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
The CCHS JROTC Color Guard presents colors at the CCMS groundbreaking ceremony.
Last week I received a very positive message about the quality of our Cañon City High School JROTC program. Holly Grossman, a local preschool special education teacher had this to say: "I just wanted you all to know how amazing your youth of JROTC flag detail are! I stopped by the high school to get tickets for the musical, and a flag detail began as I came in, so I stopped and watched. Your young men and young women showed such respect for the flag and the family impacted (when lowering it to half staff). They had such great attention to detail, such respect in capturing the moment, and carried themselves as the wonderful leaders they are becoming. I just wanted you all to know that we notice the work you do, and your actions provide a moment an impacted family can hold onto for a lifetime with gratitude. It's young leaders learning such values that give hope and stir pride! Well done, all of you! Thank you!"
Also this week we learned Cañon City High School Social Studies Teacher Michelle Curl has earned a Boettcher Teacher Recognition Award! As part of the Boettcher Scholarship program, the Boettcher Foundation also honors the teachers who have committed themselves to support the high-achieving students who compete for the scholarship. “We know teachers are a critical component in the success of
Also this week we learned Cañon City High School Social Studies Teacher Michelle Curl has earned a Boettcher Teacher Recognition Award! As part of the Boettcher Scholarship program, the Boettcher Foundation also honors the teachers who have committed themselves to support the high-achieving students who compete for the scholarship. “We know teachers are a critical component in the success of
Michelle Curl (center) is receiving the Boettcher Teacher Recognition Award!
Colorado’s students,” said Tiffany Anderson, programs director for Boettcher Foundation. “For every student that leads a club or organization, there is a teacher who works late to supervise that organization. For every student who takes an independent study, there is a teacher who is spending extra hours guiding and supporting that student.” As a result of this honor, Ms. Curl will receive a plaque and a $500 grant to be used for a project or activity to benefit students at Cañon City High School.
Last week the Cañon City High School Performing Arts Department put on another fine spring musical. This year's production was the classic Guys and Dolls. After observing close-up the work our students put into the production, and after experiencing the show twice last week, words can not describe how proud we all should be of the hard work and dedication they displayed. Our district graduate profile aims to develop student traits such as knowledge, innovation, tenacity, agency, integrity, civility, and agility. Anyone who observed the performances can tell all are being tremendously displayed by the students who participate!
Speaking of the arts, the schools of Fremont County are currently showcasing student artisitic talent at the Fremont Center for the Arts. This show will run from now through April 27th, each Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The show is free. I encourage you to make the effort to view the incredible creativity of our students.
Last week the Cañon City High School Performing Arts Department put on another fine spring musical. This year's production was the classic Guys and Dolls. After observing close-up the work our students put into the production, and after experiencing the show twice last week, words can not describe how proud we all should be of the hard work and dedication they displayed. Our district graduate profile aims to develop student traits such as knowledge, innovation, tenacity, agency, integrity, civility, and agility. Anyone who observed the performances can tell all are being tremendously displayed by the students who participate!
Speaking of the arts, the schools of Fremont County are currently showcasing student artisitic talent at the Fremont Center for the Arts. This show will run from now through April 27th, each Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The show is free. I encourage you to make the effort to view the incredible creativity of our students.
The cast of Guys and Dolls.
Our Future Focus
Cañon City High School leads the state of Colorado in per capita concurrent enrollment!
This week the Colorado Department of Education released its 2017-18 Concurrent Enrollment Report and thanks to our productive partnership with Pueblo Community College, Cañon City High School is featured throughout. Most impressively, with 528 of 1,050 students participating in and earning college credit, Cañon City High School actually leads the entire state of Colorado in per-capita college credit earned by high school students. This is a result of students earning college credit for everything from Math, English, Humanities, and Science to Art, Welding, Auto Mechanics, and Computer Design Drafting. Congratulations to our 9th through 12th graders for this incredible result, and to the Cañon City High School staff for making it all possible!
This week we also conducted our annual site visit to Cañon Exploratory School.
This week we also conducted our annual site visit to Cañon Exploratory School.
CES evaluators enjoy observing engaging instruction.
While there we experienced a welcoming feeling, noticing how learning takes place no matter where you are in the building. We observed a positivity among the entire staff and also took note of the above and beyond effort the entire staff puts in. Many cars line the CES parking lot each day late into the evening, and on weekends.
The visiting team also observed strict adherence to Choice Theory, student behavior data shows this is paying big dividends. We learned the staff communicates extensively with families and observed outstanding academic interventions resulting in wonderful student growth.
I. personally, was particularly impressed with the individualized attention being offered to high needs students. CES is a model when it comes to this!
We noticed DIBELS progress monitoring is now taking place in the classroom, and applaud this because it gives teachers ownership over student improvement and makes them more aware of the specific needs of their children. Everywhere we went we saw high-quality learning targets posted, and we also learned about how the staff has adjusted the way they guide student explorations this year, focusing more on the process, student thinking in depth, and putting more responsibility on the kids.
By all indications, Cañon Exploratory School is still on a positive trajectory!
The visiting team also observed strict adherence to Choice Theory, student behavior data shows this is paying big dividends. We learned the staff communicates extensively with families and observed outstanding academic interventions resulting in wonderful student growth.
I. personally, was particularly impressed with the individualized attention being offered to high needs students. CES is a model when it comes to this!
We noticed DIBELS progress monitoring is now taking place in the classroom, and applaud this because it gives teachers ownership over student improvement and makes them more aware of the specific needs of their children. Everywhere we went we saw high-quality learning targets posted, and we also learned about how the staff has adjusted the way they guide student explorations this year, focusing more on the process, student thinking in depth, and putting more responsibility on the kids.
By all indications, Cañon Exploratory School is still on a positive trajectory!
Override Progress
Thanks to override dollars, CCSD educators are considering purchasing new science resources!
While evaluating Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman this week I realized three major curricular purchases were made this year thanks to our mill-levy override. They are the Edgenuity online learning curriculum which has been extremely beneficial to both online learners and students engaged in credit recovery. The second, Defined STEM, has allowed our middle school technology teachers to align their instruction with our high school career pathways, helping middle school students to be more prepared for their high school experience. Defined STEM has also supported our high school mathematics teachers in making real-world connections with their students. Finally, Pitsco Expeditions is a major upgrade to our middle school life-skills STEM curriculum. Though we instituted this work using traditional technology lab desktop computers, Pitsco Expeditions will be easily delivered by using Chromebooks when our grade 6-8 students have access to them next school year.
Bond Progress
Parking lot demolition work is scheduled to take place this week at Cañon City Middle School. This will allow us to begin digging footers for the foundation of our new 8th-grade-commons-life skills classroom wing. Meanwhile, cement flooring will be poured at the site north of Icabone Pool where the district grounds shop will soon be erected.
Last Week
Last week I held evaluation sessions with our directors and Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman. I also met with Fremont County Department of Human Services Director Stacie Kwitek, participated in an Instructional Leader Professional Learning Community, conducted a site visit at Cañon Exploratory School, attended several legislative advocacy phone conferences, and supported much of the work surrounding our search for new Harrison K-8 Assistant Principals.
The schools of Fremont County are currently showcasing student artistic talent at the Fremont Center for the Arts.
This Week
I'm taking some personal time on Monday morning to spend time with my daughter Anne who is visiting from Austin, Texas. However, I will attend our board work session and meeting scheduled for Monday evening. On Tuesday I'll participate in a monthly collaboration meeting with the Cañon City Police Department, attend a Superintendents Advisory Council meeting, and then travel to Denver to testify in committee about proposed legislation to fund full-day kindergarten. We have a delayed start professional development day on Wednesday during which I'll touch base with our classified association leaders. During the rest of the week, I'll begin finalizing principal evaluations, prepare for our next Civic Canopy visioning session, address several expulsion recommendations, and attend to more legislative advocacy work.
Other Voices
Support GATE by attending the annual pancake breakfast on April 27th!
Dear Cañon City Community,
Our Parent Advisory for Gifted Education (PAGE) has put together our annual upcoming breakfast fundraiser for the benefit of our GATE program! We are so excited to announce the following:
What: Scrumptious breakfast, including pancakes, eggs, bacon, potatoes, and choice of coffee/OJ/water.
Where: MUGS, 1520 Royal Gorge Boulevard
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2019
Time: 7:00AM - 10:00AM
Cost: $8 per ticket
Our hope is to sell-out the event, and thereby generate funds for the purchase of future curriculum/experiences for students in the gifted and talented program across the district. Tell your friends and families about this amazing breakfast and fundraising opportunity! Please support us by purchasing tickets through your building gt specialist or by contacting the Gifted and Talented Coordinator, Shyla Christiansen 276-6168 or shyla.christiansen@ccsre1.org Checks can be made payable to Cañon City Schools.
Thank you for all you do every day in supporting our gifted students and working diligently to provide rigorous and challenging learning opportunities in your classrooms.
Can’t wait to visit with you at the fundraiser! See you on Saturday, April 27th!
Shyla Christiansen
. . . and thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
Our Parent Advisory for Gifted Education (PAGE) has put together our annual upcoming breakfast fundraiser for the benefit of our GATE program! We are so excited to announce the following:
What: Scrumptious breakfast, including pancakes, eggs, bacon, potatoes, and choice of coffee/OJ/water.
Where: MUGS, 1520 Royal Gorge Boulevard
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2019
Time: 7:00AM - 10:00AM
Cost: $8 per ticket
Our hope is to sell-out the event, and thereby generate funds for the purchase of future curriculum/experiences for students in the gifted and talented program across the district. Tell your friends and families about this amazing breakfast and fundraising opportunity! Please support us by purchasing tickets through your building gt specialist or by contacting the Gifted and Talented Coordinator, Shyla Christiansen 276-6168 or shyla.christiansen@ccsre1.org Checks can be made payable to Cañon City Schools.
Thank you for all you do every day in supporting our gifted students and working diligently to provide rigorous and challenging learning opportunities in your classrooms.
Can’t wait to visit with you at the fundraiser! See you on Saturday, April 27th!
Shyla Christiansen
. . . and thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
