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

Kudos go out to our Cañon City High School JROTC Color Guard as they have been invited to present the flag at this year's Colorado Association of School Boards First General Session and Opening Ceremony. This is a tremendous honor and will take place this Friday, December 6th, at 10 AM in front of nearly 2,000 convention attendees at the Broadmoor hall in Colorado Springs. Congratulations!
I also wish to thank our Cañon City High School Pride Club for once again plotting to spread kindness throughout the community through its now traditional Shop With A Kid program. This allows high school students to spend a day Christmas shopping with elementary-age children, helping them provide thoughtful gifts for their entire family. If you have the opportunity to support this program, I encourage you to do so!
I also wish to thank our Cañon City High School Pride Club for once again plotting to spread kindness throughout the community through its now traditional Shop With A Kid program. This allows high school students to spend a day Christmas shopping with elementary-age children, helping them provide thoughtful gifts for their entire family. If you have the opportunity to support this program, I encourage you to do so!
Our Future Focus

Cañon City's Civic Canopy Initiative is deep in the planning stages to launch a project it calls Cañon Thrives. This involves managing an online platform promoting Cañon City as a great place to live and work, publicizing local employment opportunities, engaging a variety of work sectors in cross-organization social events, and plugging locals into ways they can make a difference int eh community. We hope to have this up and running at the beginning of 2020.
Cañon City Schools has formally committed to working with the Boulder Valley, Greely, Sheridan, and Gunnison School Districts on an application for a Colorado Department of Education Accountability Pilot grant. Our hopes are to leverage this opportunity to enhance the annual building review process we have been conducting for the past four years, offering our constituents an alternative, trustworthy way to measure the effectiveness of the schools in our community, while also continually driving school and program improvement. The deadline for the application is in the coming weeks.
Cañon City Schools has formally committed to working with the Boulder Valley, Greely, Sheridan, and Gunnison School Districts on an application for a Colorado Department of Education Accountability Pilot grant. Our hopes are to leverage this opportunity to enhance the annual building review process we have been conducting for the past four years, offering our constituents an alternative, trustworthy way to measure the effectiveness of the schools in our community, while also continually driving school and program improvement. The deadline for the application is in the coming weeks.
Our Focus on Safety and Wellness

Cañon City Schools has been training all staff in the QPR Suicide Prevention process, meaning; Question those who appear to be distressed about suicide, Persuade them to get help, and then Refer them to appropriate resources in the community.
If you'd like to help us in this effort, we encourage you to refer folks in need to these community mental health wellness partners:
Solvista Health at 719-275-2351
Gateway to Success at 719-275-0700
There are also many state and national resources available to folks who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. They include:
Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-8255. You can also just text "HELP" to 38255
Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255)
National Hopeline Network at 800 784-2433 (800-SUICIDE)
Safe2Tell at 877-542-SAFE (7233)
Trevor Lifeline at 866-488-7386
Please make use of one of these many tools available when you see someone in need!
If you'd like to help us in this effort, we encourage you to refer folks in need to these community mental health wellness partners:
Solvista Health at 719-275-2351
Gateway to Success at 719-275-0700
There are also many state and national resources available to folks who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. They include:
Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-8255. You can also just text "HELP" to 38255
Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255)
National Hopeline Network at 800 784-2433 (800-SUICIDE)
Safe2Tell at 877-542-SAFE (7233)
Trevor Lifeline at 866-488-7386
Please make use of one of these many tools available when you see someone in need!
Last Week
Last Monday I had a monthly touching base meeting with Stacie Kwitek of the Fremont County Department of Human Services, a legislative advocacy phone conference about equitable mill levy rates, and I work toward a final submission/revision of our federal programs application and budget. On Tuesday I published another weekly issue of Echoes from Cañon and met with Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman, Board President Shad Johnson, and Board Secretary Robin Reeser to make preparations for a Colorado Association of School Boards convention breakout session we'll soon present. On Wednesday I attended to Colorado Department of Education Coherence Lab homework. On Thursday and Friday I celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday with my family.
The CASB Convention means we'll be meeting a new crop of CASB Student Leaders. At last year's convention CCHS's Reese Dominguez was invited to the stage to share his thoughts about his personal schooling experiences!
This Week

On Monday I'll spend time at the office focusing on communication and finalizing a breakout presentation our board will offer at this week's Colorado Association of School Boards annual convention. On Tuesday morning we'll hold a Superintendent Advisory Council meeting and then I'll trek to Denver and back to attend a quarterly Colorado School Safety Resource Center advisory board meeting. On Wednesday morning we hold our monthly Central Administrative Office staff meeting, I have an expulsion hearing, a CCEOE board meeting, and I'll attend the City Council meeting. Thursday brings a Lincoln School of Science and Technology playground grant and Safe Routes to School completion ribbon-cutting ceremony and a PCC-Fremont Campus advisory committee meeting before I travel to Springs to attend a Colorado Association of School Boards legislative connections reception and prepare to attend the annual convention. that is where I'll be on Friday and Saturday.
Other Voices

Cañon City High School Teacher, Pride Sponsor, and Link Crew Coordinator Kevin Marushack would like to share this seasonal message with the entire community.
Hello All!
I hope this message finds your past few days filled with family, friends, food and even a few quiet moments for yourself. This extended break came at such a good time as too often in this profession we put the needs of others ahead of ours and forget to take care of ourselves. It's kind of like running out of gas in your car. Yes, that actually happened to me a couple of weeks ago! I hope you are all able to return to work recharged and ready for this busy yet so exciting time of year.
The Tiger Pride Link Crew would like to invite each of you to our All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday morning December 7th at MUGS. Our Tiger Pride students will start serving the public at 7 AM and will wrap up at 10 AM. There will be eggs, bacon, potatoes, and pancakes with coffee, juice, and milk, even the chocolate variety! Please consider starting your Parade Saturday by joining us at Mugs for a great breakfast. The cost for this meal is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and there is no need to purchase tickets ahead of time! Simply show up and pay at the door! With the quality of food that is graciously provided by MUGS, this is absolutely the best breakfast deal you'll find!
Of course, this fundraiser has a dual purpose. First and foremost it is to allow an opportunity for our students to volunteer and serve the public. It is also to allow The Pride to gather funds for its annual Shop With A Tiger Program. This will be the fifth year we have done this and it has quickly become one of our signature projects. SWAT allows a selected high school student to take an elementary student (chosen by their building principal) on a Christmas shopping trip. The elementary student is granted a $50 WalMart gift card and allowed to spend this on whatever they wish, with parental approval at checkout. In each of the last two years, sixty elementary students have participated and this year we are hoping to match that number again. This is only made possible through the gracious participants in this fundraiser breakfast as well as individual and business donations.
Please pen this event in on your calendars for Saturday, December 7th at MUGS and we’ll be excited to serve you a wonderful meal! Please also feel free to share this event with your friends and neighbors and invite them to participate in providing this opportunity for worthy elementary students in our district. This is exactly what the Kindness Campaign is about, coming together for the good of others.
With a sincere thank you,
Kevin Marushack
. . . and thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
Hello All!
I hope this message finds your past few days filled with family, friends, food and even a few quiet moments for yourself. This extended break came at such a good time as too often in this profession we put the needs of others ahead of ours and forget to take care of ourselves. It's kind of like running out of gas in your car. Yes, that actually happened to me a couple of weeks ago! I hope you are all able to return to work recharged and ready for this busy yet so exciting time of year.
The Tiger Pride Link Crew would like to invite each of you to our All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday morning December 7th at MUGS. Our Tiger Pride students will start serving the public at 7 AM and will wrap up at 10 AM. There will be eggs, bacon, potatoes, and pancakes with coffee, juice, and milk, even the chocolate variety! Please consider starting your Parade Saturday by joining us at Mugs for a great breakfast. The cost for this meal is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and there is no need to purchase tickets ahead of time! Simply show up and pay at the door! With the quality of food that is graciously provided by MUGS, this is absolutely the best breakfast deal you'll find!
Of course, this fundraiser has a dual purpose. First and foremost it is to allow an opportunity for our students to volunteer and serve the public. It is also to allow The Pride to gather funds for its annual Shop With A Tiger Program. This will be the fifth year we have done this and it has quickly become one of our signature projects. SWAT allows a selected high school student to take an elementary student (chosen by their building principal) on a Christmas shopping trip. The elementary student is granted a $50 WalMart gift card and allowed to spend this on whatever they wish, with parental approval at checkout. In each of the last two years, sixty elementary students have participated and this year we are hoping to match that number again. This is only made possible through the gracious participants in this fundraiser breakfast as well as individual and business donations.
Please pen this event in on your calendars for Saturday, December 7th at MUGS and we’ll be excited to serve you a wonderful meal! Please also feel free to share this event with your friends and neighbors and invite them to participate in providing this opportunity for worthy elementary students in our district. This is exactly what the Kindness Campaign is about, coming together for the good of others.
With a sincere thank you,
Kevin Marushack
. . . and thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh