• 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
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.

Our Core Beliefs in Action

PictureBill Henderson, one of our bus drivers, completes his end of route paperwork.
It is an absolute pleasure this week to highlight the amazing qualities of some of our behind the scenes support staff.  

Last spring I became aware of a situation where one of our bus drivers, Bill Henderson, had a challenging experience taking Bruce Omer's Cañon City Exploratory School 5th-6th grade combination class on a field trip.  As CES staff are apt to, Mr. Omer had his class reflect on their behavior and every child agreed a good path forward would be to offer a letter of apology to Mr. Henderson.  This is where the story may have ended.  However, Mr. Henderson was kind enough to write a joyful reply to Mr. Omer's students stating, "please accept my tremendous gratitude for the wonderful gesture jointly made by the Wanderers (Mr. Omer's community).  I was most definitely overwhelmed and with awe, surprise, and joy when I received a big envelope filled with sincerity.  Thank you all for the terrific letters you wrote.  They are priceless to me!"  

Mr. Henderson, I know you didn't have to craft that beautiful letter.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for reinforcing the lesson our CES students learned.  You expertly displayed our core belief that we value growth, in both academics AND behavior!




Picture
On another front, one of our most versatile support team members Daniel Damianov, who has served as a classified substitute and a classroom paraprofessional, and who we now rely on to line up our daily corps of substitutes, was the focus of yet another letter of thanks.  This was from Kristin Crain, a special education teacher at Cañon City Middle School.   Kristin said, "I have no idea whom this needs to be directed to but I have a shout out that I'd like to share. I recently locked my keys in my car after school, including my phone and building keys and any resources I had available to problem-solve my mistake. Daniel, the custodial substitute in the administration building was more than helpful. He allowed me to borrow his phone to call my mom, google and call the On-Star support phone number, and then he waited with me while they magically unlocked my car.  He was simply outstanding in the way he helped me with my silly personal struggle. 

I'm so happy and blessed to be working in a district that's so supportive, where everybody has each other's back. THANKS, DANIEL!"

Thank you indeed, Daniel!  Core belief number one states "We meet the social-emotional needs of all students, putting Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs before Bloom’s Taxonomy."  To do so, we must also meet the social-emotional needs of our staff, and you have certainly done this.

Speaking of core belief number one, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will be hosting an "Out of the Darkness Walk to Fight Suicide" this Saturday,  September 7th, at 9 AM at Centennial Park.  This is a great opportunity to bring greater awareness to an issue that has touched nearly everyone in our community.    Please consider registering at 
https://afsp.org/

Our Future Focus

PictureHomeBiEd students attend the closing of the sale of the house they built.
​We're pleased to announce our Cañon City High School PTECH program is up and running this year.  We have 18 class-of-2021 students enrolled and another 32 from the class of 2022.  Participating in PTECH allows each of these students the opportunity to earn an associates degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math-related fields at no cost to themselves.   Cañon City High School counselors are ensuring student schedules include all Pueblo Community College required courses and that each PTECH enrollee accomplishes two internships in their career related field by the time they graduate.

Last week Cañon City High School Building Trades students participated in the closing of the sale of the house they built earlier this year.  We thank realtor and HomeBiEd Board member Carla Brady for making this possible!

Bond Progress

PictureSteve Lindner of Lindner Chevrolet donated a set of computers to our new A+ Computer Networking and Troubleshooting program.
At their August 27th Work Session, the Cañon City Board of Education toured the old district grounds shop behind Cañon City Middle School, which originally served as the Cañon City High School JROTC Shooting Range.  

The Board then took a look at and celebrated the opening of our new Grounds Shop, Electronics Recycling, and A+ Computer Certification Classroom, located along 12th Street just north of the Icabone Pool.   

This facility was constructed as part of our Cañon City Middle School Major Remodel project and part of our Multi-Facility Improvement Grant, funded by a Building Excellent Schools Today grant.

The new grounds space has allowed the district to move a ton of dangerous equipment out of the high school basement and to provide safe and modern working space for its operations employees.  

The Cañon City Middle School work site is really starting to take shape.  Debris from the demolition of the old auditorium/gymnasium has been cleaned up allowing for sightlines across the entire site to the north of the historic 1925 structure.  

Meanwhile, walls are now being constructed at the new Washington Elementary School.  Visitors to the worksite can see the school's new gymnasium taking shape. 

Last Week

PictureEarthwork is taking shape at the CCMS construction site.
Last Monday I published another installment of Echoes, met with RE-2 district leaders about collaborating on a grant, worked with Director of Special Services Tim Renn on outlining a more understandable continuous improvement structure for the district, and attend the official opening of our new district grounds facility/hands-on technology center.  On Tuesday we held a Superintendent Advisory Council meeting, met about a Colorado Education Initiative Youth Connections grant opportunity, joined CCMS instructional leaders for some instructional walkthroughs, and I then took a trip to Denver for an Early Childhood Leadership Commission gathering.  On  Wednesday I sat in on a meeting about a possible high school video productions collaboration with a local business, met with Lincoln School of Science and Technology Principal Garrett Olguin about improvement planning, and attended a Cañon City Planning and Zoning Committee meeting about our CCMS project.  On Thursday I worked on a Gates Foundation Grant to support the work we envisioned through our Civic Canopy process, and I attended an evening Cañon City Urban Renewal Zone proposal meeting.   On Friday I sat in on a motivational speaker presentation to middle school students, conducted routine communication with the board of education, finalized legislative resolutions on behalf of the board of education, and began work on our Management's Discussion and Analysis section of our annual audit.  

This Week

PictureGovernor Polis was on hand at the Early Childhood Leadership Commission transition gathering.
This week I'll appear on KRLN's Morning Line, hold a routine Superintendent's Advisory Council meeting, meet with the McKinley School Improvement Support Team, conduct a Central Office Staff meeting, chair a quarterly Cañon City Educational Organization for Excellence board meeting, meet with partners from Siemans about how they can support Cañon City High School Capstone projects related to our new buildings achieving LEED Gold efficiency status, attend an every other week TechSTART evening social event, touch base with Brian Turner from Solvista and Stacie Kwitek from Fremont County Department of Human Services, attend a Colorado Department of Education Coherence Lab conference call, and make my way around the district to see how our first early release Friday staff development day goes. 

Thanks for listening once again!

​George S. Welsh

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.