Ojai Valley School has held progressive education and character development at the center of its philosophy and practice. “Educating the whole child” is more than a statement of intent. Our academic, residential life, athletic, and outdoor programs create opportunities for intellectual growth and character development at each level of student maturity. As represented by the oak tree that graces the OVS logo, the strength of our culture is rooted in integrity, compassion, fairness, responsibility, respect, and perseverance.
As the school celebrated its centennial in 2011, members of the Board of Trustees, the senior administrative team, past parents, alumni, staff, and faculty members began a planning process to guide the school confidently into its second century. As part of this work, the school launched The Next 100 Campaign, a three-phase $6.5 million capital campaign to improve facilities on both campuses. We are proud to report that we have concluded the first phase of the campaign with construction of our new fine arts center at the Lower Campus, the Alan F. Pearson Center for the Arts, and rehabilitation of the historic Founder’s Shop. As we now enter the second phase, it is an ideal time to present our strategic planning document – the Centennial Vision Plan.
At its core is a commitment to our founding principles and a road map for our future growth and sustainability. To be a progressive school is to be progressive on all fronts – innovative in our curriculum, creative in our approach to learning, and bold in our vision for the future. As we approach our 110th anniversary in 2021, we must deepen our commitment to the school philosophy, expand and improve facilities, and sharpen our distinctive qualities as a boarding and day school. We will continue our commitment to environmental sustainability, and strengthen our sense of community for students, faculty and alumni both locally and globally.