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
Tanya Sanders
Several weeks ago, at the end of a school day at Washington Elementary, a student was seen choking. Fortunately Tanya Sanders, an instructional paraprofessional, immediately jumped into action and performed abdominal thrusts dislodging the object the child was choking on. She saved the child’s life!
I can think of no better example of our staff putting Maslow before Bloom!
Regarding being future focused, four of Cañon City High school’s automotive trades teacher John Duston’s students Tekoa Luce, Joshua Smith, Jeffery Kimmick, and Auguston O'Seasnain recently tested for and earned at least three ASE certifications each. I understand a total of 22 certifications were earned by this cohort! Congratulations. Each of you will, no doubt, be career ready by the time you graduate!
I can think of no better example of our staff putting Maslow before Bloom!
Regarding being future focused, four of Cañon City High school’s automotive trades teacher John Duston’s students Tekoa Luce, Joshua Smith, Jeffery Kimmick, and Auguston O'Seasnain recently tested for and earned at least three ASE certifications each. I understand a total of 22 certifications were earned by this cohort! Congratulations. Each of you will, no doubt, be career ready by the time you graduate!
Our Future Focus
Board Secretary Robin Reeser accepts the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year Award.
I wish to offer appreciation to the staff of Harrison K-8 School and McKinley Elementary for the work they have been doing connecting McKinley 5th graders with the Harrison middle school staff. As is tradition, McKinley’s 5th grade will filter into Harrison School this fall. Opportunities like this will help them to transition into their next school.
Several weeks ago the Cañon City School District was named the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year! In honoring us, the Chamber said we are “entrusted every day with the community’s most precious commodity – our children.” We understand we were the recipient of this award because of our work in educating young students and preparing them for a successful future after graduation.
The Chamber added, “Just in the last few years, the Cañon City School District has created new programs in schools, such as turning Cañon City High into a career pathways school, which allows students to participate in internships and apprenticeships with one of more than 110 local businesses before graduation. As many of you already know, CCHS also was awarded a P-Tech grant, with the help of CCHS’s technical writing class, that provides students with the ability to earn an associate’s degree in a STEM-related field at no personal cost. Cañon City was the first rural school in the U.S. to earn a P-TECH program, resulting in Cañon City Schools being recognized as an Exemplar District, featured by the Colorado Education Initiative as a must place to visit through the Homegrown Talent Initiative, and CCHS received a 2019 Succeeds Award for outstanding STEM education.
Additionally, CCHS has led the state of Colorado for the past few years in in per-capita college credits earned by high school students.
At the award ceremony, School Board Secretary Robin Reeser said “the district the past few years has been on a transformative journey, upgrading facilities and codifying core beliefs that children’s personal health and social-emotional wellness are at the forefront of what they do.”
She added, “We have also become future-focused, choosing to emphasize the development of specific traits and skills we know will be necessary for each of our graduates to be successful in any endeavor they face in an uncertain future.”
Robin explained that none of this would be possible without the support of the business community. “Our students crave real-life scenarios to practice innovation, tenacity, agility, civility, agency and integrity and to make use of their knowledge.”
Thanks to local business support, next year, each student in the CCHS Class of 2022 will have experienced a real-life work experience in the form of an internship work or apprenticeship opportunity.
“We’re not sure there is another rural community in Colorado that can attest to this,” Mrs. .Reeser said. “When you allow our students to work and learn in your midst, they grow in their understanding of what it takes to be a productive adult. They begin to realize what they may wish to do in their future, and perhaps what they wish not to do.”
“All of this has continued despite a worldwide pandemic, Reeser added. “Our focus is still on the future and helping Cañon City thrive as a great place to live, work and play.”
Several weeks ago the Cañon City School District was named the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year! In honoring us, the Chamber said we are “entrusted every day with the community’s most precious commodity – our children.” We understand we were the recipient of this award because of our work in educating young students and preparing them for a successful future after graduation.
The Chamber added, “Just in the last few years, the Cañon City School District has created new programs in schools, such as turning Cañon City High into a career pathways school, which allows students to participate in internships and apprenticeships with one of more than 110 local businesses before graduation. As many of you already know, CCHS also was awarded a P-Tech grant, with the help of CCHS’s technical writing class, that provides students with the ability to earn an associate’s degree in a STEM-related field at no personal cost. Cañon City was the first rural school in the U.S. to earn a P-TECH program, resulting in Cañon City Schools being recognized as an Exemplar District, featured by the Colorado Education Initiative as a must place to visit through the Homegrown Talent Initiative, and CCHS received a 2019 Succeeds Award for outstanding STEM education.
Additionally, CCHS has led the state of Colorado for the past few years in in per-capita college credits earned by high school students.
At the award ceremony, School Board Secretary Robin Reeser said “the district the past few years has been on a transformative journey, upgrading facilities and codifying core beliefs that children’s personal health and social-emotional wellness are at the forefront of what they do.”
She added, “We have also become future-focused, choosing to emphasize the development of specific traits and skills we know will be necessary for each of our graduates to be successful in any endeavor they face in an uncertain future.”
Robin explained that none of this would be possible without the support of the business community. “Our students crave real-life scenarios to practice innovation, tenacity, agility, civility, agency and integrity and to make use of their knowledge.”
Thanks to local business support, next year, each student in the CCHS Class of 2022 will have experienced a real-life work experience in the form of an internship work or apprenticeship opportunity.
“We’re not sure there is another rural community in Colorado that can attest to this,” Mrs. .Reeser said. “When you allow our students to work and learn in your midst, they grow in their understanding of what it takes to be a productive adult. They begin to realize what they may wish to do in their future, and perhaps what they wish not to do.”
“All of this has continued despite a worldwide pandemic, Reeser added. “Our focus is still on the future and helping Cañon City thrive as a great place to live, work and play.”
Applying Our Traits and Skills
Kylie Werner shares her collection with McKinley staff.
This year the McKinley Elementary School staff has been focusing on supporting all students in developing the targeted traits ands skills of the Cañon City School District. Recently, 5th graders in Nicole Molis’s class engaged in Passion Projects. A Passion Project is a student-chosen activity, often performed outside of the school day, that gives a child a sense of satisfaction and happiness while they also develop skills and traits. When her teacher explained what the Passion Projects would entail, a student named Kylie Werner immediately knew she wanted to do something that would help the people around her. With guidance from her Mrs. Molis, and approval from Principal Scott Morton, Kylie planned a fundraising event. She called her Passion Project a “Penny War” and decided any money raised would go to McKinley Elementary’s Wildcats Care Program. The Wildcats Care program provides food and supplies to McKinley students and families in need. Originally, Kylie’s goal was to raise $100. When all the donations were tallied, Kylie far exceeded her goal and gathered a total of $1,025.09! Mrs. Molis stated, “It was so rewarding to watch the joy and excitement Kylie felt after she counted the coins and bills each day and totaled the amounts. Her exuberance was contagious not only in the 5th grade, but to the entire school!” When Kylie was asked to reflect on her Passion Project, she stated, “It was a lot of work counting all the money, but it was a LOT of fun too! I’m so happy our school was able to raise that much money, and everyone even got a popsicle for their hard work!” Well done, Kylie!
We are pleased to announce the Cañon City High School JROTC qualified for the 2021 Virtual Target Shooting Championship Competition!
This Virtual Championship serves as a COVID Pandemic substitute for the JROTC Service and National Championships that are typically held in February and March in Chandler, AZ. With the virus causing travel and logistical difficulties across the country, a decision to alter the scheduling of these events in the best interest of the participants, families, spectators, and staff was made.
I understand the format of this competition will be similar to the JROTC Postal Competition, where targets are mailed to individuals and teams and scored via Visual Image Scoring technology. All firing will be done on the home or local ranges of participants. Some additional match verifications for the fair and safe conduct of the competitions will be implemented as well.
The CCHS team match will take place during the first week of April. Best of luck, Tigers!
This Virtual Championship serves as a COVID Pandemic substitute for the JROTC Service and National Championships that are typically held in February and March in Chandler, AZ. With the virus causing travel and logistical difficulties across the country, a decision to alter the scheduling of these events in the best interest of the participants, families, spectators, and staff was made.
I understand the format of this competition will be similar to the JROTC Postal Competition, where targets are mailed to individuals and teams and scored via Visual Image Scoring technology. All firing will be done on the home or local ranges of participants. Some additional match verifications for the fair and safe conduct of the competitions will be implemented as well.
The CCHS team match will take place during the first week of April. Best of luck, Tigers!
Looking Ahead
Me and Shad Johnson at the CCMS Ribbon cutting.
On Monday March 28th, Board of Education President Shad Johnson shared this message with the entire Cañon City School District staff:
As many are aware, Mr. Welsh will be leaving his position as Superintendent of Schools at the end of the workday on June 30, 2022. He is contracted to work one more 140-day term through that point in time.
This leads to the question of how he will be replaced.
The work we are doing in the Canon City School District is cutting edge. Because of the efforts of many great people at all levels of our system, we have become a future-focused district deeply committed to a specific set of core beliefs, while developing key traits and skills in our children that will prepare them for any challenges they’ll face in life.
With this understanding and our Board’s desire to remain on the trajectory we are on, there is a deep sense that not just anyone with administrative experience can be invited in to guide our work. Thus, we have decided to search for George’s replacement in two possible phases.
First, we will conduct a two-week-long internal search. This means anyone within our system right now who believes they have what it takes to guide our district into the future we have envisioned is encouraged to indicate their desire by submitting a letter of interest to me by the end of the workday Friday, April 9, 2021. This response should include a resume, three letters of recommendation, and an answer to this prompt: "Why I think I'm the right person to lead Canon City Schools into the future."
At the end of this two-week period, the entire Board will review submittals and interview any acceptable candidate who steps forward. At this time the Board will make one of two decisions. Either someone who applied is the right person to lead us forward, or it will be time to conduct a broader search for the right candidate.
Should an internal candidate be deemed acceptable, they will be named a finalist, allowing staff and community some time to engage them and offer the Board their opinion regarding leadership viability. If the board decides to extend a contract to the finalist, Mr. Welsh will then work closely with that person throughout the 2021-22 school year to impart an effective transition.
Should a broad search become necessary as a result of this internal search, a traditional one will take place during the fall of 2021 with the goal of filling the position by July 1, 2022.
Here is the timeline the Board is committed to following:
As many are aware, Mr. Welsh will be leaving his position as Superintendent of Schools at the end of the workday on June 30, 2022. He is contracted to work one more 140-day term through that point in time.
This leads to the question of how he will be replaced.
The work we are doing in the Canon City School District is cutting edge. Because of the efforts of many great people at all levels of our system, we have become a future-focused district deeply committed to a specific set of core beliefs, while developing key traits and skills in our children that will prepare them for any challenges they’ll face in life.
With this understanding and our Board’s desire to remain on the trajectory we are on, there is a deep sense that not just anyone with administrative experience can be invited in to guide our work. Thus, we have decided to search for George’s replacement in two possible phases.
First, we will conduct a two-week-long internal search. This means anyone within our system right now who believes they have what it takes to guide our district into the future we have envisioned is encouraged to indicate their desire by submitting a letter of interest to me by the end of the workday Friday, April 9, 2021. This response should include a resume, three letters of recommendation, and an answer to this prompt: "Why I think I'm the right person to lead Canon City Schools into the future."
At the end of this two-week period, the entire Board will review submittals and interview any acceptable candidate who steps forward. At this time the Board will make one of two decisions. Either someone who applied is the right person to lead us forward, or it will be time to conduct a broader search for the right candidate.
Should an internal candidate be deemed acceptable, they will be named a finalist, allowing staff and community some time to engage them and offer the Board their opinion regarding leadership viability. If the board decides to extend a contract to the finalist, Mr. Welsh will then work closely with that person throughout the 2021-22 school year to impart an effective transition.
Should a broad search become necessary as a result of this internal search, a traditional one will take place during the fall of 2021 with the goal of filling the position by July 1, 2022.
Here is the timeline the Board is committed to following:
- Announce the opening internally on Monday, March 29.
- Accept applications through the end of the workday Friday, April 9.
- Interview acceptable applicants on Monday, April 11.
- If an acceptable candidate emerges, announce them as a finalist on Monday, April 11.
- Set up several opportunities for the sole finalist to engage the greater education community between April 12 and April 23.
- The Board of Education considers community feedback and makes a decision to tender a contract or not at its meeting on Monday, April 26.
- If a contract is extended, the finalist will begin serving in a supportive role starting July 1, 2021, and fully transition into the position on July 1, 2022.
- Should the Board decide a broader search is necessary, this will take place during the fall of 2021 with a selection made and a timeline to begin service starting July 1, 2022
On another exciting front, we are pleased to announce that our summer SPLASh! Program 2021 will be taking place in-person. This will occur Tuesday, June 1st through Friday, June 4th and Monday, June 7th through Thursday, June 10.
SPLASh! is a summer program designed for gifted and advanced children. It allows students to participate in enriching classes that challenge their thinking.
Most K-8 classes will be held at Pueblo Community College. Tuition runs $125, though Vocal Music & Theater will cost $150.
Applications will be going out to students before Spring Break.
We are excited to get this valuable, enriching, in-person program back up and running!
Thank you for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
SPLASh! is a summer program designed for gifted and advanced children. It allows students to participate in enriching classes that challenge their thinking.
Most K-8 classes will be held at Pueblo Community College. Tuition runs $125, though Vocal Music & Theater will cost $150.
Applications will be going out to students before Spring Break.
We are excited to get this valuable, enriching, in-person program back up and running!
Thank you for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
