Dear FVS Community,
I hope that this message finds you relaxed and enjoying the final days of summer! My name is Steve Tulleners and I am your new athletic director at Fountain Valley School. I recently arrived to campus from Pennsylvania with my wife Calli, son Elijah, and two daughters, Mili and Faye. We will be living in Penrose West, where I will be the house director. You will see my family around campus riding bikes, playing games, building forts, and exploring. Can I take a moment to say how lucky we are to live, learn, and play on this beautiful campus? As uncertainty about education in our country grows, I look forward to partnering with our students, teachers, and coaches to fully utilize all that this amazing campus has to offer!
This email includes an update regarding athletics and after school activities for this fall and requires a response from each student through a survey below to indicate a preference for an athletic or after school activity in the coming season.
Please complete this survey by Friday, August 14 even if you have already indicated your preference through a coach or in another way.
A very distilled version of what is detailed below is that, this fall, we will offer all athletic and after school activities that we would typically offer, but with modifications to help ensure the health and safety of our community. I am also excited to share that we will offer a fun and engaging intramural program as well!
Earlier this week,
CHSAA’s plan for the coming year was finally approved by the state and shared with the public. It includes news that the competitive seasons for volleyball and boys soccer (and other sports in which FVS does not participate) will take place this spring. It also redefined timelines for all CHSAA sports which will now take place in four seasons instead of three to accommodate these changes.
As a result of the shortened seasons that start well before we are able to begin practices, and in the interest of minimizing the risk of exposure that our students could experience in competitions with other schools, we have chosen not to participate in the CHSAA competitions and tournaments offered this fall, which include tennis and cross country.
This fall’s athletic and after school activities are as follows with any modifications noted. Please note that these offerings are contingent upon having adequate student interest.
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Mountain Biking (coed) will follow a normal training schedule, however all races have been canceled by NICA. In place they have established a Singletrack Solidarity Challenge that will provide opportunities to compete with other riders for rankings/points asynchronously. The team may also use time normally dedicated to competitions to explore the many riding opportunities that exist within a day’s drive.
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Climbing (coed) will follow a normal training schedule and does not compete during the fall.
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Outdoor Education (coed) will follow a normal schedule.
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Hockey (boys) will train between September 1 and March 1 with a potential for two days a week of ice time and other days focused on off-ice skill development and sport specific strength and conditioning.
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English or Western Riding (coed) will follow a normal training schedule with enhanced precautions to reduce risk of exposure during English riding IEA shows.
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Soccer (coed) will spend 2-3 days a week doing sport-specific skill development and practice on the field with 2-3 days a week dedicated to strength and conditioning and other cross-training to develop overall athleticism. The Girls and Boys Soccer CHSAA season will take place during the spring.
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Volleyball (girls) will spend 2-3 days a week doing sport-specific skill development and practice in the gym with 2-3 days a week dedicated to strength and conditioning and other cross-training to develop overall athleticism. Their CHSAA season will take place during the spring.
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Cross Country (coed) will spend 2-3 days a week doing sport-specific skill development and practice with 2-3 days a week dedicated to strength and conditioning and other cross-training to develop overall athleticism. FVS has chosen not to compete in CHSAA competitions scheduled this fall for the reasons outlined above.
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Tennis (coed) will spend 2-3 days a week doing sport-specific skill development and practice on the courts with 2-3 days a week dedicated to strength and conditioning and other cross-training to develop overall athleticism. FVS has chosen not to compete in CHSAA competitions scheduled this fall for the reasons outlined above.
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Swim Training (coed) will proceed as normal with the addition of strength and conditioning and other cross-training to develop overall athleticism.
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Basketball Training (coed) will proceed as normal with the addition of strength and conditioning and other cross-training to develop overall athleticism.
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Intramurals (coed) will provide a fun, low-key opportunity to develop overall health and well-being. Students will rotate through a series of offerings in 5-10 day increments that may include pickleball, soccer, basketball, yoga, ultimate frisbee, swimming (possibly to include synchronized,) kickball, and more!
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Theater, Yearbook, and Digital Media will take place as normally planned with any needed modifications.
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Alternative Sport is available to individuals who wish to participate in a sport or activity not offered at FVS and requires approval from the athletic director. Please note that this may be impacted due to COVID-19 and quarantine may be required if an athlete’s participation in alternative sport puts them at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19.
So, as you can see, much remains the same, but much has needed to be adapted. Our goal is to provide opportunities for students to develop their overall health and well-being through athletics and after school activities, and to support the athletic aspirations of our students for whom a specific sport is an integral part of their identity.
With the aforementioned announcement from CHSAA, we have the clarity we need to move forward. An important step in this process is for each student to complete the survey below to indicate the preference for a fall sport or activity. We will do our best to offer all of the options listed above, but please note that this is dependent upon sufficient student interest.
Finally, I’m excited to share that we are working to plan an opportunity for all students, faculty and staff to participate in some sort of Intramural Olympics that would take place before departing for break in November. This could involve any number of sports and activities with a focus on fun and providing a positive, community-building experience to bookend our time together this fall. Naturally, there are many details to work through and I want to be clear that this would be implemented in a manner that does not compromise the ability of our single-sport athletes to train as outlined above. That said, I suspect that they will want to be a part of it and we will work to include as many faculty, staff, and students as possible.
Once again, I’d like to express my enthusiasm for the work we will do together this fall and in the years ahead. Amidst the challenges we face with COVID-19, I also see ample opportunity for growth both in our students and in our programs. I firmly believe that we may come away from this season with valuable insight gleaned from breaking our routine. This is the case in athletic training and in life, and further reinforces the importance of maintaining the growth mindset that is at the heart of our students’ success in academics and in life.
As with all aspects of the School, this is our plan right now, knowing what we know and this could change tomorrow, next week, or in the months ahead. I am certain that you will have questions about what has been shared here and I look forward to connecting with you to answer any questions you may have.
Students- please complete the survey below by Friday, August 14 even if you have already indicated your preference through a coach or in another way.
Thank you,
Steve Tulleners
Director of Athletics
Fountain Valley School
