February 4, 2021 – Last month students in grades PK-12 returned for in-person instruction. We believe being together is in the best interest of our students, providing them hands-on learning experiences and interaction with peers.

But we also know that in a pandemic our ability to continue in-person classes hinges on everyone following the health protocols. Please join us in slowing the spread of the virus by wearing masks, social distancing and washing hands.

As we start the second semester, classes remain small and are being held outdoors as much as possible. We are keeping it safe and excited to be together again!

Photo by McGillivray Construction

Construction Underway at Upper Campus

By Tracy Wilson

Construction is underway on a $16-million building project that will replace the dormitory and science center destroyed by the Thomas Fire while adding a long-awaited Student Commons to the west end of the Upper Campus.

The project includes the new Grace Hobson Smith House dormitory for resident girl and the new Aramont Science and Technology Center, which will integrate science, technology, and the arts. The center will include a makerspace for robotics, physics, chemistry, biology and environmental science labs, a digital and media arts lab, a social science seminar room, and a multipurpose room for performing arts. 

Photo by McGillivray Construction

The much-anticipated Littlefield Student Commons will include a spacious dining hall, kitchen, student lounge, reading porch and library, a new college counseling office and learning center, and meeting rooms for small classes. At 12,590 square feet, the Commons will replace the existing cafeteria with a modern facility that can accommodate 260 people. It will also include a shady outdoor dining terrace and garden.

Before the pandemic, construction crews had mostly completed installation of the underground utilities, storm drains, and trenching. More recently, they raised steel support beams and completed framing for the three buildings. The project is expected to be completed by Spring 2021.

The design by Los Angeles architect Frederick Fisher & Partners embraces the mid-century roots of the Upper Campus and blurs the lines between inside and outside using glass, stucco, warm wood accents, and ample landscaping. The buildings are expected to meet LEED gold standards for environmental sustainability and they are designed to be highly fire resistant.

Ojai Valley School has received more $13 million in gifts, pledges, and other funds toward the project, but the campaign to rebuild is far from over. To help furnish and complete these buildings, contact our development team at development@ovs-archive.ihwy.com or call us at (805) 646-1423 for more information.

Welcome Back Spuds! from Ojai Valley School on Vimeo.

And just like that, we’re back! 

Our Upper Campus students (9th-12th grade) resumed distance learning classes on Monday August 31, while Lower Campus (PK-8th grade) began September 1. The majority of classes are taking place online, at least initially — although in Pre-K and Kindergarten, we are lucky to have the opportunity to provide in-person instruction.

Our goal is to resume in-person classes across all grades as soon as possible. We are working with Ventura County Public Health, and we will pivot to in-person classes immediately when we get a green-light to do so. 

Until that time, we will continue to innovate, further develop programs that express our core values, and face the challenges of the new year with joy and a mindset toward finding opportunities that maximize our learning. 

While it’s safe to say that all of us would prefer an in-person learning environment for our children, we also acknowledge that distance learning can provide new opportunities to build independence, master communication tools, and become more resilient. As such, we encourage all students to establish a daily routine — take a shower, brush your hair and teeth, eat breakfast, and be ready to start the academic day on time — to give us all our best chance at success in this challenging time.

Please find below distance learning details for each grade level, as well as several helpful links for finding more information. 

As always, communications will be emailed to families and guardians, and can also be found on our Covid Advisory and Updates page.

Details on distance learning for Upper Campus (grades 9-12):

We are planning to open the school year on August 31 with distance learning for all students at Upper Campus. A virtual orientation is planned for new students on August 30.

Teachers will be conducting classes using GoogleMeet, and Moodle will once again provide students with class assignments, due dates and grades. New students will be provided guidance on accessing these platforms. 

Classes will begin at 8:10 a.m, as usual, and breaks and lunchtimes are included in the schedule. Each day will end with a period for health and wellness (in place of the traditional athletics block). Students will enjoy virtual Milk & Crackers (all-school) Meetings 3 times per week, as well as meetings with their advisors twice a week. Additionally, Office Hours — a time for students to get extra help from their teachers as needed — will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Click here for the Upper Campus Class schedule.

For additional details, please see Notes from OVS: Opening of School (Upper Campus), Mr. Floyd’s letter to students and parents, which can be found on our Covid Advisory and Updates page.

Details on distance learning for Lower Campus (grades PK-8):

The first day of school for Lower Campus will be Tuesday, September 1. The pickup day for school supplies is Friday, August 28 from 9 to 11 a.m. 

With the exception of prekindergarten and kindergarten, Lower Campus students will begin the year with distance learning. Elementary students will utilize the Student Seesaw app, while middle schoolers will utilize the programs already pre-installed on the Chromebooks provided by the school.

Classes will begin at 8 a.m. and, in general, run through 3 p.m. (see individual schedules below for full details). Students will be provided with snack and lunch breaks, and will participate in their co-curricular classes, in addition to core classes.

For additional details, please see Notes from OVS: Opening of School (Lower Campus), Mrs. Clark’s letter to students and parents, which can be found on our Covid Advisory and Updates page.

• Primary (Prekindergarten and Kindergarten):

In Pre-K and Kindergarten, we are lucky to have the opportunity to provide in-person instruction at Lower Campus. Classes will run from 8 a.m. to 2:05 p.m, with Aftercare being an option as needed for working families until 4 p.m. (Families must sign up for this ahead of time.)

We have created outdoor classroom spaces and have plenty of room to spread out and learn safely. Summer camp taught us that even the youngest children can embrace the requirement of mask-wearing, take hand washing protocols seriously, and understand their role in keeping everyone healthy. 

Box lunches will be served daily. 

Sample schedule, Prekindergarten

Sample schedule, Kindergarten

• Elementary (grades 1-5):

In first through fifth grade, students will begin each day by logging into the Seesaw student application. Each day will begin with a virtual meeting at 8 a.m, and the meeting will remain open all day. When it’s time for a co-curricular class, the teacher will join the student meeting, and they will attend all of their courses as if they were at school. Tutoring and time for independent work are also built into the schedule. (See sample schedules).

We will be providing guided lessons to help families and students familiarize themselves with these online learning tools. 

There will also be snack and lunch times in the schedule, and we encourage all families to adhere to those times. 

Sample schedule, grades 1-3

Sample schedule, grades 4 and 5

• Middle School (grades 6-8):

Chromebooks will be provided to all middle schoolers. These will come pre-installed with all the necessary software and plugins, including Moodle, the main source for all content delivery and assignment submissions. Each day in middle school will start with a virtual advisory meeting at 8 a.m. Students will follow their schedules and utilize Moodle to join virtual meetings for each course.

Office hours and independent work time is scheduled at the end of
each day, and teachers are available for questions throughout these periods. Content will be delivered through lecture, discussion and a variety of digital tools that aim to recreate the classroom experience. We will be providing guided lessons to help families and students familiarize themselves with these online learning tools. 

There will also be snack and lunch times in the schedule, and we encourage all families to adhere to those times. 

Sample schedule, grades 6-8

Congratulations to the OVS Class of 2020!

All told, our 24 seniors received more than 160 college acceptances. This stellar group is bound for colleges across the country, like UC Davis, Boston College, NYU, Embry-Riddle, Oregon State, and UCLA. Their majors are as diverse as their interests and backgrounds — robotics, environmental diplomacy, forestry, mathematics, aeronautical science, animal science, and more.

Learn more about our College Counseling — and how we help our students find the college/university that best suits their ambitions, talents and aspirations — visit our College Counseling page.

Celebrating early acceptances

Acceptance to top choice? Check.

The bonds forged in a barn are hard-won — and impossible to break. 

OVS has stables at both the Upper and Lower Campuses, offering students from prekindergarten through 12th grade the opportunity to ride. Our Equestrian Program welcomes riders of all levels, from beginners to experienced competitors.

For a student’s perspective, read The Final Dismount, a powerful piece from former student-journalist and equestrian program veteran, Jaclyn Sersland (U19).

Dillon, Roy, and a friend frolic in the wildflowers.

Layla takes a snack break.

Horses on Holiday

While the riders are away, the horses will play! 

OVS students are complying with the stay-at-home order and doing distance learning, but our Upper and Lower Campus horses are enjoying an extended vacation. They spent a month just south of the Ojai Valley, and recently moved to a beautiful pasture near downtown Ojai, with stunning views of the iconic Topa Topa Mountains and their “Pink Moment” sunsets.

To learn more about our Equestrian Program for students
in prekindergarten through 12th grade, click here.

April 14, 2020

Here in Ojai we are staying home. California took swift, early action and we have had far fewer cases of COVID-19 compared to the more densely populated areas, like New York. In Ojai, there have been only five reported cases — but were are taking the threat seriously and continue to practice social distancing and provide online classes to our students until the situation improves statewide. We hope to resume in-person classes after May 4, but are mindful the stay-at-home orders could be extended. Our community understands that preventative actions now will allow us to get back to more normal school operations in the fall. 

For our families in the enrollment process, we are suspending our re-enrollment deadlines and are working individually with families on payment options and financial assistance.

We have also moved to rolling admissions for new applicants. Our Admissions Office remains open and available to assist families at admissions@ovs-archive.ihwy.com or call (805) 646-1423 ext. 1259. 

Be well!