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….