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.
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.
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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CCHS welcomed the class of 2024, Harrison busses were running once again, and CES made great use of outside instruction space.
Lincoln 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Behavioral 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.
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
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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.
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
Board 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
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
