Echoes from Cañon
Our Core Beliefs
1. We meet the social-emotional needs of all students, putting Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs before Bloom’s Taxonomy.
2. We believe learning growth matters most, requires risk-taking, and the work we do in our schools has the greatest impact on this.
3. We’re future-focused, believing the development of certain traits and skills will best prepare our students for ever-changing careers.
4. We emphasize what is good for kids over the needs and comfort of adults.
1. We meet the social-emotional needs of all students, putting Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs before Bloom’s Taxonomy.
2. We believe learning growth matters most, requires risk-taking, and the work we do in our schools has the greatest impact on this.
3. We’re future-focused, believing the development of certain traits and skills will best prepare our students for ever-changing careers.
4. We emphasize what is good for kids over the needs and comfort of adults.
Our Core Beliefs in Action
Ty Stefanie, shown with PCC-Fremont Executive Dean Linda Stetter in front of an image of his welding creation.
The Pueblo Community College-Fremont Campus held its Spring Art Show on Wednesday, April 24th and CCHS student Dylan “Ty” Stefanie won the Dean’s Choice Award for his welding piece titled “Tribal Shark.” It was even purchased by Dean Linda Stetter and will soon be displayed in the Go!Zone on campus! Congratulations to Ty, and thank you for taking this risk to grow!
Congratulations are due once again to Cañon City High School Vocational Computer Assisted Design Teacher Scott Smith. Last week we learned his students were among the top Solidworks certification earners in the state of Colorado. With 35 Solidworks certifications earned, CCHS ranked 6th in the state. Considering the top 5 ranking high schools come from the 5A classification size, this is quite impressive work. Mr. Smith said, " I think that's amazing, especially when considering Solidworks training is only about 40% of our curriculum and we focus on the application of the program as a design tool in the larger design process, not solely on passing the certification test." Thanks so much for your hard work on this front, Mr. Smith, you truly exemplify our desire to be future focused!
Many readers have heard the Cañon City community suffered the tragic loss of a student in a drowning incident late last week, This is a situation in which it is impossible to find a silver lining. I offer prayers to the family impacted and deeply thank those who've already reached out to support them in various ways. I also want to thank our staff who, in a very short time period, mobilized resources and information to support the family, as well as to meet the social-emotional needs of the many children and adults who have been greatly impacted by this loss. There is a reason our first core belief is about social-emotional wellness and this was certainly on display last Friday. No doubt it will continue to be as we move forward.
Congratulations are due once again to Cañon City High School Vocational Computer Assisted Design Teacher Scott Smith. Last week we learned his students were among the top Solidworks certification earners in the state of Colorado. With 35 Solidworks certifications earned, CCHS ranked 6th in the state. Considering the top 5 ranking high schools come from the 5A classification size, this is quite impressive work. Mr. Smith said, " I think that's amazing, especially when considering Solidworks training is only about 40% of our curriculum and we focus on the application of the program as a design tool in the larger design process, not solely on passing the certification test." Thanks so much for your hard work on this front, Mr. Smith, you truly exemplify our desire to be future focused!
Many readers have heard the Cañon City community suffered the tragic loss of a student in a drowning incident late last week, This is a situation in which it is impossible to find a silver lining. I offer prayers to the family impacted and deeply thank those who've already reached out to support them in various ways. I also want to thank our staff who, in a very short time period, mobilized resources and information to support the family, as well as to meet the social-emotional needs of the many children and adults who have been greatly impacted by this loss. There is a reason our first core belief is about social-emotional wellness and this was certainly on display last Friday. No doubt it will continue to be as we move forward.
Our Future Focus
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Nearly 200 CCHS students interviewed for intern and apprentice opportunities with local business leaders.
Last Thursday the Cañon City High School PaICE program hosted its annual intern and apprentice job fair in the Tiger Dome.
During the event, local employers interviewed hundreds of Cañon City High School students seeking job shadowing opportunties during the 2019-20 school year. I remember not so long ago when the Cañon City High School library was big enough to host this annual event. The fact it must now take place in the Tiger Dome demonstrates how it has grown over the past three years.
Also last Thursday, our Civic Canopy community engagement work continued as we held our third gathering. At this session, participants viewed data related to aspects of the community we would like to highlight or improve to better attract and retain quality educators. The final of four engagement sessions will take place on Thursday, May 30th, when we'll create plans to take action.
During the event, local employers interviewed hundreds of Cañon City High School students seeking job shadowing opportunties during the 2019-20 school year. I remember not so long ago when the Cañon City High School library was big enough to host this annual event. The fact it must now take place in the Tiger Dome demonstrates how it has grown over the past three years.
Also last Thursday, our Civic Canopy community engagement work continued as we held our third gathering. At this session, participants viewed data related to aspects of the community we would like to highlight or improve to better attract and retain quality educators. The final of four engagement sessions will take place on Thursday, May 30th, when we'll create plans to take action.
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Civic Canopy Public Engagement participants brainstormed and shared ides last Thursday.
Override Progress
Interviews for a second instructional technology support coach were conducted on Friday and we're hopeful we'll land a great person to support the work coordinator Dan Coppa is doing with middle and high school teachers.
Bond Progress
The new grounds shop was taking shape after one day of steel erection.
Last week we met with our Design-Build Team to determine construction costs for our CCMS and Washington projects based on final plans and competitive bidding. Both are coming in a bit higher than we hoped. However, they are also well within our contingency budgets.
Meanwhile, our new grounds shop and technology recycling/repair facility just to the west of the high school is rising out of the ground, while at the same time construction crews are already digging deep into the soil to the north and west of the 1925 structure at Cañon City Middle School to prepare a solid foundation for the new commons, life skills, and eighth grade class wing that will occupy that space.
Meanwhile, our new grounds shop and technology recycling/repair facility just to the west of the high school is rising out of the ground, while at the same time construction crews are already digging deep into the soil to the north and west of the 1925 structure at Cañon City Middle School to prepare a solid foundation for the new commons, life skills, and eighth grade class wing that will occupy that space.
Last Week
Brian Turner from Solvista shares how his organization is supporting our twice yearly social-emotional screening process.
Last Monday I conducted two principal evaluations and attended a board work session and meeting. On Tuesday we had a monthly Instructional Leader Professional Learning Community meeting and on Wednesday we had a construction pricing meeting and a board strategic planning session. On Thursday I was in Denver to attend an Early Childhood Leadership Commission meeting, to present with Social-Emotional Learning Coordinator Jamie Murray and Solvista CEO Brian Turner at a statewide Mental Health Summit, and to testify on legislation related to the Building Excellent Schools Today program. I then made it back to Cañon City just in time to attend our third Civic Canopy community engagement session. On Friday I attended a regional superintendent meeting as well as the annual Pueblo Community College Hall of Fame induction banquet.
This Week
On Monday morning we'll hold a McKinley Elementry Turnaround Support Meeting. I'll then conduct an expulsion hearing, attend a meeting to plan our upcoming Washington Elementary new construction groundbreaking ceremony, and meet with a group of citizens interested in expanding recreational opportunities for citizens of the community. On Tuesday we'll hold a Superintendent Advisory Council meeting, I'll conduct another expulsion hearing, and I'll meet with a scholarship selection committee. On Wednesday I have a central office staff meeting, a final legislative advocacy phone conference, and then I'll travel to Keystone to attend a School-Based Health Center statewide conference that takes place on Thursday and Friday.
Other Voices
Last week four soon to be PCC-Gateway to College graduates shared their experiences with our board of education.
Each spring it has become a tradition where Cañon City Board of Education members engage Pueblo Community College Gateway to College students prior to their high school graduation ceremony. Last week the Cañon City Board did so once again. Though not all graduates could be present, we were excited to hear the stories of four soon to be Gateway graduates. Each shared the unique challenges they overcame and how they each earned in the neighborhood of 20 college credits along the way, We're extremely excited to present a total of nine Gateway students with Cañon City High School diplomas on the evening of Monday May 20th. We thank our partners at Pueblo Community College for making this amazing program available to our students!
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
