The Canutillo ISD Family got a little bigger this week thanks to two important events designed to ease new members of our District into our community. Canutillo High School had its two-day Eagle Legacy Camp on Tuesday and Wednesday to give incoming freshmen and their parents an opportunity to learn more about what programs are available to them. Additionally, our Human Resources Department had its summertime New Employee Orientation for newly hired teachers, administrators and auxiliary personnel. Both events allow us to showcase the Spirit of Canutillo, which centers around service to our students and community.
I was heartened by the robust participation in the Eagle Legacy Camp and was happy to know that our ninth-graders are interested in transitioning into high school in a way that better prepares them to make some important choices. I know several teachers and employees came in to showcase the wide range of programs that we offer: from robotics and law enforcement to healthcare and business administration. The students also got a better glimpse of the beautiful campus they will call home for the next four years and, hopefully, met new classmates who will soon become friends and teammates.
One aspect of the camp that gives me hope is the large number of parents who came in to get their own orientation and introduction into the campus. Principal Teresa Clappsaddle personally met with parents to inform them of the programs, introduce them to key personnel and address any questions they may have. Parents, too, got to tour the school and learn about academic programming so they can help their children make informed decisions when the time comes.
Of course, our students and parents will be served by dedicated personnel who make it their mission to improve the lives of the children of Canutillo. During the New Employee Orientation we added nearly 30 new members to this team, most of them classroom teachers who will be making a huge difference. The orientation spanned three days for our teachers who learned the strategies and programs that have helped Canutillo ISD earn the title of Best Small School District in Texas by the H-E-B Education Foundation.
New employees were treated to a lunch with District leadership, their principals and even some members of the Board of Trustees. I thank these individuals for taking the time to come meet with our new employees, as it is important for them to understand first-hand the Spirit of Canutillo. Trustee Blanca Trout put it best when she addressed the new members of our staff: “Canutillo is a family. Welcome home.”
Pedro Galaviz
Superintendent of Schools