Giving thanks….
Giving thanks for going back to school?! Why?! I could cite many reasons, but I will limit myself to a select few.
I am thankful and proud that our district will start the school year on the positive coattails of having once again met and/or exceeded AYP last year. Kudos to all the staff and students for the hard work and preparation that went into the pre-PSSA classroom activities.
I am thankful that Jackson Elementary has a beautiful multipurpose room and an elevator. The staff and students will get many years of use from this room.
I am thankful that we have a new middle school. It is truly breathtaking when one first walks in the main entrance. Renovations of rooms in the high school are also done and offer a very nice learning environment.
I am also thankful when I see so many student athletes and band members practicing on school grounds. I am always amazed at the commitment shown by these young adults who practice unflaggingly regardless of extreme heat, drenching rain, and numbing cold.
I am thankful for the efforts of our regular maintenance staff and summer help. Moving furniture and materials from the previous middle school to the new building more than doubled the workload for these people. We should all take time to thank Greg Shaffer and his staff for the extra effort they expended this summer in preparing for the opening day of school.
So, even though some may not be thankful for this time of year (kids, you know who you are), there are many reasons to return with a smile on your face. I do know some parents are beginning to smile a little more broadly as we approach the opening day of school.
Not to disappoint, what would my blog be without some mention of football at this time of year? With the NFL lockout ending (thankfully), I can now begin to look forward to my gridiron fanaticism with 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 still thankful that, as we start another year of education, football is finally here.
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 the winter snows take their time getting here.
DR. D
Friday, August 19, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Ah, yes, Summertime is here...
“Summertime is finally here....”
Yes, summer is here and the summer solstice has come and gone. June 21 is when the sun is at its peak in North America. From this point, until winter solstice in December, the sun will leave us a few minutes earlier each day.
All buildings are now being cleaned, arranged and organized prior to the arrival of staff and students; records are maintained/updated and distributed. The construction and renovation activities will cause some added work for our summertime workers, as we prepare to move into our new MS. After taking a local TV station through the building yesterday, it is clear that all will be please with the facilities. July 8 is the official move-in date. Greg Shaffer and his staff work very hard to get buildings and grounds in top shape for the beginning of the school year. I wish to note the efforts of our corps of summer workers as they work tirelessly in the heat of the summer, inside and outside the buildings.
As the building projects at Jackson and the Middle School near completion I encourage you to log onto the district’s web site and check out the “Construction Pictures” section to see how the projects are progressing. I continue to meet with the contractors and clerk of the works, coordinating the final details of each project. However, the minor inconveniences we face now will fade from our thoughts when our students—the reason for our existence! - enjoy the result of our efforts. I want to reiterate my appreciation for the efforts of our district’s committed families and school board members.
As she does every year, my wonderful wife Judy, who is by nature an early-to-bed person, makes it a point to stay up as late as possible (for her) on June 21. She is determined to catch the last glimpse of daylight on the longest day of the year. I believe this helps her cope with how quickly summer fades into fall. She knows that autumn is my favorite time of year but I’m careful to keep talk of football, leaves, hunting, etc., to a minimum until after June 21.
Enjoy what is left of June, and have a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday!
Dr. D.
Yes, summer is here and the summer solstice has come and gone. June 21 is when the sun is at its peak in North America. From this point, until winter solstice in December, the sun will leave us a few minutes earlier each day.
All buildings are now being cleaned, arranged and organized prior to the arrival of staff and students; records are maintained/updated and distributed. The construction and renovation activities will cause some added work for our summertime workers, as we prepare to move into our new MS. After taking a local TV station through the building yesterday, it is clear that all will be please with the facilities. July 8 is the official move-in date. Greg Shaffer and his staff work very hard to get buildings and grounds in top shape for the beginning of the school year. I wish to note the efforts of our corps of summer workers as they work tirelessly in the heat of the summer, inside and outside the buildings.
As the building projects at Jackson and the Middle School near completion I encourage you to log onto the district’s web site and check out the “Construction Pictures” section to see how the projects are progressing. I continue to meet with the contractors and clerk of the works, coordinating the final details of each project. However, the minor inconveniences we face now will fade from our thoughts when our students—the reason for our existence! - enjoy the result of our efforts. I want to reiterate my appreciation for the efforts of our district’s committed families and school board members.
As she does every year, my wonderful wife Judy, who is by nature an early-to-bed person, makes it a point to stay up as late as possible (for her) on June 21. She is determined to catch the last glimpse of daylight on the longest day of the year. I believe this helps her cope with how quickly summer fades into fall. She knows that autumn is my favorite time of year but I’m careful to keep talk of football, leaves, hunting, etc., to a minimum until after June 21.
Enjoy what is left of June, and have a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday!
Dr. D.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Rain, rain and more rain....
Rain, Rain and more rain…
If April showers bring May flowers, what do May showers bring? After so many days of rainy, inclement weather in May, I am sure everyone would like to conjure up an answer to that question. For my part, “all rain and no sun” have led to a quieter-than-usual ending to the school year.
This is the time of the school year during which I conduct senior exit interviews and gather information for my graduation speech. I truly enjoy sitting down with a cadre of seniors to ask them about their time at Central Cambria, I hear what they liked, didn’t like, how the pork chopettes and Hollywood squares were, and many other tidbits that I really should put in a book some day. Soon to leave the district for good, seniors feel no need to hold back on their opinions and comments.
Many had questions of their own: about the middle school students coming into their building next year, how the cafeteria will be structured to handle the larger number of students, even about budgetary issues (I knew these kids were sharp). The majority of the people who met with me said that they feel well-prepared for life after high school. Many expressed sadness that their time at CCSD was coming to a rapid end (sorry, teachers, they specifically named their friends as being the people they will miss the most). I interview 20-25% of the senior class for two reasons: first, of course, I want to share their responses with their parents, teachers, relatives and friends during my graduation speech. The second reason for the interviews is actually much more important: I want to know, from their own perspective, how our students rate our performance as educators and mentors.
Many thanks to those who took the budget survey on our district homepage. Almost 800 respondents provided insight into common priorities and concerns as we work through our budget for next year and the years to come. Again, I encourage you to contact our local legislators to let them know how the governor’s cut in funding to basic education will have a negative impact on young people across the state. I believe that our solidarity is one very important reason that Harrisburg is at least now listening to the concerns of constituents associated with education as families, community members, taxpayers, and educators.
Congratulations to all graduating seniors, as well as to their parents, relatives and friends on their achievements as they move forward. June 9th will mark the start of their journey into the “real world.” All of us at Central Cambria wish them happiness and satisfaction in their future endeavors.
Dr. D.
If April showers bring May flowers, what do May showers bring? After so many days of rainy, inclement weather in May, I am sure everyone would like to conjure up an answer to that question. For my part, “all rain and no sun” have led to a quieter-than-usual ending to the school year.
This is the time of the school year during which I conduct senior exit interviews and gather information for my graduation speech. I truly enjoy sitting down with a cadre of seniors to ask them about their time at Central Cambria, I hear what they liked, didn’t like, how the pork chopettes and Hollywood squares were, and many other tidbits that I really should put in a book some day. Soon to leave the district for good, seniors feel no need to hold back on their opinions and comments.
Many had questions of their own: about the middle school students coming into their building next year, how the cafeteria will be structured to handle the larger number of students, even about budgetary issues (I knew these kids were sharp). The majority of the people who met with me said that they feel well-prepared for life after high school. Many expressed sadness that their time at CCSD was coming to a rapid end (sorry, teachers, they specifically named their friends as being the people they will miss the most). I interview 20-25% of the senior class for two reasons: first, of course, I want to share their responses with their parents, teachers, relatives and friends during my graduation speech. The second reason for the interviews is actually much more important: I want to know, from their own perspective, how our students rate our performance as educators and mentors.
Many thanks to those who took the budget survey on our district homepage. Almost 800 respondents provided insight into common priorities and concerns as we work through our budget for next year and the years to come. Again, I encourage you to contact our local legislators to let them know how the governor’s cut in funding to basic education will have a negative impact on young people across the state. I believe that our solidarity is one very important reason that Harrisburg is at least now listening to the concerns of constituents associated with education as families, community members, taxpayers, and educators.
Congratulations to all graduating seniors, as well as to their parents, relatives and friends on their achievements as they move forward. June 9th will mark the start of their journey into the “real world.” All of us at Central Cambria wish them happiness and satisfaction in their future endeavors.
Dr. D.
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