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    • 2021

Cañon City thrives through adventurous spirit, dynamic people, innovative schools, and historic charm.

Echoes from Cañon

Our Mission
The Cañon City School District is future-focused, providing innovative educational opportunities to successfully prepare all students to meet any challenge they may face.
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.

Our Core Beliefs in Action

PictureThe Pride's Sonic fundraiser was successful!
Last week the Cañon City High School, thanks to leadership from Kevin Marushack, conducted a fundraiser on behalf of The Pride, local small business, and local health-care workers and first responders.  It turns out this was the best Wednesday Sonic fundraiser The Pride has yet held.   $370.05 was raised on the meal percentage.  This was matched at a level of $300 match Mandy Reed from The Reed Insurance Agency, a $200 match from Starika Carwash, and a $100 match from the Cañon City High School Band Boosters. This brought the total to just over $970.  The Pride is investing these funds at Itty Bitty Bakery, who will bake plenty of goodies for the hospital, the care centers in town, and the fire and police departments. Wonderful!

Last week Instructional Technology Coach Dan Coppa shared some positive news as it relates to our desire to develop skills and traits in students.   He reported, "It has been really cool to see so many students showing agency by calling the Technology Help Hotline on their own when they are experiencing difficulties. We have recieved more calls from students than parents!" 

Don't forget the Hotline number is 719-276-5808.

Just before spring break, we received a $5,000 donation, for the third year in a row, from Tezak Construction.  These funds will be deposited in the CCEOE Foundation account to be spent on scholarships for intern and apprentice program completers.  Thanks!

Our Future Focus

PictureGovernor Polis sports a mask.
Late last week Governor Jared Polis announced he is extending the order to close schools in Colorado through the end of the day April 30th.  This means the earliest we might start school as normal is Monday, May 4th.  During his speech, the Governor offered a bit of a shout out to Cañon City School District staff for great work being done to put in place digital instruction during the crisis.  

On Friday Governor Polis asked all Coloradans to wear face masks whenever in public, so we have put in place a plan for all essential employees to wear them when conducting school district duties.  We hope those of you who are able to work from home will respect the order as well.  

Our Focus on Safety and Wellness

Picture
The Cañon City Police Department has been getting reports that groups of juveniles are congregating in parks and going to parties during the stay at home order. 

The police ask parents to please help express the severity of COVID-19 and discuss the Governor's orders to shelter in place and wear masks in public with our younger citizens. 

The Governor’s order asks folks to only leave home for a necessary activity as defined in the order, with gatherings no larger than 10 people who also maintain a six-foot physical distance at all times. 

Citizens can go outside for activity and fresh air by taking walks, spending time in their yard, but not by congregating in public places. 

We know this can be challenging for young people who may not grasp the severity of the situation, but we need everyone's help to make them understand. 

The penalty for violating the Governor’s stay at home order can be up to $1,000 fine and/or a year in jail. 

While charging teens or those who allow the order to be broken on their property is not their first choice, the CCPD will be enforcing these rules to make sure we stem the spread of the virus. 

Canon City ordinance 9.48.020 which has been in existence since 1995 already set a curfew for those under the age of eighteen to prevent them from loitering or aimlessly driving or riding around between the following times.

Saturday 12:01 am – 6:00 am 
Sunday 12:01 am - 6: 00 am
Sunday 10:00 pm – 6:00 am
Monday 10:00 pm – 6:00 am
Tuesday 10:00 pm – 6:00 am
Wednesday 10:00 pm – 6:00 am
Thursday 10:00 pm – 6:00 am

The Governor’s order is meant to stop the spread of COVID-19 to save lives.


Override and Bond Progress

Picture
Picture
Work has begun on the Tiger Dome floor and bleacher replacement project.
Because school is closed for the foreseeable future, our operations crew began work last week on a major project slated to replace the floor and lower bleacher sections of the Tiger Dome.  They have already begun removing bleachers and portions of the gym floor.  Once this demolition is done, a brand new wood floor will be installed as well as two sets of bleachers, one for each side of the court.  This project was made possible because of extra dollars available for maintenance and upgrades through our mill levy override, along with rural sustainability project funding allocated by the legislature last year.  

Last Week

PictureSchool staffs all over the district were on hand to distribute learning materials to students.
I conducted most of my work from home last week.  On Monday I publish an issue of this blog and checked out the Boys and Girls Club essential worker childcare program that launched at Cañon Exploratory School.  Throughout the week I promoted our K-5 digital learning kickoff by interviewing each of our elementary principals.  I'll focus on Social Emotional wellness of staff and students, did some Google Hangout meeting surfing, and conducted a facility walkthrough with Stacie Kwitek from Fremont County Department of Human Services.  I also began work on a student and parent feedback survey about grade 6-12 digital instruction, caught up on federal programs reporting to the Colorado Department of Education, and did some preparation work for our upcoming Master Agreement negotiation session with CCEA.

This Week

PictureMany schools are being creative with digital learning. Harrison has been holding spirit days, including Rainbow Day last week!
This week we have a bi-annual negotiation session with the Cañon City Education Association all day Monday. This, of course, will be done in a Google Hangout.  On Tuesday I'll phone KRLN's Morning Line program fro my monthly interview, conduct a directors meeting, and then attend a Colorado Safe Schools Resource Center meeting through a Zoom connection. On Wednesday I have an Opportunity Coalition legislative advocacy call-in, a regional superintendent Hangout meeting, and Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman and I will calibrate the mid-year reviews completed before spring break.  On Thursday morning Cañon Exploratory School will hold interviews for its next principal, I'll attend the Pikes Peak Alliance meeting by phone, and I'll hold a special principal meeting to discuss our new normal.  On Friday we have time set aside for a follow-up negotiation session in the morning and I have a CCESPA leadership touching base scheduled. 

Thanks to all for listening once again.

George S. Welsh

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