Echoes from Cañon
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
Architectural render of the new school based health center.
In the Cañon City School District, we're aware many of our families face barriers to accessing health care. Lack of insurance coverage, difficulties with transportation, needing to take time off work, and the need for childcare often keep many of our families from accessing the services they desperately need. As these needs grow, and in alignment with our core belief to first meet the social-emotional needs of all students, Cañon City Schools is pleased to announce it is partnering with Solvista Health and Valley-Wide Health Systems to bring a school-based health center to Cañon City.
The center, which will offer medical, dental, and mental health services to Cañon City School District students and staff, is being constructed in the new administrative complex on the Cañon City Middle School campus at 1215 Main Street. Thanks to support from Colorado's Building Excellent Schools Today school construction program, Cañon City taxpayers are only footing 27% of the entire construction bill for the major remodel of CCMS, including this school-based health center. The center is scheduled to open in 2020.
The center, which will offer medical, dental, and mental health services to Cañon City School District students and staff, is being constructed in the new administrative complex on the Cañon City Middle School campus at 1215 Main Street. Thanks to support from Colorado's Building Excellent Schools Today school construction program, Cañon City taxpayers are only footing 27% of the entire construction bill for the major remodel of CCMS, including this school-based health center. The center is scheduled to open in 2020.
In the center, medical, dental, and mental health professionals will treat most health conditions that impact school-aged children during the school year, helping to keep them at school and parents at ease. Services offered may include physical exams, sports physicals, immunizations, injury and illness care, dental services, mental health counseling, and health education. Services for staff may also include treatment to meet their medical, dental and behavioral health needs, and the clinic will provide year-round services including hours before, during, and after school, and special hours on Fridays.
Parents will be surveyed during 2019 school registration sessions in August, while staff and 6th through 12th-grade students will be surveyed in September 2019. Information gathered will assist providers in creating a menu of services that fit the needs and desires of district staff, parents, and students.
Parental consent must be given for students to access services. Once given, students can access the health center at any time. Students age 12 years and older are able to visit the clinic alone, but children under the age of 12 will have to have a parent present.
The health center will accept most forms of insurance including Medicaid and CHP+. A sliding fee discount will be available to those who qualify or who have no health insurance. No child will be refused services based on their ability to pay.
The primary goal of our partnership with Solvista Health and Valley-Wide Health Systems is to remove barriers for students and staff to access quality healthcare in a convenient location that will help them thrive in and out of the classroom.
Parents will be surveyed during 2019 school registration sessions in August, while staff and 6th through 12th-grade students will be surveyed in September 2019. Information gathered will assist providers in creating a menu of services that fit the needs and desires of district staff, parents, and students.
Parental consent must be given for students to access services. Once given, students can access the health center at any time. Students age 12 years and older are able to visit the clinic alone, but children under the age of 12 will have to have a parent present.
The health center will accept most forms of insurance including Medicaid and CHP+. A sliding fee discount will be available to those who qualify or who have no health insurance. No child will be refused services based on their ability to pay.
The primary goal of our partnership with Solvista Health and Valley-Wide Health Systems is to remove barriers for students and staff to access quality healthcare in a convenient location that will help them thrive in and out of the classroom.
Our Future Focus
During last week's heavy thunderstorm the Cañon City School District broadband network took a lightning strike, knocking out our internet firewall. Unfortunately, this damage amounted to nearly $30,000 in replacement costs, most of which we believe will be covered through our property insurance. The damage left us a bit hamstrung during the week leading up to the 4th of July, but Director of Technology Shaun Kohl was able to have us back up and running in time for the workday on July 8th. If any of you were having difficulty reaching us during this timespan, please understand our predicament and accept our apologies.
Bond Progress
Unexpected fuel tank and asbestos cleanup will likely change our CCMS construction completion timeline.
Last week it was determined our timeline for completion of the Cañon City Middle School major renovation project will have to be adjusted. This is a result of delays related to our mitigation of the two fuel tanks we discovered, as well as the asbestos insulated water line. Our original plan was to open our new academic/commons/life skills classroom wing as early as next Spring Break, but it is now looking like we'll have to wait until the end of May to do so, which also puts back our timeline to move out of the 1925 core of the building so we can remodel it. The good news is we are hopeful these are the only unexpected hurdles we will face when it comes to getting our new structures out of the ground. As we finalize timelines I'll share more information.
Last Week
Clevertouch displays, somewhat like this, will be installed in all K-5 classrooms prior to the 2020-21 school year.
Last week I received instruction on how to use our new board room Clevertouch visual display device. I also work on a Memorandum of Understanding between the administration and our teacher association related to changes brought about by our new school calendar. We canceled our weekly SAC meeting because many directors were not able to attend or were out enjoying a bit of vacation. I also attended a construction meeting focused on timelines impacted by some of our recent site excavation challenges. Finally, I participated in a 2020 legislative advocacy planning session before taking time off on the 4th and 5th to spend with family.
This Week
CCSD and CCPd plan a Functional Exercise.
My tasks for this week include publishing another issue of Echoes from Cañon on Monday. On Tuesday I'll hold a monthly touching base meeting with Director of Student Support Services Paula Buser, then I'll meet with her and folks from the Cañon City Police Department about plans for our upcoming Functional Drill exercise. Later on Tuesday we'll hold a Superintendent Advisory Council meetingduring which we'll make some equipment contract decisions and plan our annual administrator back to school retreat. Throughout the rest of the week I'll continue working on digital file organization, updating our district Unified Academic Improvement Plan, attend ameeting about possibly purchasing new furniture for one of our school, and I'll meet a new Pueblo Community College Gateway to College staff member.
Other Voices
Raynette Douglas
It is with deepest sadness we inform the Cañon City School District community that Raynette Douglas, our Administrative Assistant to the Special Services Director, passed away early on July 8th.
Ray was an amazing wife and mother who always put her family first, a stalwart of our administrative office team, and perhaps the heart and soul of the Cañon City High School Tiger Pride Booster Club.
Raynette had been struggling with a heart condition for quite some time. However, it would surprise none of us if folks did not realize this, as her dedication to our district and to our children was such that she faithfully and effectively fulfilled her role in our office right up through late last week.
Ray had heart surgery three years ago, but just never really fully recovered and, unfortunately, took a turn for the worse last night, and so we lost her.
Our loss of Mrs. Douglas leaves a tremendous hole in our administrative office team. She was an absolute expert at her craft, a joy to work with, and it's my opinion she was the glue that held us all together.
Ray was an amazing wife and mother who always put her family first, a stalwart of our administrative office team, and perhaps the heart and soul of the Cañon City High School Tiger Pride Booster Club.
Raynette had been struggling with a heart condition for quite some time. However, it would surprise none of us if folks did not realize this, as her dedication to our district and to our children was such that she faithfully and effectively fulfilled her role in our office right up through late last week.
Ray had heart surgery three years ago, but just never really fully recovered and, unfortunately, took a turn for the worse last night, and so we lost her.
Our loss of Mrs. Douglas leaves a tremendous hole in our administrative office team. She was an absolute expert at her craft, a joy to work with, and it's my opinion she was the glue that held us all together.
We ask each of you keep Ray's sons Ryan and Austin, her husband John, and her entire family in your hearts, thoughts, and prayers during this difficult time.
I ask you to do the same for our administrative office team, as well.
In times like this Raynette was ALWAYS there to lift us up. She listened, empathized, and somehow always found the exact words and deeds needed to make others feel better.
Here in the Cañon City School District, we know at times like this it is difficult to understand why such things happen. However, we also recognize just how lucky we were to have the beautiful light she shined in our daily lives. We're also committed to honoring her memory by passing forward exactly what it is she would have done for each of us in times like this, supporting those in need to help them gain the strength necessary to continue moving forward in life.
As soon as we have information about memorial services we'll pass that information on to each of you.
In the meantime, peace be with you,
George S. Welsh
I ask you to do the same for our administrative office team, as well.
In times like this Raynette was ALWAYS there to lift us up. She listened, empathized, and somehow always found the exact words and deeds needed to make others feel better.
Here in the Cañon City School District, we know at times like this it is difficult to understand why such things happen. However, we also recognize just how lucky we were to have the beautiful light she shined in our daily lives. We're also committed to honoring her memory by passing forward exactly what it is she would have done for each of us in times like this, supporting those in need to help them gain the strength necessary to continue moving forward in life.
As soon as we have information about memorial services we'll pass that information on to each of you.
In the meantime, peace be with you,
George S. Welsh
