Dear FVS Community, 

 

Life on the Prairie progresses as we work to complete the final stages of preparing campus for the arrival of students. Our first wave arrives a week from Saturday, and suffice it to say that we are excited! Our first faculty in-service meetings will take place next week and we are equally excited for their return. As a reminder, faculty and staff will begin a self-quarantine tomorrow in advance of COVID-19 testing for this group on August 6.

 

I will begin with an important reminder that today is the deadline to complete the back to school forms through the parent portal on fvs.edu as well as the health forms and authorizations on SchoolDoc.com. Further details can be found below. This work is critical to our safe operation and must be completed before your student arrives on campus. Thank you in advance for your continued partnership on this important matter.  

 

In This Message: 

 

Schedules, Adviser Assignments, and Housing Assignments

Student class schedules were posted to fvs.edu on Wednesday. Students and parents should have received an email from Director of Studies, Deb Prantl, with information about accessing schedules and communicating questions or concerns. Please reach out to Mrs. Prantl by email at [email protected] if you need assistance. 

 

Adviser assignments will become available on fvs.edu next week. Students and parents should expect to receive a welcome from their adviser via email shortly thereafter. This will also be an opportunity to address any remaining questions, concerns, or needs that students may have in advance of their arrival on campus. Advisers play a critical role in our community as both an advocate for the student as well as a primary point of contact for parents. Please look for a communication from the Deans’ Office notifying you once adviser assignments have been posted. Housing and roommate assignments will be made available mid-August on fvs.edu in a similar fashion. 

 

Back To School and Health Forms

The deadline to complete back to school and health forms is today, July 31. Parents—please log into both fvs.edu and Schooldoc.com today to verify that your work in these areas is complete or to determine what remains to be done. These forms include important permissions and consents that must be completed before a student arrives on campus, and if incomplete, a student will be refused entry to campus.  

 

The physical, immunizations, and Tuberculosis test, if needed, may be completed through the Health Center once students are on campus. Our preference is to have these three aforementioned steps completed before a student arrives; however we understand that scheduling appointments for non-emergency healthcare may be difficult at this time for some families. All other required forms must be completed before arrival.

 

Transportation to Campus from Airports

FVS will offer shuttle service from Denver International Airport and Colorado Springs Airport for students arriving by air. Students may also hire a taxi or private car service if they so choose. In addition, special arrangements must be made to coordinate pickup of any student considered an unaccompanied minor by the airlines. All travel arrangements and requests must be coordinated through the Deans’ Office by emailing [email protected]. 

 

To mitigate the risks associated with traveling in a shared space, students are expected to wear a mask at all times while traveling, including in the airport, on airplanes, in FVS vehicles, or in taxis/car services. In addition, while using any shared mode of transit, students are expected to sit in a manner that maximizes physical distancing. 

 

Packing for Quarantine & Mountain Campus Excursions

As noted previously, students should arrive with a week’s worth of clothing and supplies that they will use during quarantine and then in the time thereafter until they move into the room to which they are assigned for the year. In addition, the School is planning excursions to the FVS Mountain Campus following quarantine for students who arrive in groups one and two. Therefore, they should also pack clothing and other items appropriate for this setting, such as a sleeping bag if available, headlamp, water bottle, and warm layer for the chill of the mornings and evenings in the mountains. Students will sleep indoors, and activities will include hiking and other time spent outdoors. Temperatures typically range from 40-80 degrees Fahrenheit with frequent afternoon rainstorms. For those unfamiliar with the FVS Class of ’69 Mountain Campus, you can learn more by clicking here. 

 

Athletics Update

We continue to wait for information from CHSAA about their complete plans for fall sports. Unfortunately, the promise they made earlier this week of a definitive update by the end of today has been postponed. Nevertheless, once we receive this information, the School will be in a position to communicate what, if any, modifications may need to be made to our fall athletic offerings. Regardless of CHSAA’s chosen course, FVS remains well positioned to support the health, well-being, and athletic aspirations of our students by utilizing the world-class facilities here on campus and leveraging the abundant opportunities for recreation that exist in the nearby, natural environment. 

 

The Coming Weeks

This is what we know at this point and we remain committed to doing the best we can with the new information and challenges that each day delivers. I want to again express my gratitude for the patience and partnership that has been shared by so many members of our community. Your support, kind words, and thoughtful questions fuel our progress forward. 

 

In closing, I will leave you with this—as word of our plan gets out, we are receiving new admission inquiries each day from families who see a bright spot amidst an otherwise difficult and limiting landscape. They are drawn to the safety, serenity, and refuge found on our 1100-acre prairie campus, and recognize the success we have had in isolating ourselves from the outside world. 

 

I offer this not as a self-aggrandizing affirmation, but rather as a validation of your choice to partner with us, and as a reminder of the profound responsibility that we all share in ensuring that our campus remains COVID-free. The actions and decisions of each and every person reading this letter—now, in the coming weeks, and in the year ahead—have the potential to affect us all, either negatively or positively. Thank you in advance for keeping this front and center in your actions and thoughts in the coming days, weeks, and months.  

 

As always, take good care, stay safe, and be well. 

 

Thank you, 

William Webb

Head of School 

Fountain Valley School of Colorado

6155 Fountain Valley School Road 

Colorado Springs, CO 80911