Dear FVS Community,

We’ve reached the middle of our second week of quarantine and received critical data points in the results of Monday’s COVID testing. Today’s message is admittedly dense and contains a number of important details about quarantine end dates, return to in-person learning, Commencement, and the end of the year. Please read through this entire message carefully, respond where needed, and then reach out with any questions. While we may not yet have all of the answers you seek, I hope that the details contained herein will address the majority of them, and I want to thank you for your patience while we’ve worked through the details. 

 

Since Monday, we have added two individuals to the 24 listed previously for a total of 26 people being monitored on and off campus. Our Monday testing identified one new positive on campus, and one with an individual who is quarantining off campus. Otherwise we have no additional positives or symptomatic individuals. Both positive cases link back to positives identified through contact tracing, and therefore these results are not unexpected. Of those in our care, we are seeing solid progress. 

 

The duration of our current quarantine was established based on initial contact tracing and, as we communicated previously, would possibly be extended based on new developments. The purpose of this current quarantine has been to establish smaller cohorts to reduce the possibility of widespread transmission and it has worked as designed. Because of exposure to subsequent cases that have been identified within residence hall cohorts, we must extend quarantine as follows to meet the requirement of 14 days from date of last exposure. The dates listed next to each residence hall indicate when students in each cohort will be released from quarantine.

 

 

Boarding students who are off campus may return beginning May 9. Students who reside in Sinclaire may return on May 12 at the conclusion of that quarantine. 

 

Before returning, boarding students who are off campus must complete the Quarantine Return Questionnaire, and, depending on the details of their time away, may need to quarantine upon return to campus. Please complete the questionnaire linked above by Friday, May 7. 

 

Because of the number of variables arising from the different quarantine end dates, classes will remain virtual through the end of next week and in-person learning will resume on Monday, May 10. Students in Sinclaire will return to in-person learning on May 12. Day student buses will begin running again the morning of May 10 following the normal schedule. 

 

A schedule for next week’s virtual learning will be sent to faculty and students by the end of this week. We have also received many inquiries about final exams and our Academic Programs Team has been meeting regularly to discuss how we may conclude the second semester without creating additional anxiety and added stress. Further details will be shared in the coming week; however, at this point, our plan is to not have final exams. The APT is currently working on guidelines for faculty and a schedule for the week that was previously allocated for final exams. 

AP tests scheduled for next week will not take place due to the extension of virtual learning. AP tests scheduled for the week of May 10 will take place. Online makeup tests for those that are missed will be administered at a later date. The College Counseling Office will be in touch with those students in the coming days. 

 

Testing for all students and employees will take place on campus Monday, May 10. Students remaining off campus must arrange for weekly PCR testing in their location and report results to nurses@fvs.edu. 

Our current situation has provided a real time test for those vaccinated, and I’m happy to report that the vaccine has been effective within our community. I want to reiterate that the School will assist with coordinating logistics for any eligible student who has made arrangements to receive vaccination. Please do not, however, schedule any vaccination appointments for boarding students on campus until their quarantine has concluded. I want to add that we are working on the possibility of having a mobile vaccination clinic visit campus. 

Though we do not require vaccination of students or employees, I would like to encourage all who are eligible to evaluate the data for themselves and consider making arrangements to be vaccinated. As we have recently seen with the new guidance from the CDC, being vaccinated will likely afford liberties to those individuals that may not be available to others. 

Any student who has been vaccinated is asked to send a copy of their vaccination card to the Health Center at nurses@fvs.edu so that we may add it to their confidential medical records. 

Locally, the COVID landscape has changed such that both incidence and positivity have been on the rise. As we move out of quarantine, we will follow our most conservative risk management protocols, similar to those in place when we returned to campus in January. Our goal is to maintain in-person learning and options for end-of-year traditions like Commencement, and these changes are made with that in mind. We will communicate further details in the coming days. 

 

Along with the many logistical details related to our current day to day operations, we are simultaneously working on details about Baccalaureate and Commencement, and how recent developments may impact our current plans. 

Our intention remains to hold Baccalaureate and Commencement in-person here on campus. We have shifted the focus to providing a robust and memorable experience for our seniors and their families, while working to ensure the safety of our underclassmen. The following is our plan for these ceremonies and the departure of students from campus. 

 

I understand that this message contains a lot of information, and that it may generate many questions about the details of the coming weeks. As with all things these days, we are doing our best to work through it all one step at a time, one day at a time, and that all of our decisions are driven first and foremost by the health and well being of our community. Thank you for your patience, and please look for further communications between now and Friday. 

 

In the meantime, as always, please take good care, stay safe, and be well. 

 

Sincerely, 

Head of School

Fountain Valley School

6155 Fountain Valley School Road 

Colorado Springs, CO 80911