Dear FVS Families, 

I hope this message finds you having had a good Labor Day weekend to bid summer farewell.  

We are now in the third week of classes and, with it, the arrival of routine and greater consistency. The start of the school year following the measured pace of summer is never easy for students and adults alike, and this year in particular the reconnection to the daily life of the school day after the last 18 months has been a growth opportunity for us all.  

This past weekend it was wonderful to be at the Class of ’69 Mountain Campus with our Seniors and first-year students as they overlapped on their respective retreats. The physical detachment from campus and the connection to nature in the foothills of Mt. Princeton and Mt. Antero provided the perfect setting for bonding, activities, campfires, and stargazing for our students and faculty.  

As we have done for the last 18 months, we continue to closely monitor the COVID landscape in our region while maintaining our strong partnership with the El Paso County Department of Health (EPCDH.) As you will see from this data, incident rates continue to rise in our county and region, up 49% from last week at this time. This being the case, we have made the decision to continue with our adjusted Family Weekend schedule from last year and not return to in-person events as hoped. Parent-Teacher conferences will occur virtually again this year on Friday, October 1 from 8:30 am - 3:00 p.m. MDT and Saturday, October 2 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. MDT. An email from the Deans’ Office with scheduling information will be forthcoming in the next week.  

Although we will not be having the in-person conferences and gatherings that normally define Family Weekend, please know that at this point in time you are welcome to come to campus to be with your child, attend sporting events, and travel off-campus together. A reminder that a mask is required at all times when indoors in any space on campus, including your child’s dormitory room, and we ask that you please choose to mask indoors when off campus as well. Thank you for your partnership in support of maintaining the health of this community, it is greatly appreciated.  

Although not back to “normal,” the adults and students continue to work in partnership to ensure that this school year will be one of joy and reconnection, and I could not be more proud of their efforts. While we still have much ground to cover, I am thankful for the strong start we have enjoyed and the leadership of our Seniors which tells me there is good reason for optimism moving forward.  

As always, thank you for partnering with us on this journey as we work together in navigating this unprecedented and historic time. Now more than ever the collective strength and ability of the whole is front and center, and I could not be more confident in the entire Fountain Valley School Team, of which you each are an important part.  

Take good care, stay safe, and be well.   

Sincerely, 

 

Head of School

 

Fountain Valley School

6155 Fountain Valley School Road 

Colorado Springs, CO 80911