Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
This week I want to pass along tremendous appreciation to Jeff Peterson, manager of maintenance, buildings, grounds, and warehouse and Dave Boden, assistant manager of transportation, for their wonderful help at the recent COMOM free dental clinic that took place at the Harrison K-8 School. I have been told by many people how appreciative they are of the set-up, support, transportation, and break-down work each man contributed to the event. Jeff and Dave, your dedication to your work is a true example of excellence we can all point to. Thank you!
CCSD wellness coordinator Kristi Elliott pointed out the great work Brenda Gould and Monica McGowan did repainting the compass on the sidewalk in the front of the
CCSD wellness coordinator Kristi Elliott pointed out the great work Brenda Gould and Monica McGowan did repainting the compass on the sidewalk in the front of the
Cañon Exploratory School building. This was part of a wonderful project the elementary schools in our district, and now both Cañon City Middle School and Harrison K-8 are getting ready to launch. This year the three will be the first middle schools in the state of Colorado to participate in CALP (the Colorado Active Learning Project). Through this work CCSD has received a $25,000 grant to train staff, paint blacktops and cement play areas, and purchase equipment that will encourage students to be more active at school and in life. Brenda and Monica did a wonderful job on this first phase of the project, with both mentioning they wanted to offer a great first impression to students and parents as they enter the CES facility. Thank you ladies!
The Focus of Our Work
Last week, 2015 Colorado ACT results were released by the state of Colorado. I think Cañon City School District patrons should be quite pleased with this year's results. The district had a 1.1 point increase in English performance, making this our highest English performance in the last 5 years, a .4 increase in Math (our highest in the last 5 years as well), a 1.1 increase in reading, and a .8 increase in Science. The end result was an average composite score of 20.1, up from 19.3 in 2014, and the highest CCSD has achieved in the last 5 years! The Colorado average composite ACT score was 20.7, so we are still .6 points below that. I hope to see this improvement trend continue and feel we need to stop for a moment and celebrate the fine work of our instructional staff for the growth these results show!
Our biggest focus last week was getting our buildings open, and I feel that went well. I thank all our district staff for the key role each played in making this possible. Our facilities and grounds look great, transportation was ready to implement recent route and boundary changes, meals were expertly prepared and served, offices were ready for the deluge of students and parents, and of course teachers and instructional paraprofessionals had learning spaces fully prepared to teach kids.
Last Week
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Last Monday morning I was at Lincoln Elementary School to observe principal Tammy DeWolfe's staff question and answer session. I really enjoyed making a connection with her educators at that time. I then made my way to McKinley Elementary where I was able to watch instructors engaged in Read Well reading intervention training. On Monday I also met with board president Mike Near to prepare for our regular board meeting, attended the Lincoln School smoothie social, then the school board meeting, before heading back out for the McKinley ice cream social. I must commend the many Lincoln and McKinley parents who attended these events, and especially the staff members who significantly extended their work day in an effort to pull off these wonderful events.
On Tuesday we held a superintendent advisory council meeting in the morning, and a leadership team meeting in the afternoon. I attended the Cañon Exploratory School ice cream social and the Washington Elementary hot dog social that evening. On Wednesday morning I pedalled my bike to MVCKS, Harrison, CES, Washington, CCHS, CCMS, Lincoln, and McKinley to observe first day of school festivities, then met with CCHS teacher Todd Albrecht about district music staffing needs in the afternoon. On Thursday morning director of student services Dominic Carochi and I walked through the entire Canon City High School campus to see how their first full day with all students was going. Dominic and I also met during the day about working together to support our principals in growing as instructional leaders in their buildings. On Friday the administration office staff held a going away breakfast for student services secretary Josh Johns, then I spent a significant amount of time in my office working on refining the work the board of education and I have been doing on a new superintendent of schools evaluation process. On Friday afternoon I spent time conducting on campus office hours at CCMS.
On Tuesday we held a superintendent advisory council meeting in the morning, and a leadership team meeting in the afternoon. I attended the Cañon Exploratory School ice cream social and the Washington Elementary hot dog social that evening. On Wednesday morning I pedalled my bike to MVCKS, Harrison, CES, Washington, CCHS, CCMS, Lincoln, and McKinley to observe first day of school festivities, then met with CCHS teacher Todd Albrecht about district music staffing needs in the afternoon. On Thursday morning director of student services Dominic Carochi and I walked through the entire Canon City High School campus to see how their first full day with all students was going. Dominic and I also met during the day about working together to support our principals in growing as instructional leaders in their buildings. On Friday the administration office staff held a going away breakfast for student services secretary Josh Johns, then I spent a significant amount of time in my office working on refining the work the board of education and I have been doing on a new superintendent of schools evaluation process. On Friday afternoon I spent time conducting on campus office hours at CCMS.
This Week
For the week of August 31 to September 4 I have on site office hours scheduled at all our regular school buildings. On Monday I will be at Harrison, MVCKS, and CES. On Tuesday I will be at CCHS and Washington. On Wednesday I will be at Lincoln and McKinley schools, and on Thursday I will be at CCMS. I also will begin formal classroom instructional walkthroughs in conjunction with principals at Harrison, CCMS, and Washington this week. My monthly radio interview is Tuesday morning. CCSD will determine the order school board candidates will appear on the election ballot on Wednesday at Noon. Finally, I have been invited to go to the Colorado Department of Education in Denver on Friday for a new superintendent PLC meeting. I have been a superintendent of schools in Colorado for the past 18 years, but John Condie from CDE ensures me it will be worth my while to attend this session because I will get plenty of face time with new CDE department leaders.
The Way I See Things
Last week I communicated to CCSD staff members that I will be holding what I like to call in building office hours at each of our school sites for the remainder of the year. Whenever I do this I will simply pedal to a building, check in at the office, then find a convenient place to sit and complete work I on my computer.
As can be imagined, the email and paperwork load for a superintendent of schools can be a bit hefty, so at times I must simply park myself and work away at my computer. However, in the past I have found doing so can be a wonderful opportunity to be available for staff members, students, and parents to approach me informally.
My goal at first will be to conduct at least one in building office hour at each school site each week. I would eventually like to get in the habit of doing two hours at each site, if possible.
I will send a calendar invitation out to all staff members in a building indicating the date and time I will be there and the place from which I plan to work. The main reason I am doing this is to allow folks easier access to me, as opposed to needing to trek to the administration building to find me.
As stated above, I began this process last week, conducting my first in building office hours at CCMS. While I was there I knocked out a little email and actually worked on this weekly issue of Echoes from Cañon. Many staff members had an opportunity to say hello or introduce themselves. I also had a nice, non-rushed, conversation with principal Tim Renn. The best part of my visit? The kids, of course. Sitting in a hallway of a school, even if I am engaged in other work, always gives me the opportunity to do what I enjoy doing most; engaging with students.
My in building office hours for this week are below. Please feel free to stop by and say hello!
Monday: Harrison Commons from 11 to 12, MVCKS Cafeteria 12-1, CES Library 1-2 (depending on how fast I pedal!)
Tuesday: CCHS Commons 11-12, Washington Main Hallway 1-2.
Wednesday: Lincoln Library 10-11, McKinley Library 11-12.
Thursday: CCMS 2nd Floor Hallway 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM
George S. Welsh
As can be imagined, the email and paperwork load for a superintendent of schools can be a bit hefty, so at times I must simply park myself and work away at my computer. However, in the past I have found doing so can be a wonderful opportunity to be available for staff members, students, and parents to approach me informally.
My goal at first will be to conduct at least one in building office hour at each school site each week. I would eventually like to get in the habit of doing two hours at each site, if possible.
I will send a calendar invitation out to all staff members in a building indicating the date and time I will be there and the place from which I plan to work. The main reason I am doing this is to allow folks easier access to me, as opposed to needing to trek to the administration building to find me.
As stated above, I began this process last week, conducting my first in building office hours at CCMS. While I was there I knocked out a little email and actually worked on this weekly issue of Echoes from Cañon. Many staff members had an opportunity to say hello or introduce themselves. I also had a nice, non-rushed, conversation with principal Tim Renn. The best part of my visit? The kids, of course. Sitting in a hallway of a school, even if I am engaged in other work, always gives me the opportunity to do what I enjoy doing most; engaging with students.
My in building office hours for this week are below. Please feel free to stop by and say hello!
Monday: Harrison Commons from 11 to 12, MVCKS Cafeteria 12-1, CES Library 1-2 (depending on how fast I pedal!)
Tuesday: CCHS Commons 11-12, Washington Main Hallway 1-2.
Wednesday: Lincoln Library 10-11, McKinley Library 11-12.
Thursday: CCMS 2nd Floor Hallway 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM
George S. Welsh