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
At the end of last school year, responding to feedback from the community, the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) Board of Education updated Policy JN, greatly reducing school and classroom fees.
This summer as an intern with BVSD’s Communications Department through the BVSD Grad Plus Leadership program, Brianna Sandoval, Monarch High School Senior, got the opportunity to see how our local law enforcement prepares for situations in BVSD schools. She attended a multi-jurisdictional (local law enforcement and first responders from different local agencies) summer exercise that prepared first responders across Boulder County for an active shooter incident inside a school. Read her first-person account and takeaways from the event.
As part of the Boulder Valley School District’s ongoing commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, we want to address a critical issue affecting communities across the nation—fentanyl. This powerful synthetic opioid, while primarily used for medical purposes, poses a significant risk when misused or encountered outside of medical supervision. Understanding and awareness are key to protecting our children from this dangerous substance.
Whether you’re a gun owner, or you know someone who owns a gun, there is a role for everyone in the conversation around secure gun storage. Be SMART is a framework that parents, caretakers, and community leaders can follow to help keep their communities safe.
School emergencies can be a frightening experience for everyone, from students to teachers to parents. For students with special needs, these situations can be especially daunting. Boulder High School recognized these unique challenges, following a swatting event at the school in February of 2023, and wanted to ensure that all of their students felt secure and cared for even in the most stressful times.
Electric-assist e-bikes are booming across the Boulder Valley School District. It’s important that students and parents understand the rules for safe riding and most importantly—when selecting an appropriate e-bike for your student—knowing what is and isn't a safe, appropriate and in many cases, legal option, based on the student’s age.