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
Ryan Walter will be Cañon City High School's new show choir director.
In late July, Cañon City High School's Encore Show Choir was invited to "perform" at the Colorado Association of School Executives annual convention. Since the convention was held virtually, the performance was as well. This was done by showing the video of the show tune Raise You Up Todd Albrecht's kids produced during the 4th quarter of the 2019-20 school year. Over 700 administrators attended and we received a plethora of positive comments about it.
Speaking of Encore, congratulations to Mr. Albrecht upon his decision to retire, and to Mr. Ryan Walter, who student taught under Todd's supervision, who has been selected to fill Mr. A's gigantic shoes!
Our 2020 Summer Reading Academy took place this year at Cañon Exploratory School. From Kindergarten through third grade, 57 students received a boost in their reading skills during the four-week program. Each had 1.5 hours of intensive instruction per day using the Lindamood Bell Seeing Stars reading intervention. Participants also used Chromebooks to work 20 minutes per day in Lexia Learning, and 20 minutes per day in Read Naturally Fluency. This is the first year we provided summer school for Kindergarten students, and much was accomplished toward reviewing skills that will be needed in 1st grade. Participants even earned behavior bucks to spend on prizes at the summer school store.
Though we began the month of July with a solid plan to begin the 2020-21 school year, changes in state-level school reopening guidance and feedback received from parents necessitated adjustment to our plan. I wish to thank Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman and Director of Student Support Services Paula Buser for being so nimble and guiding this work, and all the staff and administrators who pitched in to help.
Speaking of Encore, congratulations to Mr. Albrecht upon his decision to retire, and to Mr. Ryan Walter, who student taught under Todd's supervision, who has been selected to fill Mr. A's gigantic shoes!
Our 2020 Summer Reading Academy took place this year at Cañon Exploratory School. From Kindergarten through third grade, 57 students received a boost in their reading skills during the four-week program. Each had 1.5 hours of intensive instruction per day using the Lindamood Bell Seeing Stars reading intervention. Participants also used Chromebooks to work 20 minutes per day in Lexia Learning, and 20 minutes per day in Read Naturally Fluency. This is the first year we provided summer school for Kindergarten students, and much was accomplished toward reviewing skills that will be needed in 1st grade. Participants even earned behavior bucks to spend on prizes at the summer school store.
Though we began the month of July with a solid plan to begin the 2020-21 school year, changes in state-level school reopening guidance and feedback received from parents necessitated adjustment to our plan. I wish to thank Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman and Director of Student Support Services Paula Buser for being so nimble and guiding this work, and all the staff and administrators who pitched in to help.
Our Future Focus
Our greatest effort has been centered on opening our doors to students and staff once again. Though things may change in the next few weeks, our current plan is as follows:
Grade K-5 Plan: Right now our plan is for all students to attend school every day for 7 hours and 15 minutes, honoring the district-adopted calendar, including alternating Fridays with an early release so staff can engage in professional development, with no school on the opposite Fridays.
Grade 6-8 Plan: Right now our plan is for all students to attend school every day for 7 hours and 30 minutes, honoring the district-adopted calendar, including alternating Fridays with an early release so staff can engage in professional development, with no school on the opposite Fridays.
Grade 9-12 Plan: Cañon City High School will host three cohorts per class/block (an online cohort, Cohort A, and Cohort B). Online students will be able to access materials for labs, but will not attend live classes. Cohort A (students with last names beginning with A-L) will attend school for 7 hours and 30 minutes each Monday and Wednesday while Cohort B (students with last names beginning with M-Z) will attend each Tuesday and Thursday.
There are many more details related to these plans including the requirement for all staff to wear masks and all students in grades 5-12 to do the same. Details about routines surrounding transportation and school meals will be shared with parents at the school building level.
As a reminder, any parent who is not yet comfortable sending their child to school is welcome to sign up for digital-only instruction.
A tremendously valued aspect of school by our students and parents, especially for those in grades 6-12, is the opportunity to participate in sports and activities. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made it difficult to imagine moving forward with some programs. However, on Tuesday, August 4th the Colorado High School Activities Association released a revised season calendar establishing four seasons for the 2020-21 school year. these include Cross Country, Boys Golf, Boys Tennis, and Girls Softball which will take place from August through October, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Skiing, Competitive Spirit, Sideline Spirit, Girls Swimming, and Wrestling which will take place from January through March, Field Hockey, Football, Gymnastics, Boys Soccer, Unified Bowling, and Girls Volleyball which will take place from March through April, and Baseball, Girls Golf, Lacrosse, Girls Soccer, Boys Swimming, Girls Tennis, Track and Field, and Boys Volleyball which will take place in May and June. This calendar is a bit unusual, but we are thrilled to see our students will still have a chance to participate in activities of interest.
Grade K-5 Plan: Right now our plan is for all students to attend school every day for 7 hours and 15 minutes, honoring the district-adopted calendar, including alternating Fridays with an early release so staff can engage in professional development, with no school on the opposite Fridays.
Grade 6-8 Plan: Right now our plan is for all students to attend school every day for 7 hours and 30 minutes, honoring the district-adopted calendar, including alternating Fridays with an early release so staff can engage in professional development, with no school on the opposite Fridays.
Grade 9-12 Plan: Cañon City High School will host three cohorts per class/block (an online cohort, Cohort A, and Cohort B). Online students will be able to access materials for labs, but will not attend live classes. Cohort A (students with last names beginning with A-L) will attend school for 7 hours and 30 minutes each Monday and Wednesday while Cohort B (students with last names beginning with M-Z) will attend each Tuesday and Thursday.
There are many more details related to these plans including the requirement for all staff to wear masks and all students in grades 5-12 to do the same. Details about routines surrounding transportation and school meals will be shared with parents at the school building level.
As a reminder, any parent who is not yet comfortable sending their child to school is welcome to sign up for digital-only instruction.
A tremendously valued aspect of school by our students and parents, especially for those in grades 6-12, is the opportunity to participate in sports and activities. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made it difficult to imagine moving forward with some programs. However, on Tuesday, August 4th the Colorado High School Activities Association released a revised season calendar establishing four seasons for the 2020-21 school year. these include Cross Country, Boys Golf, Boys Tennis, and Girls Softball which will take place from August through October, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Skiing, Competitive Spirit, Sideline Spirit, Girls Swimming, and Wrestling which will take place from January through March, Field Hockey, Football, Gymnastics, Boys Soccer, Unified Bowling, and Girls Volleyball which will take place from March through April, and Baseball, Girls Golf, Lacrosse, Girls Soccer, Boys Swimming, Girls Tennis, Track and Field, and Boys Volleyball which will take place in May and June. This calendar is a bit unusual, but we are thrilled to see our students will still have a chance to participate in activities of interest.
Our Focus on Safety and Wellness
Masks will be required of all CCSD staff, and students in grades 5-12.
As stated above, all students in grades 5-12 will be required to wear a mask at school while indoors and in close proximity to other students. Additionally, all Cañon City Schools staff will be required to wear masks. We ask that students provide their own personal mask, but will provide them for those in need. Temperatures will be screened daily, for both staff and students. To do so in an efficient manner, we are designating a select number of secure entry points for students. More details about this will be shared at each school building level. Families will be asked to transport their child home in the event he or she records a temperature of 100.4° or above. Finally, student movement throughout each building will be in a controlled fashion to prevent the mixing of cohorts.
Bond and Override Progress
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A bridge from the new building to the old is being erected on the CCMS campus and Mr. Zamarripa is in search of a good place to mount the portrait of George Washington in Washington Elementary School.
If tackling the task of reopening our schools under challenging circumstances hasn't been challenging enough, we have also been in the process of finishing up several major construction projects. Though much work on school grounds will remain, we hope to have both Washington Elementary School and Cañon City Middle ready for staff and students on August 17th. Finishing touches are going on in the Cañon City High School Tiger Dome as well. Related to our mill override technology-based instruction project, we are ready once again to ensure every student has access to a keyboard and screen device to support their learning, and brand new CleverTouch display boards are being installed in every elementary classroom.
The Past Month
I had a wonderful opportunity to spend time with my family during the past month, and am extremely thankful for the way Assitant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman guided the district while I was gone, with help from our entire team of directors.
The Next Two Weeks
A highlight of my first week back at work was attending the annual retirement celebration honoring loyal employees like former Washington custodian Janet Wohlborg.
In the next two weeks, I'll focus on a variety of back to work and back to school communication, participate in a work session aimed at establishing a regional collaborative between us and the RE-2 and RE-3 school districts, learn about opportunities for attracting Americorps volunteers to work in Cañon, participate in new certified and classified staff orientation, prepare for and conduct an All Staff schoolyear kickoff event, attend a board work session and meeting, and continue to work diligently to open our schools to students on Monday, August 17th.
Other Voices
At our Cañon City High School graduation ceremonies on July 30th, CCHS principal Bill Summers shared this poignant message with the class of 2020.
Welcome, Class of 2020 and family and friends,
I believe that if I were to walk down to Main Street and ask a dozen random passers-by about what they remember of certain graduating classes of Canon City High School form years past, that I would not get much of a response. For example, if I asked them to recount an especially memorable story about the class of 1985, the year that Coach O'Rourke graduated, they would be hard-pressed to remember something about the whole class. If I moved forward five years to 1990, when Dave Laughlin graduated, the same response. And so on for 1995, 2000, 2005, you get the picture.
But twenty years from now, if I repeat the same task on Mian Street and ask them about the class of 2020, I bet I get a different response. That response may start off a little sad in its tone. They were the pandemic class that didn't finish with their friends, didn't have a prom, had a different and delayed graduation ceremony, but it will then transition to a more excited and positive spirit. But look at them now! Look at what they're doing with our world. They took that challenge and turned it into leadership and innovation, leading to solutions. Their shared tenacity and agility led them to become the change in our world. And most importantly, the civility that they knew to be most important in that crisis made them into compassionate and caring societal members.
I've told this class from the beginning that they are special to me for three reasons: 1) they are leaders of excellence, 2) they are my first full class as a principal, their freshman year was my freshman year as a principal, and the third, well, I'll let you figure that one out.
The class of 2020 has earned more than 2.5 million dollars in scholarships, they have taken enough college credits in high school to save their families $753,000, and they have experienced 152 local internships.
Congratulations Class of 2020. Go forth and make a positive difference in this world!
. . . and thanks to all for listening once again. It's good to be back!
George S. Welsh
Welcome, Class of 2020 and family and friends,
I believe that if I were to walk down to Main Street and ask a dozen random passers-by about what they remember of certain graduating classes of Canon City High School form years past, that I would not get much of a response. For example, if I asked them to recount an especially memorable story about the class of 1985, the year that Coach O'Rourke graduated, they would be hard-pressed to remember something about the whole class. If I moved forward five years to 1990, when Dave Laughlin graduated, the same response. And so on for 1995, 2000, 2005, you get the picture.
But twenty years from now, if I repeat the same task on Mian Street and ask them about the class of 2020, I bet I get a different response. That response may start off a little sad in its tone. They were the pandemic class that didn't finish with their friends, didn't have a prom, had a different and delayed graduation ceremony, but it will then transition to a more excited and positive spirit. But look at them now! Look at what they're doing with our world. They took that challenge and turned it into leadership and innovation, leading to solutions. Their shared tenacity and agility led them to become the change in our world. And most importantly, the civility that they knew to be most important in that crisis made them into compassionate and caring societal members.
I've told this class from the beginning that they are special to me for three reasons: 1) they are leaders of excellence, 2) they are my first full class as a principal, their freshman year was my freshman year as a principal, and the third, well, I'll let you figure that one out.
The class of 2020 has earned more than 2.5 million dollars in scholarships, they have taken enough college credits in high school to save their families $753,000, and they have experienced 152 local internships.
Congratulations Class of 2020. Go forth and make a positive difference in this world!
. . . and thanks to all for listening once again. It's good to be back!
George S. Welsh
