• 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

Echoes from Cañon 

Examples of Excellence

PictureThe new CCHS CNA classroom passed inspection this week.
Congratulations and thanks are due to Cañon City High School Assistant Principal Gayle Hinrichs for spearheading the approval process for our new Cañon City High School CNA program.  Thanks to her we are now approved to start classes on January 9th.  We received a one-year conditional approval, putting us on the path to full approval once we show student success.  I have been told we already have 24 students vying for 20 program positions in these classes next semester!
 
I had the opportunity to visit five of our schools last week, Lincoln, Harrison, CCHS, CES and CCMS.  While in Lincoln I observed a continued focus on science and technology, as well as outstanding work being done putting into practice our Early Literacy Grant priorities.  While at Harrison I observed quite engaging instruction by the 8th grade team, and I learned about the progress the school is making on its vison and culture work.  While at CCHS I walked around campus with Principal Bill Summers learning how we might leverage the opportunity we have through the passage of 3B to transform the high school campus. I also got to observe seniors presenting career 
opportunities to freshman in a language arts team teaching​

PictureMountain View students prepare for their Celebration of Westward Expansion.
effort.  During my visit to CES I talked to Principal Kelly Albrecht about how she is feeling about her transition to school level leadership.  We also discussed the strengths of her staff, and how she might use 3B dollars to more effectively secure her main entry.    We also talked about efforts being made by teachers to set classrooms up for more engaging exploratory learning.  While at CCMS I observed clear evidence of the school’s focus on increased student engagement.  Several of the classes I visited exhibited outstanding examples, including one where there was a very engaging team quiz, another in which students were grouped to create visual representations of content they were learning, and another in which students were given an opportunity to create and share videos with the class on a topic of instruction they were assigned.  The excitement I saw in the eyes of students was quite encouraging. 
 
Mountain View Core Knowledge School also continues to do exciting work.  Last week second graders held a celebration of the Westward Expansion, as well as a Fiesta Night.  MVCKS Director Karen Sartori reports Cathy Maxson is doing amazing work with her students. 

The Focus of Our Work

PictureBlack Hills Energy employees present to Lincoln students about electricity on Super Science Friday.
On Tuesday in our Superintendent Advisory Council meeting, and on Thursday at the Cañon City High School Tech Deployment Committee meeting, much was accomplished toward establishing a budget, and making device and staff development decisions.  We anticipate spending approximately $60,000 on start-up costs for this fiscal year, and our draft budget for putting devices in all high school student hands while guiding professional development and support toward doing so, is approaching $800,000.  Decisions that still need to be made include what devices we’ll deploy, who we’ll contract for professional development support, and what, if any, digital learning management system we’ll use as we begin this work. 
 
December 10th was the deadline for submission by folks who would like to perform Owner’s Representative services related to our upcoming construction projects.  We have received six complete proposals.  Director of Operations Jeff Peterson and I will review submissions this week and schedule interviews to take place on Tuesday December 19th.  We hope to make a final recommendation to the board of education before Winter Break. 
 
On Monday at our Board of Education meeting we’ll set our mill levy for the 2018 school year.  We have locked in a 3.2% interest rate on our first year 3B bond sale and this will bring taxpayer payback costs down from what was advertised during the election at 6%.  Director of Finance Buddy Lambrecht is also buying down the overage we have collected on the 2003 Harrison bond.  This will allow for a reduction of nearly 1 mill to taxpayers on that front.  Mr. Lambrecht will explain this at our meeting on Monday December 11th and I'll do my best to share details with readers in the coming weeks. 

Last Week

Last week I conducted formal visits at five of our schools, attended to a number of district level student discipline matters, met with leaders about McKinley Elementary School’s academic improvement plan, held a monthly central office staff meeting, attended a meeting about a proposed housing development in the 4 Mile area, attended a gathering about an upcoming recreation center feasibility study, enjoyed our annual classified staff Christmas party and service recognition ceremony, and held touching base meetings with Director of Special Services Lynnette Steinhoff and Director of Personnel Misty Manchester. 

This Week

PictureCCHS Seniors share career interests with Freshman.
I’ll start my work week with a visit to Washington Elementary and a board work session and meeting on Monday.  On Tuesday, I’ll attend a CCHS Building Leadership Team meeting and a Harrison K-5 gathering about crunching benchmark assessment data.  I’ll also sit in on our monthly safety session with the Cañon City Police Department, and then attend a SAC meeting.  That afternoon we’ll hold our monthly District Leadership Team meeting.  On Wednesday, I’ll start my day in a classified association leader meeting.  I’ll then drop in on Cañon City High School and Harrison K-8 delayed start professional development sessions.  On Wednesday evening, I’ll attend Fremont County Human Services Director Steve Clifton’s retirement party, and then a Cañon City High School Parent Advisory Committee meeting.  On Thursday, I’ll drive to Denver and back for an Early Childhood Leadership Commission meeting, returning in time to attend the next Cañon City High School Mobile Deployment Committee meeting.  I end the week with a walkthrough of McKinley Elementary School. 
 
Thanks for listening once again!
 
George S. Welsh

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.