Echoes From Cañon
Our Mission and Core Beliefs
The Cañon City School District is future-focused, providing innovative educational opportunities to successfully prepare all students to meet any challenge they may face.
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.
The Cañon City School District is future-focused, providing innovative educational opportunities to successfully prepare all students to meet any challenge they may face.
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
Karrina Blatnik
I could find no better example of the faithful implementation of our first core belief, "we meet the social-emotional needs of all students, putting Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs before Bloom’s Taxonomy," than Cañon City High School student Karrina Blatnick's recent capstone project leading to the production of 100 mental wellness vouchers to be issued to students. Each voucher entitles the holder to two free one-hour counseling sessions with either Sol Vista or Gateway to Success.
Karrina will get these vouchers to high school students by locating them in the CCHS counseling office. All Tigers are eligible to use them, and sessions do not require an intake, monetary payment, or insurance.
Karrina's capstone mentor was Cañon City Schools Behavioral Health Coordinator Jamie Murray. Jamie reports, "additionally, social media platforms will be posting information about this, and Link Crew leaders will reach out to the freshman and sophomores they mentor to offer the vouchers."
Karrina is also working with the CCHS video production team on morning announcements aimed at increasing student self-advocacy and reducing stigma around mental health issues.
Karrina will get these vouchers to high school students by locating them in the CCHS counseling office. All Tigers are eligible to use them, and sessions do not require an intake, monetary payment, or insurance.
Karrina's capstone mentor was Cañon City Schools Behavioral Health Coordinator Jamie Murray. Jamie reports, "additionally, social media platforms will be posting information about this, and Link Crew leaders will reach out to the freshman and sophomores they mentor to offer the vouchers."
Karrina is also working with the CCHS video production team on morning announcements aimed at increasing student self-advocacy and reducing stigma around mental health issues.
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A sample of the front of a Gateway to Success voucher, and the back of a Solvista one
Our Future Focus
Key to getting our getting school operations back to normal is the availability of COVID vaccinations that have recently been released. Just last week our first batch of CCSD employees, school nurses and health technicians, had the opportunity to receive their first shots. We are also patiently waiting for vaccinations to become available to all staff. As of right now, we believe the latest timeline at which this will begin is the first week of March. In advance, the district is working with classified and certified association leaders to incentivize vaccine participation. Once our participation incentive plan is in place, we'll communicate it to the entire staff.
This year is Mountain View Core Knowledge Charter School's 25th year of operation as the only brick and mortar charter school in the Fremont County region! As such, I wish to congratulate the MVCKS governing board, staff, and the entire school community. About this, Principal-Director Karen Sartori says, "during our 20th year, we all committed to doing 20 acts of community service. This was fun, meaningful, and it gave back to a community that has embraced and supported our mission."
The MVCKS community is now in the planning stages of this benchmark celebration, and I look forward to seeing the meaningful way they honor this wonderful accomplishment, as well as another 25 years of successful operation!
This year is Mountain View Core Knowledge Charter School's 25th year of operation as the only brick and mortar charter school in the Fremont County region! As such, I wish to congratulate the MVCKS governing board, staff, and the entire school community. About this, Principal-Director Karen Sartori says, "during our 20th year, we all committed to doing 20 acts of community service. This was fun, meaningful, and it gave back to a community that has embraced and supported our mission."
The MVCKS community is now in the planning stages of this benchmark celebration, and I look forward to seeing the meaningful way they honor this wonderful accomplishment, as well as another 25 years of successful operation!
Applying Our Traits and Skills
Ms. Steadman's students learn about electrical circuits
I wish to honor Harrison School's Karin Steadman who, before the winter break, exemplified tenacity, agility, and innovation by handling a long-term internet outage by quickly pulling together a hands-on lesson for children to learn about circuits and electricity. Thank you, Karin!
I also wish to honor the Cañon City High School vocational trades staff for once again securing some windfall funding by earning an additional $125,583 through Colorado's Career Development Incentive Program. This was accomplished thanks to the many industry certifications our students earned during the 2019-20 school year, and some great record keeping. I have no doubt Mr. Summers and his team will invest these dollars wisely!
I also wish to honor the Cañon City High School vocational trades staff for once again securing some windfall funding by earning an additional $125,583 through Colorado's Career Development Incentive Program. This was accomplished thanks to the many industry certifications our students earned during the 2019-20 school year, and some great record keeping. I have no doubt Mr. Summers and his team will invest these dollars wisely!
Looking Ahead
In the next few weeks, we'll hold a regular Board of Education meeting, two weekly Directors meetings, and a District Leadership Team meeting. I'll also engage in legislative advocacy through meetings with the Colorado Rural Schools Alliance, the Opportunity Coalition, the Colorado School Finance Project, and the Pikes Peak Legislative Alliance.
Other Voices
On January 1st, Governor Jared Polis proclaimed January as School Board Appreciation Month in Colorado. His statement was as follows:
WHEREAS, the education of our children is vital to the future of Colorado; and
WHEREAS, a solid education establishes the foundation upon which society builds achievement and advancement, and which also gives fulfillment to students’ dreams and expectations; and
WHEREAS, local school board members are committed to children and the belief that all children can be successful learners with the intentional allocation of resources, instruction, and opportunities according to need; and
WHEREAS, local school board members work closely with parents, educational professionals, and other community members to create the educational vision we want for our students; and
WHEREAS, local school board members are responsible for ensuring the structure that provides a solid foundation for our school system; and
WHEREAS, local school board members are strong advocates for public education and are responsible for communicating the needs of the school district to the public and the public’s expectations to the district; and
WHEREAS, school board members are extraordinary people who invest many hours of volunteer work to tackle the enormous job of governing our school districts and whose actions and decisions help impact the present and future lives of young Coloradans; and
WHEREAS, the dedication of school board members across our state should be recognized and commended;
THEREFORE, I, Jared Polis, Governor of the State of Colorado do hereby proclaim the month of January, 2021 as SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH in the State of Colorado.
GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this first day of January, 2021
Jared Polis
Governor
If you have a moment to reach out to Shad Johnson, Mary Kay Evans, Robin Reeser, Beth Gaffney, of Mike Near, I encourage you to do so!
Thank you for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
WHEREAS, the education of our children is vital to the future of Colorado; and
WHEREAS, a solid education establishes the foundation upon which society builds achievement and advancement, and which also gives fulfillment to students’ dreams and expectations; and
WHEREAS, local school board members are committed to children and the belief that all children can be successful learners with the intentional allocation of resources, instruction, and opportunities according to need; and
WHEREAS, local school board members work closely with parents, educational professionals, and other community members to create the educational vision we want for our students; and
WHEREAS, local school board members are responsible for ensuring the structure that provides a solid foundation for our school system; and
WHEREAS, local school board members are strong advocates for public education and are responsible for communicating the needs of the school district to the public and the public’s expectations to the district; and
WHEREAS, school board members are extraordinary people who invest many hours of volunteer work to tackle the enormous job of governing our school districts and whose actions and decisions help impact the present and future lives of young Coloradans; and
WHEREAS, the dedication of school board members across our state should be recognized and commended;
THEREFORE, I, Jared Polis, Governor of the State of Colorado do hereby proclaim the month of January, 2021 as SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH in the State of Colorado.
GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this first day of January, 2021
Jared Polis
Governor
If you have a moment to reach out to Shad Johnson, Mary Kay Evans, Robin Reeser, Beth Gaffney, of Mike Near, I encourage you to do so!
Thank you for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
