Cañon City thrives through adventurous spirit, dynamic people, innovative schools, and historic charm.
Echoes from Cañon
Our Mission
The Cañon City School District is future-focused, providing innovative educational opportunities to successfully prepare all students to meet any challenge they may face.
The Cañon City School District is future-focused, providing innovative educational opportunities to successfully prepare all students to meet any challenge they may face.
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
Just a few of the 84 turkeys the CCHS-PCC Automotive program collected through their hard work!
The Tiger Dome was packed with youth from all over Colorado for the Lockdown Wrestling Tournament!
I wish to express my gratitude to Mr. John Duston and his Pueblo Community College-Cañon City High School Automotive class for once again conducting a Thanksgiving Turkey Drive. The Cañon City High School Student Council conducted a food drive that netted a total of 150 turkeys, of which Mr. Duston's class alone contributed a total of 84! As they did last year, for two weeks during November, Mr. Duston's automotive students conducted car maintenance and repair services for turkey donations. I understand Student Council also collected money and all these proceeds, including the turkeys, were delivered to Loaves & Fishes. Thanks to the generosity of the Cañon City High School student body, many families in our community will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with a hearty meal. THAT's a great example of our core belief number one!
On the weekend of November 16th, and for the first time, the Cañon City Lockdown Wrestling Club hosted a club wrestling tournament. At this event, 530 wrestlers from all over Colorado, in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade, descended on Cañon City High School. This tournament is part of the Peak to Peak Wrestling Tourney Series. Cañon City High School Wrestling Coach Jeremy Gilkerson said, "we had 36 Canon City wrestlers competing in the tournament. The event was extremely successful and helped showcase our, people, facilities, and our wonderful community." I would add, not to mention the impact 530 youth wrestlers and their families might have on a local economy to kick off the holiday season. I express my gratitude to all who were involved for being willing to take a risk to pull off such a successful event!
On the weekend of November 16th, and for the first time, the Cañon City Lockdown Wrestling Club hosted a club wrestling tournament. At this event, 530 wrestlers from all over Colorado, in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade, descended on Cañon City High School. This tournament is part of the Peak to Peak Wrestling Tourney Series. Cañon City High School Wrestling Coach Jeremy Gilkerson said, "we had 36 Canon City wrestlers competing in the tournament. The event was extremely successful and helped showcase our, people, facilities, and our wonderful community." I would add, not to mention the impact 530 youth wrestlers and their families might have on a local economy to kick off the holiday season. I express my gratitude to all who were involved for being willing to take a risk to pull off such a successful event!
Our Future Focus
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Florence Family Dentistry, the Humane Society of Fremont County, and the Cañon City Fire District host our interns and apprentices.
November is Colorado Apprenticeship Month and Cañon City Schools has been celebrating by sharing information about the positive impact many of our outstanding community partners are having on our students by offering them.
Think you know what apprenticeships look like? Think again. Programs can be found in virtually any industry including healthcare, finance, advanced manufacturing & technology, and any student can participate! This year we Fremont County has 92 students participating in internships and apprenticeships with valued partners. Apprenticeships are great for Colorado students, allowing them to take charge of their own learning in a dynamic economy. They also power our local businesses with the people they need to thrive and innovate.
By the end of the 2019-20 school year, 92 of our students will have completed 194 quarter long internships thanks to our valued community partners.
Apprenticeships have been around since the medieval ages and helped forge the modern American economy. Cañon City Colorado is leading a rural apprenticeship revolution in fields as diverse as technology, finance, and healthcare. This year our greatest hurdle has been that we have more employment opportunities than participating students!
Strong apprenticeship programs offer competitive advantages for businesses. They ease hiring and scouting woes, improve employee retention, safety, and knowledge transfer. As of right now, we have 112 participating businesses, many of which have multiple offerings within their businesses.
Apprenticeships deliver a tangible Return On Investment to a business’s bottom line. Studies have shown businesses with robust apprenticeship programs have a competitive advantage over those that do not. Did you know that starting next year all Cañon City High School graduates will get to complete an internship as a graduation requirement? Such apprenticeships can be a stepping stone to a higher wage, a credential (be it an industry certificate, or a two or four-year degree).
Do you own or operate a business? are you considering offering Apprenticeships? What are you waiting for? To learn more contact our Intern and Apprentice team at Cañon City High School!
Our deepest gratitude goes out to our 112 community business partners who are offering our students these real-life experiences.
Think you know what apprenticeships look like? Think again. Programs can be found in virtually any industry including healthcare, finance, advanced manufacturing & technology, and any student can participate! This year we Fremont County has 92 students participating in internships and apprenticeships with valued partners. Apprenticeships are great for Colorado students, allowing them to take charge of their own learning in a dynamic economy. They also power our local businesses with the people they need to thrive and innovate.
By the end of the 2019-20 school year, 92 of our students will have completed 194 quarter long internships thanks to our valued community partners.
Apprenticeships have been around since the medieval ages and helped forge the modern American economy. Cañon City Colorado is leading a rural apprenticeship revolution in fields as diverse as technology, finance, and healthcare. This year our greatest hurdle has been that we have more employment opportunities than participating students!
Strong apprenticeship programs offer competitive advantages for businesses. They ease hiring and scouting woes, improve employee retention, safety, and knowledge transfer. As of right now, we have 112 participating businesses, many of which have multiple offerings within their businesses.
Apprenticeships deliver a tangible Return On Investment to a business’s bottom line. Studies have shown businesses with robust apprenticeship programs have a competitive advantage over those that do not. Did you know that starting next year all Cañon City High School graduates will get to complete an internship as a graduation requirement? Such apprenticeships can be a stepping stone to a higher wage, a credential (be it an industry certificate, or a two or four-year degree).
Do you own or operate a business? are you considering offering Apprenticeships? What are you waiting for? To learn more contact our Intern and Apprentice team at Cañon City High School!
Our deepest gratitude goes out to our 112 community business partners who are offering our students these real-life experiences.
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The Fourmile Vet Clinic and Tezak heavy Equipment are valued intern and apprentice partners as well!
Cañon City High School student interns were a hit at the Homegrown Talent Initiative convening here in Cañon City.
P-TECH Industry Partners Chris Koehn and Brad Rowland share their vision for economic development in rural Colorado.
Last week I had the opportunity to sit in on the Colorado Education Initiative's Homegrown Talent Initiative visit to Cañon City. At this, 80 educators, students, and community leaders from 8 school communities from all across Colorado came for two days to learn just what the heck it is that's going on here in Cañon City, both educationally and economically.
During the week I also had the opportunity to attend an event where the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) was conducting a visit to learn more about the amazing things that are happening in our community, especially as they relate to our burgeoning tech industry and an "outstanding school system" that's preparing young men and women to drive our economy forward.
I think Alex Carter from the Colorado Education Initiative said it best when he wrote to me, "thanks a million for hosting our exemplar convening in Cañon City last week. We’ve had incredible feedback from the visiting communities. This really “lit a fire” for their own redesign efforts. Seeing what is possible when good vision meets great leadership and community partnership is magic. Thank so much."
This past week caused me to reflect deeply on just what is happening here. My conclusion is Cañon City is emerging as a statewide leader, perhaps even a national one, when it comes to a rural community transforming because its educators, students, parents, civic, and business leaders have chosen to work together for the benefit of all. For this I am grateful.
During the week I also had the opportunity to attend an event where the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) was conducting a visit to learn more about the amazing things that are happening in our community, especially as they relate to our burgeoning tech industry and an "outstanding school system" that's preparing young men and women to drive our economy forward.
I think Alex Carter from the Colorado Education Initiative said it best when he wrote to me, "thanks a million for hosting our exemplar convening in Cañon City last week. We’ve had incredible feedback from the visiting communities. This really “lit a fire” for their own redesign efforts. Seeing what is possible when good vision meets great leadership and community partnership is magic. Thank so much."
This past week caused me to reflect deeply on just what is happening here. My conclusion is Cañon City is emerging as a statewide leader, perhaps even a national one, when it comes to a rural community transforming because its educators, students, parents, civic, and business leaders have chosen to work together for the benefit of all. For this I am grateful.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman shares his vision for a Student Empowered Learning Framework with 80 HTI guests.
Our Focus on Safety and Wellness
The winter holiday season can be a fun time of the year filled with celebrations, social gatherings and fun with family and friends. However, for some people, it is also a time filled with stress, self-reflection, and anxiety. There may be some things we can do to reduce stress and anxiety this holiday season. Here are a few we would like you to consider:
-Stick to normal routines as much as possible
-Get plenty of sleep
-Take time for yourself, but don't become isolated
-Eat and drink in moderation
-Get plenty of exercise, even if it includes shoveling snow
-Make a to-do list and stick to it
-Set reasonable expectations for holiday activities such as shopping, cooking, party attendance, and entertaining
-Set a budget, don't overextend yourself financially for this will create stress later in the year
-Listen to music, meditate, or find other ways to relax each day
Have a great holiday season!
-Stick to normal routines as much as possible
-Get plenty of sleep
-Take time for yourself, but don't become isolated
-Eat and drink in moderation
-Get plenty of exercise, even if it includes shoveling snow
-Make a to-do list and stick to it
-Set reasonable expectations for holiday activities such as shopping, cooking, party attendance, and entertaining
-Set a budget, don't overextend yourself financially for this will create stress later in the year
-Listen to music, meditate, or find other ways to relax each day
Have a great holiday season!
Override Progress
We are grateful to our community for approving a ten-year mill levy override that we have since shared with Mountain View Core Knowledge School and our community preschool providers, invested in beefing up our staff salary levels so we can be more competitive in attracting and retaining great folks to work with our kids, and which we have allocated to purchasing up to date and engaging curriculum materials, conducting miscellaneous building and grounds repairs, and invested in a one-to-one Chromebook program that has prepared our students for the many outstanding community/business partnerships I described above in the section on internships and apprenticeships. Thanks to the community's approval of question 3A in November 2017, our students and staff now have the tools they need to get ready to fill important roles in the future workforce.
Bond Progress
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A lot of progress is being mad on new structres at Cañon City Middle School and Washington Elementary School.
Our gratitude is that in November 2017 our community approved matching funds through a bond election so we could help the Mountain View Core Knowledge School pay off their building debt, complete roofing repairs on five of our buildings, improve the safety and security of those same buildings at entryways and through the installation of alarm systems, replace aged window and door systems on them as well, and apply for large grants to build a new Washington Elementary School and to conduct a major upgrade of Cañon City Middle School.
We are also grateful to the Building Excellent Schools Today program for approving our CCMS and Washington building grants in spring 2018, and for our construction partners at GE Johnson, RTI Architecture, and RLH Engineering for skillfully leading us through our first phase projects, and helping us to get as far as we are now on our new school buildings.
We are also grateful to the Building Excellent Schools Today program for approving our CCMS and Washington building grants in spring 2018, and for our construction partners at GE Johnson, RTI Architecture, and RLH Engineering for skillfully leading us through our first phase projects, and helping us to get as far as we are now on our new school buildings.
Last Week
Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman facilitates discussion about Learning Targets at our monthly Instructional Leader Professional Learning Community gathering.
On Monday I published another installment of Echoes from Cañon, participated in a Social-Emotional Learning strategic planning session, met with Adam Hartman to prepare for final Federal Programs grant application and budget revisions, and attended a childcare sector launch meeting at ACCESS.
During the rest of the week, I conducted a Superintendent Advisory Council meeting, participated in our monthly Instructional Leader PLC, attended a webinar about a Local Accountability Pilot process, worked with Adam Hartman to facilitate a Civic Canopy gathering, participated in the Colorado Education Initiatives Exemplar School Visit to Cañon City High School, sat in on a Youth Connections Grant webinar with Health and Wellness Coordinator Brian VanIwarden, and attended an OEDIT social at the Dinosaur Adventure Park. I also attended a phone conference with representatives from Boulder, Greely, Gunnison and Sheridan about the Accountability Pilot Grant we are working together to write.
During the rest of the week, I conducted a Superintendent Advisory Council meeting, participated in our monthly Instructional Leader PLC, attended a webinar about a Local Accountability Pilot process, worked with Adam Hartman to facilitate a Civic Canopy gathering, participated in the Colorado Education Initiatives Exemplar School Visit to Cañon City High School, sat in on a Youth Connections Grant webinar with Health and Wellness Coordinator Brian VanIwarden, and attended an OEDIT social at the Dinosaur Adventure Park. I also attended a phone conference with representatives from Boulder, Greely, Gunnison and Sheridan about the Accountability Pilot Grant we are working together to write.
Civic Canopy participants discuss launching the CañonThrives website.
This Week
This Monday I have a monthly touching base meeting with Stacie Kwitek of the Fremont County Department of Human Services, a legislative advocacy phone conference about equitable mill levy rates, and I'll shoot for making a final submission/revision of our federal programs application and budget. On Tuesday I'll work to publish another issue of Echoes from Cañon and meet with Assistant Superintendent of Schools Adam Hartman, Board President Shad Johnson, and Board Secretary Robin Reeser about a Colorado Association of School Boards convention breakout session they'll be presenting. Weather permitting, I'll travel to Denver to attend to CDE Coherence Lab work I have fallen behind on, then make my way back to Cañon on Wednesday afternoon to begin celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with my family.
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
Thanks for listening once again!
George S. Welsh
