Dear FVS Community, 

Winter has returned to the FVS campus. It’s been snowing steadily and though there is little accumulation on the ground, it makes days like Saturday, when it was near 70 degrees, all the more enjoyable. Our idyllic climate will resume later this week, but Colorado’s mercurial weather provides a good reminder of the seasonality of all things, and the hope found therein. 

Today begins week two of FVSV, and early reports indicate many successes, but also some areas where we can, and will, improve. Thus, much of our work this week will focus on incorporating feedback from students, faculty, and parents as we continue to evolve this nascent learning environment. 

In this message: 
  • FVSV Feedback
  • Join Us! - Parent Forum on Social-Emotional Health
  • Long Range Planning
  • 2020-21 Housing Update 

FVSV Feedback
Thank you to those who have contacted department chairs and advisers to share feedback, which ranges from broad observations about balancing school and family life, to subject-specific challenges created by the virtual learning environment. Tomorrow, our academic departments will meet to discuss the areas of growth that have been identified in the past week, but also to share information among peers about what’s worked well. Parent and student partnership is critical as we make refinements, and I encourage all of you to continue dialogue with advisers and department chairs. Please know that your insights are much appreciated and valued and will be put to good use as we work to create a consistent experience across our virtual campus and provide predictability and support for our students.  

Join Us! - Parent Forum on Social-Emotional Health
Join FVS Director of Counseling, Jennifer Grubb, Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. MDT for a virtual forum focused on how parents can support the social-emotional needs of students. This will be an opportunity to hear from Mrs. Grubb, but also for parents to connect with each other to seek and share advice. If you have specific questions that you’d like to discuss, please submit them in advance to: jgrubb@fvs.edu .

The event will take place via Google Meet using the link below. You may access the meeting via web browser on a laptop or desktop computer with a camera and microphone, or through the Google “Hangouts Meet App” on a smartphone. Please note that this is different from the “Hangouts” App, also from Google.

The meeting will open 10 minutes before the start so that you may test your connection. 


Long Range Planning
We continue to assess plans beyond the current April 26 horizon for state-mandated social distancing. I remain in close contact with the Governor’s office, and members of our administration team are communicating daily with local health officials and the School’s medical director. In the next week, we expect to have clarity on all the pieces that need to be considered as well as the financial implications so that we can make an intentional, informed decision that supports the School, attends to our employees, and honors our partnership with families. As soon as we do, we will communicate with each of you. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to move forward. 
 
2020-21 Housing Update 
In the spirit of looking ahead, I am excited to share that next fall we will be shifting to a new structure for residence halls that we believe will provide an enhanced experience for students in all grades. 9th and 10th graders will now live together, as will students in grades 11 and 12. In previous years, freshmen lived together for their first year at FVS and then moved into mixed-age residence halls. Many thanks to the Deans’ Office and our House Directors for their good work researching best practices and soliciting opinions from our community. Below are just a few of the benefits that we see to this move:

  • It allows 9th and 10th graders to have greater consistency in their experience in the first two years and build stronger foundations for success in boarding school
  • It allows 10th graders the opportunity to lead amongst their 9th-grade peers
  • It allows greater flexibility for all in housing assignments
 
Faculty and students have already been made aware of this decision and additional logistical details are forthcoming, first about the residential assistant application process and then instructions for indicating housing and roommate preferences. In the meantime, please contact the Deans’ Office at deansoffice@fvs.edu with any questions. 
 
Thanks and Praise
I hope you find these updates informative and helpful. I continue to encourage students and parents to reach out to advisers and department chairs not only with thoughts and concerns, but also with praise for the great work being done in and outside of our classrooms. Our community is working together at an incredibly high level and the words of encouragement go a long way toward keeping us all focused on our shared purpose and goal—to deliver the best possible outcome and educational experience for our students. I am personally very grateful for the good intentions, hard work, commitment, and partnership I see each day wherever I look - physically and virtually! 
 
As always, take good 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