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
TJ Evagash proudly poses with his Technology Teacher Karin Steadman.
Readers have been following the exploits of Harrison 4th grader TJ Evagash for the past few months. He recently qualified to compete in the World Wonder League Robotics Invitational. On Thursday, May 2nd, surrounded by family and classmates, TJ watched a video announcement and learned he actually finished second in the world in his competition! This year's competitors comprised nearly 7,900 teams from 69 countries. More than 35,000 kids competed by engaging in creative problem-solving challenges that encourage design thinking, scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and creativity. Only 511 teams were invited to continue in the invitational round, and by-golly TJ came in SECOND PLACE out of 347 teams in the 9-11 age group! Congratulations TJ, and special thanks to his teacher Karin Steadman for supporting this interest of his throughout the entire school year!
TJ is amazing, but he's not the only Cañon City Schools student who's been working his tail off on a major project this year. In fact, on the evening of Tuesday, May 7th you can attend the Cañon City High School Spring Self Exhibition. At this, you'll learn how individuals and groups of Cañon City High School students have been applying what they've learned this year in the form of a useful project. The event takes place in the Tiger Dome and various parts of the school from 6 to 8 PM. You won't want to miss this!
TJ is amazing, but he's not the only Cañon City Schools student who's been working his tail off on a major project this year. In fact, on the evening of Tuesday, May 7th you can attend the Cañon City High School Spring Self Exhibition. At this, you'll learn how individuals and groups of Cañon City High School students have been applying what they've learned this year in the form of a useful project. The event takes place in the Tiger Dome and various parts of the school from 6 to 8 PM. You won't want to miss this!
TJ shares the news that he finished 2nd in the world with his family and some classmates.
CCHS Spanish students taught vocabulary to elementary students.
One fine example of the type of work that might be on display is how CCHS Spanish 1 students culminated a project-based learning unit by teaching Washington Elementary and Cañon Exploratory School students a lesson in Spanish. During this unit, high school students worked in groups to choose and learn new thematic vocabulary on their own and to develop a lesson plan to teach some of this vocabulary to children. They incorporated this chosen vocabulary into a story and book for kids. During their lessons with elementary students, the high schoolers not only taught Spanish words, but each group read its newly minted book to their group and gifted them to the elementary class as a memento of their time together.
Recently our Tiger Open Pathways students took an exploratory trip to Moab, Utah. While on the trip one of our small buses had mechanical problems and TOP Teacher Steven Carter simply went above and beyond the call of duty in addressing the problem, He stayed beyond the length of the trip, connected with a school district in Utah to have repairs completed, then on his way home had to unexpectedly spend the night in Gunnison because Monarch Pass was slated to get 9 to 13 inches of snow. I'm told that many times we offered to Mr. Carter to let him leave the vehicle where it was and rent one so he could make it back to his family in a timely fashion. His constant answer was he did not want the district to have to spend extra money on doing so. Steven Carter is one amazing educator, one of many we have in the Cañon City School District who constantly put what's best for kids ahead of their personal needs. Thank you, Steve!
Recently our Tiger Open Pathways students took an exploratory trip to Moab, Utah. While on the trip one of our small buses had mechanical problems and TOP Teacher Steven Carter simply went above and beyond the call of duty in addressing the problem, He stayed beyond the length of the trip, connected with a school district in Utah to have repairs completed, then on his way home had to unexpectedly spend the night in Gunnison because Monarch Pass was slated to get 9 to 13 inches of snow. I'm told that many times we offered to Mr. Carter to let him leave the vehicle where it was and rent one so he could make it back to his family in a timely fashion. His constant answer was he did not want the district to have to spend extra money on doing so. Steven Carter is one amazing educator, one of many we have in the Cañon City School District who constantly put what's best for kids ahead of their personal needs. Thank you, Steve!
Our Future Focus
Recently six Pueblo Community College-Cañon City High School automotive students took their National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) entry-level certification tests. At the completion of the testing window, 15 new individual certifications were earned. This brings the 2018-19 ASE certification total to 35 from students in our automotive program. We began offering ASE entry-level certifications during the 2017-18 school year. At that time, seven students earned a total of 56 individual certifications during two rounds of testing. ASE tests are challenging and designed to rigorously measure a technician's knowledge and understanding of specific automotive systems. Congratulations all!
Last Week
Cañon City Schools is now a member of the Blossom Festival Hall of Fame.
On Monday morning I conducted an expulsion hearing, attended a meeting to plan our upcoming Washington Elementary new construction groundbreaking ceremony, and met with a group of citizens interested in expanding recreational opportunities for the community. On Tuesday we held a Superintendent Advisory Council meeting, I conducted another expulsion hearing, and then met with a scholarship selection committee. On Wednesday we had a central office staff meeting, I attended a final legislative advocacy phone conference, and then traveled to Keystone to attend a School-Based Health Center statewide conference on Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, on Thursday evening our Board of Education accepted the school district's induction into the Blossom Festival Hall of Fame.
This Week
This week, in honor of Educator Appreciation week, the Board of Education will hold assemblies throughout the district honoring the work of our staff. On Monday I also have a meeting with Recreation Director Kyle Horne, a representative from the Donnell-Kay Foundation, and I'll attend our annual retirement dinner. On Tuesday I'll appear on KRLN's Morning Line, conduct a Superintendent Advisory Council meeting, meet with several directors about state reporting requirements, and attend the Cañon City High School Spring 2019 SELF Expo. On Wednesday I'll meet with our classified association leaders, meet with the McKinley Elementary staff, attend a meeting to publicize our School-Based Health Center partnership with Valley-Wide Health Services and Solvista, work on Federal Programs budgeting with Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman, and travel to Springs to attend a final legislative advocacy meeting. On Thursday I conduct two expulsion hearings and a Technology Visioning Committee meeting. I have a light schedule on Friday and will use that opportunity to catch up on office work.
Other Voices
This is Teacher Appreciation Week in Colorado and the Cañon City School District Board of Education has chosen once again to honor all our employees with this proclamation.
EDUCATOR APPRECIATION WEEK 2019
WHEREAS, public education is an integral aspect of a democratic society, providing for the public good; and
WHEREAS, high-quality educators are what makes public schools great; and
WHEREAS, educators work tirelessly to open student minds to ideas, knowledge, and aspirations; and
WHEREAS, educators keep American democracy alive by laying the foundations for an informed public and informed citizenship; and
WHEREAS, educators fill the roles of listener, explorer, role model, motivator and mentor; and
WHEREAS, the influence of our educators lasts long after our school days are only memories;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Cañon City School District Board of Education proclaims the week of May 6-10, 2019, to be EDUCATOR APPRECIATION WEEK; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Cañon City School District strongly encourages all members of our community to join with it in personally expressing appreciation to our educators for their dedication and devotion to their work and to our children.
Larry Oddo, President
Lloyd Harwood, Vice President
Mary-Kay Evans, Secretary
Shad Johnson, Treasurer
Robin Reeser, Secretary-Treasurer
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
EDUCATOR APPRECIATION WEEK 2019
WHEREAS, public education is an integral aspect of a democratic society, providing for the public good; and
WHEREAS, high-quality educators are what makes public schools great; and
WHEREAS, educators work tirelessly to open student minds to ideas, knowledge, and aspirations; and
WHEREAS, educators keep American democracy alive by laying the foundations for an informed public and informed citizenship; and
WHEREAS, educators fill the roles of listener, explorer, role model, motivator and mentor; and
WHEREAS, the influence of our educators lasts long after our school days are only memories;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Cañon City School District Board of Education proclaims the week of May 6-10, 2019, to be EDUCATOR APPRECIATION WEEK; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Cañon City School District strongly encourages all members of our community to join with it in personally expressing appreciation to our educators for their dedication and devotion to their work and to our children.
Larry Oddo, President
Lloyd Harwood, Vice President
Mary-Kay Evans, Secretary
Shad Johnson, Treasurer
Robin Reeser, Secretary-Treasurer
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
