Thursday, May 21, 2009

The Diplomas are Coming!

Each year our Board of Education President, Building Principal, and I get to sign each diploma. I had the privilege of signing the diplomas last week and that means that we are very close to the big day. I am very excited to be involved in my first ceremony as Superintendent of our school District. Watching parents, staff, and students come together before we release our children into the larger world is a very powerful experience, and I have the distinct honor of having a front row seat.

Last week we held a simulated DWI crash at the high school. I had done this type of exercise in my previous District about every two years and involved the juniors and seniors. I would like to continue that practice here. Having the Fire Department, Police, and Ambulance, all of whom are our parents and volunteers in the community working with our children about the dangers of drinking and driving is a very positive experience and one the students will not forget. I would like to personally thank all of those who helped to coordinate the exercise last Friday. (Click here to access pictures of the event from our District web site.)

The past few weeks have been a blur, but I can share with you that I have had a wonderful time attending honors’ dinners and breakfasts’, various concerts, games with national implications on the line (also win number 700 for our Boys Lacrosse Coach and win number 200 for our Girls Lacrosse Coach), the Senior Ball, and today the Special Olympics. I wish I could do a video blog of all of the wonderful things I get to see every day.

With the budget behind us, we now prepare for the end of the school year. There will be more awards, more games, and hopefully more warm weather. It is my hope that as we close out this school year and begin another, that we do so happy with what has happened since September. On paper we can celebrate our New York State School Report card, but in real life we should celebrate each of the days we have had together as successes, and I am looking forward to many more.

Chris

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Music in the Air

Since my last post I had the pleasure of attending the Junior Prom. It was a real treat for a couple of reasons. First, I enjoyed watching our students have a great time with each other. All to often we take our children for granted and Prom night is a great time to see that they indeed do have feelings, expression, and joy. Second, my wife and I have not missed a Prom or Ball in 15 years and we are looking forward to the Senior Ball next week.

Speaking of next week, please do not be alarmed next Friday morning if you are passing the high school and see emergency vehicles. We are working with local emergency officials to simulate a car crash to demonstrate to students the importance of making good decisions.

At this point we are celebrating our success on the New York State Assessments, wrapping up budget presentations, attending awards ceremonies and concerts, and planning for the end of this year and next year. While these are busy times, they are memorable times as well as we watch our children grow another year.

Finally, it is officially okay to not be alarmed by the "Swine Flu" or H1N1 as it is technically called. We received correspondence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and they are NOT recommending the closing of schools for confirmed cases of this type of flu. They still and always do recommend staying home if ill and washing hands as much as possible.

Those are the updates for now. Thanks and see you soon.

Chris