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
Last spring, Hunter Dean-Moore was instrumental in getting Chromebooks in the hands of all K-5 students.
A gigantic thank you goes out to Technology Network Manager Hunter Dean-Moore this week. For the entire school year, we have been struggling to repair a glitch in our instructional resource systems, and Mr. Dean-Moore pulled off the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack several weeks ago, allowing many of our learning platforms to once again work together seamlessly. Hunter, thank you so much for giving us the tools to be a future-focused district!
Last week I had the pleasure of participating in a Colorado Department of Education Gifted and Talented Education program review. When I first filled my role here in Cañon I quickly learned we have a premier GATE program, as it had just received a perfect audit. This is the first time the department has repeated this look-in process since then, and to no surprise, it is still viewed as a perfect program by CDE! Thank you to Coordinator Shyla Christiansen and her entire GATE staff for sustaining this excellence. The work you do allows our children to grow tremendously in their learning.
Last week I had the pleasure of participating in a Colorado Department of Education Gifted and Talented Education program review. When I first filled my role here in Cañon I quickly learned we have a premier GATE program, as it had just received a perfect audit. This is the first time the department has repeated this look-in process since then, and to no surprise, it is still viewed as a perfect program by CDE! Thank you to Coordinator Shyla Christiansen and her entire GATE staff for sustaining this excellence. The work you do allows our children to grow tremendously in their learning.
Our GATE program monitoring process took place digitally.
Our Future Focus
New windows are being installed on the 1925 portion of the CCMS remodel.
Our work remains focused on doing our best to keep in-person learning opportunities available to as many children as possible. During the past two weeks, several groups of students and staff came off quarantine and returned to in-person learning. Unfortunately, on a daily basis, we are addressing new positive COVID cases. At the time I published this installment of Echoes, roughly 50 students and staff from Cañon City High School, and a cohort of 30 CCMS students and their teachers have been placed in quarantine due to close contact.
In the meantime, good progress continues to be made on our school construction projects. A quick drive up North 9th Street reveals some amazing grounds work and landscaping being installed on the Washington Elementary campus. Meanwhile, the 1925 main building at Cañon City Middle School continues to get a facelift, with new windows being installed. Looking further into the future, we have also committed to submitting a proposal for a new BEST grant. One that we hope will allow us to do major building envelope and air circulation upgrades at the ACCESS Center (the old Harrison Elementary building).
In the meantime, good progress continues to be made on our school construction projects. A quick drive up North 9th Street reveals some amazing grounds work and landscaping being installed on the Washington Elementary campus. Meanwhile, the 1925 main building at Cañon City Middle School continues to get a facelift, with new windows being installed. Looking further into the future, we have also committed to submitting a proposal for a new BEST grant. One that we hope will allow us to do major building envelope and air circulation upgrades at the ACCESS Center (the old Harrison Elementary building).
Applying Our Traits and Skills
Jeff States
The Cañon City School District Classified Employee Association recently honored Cañon City Middle School custodian, Jeff States, as their Super Ninja for the month of September 2020. I'm told he was nominated by more than 10 of his fellow staff members. They say, "Jeff is a hard worker, dependable, trustworthy, kind, and selfless. He goes above and beyond basic work expectations and always gets the job done. He's always willing to help, with a smile and a positive attitude. At a time when it is extremely important, he keeps CCMS clean and sanitized, making sure everyone has what they need to their jobs."
Jeff definitely is a civil, innovative, collaborative contributor with integrity, earning the title of SUPER NINJA! We offer him a huge thank you!
On Friday, October 30th I had the pleasure to judge eight COVID Safe Candy Delivery systems designed and engineered by Cañon City High School students. Two of these contraptions earned the right to be used to deliver candy to participants at Cañon City Middle School's annual safe National Junior Honor Society safe Halloween event. What I observed were students collaborating and seeking solutions, while being innovative and tenacious. I also thank CCHS teacher Scott Smith for creating such a cool learning experience for his advanced manufacturing students.
Speaking of innovation, tenacity, and expanding toward leadership, in my 34-year education career, I’ve been a classroom teacher, a principal, and a superintendent of schools. However, by far the most challenging position I’ve ever held was school principal. A principal has no control of their schedule. Though they may have a daily plan, it is often interrupted by student behavior, a need to address parent concerns, and staff conflict. Fortunately, when I was a principal I never had to navigate my duties while in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Why do I mention this? I think Cañon City Schools just happens to have the best collection of building leaders in the state of Colorado! It is because of their hard work guiding their staff that we've been able to keep our doors open to in-person learning for kids. Please join me in honoring Bill Summers, Jesse Oliver, Marne Autobee, Karen Sartori, Kelly Albrecht, Brian Zamarripa, Scott Morton, and Garrett Olguin for their hard work on behalf of our children as we wrap up National Principal Appreciation Month!
Jeff definitely is a civil, innovative, collaborative contributor with integrity, earning the title of SUPER NINJA! We offer him a huge thank you!
On Friday, October 30th I had the pleasure to judge eight COVID Safe Candy Delivery systems designed and engineered by Cañon City High School students. Two of these contraptions earned the right to be used to deliver candy to participants at Cañon City Middle School's annual safe National Junior Honor Society safe Halloween event. What I observed were students collaborating and seeking solutions, while being innovative and tenacious. I also thank CCHS teacher Scott Smith for creating such a cool learning experience for his advanced manufacturing students.
Speaking of innovation, tenacity, and expanding toward leadership, in my 34-year education career, I’ve been a classroom teacher, a principal, and a superintendent of schools. However, by far the most challenging position I’ve ever held was school principal. A principal has no control of their schedule. Though they may have a daily plan, it is often interrupted by student behavior, a need to address parent concerns, and staff conflict. Fortunately, when I was a principal I never had to navigate my duties while in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Why do I mention this? I think Cañon City Schools just happens to have the best collection of building leaders in the state of Colorado! It is because of their hard work guiding their staff that we've been able to keep our doors open to in-person learning for kids. Please join me in honoring Bill Summers, Jesse Oliver, Marne Autobee, Karen Sartori, Kelly Albrecht, Brian Zamarripa, Scott Morton, and Garrett Olguin for their hard work on behalf of our children as we wrap up National Principal Appreciation Month!
A CCHS Safe Candy Delivery System
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Washington's Brian Zamarripa was honored during Principal Appreciation Month.
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Looking Ahead
In the coming weeks, along with day-to-day routines we'll hold a regular Board of Education meeting and work session, our weekly director's meetings, a District Leadership Team meeting, a Compass Committee meeting, and a Fremont County Education Collaborative planning session. Please don't forget we the Cañon City School District now celebrates Veteran's Day each year, so there will be no school on Wednesday November 11th.
Other Voices
Fremont Adventure Recreation supported Trunk or Treat.
Cañon City Daily Record publisher Karl Wurzbach recently shared this message with me as a reaction to the safe Trunk or Treat event his organization sponsored for our kids:
What an incredible day!!!
Over 900 bags of candy were handed out. Thanks to event sponsors Canon Signature Mortgage, The Cañon City Chamber of Commerce, the City of Cañon City, and the Daily Record & Shopper. Without those sponsors, our event would not have happened.
Thanks to all of our participating businesses and organizations for donating candy and being at the event for 4 long hours. I know the families that drove through really appreciated your time.
Thanks to AMR, the Cañon City Area Fire Protection District, Cañon City Volunteer Fire Department, Fremont County Sheriff's Office, Fremont County Search & Rescue, Florence Family Dentistry, Sons of Italy, Young People in Recovery, Coming Home Realty, Fremont Center for the Arts, Cañon Signature Mortgage, Fremont 360, Fremont Adventure Recreation, Starpoint, Cañon City Library, the City of Cañon City (Tom Dixon, Streets, CCPD, Animal Control), and the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce.
What an incredible day!!!
Over 900 bags of candy were handed out. Thanks to event sponsors Canon Signature Mortgage, The Cañon City Chamber of Commerce, the City of Cañon City, and the Daily Record & Shopper. Without those sponsors, our event would not have happened.
Thanks to all of our participating businesses and organizations for donating candy and being at the event for 4 long hours. I know the families that drove through really appreciated your time.
Thanks to AMR, the Cañon City Area Fire Protection District, Cañon City Volunteer Fire Department, Fremont County Sheriff's Office, Fremont County Search & Rescue, Florence Family Dentistry, Sons of Italy, Young People in Recovery, Coming Home Realty, Fremont Center for the Arts, Cañon Signature Mortgage, Fremont 360, Fremont Adventure Recreation, Starpoint, Cañon City Library, the City of Cañon City (Tom Dixon, Streets, CCPD, Animal Control), and the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce.
A few special shoutouts: THANKS CCPD's Tammy Wagner for all of the support, staffing, traffic control. You and your team made a huge impact!
THANKS to Kris Webb and her staff at the Chamber of Commerce who bagged over 900 bags of candy (almost 45,000 pieces). THANKS to CCSD's George and Paula for allowing us to use Harrison School! We had no idea what to expect but the turnout was incredible.
See you next year.
Karl
. . . and thank you all for listening once again!
Stay safe,
George S. Welsh
THANKS to Kris Webb and her staff at the Chamber of Commerce who bagged over 900 bags of candy (almost 45,000 pieces). THANKS to CCSD's George and Paula for allowing us to use Harrison School! We had no idea what to expect but the turnout was incredible.
See you next year.
Karl
. . . and thank you all for listening once again!
Stay safe,
George S. Welsh
