Coming Up
The story of the bell...
The iconic bell in front of Louisville Elementary School has become a hallmark of many first and last day of school photos, but did you know the history of the bell dates back over 140 years?
The Louisville History Museum strongly believes the bell dates back to 1881, which is the year that the Louisville Grade School at Spruce and Jefferson opened. This is now the site of Memory Square Park. The bell can be seen in the school's bell tower in historic photos that are from before 1903, which is the year that the school was remodeled and enlarged. This makes the bell one of the oldest artifacts from Louisville's history, as Louisville was founded in 1878 and incorporated in 1882. The bell was manufactured by Goulds Mfg. Co. of Seneca Falls, NY. It is 33 inches in diameter and weighs approximately 700 pounds. When Louisville Elementary School opened its doors in 1964, the bell was relocated to the front of the building. Now the community can enjoy this piece of Louisville history each time they visit Louisville Elementary School!
Read more about the history of the Louisville Grade School, the famous bell, and the construction of Louisville Elementary School by reading the Fall 2021 edition of the Louisville Historian.
District and School News
Spring has arrived, which means state assessments are right around the corner. BVSD schools will start administering these tests in April which include the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS), PSAT or SAT tests. Available online is a general schedule of these assessments in the Boulder Valley School District, including the grades affected. If your student is scheduled to take one of these tests, please encourage them to participate.
The Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) is proud to launch an all new Strategic Plan Dashboard. This dashboard will show the staff and community our progress within the four key objectives of our All Together for All Students Strategic Plan. While we have access to a number of data visualizations in BVSD, this dashboard will serve as a common tool that all schools, staff and community can reference over the next five years as we set targets and celebrate improved outcomes for kids.
The Board continued its conversation about school attendance area boundaries at a work session earlier this month. This time, the Board took a closer look at elementary school boundaries in Boulder, which has seen greater enrollment losses than other areas of the district.
Now when pedestrians approach the crosswalks on Baseline Road near 95th Street in Lafayette they are encouraged to “Take It to Make It.’ Willow Fletemeyer, an eighth grader at Nevin Platt Middle School, created red flags for pedestrians in the crosswalk to hold up to call attention to cars. Fletemeyer and her family felt like they had to do something, after two BVSD students, one from Platt Middle School and the other from Centaurus High School, were hit by cars, while crossing Baseline Road on back-to-back days last September.
With the arrival of warmer spring weather, more students are choosing to bike to school. This is a great trend for health, environmental sustainability, and reducing traffic congestion. However, it also requires extra awareness from drivers to ensure the safety of young bicyclists. Here are some important reminders on how to be a bicycle-friendly driver in school zones.
As the school year comes to a close, high school seniors eagerly anticipate the excitement of prom and other end-of-year celebrations. These milestones mark the end of an important chapter in their lives and offer an opportunity to create lasting memories. While these events are a time of celebration, it’s crucial to approach them with safety in mind. As families and students prepare for these memorable moments, it's essential to prioritize well-being, make informed decisions, and have open conversations about safe choices.