Please visit our school children's art gallery

Arrival and Absence

Children are encouraged to arrive at school about ten minutes prior to our 8:20 AM starting time. If your child is tardy or absent, let the office know at 720-561-6502 or 720-651-6500 before 8:45 AM. Have your late child check into the office before going to class.

Note to Parents

If you have a student new to the Boulder Valley School District, you may enroll him or her for fall 2013 through Student Enrollment Online (http://enroll.bvsd.org). Please contact the Student Enrollment Center if you have questions: 720-561-5247 or enrollment.helpdesk@bvsd.org

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Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies (BCSIS) is a holistic, arts-integrated school in which active involvement and academic excellence provide a foundation for learning and self-expression.

BCSIS integrates several culture-building programs into our classroom routines which promote positive behaviors, independent decision-making, close and positive classroom environments, and effective problem-solving skills.

Our Vision

The Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies (BCSIS) provides a rich aesthetic environment in which artistic expression, active involvement, and academic excellence provide a foundation for the learning experience. A holistic approach addresses the head, heart, and hand of each child. Rhythm and sensitivity to unique developmental ages assure that students are held in a secure place where, through exposure to multicultural activities and creative projects, they emerge as self-defined, competent, and compassionate individuals.

Our Mission

The BCSIS approach is inspired by the work of several leading educators and a variety of methods, including:

• Arts-integrated education
• The multiple intelligences (Howard Gardner) and other applications of multi-dimensional whole brain/body learning
• Waldorf schooling (Rudolf Steiner)
• The student-initiated project-learning approach of integrated day programs
• An understanding of diversity and multiculturalism
• the skill-building techniques of traditional Western education

We focus on arts-integrated education, because research into brain function demonstrates that arts-integrated learning aids cognitive development in two fundamental ways:

• Arts-integrated education acts physiologically to enhance neurological development, which in turn aids in the development of more intricate cognitive structures.
• Arts-integrated education facilitates learning by providing a broader frame of reference for new material. This expanded frame of reference includes auditory, verbal, kinesthetic, and tactile experiences, as well as interpersonal, intrapersonal, and spatial dynamics. It allows all students to work from their individual strengths while promoting development in their weaker areas.

Thus, the program integrates a full array of movement and the arts into a rich academic curriculum. Teachers use stories, songs, movement, art, and music from around the world as tools for teaching math, language arts, science, and social studies. They weave the curriculum together with storytelling, music, painting, handwork, recitation, poetry, movement, drama, puppetry, and sculpting. The program also emphasizes the development of children's sensitivity to beauty of the natural world. Authentic, natural learning materials help develop this important connection to nature.

If you are new to our school, we’re so pleased that you’ve chosen BCSIS for your child’s primary school education. Our goal is to provide new parents with enough information to help ease the transition to a new community, so that everyone feels welcomed, understands how the school works, and 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.

If you have questions that are not answered here, please contact the principal, Phil Katsampes at the school office, 720-561-6500. He will be more than happy to talk to you.