Sign of the times ...

As I travel "the mountain" to and from work each day I see, in the changing color of the leaves, a portent of weather to come. Fall is a wonderful time of year for those of us in education. Teachers of all grade levels are busy collaborating with their peers in order to challenge and prepare each student for the rigors of the curriculum. In addition to classwork, many fall sports are now in full swing.

My office has a wonderful view of the soccer games, football practices and cross country meets. Central Cambria athletes are not only excellent competitors, but they also excel in the classroom. Many researchers have studied the relationship between athletics and academics. They have drawn two interesting conclusions: First, if participating in an extracurricular is important to a student, he or she will budget and prioritize time appropriately. Second, the student with "two masters" (sports and schoolwork) will make efficient use of the time they have allotted to each endeavor. These lessons in time management are valuable lessons for our students as they prepare for life after high school.

On a personal note, I am about to face one of the scariest moments in a father's life. I have been through many martial arts promotion tests, was grilled in my comprehensive exams for my doctorate, and participated in the birth of my children (which was at times much easier than was the act of raising them!). But September 26 may surpass all of my life's most stressful situations. I am referring to my only daughter's wedding day. Dave is a great guy and I couldn't be happier for both of them. But the thought of walking her down that aisle and "giving her away" is as heartbreaking as it is exciting. Like all parents, I worked hard to give my children wings but, now that the day has come for Morgan to fly, I can't deny the bittersweet mix of pride, joy - and yearning for the days when my little girl loved me best.

While the wedding has added a real twist to my usual fall regimen of football and festivals with my wife, I truly relish my drive to work each day as the leaves turn crisp and colorful. Enjoy the season and the beautiful mountains that surround our district!