• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • December 6, 2021
  • December 13, 2021
  • December 20, 2021
  • December 31, 2021
  • Past Installments
    • 2015 >
      • July 5, 2015
      • July 12, 2015
      • July 19, 2015
      • July 26, 2015
      • August 2, 2015
      • August 9, 2015
      • August 16, 2015
      • August 23, 2015
      • August 31, 2015
      • September 6, 2015
      • September 13, 2015
      • September 20, 2015
      • September 27, 2015
      • October 4, 2015
      • October 11, 2015
      • October 18, 2015
      • October 25, 2015
      • November 1, 2015
      • November 8, 2015
      • November 15, 2015
      • November 29, 2015
      • December 6, 2015
      • December 13, 2015
      • December 20, 2015
    • 2016 >
      • January 10, 2016
      • January 17, 2016
      • January 24, 2016
      • January 31, 2016
      • February 7, 2016
      • February 14, 2016
      • February 21, 2016
      • February 28, 2016
      • March 6, 2016
      • March 13, 2016
      • March 20, 2016
      • March 27, 2016
      • April 3, 2016
      • April 10, 2016
      • April 17, 2016
      • April 24, 2016
      • May 1, 2016
      • May 8, 2016
      • May 15, 2016
      • May 22, 2016
      • May 30, 2016
      • June 5, 2016
      • June 12 and 19
      • June 26 to July 3
      • July 24, 2016
      • July 31, 2016
      • August 7, 2016
      • August 14, 2016
      • August 21, 2016
      • August 28, 2016
      • September 4, 2016
      • September 11, 2016
      • September 18, 2016
      • September 25, 2016
      • October 2, 2106
      • October 9, 2016
      • October 16, 2016
      • October 23, 2016
      • October 30, 2016
      • November 6, 2016
      • November 13, 2016
      • November 27, 2016
      • December 4, 2016
      • December 11, 2016
      • December 19, 2016
    • 2017 >
      • Facilities Options
      • January 8, 2017
      • January 15, 2017
      • January 22, 2017
      • February 12, 2017
      • February 26, 2017
      • March 5, 2017
      • March 12, 2017
      • Spring Break 2017
      • April Fools
      • April 9, 2017
      • April 16, 2017
      • April 30, 2017
      • May 7, 2017
      • May 14, 2017
      • May 29, 2017
      • June 4, 2017
      • June 11, 2017
      • June 18, 2017
      • June 25, 2017
      • July 2, 2017
      • July 9, 2017
      • July 16, 2017
      • July 23, 2017
      • July 30, 2017
      • August 6, 2017
      • August 13, 2017
      • August 20, 2017
      • August 27, 2017
      • September 3, 2017
      • September 10, 2017
      • September 17, 2017
      • September 24, 2017
      • October 1, 2017
      • October 8, 2017
      • October 15, 2017
      • October 22, 2017
      • October 29, 2017
      • November 5, 2017
      • November 12, 2017
      • November 26, 2017
      • December 3, 2017
      • December 10, 2017
      • December 13, 2017
    • 2018 >
      • January 7, 2018
      • January 14, 2018
      • January 21, 2018
      • January 28, 2018
      • February 4, 2018
      • February 11, 2018
      • February 18, 2018
      • February 25, 2018
      • March 4, 2018
      • March 11, 2018
      • March 18, 2018
      • March 25, 2018
      • April 2, 2018
      • April 8, 2018
      • April 15, 2018
      • April 22, 2018
      • April 29, 2018
      • May 6, 2018
      • May 13, 2018
      • May 20, 2018
      • May 27, 2018
      • June 3, 2018
      • June 10, 2018
      • June 17, 2018
      • June 24, 2018
      • July 1, 2018
      • July 8, 2018
      • July 15, 2018
      • July 22, 2018
      • July 29, 2018
      • August 5, 2018
      • August 12, 2018
      • August 19, 2018
      • August 26, 2018
      • September 2, 2018
      • September 9, 2018
      • September 16. 2018
      • September 23, 2018
      • September 30, 2018
      • October 7, 2018
      • October 14, 2018
      • October 21, 2018
      • October 28, 2018
      • November 4, 2018
      • November 11, 2018
      • November 18, 2018
      • November 25, 2018
      • December 2, 2018
      • December 9, 2018
      • December 16, 2018
    • 2019 >
      • January 6, 2019
      • January 13, 2019
      • January 21, 2019
      • January 27, 2019
      • February 3, 2019
      • February 10, 2019
      • February 17, 2019
      • February 24, 2019
      • March 3, 2019
      • March 10, 2019
      • March 17, 2019
      • March 24, 2019
      • March 31, 2019
      • April 7, 2019
      • April 14, 2019
      • April 21, 2019
      • April 28, 2019
      • May 5, 2019
      • May 12, 2019
      • May 19, 2019
      • May 27, 2019
      • June 3, 2019
      • June 9, 2019
      • June 23, 2019
      • June 30, 2019
      • July 8, 2019
      • July 15, 2019
      • July 22, 2019
      • July 29, 2019
      • August 5, 2019
      • August 12, 2019
      • August 19, 2019
      • August 26, 2019
      • September 3, 2019
      • September 9, 2019
      • September 16, 2019
      • September 23, 2019
      • September 30, 2019
      • October 7. 2019
      • October 14, 2019
      • October 21, 2019
      • October 28, 2019
      • November 4, 2019
      • November 11, 2019
      • November 18, 2019
      • November 25, 2019
      • December 2, 2019
      • December 9, 2019
      • December 16, 2010
      • December 23, 2019
      • December 31, 2019
    • 2020 >
      • January 13, 2020
      • January 20, 2020
      • January 27, 2020
      • February 3, 2020
      • February 10, 2020
      • February 17, 2020
      • February 24, 2020
      • March 2, 2020
      • March 9, 2020
      • March 30, 2020
      • Special Message to Community
      • April 6, 2020
      • April 13, 2020
      • April 20, 2020
      • May 4, 2020
      • May 11, 2020
      • June 1, 2020
      • June 15, 2020
      • June 30, 2020
      • August 5, 2020
      • August 24, 2020
      • October 12, 2020
      • October 26, 2020
      • November 9, 2020
      • November 30, 2020
      • December 14, 2020
      • December 30, 2020
    • 2021 >
      • January 11, 2021
      • January 25, 2021
      • February 8, 2021
      • March 22, 2021
      • March 29, 2021
      • April 6, 2021
      • May 31, 2021
      • June 7, 2021
      • June 14, 2021
      • June 21, 2021
      • July 5, 2021
      • August 3, 2021
      • August 16, 2021
      • August 31, 2021
      • September 13, 2021
      • September 28, 2021
      • November 8, 2021
      • November 15, 2021
      • November 22, 2021
      • November 29, 2021
      • 2021 Instructional Program Reviews >
        • CCHS 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • CCMS 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • CES 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • Harrison 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • LSST 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • McKinley 2021 Instructional Program Review
        • Washington 2021 Instructional Program Review

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.

Our Core Beliefs in Action

Picture
Picture
Picture
On Wednesday November 11th schools all over the district honored our nation’s Veterans by engaging current and former military personnel and conducting ceremonies and assemblies.  The students at Cañon City Middle School gathered at their new flagpole just after 8 AM where some performed music and local Veterans were thanked for their service.  Harrison K-8 held an indoor assembly where the Cañon City High School JROTC Color Guard made a special presentation and local Veterans were honored as well. 

This week at Cañon Exploratory School students focused on our first core belief by participating in small group projects.  Explorers collaborated to develop kindness campaign slogans.  Students brainstormed ideas then created straw designs and presented them to their classmates.  In the process they demonstrated our traits of collaboration, communication, and agency.

On Monday evening the staff and students of Washington Elementary School hosted the Board of Education by providing a student led tour of their new facility.  Then, during the staff and student report section of the meeting, Michelle Taylor and Kaycee Hayes presented the progress of the school art program with assistance from some amazing student leaders. 

Picture
Picture

Our Future Focus

Picture
At that meeting board meeting on Monday November 8th, Molly Merry and Todd Albrecht were sworn in as new Board of Education Directors of the Cañon City School District.  Molly is a long-time community member and retired education innovator, having worked in and conceptualized both Garden Park Alternative High School and Madison School.  Todd is a retired career educator who guided Cañon City High School’s vocal music programs to state prominence and dominance for decades. 
​

Also at the meeting the staff of Cañon City High School presented 8 new courses to add to their pathways curriculum. These include Personal Finance, Tiger Production, Digital Photography, Emergency Medical Services 115, Catering, and Advanced Placement Government and Politics.

Applying Our Traits and Skills

Picture
Also during our Board of Education meeting on Monday November 8th, at Washington Elementary School, the Cañon City School District dedicated space in the hallway of the new facility to long time staff member Gerald Williams.  Gerald worked in a number of roles across 7 decades in our operations department.  Sadly, he passed away on April 15, 2020 before the facility was completed.  

Moving forward, as students, staff, and visitors enter the building and turn left, they will find the Williams Nook.  It is signified by a beautiful plaque produced by Cañon City High School students, and it says this: 

Gerald Williams was a stalwart member of the Cañon City Schools operations crew from 1959 through 2019. Upon his retirement in early 2019 after 60 years of outstanding service, Mr. Williams took a short vacation then returned to the district as a full-time volunteer, handling the mail route he had already worked for so many years.  Mr. Williams lived for human interaction. He was a loving husband and a private and extremely humble man.  His main interests were his family, the people he served, and his deep involvement in Masonic activities.  


If you’ve been following the news you have seen Fremont County is dealing with a bit of a spike in COVID cases. The school district recognizes this and understands the best way to weather the situation is to encourage the practice of proven mitigation strategies.  Wearing masks, which the district still has no intent to pursue as a requirement without being ordered by the state and/or county health departments, is one way to stem the spread.  Having a high percentage of staff and students vaccinated is another.  Thus, with the approval and availability of vaccinations for children as low as age 5, you’ll see the district making families aware of their availability.  Some of these vaccination events will even take place on our campuses,.  However, parents can rest assured we, nor the vaccination providers, will allow children to be vaccinated without parent approval.

Looking Ahead

Picture
This week we’ll investigate an opportunity to participate in a Math resource pilot, hold a Fremont County Multi-District Collaborative planning meeting with our partners from the RE-2 and RE-3 school districts, I’ll meet with Superintendent Designee Adam Hartman to more clearly define our roles for the spring semester, we’ll hold a monthly CCESPA officer touching base meeting, we’ll conduct our weekly directors meeting, Mr. Hartman will facilitate our monthly Instructional Leader Professional learning Community, and I’ll work on updating some by-laws for organizations the school district partners with. 

As a side note, on Tuesday November 16th I hope to welcome my first grandchild Konor George Wels, to our family!


Other Voices

Picture
Picture
Picture
On Monday evening the Cañon City School District had an opportunity to thank Shad Johnson and Mary Kay Evans for their years of service on the Board of Education.  They each served for 8 years.

Mr. Johnson ran for a seat in 2013 because he was seeking a way to serve the community. He says he always had a fond connection with students through his wife's role as a teacher and through his work with the annual Senior Fun-Fest, so he thought why not run take a shot. 

Mrs. Evans ran because she feels our kids are our future and we have to develop in them the traits skills they need to adapt and compete in our world.  She said, “I saw after working in probation for 32 years that most of my kids were not prepared. They did not feel they had any real support systems and many could not read. I wanted to run for the school board to see if I could make a difference in making sure we were addressing their social-emotional needs so they would feel accepted and could feel comfortable in seeking help and to fill the gaps in their reading skills.

At the time Shad and Mary Kay were seated, the district was reeling from steep budget cuts brought on by the Great Recession. Facilities were in desperate need of attention, employee experience steps had been frozen 6 times, and the school district had just lost a bond and a mill override election in extremely close contests.  

Within two years of service on the board, they were also faced with replacing their superintendent of schools. By the end of their 8 year terms they had to repeat this process. 

Picture
Shad says, “the greatest thing I've learned on the board is to always listen, watch, learn and understand before trying to help or fix anything.  Sometimes it just takes time to get a more complete picture, but it is invaluable when it comes to working on behalf of our students, staff, and community.”  

Mary Kay says, “listen to other people's ideas and concerns, be open, think outside the box, treat others with respect in order to come to a consensus for the good of our kids.”

It’s safe to say Mary Kay also found a simple formula for being a successful board member.  “If it’s good for the kids, it is good for the district!”   

Though there were many challenges along the way, it’s safe to say Shad and Mary Kay have left Cañon City Schools better than they found it.  

-They transitioned us through one change in superintendent leadership and have already set the table for a dynamic new leader to take the reins in July 2022.  

-They supported board, administrative, and association decisions that led to recovering frozen experience steps, increasing health benefits for employees, expanding parental leave, offering low-cost childcare to employees, bringing counselors back into our schools, and placing the social-emotional wellness of our children first.  

-They supported asking the community to invest in higher salaries, one-to-one technology, updated learning resources, and improved facilities, and through expert oversight, have ensured each of these promises was fulfilled. 

-They guided us through two unexpected and extremely stressful pandemic years, not always agreeing on the actions we should take, but keeping the focus on what is best for kids at the forefront. In doing so, they have made sure we are ready to face ANYTHING as we move toward the future.

-They pushed us to revisit our district vision, and mission and gladly signed on to our core beliefs and profile of a graduate. So much so that each has even participated in judging student capstone projects.  I think it’s safe to say Shad and Mary Kay, perhaps better than any board of education directors in Colorado, understand EXACTLY what it is they want our students to know and do before earning their diplomas.

Each has also made us proud.  Both received Colorado Association of School Boards McGuffey Awards for career service to our board. They were also key members of the Governance Team that was named the 2019 Colorado All-State Board. 

When asked to reflect on his service, Shad Johnson said “I’m most proud of our students and staff.  They are simply remarkable and to get to work as a team to try to improve education outcomes, facilities, and our future outlook has made this an incredible experience for me  I hope if someone is considering running they will do so with a heart that loves education, children, and people in general.  Thank you Cañon City for allowing me to be a part of this incredible district.”

Mary Kay responded, “so much has happened in the last 8  years. How do I pick one thing? I really had nothing to do with any of this  I am most proud of the way all of our staff has embraced our Core Beliefs and worked so hard to challenge our kids to be successful, which has shown up in the form of improved student achievement. I am also pleased that we embraced the Kindness Campaign and our Lindamood-Bell reading program which are two things that have begun to address my concerns as to why I ran for school board. My hope is we’ll continue these things with fidelity so our kids know we care and that we are doing all we can to help them be successful to face the future.”

She adds, “Thank you for allowing me to serve all of you. It has truly been an honor to see such dedicated staff!  I love you all. I am not going away. My pledge is to continue to volunteer wherever you need help.”

Shad, Mary Kay, from all of us to both of you, we thank you for your service to the Cañon City Schools Community!

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with you!

George S. Welsh

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.