Echoes From Cañon
Our Mission and Core Beliefs
The Cañon City School District is future-focused, providing innovative educational opportunities to successfully prepare all students to meet any challenge they may face.
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.
The Cañon City School District is future-focused, providing innovative educational opportunities to successfully prepare all students to meet any challenge they may face.
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
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The greater Cañon City community has deeply embraced our first core belief, putting Maslow before Bloom, in the way it has invested in our Support a Senior program this spring!
Recently, the first round of gifting to the Class of 2021 took place. Those gifts that were dropped off at school were simply amazing and the seniors who received them were overjoyed. The school was filled with beaming faces and excited voices as gifts were presented. We heard similar stories about the gifts that were dropped off at the houses of seniors by their sponsors.
One student shared, “I received my gift after a very difficult day at school. The thought put into it made me feel truly special. It was the highlight of my week!"
Another added, "I would like to offer a huge thank you to my sponsor for all of the fun goodies that came in my beautifully wrapped package! Not only was everything personalized to me, it was quite a surprise to find a t-shirt from their business that I can wear in remembrance of their generosity!".
We have also heard stories from sponsors about how much fun it has been to be a part of this project. One commented, “I’m having so much fun shopping and delivering gifts to and getting to know my senior.” Another said, "We got to meet our senior and were very impressed. She’s an intelligent and well grounded young lady. It is our absolute pleasure to assist someone like that."
We thank each of you for participating in this wonderful project. It has truly made a difficult year much more enjoyable for the Class of 2021!
Recently, the first round of gifting to the Class of 2021 took place. Those gifts that were dropped off at school were simply amazing and the seniors who received them were overjoyed. The school was filled with beaming faces and excited voices as gifts were presented. We heard similar stories about the gifts that were dropped off at the houses of seniors by their sponsors.
One student shared, “I received my gift after a very difficult day at school. The thought put into it made me feel truly special. It was the highlight of my week!"
Another added, "I would like to offer a huge thank you to my sponsor for all of the fun goodies that came in my beautifully wrapped package! Not only was everything personalized to me, it was quite a surprise to find a t-shirt from their business that I can wear in remembrance of their generosity!".
We have also heard stories from sponsors about how much fun it has been to be a part of this project. One commented, “I’m having so much fun shopping and delivering gifts to and getting to know my senior.” Another said, "We got to meet our senior and were very impressed. She’s an intelligent and well grounded young lady. It is our absolute pleasure to assist someone like that."
We thank each of you for participating in this wonderful project. It has truly made a difficult year much more enjoyable for the Class of 2021!
Our Future Focus
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Board President Shad Johnson shared some words of wisdom at the Cañon City Middle School ribbon cutting ceremony. Vice-President Mary Kay Evans enjoyed the honors at the Washington Elementary Ceremony.
The Colorado Grand Lodge of the Masonic Order was kind enough to conduct two Cornerstone laying ceremonies on March 20th.
On Saturday March 20th the Cañon City School District had the rare pleasure of holding two Masonic cornerstone laying ceremonies and two grand opening ribbon cuttings for new schools.
These took place at Cañon City Middle School and Washington Elementary School.
At the Cañon City Middle School ribbon cutting ceremony, Board President Shad Johnson said, “What’s terrific to think about is all the learning that will take place in this building, both from instruction and from life as it unfolds. It has always amazed me how much we learn about ourselves through education. How many different ways there are to learn, and how different each one of us goes about learning. When it all comes together, whether science, gym, band, or shop, all of the learning can be done right here in your brand new Cañon City Middle School. To all the staff and students, thank you for your tenacity through the construction process, the complications of change and the time it takes to move a classroom, reorganize, and start again. It is outstanding how much patience you have shown, and more evidence about not only how much you like to teach and learn, but how great you are at it. Thank you from all of us!”
At the Washington Elementary ribbon cutting ceremony Board Vice-President Mary Kay Evans reminded everyone that the original Washington school was built in 1880 at the corner of Seventh Street and Macon Avenue.
“It was called Washington, but it was really known as The Public School,” she said. She added, “The Washington most of the community remembers will remember was built in 1950 at this site, as the district needed more classrooms and facilities to accommodate a growing number of children. This meant we had another 70 years of tradition. Today we are able to begin again with this awesome new structure due largely in part to the work of four women, Megan Merry-Numsen, Della Rieger, Jamie Davis and Kelly Albrecht, who invested countless hours on a committee to pass a bond and mill levy override. These women had no children at this school at that time, and yet they gave it their all.” Mary Kay ended by challenging today's nWashington students to be the best students and leaders they can be and to take pride and "bloom, right here where you are planted.”
The Washington construction project is pretty much complete. The Cañon City Middle School upgrade should wrap up in early fall 2021. Still to be addressed on the CCMS site are the removal of the 1970 wing of the school and the completion of ground work and parking flow.
The total cost of these two projects was just under $60 million dollars. However, thanks to the district securing a Building Excellent Schools Today grant in the spring of 2018, the cost to Cañon City taxpayers was only $14 million.
These took place at Cañon City Middle School and Washington Elementary School.
At the Cañon City Middle School ribbon cutting ceremony, Board President Shad Johnson said, “What’s terrific to think about is all the learning that will take place in this building, both from instruction and from life as it unfolds. It has always amazed me how much we learn about ourselves through education. How many different ways there are to learn, and how different each one of us goes about learning. When it all comes together, whether science, gym, band, or shop, all of the learning can be done right here in your brand new Cañon City Middle School. To all the staff and students, thank you for your tenacity through the construction process, the complications of change and the time it takes to move a classroom, reorganize, and start again. It is outstanding how much patience you have shown, and more evidence about not only how much you like to teach and learn, but how great you are at it. Thank you from all of us!”
At the Washington Elementary ribbon cutting ceremony Board Vice-President Mary Kay Evans reminded everyone that the original Washington school was built in 1880 at the corner of Seventh Street and Macon Avenue.
“It was called Washington, but it was really known as The Public School,” she said. She added, “The Washington most of the community remembers will remember was built in 1950 at this site, as the district needed more classrooms and facilities to accommodate a growing number of children. This meant we had another 70 years of tradition. Today we are able to begin again with this awesome new structure due largely in part to the work of four women, Megan Merry-Numsen, Della Rieger, Jamie Davis and Kelly Albrecht, who invested countless hours on a committee to pass a bond and mill levy override. These women had no children at this school at that time, and yet they gave it their all.” Mary Kay ended by challenging today's nWashington students to be the best students and leaders they can be and to take pride and "bloom, right here where you are planted.”
The Washington construction project is pretty much complete. The Cañon City Middle School upgrade should wrap up in early fall 2021. Still to be addressed on the CCMS site are the removal of the 1970 wing of the school and the completion of ground work and parking flow.
The total cost of these two projects was just under $60 million dollars. However, thanks to the district securing a Building Excellent Schools Today grant in the spring of 2018, the cost to Cañon City taxpayers was only $14 million.
CCMS students line up to cut the ceremonial ribbon.
Applying Our Traits and Skills
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Anthony Piquette, TJ Evagash and James Henry earned top honors in the Wonder League Robotics World Championship in the 12-14 age group. Their school received a $5,000 grand prize!
Thanks to tenacity and agility displayed by technology teacher Karin Steadman, Harrison School and Mountain View Core Knowledge Charter School have developed a robotics team of international notoriety! For the past four years Ms. Steadman has prepared teams to enter the Wonder League Robotics competition, placing nationally in 2019 and 2020.
Believe it or not, this year's top performing team consisting of TJ Evagash, a 7th grader at Harrison, and Anthony Piquette and James Henry, 6th graders from Mountain View, won the world title!
The Wonder League Robotics Competition began in 2015 and has reached over 86,500 kids over the last five years. Through a series of story-based missions, teams develop problem-solving, growth mindset, and creativity skills while learning to code. Wonder Workshop’s special coding programs, Blockly and Wonder, inspire an early love of coding, computer science, tangible learning, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education using little robots named Dash and Cue.
After earning his way into the Invitational Round for three years running, and making the top five two years in a row, TJ reflected on the work done by previous grand prize winners and as a result worked to improve his video production skills and his reflective journaling, thereby helping judges to see progress made along the journey. This effectively told the story of his team’s successes and failures during the intense four week long dash.
This year's challenge required the team to create a set design, engineer, code, create a video, write a script, and to research the Arkansas River and the impact it has on our region and those downstream. Of course, success required lots of collaboration, innovation, tenacity, agility, and by the team.
Ms. Steadman offers thanks and appreciation to Harrison's PTO and Athletic Department for supporting her Computer Club over the past few years, as well as the SPLASH program for supporting coding for students during their summer enrichment classes.
Believe it or not, this year's top performing team consisting of TJ Evagash, a 7th grader at Harrison, and Anthony Piquette and James Henry, 6th graders from Mountain View, won the world title!
The Wonder League Robotics Competition began in 2015 and has reached over 86,500 kids over the last five years. Through a series of story-based missions, teams develop problem-solving, growth mindset, and creativity skills while learning to code. Wonder Workshop’s special coding programs, Blockly and Wonder, inspire an early love of coding, computer science, tangible learning, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education using little robots named Dash and Cue.
After earning his way into the Invitational Round for three years running, and making the top five two years in a row, TJ reflected on the work done by previous grand prize winners and as a result worked to improve his video production skills and his reflective journaling, thereby helping judges to see progress made along the journey. This effectively told the story of his team’s successes and failures during the intense four week long dash.
This year's challenge required the team to create a set design, engineer, code, create a video, write a script, and to research the Arkansas River and the impact it has on our region and those downstream. Of course, success required lots of collaboration, innovation, tenacity, agility, and by the team.
Ms. Steadman offers thanks and appreciation to Harrison's PTO and Athletic Department for supporting her Computer Club over the past few years, as well as the SPLASH program for supporting coding for students during their summer enrichment classes.
Brooke Watley and Logan Williams participated in the Marshall Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project Moot Court National Competition. Brooke was named National Champion!
Several weeks ago Cañon High School students Logan Williams and Brooke Watley represented the state of Colorado by competing in the national Marshall Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project Moot Court Competition.
When the competition ended, Brooke was named "best overall petitioner in the entire country." In fact, she is the National Champion of this year's MBCLP Moot Court Competition! Just about as exciting, Brooke was actually mentored this season by Cañon City High School alumna and University of Colorado Law School student, Danielle Trujillo. This connection between the past and the present of Cañon City’s best and brightest is certainly worth celebrating!
Additionally, I understand congratulations are due to two of our Cañon City High School basketball coaches, Dan Heath and Adam Pierce. They each coached their athletes to great seasons, winning both girls and boys league championships! Additionally each was named Southern Colorado Springs Metro League Coach of the Year! Outstanding!
Finally, I also understand long time Cañon City High School Athletic Director Scott Manchester was named 2020-21 Colorado Athletic Director of the Year. Scott was chosen by members of the Colorado Athletic Directors Association and will receive his award on April 28th at the annual CADA banquet. You are truly deserving, Mr. Manchester. Congratulations!
What an amazing string of honors our school district has received in the past month or so!
When the competition ended, Brooke was named "best overall petitioner in the entire country." In fact, she is the National Champion of this year's MBCLP Moot Court Competition! Just about as exciting, Brooke was actually mentored this season by Cañon City High School alumna and University of Colorado Law School student, Danielle Trujillo. This connection between the past and the present of Cañon City’s best and brightest is certainly worth celebrating!
Additionally, I understand congratulations are due to two of our Cañon City High School basketball coaches, Dan Heath and Adam Pierce. They each coached their athletes to great seasons, winning both girls and boys league championships! Additionally each was named Southern Colorado Springs Metro League Coach of the Year! Outstanding!
Finally, I also understand long time Cañon City High School Athletic Director Scott Manchester was named 2020-21 Colorado Athletic Director of the Year. Scott was chosen by members of the Colorado Athletic Directors Association and will receive his award on April 28th at the annual CADA banquet. You are truly deserving, Mr. Manchester. Congratulations!
What an amazing string of honors our school district has received in the past month or so!
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Scott Manchester, Adam Pierce, and Dan Heath received wonderful recognition.
Looking Ahead
Jamie Davis
Director of Human Resources Jamie Davis recently shared this message with staff:
All Classified Staff and Substitutes,
The Canon City School District values the contribution of each of our staff members. We also want to support each of you in fulfilling your career goals. If you’ve ever thought about earning teaching licensure, today is the day to start making that a reality!
Our friends at TEACH Colorado, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging and supporting future teachers, are here to support you on this journey. Whether you’re starting with a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree, or no degree at all, there IS a pathway for you to become a teacher. Now you can access free tools and resources from TEACH Colorado that are designed to help you find your way to full-time teaching.
If you are interested, complete this short survey by Friday April 23rd to indicate the areas in which you might like to teach and start receiving support and guidance from TEACH Colorado:then
The survey is at this link: http://ontch.org/CañonCity.
We know that no one takes this path alone. Your HR Department and TEACH Colorado are here to help.
Thanks for all that you do for students,
Jamie
. . . and thank you for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
All Classified Staff and Substitutes,
The Canon City School District values the contribution of each of our staff members. We also want to support each of you in fulfilling your career goals. If you’ve ever thought about earning teaching licensure, today is the day to start making that a reality!
Our friends at TEACH Colorado, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging and supporting future teachers, are here to support you on this journey. Whether you’re starting with a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree, or no degree at all, there IS a pathway for you to become a teacher. Now you can access free tools and resources from TEACH Colorado that are designed to help you find your way to full-time teaching.
If you are interested, complete this short survey by Friday April 23rd to indicate the areas in which you might like to teach and start receiving support and guidance from TEACH Colorado:then
The survey is at this link: http://ontch.org/CañonCity.
We know that no one takes this path alone. Your HR Department and TEACH Colorado are here to help.
Thanks for all that you do for students,
Jamie
. . . and thank you for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
