Dear FVS Community,
April is upon us and fourth quarter classes are now underway. This week also marks the return of CHSAA interscholastic competition for our girls volleyball and boys soccer teams, and each had their season openers on Tuesday. This weekend, on Saturday, the Community Council will host the first dance of this year, which will be held outside and accordingly themed as a glow-in-the dark celebration. This is a significant milestone for students, and I wish to offer kudos and gratitude to the student representatives who have advocated for this and who are organizing the event in partnership with the Deans’ Office to align with Health Department guidelines.
Admittedly, it has been a while since I last wrote to you, and please know that this relative radio silence is a GOOD sign. I’m pleased to report that our weekly COVID testing is going smoothly and that we have had no additional positive cases since the one identified in January as a part of our return-to-school testing. Additionally, many of our faculty are fully vaccinated and are now able to travel and connect with others without the need for quarantines.
Last week, Governor Polis announced that tomorrow (Friday, April 2) anyone age 16 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, and that anyone age 18 and older will be eligible to receive COVID vaccines produced by Moderna and Johnson and Johnson.
Our Health Center is working with the El Paso County Department of Health to explore the possibility of organizing vaccination events for students whose parents wish to have their child vaccinated, and we will share any news in this area in a timely fashion.
In the meantime, parents who wish to have their child vaccinated may use the links below to search for available vaccination appointments in Colorado Springs and reserve a spot for eligible students. If an appointment is made for a boarding student, the School will work with a local, private car service to arrange transportation to and from the appointment, subject to the availability of the car service. The cost of transportation is the responsibility of each family and must be paid directly to the service at time of transport.
Please read the following important details thoroughly BEFORE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT:
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Students 16 and older are eligible for ONLY the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. This vaccine requires two doses and that the second dose be administered 21 days after the first. Please take this into account when making appointments so that the second dose may be administered before your child leaves campus at the end of the year if you do not live locally and will not be able to return to Colorado Springs for the second dose.
- Students 18 and older are eligible for the Moderna vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as well as the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. The Moderna vaccine requires two doses with the second dose administered 28 days after the first. The Johnson & Johnson is a single dose. Please take this into account when making appointments so that the second dose, if applicable, may be administered before your child leaves campus at the end of the year if you do not live locally and will not be able to return to Colorado Springs for the second dose.
- Students are responsible for communicating with teachers and coaches in advance to plan accordingly for any absence from school obligations, academic, extracurricular, or otherwise.
- There is no requirement from the School that any student be vaccinated and we have no intentions of directing individuals, students or adults, what they must or must not do with their body's immune system. This statement is made with the qualifier that we are subject to and will abide by any requirements from county, state and federal authorities.
- Students who are vaccinated, as with all members of the FVS community, must continue to follow current safety protocols including wearing masks and maintaining physical distance.
- COVID vaccinations are generally free; however, you may need to provide health insurance information when making an appointment for your child, and this may include uploading images of your child's health insurance card.
- The School cannot make appointments for students at this time.
- Once an appointment is booked, parents should email the information to the Health Center at nurses@fvs.edu allowing a minimum of 48 hours notice.
- The Health Center will work with the School’s preferred car service to arrange transportation; however this is subject to availability of the service and is not guaranteed. The cost of transportation is the responsibility of each family and must be paid directly to the service at time of transport.
- Please direct any questions about vaccination to the Health Center by emailing nurses@fvs.edu or calling 719-391-5225.
As we head into the home stretch of the 2020-21 school year, I hope that the news contained herein will be a buoy for us all. COVID-19 has presented unprecedented challenges on all levels and I’m proud of the way in which we have all worked in partnership to support our students and each other. Please know that we are hard at work planning our end-of-year traditions, including those that celebrate the Class of 2021. Please look for information about these events in the coming weeks and, in the meantime, as always, take good care, stay safe, and be well.
Sincerely,
William Webb
Head of School
Fountain Valley School
6155 Fountain Valley School Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80911
