Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies

INTRODUCTION

We're so pleased that you have chosen or are considering BCSIS for your child's primary school education. Our goal is to provide parents with information to help ease the transition to a new community, so that everyone feels welcomed, understands how the school works, and knows how to get involved. Please come to events, introduce yourself in the hall, and let us get to know you. The benefits and friendships that this school offers your children and your family are multiplied when you are involved. We hope you take one of the many opportunities to truly make this school your school.

SCHOOL INFORMATION

Arrival and Dismissal

Consistent attendance is critical and important so that children feel an important part of the school community. School starts at 8:30 am. There is outside supervision beginning at 8:20 AM daily. School ends at 3:20 PM Monday through Thursday, and at 1:30 PM on Friday.

School Lunch/ Snacks

Our students eat in the cafeteria with students from High Peaks to encourage the building of friendships. Students are welcome to purchase a school lunch with milk for $2.25. If students bring their lunch from home, we suggest simple, healthy foods in reusable or recyclable containers. We are proud to be a "zero-waste" school. Students compost left-over food scraps and recycle milk containers and aluminum.

Some teachers request that one or two snacks per day be brought from home in addition to lunch. We discourage soft drinks, candy, and breakable materials in students' lunches or snacks.

Clothing

Children should wear simple, sturdy, and comfortable clothing and shoes that allow them to fully participate in movement activities, art, and outside playground recess. It is our school goal that student clothing be plain and not demonstrate influence of media or commercialism.

Media

In order to support imagination and creative play, students are exposed to developmentally appropriate media. Computer education begins in fourth grade. Students may view educational videos that support topics of study in the classroom. In the intermediate grades, students conduct research using conventional materials such as newspaper, magazines, and journals related to the topic of study. We encourage families to keep media exposure to a minimum.

Classroom Supplies

Since the supplies used at the school are professional quality and not widely available, classroom teachers order "back-to-school" supplies in bulk, which is more cost-effective and convenient for families. Each teacher requests $55 per child for supplies for the entire school year when school begins in August. This amount also covers the special art supplies required for Jan May's art class. (Please note that first graders will need to purchase a recorder, preferably wooden, at the beginning of the school year.)

Field Trips

Each grade level takes one or more field trips per year. In addition, various walking trips may be taken in the neighborhood area. Teachers send home notes describing the trip ahead of time and request parent permission to participate. The cost of some field trips may be offset by fees charged to students, but a student will never be eliminated from participating based on financial reasons. Frequently parents are invited to attend the trip as volunteer helpers. If parents prefer that students not attend a field trip, alternative academic activities are provided for the student within the school environment.

Management of Student Behavior

Our goal is to have a proactive approach toward behavior management by establishing strong, positive, school-wide community norms. If a child is having difficulty with behavior in or out of the classroom, the teacher uses a variety of interventions depending upon the age level, degree, and frequency of the occurrences of the behavior(s). Pedagogical stories, redirection, limit-setting, time-out, conflict resolution, mediation, and principal involvement may be used.

COMMUNICATION

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled in November and again in March.

Student Progress

Each trimester, BCSIS uses the district report card to help communicate with parents about students’ academic progress. Along with the final report card, teachers prepare a portfolio of student work.

Classroom Meetings and Parent Education

Throughout the year, teachers share students’ work and offer opportunities for parents to learn more about how to support their children in the classroom. Some examples are Literacy Night, Math Night and class presentations.

Volunteering

BCSIS is very dependent upon the continued dedication of parents who volunteer their time, ideas, and money to keep the school thriving and strong.  Teachers welcome parent support in the classroom. Volunteering to assist in the classroom is a great way to get to know other kids and see BCSIS in action.

Monday Mail

Every Monday parents receive information from teachers to keep families up-to-date with school and classroom activities, including the bi-weekly school newsletter.

School Directory

BCSIS publishes a school-wide, voluntary directory to facilitate communications between our families.

School Bulletin Board

This bulletin board displays names and roles of ED Council members as well as upcoming meetings and events. Flyers for extracurricular classes, parenting resources, and other announcements are posted here.

School Website

Our webmaster keeps the BCSIS website current with information and the latest happenings about our school. Contact: Ken Hansen at bcsisweb "at" yahoo.com.

BCSIS 2007 - 2008 Ed Council

The ED Council is integral to many important school decisions. It is comprised of teachers and parents who represent each classroom and parents who are elected to the council.  Elected ED Council members make decisions when an item comes to a vote, although decisions are usually made by consensus. Meetings are open to all interested parents and are held once each month. This organization is similar to SIT or PTO at other schools.

Co-chair	Will Humke	3nd grade teacher	will.humke "at" bvsd.org
Co-chair	Patrick Wilson	Parent	303-516-4041 patrick "at" blackhorsecoaching.com
Secretary	Susan Lama	Parent	suzanne "at" integraltherapist.com
Co-Treasurer	Marjorie Johnson	Parent	303-494-2971 reed1kevin "at" comcast.net
Co-Treasurer	Jennifer Shriver	Parent	303-247-1622 jshriver "at" indra.com
K-3 Rep	Darcy Vanderbie	Parent	303-499-9183 darcyvpace "at" comcast.net
4-5 Rep	Sonja Toutenhoofd	Parent	720-890-2937 sonjamarc "at" earthlink.net
Classified	Connie LeClerc	Para-pro	Conie-leclerc "at" hotmail.com
K-3 Rep	Erin Koenig	Grade 2 teacher	erin.koenig "at" bvsd.org
4-5 Rep	Sabine Smead	Grade 4 teacher	sabine.smead "at" bvsd.org
Specialist	Dawn Collamer	Special Ed teacher	dawn.collamer "at" bvsd.org
DAC Rep	Pam Stratton	Parent	303-443-1432 pam_Stratton "at" hotmail.com
DPC Rep	Teresa Southard	Parent	720-352-4002 southwest "at" earthnet.net
Batya AM rep		Parent
Batya PM rep	Jessica Kluazer-Zimmerman Shawna Sharp	Parents	720-841-8071 jklauzer "at" yahoo.com; 303-664-9832 shawnamsharp "at" msn.com
Jen 1st grade	Jean Bouchard Denise McCorvie	Parents	303-546-9066 jeanmott "at" hotmail.com; 303-819-2306 eivroc "at" comcast.net
Suzanne 1st grade	Gabi Werkmeister	Parent	303-554-4388 gabiwerk "at" gmail.com
Erin 2nd grade	Jessica Kluazer-Zimmerman	Parent	720-841-8071 jklauzer "at" yahoo.com
Emily 2nd grade		Parent
Diane 3rd grade	Rosa Olsen	Parent	303-440-8730 detnmayden "at" yahoo.com
Will 3rd grade	Mira Rookey	Parent	303-554-0290 gothspider "at" aol.com
Sabine 4th grade		Parent
Terry 4th grade	Greg Guerin	Parent	303-581-9212 megngrish "at" yahoo.com
Meaghan 5th grade		Parent
Leson 5th grade	Sonja Toutenhoofd	Parent	720-890-2937 sonjamarc "at" earthlink.net
Friends of BCSIS	Co-chair	Parent
Friends of BCSIS	Co-chair	Parent
Volunteer Coordinator	Nathalie Pratt	Parent	nathaliepratt "at" yahoo.com
Volunteer Coordinator	Jennifer Loven	Parent	fineloven "at" msn.com

NOTE: Replace the "at" with @ to make the e-mail addresses work.

SCHOOL EVENTS

BCSIS has a number of wonderful community events that enhance the familial feel of the school for children, teachers, and parents.

FallFest

Planned for the beginning of the school year, this event includes lots of fun family-oriented activities, like face painting, limbo, community drumming, and a potluck picnic. Please attend to make and renew friendships!

Fall Festival/Lantern Walk – We have a Fall Festival for third through fifth grades and a Lantern Walk for kindergarten through second grades in the evening. These are beautiful community gatherings of the school's children and their families, filled with story, song, food, and wonder.

Winter Silent-Auction and Talent Show

This delightful and hugely popular event happens every year in late November or early December.  We have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of our children’s talents and support our school through a celebration of the arts.  All proceeds from art and service sales benefits our school directly.  Come and be amazed at the scope and quality of our artistic community!

Fifth Grade Spaghetti Dinner

Each year the fifth grade class takes a special outdoor education class trip as part of their educational experience. The Spaghetti Dinner is an important part of the fifth grade students' and parents' fundraising efforts to offset costs of this outdoor education trip.

Spring Fundraiser

The spring fundraiser is a gourmet dinner at a local Italian restaurant, Bacaro. There is a small silent auction of fine art items, live music, and a chance to have adult conversation with other parents and staff of BCSIS.

Spring Festival

This festival typically takes place in early May during the school day and centers on the celebration of spring. It is a beautiful gathering of the school's families, filled with dance, flowers, crafts, song, and food. A gorgeous Maypole dance is one of the hallmarks of this event.

Spring Plant Sale

This is a wonderful opportunity to purchase Mother's Day gifts and summer plants for your home garden – and a great way to invite family members, friends, and neighbors to support our school in a very rewarding way.

[For more information check the Events calendar.]

CONCLUSION

If you are new to our school, we are so pleased that you have chosen BCSIS for your child's primary school education. If you have any questions, or if you have suggestions, please contact the principal or webmaster.