Dear FVS Community,
I’m writing to share information about a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the FVS community and the School’s response. Last night, an employee informed us that they had tested positive for COVID-19. Following protocols of the COVID-19 Response Plan we have developed in partnership with El Paso County Department of Health (EPCDH,) we immediately began contact tracing to identify primary contacts and establish a timeline for the 14-day quarantine required by the County.
12 students and one adult met the criteria for primary contacts, which include being in close proximity to an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 for a cumulative 15 minutes or longer within the 48 hours prior to or after the onset of symptoms. The date of exposure was Tuesday, October 27, and all primary contacts have been moved into quarantine until November 11, which is 14 days from the point of last contact. The boarding students in this group are in a residence hall that we have reserved exclusively for quarantines such as this. Day students and the adults in the group will quarantine in their homes. All will participate in classes via distance learning.
The School is working with the EPCDH to actively manage the situation. Members of the Health Center Team, administration, and faculty are in close contact with the individuals in quarantine and their families to ensure that they are taken care of and fully supported. These individuals are being monitored closely for any COVID-19 symptoms and will be tested if warranted according to the protocols established by the EPCDH. In the event of any further diagnoses among the group in quarantine, we may need to expand and or modify quarantine.
I understand that this news may be unsettling and prompt many questions. It is our intention to provide as much clarity as we are able, and please remember that we are limited in what we can share by HIPPA privacy laws. I hope that you will find reassurance like I do in the fact that this is the third case of COVID that we have had in our community, which is a relatively small number, and that we have successfully contained the previous two through quick, expeditious, and thorough responses.
We are three weeks away from our goal of maintaining in-person learning through Fall Break and we are, in fact, doing well. With rapidly rising case counts outside our gates, several schools in the region, including both public and private, have been forced into distance learning and school-wide quarantines as a result of unchecked spread of COVID-19. Our positive outcomes and path forward are a direct result of strict adherence to our Community Commitment. I’m proud of the effort we’ve put forth and believe wholeheartedly in our ability to make it to November 20.
As always, take care, stay safe, and be well.
Sincerely,
William Webb
Head of School
Fountain Valley School of Colorado
6155 Fountain Valley School Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80911
