Rain, rain, go away
Come again another day
Our sports teams want to play!
I know I should be happy that at least we
don’t have to shovel rain. Still, it seems as if this month has been one rainy
day after another, wreaking havoc on our spring sports and the fields on which
they are played. Greg Shaffer, our
maintenance supervisor and his crew have worked feverishly between the showers
to make the fields playable; kudos to Greg and his staff.
As with all school districts, May is a very
busy month at Central Cambria. With state testing, field trips, graduation arrangements,
spring sporting events and playoffs, even these rainy days have flown by. As
for me, with assistance from Mrs. Dixon and Mr. Cerelli, and Mr. Wilson, I recently
concluded my senior interviews; as usual, the groups I spoke with held nothing
back. Their suggestions, perceptions,
memories and comments were intuitive and pointed, well-articulated. Overall, this representative cadre of seniors
seem to have enjoyed their years at CCSD.
I will be including their comments in my speech at the graduation
ceremony.
Speaking of graduation, here’s a preview of
the theme of my message this year:
Every year, I reflect on what I’ve learned
about – and from – our seniors over the course of four years. I then try to
personalize my message to graduates and their guests. I have found that the
Class of 2016 is a caring, thoughtful group whose members look out for each
other. Many see the school environment
as home to a large family; students support each other through the ups and
downs that come their way. It is this
characteristic upon which I hope to expound during my talk.
As they leave our district, I will encourage
seniors to push themselves and explore personal interests and opportunities for
growth. While it’s important to dedicate time and energy to one’s chosen path,
be it college, career, military service, or other avenues, I propose that
delving into one’s “bucket list” of personal dreams is equally valuable. I
further believe that putting off something for another day can sometimes result
in a missed opportunity.
Speaking of new challenges, I’m excited to
report that I have recently taken steps to ameliorate a missed opportunity of
my own. I have always wished I could play the piano. Now, with lessons from an
extremely patient teacher, I am finally playing music – with both hands, even! It’s
a slow process but I am loving it. No worries, Mr. Seymour: your job as music
instructor at CCSD is safe from me.
Now for some sports talk. How about the Pens? They seem to be poised to make a deep run
toward the Stanley Cup championship.
Could this be the year? Time will
tell. They have the right personnel, and
I really like their coach; however, having all the pieces doesn’t always
guarantee a win. Here’s hoping that the Pens’ pucks will consistently find the
back of their opponents’ nets. Let’s go
Pens!!
And how about the draft? While the Black and
Gold have some glaring needs on both sides of the ball, I admit to having mixed
feelings about several of their selections.
Despite the fact that I see myself as an
armchair expert, I have to trust that the team staff knew far more than I did
about the interactive dynamics of various players as they drafted for the
coming season. I just wish the season started…
tomorrow.
As we approach the summer break, I encourage
all students to make smart choices in the friends they hang out with, the
events they attend, and even the ways in which they network on the Internet. Please
have a safe, enjoyable and relaxing summer.
Congratulations to the 2016 graduates and to
their parents, relatives, friends, and others who have offered encouragement,
patience and a listening ear. As you leave
our district, remember: Red
Devil Pride never
graduates!
Good luck, seniors!
Enjoy your summer! Dr. D.
