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
The MVCKS Pack shirt is unveiled
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Harrison counselors practice self -care
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CES students at Camp Jackson
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Exciting things are happening at Mountain View Core Knowledge School. I understand their middle-grade level student council has a new focus on promoting school spirit and positive student relationships. Much like Cañon City High School's Pride organization, Mountain View's is called "The Pack." In taking on this initiative, MVCKS student council members invited Cañon City High School Pride representatives to visit the school to share why it's so important to intentionally promote inclusiveness and a positive school-wide culture, and how it can be done by organizing fun activities and events. I hear a Pack T-Shirt was even unveiled to the excitement of the student body!
As a charter school, it is wonderful that the Mountain View learning community shares our core beliefs, and this is an outstanding way to out the social-emotional well-being of students at the forefront.
Meanwhile, just up the hill at Harrison School, the Hawk counseling department took it upon themselves to engage in professional development around promoting the practicing of self-care. Everyone who has been an educator knows the work pace can be fast and furious, and that while adults focus on what's best for children, they often don't pause to take care of themselves. I appreciate this effort because we know our adults can't possibly take care of the social-emotional well-being of our kids if they are not first and foremost taking care of themselves!
One more example of our focus on our first core belief was displayed by Cañon Exploratory School as their grade 7 and 8 middle school students participated in an exploration of Camp Jackson late last week. This offered opportunities to engage in team-building, challenge themselves physically and mentally on a ropes course, and to come together as a learning community. I know all of our learning communities start the school year by engaging in all kinds of activities that help educators do what is most important first, and that is to establish positive and trusting relationships with their students.
As a charter school, it is wonderful that the Mountain View learning community shares our core beliefs, and this is an outstanding way to out the social-emotional well-being of students at the forefront.
Meanwhile, just up the hill at Harrison School, the Hawk counseling department took it upon themselves to engage in professional development around promoting the practicing of self-care. Everyone who has been an educator knows the work pace can be fast and furious, and that while adults focus on what's best for children, they often don't pause to take care of themselves. I appreciate this effort because we know our adults can't possibly take care of the social-emotional well-being of our kids if they are not first and foremost taking care of themselves!
One more example of our focus on our first core belief was displayed by Cañon Exploratory School as their grade 7 and 8 middle school students participated in an exploration of Camp Jackson late last week. This offered opportunities to engage in team-building, challenge themselves physically and mentally on a ropes course, and to come together as a learning community. I know all of our learning communities start the school year by engaging in all kinds of activities that help educators do what is most important first, and that is to establish positive and trusting relationships with their students.
Our Future Focus
Grade 6-12 staff learn why some gifted students exhibit certain behaviors
On Friday, September 6th we had our first every other week Early Release Day and I observed instructional staff around the district hard at work honing their craft. Grade 6-12 instructors gathered at Cañon City High School to learn how, in the course of learning, some exceptional students exhibit odd behaviors, not unlike children who exhibit diagnosed emotional disabilities. This was great information to share and should go a long way toward staff at these levels gaining a greater understanding of how to address the needs of such children.
At the same time, all grade K-5 instructional staff gathered in the Harrison School commons to begin their blended learning professional development journey through iLearn. Instructional Technology Coordinator Dan Coppa guided this work, which is pretty much the same process we took our high school staff through in spring 2018, then our middle-school staff during the 2018-19 school year.
At the same time, all grade K-5 instructional staff gathered in the Harrison School commons to begin their blended learning professional development journey through iLearn. Instructional Technology Coordinator Dan Coppa guided this work, which is pretty much the same process we took our high school staff through in spring 2018, then our middle-school staff during the 2018-19 school year.
Override Progress
Chromebooks have now been distributed to all grade 6-8 students and early reports and observation indicate middle-level staff are making appropriate use of them, offering more forms of engaging instruction, while focusing first on the good work teachers must do to prepare for lessons using our instructional pillars (learning targets, planning for student engagement, and formative daily assessment).
Bond Progress
Our first of two large construction cranes arrived in town last week. This one will occupy the Cañon City Middle School worksite while steel beams are erected to frame new structures. I also hear the slab floor was poured in the space that will contain our new cafeteria/commons.
Meanwhile, block walls continue to rise at the new Washington Elementary worksite. These are part of the gymnasium that will occupy the central portion of the new facility.
Meanwhile, block walls continue to rise at the new Washington Elementary worksite. These are part of the gymnasium that will occupy the central portion of the new facility.
Last Week
A construction crane now graces the Cañon City skyline
Last week I appeared on KRLN's Morning Line, held a routine Superintendent's Advisory Council meeting, met with the McKinley School Improvement Support Team, conducted a Central Office Staff meeting, chaired a quarterly Cañon City Educational Organization for Excellence board meeting, met with partners from Siemans Controls about ways they can support Cañon City High School intern and apprentice experiences as well as capstone projects, touch base with Brian Turner from Solvista and Stacie Kwitek from Fremont County Department of Human Services, met with our learning partners at Southern Peaks Youth Center about Federal Programs collaboration, made my way around the district to see how our first early release Friday staff development day went, and met about converting our Measures of Student Learning calculator into a Google compatible document.
This Week
This week I have a series of furniture pricing/purchase meetings, a few routine parent meetings, a board work session and regular meeting, a monthly touching base meeting with the Cañon City Police Department, a routine Superintendent's Advisory Council meeting, a meeting about transportation routes, a monthly District Leadership Team meeting, a Vocational Building Trades Board meeting, my first expulsion hearing of the new school year, a Technology Visioning Committee meeting, a Gates Foundation dinner meeting in Pueblo, and a regional superintendents gathering in Springs.
Other Voices
In early August, Cañon City High School received a very exciting email from Danny McCormick, Project Manager at Colorado Succeeds. It said:
It is my privilege to inform you Canon City High School has been selected as a Finalist for the 2019 Succeeds Excellence Awards. The winners will be revealed live and on television during the big event on September 19th. We are looking forward to celebrating you and your staff during this special evening. While there can only be so many winners, I cannot state enough how impressed we are with all of your efforts, and how appreciative we are for everything you do for students and families each day. Thank you.
Best,
Danny McCormick
The Succeeds Prize was established three years ago to recognize education innovators and impact makers. These are recognized as the most prestigious awards in public education in Colorado. Cañon City High School is one of three finalists in the field of excellence in STEM Education. The other two finalists are Strive Prep Excel High School in Denver Public Schools and Warren Tech in Jefferson County. First place prize includes a $15,000 cash prize. Second and third place recognition come with a $5,000 award as well.
On the Succeeds Prize web page, Cañon City High School's nomination information reads as follows:
Cañon City High School (CCHS) — Pathways Program and SystemsGo: The Pathways Program is a three-year education series designed to prepare students for postsecondary education and the workforce. Students have the opportunity to earn early college credits toward a no-cost associate’s degree or specialized certifications as well as explore career fields, all while pursuing a high school diploma. Pathways Program students follow a curriculum that includes: rigorous academic coursework and career-oriented courses; participation in project-based learning activities; and research-oriented community projects such as a graduation Capstone. Grounded in the community, the ‘A’ in the STEAM pathway, stands for Agriculture, and with the help of 80 community partners, the program can offer robust internships. CCHS also offers SystemsGo, a project of the Space Foundation. This innovative rocketry and aero science curriculum uses project-based learning to equip students with STEM skills. Students gain hands-on experience solving problems with projects inspired by the industry and develop skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership. Estes Rockets has partnered with CCHS to provide engineering internships for students.
A contingent of Cañon City High School, district, community, and business leaders will travel to Denver on September 19th to attend the ceremony. It is wonderful to see others recognize the great work going on right here in Cañon!
For those of you who can't be there, you can watch the ceremony on 9News at 8 PM.
Thanks for listening once again,
George S. Welsh
It is my privilege to inform you Canon City High School has been selected as a Finalist for the 2019 Succeeds Excellence Awards. The winners will be revealed live and on television during the big event on September 19th. We are looking forward to celebrating you and your staff during this special evening. While there can only be so many winners, I cannot state enough how impressed we are with all of your efforts, and how appreciative we are for everything you do for students and families each day. Thank you.
Best,
Danny McCormick
The Succeeds Prize was established three years ago to recognize education innovators and impact makers. These are recognized as the most prestigious awards in public education in Colorado. Cañon City High School is one of three finalists in the field of excellence in STEM Education. The other two finalists are Strive Prep Excel High School in Denver Public Schools and Warren Tech in Jefferson County. First place prize includes a $15,000 cash prize. Second and third place recognition come with a $5,000 award as well.
On the Succeeds Prize web page, Cañon City High School's nomination information reads as follows:
Cañon City High School (CCHS) — Pathways Program and SystemsGo: The Pathways Program is a three-year education series designed to prepare students for postsecondary education and the workforce. Students have the opportunity to earn early college credits toward a no-cost associate’s degree or specialized certifications as well as explore career fields, all while pursuing a high school diploma. Pathways Program students follow a curriculum that includes: rigorous academic coursework and career-oriented courses; participation in project-based learning activities; and research-oriented community projects such as a graduation Capstone. Grounded in the community, the ‘A’ in the STEAM pathway, stands for Agriculture, and with the help of 80 community partners, the program can offer robust internships. CCHS also offers SystemsGo, a project of the Space Foundation. This innovative rocketry and aero science curriculum uses project-based learning to equip students with STEM skills. Students gain hands-on experience solving problems with projects inspired by the industry and develop skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership. Estes Rockets has partnered with CCHS to provide engineering internships for students.
A contingent of Cañon City High School, district, community, and business leaders will travel to Denver on September 19th to attend the ceremony. It is wonderful to see others recognize the great work going on right here in Cañon!
For those of you who can't be there, you can watch the ceremony on 9News at 8 PM.
Thanks for listening once again,
George S. Welsh
