Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
CCHS Senior Kylie Heninger was the highest rankin Army cadet, and placed 8th nationally, at the JROTC Air Rifle national Championship Meet.
Though we were on Spring Break this week there were many examples of excellence on display.
At the beginning of break the Cañon City Middle School staff quickly reacted to a student in need by building an emergency homebound education plan. This will be a great help to that child and their family as they recover from an unfortunate accident.
Cañon city High School Counselor Stacy Andrews spent a good chunk of our break working on an elementary counselor corps grant that could lead to the funding of 5 new elementary counselors. This would be a tremendous help to each of out K-5 buildings. Thank you, Stacy, for investing your valuable time in this effort!
Though students and instructional staff enjoyed last week away from work, many of our folks supported the district through the break. Central office staff continued to recruit employees, line out professional development, meet with parents, focus on school safety, and pay the district's bills. Operations staff tackled a bunch of projects in buildings and our grounds crew was hard at work on our watering systems and getting spring sports fields in top shape.
On a final note this week, our Cañon City High School Army JROTC Rifle Team performed quite well at the national tournament on Saturday. As a team, CCHS took 3rd place among all Army teams and 12th place overall. meanwhile, Kylie Heninger was the highest finishing Army competitor and finished in 8th place overall. What an outstanding effort!
At the beginning of break the Cañon City Middle School staff quickly reacted to a student in need by building an emergency homebound education plan. This will be a great help to that child and their family as they recover from an unfortunate accident.
Cañon city High School Counselor Stacy Andrews spent a good chunk of our break working on an elementary counselor corps grant that could lead to the funding of 5 new elementary counselors. This would be a tremendous help to each of out K-5 buildings. Thank you, Stacy, for investing your valuable time in this effort!
Though students and instructional staff enjoyed last week away from work, many of our folks supported the district through the break. Central office staff continued to recruit employees, line out professional development, meet with parents, focus on school safety, and pay the district's bills. Operations staff tackled a bunch of projects in buildings and our grounds crew was hard at work on our watering systems and getting spring sports fields in top shape.
On a final note this week, our Cañon City High School Army JROTC Rifle Team performed quite well at the national tournament on Saturday. As a team, CCHS took 3rd place among all Army teams and 12th place overall. meanwhile, Kylie Heninger was the highest finishing Army competitor and finished in 8th place overall. What an outstanding effort!
The Focus of Our Work
Max Hanson, a parent of Washington Elementary students, testifies in front of the House Finance Committee on the importance of the BEST program for communities like Cañon City.
Last Monday I traveled to the Capitol to testify on House Bill 1070 aimed at expanding Building Excellent Schools Today program funding through additional marijuana excise tax allocations. The bill passed through the House Finance Committee on a 13-0 vote. I believe its next stop is the House Appropriations Committee. This legislation was originally proposed by our Board of Education through CASB's legislative resolution process last October.
Outside of a series of meetings early in the week, I also spent time preparing follow-up information for CDE in relation to our Cañon City Middle School major remodel BEST grant. I also spent quite a bit of time preparing principal evaluations.
On Monday, March 26th the Canon City Board of Education will consider a proposal to start the high school instructional day one hour later next year. Anyone interested in offering input on this matter is welcome to do so at the board meeting which begins at 5:30 PM.
Outside of a series of meetings early in the week, I also spent time preparing follow-up information for CDE in relation to our Cañon City Middle School major remodel BEST grant. I also spent quite a bit of time preparing principal evaluations.
On Monday, March 26th the Canon City Board of Education will consider a proposal to start the high school instructional day one hour later next year. Anyone interested in offering input on this matter is welcome to do so at the board meeting which begins at 5:30 PM.
Override Progress
Cañon City High School social studies teacher Daniel Coppa had a 70-inch flat screen display device installed in his room over the break. He will use it for several weeks and, thanks to the cart it is mounted to, will pass it on to other teachers so they can offer their opinion as to whether it is sufficient for classroom use to display teacher and student work.
Bond Progress
Folks from territory Electric installed a blue button panic system in Lincoln School of Science and Technology during Spring Break.
As stated above, I spent part of my spring break week replying to some clarifying questions CDE has asked about our Cañon City Middle School BEST grant. While schools were empty we also tackled several of our multi-facility upgrade projects, including installing blue button panic alarm systems in Lincoln School of Science and Technology and McKinley Elementary and installing new intercom systems at Cañon Exploratory School and McKinley. We also had architects, electricians, and plumbers on site preparing for the installation of new water delivery systems and designing more secure school entries, and completed quite a bit of roofing work at Cañon city High School.
Last Week
Our Spring Break was March 16th through the 23rd. I worked part of the week, taking a trip to Denver to testify on legislation aimed at increasing funding for the BEST program, attending various meetings, working on Canon City Middle School BEST grant revisions requested by CDE, and compiling paperwork for principal evaluations
This Week
Not satisfied with having already stolen my parking space, Board-Superintendent Secretary Colleen Carroll has recently decided she likes my office better than hers!
I'll conduct four principal evaluations this week. On Monday I'll attend a meeting with Valley-Wide Health Services representatives to learn about a mobile doctor and dentist program they would like to implement in schools. We also have a board meeting and work session that evening. On Tuesday I have a Superintendent's Advisory Council meeting and a podcast interview with Lindamood-Bell representatives. Tuesday afternoon will be spent in an Instructional Leader Professional Learning Community session. On Wednesday I have some parent meetings and time set aside to continue working on principal evaluations. I'll be out of work all day Thursday and Friday morning to attend to personal matters but will return on Friday afternoon for a School Safety Town Hall planning meeting.
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
