Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
Washington Principal Brain Zamarripa, Literacy Coach Kelli Jones and External Evaluator Wendy Birhanzel observe expert small group reading instruction.
Cañon City High School's JROTC program has been making us proud this year. This week we learned CCHS representatives advanced to the 2018 Army JROTC Academic Bowl Championship in Washington, DC in June. Meanwhile, we also qualified for the JROTC National Rifle Championship meet that takes place in late March. Congratulations Tiger Cadets!
On Monday we conducted our annual site visit to Washington Elementary School. while there we noticed vastly improved learning targets that show teachers are intentionally planning to address our curriculum. We also saw strong evidence of teachers using high engagement learning strategies. Washington's staff is making quite effective use of the personnel they have, especially during reading focus time. We also appreciate how well they are making use of newly purchased instructional resources. We also observed excellent student behavior, indicating classroom lessons are meaningful and engaging, and students are held accountable for good citizenship. Most important, the Washington staff has produced perhaps the best middle of year benchmark reading data in our district, with the highest percentage of students moving from well below to at grade level reading of any of our schools. Keep up this great work!
On Monday we conducted our annual site visit to Washington Elementary School. while there we noticed vastly improved learning targets that show teachers are intentionally planning to address our curriculum. We also saw strong evidence of teachers using high engagement learning strategies. Washington's staff is making quite effective use of the personnel they have, especially during reading focus time. We also appreciate how well they are making use of newly purchased instructional resources. We also observed excellent student behavior, indicating classroom lessons are meaningful and engaging, and students are held accountable for good citizenship. Most important, the Washington staff has produced perhaps the best middle of year benchmark reading data in our district, with the highest percentage of students moving from well below to at grade level reading of any of our schools. Keep up this great work!
Director of Instruction Adam Hartman was a keynote presenter at last week's School Health Professionals gathering in Denver.
School Psychologist Jesse Hamilton, Wendy Birhanzel, and Adam Hartman observe music instruction at McKinley Elementary.
This week our very own Adam Hartman delivered a keynote address at the Colorado School Health Professional Grant conference in Denver. His message was about how appropriate praise impacts students and creates resilience. Everyone I have spoken to about this reports he represented Cañon City Schools very well. Thanks, Adam!
On Thursday we conducted our annual site visit to McKinley Elementary School. While there we noticed the hard work staff has done to become a Positive Behavior Support school. The student-centered climate they are creating for students is showing. We saw instruction both in the morning and after lunch and noticed strong learning targets being created by the staff. Nearly all answered the three key questions "who will do what, how." We also observed teachers taking complete advantage of opportunities to increase student engagement. Slide back partners, whiteboards, shoulder partners, choral reading, physical signals to show readiness to respond, and appropriate use of games was evident throughout. McKinley teachers are clearly using feedback offered by their administrator and literacy coach to improve student learning. There is simply a sense of learning everywhere, with everyone working toward maximizing each instructional minute for kids. Way to go Wildcats!
On Monday I had the opportunity to observe Jeff Peterson guiding the work of ten members of our Design-Build team as they planned work on our multi-facility repair project. The knowledge Mr. Peterson brings to the table, and the common sense he applies to each solution, provides value to our taxpayers as we move forward on this work. Jeff emerging as a leader of people. Yet in the same paragraph I mention this, I caught Jeff working late into the evening on Thursday filling in as the custodian at the ACCESS Center because we were short on personnel. He did so simply because the job needed to be done. Our kids are fortunate to have Jeff working on their behalf!
On Thursday we conducted our annual site visit to McKinley Elementary School. While there we noticed the hard work staff has done to become a Positive Behavior Support school. The student-centered climate they are creating for students is showing. We saw instruction both in the morning and after lunch and noticed strong learning targets being created by the staff. Nearly all answered the three key questions "who will do what, how." We also observed teachers taking complete advantage of opportunities to increase student engagement. Slide back partners, whiteboards, shoulder partners, choral reading, physical signals to show readiness to respond, and appropriate use of games was evident throughout. McKinley teachers are clearly using feedback offered by their administrator and literacy coach to improve student learning. There is simply a sense of learning everywhere, with everyone working toward maximizing each instructional minute for kids. Way to go Wildcats!
On Monday I had the opportunity to observe Jeff Peterson guiding the work of ten members of our Design-Build team as they planned work on our multi-facility repair project. The knowledge Mr. Peterson brings to the table, and the common sense he applies to each solution, provides value to our taxpayers as we move forward on this work. Jeff emerging as a leader of people. Yet in the same paragraph I mention this, I caught Jeff working late into the evening on Thursday filling in as the custodian at the ACCESS Center because we were short on personnel. He did so simply because the job needed to be done. Our kids are fortunate to have Jeff working on their behalf!
The Focus of Our Work
CCHS Principal Bill Summers discusses his school's need for a more secure main entry with Design-Build team members from GE Johnson and RTA Architecture.
As a reminder, our Board of Education is entertaining an hour later school day start for high school students next year. They will begin their decision-making process by listening to a presentation from Principal Bill Summers this Monday around 5:30 PM. Mr. Summers will explain why the Cañon 2020 Committee and his Building Leadership are bringing this proposal forward, and how such a move would impact other schools in the district. The Board will consider this information, then solicit public input at its March 26th meeting before making a final decision. If you are interested I encourage you to attend both meetings so you can offer an informed opinion.
Also, this Monday evening the Board will share with me its evaluation of my work as superintendent of schools.
Also, this Monday evening the Board will share with me its evaluation of my work as superintendent of schools.
Override Progress
Cañon City High School teachers are continuing their work on an introductory Blended Learning online class. Many district leaders are taking the same exact class, and we are scheduled to complete our work by the end of the day on Wednesday during Spring Break. One other item of note on this front. Many schools are moving from projector displays of technology to large screen video monitors. To help us make a decision about what type of display devices we'll put in each high school classroom this fall, we ordered a 70-inch monitor on a mobile cart to test run in classrooms during the 4th grading quarter. We hope to have this in place when we return from Spring Break.
Director of Operations Jeff Peterson conducts a Design-Build Team Meeting.
Bond Progress
On Tuesday we held a Design-Build team meeting to begin multi-facility repair project work Mr. Peterson is not able to handle on his own. This includes water system plumbing replacement, upgrading restrooms to ADA accessibility, window replacement (and asbestos replacement related to it), HVAC system replacement (in the Tiger Dome), and entry upgrades to increase security. A team of 10, including architects, builders, and plumbers, discussed these items with Jeff and me on Wednesday, and then toured the district to look at the structures they'll be working on.
Last Week
We had full day Washington and Mckinley site visits last week. On Tuesday I was on KRLN's Morning Line and then spent time in a lengthy Design-Build team meeting. On Wednesday we held central office and operations staff meetings, and I took a trip to Pueblo to have my head examined (dermatologist). On Thursday I attended CCHS Technology Deployment and Cañon 2020 meetings. On Friday I attended a Fremont Economic Development Council Technology Sector gathering.
This Week
A highlight of my week was finally NOT spilling coffee on my shirt on Thursday. As for Tuesday and Wednesday?
Director of Instruction Adam Hartman and I have a Title programs meeting at the Southern Peaks Youth Facility on Monday. We also have Board work session and meeting. I'll attend District Leadership and Facilities Corp meetings on Tuesday. We'll conduct our Cañon City Middle School site visit on Wednesday, followed by a District Technology Visioning meeting. I'll be walking the Mountain View Core Knowledge School grounds with our BEST Grant Regional Representative Anna Fitzer and School Director Karen Sartori on Thursday morning, and will attend a State Health Department regional meeting at the Cañon City Town Hall that afternoon. On Friday we'll hold a Social-Emotional Learning Grant kickoff meeting at the administration building with building administrators, counselors, and school health professionals. Our Spring Break is March 19th through the 23rd and I'll be spending some of that time with my daughter while my wife Becky still has to work.
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh