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
Through the back fence of Flatirons Elementary in Boulder, students can glimpse the headstones in Boulder’s oldest graveyard, Columbia Cemetery.
Concerns about students’ mental health and concerns from BVSD educators have prompted the Boulder Valley School District’s Board of Education to look at strengthening the district’s cell phone policy. A survey was sent to high school students, staff and families this month to provide them with an opportunity to comment on the possible benefits and challenges a stricter policy might cause, as well as ideas on how to mitigate any concerns. The Board will review a new draft policy at their upcoming meeting.
The November 5, 2024 General Election includes races for President of the United States, House of Representatives, state legislative seats, and more. Voters will also decide on statewide and local ballot measures. Here are some key details and dates from our BVSD counties to get you ready to vote in this year’s election.
Earlier this month, the Heatherwood Educational Advisory Team proudly shared its proposal to launch a new Environmental STEAM program at the school, beginning in the 2025-26 school year, to the BVSD Board of Education. The new program will teach Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) principles with a focus on environmental literacy, which is inspired by nature.
BVSD is thrilled to offer a new diploma endorsement to sustainability-minded BVSD students beginning this year. The Seal of Climate Literacy is a new high school diploma endorsement that connects educational knowledge with the real challenges and opportunities that climate change brings to each of our communities. It offers students a chance to engage directly with issues that impact their local environment and communities through coursework and hands-on learning.
A little more than a quarter of the $42 Million invested in school construction projects this summer, was invested in new construction and renovations aimed at expanding and enhancing learning spaces where students can experience hands-on learning and develop knowledge and skills directly related to potential future careers.