Dear FVS Community,

The FVS COVID Task Force meets weekly to discuss the current landscape and evaluate policies in place to support the health and well-being of our community. This committee’s focus has been to keep the FVS community safe with the goal of maintaining in-person learning. Since our return in January, the positivity rate and number of COVID cases in El Paso County has dropped significantly, and I’m excited to share a few updates that I hope will be welcome news.

Our weekly COVID testing of all employees and students is going well and has only yielded one positive case thus far, which was identified more than a month ago and communicated immediately. It is our intention to provide periodic updates such as this regarding testing; however, any positive cases identified in our community and the measures we are taking in response will be shared in a timely fashion as we have done thus far. 

Our Community Council leaders serve as a voice for the student body, and we have heard consistently from them that opportunities for day and boarding students to connect outside of classes and lunch provide important social and emotional support and have a positive effect on fostering a sense of community. Last weekend’s Spirit Olympics Celebration was a great test run and provided clear evidence of the value of these expanded opportunities for interaction. 

As a result of the changes to the local COVID landscape, starting on Friday, February 12, the dining hall will be open to all students, both day and boarding, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as weekend brunches. All students are expected to follow the current requirements for mask-wearing, distancing, and limiting table occupancy to no more than four people.  

Day students will also have access to campus on weekends following the schedule below. 

While on campus, day students may participate in activities, eat in the dining room, utilize the Campus Center, and enjoy scheduled open gym hours. Please note that residence halls remain open ONLY to students who reside in each dorm.  

Day students must have their temperature taken upon arrival to campus. During the week this will take place in the Campus Center. On weekends, temperatures will be taken in the Dining Hall until 12:30 p.m. and then in the Campus Center. 

School employees in Colorado became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, February 8. Many of our employees have already received invitations to schedule appointments this week, and in the coming weeks, all employees at FVS will have the opportunity to receive the first of a two-dose vaccine followed by a second dose at the prescribed interval. Under the current schedule, it is unlikely that students will be eligible to receive the vaccine in Colorado during this school year; however, we will communicate any changes in a timely manner should this change. 

The vaccines approved in the U.S. are still very new, and it is not yet known what effect the vaccine will have on an individual's ability to carry and spread COVID. As a result, regardless of whether one is vaccinated or not, all members of our community must continue to wear masks, maintain distance, and wash or sanitize their hands frequently. 

The COVID Task Force regularly discusses requests from students for participation in off-campus athletics and after school activities, and while the recent data trends are hopeful, no changes have been made at this time to our policies. We will continue to revisit these requests at our weekly meetings and communicate any changes in a timely manner. 

I hope this message brings welcome news, and while it may prompt us all to feel a bit of cautious optimism, it is important that we remain vigilant and continue the practices and precautions that have helped to keep our community safe. The COVID Task Force will continue to monitor the landscape and make appropriate adjustments as needed and as deemed safe.  

Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. 

Sincerely,

Dean of Students

Fountain Valley School 

6155 Fountain Valley School Rd.

Colorado Springs, CO 80911