Dear FVS Families,
Classes have wrapped up for the first semester and Winter Break is officially here! I’m writing with a quick follow up to last week’s communication, which included a detailed plan for the Second Semester. If you have not done so already, I encourage you to read through last week’s email thoroughly as it contains many details that will be critical to our success.
Return to Campus
Among the most urgent updates in last week’s message was that boarding students will return to campus a week later between January 9-11 in advance of a 14-day quarantine between January 11-24 when boarding students will quarantine by cohorts in their residence halls and day students will quarantine at home. Classes will take place via distance learning during this period and in-person learning will resume on January 25. Boarding students need to communicate updated travel plans to the Deans’ Office ASAP by emailing deansoffice@fvs.edu if they have not done so already. To aid in the many logistics involved, we ask that boarding students plan travel so that they arrive on campus between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. if possible.
Quarantine Exemption
Over the past week, we have been in close contact with the El Paso County Department of Health to determine if those who have recovered from COVID are exempt from quarantine. Any student who has been diagnosed with COVID via PCR test within the 90 days preceding January 11 is exempt from quarantine and does not need to be tested in the January 11 round of COVID tests. A copy of test results must be provided to the Health Center at nurses@fvs.edu. The presence of antibodies or a diagnosis made via rapid tests does not satisfy this requirement. Any student who meets the criteria for exemption may remain at home throughout the distance learning period and return to campus for the start of in-person learning on January 25. Please note that any boarding students who are exempt from quarantine and who arrive in advance of the evening of January 24 will need to participate in any remaining period of quarantine with the other members of their residence halls. Any boarding students not exempt from quarantine who arrive after January 11 will quarantine in North or South Perry for 14 days from the date of their arrival.
January 11 Testing
All day and boarding students will be tested on campus on January 11 unless they are exempt as noted above. Details will be communicated at a later date, and day students should plan to be on campus for testing during the morning of January 11.
The Weeks Ahead
I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together as a community during the first semester. We’ve overcome significant challenges and I’ve seen our Core Values admirably embodied in our students and employees every day. The result has been apparent in all areas of our program—academics, arts, athletics, and otherwise—and it is all the more meaningful given the extraordinary circumstances. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I sincerely hope that the weeks ahead will provide a much-needed break and the opportunity to share precious time with family and others who are near and dear to our hearts. We have what we believe is a solid plan in place to ensure a safe return to in-person learning, and I want to reiterate how important it is that we all make smart choices between now and our return to campus. Further updates will be communicated as needed and likely will begin the week of January 4.
I hope the holiday season now underway has brought you joy, happiness, and peace and will continue to do so in the weeks ahead.
As always, 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
