Dear Fountain Valley School Community,
I write to share an update on our work underway following the cancellation of Interim and in preparation for the potential impacts of COVID-19. First, thank you for your patience and understanding as we move through the challenges we are facing as a community, nation, and globe. It is understandable that there is frustration, anger, and disappointment in the cancellation of Interim, and we appreciate your partnership moving forward in helping all to understand the severity of this evolving situation.
This letter includes information about:
- the financial implications of cancelling Interim and the work the school is doing to secure refunds
- plans for next week and spring break
- health and hygiene best practices, and ways that we can work together to ensure the safety of our community when we return from spring break
Financial Implications
The school has been working diligently to recoup money already paid for Interim. As soon as we have clarity, we will follow up with information about refunds. As you can imagine, the logistics of Interim include many layers ranging from global airlines to individual Airbnb operators, all of whom are inundated by similar requests and thus slow to respond. We are nonetheless pushing hard for timely responses and reconsideration of cancellation policies in light of these extenuating circumstances. In some cases, it has taken multiple attempts to obtain the outcome we desire, and persistence and patience are beginning to pay off. We appreciate your patience as we work through these details and will continue to update the community in a timely manner moving forward.
Next Week and Spring Break
The Deans’ Office, together with our faculty and staff, have stepped up to plan an enviable “staycation” for students who will remain on campus for both the week ahead and spring break. This includes activities such as indoor skydiving and a Denver Nuggets basketball game among others, as well as evening dinner excursions to fun restaurants. Campus will remain staffed until Saturday, March 14 at noon and all boarding students are welcome to stay on campus free of charge until then. Campus will then be open for students who are unable to travel home following a previously agreed-upon financial arrangement. For students whose spring break plans have changed and who need to stay on campus, please contact the Deans’ Office as soon as able at
deansoffice@fvs.edu
.
Health and Hygiene
Travel Plans and Return to Campus
FVS is a global community and COVID-19 is a global concern. Over the next three weeks, students, faculty, and staff will be traveling around the globe during spring break. Naturally, this prompts concerns about the potential for members of our community to be exposed to COVID-19 and bring the virus back to campus. In the coming weeks, the school will be reaching out to collect detailed information about the locations that our community members will visit while away from campus. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and transparency. In addition, the school is developing protocols for screening students and faculty in advance of their return to campus. Information will be communicated in the coming week.
I want to acknowledge that this is a lot of information to process. Thank you again for your patience and understanding as we move forward together through this uncharted territory. The strength of our community is our greatest asset as we confront these challenges, and I am grateful for your partnership. Take good care and be well.
Sincerely,
William Webb
Head of School
Fountain Valley School of Colorado
6155 Fountain Valley School Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80911
