A special art day is part of Chapter One’s curriculum designed to orient freshmen to Fountain Valley School and unite them as a class.
CHAPTER ONE: Freshmen Writing Their First Chapters While founding headmaster Francis Froelicher told all incoming students that they were in a position to write their own histories, English faculty Jen Buckley has developed a semester-long program—Chapter One—to orient and transition freshmen to Fountain Valley School.
2 0 1 6
After this self-assessment, students are then directed to look outward toward developing empathy for others based on FVS’s core values of open-mindedness and compassion. Areas covered are listening with empathy, trying new things, moving from selfreflection to thinking of others, and community service.
53
F a l l
Chapter One builds upon Transitions, the previous freshman orientation program. Working with School Counselor Katherine Keen, Dean of Students John Kelley and former Assistant Dean of Students Josh Doyon, Buckley envisioned a redesigned, semester-intensive program.
“In the framework of our core values of self-reliance, curiosity and courage, they first work to figure out who they are, what about themselves they want to improve upon, how they fit in and what they have to offer,” Buckley says. “They take the Keirsey personality test, discover their learning styles, and learn study strategies and systems of organization. We strive to instill the idea of a growth mindset.”
B u l l e t i n
The class is built around the School’s core values, giving freshmen a solid base for high school success while familiarizing them with Fountain Valley’s culture and the principles upon which the School was founded.
The goals are for students to identify and discuss their personal strengths, challenges and concerns as they see themselves working and living in Fountain Valley’s unique learning community.
