Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
The CCHS Nutrition Services crew performed above and beyond the call of duty on Wednesday.
A big thank you goes out to the Cañon City High School Nutrition Services team. Due to a lengthy school safety lockout on Wednesday the team had to shift from its usual food preparation routine of about 300 meals per day to serving nearly every student. All reports are that Bert Stiefel, Mary Gilbert, Cindy Harding, Teri Lee, Jocelyn Fallis, Shantel Brassea and Head Custodian Jason Jones did an amazing job pulling this off with limited notice. Thank you all for your willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty when needed!
This week we received exciting news that Cañon City High School is the recipient of a Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools program (P-Tech) grant. This allows CCHS to partner with the Pueblo Community College Fremont Campus and Fremont Economic Development's TechSTART to create a six-year high school to college STEM program for students to work in internships and earn an associates degree in a science, technology, engineering, or math field. Cañon City High School's was the only grant awarded in this round, and it is the first rural school in Colorado receive such an opportunity. What's even better is Cañon City High School technical writing students, guided by their teacher Madison Tortessi, actually wrote and submitted the grant. The result of their effort will provide free college-level STEM education and intern opportunities for their classmates. Congratulations, and a gigantic thank you, go to Lisa Downs, Kellie Jakus, Cage Shepard, Jacob Gutormson, Rita Carroll, Trent Durnen, Levi Green, Kiah Benedict, Tamara Chapman, Alycia Shipley, Johnathan Malsam and Cameron McFarland!
Speaking of grants, this week we were also notified we received a United States Department of Agriculture equipment assistance grant to purchase a new food truck to use in our summer meal program, and Truancy Coordinator Tonya Wolfe secured $2,500 from Fremont County Department of Human Services to support needy families in paying school activity fees.
This week we received exciting news that Cañon City High School is the recipient of a Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools program (P-Tech) grant. This allows CCHS to partner with the Pueblo Community College Fremont Campus and Fremont Economic Development's TechSTART to create a six-year high school to college STEM program for students to work in internships and earn an associates degree in a science, technology, engineering, or math field. Cañon City High School's was the only grant awarded in this round, and it is the first rural school in Colorado receive such an opportunity. What's even better is Cañon City High School technical writing students, guided by their teacher Madison Tortessi, actually wrote and submitted the grant. The result of their effort will provide free college-level STEM education and intern opportunities for their classmates. Congratulations, and a gigantic thank you, go to Lisa Downs, Kellie Jakus, Cage Shepard, Jacob Gutormson, Rita Carroll, Trent Durnen, Levi Green, Kiah Benedict, Tamara Chapman, Alycia Shipley, Johnathan Malsam and Cameron McFarland!
Speaking of grants, this week we were also notified we received a United States Department of Agriculture equipment assistance grant to purchase a new food truck to use in our summer meal program, and Truancy Coordinator Tonya Wolfe secured $2,500 from Fremont County Department of Human Services to support needy families in paying school activity fees.
Ms. Tortessi's technical writing students secured this round's only P-Tech grant that was awarded.
The Focus of Our Work
Regional Health and Wellness Coordinator Brian VanIwarden introduces Social-Emotional Learning foundations to principals, counselors, and our cadre of health care professionals.
On Friday morning, CCSD principals, counselors, and school health professional representatives from every school gathered to kick off the implementation of our Generation Schools Network Social Emotional Learning grant. This opportunity was made available thanks to our participation in the Colorado Rural Schools Alliance, and is aimed at providing training for staff to address the social-emotional learning needs of all children. This includes helping students more effectively develop self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness, and relationship skills. Considering the many challenges schools face related to student mental-health and how this impacts school safety, this is outstanding work to be engaging in. Our plan for next year is to train all school health professionals and counselors to provide social-emotional learning opportunities to all students on a weekly basis.
On Wednesday Cañon City Schools initiated a district-wide lockout due to a credible threat reported by local law enforcement. This caused us to modify a planned evacuation drill in conjunction with a student-initiated assembly planned at Cañon City High School. The lockout was precautionary to ensure safety, and we ended it just before Noon, at which time we received a Safe-2-Tell tip that a dangerous weapon may be at Harrison School. As a result, Mountain View Core Knowledge and Harrison remained on lockout status. Harrison students were held in place to limit movement while a systematic search was conducted. This ended around 2:30 pm and, happily, no weapon was found. We recognize many rumors were circulating through social-media that day and remind parents to look first to school district communication sources for accurate information whenever such incidents occur.
On Wednesday Cañon City Schools initiated a district-wide lockout due to a credible threat reported by local law enforcement. This caused us to modify a planned evacuation drill in conjunction with a student-initiated assembly planned at Cañon City High School. The lockout was precautionary to ensure safety, and we ended it just before Noon, at which time we received a Safe-2-Tell tip that a dangerous weapon may be at Harrison School. As a result, Mountain View Core Knowledge and Harrison remained on lockout status. Harrison students were held in place to limit movement while a systematic search was conducted. This ended around 2:30 pm and, happily, no weapon was found. We recognize many rumors were circulating through social-media that day and remind parents to look first to school district communication sources for accurate information whenever such incidents occur.
CCMS Math Teachers share and discuss student classwork.
On Wednesday we also conducted our annual site visit and evaluation at Cañon City Middle School. The Falcon staff was eager to show us the many great things they are doing. We witnessed outstanding work in Professional Learning Communities where teachers share how they evaluate student work. We also saw teachers soliciting feedback from students to meet their needs more effectively, and a particular focus on increasing opportunities for students to deeply engage in lessons. CCMS instructional strategies are among the most creative we have seen in the district. While on site we observed gamification, artistic representation, simulation, and historical characterization, as well as the use of higher-order problem-solving skills like comparison/contrast and thesis creation. Its evident Falcon teachers develop positive relationships with students, seeking to understand them, their parents, and the entire community. It is apparent the Cañon City Middle School staff lives by one simple rule; making decisions based on what's best for kids!
On Monday Cañon City High School Principal Bill Summers recommended we adjust our start to the high school day one hour later beginning next year. In his presentation to the Board, Bill cited medical research and case studies conducted after such changes have been made. He also shared how such a change might impact other schools in the district because of transportation restrictions. I have encouraged Mr. Summers to create a video of his presentation we can share with folks who could not be present. The Board is considering this information, and soliciting public input at its March 26th meeting before making a final decision.
On Thursday I toured the Mountain View Core Knowledge School campus with Director Karen Sartori and CDE Captial Construction Regional Representative Anna Fitzer. Our hope was to receive guidance as to how we might leverage Colorado's Building Excellent Schools Today grant program to enhance the learning environment at the charter school.
On Monday Cañon City High School Principal Bill Summers recommended we adjust our start to the high school day one hour later beginning next year. In his presentation to the Board, Bill cited medical research and case studies conducted after such changes have been made. He also shared how such a change might impact other schools in the district because of transportation restrictions. I have encouraged Mr. Summers to create a video of his presentation we can share with folks who could not be present. The Board is considering this information, and soliciting public input at its March 26th meeting before making a final decision.
On Thursday I toured the Mountain View Core Knowledge School campus with Director Karen Sartori and CDE Captial Construction Regional Representative Anna Fitzer. Our hope was to receive guidance as to how we might leverage Colorado's Building Excellent Schools Today grant program to enhance the learning environment at the charter school.
Override Progress
CCHS graduate Dr. Luke Javernick shares his knowledge of tech sector jobs with the Technology Visioning Committee.
Last week we brought our District Technology Vision committee together to revise our plan to put instructional technology in place. This included agreeing to put devices in student's hands over the next three years beginning at the high school level, moving to the middle school, and finally elementary. A special treat was having Dr. Luke Javernick, a member of the Canon City High School Class of 2002, present to us how he uses technology skills in his career. After leaving CCHS Luke earned a Ph.d. in Civil Engineering and was a recipient of the Marie Curie Fellowship scholarship, allowing him to teach, research, and learn in Italy. Luke helped grow our understanding of key technology experiences we should offer to ensure students attain skills needed to compete in an ever-changing world. At the end of the session, the committee brainstormed concepts for future focus including using technology for credit recovery, assignment management, flipped classroom instruction, station rotation and engagement, and differentiated instruction.
Bond Progress
This week I received a request from Anna Fitzer to provide more information and clarification of concepts in our new Cañon City Middle School BEST grant application. I have set aside time during spring break to work on these responses.
Last Week
MVCKS Director Karen Sartori explains her desire to improve campus safety with Anna Fitzer from CDE.
On Monday, Director of Instruction Adam Hartman and I met with Southern Peaks Youth Facility staff to support their implementation of Title ID programs. We also held a board work session and meeting. On Tuesday I attended District Leadership and Facilities Corp meetings, and held a monthly check-in meeting with Director of Student Support Services Paula Buser, as well as a Superintendent's Advisory Council meeting. In the midst of Wednesday's safety situation, we also conducted our annual Cañon City Middle School site visit. This was followed by CCEOE, District Technology, Certified Negotiations, and CCHS Parent Advisory Committee meetings. On Thursday I walked the Mountain View Core Knowledge School grounds with our BEST Grant Regional Representative Anna Fitzer and MVCKS Director Karen Sartori. I also attended several standing monthly meetings. On Friday we held a Social-Emotional Learning grant kickoff meeting at the administration building with building administrators, counselors, and school health professionals.
This Week
CCHS Principal Bill Summers recommends a later start for his students starting next year.
Our Spring Break is March 16th through the 23rd. I will be working part of the time, taking a trip to Denver to testify on legislation aimed at increasing funding for the BEST program, attending a variety of meetings, and working on Cañon City Middle School BEST grant revisions requested by CDE.
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh