Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
Makenzie Konty was spectacular as the Wicked Witch of the West!
I know folks who read my weekly Echoes installments must get sick of me singing the praises of Mr. Fisher, Mr. Albrecht and the Cañon City High School Encore students. However, after attending Saturday’s final show of Wizard of Oz The Musical, I am compelled to comment on how, year in and year out, these gentlemen are a shining example of just what we can expect high school students to accomplish. Saturday’s show was a testament to how hard our students are willing to work, how much pride they have, and how much they can accomplish when what they are doing is relevant and they have a choice in it. I had the pleasure of spending Saturday evening with community members who no longer have kids in school, but were simply amazed by the talent our students displayed and the quality of the show. Thank you all!
Last week we received a mid-year report showing the impact our Lindamood-Bell reading interventions are having on students. Most compelling is how the 28 students who have received 120 or more hours of intervention have advanced from an average10th percentile performance to an average of 34th percentile reading comprehension. The 34th percentile is well within the normal grade level reading range, and in all my years in education I have learned students who hover as around the 10th percentile have been the toughest to grow. This mid-year result is testament to the great work our literacy team and the fine instruction our teachers trained in these interventions are offering. We could be doing no better work!
Last week we received a mid-year report showing the impact our Lindamood-Bell reading interventions are having on students. Most compelling is how the 28 students who have received 120 or more hours of intervention have advanced from an average10th percentile performance to an average of 34th percentile reading comprehension. The 34th percentile is well within the normal grade level reading range, and in all my years in education I have learned students who hover as around the 10th percentile have been the toughest to grow. This mid-year result is testament to the great work our literacy team and the fine instruction our teachers trained in these interventions are offering. We could be doing no better work!
We are excited by the reading growth students are making as a result of participation in Lindamood-Bell interventions.
I would also like to take a moment this week to thank director of finance Buddy Lambrecht and operations manager Jeff Peterson for the continuous effort they have put toward our BEST grant application. In late February we submitted our proposal for roughy 37 million dollars in funding to support the building of new Washington and CCMS buildings, as well as much needed upgrades around the district, but have had to circle back with the Colorado Department of Education several times already to answer follow-up questions. Each time we have been asked for more information Buddy and Jeff have performed above and beyond the call of duty, on weekends and during evenings, providing the information CDE needs.
On a final note, I want to offer kudos this week to Washington principal Brian Zamarripa and his teachers who willingly participated in large scale peer instructional walkthroughs last week to learn from each other how to better engage students in the teaching of literacy. I hear at times up to 9 adults walked into classrooms to observe and learn about high quality instruction. Teachers and kids didn’t blink an eye, kept on working, and everyone involved took away ideas to become better at what they do.
On a final note, I want to offer kudos this week to Washington principal Brian Zamarripa and his teachers who willingly participated in large scale peer instructional walkthroughs last week to learn from each other how to better engage students in the teaching of literacy. I hear at times up to 9 adults walked into classrooms to observe and learn about high quality instruction. Teachers and kids didn’t blink an eye, kept on working, and everyone involved took away ideas to become better at what they do.
The Focus of Our Work
CCMS students show off prizes won as a result of effort on PARCC testing.
The school district is in grant acquisition season again and this year we have applied for a restorative justice grant aimed at extending the good work taking place at Cañon City High School related to an EARSS grant, including creating alternative to suspension programs and offering academic work sessions to students who are struggling academically. I want to thank CCHS counselor Christy Graham and truancy coordinator Tonya Wolfe for their excellent work on this front.
Additionally, CCHS counselor Stacy Andrews is leading the charge in applying for much expanded Counselor Corps year two funding. Our original grant application called for $112,000 in funding. Thanks to great work on Stacy’s part, we are being invited by CDE to compete for $320,000 in year two funding. I’ll share details about how we hope to spend this money when our plan is complete.
We are in the midst of our annual state PARCC, CMAS, PSAT and SAT testing window and I want to thank director of instruction Adam Hartman for all the hard work he has done preparing each school, as well as all our principals and staff members who are administering the tests with fidelity. It has also been a blast to observe CCMS students earning cool prizes for displaying exemplary effort on the test, and can’t wait for their results too show how much they haver grown once again.
Additionally, CCHS counselor Stacy Andrews is leading the charge in applying for much expanded Counselor Corps year two funding. Our original grant application called for $112,000 in funding. Thanks to great work on Stacy’s part, we are being invited by CDE to compete for $320,000 in year two funding. I’ll share details about how we hope to spend this money when our plan is complete.
We are in the midst of our annual state PARCC, CMAS, PSAT and SAT testing window and I want to thank director of instruction Adam Hartman for all the hard work he has done preparing each school, as well as all our principals and staff members who are administering the tests with fidelity. It has also been a blast to observe CCMS students earning cool prizes for displaying exemplary effort on the test, and can’t wait for their results too show how much they haver grown once again.
Last Week
Literacy coach Jessica Stevens discusses Cañon City's early literacy grant with RE-2 superintendent Rhonda Roberts.
Last week I enjoyed answering the many questions I brought upon myself because of my April Fools Day issue of Echoes. I hope each of you enjoyed that as much as I did, and I am quite sorry to report my story about repurposing St. Scholastica, as much as everyone would have loved it to be true, just was not. When not fooling readers, and when not answer calls about why we did not take a snow day last Tuesday, I worked on answering some follow-up BEST grant questions, evaluated two more principals, evaluated five of our directors, attended the Colorado Safe School Resource Center quarterly advisory board meeting, appeared on KRLN’s Morning Line radio program with RE-2 superintendent Rhonda Roberts and administrative intern and literacy coach Jessica Stevens, held monthly meetings with administrative office staff and operations staff, and worked on legislative advocacy items.
This Week
This Monday I have one final director evaluation meeting, additional BEST grant questions to answer, a principal interview at McKinley, a school board work session, and a regular school board meeting. On Tuesday I’ll meet with Cañon City Police Department and Fremont County Sherif’s Office personnel in the morning, hold a SAC meeting, then travel to Denver with school board president Larry Oddo to testify about two pieces of legislation the district is interested in. Wednesday is a delayed start staff development day. I’ll begin my day meeting with classified association officers, then observe work taking place at CCHS. I then have a series of parent meetings and will attend a Regional Wellness Advisory Team meeting and Harrison’s PTO meeting. I’ll start the day on Thursday touching base with RE-2 superintendent Rhonda Roberts, host this month’s regional Manager’s Meeting, and end the day at Cañon City High School’s 8th grade parent night. On Friday I’ll meet with our district liability insurance representatives about our proposes student intern and apprentice program, and I’ll observe some on site video shooting being done by the Colorado Education Initiative in relation to their SpaceLab initiative.
Bonus Time!
Our Parent Advisory for Gifted Education (PAGE) group has put together a breakfast fundraiser for the benefit of our GATE program It will take place at MUGS restaurant, 1520 Royal Gorge Blvd, on Saturday April 22nd from 7 AM to 10 AM. Cost is only $7 per ticket, which will get you a scrumptious breakfast including pancakes, eggs, bacon, potatoes, and your choice of coffee, orange juice, or water. Please come out and support our GATE program.