Dear FVS Community,

We’re now just a little more than six weeks away from the finish of in-person classes for the first semester and by all measures, we’re doing great. Where many schools throughout the country have not been able to start or sustain in-person learning, we have been able to enjoy this privilege uninterrupted, thus far. This is a direct result of the collaborative, data-informed approach that has guided our planning together with the extraordinary commitment that you’ve all made to our community. Thank you! As we look ahead to the second semester, the power of in-person learning is abundantly clear and remains our top priority along with our obligation to ensure the safety of our community as guided by our partnership with the state and local departments of health.

This email details the plan we have created to ensure a safe return to campus and timely resumption of in-person learning. Please take time to read through this information thoroughly as it contains important details about changes to the second semester calendar that include:

  • Eliminating Spring Break as it typically would occur in order to avoid a two-week quarantine upon our return
  • Ending the school year one week earlier
  • Distributing a minimum of one week of rest days throughout the second semester as long weekends and midweek days off to ensure manageable pacing for both students and faculty

Fall Break Departure From Campus 
Students may depart from campus after their last obligation on Friday, November 20. Transportation to the airports will be available with details TBD. I believe we are all looking forward to a much needed, and well-deserved break in November. As you know, we will enjoy a week of rest during Fall Break and then resume classes via distance learning for two weeks before our longer Winter Break and the end of the first semester. Though our international students will have the ability to remain on campus, if needed, the majority of our students will depart campus and disperse to locations throughout the country and across the globe. And during this time, I also understand that many families will travel to visit loved ones for holiday and year-end celebrations. I want to acknowledge the importance of these traditions and the boost they may provide for our own mental health and well-being, and I also want to ask that we all remain mindful of mitigating risk and vigilant in our behavior to do so.

January Return to Campus and Quarantine
Our experience this fall indicates that our protocols and safeguards have been effective in keeping COVID-19 at bay thus far, but this is reliant upon establishing a COVID-free baseline. As planned, boarding students will return to campus during the first week of January with an arrival window of January 2-4. ALL BOARDING STUDENTS MUST BE ON CAMPUS BY JANUARY 4, at which point we will begin two weeks of quarantine. Boarding students will quarantine as cohorts in their residence halls, and day students will quarantine at home. We are tentatively scheduled to begin classes via distance learning on January 6 with in-person learning resuming Monday January 18. COVID-19 testing similar to that which we performed in August will take place during this period.

Second Semester Timeline
The following timeline achieves our goal of sustaining in-person learning and protecting the quarantine that we will establish by eliminating spring break, finishing school one week earlier than planned, and distributing scheduled days off throughout the second semester to provide sustainable pacing and predictable breaks for both students and faculty. These planned days off and breaks will be both mid-week and attached to weekends, and will be communicated in advance so all can prepare accordingly. In total, the number of planned days off will be a minimum of one week and are intended to help us all make it through what will be a marathon to the finish. Were we to have spring break as planned, it would require a second, two-week quarantine period and distance learning.

The following is a high-level outline of the second semester. We are confident of the major dates knowing what we know at this time, but this schedule is subject to change.
  • Jan 2-4: Boarding Students Arrive
  • Jan 4: 14-Day Quarantine by Residence Halls Begins
  • Jan 5: Acclimation Day
  • Jan 6: Distance Learning Begins
  • Jan 18: In-Person Classes Begin; MLK Day
  • Jan 20: Unity Day
  • Mar 5: Interim Planning Day
  • Mar 6-12: Interim
  • Mar 15-16: Post-Interim Rest 
  • May 3-14: AP Exams
  • May 17-21: Senior Seminar
  • May 17-21: Final Exams
  • May 21: Baccalaureate
  • May 22: Commencement

To reiterate, our primary goal is to maintain in-person learning balanced with the safety of our community through the end of the school year. As such, and as outlined above, we will need to make some significant adjustments to help manage risk. I realize that in sharing this, you will have more questions than we have answers at present, but as we have done thus far, we will attend to the myriad details and questions informed by your constructive feedback, the data available at the time, and the guidance of our state and local departments of health.

As we have seen in recent weeks, an improving local landscape has allowed us to expand opportunities curtailed by COVID. Last Thursday, we organized a trip to a local movie theater that opened for our exclusive use so that boarding and day students could have important time together to build the friendships that are the foundation of their FVS experience. Similarly, we now have some students pursuing their passions and interests outside of school through off-campus athletics and activities with organizations that are managing risk in the same ways that we are.

May is a long way away, and therein lies the hope for further progress. Our seniors in particular will wonder if we will be able to gather in person for graduation under the tent and celebrate with their families. It is too soon to make that call, but that is our desire as well, and a worthy goal towards which to work.

In the meantime, please feel free to reach out and thank you for your partnership thus far and as we move forward, together.

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