By Junior Emma Gustafson (L14)
In recognition of its long-standing commitment to environmental conservation, preservation and sustainability, Ojai Valley School has been named a California Green Ribbon School, the state’s top honor for environmental excellence in education.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced the Green Ribbon awards Friday, lauding more than two dozen California schools and school districts for reducing their environmental footprints and engaging students in environmental literacy.
“Through their environmental practices, the schools and districts we honor today are teaching students to be responsible stewards of our precious resources,” Torlakson said at the awards ceremony, held at Redondo Union High School. “I commend their commitment to instill policies and habits that will continue our forward progress in establishing healthy campuses and communities.”
OVS was one of three schools in the Ojai Valley, and one of seven independent schools statewide, to earn the Green Ribbon designation.
The award – the result of a lengthy application process spearheaded by OVS Director of Technology and Sustainability John Wickenhaeuser – acknowledges efforts at OVS in recent years to reduce environmental impacts and costs, improve the health and wellness of students and staff, and promote environmental and sustainability education.
“I feel very, very gratified that somebody has recognized our school initiatives of the past several years,” OVS President and CEO Michael J. Hall-Mounsey said. “And, I was very grateful to Mr. Wickenhaeuser for leading our efforts and for submitting the very detailed application on our behalf.”

New footing being applied to riding arena

Earlier this school year, Wickenhaeuser put together a 48-page application that showcased a host of environmental initiatives launched at both the Upper and Lower campuses.
For example, in response to California’s ongoing drought and keeping with OVS’ commitment to sustainable practices, the school set out several years ago to reduce water usage on its campuses and facilities, replacing grassy areas with mulch and drought-tolerant plants, installing weather-based controllers, and optimizing irrigation. 
In addition, the school installed a state-of-the-art irrigation system in its equestrian riding arenas on both campuses, and replaced the fine dusty sand in those arenas with a new footing made from a mixture of quartz sand, polyester and synthetic materials. The move drastically reduced the need to water the arenas to keep down dust.

Taken together, those conservation measures have saved nearly 10 million gallons of water since 2013.

OVS solar panels

 In other areas, OVS four years ago installed a 1,001-panel, 274-kilowatt solar array that produces more than 95% of the electricity at the Upper Campus. The solar panel project has reduced electricity use and green house emissions by 56%, and OVS hasn’t had to pay an electric bill at the Upper Campus in more than three years.
Another important part of OVS, and an important criterion for Green Ribbon School recognition, is environmental education.
Outdoor education starts in pre-kindergarten and continues through the 12th grade at OVS, featuring multiple camp trips each year to national and state parks, mountain ranges, and campsites close and far.
Those trips are meant to be fun, for sure. But they also are in keeping with the school’s fundamental commitment to use the outdoors as extended classrooms to teach students the importance of conservation, preservation and good stewardship of the land.
“One of the areas in which we [OVS] are most successful in and where we truly stand out from any other school is in our outdoor education program,” Wickenhaeuser said. “The breadth of it is pretty extraordinary.”

Over the past two years, OVS has partnered with the National Parks Service on their “Hands on the Land” initiative, which brings restoration work to the Channel Islands.
Funded by the National Environmental Education Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency, the grant has been used by students and teachers on both campuses to access the islands and use them as living laboratories, tackling projects including working on-site in nurseries, removing invasive vegetation, and gathering and compiling plant restoration data.
Students in grades four to 12 participate in those excursions, taking trips to the islands throughout the year. So far this school year, fourth grade students and AP Environmental Science students have taken trips out to the islands to remove non-native species.
And, even as the Green Ribbon awards were being announced, OVS fifth graders were on a trip to Anacapa Island to continue the restoration work as part of the federal Hands on the Land grant.
OVS is hardly done.
The school plans in coming years to continue with water and energy conservation, recycling, and develop more partnerships such as the Hands on the Land effort.
“I think the thing that really pleases me about this is to have a third party recognize and validate what we’ve been doing as a school, and it’s broad based,” Wickenhaeuser said. “It’s not just one person who was doing this. This is something integrated into the experience at Ojai Valley School for a long time.”

Students from the Upper and Lower Campuses do restoration work at Anacapa

Read more OVS student journalism at On The Hill – OVS

More than 130 Lower Campus graduates, eighth-grade students, and teachers attended the 20th annual Pons dinner earlier this month. An annual tradition, PONS dinner serves as a bridge between middle school and high school, allowing our young alumni and our current students to come together as one group to share their OVS experiences together.

Every year Pons dinner features guest speakers, including a current senior at the Upper Campus and an alum. This year senior Matt Gustafson (L11, U15) spoke to the incoming freshman about what to expect as they move on from the Lower Campus.

“When I transitioned to the Upper Campus I had some anxiety about the many changes and challenges in front of me, but I quickly found out that the transition was really nothing to worry about, especially with the help and support from teachers and friends all around me,” he said. “Bad days have been rare at the Upper Campus, and although school is not always easy, it can be fun if you are willing to be open to new experiences and work hard.”

The support Matt talked about in his speech is apparent in everyday life at both of our campuses. It is obvious that the students care for one another, that they look up to their teachers, and that those teachers share the genuine love and care for their students that their students have for them.

Alum Parker Colborn (L05, U09) reflected on those relationships in his speech as well, and expressed gratitude for the varied experiences he had on both campuses.

”There is something about this school that puts something inside you that doesn’t go away. I’m never going to forget the people here,” he said. “It’s more than just school. It’s a second family.”

Click here to see photos from this year’s Pons dinner.

Spring has arrived in Ojai! Winter rain (although not much of it) has left both Upper Campus green with fresh growth. In the month of March, students and staff at the Upper Campus will plan more than 40 oak trees as part of a forestation and hillside stabilization plan. Juniors will take the SAT on March 14. Middle School students will head to the desert and explore the wonders of Joshua Tree National Park. Spring sports teams will launch their new seasons. And our seniors will receive more news about their college acceptances.

For more information and events please click here to see the OVS calendars.