Happy summer

Happy summer, everyone!!  Hopefully, the season will warm up and allow us all to relax and recharge before the fall.  Our maintenance staff and summer employees are already working very hard to clean all buildings and grounds.  Our Board of Directors has approved a new Multipurpose field across from the HS and has given the go-ahead to solicit bids for both softball and baseball drainage mitigation. I’m happy that we are able to provide such excellent facilities for our hard-working and successful athletes.

Speaking of which, the renovation of the high school gym is really taking shape.  We have quadrupled the lighting, doubled the speakers and added a new speaker control center; we’ve also painted the gym walls.  The floor is the next and final step in this process. (You know how it goes: when one part of a space needs to be repaired/updated – in this case, the gym floor –it makes sense to do the same for other parts of the area. At home, my wife is a master at this: a new front door led to an entire porch addition, a roof, and a sidewalk.) Things are on schedule to be done well before fall.  Our gym should be one of the premier facilities in the county.

The Skyward student information system we initiated in Fall 2015 has survived its first year in the district.  All of our support services, e.g., nursing, guidance, special education, cafeteria, etc. will now be under the Skyward umbrella.  Tracey Heeney, our Technical Services Specialist, has managed the switch from MMS.  Thanks, Tracey, for an exceptionally smooth transition.

Congratulations to the 144 seniors who recently graduated and to their families for being a positive part of their educational lives.  My interview with a cadre of these talented seniors was enlightening and informative.  As usual, Central Cambria has graduated a wonderful group of seniors.  While their influence and presence here will be greatly missed, I’m confident that we’ll hear great things about them over the years.

I must admit that I am standing as I type this blog; I’m thrilled to NOT be sitting, especially on my bike. My wife, daughter and I rode the MS 150-mile bike ride this past weekend. With hot weather, high winds and hills at every turn, I recognized two things about myself: first, bike seats should be bigger.  Second, I am not getting any younger. Here is a picture of the three of us at the finish.  The route went from Pittsburgh to Erie.  Thank you to those who donated to my ride on my Facebook page. 

On the subject of sports, I am thrilled that the Pens won the Stanley Cup.  It was a great year for them and all their fans.  Unfortunately, the Pirates have slumped in recent weeks as they are now 12 games behind division leader Chicago.  What a difference a year makes, eh? In football news, OTAs (Organized Training Activities) are now over for football rookies and training camp starts July 28 – hope springs eternal as I look for the Pens’ win to spark our Steelers to take serious aim at the Super Bowl.  I never wish a season away, but I am so ready for some football. 

Enjoy your families and what is left of June… go Bucs!

Dr. D.