The merry, merry month of May….

The merry, merry month of May….

To quote Jonathan Lockwood Huie, we should “celebrate endings-- for they precede new beginnings.” At Central Cambria, May has been a rather tumultuous month and a new beginning might be just what we need. At the same time I am reminded by my wife, a “mountain girl” in her childhood, that people in this area are justifiably proud of their ability to stand strong against more than capricious weather conditions. I am grateful for the show of support extended to teachers and administrators as they responded to a rash of unusual and potentially dangerous events. In life we come to expect that both good and bad things come in waves; since the month of May has been something of a tsunami, I hope earnestly that the tide is now turning and that we will be able to focus on the excitement of graduation.

Speaking of graduation, here’s a hint about the theme of my message this year:

Many years ago I often sat and listened to my parents, grandparents, and great aunts and uncles talk about their youth and the good times they had:  stories of how much coal was needed for the winter, or who would shovel it into the coal bin. I heard how they gathered around the family radio to listen to “The Shadow.” They called these the "Good Old Days," sometimes with an almost reverent tone in their voices. Interspersed in these conversations I heard weird phrases that sounded absurd to me as a child. As it turns out, I can recall quite a few that are perfect for an occasion as important as high school graduation. I’m excited to share my stories with you when we gather – my captive audience, ha ha! – at St. Francis.

Congratulations to all graduates this year, and to their parents, relatives, friends, and anyone else who has offered encouragement, patience and a listening ear.  As you leave our district, remember the strength of your family and your “mountain” upbringing as you represent CCSD and your heritage in a positive light.

Good luck, seniors!

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

Please allow me to extend my sincere appreciation to all students, staff, parents and Board members for making this an excellent school year for Central Cambria!  I am humbled by the caliber of people with whom I interact every day.

Now, I’ve held off for as long as I could but it’s time for some sports talk. Let’s hope that Pens fans can root for their team through the championship round.  And of course, with the completion of the NFL draft, we can only hope that Steelers management have drafted well.  To give us hope, history shows some truly great picks: Ben Roethlisberger, Casey Hampton, Heath Miller, Lynn Swann. At the same time, though, there have been some lesser picks (I’m thinking of four in particular but, “if I can’t say anything nice….”).  Since actual on-field performance several months from now (120 days, 7 hours and 23 minutes until the first game, if anyone is counting) will show who was a good pick and who was not, my dad, my uncle and I are having a great time speculating over coffee every Sunday.  I can’t wait.…

Enjoy your summer!  Dr. D.