Dear FVS Community, 
 
Greetings from the Prairie! Unseasonably warm weather has afforded abundant opportunities to make the most of the natural environment as we work toward the conclusion of distance learning this semester and prepare for the return to campus for the second semester. And while it is certainly serene here on campus, the absence of students is palpable, and we are very much looking forward to their return in January, which is the focus of today’s update. 
 
I’m writing to share important information about a change to the timing of our return to campus for students, which will now take place between January 9-11, as well as details about the revised second semester calendar and program enhancements that we’ve made in response to takeaways from the first semester and the current COVID landscape. 
 
I understand that the timing of this information will require adjustments to travel plans, and it is our hope that the move away from a peak holiday period may possibly open up more convenient options. 
 
Thank you in advance for your attention to the many details contained herein. I encourage you to revisit this message throughout the coming weeks to ensure that you are fully apprised of the expectations and have ample opportunity to seek clarity should the need arise. In the short term, please take your time through the weekend to thoroughly read this communication before responding as it likely includes answers to many questions you may have. We will continue to communicate directly with you through email and update the COVID-19 Plan on our website accordingly. 
 
In this Message: 
  • The Current COVID Landscape and Our Response
  • Return to Campus Timeline & Logistics
  • January Quarantine
  • Meals During Quarantine
  • Enhanced COVID Testing
  • First Semester Takeaways
  • Goals and Priorities Moving Forward
  • Second Semester Calendar & Activities
  • Closed Campus and Access to Campus
  • Interim
  • Athletics
  • Participation in Off-Campus Activities
  • Revisiting our Commitment to Community
 
The Current COVID Landscape and Our Response
At this time last year, news began to spread of a novel coronavirus in Asia, which soon thereafter migrated to the United States. Over the past year, we have seen the incidence of COVID-19 grow at a fairly consistent rate in the U.S.; however, in early November, that rate of growth began to increase significantly. A spike in cases aligned with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is now beginning to emerge and indicates that many people chose not to heed cautionary calls to limit gatherings to those within their household. In the coming weeks, winter holiday celebrations are predicted to sustain if not compound this recent precipitous growth and as a result we believe that it is advisable to make adjustments to our January schedule. 
 
The School’s COVID-19 Task Force has been meeting regularly to assess risk and update plans based on what we learned this fall and data trends of the current COVID landscape. As indicated above, we have chosen to move our return to campus for students to January 9-11. The recent surge in cases on a national level has prompted us to reevaluate our second semester timeline in order to provide a buffer between holiday celebrations and our return to campus. Similarly, organizations like CHSAA and other educational institutions throughout the country have reassessed their plans and pushed their timelines in a similar fashion. This will allow a longer period of time for symptoms to manifest in the event that anyone is exposed during the holidays, and will also allow those traveling back to campus to do so during a period of lower volume and hopefully lower risk. 
 
Return to Campus Timeline & Logistics
Our return to campus will follow the revised timeline below. The goal is to establish a COVID-free cohort among the FVS community so that we may begin in-person learning from a safe baseline and sustain it through Commencement. The two key elements of our plan are a coordinated period of quarantine and COVID testing that will take place at the beginning and end of this 14-day period and then regularly throughout the semester. Details on these two aspects of our plan follow this section of the message. 
 
  • Jan. 7- COVID testing for all employees
  • Jan. 9-11- Boarding students return to campus
  • Jan. 11- COVID testing on campus for all day and boarding students
  • Jan. 11- 14-day quarantine begins; day students quarantine at home following COVID test and boarding students quarantine as cohorts by residence halls 
  • Jan. 12- Distance learning begins
  • Jan. 13- Ongoing COVID testing for all employees begins
  • Jan. 21- Second COVID test administered to all students 
  • Jan. 25- In-person learning begins
  • Jan. 27- Ongoing COVID testing for all students begins
 
Boarding students may arrive between January 9-11 and plans must be communicated in advance and coordinated through the Deans’ Office by contacting deansoffice@fvs.edu and updating travel plans in REACH. Though parents are welcome to accompany students to campus, like this fall, parents must remain outside all school buildings, and only residents will be permitted to enter residence halls. 
  
Airport shuttles from DIA and COS will be available and also arranged through the Deans’ Office. Students must wear a mask while in school vehicles, and shuttles will be organized in a manner to maximize physical distancing. Please email deansoffice@fvs.edu with questions or to request a shuttle from the airport. 
 
In the event that a member of our community experiences ANY symptoms of COVID or believes that they may have been exposed, we ask that you remain at home until cleared to return by the School’s Health Center together with any outside physicians involved. 
 
January Quarantine 
All students will undergo a 14-day quarantine between January 11-24 during which they will attend classes through distance learning. Please note that the recent guidance from the CDC on 7-10 day quarantines does not apply to our residential setting and community per current guidance from the El Paso County Department of Health. In addition, regardless of arrival date, all students will quarantine until Jan. 24. We are in the process of seeking guidance from the El Paso County Department of Health to determine whether those who have had COVID must quarantine and will communicate those details at a later date.
 
Boarding students will quarantine as cohorts in their residence halls and day students will quarantine at home. Please note that all boarding students must quarantine on campus and anyone arriving after the 11th may not return to their residence hall until they have completed a 14-day quarantine in one of the residence halls reserved for quarantines. 
 
For boarding students, quarantine will be slightly different from the August quarantine as they will be in their own rooms and with their roommate if they are in a double room. While in quarantine, students will be required to wear masks at all times unless they are in their own room and may not visit other students’ rooms. Students may gather in the common areas so long as they are wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing. Each residence hall will also have a designated outdoor space that students may utilize, and regular supervised outdoor time and activities will be provided each day. In addition, as able, faculty with free periods will provide additional opportunities for students to get outside. 
 
Meals During Quarantine 
Our First Semester precautionary quarantines identified opportunities for growth, and we have accordingly made adjustments to better support students during this period. In particular, we received significant feedback regarding choice and quantity of food. Our Dining Hall team has been working diligently to incorporate the many requests and suggestions offered by our community. Three meals each day will be served to students who will pick them up from the Dining Hall or other location and then return to their residence halls to eat in their rooms. We are working to implement solutions that will allow students to order in advance from a variety of options and also specify quantity to ensure that food waste is minimized. In addition, the Deans' Office is surveying students to help inform menu offerings and we will offer more frequent “dorm dash” deliveries.  
 
Enhanced COVID Testing
FVS has partnered with COVID Check Colorado to implement testing of our entire community during the January quarantine and then on a recurring basis that will test half of the community each week throughout the second semester and thus the entire community every other week. All testing will be done on campus by Health Center staff and processed via PCR at an off-site lab. This represents a very positive development for our community, but it is important to remember that testing does not identify all positive cases and thus is not a failsafe, standalone approach. Our testing program will continue to be one part of a multifaceted plan to risk management to help ensure the safety and well-being of our community. The timeline for testing will be as follows. 
 
  • All employees- Jan. 7
  • All day and boarding students- Jan. 11*
  • Ongoing testing for all employees begins- Jan. 13
  • All day and boarding students- Jan. 21*
  • Ongoing testing for all students begins- Jan. 27
 
*Day students must come to campus on Jan. 11 and Jan. 21 to be tested for COVID. Further details will be communicated closer to these dates. 
 
First Semester Takeaways 
We’ve learned a tremendous amount over the past few months—about COVID, about learning in a blended environment, and about our own needs and vulnerabilities both as human beings and as a community.

  • We learned that our students were indeed able to rise to the challenges set forth in our Community Commitment and protect themselves and each other as COVID raged around us. 
  • We learned that obstacles often result in opportunity, and we saw our faculty deliver creative adaptations of curriculum and programs that made the most of a blended learning environment and that resulted in real, meaningful growth.
  • We learned that the pace of distance learning is different and that we need to continue to adapt our daily and weekly schedules to be sustainable in the long haul. 
  • We learned that quarantines work in stemming the spread of the virus, but that isolation and uncertainty can be detrimental to the mind, body, and spirit if not managed properly. 
  • We learned that our community does not define itself by whether we live on campus or off, and that inclusive social activities can play a powerful role in helping maintain our physical and mental well-being.
  • We learned that testing can be effective in identifying asymptomatic cases and confirming suspected, but that it is neither an absolute safety net nor 100% reliable and must be part of an integrated, comprehensive risk management plan. 
  • We learned that we must be vigilant, without fail, at all times, because the consequences of letting our guard down are immediate, swift, and far-reaching. 
 
All of this, as well as many other more granular insights, yields our biggest takeaway—the incredible power of just simply being together in this place and the value of human connection. The second semester represents a reset and another opportunity to sustain this privilege. And like all of the hard-fought gains of the first semester, this will require that we reaffirm our Community Commitment and remain vigilant until the tide of COVID recedes. 
 
Goals and Priorities
Our priorities moving forward remain centered on providing the predictability and support of an in-person experience for our students, their families, and our employees. Taking into account the lessons learned in the first semester, the following will be our three primary priorities:

  1. Sustaining safe in-person learning
  2. Creating safe, robust residential life and cultural enrichment opportunities on and off campus that include all students 
  3. Positioning our community to safely weather the challenges that lie ahead while also preparing to leverage positive developments when the situation improves
 
Second Semester Calendar & Activities
The calendar below reflects several major dates and events that punctuate the second semester to assist with long-term planning. Please note that all dates are subject to change. 
 
  • Jan. 9-11: Boarding students return to campus
  • Jan. 11: COVID testing on campus for all day and boarding students
  • Jan. 12: Distance learning & 3rd Quarter begins
  • Jan. 18: MLK Day- distance learning & celebration of Dr. King
  • Jan. 21: COVID testing on campus for all day and boarding students
  • Jan. 25: In-person classes begin
  • Feb. 3: Unity Day
  • Feb 6-8: 3-day weekend
  • Feb. 26-Mar. 1: 4-day weekend
  • Mar. 12: Interim planning day
  • Mar 13-19: Interim
  • Mar. 24: 4th Quarter begins
  • Apr. 21: Earth Day activities
  • May 17-20: Senior Seminar
  • May 18-20: Final Exams
  • May 21: Baccalaureate
  • May 22: Commencement
 
As announced earlier this year, Spring Break will not occur as it traditionally would, and instead, we will conclude the school year one week earlier and distribute at least seven days of rest into the semester. These days include the long weekends reflected above, as well as additional days to be determined based on opportunities and the needs of our community. 
 
In addition, we also recognize that blocks of time without structured activities may provide only a pause, and not necessarily the rejuvenating and refreshing break from routine that is intended. With that in mind, in addition to existing programs such as Unity Day, Interim, Earth Day, and Senior Seminar, we are working to develop “days of difference” that will leverage opportunities on and off campus for all students to take part in structured community activities. Examples could include ski trips and other recreational outings if safely possible, days of service learning, or visits to cultural destinations such as the Olympic Museum that have offered exclusive access to their facilities. 
 
And finally, another important insight gleaned from the first semester was the importance of inclusive weekend activities. Thanks to the generosity of members of our community both past and present, we were able to safely enjoy trips to Wishing Star Farm, Kimball's Peak Movie Theatre, and the Broadmoor Zipline course. We will continue to seek out and cultivate opportunities such as these and others like our “dorm dash” program and on campus activities facilitated by our faculty to enrich the student life experience for both boarding and day students. 
 
Access to Campus
FVS will continue to operate as a “closed” campus meaning that any visits must be pre-arranged and will be managed accordingly to mitigate risk. At this point in time, Boarding students are expected to remain on campus with the exception of school-organized outings. While we understand that “life happens,” in most cases, boarding students who leave campus will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon return in one of the residence halls set aside for this purpose and attend classes through distance learning. Parents are welcome to visit students on campus with coordination through the Deans’ Office, and all visits must take place outdoors or in an approved indoor setting when weather is not conducive to being outside. 
 
Interim
With the shift of arrival date, Interim will now take place from March 13-19. As shared earlier this week, the changing COVID-19 landscape may impact our ability to travel and may require that we avoid contact with those outside of the FVS community. While Interim is still months away and we do not know what the situation will be in March, we have started looking at contingencies in the event that we are unable to travel or if conditions dictate that we change other elements of our plans. It is, however, still too early to make a determination either way and we need your patience and support as we monitor the situation. We will communicate any changes to Interim by the end of the second week in January, and no billing will take place until then. In the meantime, please know that Interim will happen and that the School is 100% committed to providing a robust and enriching educational experience, whether in our local region or in another state. 
 
Athletics
Earlier this year, CHSAA realigned the traditional athletic seasons in response to the challenges presented by competitive sports this fall. This week, CHSAA announced further realignment of the seasons, and in particular, a later start to Season B, as a result of the recent spike in COVID-19 metrics. Because of the unpredictability of this landscape, we are focused on Season B for now, which will run from Jan. 25-Mar. 20 and includes Boys and Girls Basketball and Girls Swimming and Diving. At this point, we do not have clarity about whether current Red-Level Restrictions in El Paso County will permit participating in competitions with other schools. Participation in any competitions, as well as our ability to host competitions—CHSAA or otherwise—will be evaluated on a case by case basis moving forward.  
 
Similar to the fall, we plan to offer the following intramural athletic and after school activities for winter to provide robust recreational opportunities in support of our community’s health and well-being. Students will receive a survey in the coming weeks to indicate preference. 
  • Boys Basketball
  • Girls Basketball
  • Climbing 
  • Swimming 
  • Futsal 
  • Strength and Conditioning
  • Recreational Sports 
  • English Riding 
  • Western Riding 
  • All Mountain Skiing & Snowboarding
  • Box Lacrosse 
  • Yearbook
  • Theatre
  • Tech Theatre

Participation in Off-Campus Activities
The School will continue its current policy regarding alternative sport and off-campus activities evaluating each request on a case by case basis. Students wishing to engage in off-campus activities must submit an application for consideration to Athletic Director, Steve Tulleners at stulleners@fvs.edu, that includes the following:

  1. Documents, procedures, and COVID-19 operational guidelines provided by activity leadership. Please find an example of these materials here and here.
  2. Expected participation schedule including all travel locations.

Proposals are reviewed by the School’s COVID-19 Task Force during bi-weekly meetings. Our goal is to be proactive in maintaining a safe environment on campus AND to support the diverse interests and passions of our students whenever possible. 

If a student chooses to participate in one of these activities without authorization from the School, they will be required to attend FVS virtually, from their home. This includes club and other sports, and participation in programs through other schools, as well as after school activities where a student must leave campus and interact with individuals outside of the FVS community and their family on a regular basis.
 
Revisiting our Commitment to Community
I want to close with an acknowledgement of all that we accomplished this fall and offer sincere gratitude for the herculean effort put forth by our students, faculty, staff, and families. While we certainly faced struggles, the collective commitment of our community sustained in-person learning well into a surge of COVID and within just a couple of weeks of our target. In doing so, as noted earlier in this message, we learned a tremendous amount—about COVID, about learning in a blended environment, and about our own needs and vulnerabilities both as human beings and as a community. 
 
It is now time to put this knowledge to work. As we embark on this second phase of the school year, we will revisit our Community Commitment, excerpts of which are included below. We are asking all students and employees to reaffirm their commitment to our community by reading and reflecting on these words, completing an acknowledgement of their commitment, and then putting them into action each and every day. 
 
“We have an extraordinary opportunity ahead of us to learn, live and work together and to benefit from the social-emotional support of being in close proximity to others when so many others have and continue to experience crushing isolation.”
 
“Your actions and those of the people with whom you live and socialize will have a profound impact on the lives of the hundreds of individuals that comprise the FVS community.” 
 
“Our situation can change overnight as a result of just one person letting their guard down—even if only momentarily—and thus jeopardizing all that we have.” 
 
As a member of the Fountain Valley School community, I commit to:
  • Strictly adhering to the School’s Health and Well-Being Protocols and responding respectfully to reminders to do so. These include but are not limited to: wearing a mask, maintaining physical distancing, washing my hands, practicing good hygiene, and avoiding large gatherings—both on campus AND if I am off campus.
  • Learning about the ways in which COVID-19 is transmitted and being proactive to minimize my risk of exposure and the risk of exposing others.
  • Monitoring my health closely, reporting any symptoms honestly and immediately to the FVS Health Center, and following their instructions.
  • Adhering to all quarantine and/or isolation requirements from the School.
  • Making smart choices about where I go, what I do, and those with whom I interact—both on campus AND if I am off campus.
  • Supporting those around me as we rise to these challenges together, and similarly, I commit to seeking help when I need it. 
 
I hope that in reading these words, you may now see them in a different light and benefit from the perspective granted by hindsight. I also hope that, like me, you are inspired by what seems to be imminent F.D.A. approval of our first vaccine, and that this news will serve as revitalization of your resolve to do the work that needs to be done to beat COVID. We can do this and we will do this, together, and I am looking forward to taking each step along the way side by side with you. 
 
I am excited for us all to be back together here on the Prairie in January and, until then, take good care, stay safe, and be well. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
William Webb
Head of School 
Fountain Valley School
6155 Fountain Valley School Road 
Colorado Springs, CO 80911