August

It’s that time again…

As we begin the month of August, a quote by Dr. Seuss, one of my favorite authors, comes to mind: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Summer is fading but we should all revel in the time we spent with our families, on vacation, working around the house, or just lounging on a hammock to catch a summer breeze.

In addition to cooler weather and shorter days, August ushers in a new school year and all that accompanies it. When my children were in school, August was replete with last minute medical, dental and eye appointments, and marathon shopping expeditions for clothes, backpacks, binders and all the other accoutrements that kids seem to need for that next year of school. There was a certain amount of selling going on in my household as well: my wife and I tried to convince our second son that his older brother’s hand-me-downs were still “cool” while the kids worked to convince us that it was in our best interest to buy for them Jansport backpacks (sure, they were twice as expensive as other brands, but they included a lifetime warranty!). I must say that, for the DiLeo clan, compromise was another integral part of the August back-to-school adventure….

Even more important than the clothes and supplies is the need for families to help their children to have a positive learning attitude throughout the school year (it’s true, kids: LeBron sneakers are not the #1 concern…). Children of all ages are acutely attuned to their parents’ interest and attitude about school. We at Central Cambria work hard to educate the whole child in an environment that is safe, healthy and robust. Family support has a significant impact of student outcomes. While challenges may arise, communication and mutual support between home and school will resolve most issues. With this in mind, I encourage families to involve school staff and administrators whenever their children are in need of support.

This final month of freedom will be busy for all families with school-age children. Personally, I don’t miss the expense of back-to-school activities but I have fond memories of the frenzy and excitement that accompanied the start of each new academic year. Have fun during these waning weeks of summer; see you soon for another productive, safe and rewarding school year!

Dr. D.