Dear FVS Community,

As we launch FVSV, thus begins a significant new chapter in the proud history of our school. While life on the Prairie remains quiet, our virtual campus is bustling with the buzz of communication and collaboration as faculty connect through online meetings to plan and adapt curriculum in preparation for launch. We are excited, and we are ready.

In this message: 
  • Opt-out privacy policy
  • How parents can support virtual learning
  • Attendance expectations for virtual learning
  • Determining a date for return to campus 
  • A video message about the launch of FVSV

Opt-Out Privacy Policy
We have learned a lot in the past few weeks as we have built the FVSV platform, and we need to communicate an important update regarding consent for recording virtual classes. To support students who are unable to meet in real time, we will record video and audio of all synchronous classes. The School is adopting an “opt-out model” to support this new need for documentation and sharing. A copy of our Opt-Out Privacy Policy is below. Participation in synchronous meetings will be considered consent to record your child as a part of the class meeting. If you do not wish for your child to be recorded, please contact the Dean's Office at deansoffice@fvs.edu so that we may coordinate asynchronous participation and support for your child.

FVS Opt-Out Privacy Policy - In our new Fountain Valley School Virtual (FVSV) environment, we will be recording synchronous class sessions to enable students who are located in time zones significantly different from Colorado (i.e. outside the continental U.S.) to view those sessions. Students who participate in the synchronous class sessions may be recorded. By allowing your child to participate in a synchronous class session you are granting permission for your child to be videotaped and for that video recording to be accessed by faculty, staff, administrators, and other students enrolled in that class. Also, by allowing your child to participate in FVSV you are consenting to your child’s use of the various technology platforms necessary to produce FVSV, which include but are not limited to Google, G Suite for Education, and YouTube as well as those platforms’ policies. Finally, by allowing your child to participate in FVSV you consent to Fountain Valley School faculty, staff, and administrators accessing your child’s accounts on those technology platforms. 

Parent Support of Virtual Learning
As students transition to a new mode of learning and a new routine at home, parent partnership is more important than ever. FVS Learning Center Director Dorothy Strehl has put together suggestions for ways that parents can support virtual learning in the latest addition to the FVS Community Blog, which can be found here. This is the first in a series of posts written in response to the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19 and our transition to virtual learning.

Attendance & Tomorrow’s Schedule
One of the most important roles that you can play as a parent in support of our learning partnership is to ensure your child’s attendance. Students in the Continental U.S. are expected to attend synchronous classes as they occur in real time, unless their parents have communicated their desire to opt out per the policy above. Teachers will communicate schedules in advance for all synchronous meetings and will be taking attendance. Please note that daily class schedules may be accessed by students through Blackbaud. As a reminder, the schedule for Friday, April 3 will follow a different pattern so that all classes may meet in one day, and is as follows:

  • 8:35 a.m.- Advisory
  • 9:10 a.m.- A Block
  • 9:50 a.m.- B Block
  • 10:30 a.m.- C Block
  • 11:10 a.m.- D Block
  • 11:45 a.m.- Lunch
  • 12:35 p.m.- E Block
  • 1:15 p.m.- F Block
  • 1:55 p.m.- G Block
  • 2:35 p.m.- Music Block

Return to Campus
This week, Governor Polis extended the order suspending in-person classes for all Colorado schools until April 30. We continue to monitor the situation in order to make an informed, intentional decision about if and when it may be safe and prudent to reconvene on campus, as well as the implications for other spring events. Thank you for your patience and understanding thus far and please know that we will communicate in a timely manner as soon as decisions are made.

Thoughts as We Embark on This Journey 
In place of my usual closing, we’ve put together a video to celebrate who we are as a community and the confidence that I have in our ability to do great things together as we begin this exciting new chapter in FVS History.

Enjoy, and as always, take good care and be well.