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.
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
Prior to Thanksgiving Break, our partners from Cañon City Government were kind enough to support the emotional wellness of our entire staff at a time when it has been most needed. They surprised us by dropping off treat baskets at each of our schools and work sites. Included in the gesture was a wonderful letter from Mayor Ashley Smith. She said, "The fluctuations in health and safety requirements aren't what you signed up for, can be exhausting, and oftentimes frustrating. nevertheless, you're adapting your teaching in the blink of an eye and rising to the challenge." Thanks so much for including us in this expression of gratitude!
In the past few years, our special education program has gone from good to great, if you measure by customer satisfaction. Several weeks ago Director of Special Services Tim Renn presented the results of our annual parent satisfaction survey to the Board of Education and, based on the results, it is clear our special education staff, including caseworkers, are doing some very special work. In digital attendance at our meeting were Sibyl Arbelo, Maureen Chapman, Holly Grossman, Jessi Hamilton, Linda Hanenberg, Lorraine King, Shantell Lynch, Katrina Matos, Pam Walker, Siena Wamsganz, Julie Weaver, Heidi Forward-Kraft, and Timothy Renn. Perhaps Shantell Lynch put it best when she said, “Building relationships is the first and most important thing we do.” Thank you all!
In the past few years, our special education program has gone from good to great, if you measure by customer satisfaction. Several weeks ago Director of Special Services Tim Renn presented the results of our annual parent satisfaction survey to the Board of Education and, based on the results, it is clear our special education staff, including caseworkers, are doing some very special work. In digital attendance at our meeting were Sibyl Arbelo, Maureen Chapman, Holly Grossman, Jessi Hamilton, Linda Hanenberg, Lorraine King, Shantell Lynch, Katrina Matos, Pam Walker, Siena Wamsganz, Julie Weaver, Heidi Forward-Kraft, and Timothy Renn. Perhaps Shantell Lynch put it best when she said, “Building relationships is the first and most important thing we do.” Thank you all!
Our Future Focus
Last week Cañon City High School/Pueblo Community College automotive instructor John Duston shared some wonderful news about the future of his program. Mr. Duston says we received a new Snap-On multimeter certification kit. This will enable us to properly certify students in state of the art multimeters. Our automotive program has been doing multimeter certifications for several years. Unfortunately, our students had to use older ones. This development means every auto student is capable of performing the precision testing required for modern vehicles. This initiative was accomplished thanks to Pueblo community College's willingness to share a $9,000 Perkins grant with us.
Meanwhile, Cañon City High School World Geography teacher Shane Thornton shared the news that thanks to joining the FLEX program, he was able to connect with a Ukrainian student. Matviy presented to his classes about Ukrainian culture. What a great use of our student instructional technology tools!
Meanwhile, Cañon City High School World Geography teacher Shane Thornton shared the news that thanks to joining the FLEX program, he was able to connect with a Ukrainian student. Matviy presented to his classes about Ukrainian culture. What a great use of our student instructional technology tools!
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Matviy, a student in Ukraine, shared with CCHS students many aspects of his culture.
Applying Our Traits and Skills
Moot Court
On November 21st three Cañon City High School students, Atalia Fisher, Brooke Watley, and Logan Williams displayed a tremendous amount of integrity, agency, and agility as they competed in the Marshall Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project Moot Court competition. Just as exciting, they were coached by Tiger Alumni and current CU Boulder law school student Danielle Trujillo. All reports are that our Tiger team "performed exceedingly well" in the competition.
There is no better way to demonstrate the extent to which our students are developing the traits and skills we've targeted than through this year's High School Capstone Project requirement. The CCHS staff has already been hard at work reviewing these individual and group projects and reports are that many are exceeding our greatest expectations. This first review will be completed by the end of the first semester and all students who did not successfully complete their projects will be allowed to revise their work and experience a second review prior to graduating in May.
The staff of each of our Cañon City Schools has continued to display outstanding tenacity and agility while navigating the challenges presented by the COVID pandemic. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving Break, our staff has displayed an "all hands on deck" attitude about keeping our schools open for in-person learning. Unfortunately, some grade levels and even an entire school had to shift to temporary digital learning as a result of positive tests and contact tracing. However, no matter what circumstances our kids need to be taught in, our staff is rising to the occasion to provide high-quality instruction. We truly appreciate this!
There is no better way to demonstrate the extent to which our students are developing the traits and skills we've targeted than through this year's High School Capstone Project requirement. The CCHS staff has already been hard at work reviewing these individual and group projects and reports are that many are exceeding our greatest expectations. This first review will be completed by the end of the first semester and all students who did not successfully complete their projects will be allowed to revise their work and experience a second review prior to graduating in May.
The staff of each of our Cañon City Schools has continued to display outstanding tenacity and agility while navigating the challenges presented by the COVID pandemic. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving Break, our staff has displayed an "all hands on deck" attitude about keeping our schools open for in-person learning. Unfortunately, some grade levels and even an entire school had to shift to temporary digital learning as a result of positive tests and contact tracing. However, no matter what circumstances our kids need to be taught in, our staff is rising to the occasion to provide high-quality instruction. We truly appreciate this!
Looking Ahead
In the coming weeks I'll attend a digital version of the Colorado Association of School Boards annual convention, closely monitor the state legislative special session on COVID relief, attend directors meetings, a leadership team meeting, and an instructional leader PLC, participate in a Fremont County Education Collaborative planning session, facilitate a Compass Committee meeting, and attend a Pueblo Community College look-in on our high school partner programs.
Other Voices
Brian Turner of Solvista Health
Our mental health partners at Solvista shared this information with us just before the Thanksgiving break:
Community Partners,
I am writing today to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and to let you know about an important new resource available through Solvista Health.
As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in our communities, along with public health measures to limit gatherings and maintain physical distancing, we are seeing how deeply this ongoing challenge is impacting so many. Finding ways to support one another to persevere and stay resilient is more important than ever. With this in mind, I am absolutely thrilled to share a new free and confidential program that Solvista Health is offering to everyone in Fremont, Custer, Chaffee, and Lake Counties.
The Colorado Spirit program offers free counseling and support without requiring enrollment in Solvista Health services. Colorado Spirit counselors are trained to provide support around the stress and disruption we are all experiencing due to the pandemic. We are also providing free self-care tools available online including myStrength, an evidence-based digital platform providing interactive programs, in-the-moment coping tools, inspirational resources, and community support.
Colorado Spirit counselors are not diagnosing mental health or substance use issues or providing traditional clinical services. Instead, counselors can be a listening ear, a connection to resources, or a coach for developing coping skills. The goal is to make support as accessible and easy as possible for anyone interested!
During a pandemic or other type of disasters such as a wildfire or hurricane, it is normal to feel overwhelmed, scared, tired, depressed, anxious, angry and a whole host of emotions. Please know that this is normal - it’s okay to not feel okay during these unusual times.
Help is available by calling 719-275-2351 and asking to be connected with the Colorado Spirit team. You can also access information and self-care tools by visiting our website at https://solvistahealth.org/colorado-spirit. Please share this information far and wide so we can provide support to all our friends, neighbors, and community members who are feeling overwhelmed.
Colorado Spirit is made possible through grant funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and FEMA.
With gratitude,
Brian Turner, MPH
Chief Executive Officder
Solvista Health
. . . thank you all for listening once again. Please stay safe and take care of your personal needs!
George S. Welsh
Community Partners,
I am writing today to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and to let you know about an important new resource available through Solvista Health.
As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in our communities, along with public health measures to limit gatherings and maintain physical distancing, we are seeing how deeply this ongoing challenge is impacting so many. Finding ways to support one another to persevere and stay resilient is more important than ever. With this in mind, I am absolutely thrilled to share a new free and confidential program that Solvista Health is offering to everyone in Fremont, Custer, Chaffee, and Lake Counties.
The Colorado Spirit program offers free counseling and support without requiring enrollment in Solvista Health services. Colorado Spirit counselors are trained to provide support around the stress and disruption we are all experiencing due to the pandemic. We are also providing free self-care tools available online including myStrength, an evidence-based digital platform providing interactive programs, in-the-moment coping tools, inspirational resources, and community support.
Colorado Spirit counselors are not diagnosing mental health or substance use issues or providing traditional clinical services. Instead, counselors can be a listening ear, a connection to resources, or a coach for developing coping skills. The goal is to make support as accessible and easy as possible for anyone interested!
During a pandemic or other type of disasters such as a wildfire or hurricane, it is normal to feel overwhelmed, scared, tired, depressed, anxious, angry and a whole host of emotions. Please know that this is normal - it’s okay to not feel okay during these unusual times.
Help is available by calling 719-275-2351 and asking to be connected with the Colorado Spirit team. You can also access information and self-care tools by visiting our website at https://solvistahealth.org/colorado-spirit. Please share this information far and wide so we can provide support to all our friends, neighbors, and community members who are feeling overwhelmed.
Colorado Spirit is made possible through grant funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and FEMA.
With gratitude,
Brian Turner, MPH
Chief Executive Officder
Solvista Health
. . . thank you all for listening once again. Please stay safe and take care of your personal needs!
George S. Welsh
