Thursday, May 19, 2016

May, the month of rain...


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.

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