Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Favorite time of year....

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
  
                                              

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