President’s Message

At Ojai Valley School we continually seek ways to improve student learning and enhance the school experience. As part of this commitment, every seven years we conduct a comprehensive self-evaluation in collaboration with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS).

Recently, a seven-member team of visiting educators met virtually with teachers, administrators, students, parents, and members of the Board of Trustees to review our self-study and to examine all aspects of school operations. Accreditation teams typically spend 3-4 days on our campuses for in-person meetings, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic CAIS would not risk sending volunteers so we agreed to switch entirely to Zoom meetings instead.

At the conclusion of their visit, the team members were unanimously complimentary of the school’s robust curriculum and the way in which learning experiences are balanced by co-curricular offerings such as outdoor education. They praised our dedicated faculty and caring staff, and they lauded as “heroic” our response to the daunting challenges presented by the Thomas Fire and the pandemic.

The committee did offer recommendations, which included continuing to craft strategic plans for growing our enrollment, tightening the OVS mission statement, developing a broader curriculum guide for the PK-12 school experience, and bringing greater diversity to the student body, the faculty and the Board of Trustees.

The full written report from CAIS came to us in late March. OVS received effective and highly effective ratings throughout the document. One section that stood out in particular was the committee’s praise for the OVS community, which they aptly described as a place where “employees truly care for one another, root for one another, and take great pride and nourishment in their interactions with one another and in their work with students.” The committee went on to state: “The students with whom we met are happy and hopeful, and their commitment to the school testifies to the impact of the school’s mission and the effectiveness of its philosophy. The faculty are caring and respected by the students. The trustees are dedicated to helping shape and support the future of the school. The administrative team is admired by all for its incomparable work ethic, openness, teamwork, and swift responsiveness to concerns. Students’ parents and guardians are in awe of their children’s growth as learners and people, which they properly credit to their teachers’ patience, generosity of spirit, and expertise.”

We have received full accreditation for many decades and have worked hard as a community to continue this positive trend. It is clear from this latest accreditation report that the visiting team recognized what we have experienced, namely that between the devastating damage done by the Thomas Fire and the impacts of the pandemic OVS has weathered a challenging era and emerged resilient, true to its mission, and poised for future growth and success.

My sincere thanks to the entire community for their involvement and dedication during this comprehensive process. It involved more than a year and a half of meetings, written drafts, responses to challenging questions, and compiling data for a 230-page self-study document. In the end, it is truly rewarding to hear an affirmation of the great work being done each day here at OVS. Our visiting committee chair stated as he left, “You have a great school and you have a tremendous amount to be proud of.” I couldn’t agree more.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Hall Mounsey President/CEO Ojai Valley School

Family Weekend

After months of COVID-19 restrictions that closed our campuses to visitors, Spring Family Weekend presented an opportunity for parents and grandparents to see their students joyfully participating in the many activities that make the OVS experience great. Highlights included a sunset dinner and music at the Upper Campus, and the maypole dance and middle school production of High School Musical at the Lower Campus.

Emily (Thacher) Ayala (L86) and Tony Ayala in front of the Littlefield Student Commons.

4. Tovah and Miriam Starin brush Bubbles. 5. The elementary chorus sings Saturday afternoon. 6. Fifth graders perform the traditional Maypole Dance. 7. James Garrison turns on the drama as Ms. Darbus in High School Musical 8. Molly Quinn, Annabel Billings, Samantha Radford and Eva Nakaue cheer together. 9. Estella Sagol plays snobby Sharpay. 10. Ian Nunney, as Troy, sings about basketball with teammates.