Fountain Valley School

http://www.fvs.edu

Located at the base of Colorado’s majestic Rocky Mountains, Fountain Valley School of Colorado combines intellectual rigor with a spirit of adventure and exploration. Founded in 1930, the school offers a college preparatory program for motivated students who seek a diverse and challenging learning experience within a close-knit and supportive community. FVS is co-ed and includes both boarding and day students, grades 9-12.

The school has an 1,100-acre main campus in Colorado Springs and a 40-acre Mountain Campus near Buena Vista, Colo. The Mountain Campus is home to the Western Immersion Program, Interim adventures, skiing expeditions, outdoor education and much more. FVS is proud of its Western roots and location, and encourages students to embrace the many opportunities associated with living in the West, including the school’s adventurous outdoor education and equestrian programs. Facilities include the Penrose Gym for athletics, swimming pool, state-of-the-art indoor riding arena and two outdoor riding arenas, performing arts center, science and computer labs, dining room, residence halls and the Art Barn.

Student Body
FVS is committed to serving a globally diverse and mutually supportive student population. The school currently enrolls 166 boarding and 84 day students, 50% male, 40% female, and 31% students of color. Students represent 14 countries and 26 states.

Academics
Academics at Fountain Valley School of Colorado are challenging and comprehensive, offering honors and Advanced Placement courses in all disciplines, while providing a flexible approach to assure appropriate course placement for all students. The curriculum is designed to stimulate curiosity, encourage critical-thinking skills, develop intellectual stamina, and prepare students for the challenges of college. An FVS education is characterized by close interactions with a dedicated and accomplished faculty. The student-faculty ratio is 5:1, and the average class size is 14 students.

College Planning
College planning begins in the sophomore year with an introduction to the college application process. Students are encouraged to use the resources in the College Counseling Office to explore college offerings and scholarships. College counseling becomes more intense in the junior year as the staff creates a personalized College Possibilities List for all juniors to research. The list helps juniors and seniors identify the prototype of institution of higher learning that will best suit them. Seniors are then guided through the application process in their final year. FVS currently has 100% college placement.

Afternoon Program
All students are required to participate in the afternoon program, which includes interscholastic sports, outdoor education, climbing, equestrian training (English and Western), skiing and theater. Interscholastic sports include basketball (boys and girls), cross country (boys and girls), field hockey (girls), golf (boys), ice hockey (boys), lacrosse (boys and girls), track and field (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls), swimming and diving (girls), tennis (boys and girls) and volleyball. The Theater Department stages three productions each year, and a dance program is offered in the winter.

Signature Programs
The Western Immersion Program for sophomores weaves the disciplines of literature, history, science and art, exploring how the Western landscape shaped the people, history and culture of the region. The Interim Program is part of the school’s emphasis on experiential education, providing students with the opportunity to expand their intellectual, cultural and social horizons beyond the classroom. The weeklong program has included such activities as kayaking in Georgia, connecting with the American musical tradition on Broadway, learning about Chinese culture in Beijing, and helping to improve living conditions for the poor in Guatemala.

Residential Life
The residential facilities are designed based on a family-like house system, where groups of 16-20 students and one or two faculty families live in a residential unit. The four residence halls include 10 individual houses where 166 students and 13 houseparent families live. Spacious double and triple bedrooms, common rooms, a kitchen, dining area, bathrooms, laundry facilities and a computer lab are laid out in floor plans unique to each house.

The School announces planned weekend activities in advance and allows students to sign up for their chosen activity. Activities include exploring the beauty of Colorado, movies, skiing, faculty-led shopping trips to Denver, and even “spontaneity” trips where students decide at the last minute where they want to go. Some of the most popular activities take place right on campus. These include Cupid and Stupid Weekends, which are creative and fun-filled seasonal celebrations; Club Frautschi, Reggae Fest, “make your own pizza, or burrito, or sundae nights,” and special events put on by individual dorms.

Quick Facts

Enrollment Information Total No. of Boys: 125 Total No. of Girls: 125 Boarding: 166 Day: 84 School Type Coed Secondary-Boarding Secondary-Day

Special Programs ESL Learning Differences (LD) Summer Programs

Application Information

For full information on applying, visit www.fvs.edu.

Application materials should be submitted to the Office of Admission by February 1. Late applications will be accepted on a space-available-basis. All applicants must submit the required forms and interview for admission. FVS strongly encourages prospective students to visit the campus personally to meet students and faculty, attend classes and have an admission interview. Applicants unable to visit campus should contact the Office of Admission to discuss alternatives.

No admission decision can be made prior to the completion of the application process.

1. Arrange a visit to campus and schedule a personal interview through the Office of Admission.

2. Application for Admission accompanied by the application fee paid in U.S. currency:

• Part I: Biographical Information 
• Part II: Student Statement 
• Part III: Co-Curricular Interest Form — The Admission Committee encourages applicants to include audio/video recordings or art portfolios (no more than 10 pieces of artwork) demonstrating your skill level and interest.
  Please do not submit original work as it cannot be returned.
• Part IV: Parent/Guardian Statement

3. Three Recommendations:

• Head/Principal/Counselor
• Current English Teacher
• Current Mathematics Teacher

4.  2” x 2” photograph of applicant

5.  Official Transcript of grades and courses with a seal or registrar’s signature for the current academic year and the previous two academic years.

6.  Standardized Testing Results:

• SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) results are required of English-speaking students. Applicants may submit scores from the ACT, ISEE, PSAT or SAT I in lieu of the SSAT. With an advance appointment, the SSAT can be administered during the campus visit.
• TOEFL results are required of students for whom English is not their native language. To learn more about the TOEFL exam locations, call 609.771.7100, or visit the Educational Testing Service’s Web site: www.toefl.org.

7. A copy of a graded writing assignment from an academic subject, prepared by the student during the current academic year. The copy should include the teacher’s comments and the grade received for the assignment. There is no length requirement for the assignment.

Summer Program

In 2009, FVS offered three summer programs.

International Student Enrichment Program
The goal of this program is to welcome incoming international students who seek to get a head start on their experience at Fountain Valley School. For returning international students, this program is an opportunity to brush up on and improve academic English. In addition, all students benefit from the time to recover from jet lag and adjust to the athletic demands at FVS.

Cross Country Academy
The Fountain Valley School Cross Country Academy is the perfect end to a summer away from your team and the best way to prepare for the start of the season. Participants get advice and learn valuable lessons from expert coaches who have a passion for running and working with young athletes. Campers leave the FVS Cross Country Academy 100 percent healthy, fit, and eager to begin working with their team to reach their goals.

Girls Lacrosse Clinics
FVS offered two separate opportunities for girls to learn important skills in the game of lacrosse - one of the fastest-growing sports in the west. Girls in 7th-12th grade participated in a series of clinics being held Tuesday and Thursdays evenings in July. Younger girls (3rd-7th grade) participated in a five-day camp taking place in the morning during the week of July 27-31.

Courses

Academic Support

• Career Planning
• College Counseling
• English as a Second Language
• Evening Study Assistance
• Learning Center
• Learning Differences Support
• Learning Study Assistance
• Library Skills
• Peer Tutoring
• Study Skills
• Technology Center
• Tutoring

Computer Studies

• Computer Applications
• Computer Graphics
• Web Design

Visual Arts

• 3-D Design
• Art Advanced Placement
• Art Honors
• Ceramics
• Drawing Advanced Placement
• Drawing Honors
• Film and Video
• Jewelry
• Journalism
• Metal
• Painting
• Photography
• Portfolio Advanced Placement
• Pottery
• Publications
• Sculpture
• Studio Art Advanced Placement

Special Programs

• Community Service
• Independent Study
• Leadership
• Outdoor Education
• Study Aboard

Music

• Choral Music
• Individual Instrument
• Orchestra
• Voice

Foreign Languages

• Chinese - Mandarin
• French
• Spanish

Math

• Advanced Placement
• Algebra
• Calculus
• Functions
• Geometry
• Honors
• Probability
• Statistics
• Trigonometry

Science

• Anatomy
• Biology Advanced Placement
• Biology Honors
• Chemistry Advanced Placement
• Chemistry Honors
• Earth Science
• Environmental Science
• Geology
• Health
• Physical Science
• Physics Advanced Placement
• Physics Honors
• Physiology

Noncredit Courses

• ACT Arep
• SAT Prep

Performing Arts

• Acting
• Dance
• Drama
• Musical Theater
• Play Production
• Set Design
• Technical Theater
• Theater Arts

History

• Advanced Placement
• Classical History
• European History
• Honors
• Medieval History
• United States History
• World History

English

• Advanced Placement
• Creative Writing
• Honors
• Literature
• Poetry

Other Courses

Metal-smithing, Ceramics, Photography, Digital Studio, Short Fiction, Writing from Within, Modern Drama, The Eternal Battle-Good vs. Evil, A Fellowship of Fantasy and Film: J.R.R. Tolkien; Will Power: Shakespeare in Words and Film, Global Studies, Western Civilization, Freedom and Authority, Islam and the West, Religion, Rebellion and Reaction in the 60s; A Thematic Approach to Art, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, Colorado Natural History, Team Science

Activities

Athletics

• Alpine Skiing
• Basketball
• Cross-Country Running
• Cycling
• Dance
• Diving
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Field Hockey
• Golf
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Ice Hockey
• Lacrosse
• Mountain Biking
• Outdoor Education
• Rock Climbing
• Snowboarding
• Soccer
• Squash
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Track and Field
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Volleyball

Arts & Music

• Art Club
• Chamber Orchestra
• Choir
• Choral Music
• Dance
• Drama Club

Student Club Activities

• Asian Club
• Chess Club
• Community Service
• Dorm Proctors
• Environment Club
• Fencing
• Food Council
• Foreign Language Club
• Honor Council
• Horseback Riding
• International Club
• Investment Club
• Literary Magazine
• Math Club
• Newspaper
• Outing Club
• Peer Counseling
• Peer Tutoring
• Pep Club
• Photography
• Quiz Bowl

Other Activities

Big/Little Siblings, Chemistry Club, Christian Fellowship, Culinary Club. Film Club, Flying Disc Club, Foosball Club, Youth Philanthropy, Gay/Straight Alliance, Global Affairs Forum, Homecoming Committee, French Club, Human Rights Organization, International Student Club, Radio Station, Spanish Honor Society, Student Cultural Organization, Table Tennis Club