Dear FVS Community, 

Greetings from the first official week of classes for FVSV! All reports indicate that things are running smoothly and I am sure that both our students and teachers will enjoy the predictability and support of our return to routine. 

Last Friday, I was able to drop in on a number of virtual classrooms and what I witnessed was heartwarming. In addition to the necessary work of establishing guidelines for virtual classes, much of this time was spent indulging the overwhelming concern for each other that our community is experiencing. It was wonderful to hear laughter, see smiles, and listen as others shared their experiences. And, it was also abundantly clear that our students may, and likely will, need our support more than ever as we move forward. Thus, as we work to finetune FVSV and delivery of our academic program, we are also ramping up efforts to ensure that the social-emotional needs of students are equally supported. More on this below. 

In this message: 
  • FVSV Feedback and Fine-Tuning
  • Long Range Planning
  • Supporting the Social-Emotional Needs of Students

FVSV Feedback and Fine-Tuning
Over the past two weeks, we’ve developed and delivered a virtual platform for learning that is facilitating synchronous and asynchronous connections by students spread out across the globe. We have learned a lot, and our technology department has done outstanding work troubleshooting and identifying solutions. Likewise, we know that we will experience challenges delivering academic content online, and will work through those, too. Our goal is the best possible outcome and experience for the students, and we are working tirelessly toward that end each day. Our success relies on timely, targeted feedback from all members of the community, including parents. I encourage parents and students to engage in routine dialogue to check in and identify needs for support. Please direct feedback to either your child’s adviser or to department chairs, who are listed below. 


Long Range Planning
We continue to assess when and if it will be safe and prudent to return to campus. Please expect updates in the coming weeks as we await further guidance from state and national authorities, and thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to make an intentional, informed decision. Similarly, we continue to look into financial implications of a prolonged virtual learning model. However, to do so, we need clarity about how we will finish out the year that we do not have at this time. As with the evaluation of Interim, we will work diligently to best support the School, attend to our employees, and honor our partnership with families.

Supporting the Social-Emotional Needs of Students
In the weeks ahead, our students will likely experience a range of emotions, some with which they will be prepared to manage, and others that might catch them, and potentially the adults around them, unprepared to address. Please know that School Counselor, Jennifer Grubb, is available to counsel students through virtual 1:1 connections, but also available for consultation with parents and faculty about how to help support students as they process and manage change. Appointments with Mrs. Grubb may be scheduled using this link. In addition, she will hold a community forum for parents next Tuesday, April 14 from 6-7 p.m. MDT, which will be an opportunity for parents to share experiences and have questions answered about how best to support the psychological and emotional needs of students. Please look for additional details about how to join this meeting later this week. In advance, please email any questions to Mrs. Grubb at jgrubb@fvs.edu.

As I’ve noted several times over the past few weeks, we are blazing a trail together into the unknown. And while virtual learning is by no means new, and we have the experiences of others and best practices established by experts to guide us, it is new to FVS amidst this landscape and a significant change for our students. As such, it is critical that we approach the situation with empathy and patience and that we seek to understand each other so that we may communicate with clarity and candor and move forward, together. Thank you for your patience, faith, and partnership to date, and moving forward as well. Please know it is greatly appreciated.  

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