25January2009

News Letter January 24, 2009

Bright and sunny, a veritable heat wave at 40-degrees. No snow has fallen in a few days but this stuff on the ground just doesn't seem to melt.
Ken Gottry, '68

CCS District Superintendent Search
As some of you may already know, Dan Severson '60, is retiring this year as CCS District Superintendent. We're working on getting an up-close-n-personal interview with Dan. Watch for it in a future newsletter.

While poking around the CCS school website.I found this description of the job. Maybe we can get another alum to apply.

The Cambridge Central School District Board of Education seeks a superintendent with exceptional leadership ability and high standards of excellence. The successful candidate will lead our high-performing district to greater academic achievement, broader educational opportunity, and deeper student engagement.Dr. John L. Stoothoff, District Superintendent of Schools for the WSWHE BOCES, is pleased to assist the Cambridge School District with their District Superintendent search.

But what really caught me eye was a brochure describing CCS and Cambridge to prospective candidates. The brochure is fantastic. The photos are beautiful and the description of the school's values is perfect. It really captures the essence of the school and the community. Oh yes, did I mention there was a quote by me in it ;-) For all you alums who want to show off your hometown and your high school to your current friends and neighbors, I recommend downloading and printing a copy of this brochure. You can find it at

Bright and sunny, a veritable heat wave at 40-degrees. No snow has fallen in a few days but this stuff on the ground just doesn't seem to melt.
Ken Gottry, '68

CCS District Superintendent Search
As some of you may already know, Dan Severson '60, is retiring this year as CCS District Superintendent. We're working on getting an up-close-n-personal interview with Dan. Watch for it in a future newsletter.

While poking around the CCS school website. I found this description of the job. Maybe we can get another alum to apply.

The Cambridge Central School District Board of Education seeks a superintendent with exceptional leadership ability and high standards of excellence. The successful candidate will lead our high-performing district to greater academic achievement, broader educational opportunity, and deeper student engagement. Dr. John L. Stoothoff, District Superintendent of Schools for the WSWHE BOCES, is pleased to assist the Cambridge School District with their District Superintendent search.

But what really caught me eye was a brochure describing CCS and Cambridge to prospective candidates. The brochure is fantastic. The photos are beautiful and the description of the school's values is perfect. It really captures the essence of the school and the community. Oh yes, did I mention there was a quote by me in it ;-) For all you alums who want to show off your hometown and your high school to your current friends and neighbors, I recommend downloading and printing a copy of this brochure. You can find it at (http://www.cambridgecsd.org/cambridge_supt_brchr.pdf).

Class Field Trips?
CCS Seniors.used to take a class trip in the Spring of their senior year, most often to Washington, DC I've heard. The trips ended with the class of 1962. Anyone know which was the first class to go, the one to set the precedent? How did you ever convince the school, and the parents, to do it?

But, then someone mentioned Fairdale Farms to me last week and I suddenly remembered that the elementary classes used to have local field trips. Fairdale Farms stands out in my mind. maybe Howe Cavern but that seems too far away for a day trip. Catskill Game Farm, maybe on a Saturday? I think the more recent alums took field trips to local businesses, but I don't have any details.

Anyone have any such memories of local field trips to share?

Salem? Salem?
Most of us have images of Salem from our youth. Playing sports in their tiny, tiny gymnasium. Meeting your Salem buddies a the half-way point ... the Log Cabin or Oasis (for soda only. No beer, right?) Driving down Main Street in Salem thinking how much more beautiful and tree-lined our Main Street was. The Old Oaken Bucket competition. The summer sports program. The parades.

Well, someone mentioned to me last week that Salem came within a few votes of being the FIRST CAPITOL OF NEW YORK! I recall from my NYS history class (taught by Rob Hayden and Ethel Sherin) that Kingston was the first capitol of NY but not much more about the vote. I have learned that Cambridge and Salem were on the main northern route from NYC to Canada as far back as 1799 when the Northern Turnpike connected Lansingburgh to Granville (our Turnpike Road and Route 22 were a major portion of that turnpike). Little by little I'm learning that many prominent people in NY's development lived in and around Salem.

Anyone else ever heard this story?

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Class Field Trips?
CCS Seniors used to take a class trip in the Spring of their senior year, most often to Washington, DC I've heard. The trips ended with the class of 1962. Anyone know which was the first class to go, the one to set the precedent? How did you ever convince the school, and the parents, to do it?

But, then someone mentioned Fairdale Farms to me last week and I suddenly remembered that the elementary classes used to have local field trips. Fairdale Farms stands out in my mind. maybe Howe Cavern but that seems too far away for a day trip. Catskill Game Farm, maybe on a Saturday? I think the more recent alums took field trips to local businesses, but I don't have any details.

Anyone have any such memories of local field trips to share?

Salem? Salem?
Most of us have images of Salem from our youth. Playing sports in their tiny, tiny gymnasium. Meeting your Salem buddies a the half-way point ... the Log Cabin or Oasis (for soda only. No beer, right?) Driving down Main Street in Salem thinking how much more beautiful and tree-lined our Main Street was. The Old Oaken Bucket competition. The summer sports program. The parades.

Well, someone mentioned to me last week that Salem came within a few votes of being the FIRST CAPITOL OF NEW YORK! I recall from my NYS history class (taught by Rob Hayden and Ethel Sherin) that Kingston was the first capitol of NY but not much more about the vote. I have learned that Cambridge and Salem were on the main northern route from NYC to Canada as far back as 1799 when the Northern Turnpike connected Lansingburgh to Granville (our Turnpike Road and Route 22 were a major portion of that turnpike). Little by little I'm learning that many prominent people in NY's development lived in and around Salem.

Anyone else ever heard this story?