Right around the corner...

You know the fall season is coming when…

…the soccer teams are going through their drills

…the marching band is preparing for football games

…the football team has its overnighter

…cross country runners are logging miles

Summer will soon be a memory and school will be in session once again – and we’re ready!!

The JES sewer project is complete and we are now in compliance with township sewer codes. Classrooms and furniture in all the buildings have been thoroughly cleaned and arranged, thanks to Greg Shaffer and his crew of hard workers. The road patching around the main campus has been completed, along with the sealing and relining of several parking lots. InShore has been busy preparing and updating the technology needs of each building. First Student transportation has been working with the District’s transportation coordinator to set bus routes, stops and pick up/drop off times. Of course there are numerous other summer tasks that have been completed; these are just the ones that relate directly to the arrival of students. Suffice it to say that summer is a busy, busy time for all those involved in getting the District ready for the upcoming year.

As you may have noticed, we have installed a gate above CES. The times for open/closing are:

· Open first day of the school week at 6am

· Closed during the day at 9:15am

· Re-opened during the school day at 2pm

· Closed at 11pm on the last day of the school week and reopened at 6am on the morning of the first student day of the next week (this means that the road is closed when students are not in school)

The gate is intended to protect the campus while school is in session and to reduce the amount of traffic on our road system.

Congratulations to all students and staff for making AYP again this year. 11^th grade students will not take the PSSA this year—don’t sigh with relief just yet. These students will instead take the Keystone exams; more on this as testing time draws near.

Finally, what would my blog be without some mention of football at this time of year? I can now look forward to my gridiron fanaticism with great glee. As I had said last year at this time – “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.” But I am nonetheless thankful that it is finally here.

I look forward to another wonderful opening day this year as we begin the 2012-13 school year. I wish each student and staff member a wonderful, productive and safe school year. Let’s hope we have a beautiful fall with vibrant colors and that winter is similar to last year.

DR. D

Oh Summertime....

“Summertime, but is the living easy…?

Yea! it’s summertime; the official start of summer is almost here with the summer solstice occurring June 21. It is what many of us have been waiting for, but from June 21 on, until winter solstice in December, the sun will leave us a few minutes earlier each day. Heavy sigh… As she does every year, my wonderful wife Judy, who is by nature an early-to-bed/early-to-rise person, will make it a point to stay up as late as possible (for her) on June 21.

In my opinion, summertime is not necessarily easy for CCSD’s 12-month employees. A surprising number of activities take place during the summer months to prepare for the new school year. For one thing, prior to the arrival of staff and students, all buildings are organized, repaired, patched, painted and cleaned from top to bottom. Greg Shaffer and his staff work very hard, both inside and out, in the heat of the summer, to get buildings and grounds in top shape for the beginning of the school year. And, while there are no construction projects this summer, we are currently managing the process of replacing old terra cotta sewer lines.

On the administrative level, records are maintained/updated and distributed across grade levels and schools, and between districts. Then, based on population shifts, materials for the coming school year are ordered.
Bus routes are reviewed and adjusted according to the same information.
From my own perspective, one thing that remains constant at all times of the year is the number of meetings I attend.

With all that goes on while students are enjoying some well-deserved summer fun, it’s nice to know that there remains a more casual air among those of us working to ready our facilities for the coming school year. The tempo, while still brisk, is a change of routine that refreshes our spirits.

On the home front, my wife and I are now blessed with three wonderful grandchildren. Our eldest son and his wife, are the proud parents of our first granddaughter. She is (if I do say so myself!) a doll with a beautiful smile and lots of hair. We have many trips and activities planned with our kids and grandkids this summer. Among these is a weeklong stay at the beach. I enjoy the beach about as much as I like needles BUT I love being with my family. They all assure me that I’ll have fun – I’ll let you know in September whether or not they were right.

Strange things can happen during the summer. Who would guess the Pirates were tied for first in their division, briefly, but still sporting a winning record for the middle of June. Or that speedy receiver Mike (60 minutes) Wallace of the Steelers would still be unsigned. OTAs are done for most NFL teams and that means training camp is not that far away. Life is good.

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

Dr. D.

Time to celebrate

On Monday, April 23, 2012, our school district saw SNOW: windswept squalls and quite a bit of 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 was sorry about the need to call our first snow day in April, but I was also oddly comforted to see that being “up the mountain” still meant living in extreme and unpredictable conditions.

I believe that everyone should be “fussy” at some point in life. Let me explain: 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. When making important career decisions they should not settle for “whatever” but be fussy and selective as these decisions will surely define who they are and who they will become. (This is a clue as to what I plan to speak about during the graduation ceremony.) 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.

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, remember to be a “fussy” alumnus in life.

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 and social media sites. Please have a safe, enjoyable and relaxing summer.

Finally, 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.