Dear BVMS Community,
At Bear Valley Middle School (BVMS), we are always striving to create the best possible learning
environment for our students. As part of this commitment, our school leadership team and
Collaborative School Committee are working together to design an Innovation Plan that will allow
us to better meet the needs of our students, families, and staff.
An Innovation Plan is a tool that schools can use to shape certain policies and practices in ways that
directly support student success. While we remain part of Denver Public Schools, our plan gives us
flexibility to make decisions that are responsive to our community’s unique needs.
Here are the key areas our Innovation Plan will focus on:
● Calendar Flexibility
Our students and staff deserve a calendar that best supports learning and wellness. Having
the ability to design a school calendar outside of the standard DPS schedule will allow us to
provide stronger professional development, strategic breaks, and instructional time that
aligns with our goals.
● Curriculum Flexibility
Innovation allows us to select and implement a curriculum that matches our students’ needs
and reflects our community’s values. This ensures we are challenging students academically
while also providing engaging, culturally responsive instruction.
● Professional Development
Our teachers are at the heart of student success. With innovation status, we can design and
roll out our own professional development sessions that focus on the strategies and practices
most important for BVMS. This ensures that teachers are equipped to deliver high-quality
instruction aligned to our school goals.
● Equitable Grading Policy
We know that grading is not just about points—it’s about setting students up for long-term
success. Our in-house grading policy will ensure equity and high expectations by focusing on
student mastery of skills, preparing students to thrive in high school and beyond.
This plan will be developed collaboratively by our School Leadership Team and Collaborative School
Committee, with input from staff, students, and families. Together, we will ensure that the
Innovation Plan reflects the values of our community while holding high expectations for all
learners.
Our goal is simple: to provide every BVMS student with the tools, opportunities, and support they
need to succeed. Innovation status gives us the flexibility to do just that—while maintaining
accountability to our families and district.