Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
Cañon City Middle School students participate in a wreath laying ceremony in celebration of Veteran's Day.
This week I would like to thank some incredible friends of the Cañon City School District for advocating for the passage of RE-1 ballot questions 3A and 3B. Community members Megan Merry-Numsen and Della Rieger spearheaded a group calling itself Building Bridges for Cañon City Kids, aimed at improving learning conditions for Cañon City students. Though election activity took place during September, October and November, dozens of Building Bridges participants engaged in a year-long effort to inform our board of education about educational priorities related to a possible override election, and a facilities master plan that could result in the building of two new schools. This work culminated with passage of 3A and 3B on election night, Tuesday November 7th. I want to thanks all the folks who worked so hard to secure these much needed resources for Cañon City children.
Once again Cañon City Middle School honored our local military heroes in celebration of Veteran’s Day. I also noticed some CCMS students played a key role in a parents-of-the-military personal supply raiser, putting together care packages for Fremont County citizens serving in the armed forces. Thank you for doing this!
I have been monitoring the work of the Harrison K-8 Building Leadership Team and must say I am impressed with how they are crunching student discipline data, focused on refining their building improvement plan, and considering several future changes to benefit the entire school community. The Harrison BLT meets each month on the first Tuesday. They are doing exceptionally purposeful work.
A final example of excellence I would like to highlight this week is the work Cañon City High School Principal Bill Summers engaged in at a recent Colorado Department of Education/Colorado Education Initiative Graduation Guidelines Summit. Mr. Summers presented a portion of the keynote speech to the gathering of roughly 400 educators, sharing the process CCHS has been going through on its transformation into a pathways program. Bill also served on two discussion panels, one during which he shared the work CCHS is doing to prepare kids to complete graduation capstone projects, and the other during which he highlighted the great work CCHS is doing engaging community business partners to offer internships and apprenticeships to students.
Once again Cañon City Middle School honored our local military heroes in celebration of Veteran’s Day. I also noticed some CCMS students played a key role in a parents-of-the-military personal supply raiser, putting together care packages for Fremont County citizens serving in the armed forces. Thank you for doing this!
I have been monitoring the work of the Harrison K-8 Building Leadership Team and must say I am impressed with how they are crunching student discipline data, focused on refining their building improvement plan, and considering several future changes to benefit the entire school community. The Harrison BLT meets each month on the first Tuesday. They are doing exceptionally purposeful work.
A final example of excellence I would like to highlight this week is the work Cañon City High School Principal Bill Summers engaged in at a recent Colorado Department of Education/Colorado Education Initiative Graduation Guidelines Summit. Mr. Summers presented a portion of the keynote speech to the gathering of roughly 400 educators, sharing the process CCHS has been going through on its transformation into a pathways program. Bill also served on two discussion panels, one during which he shared the work CCHS is doing to prepare kids to complete graduation capstone projects, and the other during which he highlighted the great work CCHS is doing engaging community business partners to offer internships and apprenticeships to students.
Cañon City Middle School students compile care packages for local military families.
The Focus of Our Work
Megan-Merry Numsen and Della Rieger celebrate the passage of questions #A and 3B.
On Tuesday evening, we learned our community approved both of our ballot questions. We’re thrilled at the expression of value for our school system these results represent. While we took a moment to celebrate them, we recognize the hardest work is yet to begin. We’ll get to work immediately setting the stage for successful implementation of our K-12 one-to-one technology program. We’ll also look forward to securing grants for new CCMS and Washington buildings. Though election night marked the end of a long and difficult process, it was merely the beginning of an incredible opportunity for Cañon City Schools to grow the community’s trust.
Harrison staff members engage in school led professional development last Wednesday.
Last Week
I spent time on office work Monday and Tuesday. I began Wednesday at Washington Elementary and Cañon City Middle School staff meetings to discuss election results and next steps. I also attended a Regional Wellness Advisory Team meeting and a Cañon City High School Parent Advisory Committee meeting that day. On Thursday and Friday, I had expulsion hearings, attended a regional manager’s meeting, and tended to some communication items.
This Week
Bill Summers presents a keynote address at the CDE/CEI Graduation Guidelines Summit.
This week I’ll continue work on federal programs grant mid-year revisions, attend a board work session and meeting, attend a CCPD touching base meeting, conduct a Superintendent’s Advisory Council meeting, attend a Pueblo Community College advisory committee meeting, hold a District Leadership Team meeting, touch base with Director of Instruction Adam Hartman and then with Director of Special Services Lynnette Steinhoff, attend a special CCEOE meeting, and travel to Springs to attend a regional superintendents meeting.
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh