Echoes from Cañon
Our Board Adopted 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
One of the things we love about Super Ninja Brenda Gould is the way she makes school fun for kids! Here she is seen with board member Shad Johnson.
This year the Cañon City Classified Employee Association created a Super Ninja award program to honor outstanding education support personnel. They have chosen the term Super Ninja in honor of the way so many of our support personnel swoop in to take care of important tasks without hardly being noticed. During the week before Thanksgiving it was announced Kristi Hawver and Brenda Gould, both from McKinley Elementary, were co-winners of the first quarter award.
Kristi Hawver is McKinley's Health Technician. A colleague said of Kristi, “Not only does she take care of the students while they are at school, but she also makes sure they are fed over the weekend by sending home backpacks filled with food. This food is not only for the students but for the entire family.” It seems Kristi brought the weekend backpack food program to McKinley Elementary, securing donations to fund it, shopping on her lunch break for needed items, and making sure students in need receive their bag each weekend before they leave school. If this were not enough reason to honor her, Kristi has also chosen to manage clothing giveaways for needy students. Thank you, Kristi, for being an amazing woman with an amazing heart!
Brenda Gould, McKinley Head Custodian, was also worthy of this quarter’s Super Ninja honor. She was nominated by many of her coworkers. Brenda keeps McKinley clean and safe, and constantly goes above and beyond the call of duty by participating in numerous committees. Brenda also has a safety mindset, helping to keep McKinley students and staff secure in all areas of the building. Another way Brenda goes above and beyond the call of duty is by coordinating monthly Wildcat Grill events, allowing McKinley students to honor their local heroes.
Congratulations Kristi and Brenda! Both of you are truly Super Ninjas and each of you exemplify all four of our core beliefs!
I also wish to thank our many staff members who took time to submit Super Ninja nominations during the first quarter. Other staff receiving nominations included Mary Vertrees, Kim Godfrey, Debbi Hilburn, Chris Lee, Jasmine Fromm, Wendy Aaron, Mike Fry, Elizabeth Gamache, Laurie Bussey, Daniel Daminov, Vicki Topash, Stacy Murphy, Alan Hook, Chrissy Bobbitt, Norma VanGorder, Amanda Deluchi, Arlene Watson, Shari Fontenot, Maul Baluz, Kelly Cosper, Brian Salameno, Susan Revack, Robin Pedzenski, and Jody McKean.
The Cañon City Classified Employee Association is currently accepting nominations for the second quarter Super Ninja award. Anyone can submit one, but remember, only classified employees can be nominated. To submit a nomination all you have to do is email Jody McKean (jody.mckean@canoncityschools.org) or Kris Westhoff (kris.westhoff@canoncityschools.org). Be sure to include the reason why you think your nominee is a Super Ninja!
Kristi Hawver is McKinley's Health Technician. A colleague said of Kristi, “Not only does she take care of the students while they are at school, but she also makes sure they are fed over the weekend by sending home backpacks filled with food. This food is not only for the students but for the entire family.” It seems Kristi brought the weekend backpack food program to McKinley Elementary, securing donations to fund it, shopping on her lunch break for needed items, and making sure students in need receive their bag each weekend before they leave school. If this were not enough reason to honor her, Kristi has also chosen to manage clothing giveaways for needy students. Thank you, Kristi, for being an amazing woman with an amazing heart!
Brenda Gould, McKinley Head Custodian, was also worthy of this quarter’s Super Ninja honor. She was nominated by many of her coworkers. Brenda keeps McKinley clean and safe, and constantly goes above and beyond the call of duty by participating in numerous committees. Brenda also has a safety mindset, helping to keep McKinley students and staff secure in all areas of the building. Another way Brenda goes above and beyond the call of duty is by coordinating monthly Wildcat Grill events, allowing McKinley students to honor their local heroes.
Congratulations Kristi and Brenda! Both of you are truly Super Ninjas and each of you exemplify all four of our core beliefs!
I also wish to thank our many staff members who took time to submit Super Ninja nominations during the first quarter. Other staff receiving nominations included Mary Vertrees, Kim Godfrey, Debbi Hilburn, Chris Lee, Jasmine Fromm, Wendy Aaron, Mike Fry, Elizabeth Gamache, Laurie Bussey, Daniel Daminov, Vicki Topash, Stacy Murphy, Alan Hook, Chrissy Bobbitt, Norma VanGorder, Amanda Deluchi, Arlene Watson, Shari Fontenot, Maul Baluz, Kelly Cosper, Brian Salameno, Susan Revack, Robin Pedzenski, and Jody McKean.
The Cañon City Classified Employee Association is currently accepting nominations for the second quarter Super Ninja award. Anyone can submit one, but remember, only classified employees can be nominated. To submit a nomination all you have to do is email Jody McKean (jody.mckean@canoncityschools.org) or Kris Westhoff (kris.westhoff@canoncityschools.org). Be sure to include the reason why you think your nominee is a Super Ninja!
Our Future Focus
Back in late September Colorado Association of School Board representatives conducted an on-site evaluation of our Tiger Open Pathway program.
Two weeks ago we learned our Cañon City High School Tiger Open Pathways and Internship Programs have been accepted as winners of the Colorado Association of School Board’s inaugural Student Achievement Award! CASB feels these programs show district innovation in creating opportunities for students to excel in multiple ways. The letter we received from CASB stated, “the collaboration you have exemplified between a school, district, administration and school board is to be commended.” As a result of this honor, several TOP and Internship Program students will be honored at the annual Colorado Association of School Boards luncheon in the Broadmoor International Hall on Friday, December 7th. These students will also be manning a booth during the convention to share the great work they are doing in their programs.
Last Week
During Thanksgiving week I enjoyed the opportunity to focus on friends, family, and home improvement projects. I also took a trip to Pueblo with Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman to learn more about how their Boys and Girls Club has partnered with the school district. This is quite timely, as we are looking at ways to provide space for our local Boys and Girls Club in our Cañon City Middle School building upgrade project. I also worked quite a bit from home on computer correspondence throughout the week and offered what support I could to Cañon City High School staff as they dealt with the tragic news that a sophomore, Tyler Lopez, committed suicide on Wednesday.
This Week
Our partners at the Fremont County Boys and Girls Club recently offered a financial literacy class to Cañon City Middle School students.
I’ll begin my week at Cañon City High School by supporting the staff in preparing for the reopening of school. I’ll then proceed to Harrison to attend an association representative/administrator touching base meeting, then make my way back to the district office to attend a McKinley Support Team meeting. I also have a series of other routine meetings scheduled throughout the rest of that day. On Tuesday we’ll hold a Superintendent Advisory Council meeting and an Instructional Leader PLC where we'll continue to focus on how to quantify student acquisition of 21st Century Skills. On Wednesday I’ll be in Denver with Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman and Cañon City High School Principal Bill Summers attending a Colorado Education Initiative Local Innovation in School Accountability gathering. I’ll be back in Cañon City on Thursday for a quarterly Pueblo Community College-Fremont Campus advisory board meeting and another Interest Based Solutions session on how we might continue to attract and retain high-quality staff. On Friday I have plans to be on site at McKinley Elementary offering instructional support related to their school turnaround efforts.
Other Voices
Tyler Lopez
Cañon City Schools and Cañon City High School are saddened to report a member of our education family, sophomore Tyler Lopez, passed away Wednesday as a result of suicide.
Please join us in lifting he and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
I'd like to share with you a message Cañon City High School Principal Bill Summers shared with his staff on Sunday afternoon, with the intent they share it with their students during first block on Monday morning. He wrote:
I am so sorry to tell you all that one of our students, sophomore Tyler Lopez has died. I’m also very sad to tell you that the cause of death was suicide.
Many of you may also feel sad. Others may feel other emotions such as anger or confusion. It’s okay to feel whatever emotions you might be feeling. When someone takes their own life, it leads to a lot of questions, some of which may never be completely answered.
While we may never know why Tyler ended his life, we do know that suicide has many causes. In many cases, a mental health condition is part of it, and these conditions are treatable. It’s really important if you’re not feeling well in any way to reach out for help. Suicide should not be an option.
Rumors may come out about what happened, but please don’t spread them. They may turn out to be untrue and can be deeply hurtful and unfair to Tyler’s family and friends.
Each of us will react to Tyler’s death in our own way, and we need to be respectful of each other. Some of us may have known Tyler well, and some of us may not. But either way, we may have strong feelings. You might find it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork for a little while. On the other hand, you might find that focusing on school helps take your mind off what has happened. Either is okay.
I want you to know that your teachers are here for you. We also have counselors here to help us all cope with what happened. If you’d like to talk to one of them, just let me know. We are all in this together, and the school staff will do whatever we can to help you get through this.
Further, I want to let you know there will be additional support available throughout the day in the classes Tyler attended. If you feel that your class needs additional support, outside of the classes he attended, please let me know.
We have also, over the weekend, contacted the parents of students known to have been good friends with Tyler, offering support. Please know that our community mental health support partners at Solvista and Gateway to Success, have been extremely generous. Students and their families can be connected with this support through our counseling department.
Mr. Summers
After reading this message to students, teachers will be encouraged to guide classroom discussions regarding these tragic events. If any reader feels they, or someone they know, needs somebody to talk to about this, please call Mr. Summers at 719-431-9326.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman kindly reached out to Tyler’s grandfather on Wednesday evening. At that time, he indicated a funeral will likely take place in Colorado Springs. We’ll share information about this when we learn about a specific time and place. Tyler's grandfather also wished to publicly express this sentiment: “I hope young people understand that suicide is a permanent solution to what is always a temporary problem.”
Perhaps truer words have never been spoken.
Thank you for listening once again.
George S. Welsh
Please join us in lifting he and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
I'd like to share with you a message Cañon City High School Principal Bill Summers shared with his staff on Sunday afternoon, with the intent they share it with their students during first block on Monday morning. He wrote:
I am so sorry to tell you all that one of our students, sophomore Tyler Lopez has died. I’m also very sad to tell you that the cause of death was suicide.
Many of you may also feel sad. Others may feel other emotions such as anger or confusion. It’s okay to feel whatever emotions you might be feeling. When someone takes their own life, it leads to a lot of questions, some of which may never be completely answered.
While we may never know why Tyler ended his life, we do know that suicide has many causes. In many cases, a mental health condition is part of it, and these conditions are treatable. It’s really important if you’re not feeling well in any way to reach out for help. Suicide should not be an option.
Rumors may come out about what happened, but please don’t spread them. They may turn out to be untrue and can be deeply hurtful and unfair to Tyler’s family and friends.
Each of us will react to Tyler’s death in our own way, and we need to be respectful of each other. Some of us may have known Tyler well, and some of us may not. But either way, we may have strong feelings. You might find it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork for a little while. On the other hand, you might find that focusing on school helps take your mind off what has happened. Either is okay.
I want you to know that your teachers are here for you. We also have counselors here to help us all cope with what happened. If you’d like to talk to one of them, just let me know. We are all in this together, and the school staff will do whatever we can to help you get through this.
Further, I want to let you know there will be additional support available throughout the day in the classes Tyler attended. If you feel that your class needs additional support, outside of the classes he attended, please let me know.
We have also, over the weekend, contacted the parents of students known to have been good friends with Tyler, offering support. Please know that our community mental health support partners at Solvista and Gateway to Success, have been extremely generous. Students and their families can be connected with this support through our counseling department.
Mr. Summers
After reading this message to students, teachers will be encouraged to guide classroom discussions regarding these tragic events. If any reader feels they, or someone they know, needs somebody to talk to about this, please call Mr. Summers at 719-431-9326.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman kindly reached out to Tyler’s grandfather on Wednesday evening. At that time, he indicated a funeral will likely take place in Colorado Springs. We’ll share information about this when we learn about a specific time and place. Tyler's grandfather also wished to publicly express this sentiment: “I hope young people understand that suicide is a permanent solution to what is always a temporary problem.”
Perhaps truer words have never been spoken.
Thank you for listening once again.
George S. Welsh
