A Newsletter from Fountain Valley School | | |
Honoring the Life & Legacy of Jerry Frautschi ’49
Fountain Valley School honors the remarkable life and legacy of W. Jerome “Jerry” Frautschi ’49, one of the School’s most devoted alumni. Jerry lived with deep curiosity, generosity, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of education. Just weeks before his passing, he marked that lifelong commitment with a final, extraordinary gesture, a $10 million gift, the largest in FVS history, ensuring long-term care for the school he loved and enduring support for the faculty who shape generations of students. Over more than seventy years, Jerry’s steady generosity helped build, strengthen, and sustain nearly every part of the FVS experience. Jerry’s life was one well lived, and his legacy will continue to ring out across the Prairie for generations to come. We look forward to sharing more about Mr. Frautschi's impact in the upcoming edition of the Bulletin.
Read more about Mr. Frautschi's life & legacy »
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We were honored to recently welcome Mr. Frautschi's wife, Pleasant Rowland, whose generosity continues to shape campus life, most recently through her gift of the Carillon Tower, which is already becoming an enduring, sensory reminder of time spent here and the memories made in this special place.
“Once I got out here for the very first time, I could understand why Fountain Valley was the most perfect school Jerry ever could have gone to.”
- Ms. Pleasant Rowland
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Roots of a Rebel Spirit: Bob Weir at FVS
The Fountain Valley School community also celebrates the life of Bob Weir, legendary musician and founding member of the Grateful Dead who passed away January 10, 2026. Though his time on the Prairie was brief, Bob often called it pivotal, saying it was “the best thing that ever happened to me.” It was here that he met classmate John Perry Barlow, a friendship that would later help shape the Grateful Dead’s music and legacy. Bob returned to campus in 2015 to receive his honorary diploma and Arts Guild induction. His creative spirit and music continue to resonate, reminding us how even a short time at Fountain Valley can leave a lasting mark.
Read the Gazette’s article, as Weir’s friend and FVS classmate Hal Clifford ’65 shares his memories »
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Building Bonds at the Mountain Campus
The Class of 1969 Mountain Campus continues to be a well-used and well-loved extension of life on the Prairie. Students made the most of the space during the Junior Leadership Retreat and Ski Weekend 2026, combining time on the slopes at Monarch Mountain with meaningful connection off the mountain. Evenings were filled with games, laughter, and s’mores by the fire. Experiences like these show just how powerful this place can be when students step into shared adventure!
See the Junior Leadership Retreat in Action »
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FVS Takes Flight: Aviation Comes to Life on the Prairie
A new chapter of experiential learning is officially taking off at Fountain Valley School, thanks to the collaboration between the St. Vrain School District, who donated the simulators to FVS, and former faculty member Steve Kerchner, who brokered the deal and made the pickup and drop-off possible. This winter, FVS welcomed three professional-grade flight simulators to campus, opening the door for students to explore aviation through hands-on, real-world learning. This hands-on tool opens the door for students to explore aviation, from flight fundamentals to teamwork and decision-making, and builds on FVS’s long history of experiential learning.
The simulator is supported by a growing FVS Aviation Advisory Group including...
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Lt. Col. Brennan “Kramer” Jones USAF, FVS ’05 Air Force aircraft commander
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Capt. Trace “FIDO” Tomme USMC, FVS ’11 U.S. Marine Corps jet pilot and instructor
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Jessica Meiris, FVS ’00 Helicopter air ambulance pilot
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Alan Longhini, FVS ’06 Aerospace engineer
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Nick Carter, FVS ’13 Challenger 300 captain
Read more about the flight simulators & the FVS Aviation Advisory Group »
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A Joyful Night on Campus
Winter Celebration once again filled campus with music and joy! From beautiful solo performances and duets to band pieces and a touching rendition of “Seasons of Love,” students showcased both talent and heart. The faculty band, Space Force, brought the house down, while faculty kids delighted the crowd with an adorable performance of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” It was a special joy to have Pleasant Rowland with us for the celebration. The evening was made even more meaningful as it was during Winter Celebration that our community first learned of Jerry Frautschi’s extraordinary gift. Watch this video to see the moment that FVS Senior Ryan D. '26 shared the big news!
Watch the Highlight Reel of the Winter Celebration »
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Creativity Lives Here!
Take a moment to step inside one of the most beloved spaces on campus, which will surely bring up memories of your time on the Prairie. This short video offers a peek into the William Thayer Tutt Visual Arts Center and the Bedford Gallery and the creativity that fills these spaces every day.
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Fountain Valley Summer Camps
Fountain Valley, home to the tallest high school climbing wall in the nation, is excited to offer week-long climbing and lacrosse camps for day campers on its 1,100-acre campus in June.
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Coed Climbing Camp: June 8-12
Climbing campers ages 9-13 will learn core skills such as communication, belaying, tying in, top-rope climbing, bouldering, and movement from experienced instructors in a personalized setting.
| |  | Boys Lacrosse Camp: June 15-19 Lacrosse campers in grades 6-8 will build core skills such as stick work, passing, shooting, teamwork, and game knowledge through focused instruction and on-field play led by experienced coaches. | | |
Families who register by February 28, 2026, will receive a 10% discount on the cost per day camper. Families who register for both camps will receive $100 off both camps ($200 total). Discounts cannot be combined.
Learn more & register »
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Where's Victor by alumnus Morgan Smith ’56
FVS Alumnus Morgan Smith reflects on years spent documenting life along the U.S.–Mexico border and the young men he came to know there including Victor, whose disappearance raises painful questions about poverty, cartels, and lost opportunity. The piece is a powerful meditation on compassion, responsibility, and what it means to stand by young people when the odds are stacked against them.
Read Morgan's full article »
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Prairie Partners by Natasha Diamond, FVS Land Steward
Our ninth grade Ecology students officially became Prairie Partners this year. They established 18 research plots on the short grass prairie to inventory plant and animal life and connect their findings to the broader habitat. Students will develop treatment plans, remove invasive species, and test strategies to increase native plant diversity, creating a long-term, repeatable study that helps track human impact and guide prairie stewardship.
Read Natasha's full article »
| | | CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY | |
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2026 Reunion Weekend Registration Now Open
Whether you’re celebrating your 5th or 75th reunion, we hope you’ll join us on the Prairie for Reunion Weekend 2026. This year, we’ll celebrate all alumni from class years ending in ’1 and ’6, bringing together generations who helped shape our community. Register today to come back for a weekend full of connection and fun, including dinner and dancing under the big white tent, horseback riding on the trails, Arts Guild, Athletic Hall of Fame, and Distinguished Alumni award ceremonies, and so much more.
While you’re at it, we’d also love for you to submit a brief story of a woman who had a positive impact on your FVS experience—help us honor the people who helped shape your time on the Prairie!
Learn more & register »
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Celebrating 50 Years of Coeducation
This Reunion Weekend, we proudly celebrate 50 years of coeducation at FVS and the lasting impact women have made on our campus and in the wider world. For five decades, women have helped shape our classrooms, traditions, leadership, and community. Join us as we honor their stories, achievements, and legacy!
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Honoring our FVS Female Athletes
From our first female athletes in 1976 to today’s Danes, we’re proud to celebrate generations of girls who found confidence, teamwork, and grit on the Prairie this week during National Girls & Women in Sports Day. Here’s to the trailblazers, the teammates, and the Danes writing the next chapter. Read all about the females.
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Reminder: FVS Alumni Reception in Los Angeles
We are looking forward to an evening of reconnecting with fellow alumni at the Alumni Reception in Los Angeles on February 10, 2026, from 6–8 p.m. at Catch LA in West Hollywood.
Keep an eye out for details about our upcoming Washington, D.C., alumni reception at National Geographic, planned for the spring.
Safe travels, and see you soon!
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