Dear FVS Community,
We have reached the end of the week and it seems an appropriate time to take a step back and provide a broad overview of the situation on campus, which despite our numbers in quarantine, is relatively good.
As you will remember, our current response began last Saturday when we learned of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in one of our employees. The past week has been spent conducting exhaustive contact tracing both through review of data as well as interviews with those involved. At present we have approximately 70 students and 30 faculty/staff in quarantine both on and off campus. Of those being monitored as primary contacts, only one has developed symptoms, and contact tracing related to the individual indicates that the quick quarantine dramatically reduced the potential for further spread.
Over the past few days, and in the coming days, we have also had many students depart campus for the rest of the semester. As noted in our communications this week, our goal has pivoted from maintaining in-person learning to ensuring that as many students as possible are able to return home on or before November 20 while offering a robust and manageable academic program via distance learning. As such, I want to reiterate that the school fully supports those who choose to leave campus and we are well positioned to support students academically whether on campus or at home.
As I shared with faculty earlier today, it feels as though we are approaching the crest of the hill we have been climbing this week and throughout this semester. I also hope that the weekend will bring some rest for all, especially those who have been working around the clock in support of our students both in the classroom and out. Though it feels like we are struggling, we are, in fact, shining brightly as we rise to the new and ongoing challenges of each day. I am extremely proud of our community and grateful to stand side by side with you as a part of it. We will continue to take this one step at a time, one day at a time, one week at a time, and we will work through this, 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
