• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • December 6, 2021
  • December 13, 2021
  • December 20, 2021
  • December 31, 2021
  • Past Installments
    • 2015 >
      • July 5, 2015
      • July 12, 2015
      • July 19, 2015
      • July 26, 2015
      • August 2, 2015
      • August 9, 2015
      • August 16, 2015
      • August 23, 2015
      • August 31, 2015
      • September 6, 2015
      • September 13, 2015
      • September 20, 2015
      • September 27, 2015
      • October 4, 2015
      • October 11, 2015
      • October 18, 2015
      • October 25, 2015
      • November 1, 2015
      • November 8, 2015
      • November 15, 2015
      • November 29, 2015
      • December 6, 2015
      • December 13, 2015
      • December 20, 2015
    • 2016 >
      • January 10, 2016
      • January 17, 2016
      • January 24, 2016
      • January 31, 2016
      • February 7, 2016
      • February 14, 2016
      • February 21, 2016
      • February 28, 2016
      • March 6, 2016
      • March 13, 2016
      • March 20, 2016
      • March 27, 2016
      • April 3, 2016
      • April 10, 2016
      • April 17, 2016
      • April 24, 2016
      • May 1, 2016
      • May 8, 2016
      • May 15, 2016
      • May 22, 2016
      • May 30, 2016
      • June 5, 2016
      • June 12 and 19
      • June 26 to July 3
      • July 24, 2016
      • July 31, 2016
      • August 7, 2016
      • August 14, 2016
      • August 21, 2016
      • August 28, 2016
      • September 4, 2016
      • September 11, 2016
      • September 18, 2016
      • September 25, 2016
      • October 2, 2106
      • October 9, 2016
      • October 16, 2016
      • October 23, 2016
      • October 30, 2016
      • November 6, 2016
      • November 13, 2016
      • November 27, 2016
      • December 4, 2016
      • December 11, 2016
      • December 19, 2016
    • 2017 >
      • Facilities Options
      • January 8, 2017
      • January 15, 2017
      • January 22, 2017
      • February 12, 2017
      • February 26, 2017
      • March 5, 2017
      • March 12, 2017
      • Spring Break 2017
      • April Fools
      • April 9, 2017
      • April 16, 2017
      • April 30, 2017
      • May 7, 2017
      • May 14, 2017
      • May 29, 2017
      • June 4, 2017
      • June 11, 2017
      • June 18, 2017
      • June 25, 2017
      • July 2, 2017
      • July 9, 2017
      • July 16, 2017
      • July 23, 2017
      • July 30, 2017
      • August 6, 2017
      • August 13, 2017
      • August 20, 2017
      • August 27, 2017
      • September 3, 2017
      • September 10, 2017
      • September 17, 2017
      • September 24, 2017
      • October 1, 2017
      • October 8, 2017
      • October 15, 2017
      • October 22, 2017
      • October 29, 2017
      • November 5, 2017
      • November 12, 2017
      • November 26, 2017
      • December 3, 2017
      • December 10, 2017
      • December 13, 2017
    • 2018 >
      • January 7, 2018
      • January 14, 2018
      • January 21, 2018
      • January 28, 2018
      • February 4, 2018
      • February 11, 2018
      • February 18, 2018
      • February 25, 2018
      • March 4, 2018
      • March 11, 2018
      • March 18, 2018
      • March 25, 2018
      • April 2, 2018
      • April 8, 2018
      • April 15, 2018
      • April 22, 2018
      • April 29, 2018
      • May 6, 2018
      • May 13, 2018
      • May 20, 2018
      • May 27, 2018
      • June 3, 2018
      • June 10, 2018
      • June 17, 2018
      • June 24, 2018
      • July 1, 2018
      • July 8, 2018
      • July 15, 2018
      • July 22, 2018
      • July 29, 2018
      • August 5, 2018
      • August 12, 2018
      • August 19, 2018
      • August 26, 2018
      • September 2, 2018
      • September 9, 2018
      • September 16. 2018
      • September 23, 2018
      • September 30, 2018
      • October 7, 2018
      • October 14, 2018
      • October 21, 2018
      • October 28, 2018
      • November 4, 2018
      • November 11, 2018
      • November 18, 2018
      • November 25, 2018
      • December 2, 2018
      • December 9, 2018
      • December 16, 2018
    • 2019 >
      • January 6, 2019
      • January 13, 2019
      • January 21, 2019
      • January 27, 2019
      • February 3, 2019
      • February 10, 2019
      • February 17, 2019
      • February 24, 2019
      • March 3, 2019
      • March 10, 2019
      • March 17, 2019
      • March 24, 2019
      • March 31, 2019
      • April 7, 2019
      • April 14, 2019
      • April 21, 2019
      • April 28, 2019
      • May 5, 2019
      • May 12, 2019
      • May 19, 2019
      • May 27, 2019
      • June 3, 2019
      • June 9, 2019
      • June 23, 2019
      • June 30, 2019
      • July 8, 2019
      • July 15, 2019
      • July 22, 2019
      • July 29, 2019
      • August 5, 2019
      • August 12, 2019
      • August 19, 2019
      • August 26, 2019
      • September 3, 2019
      • September 9, 2019
      • September 16, 2019
      • September 23, 2019
      • September 30, 2019
      • October 7. 2019
      • October 14, 2019
      • October 21, 2019
      • October 28, 2019
      • November 4, 2019
      • November 11, 2019
      • November 18, 2019
      • November 25, 2019
      • December 2, 2019
      • December 9, 2019
      • December 16, 2010
      • December 23, 2019
      • December 31, 2019
    • 2020 >
      • January 13, 2020
      • January 20, 2020
      • January 27, 2020
      • February 3, 2020
      • February 10, 2020
      • February 17, 2020
      • February 24, 2020
      • March 2, 2020
      • March 9, 2020
      • March 30, 2020
      • Special Message to Community
      • April 6, 2020
      • April 13, 2020
      • April 20, 2020
      • May 4, 2020
      • May 11, 2020
      • June 1, 2020
      • June 15, 2020
      • June 30, 2020
      • August 5, 2020
      • August 24, 2020
      • October 12, 2020
      • October 26, 2020
      • November 9, 2020
      • November 30, 2020
      • December 14, 2020
      • December 30, 2020
    • 2021 >
      • January 11, 2021
      • January 25, 2021
      • February 8, 2021
      • March 22, 2021
      • March 29, 2021
      • April 6, 2021
      • May 31, 2021
      • June 7, 2021
      • June 14, 2021
      • June 21, 2021
      • July 5, 2021
      • August 3, 2021
      • August 16, 2021
      • August 31, 2021
      • September 13, 2021
      • September 28, 2021
      • November 8, 2021
      • November 15, 2021
      • November 22, 2021
      • November 29, 2021
      • 2021 Instructional Program Reviews >
        • CCHS 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • CCMS 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • CES 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • Harrison 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • LSST 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • McKinley 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • Washington 2021 Instructional Program Review

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

Picture
Picture
Picture
CCHS welcomed the class of 2024, Harrison busses were running once again, and CES made great use of outside instruction space. 
PictureLincoln School of Science and Technology got right to work.
Though schemes were developed, rules changed, and plans had to be adapted, Cañon City's schools were finally able to open their doors to students for the first time since mid-March when we closed due to COVID-19.  Most buildings phased in attendance, with full populations finally welcome in each building by the end of the week, except for at Cañon City High School where an A-B schedule will remain in effect for the start of the year, and Washington Elementary, whose start was delayed because of construction.  

This has been no small undertaking, as school safety procedures have been put in place to mitigate the spread of the virus in hopes we can remain open for the long haul.  

Last spring we were devastated to learn a Social-Emotional Learning grant we had been awarded fell victim to budget cuts at the state legislative level.  No to be deterred, Behavioral Health Coordinator Jamie Murray and Health and Wellness Coordinator Brian VanIwarden applied for and were awarded an additional School Health Professionals Grant for over $400,000.  This means, as was our original intent, each elementary school and Cañon City High School will be able to hire a full-time Behavioral Health employee.  Thus, we'll have counselors at the elementary school level for the first time in memory.  The timing is not perfect to attract such staff, but we have already begun posting these positions in an attempt to fill them.

Picture
McKinley students were thrilled to get back on the playground!

Our Future Focus

At its August 10th meeting, the Cañon City Board of Education signed an agreement with Cañon City agreeing to terms to establish an Urban Renewal Authority.  Key to our willingness to participate was receiving a guarantee not to lose out on our full per-pupil funding allocation each year as required through the Colorado School Finance Act.  With this in writing, the board voted unanimously to sign on and then appointed Board Secretary Robin Reeser as its URA representative.  

Key to our ability to offer in-person learning is enforcing and tweaking the safety protocols we put in place.  One area we have identified a need to reconsider is if and when students in grades K-4 need to wear a mask.  We began the school year requiring these students to wear masks when riding a bus and participating in music class.   With changing scientific information coming out about the ability for students at these age levels to carry and transmit COVID-19,  we've made the decision to take a close look at when masks will be required at these grade levels.  We know the three key to preventing the spread of COVID-19 are hand washing, social distancing, and in cases where social distancing can't be guaranteed, mask wearing.  Of course no matter how our policy may change, any child who chooses to wear a mask during any activity will still be encouraged to do so.  
Picture
Fremont County's school superintendents agree hand washing, social distancing, and mask wearing are key to our continuing to be able to offer in-person learning.

Our Focus on Safety and Wellness

PictureBehavioral Health Coordinator Jamie Murray helped secure another key grant for us.
As much as we have done to mitigate risk, it is only a matter of time before we have our first COVID positive test by a student or a staff member.  

Please know that when individual outbreaks occur, we'll contact trace and quarantine all persons deemed appropriate for 14 calendar days, as recommended by the Department of Public Health.  This could impact an entire school cohort, meaning a classroom population or even a school grade level.  Students and staff sent home will be allowed to return to school at the end of quarantine if no symptoms arise.  

If within a 14 day period a large scale breakout occurs that impacts five or more cohorts, ten unrelated students or staff, or 5% of a total school population, a full school closure will take place for a period of at least 72 hours, with all instruction shifting temporarily to digital means.  Closures such as these are recommended by public health and simply designed to protect staff and students from large-scale breakouts of COVID-19.

Bond and Override Progress

Picture
Picture
Our new CCMS and Washington facilities opened to students.  
The new administrative, commons, life-skills, and 8th-grade academic wing of Cañon City Middle School opened to students on Monday, August 17th.  Please remember, for the time being 6th and 7th-grade students will attend classes in the 1970s wing while the renovation of the 1925 structure continues.  Depending on when all materials can be secured, this work should wrap up around or a little after winter break.  

Additionally, our new Washington Elementary School officially opened to students on Thursday, August 20th.  Though much grounds work remains to be completed, this school is now fully functional for students and staff on the inside.

The Past Two Weeks

During the past two weeks I focused on a variety of back to work and back to school communication projects, participated in a work session aimed at establishing a regional collaborative between us and the RE-2 and RE-3 school districts, learned about opportunities to attract Americorps volunteers to work in Cañon City Schools, participated in new certified and classified staff orientation processes, prepared for and conducted an All Staff school year kickoff event, attended two board work sessions and meetings, and monitored the opening of all of our schools to in-person learning, as well as a digital only track.  

Upcoming

In the next two weeks, I'll do my best to get a handle on the number of students we have attending in-person and online programs, conduct a search process for a new Director of Human Resources, participate weekly director's meetings, attend an accountability pilot program grant meeting, revise our federal programs grant application as per CDE recommendations,  attend a Fremont Economic Development Corporation board meeting, attend weekly Rural Alliance Zoom calls, and attend, in virtual fashion, a quarterly Early Childhood Leadership Commission meeting.  

Other Voices

PictureBoard President Shad Johnson.
On Monday, August 10th we held a virtual all staff gathering during which Board President shad Johnson shared this message with everybody:

Welcome back from what could be the longest summer break since Canon City Schools opened its doors.

Your efforts, fortitude, and mostly your hearts are simply remarkable, through the toughest of times you’ve endured, stretched, grew, and reached your students by teaching in ways and circumstances no one could have ever imagined.

It is truly unbelievable to hear the stories our students share about how their teachers did everything possible to ensure their learning continued in some form or fashion.  Yes, there were varying ways, but each was tailored to your audience, whom you know best, to work for each of your students.

From kindergarten to our seniors, our students, while struggling to figure out their new normal, could count on their teachers and our staff to support them and teach them.

The ingenuity, the insight, and intellect it took to prepare your platforms in such a quick and constantly changing environment were superior.  Was it perfect? No way! could it have ever been perfect?  Not in my opinion.  But each of you gave it everything you had with hearts of gold.  As a result, we finished the school year the best way we could, with e-learning supporting as many students as we could reach.  At the same time, we checked in on them and made sure they were ok.

Did we learn tons? Oh boy did we, and do we have tons more to learn! However, I can tell you this for sure.  I know no other staff at no other school anywhere in this country that could’ve done as much as you did to make learning possible.  You were truly remarkable!

Now, it’s time to start over in new ways facing a year like we've never seen before.  I couldn’t be happier than to experience this “New Normal” with a more gracious, caring group of educators then all of you.  I thank each of you for the work you do. It has never been more critical than right now!

From the bottom of our hearts, from each of your school board members to our administration and staff, from Ella in first grade to Zach who is a senior in high school, and oh so many more, I thank you and welcome you back.  This truly could be the most interesting year ever in the world of education.  

Have a great year!

Thank you for your inspirational words, Shad.  And thanks to all for listening once again.  

It's good to have our kids back!

George S. Welsh

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.