemplary high school.

Central Students Step Up for Schools 
 

When Jacquelyn Mancinelli of Central's English and Athletic departments learned of the appalling new Philadelphia School District budget, she and other CHS teachers went into action right away. Gathering colleagues, students, alumni and others motivated by the possible devastating impact of severe cuts on the school, a serious letter-writing campaign took place.

 

The response from students? According to Ms. Mancinelli, "the outpouring of support has been tremendous. I am very proud of our students."

Ms. Jacquelyn Mancinelli with letters bound in crimson and gold.

 

Members of Philadelphia City Council, Mayor Nutter, Gov. Corbett and state legislators received a loud and clear message from Central and other Philadelphia public schools. In just four days, as of this writing, 3,331 letters, 2,271 from Central alone, were collected. This is an amazing response from the Central community! Other letters came pouring in from Girls High, SLA, Palumbo, Franklin Learning Center, Masterman and other public schools. The Inquirer reported on the current situation and the students' action.

 

Central Librarian Loretta Burton offered the library's help before, during and after school for students to write their letters. Two writing stations were established, one in front of the library and in the other in the cafeteria. At least one Student Association member and preferably one Central staff member covered each station. Students were encouraged to write letters during their lunch periods.

 

Help drafting the letters is still available on Central's websiteReaders of the newsletter should feel free to write.

 

A very wise educator once told this writer that there really always has been money for the schools, but too often it is uncoupled from the required political will. We can always count on Central students to lend a hand in "connecting the dots." 

Jazz Band Sounds Off 
 
Central's Jazz Band, from left: Brian Cheng, Steve Yang, Lyndon Ramkhalawan, Massimo Pignetti, Rafique Hameed, Fareed Simpson-Hankins, Vincenzo Marquez, Yingsi Zhou, Jahvaska A. Thomas, Giancarlo Pignetti, Donato Pignetti, Carl Jean, Alex Farley, Gaurang Bham, Dis� Diasonama, Karim Keita, Devin Lawrence-Jackson, Gabe Preston, Anzor Aslnaukov and Louis Lobron at Cheltenham High School, March 6, 2013

Where can one find students committed, engaged and enthusiastic about music? In Central High School's Jazz Band, of course!
 

For the past five years under the direction of Mike Franchetti, 255, about 20 student musicians make Central's Jazz Band the phenomenon it is. Jazz Band plays a lot of big-band standards - Duke Ellington and Count Basie, among others. Mr. Franchetti selects challenging music because, he says, "It takes the student to the edge of what they can do. It gives Jazz Band members the opportunity to see another layer of music and have a whole new experience."

 

The band enters "cavalcades," or competitive jazz festivals held at suburban schools, including Cheltenham, Bensalem, Neshaminy and Archbishop Ryan, and students receive no academic credit for being in Jazz Band. "The kids have to want to be here," said Mr. Franchetti.

 

Fareed Simpson-Hankins, 273, Jazz Band's lead trumpet player, who made All State Jazz Band this year, said, "Jazz Band is one of the most exciting opportunities at Central High School. It allows students to express their creativity in the most breathtaking way."

 

Brian Cheng, 274, who has been playing trumpet with Jazz Band for two years, said, "It is great we are playing music from the early part of the 20th century. These guys were brilliant and it is an honor to be playing their music."

 

Louis Lobron, 272, was recognized as "best soloist" for his guitar solos as part of Central's performance at Neshaminy High School's Jazz Festival in March. Louis is intense about his music, saying, "I despise no feeling more than having a lack of purpose or something to achieve. Jazz Band provides a constant outlet for expression and an opportunity to focus on improving at a craft. Being in the Jazz Band also provides another positive social circle to my life, full of unique, driven people with whom I am happy to have spent many hours with in the past three years."

 

Gabriel Preston, 274, a saxophone solo award winner, sums Jazz Band up with these words: "This has been an amazing experience for me in all ways. If there was no Jazz Band here, there would be so many musicians just missing out on the true fun behind playing jazz - whether it is soloing or just blasting your instrument to its soul."

Central and Delaware Valley-Lax Bros!
 
Dale Kallas, 272 (third from left)
In an exciting collaboration, Central joined with Delaware Valley Charter School to form a lacrosse program last year, which continues to gain strength and players. This year, the combined team has 13 Central players, most of whom had not played the game before.

 

The program started when the Delaware Valley coach John Benci needed some good players to complete a team, and made the wise choice of approaching Central's Phys Ed Department to find great players. The combined team's practice field is Stenton Park, and most of the games were played at Gratz High School.

 

In its first year, the team made it to the semi-finals, quite a feat. Co-captain Dale Kallas, 272, began playing with friends and joined the team right away. Along with Brandon Dodd, 274, Dale made the All Public team last year, and along with teammates made the Keystone State team and took part in tournaments at Penn State last summer.

 

People often think of lacrosse as an elite sport, played at fancy private schools. It need not be - it's a fantastic and the most exciting team sport. Anyone who has not seen a live lacrosse game should make a point of doing so.

 

Dale, heading to Widener next fall for mechanical engineering and more lacrosse, said, "While it's been great having a combined team under the Del Val name, my hope is that someday Central has a lacrosse team of its own! Maybe I could come back and help coach it!"
Central Playwrights Shine on Stage
 
Christine Macarthur, of the English Department, reports: "Central drama students are doing great things!"

 

Professional actors of the Interact Theater know great material when they see it, and they selected, from submissions from all over the city, to perform a monologue by Kathryn Romano, 274. "The Mask and the Mirror" was featured at the Philadelphia Young Playwrights 2013 Young Voices Monologue Festival April 2-6.

 

Since 1986, Philadelphia Young Playwrights has worked with classroom teachers to inspire students' literacy learning and creativity by putting students center stage, and having their work performed by experienced professionals. Over the years Central students have taken a lively interest in developing dramatic skills with this organization.

 

Another winner is Faith Jones-Jackson, 273, who took second place last fall in the Young Playwrights play competition with her work "Going Home." Faith not only writes, she acts as well, as a cast member in "Time Machine," performed at the Kimmel Center's Innovation Studio April 24-26 as part of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA).

 

Last but not least, alumna Davia Daley, 271, took third place in the Young Playwrights contest with her play "The Proposal."

 

Central's playwrights are busy all year - keep your eye on them!

Brand-New Approach to Teacher Professional Development
 
Have you ever wondered what goes on when school is closed for professional development?

 

In the past, school or School District administration selected topics for teacher in-service days. This system can be beneficial in that all teachers receive the same information or instruction, but such a "one-size-fits-all" approach may not reflect teachers' real needs. So Central's professional development coordinator, social studies teacher Thomas Quinn, has been trying something a little different: Offer multiple teacher-led workshops, encouraging experienced educators to share best practices, and let the participants choose which ones to attend based on their interests and what would benefit them and their students.

 

The result? This Election Day, May 21, teachers from nine different Philadelphia public schools gathered at Central. Beginning at 7:30 a.m., they took part in about 70 workshops (check out the offerings). Along with teacher-leaders, presenters included authors and publishers; representatives from software companies, activist organizations, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Mazzoni Center, Pennsylvania Department of Education and Shakespeare Theatre; and former mayoral candidate Sam Katz, now of "History Making Productions." Science Leadership Academy principal Chris Lehmann, an innovator in project-based and inquiry-driven instruction, delivered a keynote address to start the day.

 

Central President Timothy McKenna is a fan of this model of professional learning. "It is powerful when teachers share best practices with other teachers," he said. "Central High School is proud to host such an important day of professional collaboration."

Prom Dresses

 

Prom time is quickly approaching, but prom can be very expensive. Central High School has a closet full of donated prom dresses, all sizes, and your daughter is welcome to come down to Room 144 to check them out.

Do you have some dresses of your own that are just sitting at home? Please consider donating them to the CHS prom closet. Contact English teacher Nicole Gaughan
 

Help Wanted

 

Newsletter staffers: Interested in working on the newsletter? Contact Dave Kalkstein.

Thank You 


Many thanks to our writers, John Newcomb, Nancy Winter and Kathie Conrad, and our editors, Mary Sweeten and Tamar Magdovitz. Special thanks to Lisa Kallas and John Lobron for their leads about the lacrosse and Jazz Band stories, and to the alumni, parent volunteers and the teachers and staff of Central High School.

  

This newsletter is published on behalf of the Central High School Home and School Association. If you want to know what's going on, join Home and School! If you already know what's going on, tell us!

 

Dave Kalkstein and Dan Cason, Co-Editors

 

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