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        HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER             June  2013

In This Issue
Dodgeball
In the News
Alumni
Home & School
Summer School
Summer Homework
Quick Links 

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

 

276 Orientation:

Monday - Thursday, 

Aug. 5 - 8

 

Professional Development, Staff Only: Tuesday & Wednesday, Sept. 3 & 4

 

Rosh Hashana: Thursday & Friday, 

Sept. 5 & 6

 

First Day of School: 

Monday, 

Sept. 9 

 

Central Night at the Phillies:

Tuesday, 

Sept. 17, 

7:05 p.m.

 

HSA Meeting: 

Wednesday, 

Oct. 9, Spain Conference Center, 6:30 p.m.

 

Columbus Day, School Closed: Monday, Oct. 14

 

Newsletter Staff Opportunities:
Interested in working  
on the newsletter? Contact  

Dan Cason 

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 - and a Parting Shot

 

Congratulations first and foremost to 272! Central graduated a record class of 609 students, who heard from one of Central's best friends, Dr. Bill Cosby, 204. Listen to Student Association President Danny Varugese's speech to his 272 classmates.  

Danny's Graduation Speech
Danny Varugese's Graduation Speech

Congratulations also to Alice Hu, 274, for being awarded a full scholarship to the 2013 Telluride Association Summer Program at Cornell University, "Times Square." Alice was one of 64 participants chosen from 1,256 applications from the Unites States and abroad. And to Veronika Zotova and Adam Rosario-Camacho, 274, on being awarded full scholarships to the UPenn Summer Chinese Program. Kudos also to artists Tamirah Grant Bridgeford, 275, Judi Thai, 274, Lee Chen, 274, Shante Dorin, 274, Lachlan Harrick, 274, Clarissa Kristie, 275, and Ashley Tran, 274 for all sorts of awards for their work!

 

Since this is my (Dave's) last newsletter, I will take the opportunity to editorialize just a bit about the future of our school and public education in Pennsylvania. It is more than outrageous that the state has abdicated its responsibility to schools throughout the Commonwealth. It is important to bear in mind that the School Reform Commission was formed in 2002 by then-Gov. Mark Schweiker to directly oversee the Philadelphia School District and to solve its budget problems. Three of the five members are appointed by the governor. Responsibility for its 11 years of failure rests squarely on the governor and state legislature, and nowhere else. Not on the teachers, not on the staff and, most of all, not on our children.

 

The Central website has a link to "Faces of the Layoffs," the work of a Central parent. Look at the folks that we all depend on and who may no longer be at our schools.

 

Sue Patterson, Central parent and orchestra supporter, submitted this about the Central High School Orchestra: "...the only thing I would like to contribute to the next newsletter is:"

 
 
 
This was to be a celebratory end-of-the-year article about 
the Central High Orchestra. 
But instead, we offer you an issue without music.
 
 
-- In solidarity with our Central High Music staff, 
Central High School Music Association parents.
 
 
 

It does not have to be this way in Philadelphia or elsewhere in the state. If we can build a $400 million prison and maintain a $140 million surplus, we can indeed fund the schools.


Enjoy the newsletter! And if you stumble onto news, don't keep it to yourself - tell us.  
 
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In the News: Central Students and Teachers Fight for Schools
 

We wrote last issue about the Central community's efforts on behalf of the school and the school district. Since the topic is so very important, we note some of the publicity they have received recently.

 

Daphne Weinstein, 272, told Channel 6: "Any money that you put into this district is really the most efficient money that you are going to put anywhere in this whole city and in this whole state. ... We are already doing a lot with less, and teachers are already going above and beyond what they are asked." Read the article and watch the video (Daphne's speech begins at minute 1:17).

 

Central teacher Jacquelyn Mancinelli was quoted in the Inquirer: "Students are taking action, too. A letter-writing campaign led by students from Central High School delivered more than 2,000 missives to City Hall for Council last week and sent more than 500 to Gov. Corbett.

 

"'I think Harrisburg often forgets about the students,' said Jacquelyn Mancinelli, an English teacher who has worked with the teens. 'The students are just so invested in this,' she said. 'They know this could really be devastating for them.'" Read the article.

 

The City Paper talked to teacher Erica Catlin and guidance counselor Tatiana Olmedo: "Erica Catlin, who is losing her job teaching at Central High School - one of Philly education's bright spots, now stripped down to only teachers and a principal - wants to hold out hope. But she isn't sure she can. 'We thought the sequester wasn't going to happen, and there it is,' she says. The school district's 'doomsday' budget could become reality as well. 'No one can give us any guarantees about getting reinstated. ... The position we're in is, the hiring season is already passed. So if you wait around, you might find yourself with no job at all.'

 

"Tatiana Olmedo, a counselor at Central, says she also must undertake some heartrending personal calculus for herself and her family: 'I have to figure out: Can I afford to live in the city? ... Should we wait it out? Or do I just go ahead and look for employment somewhere else, even though that's not where my passion is?' Even if funding is restored, she worries about the disruption of reshuffling. She's been building trust at Central for 14 years. If she is reassigned, it's back to zero. 'Any time you go to a new school, it takes you a good two or three years to develop relationships with the students ... to show them how much you care.'" Read the article.

Central Dodgeball Players Lend a Helping Hand
 
Despite looming cuts to the funding of our school, Central students step up to do good for others in many ways. On May 31, 40 teams from all classes, plus two faculty teams, participated in Central's second annual Dodgeball Tournament. The Central community can be proud that all proceeds from this tournament, which amounted to almost $4,000, will go the Susan G. Komen Foundation to fight breast cancer.
 

Now, just talking about dodgeball, the winners were . . . The President's Cabinet Team of Class 274 - Allison Rosciloli, Sydney Epstein, Zoe Granato, Devon Kroesche, Larry Lewis, Vinh Luong, Georg Revell and Vincent Roscioli.

 

Commented 273 Class Sponsor Michael Horwits, 251: "In the course of events like these, the hard work that is necessary to ensure a successful event is often times taken for granted. Your commitment and dedication to this event was critical to its success. Your contribution added to the enthusiasm of all members of the Central community."

Join the Associated Alumni
 
When graduates bump into each other, they state their class numbers and stop to chat, all over the place, from Philadelphia to China.

 

What separates Central from many other schools in Philadelphia (and in the nation) is the fierce loyalty of its alumni, who maintain their ties for decades after they graduate and continue to make a difference for the school. The Associated Alumni of Central High School distributed more than $200,000 in scholarships, prizes and awards at June's 272 graduation. 

 

If you are the parent of a 272 graduate or a member of the class of 272, join the Alumni Association right now. Graduates who sign up now can have a lifetime membership for $250, payable in equal installments of $50 a year, over five years. For information, email the Association or call 215-927-9550. 

 

May Home and School Association Meeting
 
Much of the meeting Wednesday, May 8, was taken up by upcoming budget cuts, as one would expect. President Timothy McKenna reported that if the proposed budget takes effect, Central will lose 20 percent of its budget, resulting in the loss of 16 teachers, not to mention guidance counselors, assistant principals, non-teaching staff and numerous sports and other programs. Some teaching positions could be renewed based on the 700 newly admitted members of 276, but this is uncertain. He noted that the city will do its part, but the state is another question, and union negotiations are going to be contentious. If the funding picture improves, Mr. McKenna's priorities for Central are to finish the roster and make sure all courses are offered; keep the library open; fill assistant principal, secretary and counselor positions; and then fill support staff positions.
 

How families and parents can help was discussed. First and foremost: Advocate with politicians relentlessly. Parents can also contact Pennsylvania Secretary of Education William E. Harner at 717-783-9780 or email.

 

Volunteers with proper clearances may also be able to do work for the school, and the Central Alumni Association, as always, can put donated money to good use. Extracurricular activities will probably continue as many teachers will do that work even if not paid for it.

 

The Home and School Association held elections for the positions of Vice President for Membership and Treasurer.  Al Bixler ran unopposed for Treasurer and Faye Bass ran unopposed for Vice President for Membership.
Important Information Regarding Summer School
 
Summer Credit Make-Up Opportunities For Central High School Students-Grades 9-11 only

Attention! These are the only summer school options available for credit recovery for Central students. No other credit recovery opportunities will be accepted!

Please take note that Keystone Credit Recovery is not one of them. Students can take a maximum of two classes, per School District of Philadelphia regulations.

In-Class Options
Northeast Preparatory Academy
1309 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111 
Phone: 215-342-5500 
Session 1: June 24 - July 19, 2013, Cost: $325 per course 
Session 2: July 22 - August 16, 2013, Cost: $325 per course
One time registration fee is also required: $25 (non-refundable)  
 
1311 Chancellor Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 
Phone: 215-732-5060 
Email: [email protected] (Peter Sperling)
Session 1: June 24 - August 1, 2013 
Session 2: August 5 - August 23, 2013 
Cost: $265 per course Registration fee per course and book/material fee per class $15 (no registration fee if paid in full by June 17)

Online Option
Educere
Online Credit Recovery 
Phone: Toll Free, 866-433.8237 or 215-283-0380 Email: [email protected] 
REGISTRATION INFO: Central High School Code: CUJ6XW5N 
Cost: Fees vary depending on course; average course fee is $195 
Credit recovery course must be completed within 60 days of student's start date, but no later than Friday, August 2, 2013, 1 p.m. 
(Exception: Courses with fees set at $97.50 must be completed within 30 days of student's start date, but no later than Friday, August 2, 2013 at 1 p.m.)

Please Note: The School District of Philadelphia requires a proctored exam at 440 N. Broad Street, for all online courses. The District will contact students to set the date and time for the proctored exams, which are scheduled for either August 6 or 7, between the hours of 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Summer Assignments

 

A few changes have been made to certain summer assignments. Please check the summer assignments link hereEmail questions about summer assignments to the assigning teacher.

Newsletter Openings

 

Newsletter staffers: Interested in working on the newsletter? Contact Dan Cason.

Thank You 


First, a huge "Thank You" to all of the retiring teachers and staff that have worked so hard for so long for our students and their families. Also, "Thank You" to those who were laid off, we hope you will be quickly reinstated. And "Thank You" to the alumni who contributed thousands of dollars in scholarships for the 272 graduates.  

 

As always, this newsletter is brought to you by the Home and School Association of Central High School. Our thanks to writers Nancy Winter, Sue Patterson and Kathie Conrad. We also appreciate the fine work of Mary Sweeten and Tamar Magdovitz for making sure we maintain a quality presentation and the support of Central's staff, teachers and students.

 

This is my (Dave's) last newsletter for Central. I have most extremely enjoyed taking part, even though my daughters are some years out of the school. My sincerest thanks to the Central community for the opportunity to have such a good time!

 

Dave Kalkstein and Dan Cason, Co-Editors

 

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