 | | For most students, this is their first experience of being away from home, and the very first time they have been responsible for so many aspects of their lives. Being away from home is not easy, but it is an adjustment that they make because they live in a close-knit community of adults and peers who have respect and care for each other. The Residential Life Program helps students balance the opportunities offered at FVS with learning the skills essential to independent life in college, while maintaining an active and healthy social life with peers from across the country and the world. At FVS your roommate may be from Korea, you'll have a classmate from Germany, someone in your advisee group may be a day student from Colorado Springs, and your Big Sib could be from Australia. FVS friendships often span the globe, introducing you to many cultures, differing ideas, traditions and beliefs.
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| Within the School’s four residence halls, there are a total of 10 houses (five boys, five girls). In 2001, the School completed a $16 million residential life master plan to build new residence halls and completely renovate existing dormitory-style residence halls to incorporate the house system. A house typically includes eight student rooms, a common area, kitchen and dining area, computer area, bathrooms and laundry facilities, as well as houseparent’s office and residence. The house system is intended to promote close relationships between adults and students, and to develop students' abilities to work both cooperatively and autonomously. Houseparents function as the primary leadership team of the Residential Life Program. In addition to houseparents, designated faculty members (aunts and uncles) work with students in each house in the evenings, providing the framework for support and diverse experiences.
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Learning moments at FVS occur seamlessly inside and outside the classroom. Living with 12-14 other students offers unlimited opportunities for considering everything from community to individual identity, and developing new skills, whether it be cooking, playing chess or leadership.
Opportunities to play, study and compete create multiple occasions for all students to meet and interact. Living at Fountain Valley School means learning to navigate through the intricacies of being away from home, yet keeping in close touch with family; having a roommate, and learning to share a space; asking for support from advisers and houseparents, and learning to become independent; and living in a coed community while observing the balance of responsibility and freedom.
At FVS, students take pride in their surroundings, and therefore, play an active role in ensuring that personal and shared living spaces are kept clean. Students are expected to keep their rooms tidy enough to facilitate good study habits. Each resident has a house duty for the week such as loading and unloading the dishwasher, tidying the common room or straightening out the computer area. All houses actively participate in the School's conservation efforts. Recycling bins are in the common areas.
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