It is hard to
believe how quickly the summer has sped by, and how much more quickly fall
seems to be sweeping in (I have a feeling students feel this even more keenly
than do their teachers). The staff is already working with four days of
in-service to prepare, analyze, review, and renew for the coming school year.
Congratulations on
a very successful media night on Friday, August 15. The
boosters/coaches/athletes did a great job of organizing and promoting this
event to recognize our athletes and coaches and to introduce them to the
community.
In addition
to the usual activities that comprise a busy summer for employees—all
classrooms and furniture in all the buildings have been thoroughly cleaned and
arranged, the field house and the surrounding grounds look great for our fall
sporting events (many thanks to Greg Shaffer and his crew of hard
workers). We are excited about
some new items. First, our Chrome book initiative will debut in the high
school: five teachers volunteered to add 25 Chrome books on a cart to their
instructional practice. Our newly hired tech coach, Joe Strittmatter, has
spent much of the summer preparing for the school year and supporting staff as
they integrate this new technology with their respective courses.
Second,
First Student will use five new buses with a neat device that lowers chains
onto the back tires with the push of a button. These buses will be used
on our snowiest routes (time will tell how much these buses’ chains will be
needed this winter; there is already talk of another Polar Vortex…).
Third, the
number of students at CES has increased over the summer, necessitating the
creation of another first grade classroom. We currently have a substitute
teacher in that classroom until the September Board meeting, at which the Board
will vote on hiring a full time teacher.
A reminder
for all who use this road: the gate we installed last year will again be closed
during the school day, following the same schedule as last year. The gate
is intended to protect the campus while school is in session and to reduce the
amount of traffic on our recently paved road system during the school day.
I wish to offer my congratulations to all students and staff on the PSSA and
Keystone test preparation this past year. We at Central Cambria are truly
blessed with a caring, devoted, professional staff!!
Moving on to sports (of course), the Steelers went after speed in the draft and
their second preseason game showed that the new recruits are transitioning well
from college to pro football. Big Ben had a respectable first quarter outing
and some of the starters looked ready for some “prime time” football.
Seeing the season start is always bittersweet; waiting for the season to begin
is so exciting but, knowing that once it starts it will soon end, is almost
depressing. But, during my favorite season of the year, I will revel in
all the football my wife can handle. I hope you too enjoy this and the myriad
other autumn activities.
As for the
Pirates, will they self-implode this year? It seems so as they have lost
7 games in a row and are now three games out of wild card contention.
With fewer than 40 games to go, things are not looking good for the Buccos. As
we all know, though, true fans support their team colors through good and bad
times. Luckily for supporters of Pittsburgh teams, the Black and Gold colors
can fly all year long in support of baseball, football, and hockey!
Dr. D
