Changes are coming....

Changes are coming….

As always, the holidays are the harbinger of change as we resolve to enter the New Year with improved energy and commitment. This year, with the induction of a new governor, many educators also anticipate myriad changes to the state’s public education system. On November 2nd Pennsylvania voters elected Republican Tom Corbett as the next Governor. He and legislative leaders have stated that they will address the budget shortfall early in the new session. Corbett has indicated throughout his campaign that his priority as Governor is to cut spending without raising taxes or fees.

Corbett acknowledges on his website that there has been growth in student achievement over the past eight years in PA; he also contends that this growth remains inadequate. In order to provide “a great school for every child,” the Corbett vision focuses on five general components:
• Funding schools and students: getting funding into the classroom
• Enhancing educational opportunities: enhancing charter school quality and accountability
• Ensuring effective teachers and leaders: new evaluations and merit pay
• Embracing accountability for results: closing failing schools and developing a school grading system
• Creating a safe learning environment: strengthening cooperation between schools and law enforcement

Corbett has also stated that one of his first priorities will be the development of a school choice program. This plan is reminiscent of the “tuition vouchers for school choice” debate of the 1990s in which the state would subsidize tuition payments when families sent their children to private schools. With Republicans gaining control in the Pennsylvania House, Corbett will have a greater opportunity to act upon his vision for Pennsylvania education.

Central Cambria, like many districts, has embraced fiscal and academic accountability; we welcome policies whose aim is the wellbeing of all children. We do more with less as the Pennsylvania Department of Education adds monitoring, documentation and performance requirements without providing funds to accomplish such tasks. In the face of these challenges, Central Cambria School District continues to make great strides in student achievement while providing a positive educational experience for all students and balancing the needs and financial limitations of its community. As Corbett begins his tenure as governor, it is vital that we remain committed to, and vocal about, the priorities and needs of our children and public education.

I wish everyone in the Central Cambria family a safe, relaxing, and joyous holiday season. In my world, such joy involves family, food, and football. But whatever your definition of happiness, my wish is that you experience it bountifully this season. Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dr. D

Until The Snow Starts....

Most of the leaves have fallen and temperatures continue to drop; snow flurries, as pretty and sparse as they are right now, remind us that winter is about to descend upon Cambria County. At this time of year, we have many things for which to be thankful. I am thankful each day when I make the drive “up the mountain” to a job I truly love. I appreciate seeing, during my regular visits to our schools, the constant high level of instruction and learning that takes place in our classrooms.

While eight of our athletic teams have concluded their seasons, winter sports teams are beginning to practice for the upcoming season. Congratulations to all our fall teams for all their efforts and hard-earned recognition.

In addition to our sports teams, I want to recognize and offer praise for CCSD’s extracurricular teams: the scholastic quiz team, the reading competition team, the forensics team, the music ensemble, chorus and all the other extracurricular clubs and teams. Taking part in such activities strengthens the school community and provides students with many lasting memories when most aspects of their public school days are a distant memory.

Congratulations to all staff and students for achieving AYP last year. All four schools in the Central Cambria School District have met the targets for achieving Adequate Yearly Progress for the 2009/2010 school year! Adequate Yearly Progress measures whether or not the school has met the academic goals established under the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. This feat was the result of talented teachers, effective support personnel, and exemplary student effort.

With the Thanksgiving holiday rapidly approaching, I wish for all staff and students a happy, relaxing, and fulfilling holiday. Cherish those close to you in the spirit of the season. Share fond memories—and make new ones—with family and friends. (And watch lots of football!)

Until the snow starts,

Dr. D.

Sitting and watching....

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn."
- Elizabeth Lawrence


As I work in my office I am provided with a splendid show of dazzling colors. As the leaves display their brilliance, the above quote by Elizabeth Lawrence seems to give me permission to spend a few moments looking out over the Allegheny Mountains during the fall season. Sadly, many of us are busily preparing for cold weather and the onset of the holiday season; the leaves often turn color and fall before we can enjoy them.

Education is a year round “sport” that is constantly changing and providing new challenges and opportunities. Autumn is spent preparing for new students and building on the previous year’s progress. The first part of winter is devoted to PSSA preparation; once this assessment is past and winter recedes, spring is a time of educational renewal as students and teachers work toward a June finish line. Of course, summer means training opportunities, time with family and preparation for the coming year.

Here at CCSD, all staff, administration (myself included) and students embrace the notion that high expectations—of self and of others—are invaluable in our determination to move toward continued improvement. For me, this is a labor of love. I truly enjoy all aspects of my job: communicating with parents, meeting with students, providing staff development training, expanding our technology hardware and integration, and maintaining a fiscally sound budget. For me, while some may be better than others, there are no bad days at work. Personally, I think I have the world’s best job.

I encourage community members to attend our middle school curriculum discussion on October 25 at 6:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. This will be a time to be heard and brainstorm ways to improve the school’s curriculum. I look forward to seeing you there and hearing your ideas about the middle school curriculum.

Until next month’s blog, enjoy each day, each season and each Steeler game (I had to include a plug for football).

Dr. D

A wonderful time of year….

A wonderful time of year….

Living in Pennsylvania means experiencing different seasons. Fall is one of my favorites. In addition to crisp mornings, cloudless afternoons, cool nights and changing leaves, autumn also means that schools are back in session (I know, kids, that this would not be part of your Why-I-Love-Fall lists).
As I make my visits to each building, I notice many wonderful things taking place in and outside of the classrooms. Naturally, the current construction has many students and staff abuzz, but other fall activities are also causing a stir. Athletic fields have been prepared for our fall sports and—to everyone’s great satisfaction—students, teachers and administrators—are basking in the glow of accomplishment after great effort: each building met AYP on last year’s PSSA.
I wholeheartedly commend and thank all staff and students whose efforts resulted in district-wide success. The math departments at both the middle and high school worked very hard to prepare students for the assessment last year. Juniors, (this years’ seniors) did very well in both reading and math. While one test does not define the success of a student’s school year, it certainly reflects the effort put forth by each student. Kudos go out to all MS staff and those who took the PSSA, as their results also improve. And of course, each elementary school did quite well, far exceeding the State’s percentage for AYP. Keep up the great work!!
What would my blog be without some mention of football in the fall? There is nothing like it. Pre-season games merely whet my appetite for the “games that count.” For me, the anticipation of the season is in some ways better than the season itself: once it starts I know it will end in a couple months. (It’s pathetically true: I feel a sense of pending loss every Sunday evening.) But, since I am determined to revel in the commencement of my favorite spectator sport, I methodically plan my fall chores to coincide with halftime and the hours between afternoon and evening match-ups.
I wish each student and staff member a wonderful, productive and safe school year. Wait! Did I just see a snow flurry outside my window??

DR. D

August

It’s that time again…

As we begin the month of August, a quote by Dr. Seuss, one of my favorite authors, comes to mind: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Summer is fading but we should all revel in the time we spent with our families, on vacation, working around the house, or just lounging on a hammock to catch a summer breeze.

In addition to cooler weather and shorter days, August ushers in a new school year and all that accompanies it. When my children were in school, August was replete with last minute medical, dental and eye appointments, and marathon shopping expeditions for clothes, backpacks, binders and all the other accoutrements that kids seem to need for that next year of school. There was a certain amount of selling going on in my household as well: my wife and I tried to convince our second son that his older brother’s hand-me-downs were still “cool” while the kids worked to convince us that it was in our best interest to buy for them Jansport backpacks (sure, they were twice as expensive as other brands, but they included a lifetime warranty!). I must say that, for the DiLeo clan, compromise was another integral part of the August back-to-school adventure….

Even more important than the clothes and supplies is the need for families to help their children to have a positive learning attitude throughout the school year (it’s true, kids: LeBron sneakers are not the #1 concern…). Children of all ages are acutely attuned to their parents’ interest and attitude about school. We at Central Cambria work hard to educate the whole child in an environment that is safe, healthy and robust. Family support has a significant impact of student outcomes. While challenges may arise, communication and mutual support between home and school will resolve most issues. With this in mind, I encourage families to involve school staff and administrators whenever their children are in need of support.

This final month of freedom will be busy for all families with school-age children. Personally, I don’t miss the expense of back-to-school activities but I have fond memories of the frenzy and excitement that accompanied the start of each new academic year. Have fun during these waning weeks of summer; see you soon for another productive, safe and rewarding school year!

Dr. D.

Summertime, and the livin is easy....

“Summertime, and the livin is easy....”

Many of you may recognize the title of this blog as belonging to a lyric from the famous George Gershwin tune, “Summertime” (in the play Porgy and Bess). Yes, summer is here and the summer solstice has come and gone. June 21 is when the sun is at its peak in North America. From this point, until winter solstice in December, the sun will leave us a few minutes earlier each day.

In my opinion, summertime is not necessarily easy for CCSD’s 12-month employees. All buildings are cleaned, arranged and organized prior to the arrival of staff and students; records are maintained/updated and distributed. The construction and renovation activities have added to the workload of building maintenance staff members. They and the office workers must contend with atypical room changes and storage problems as areas are cordoned off and emptied. Dust and debris force maintenance crews to revisit areas that had been cleaned earlier. Despite these issues, all 12-month employees are determined to provide the expected level of cleanliness and organization to which our students are accustomed. Greg Shaffer and his staff work very hard to get buildings and grounds in top shape for the beginning of the school year. I applaud the efforts of our corps of summer workers as they work tirelessly in the heat of the summer, inside and outside the buildings.

Building projects at Jackson and the high school are in full swing. I encourage you to log onto the district’s web site and check out the “Construction Pictures” section to see how the projects are progressing. I am involved in many hours of meetings and planning throughout the summer as the projects move forward. However, the minor inconveniences we face now will fade from our thoughts when our students—the reason for our existence!—enjoy the result of our efforts. I want to reiterate my appreciation for the efforts of our district’s committed families and school board members.

Every year my wonderful wife Judy, who is by nature an early-to-bed person, makes it a point to stay outdoors until after dark on June 21. She is determined to catch the last glimpse of daylight on the longest day of the year. I believe this helps her cope with how quickly summer fades into fall. She knows that autumn is my favorite time of year but I’m careful to keep talk of football, leaves, hunting, etc., to a minimum until after June 21.

Enjoy what is left of June, and have a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday!

Dr. D.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

On Tuesday, May 11, 2010, our school district saw SNOW: windswept squalls and even some accumulation at such a late date supports the notion that some things cannot be legislated, managed, or controlled by mankind. Human nature compels us to gain power over the events around us. If we can’t control our environment, we like to complain about it (hence our lengthy discussions about the weather).

I believe that one’s destiny is among the things every person should want to manage successfully. CCSD’s seniors have spent 13 years figuring out what they want for themselves and where they want to go. They’ve taken every possible action to reach their goals. Now they are ready to take responsibility for their choices and make their dreams come true. As their families and friends, let’s remind them that they don’t face the bright but uncertain future alone; the people they love will be beside them always.

As I prepare my comments for the upcoming commencement ceremony, I want to share one of my favorite quotes from Dr. Seuss:

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!
by the Incomparable Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

Choosing a direction is the hardest part. As we make life choices, many variables—some, like the weather, are beyond our control—affect our direction in life. Nevertheless, as we react to various challenges, we are the ultimate controllers of our own destinies. We get the credit (or the blame) for the outcomes of our choices.

Congratulations to all seniors graduating this year, and to parents, relatives, friends, and anyone else who has offered encouragement, patience and a listening ear. As you leave our district, one last quote from Dr. Seuss seems appropriate:

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact
And remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Good luck, seniors!

As we rapidly approach the end of the school year, the teacher in me is compelled to remind students that summer is no time to forget the values, morals and education that have kept them safe and happy throughout their lives. Make smart choices in the friends you hang out with, the social events you attend, and even they ways in which you network on the Internet. Please have a safe, enjoyable and relaxing summer.

I extend my sincere appreciation to all students, staff, parents and Board members for making this an excellent school year for Central Cambria!


Enjoy your summer! Dr. D.

Yogi Berra

May/June bring spring athletic playoffs, the Music on a Grand Scale fundraiser, the prom, and graduation. While some—parents, teachers, and students alike anxiously anticipate June 8 and the arrival of summer break, I have to say that, for me, the year sped by too quickly. It’s hard to believe that, at this time last year, I was nervously hoping to be a positive and suitable match for the educational needs/goals of CCSD. I humbly thank you for entrusting your children’s education to me—and for the terrific year we have had.

New York Yankees catcher, Yogi Berra once said “ If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.” I believe that, at CCSD, we know where we are going and how to get there. 2009-10 has seen the start of many exciting initiatives and changes:
• RTII (Response to Instruction and Intervention) in the elementary schools
• Co-teaching in the secondary schools
• Realignment of gifted support services in the elementary schools
• Elementary and secondary parent advisory committees
• Standards Aligned System implementation, PSSA tutoring, Keystone Exams preparation, Writing Across the Curriculum
• Cooperative memorandum of understanding effort between the Union and District with the Race To The Top application
• Public computer lab use at Jackson and the HS is now available one night a week until the end of the school year
• The Middle School/HS renovation projects have been approved and are set to begin June 9, with completion in the fall of 2011
• The Jackson Elementary multi-purpose room addition has been approved and is set to begin June 9, with completion in the fall of 2011
• The addition of a Life Skills program at CCSD for the 2010-11 school year

Of course, there are other school-specific programs throughout the year which include hands-on instruction and opportunities for parent involvement.

Congratulations to our softball coach, Pat Stock, on a remarkable achievement of 500 wins. As with all our sports programs, the dedication and consistency of our coaches make our programs the envy of many other districts.

On another note, I had the pleasure of speaking to Mr. Aurandt’s Social Studies classes several weeks ago. His students raised many excellent questions about the workings of the school district, the community, and the world. Their depth of perception toward current hot topics impressed me. In addition to local questions related to my opinion of cafeteria- and PSSA-related questions, one student asked me to elaborate on my most embarrassing moment as an educator. Thinking of my responsibility as a role model, I pled the Fifth Amendment….

Spring is inthe air...

Several notable personalities are credited with saying, “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” Can you name the author(s) of this quote?

I recalled the quote after a recent visit to our grandson and his parents. Jacob is now nine months old. We were naturally impressed by how quickly he is growing, crawling, smiling, etc., but we also spent some time with Jacob’s parents discussing his education, the school district in which they live, and plans to pay for his college education. This conversation reminded me that parents are working toward their children’s future success almost from day they’re born. Parents (and grandparents!) are planning for postsecondary options earlier than ever before. And, important to CCSD, parents really do research school systems prior to locating in a community.

CCSD is certainly not the only school district to adopt such programs/initiatives as RTI (Response to Intervention), ELO (Extended Learning Opportunities), PSSA tutoring, after-school tutoring, senior projects, and vo-tech programs. However, it is our sustained effort at improvement in these areas that keeps our school system on the cutting edge.
We work hard! Teachers have become skilled in cooperative teaching strategies and participate in ongoing training seminars. Students, faculty and families work together to build championship caliber athletic programs, nationally recognized music and arts programs. By consistently monitoring and assessing programs, curriculum, strategic plans, technology integration, etc., we provide the opportunity for success that parents want for their children.
I’m supremely pleased to note that your Board of Directors has taken the next step in renovating/expanding the High School/Middle School and will soon be voting on the Jackson Elementary multipurpose Room project. These projects will enhance the quality of education at Central Cambria School District.

Every school district faces many challenges, of course. I’m proud to work beside CCSD’s staff, Board of Directors, parents, students and community as we advance the high standards we have set for ourselves at Central Cambria School District. We have built a learning environment that realtors and relatives alike would recommend to newcomers.

By the way, as far as I’m concerned, the originator of the opening quote was Vince Lombardi, Hall of Fame football coach of the Green Bay Packers. While you might think I’m a football fanatic, I hasten to remind you that Spring is, among other things, the harbinger of another great football season: the draft, Spring training, etc. Think Spring!
Dr. DiLeo

Winter thoughts...

Where has the time gone?! As the month of January comes to a close, I’d like to share some rambling winter thoughts…

I’ve said before that I find the drive “up the mountain” to be relaxing and beautiful. The scenery this month, as usual, has been breathtaking; I have to say, though, that on January 8, when I experienced a whiteout from the Gallitzin off ramp to Ebensburg, the trip was breathtaking for another reason altogether. Suffice to say that I’ve gained a new appreciation for the rumble strips that let me know my car was no longer on the highway….

Central Cambria staff and students have begun to intensify their preparation for the PSSA in April. As I visit the schools I witness an impressive variety of positive, meaningful teaching and learning activities taking place in the classrooms. Our staff has attended seminars and training/staff development sessions in order to help students succeed on the PSSA and to continue to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). I’m excited to see such positive efforts toward this ever-rising challenge.

You may have heard of President Obama’s “Race to The Top” educational monies being competitively sought by 38 states. Pennsylvania has submitted its application for a share of the 4.35 billion dollars, of which our state is eligible to receive up to 400 million dollars. I am happy and proud to report that the CCSD Education Association and the CCSD School Board signed a memorandum of understanding that makes the district eligible to receive a share of the federal grant monies available through the Race to the Top (RTTT) program. Approximately 150 of the state’s school districts and 59 charter schools have submitted Memoranda of Understanding to PDE which, in order to be eligible for any Race to The Top money that may come to Pennsylvania, had to be signed by the union president, the Superintendent, and the Board president. A collaborative, “students first” perspective, shared by all stakeholders, makes an amazing difference when challenges and opportunities present themselves.

And finally, although it seems far away, several staff members have begun to plan a district-wide/community “Celebrate the Arts” fundraiser in May. The goal is to raise enough funds to purchase a new Baby Grand Piano. The CCSD Education Foundation is also supporting this worthwhile project. Look for more information in the coming months.

Enjoy what’s left of January as the winter continues to remind all of us to keep an “eye to the sky.” For my part, one eye will be on the rumble strips!