Pre-Kindergarten

Learning through play is a foundational element of the Pre-Kindergarten program, which provides a warm, nurturing environment for children ages 3-5 to learn, explore, and develop their academic, social emotional, and physical skills. The curriculum blends a number of educational philosophies, including the Reggio and Montessori approaches, with an emphasis on individual and small group instruction. Reading and language skills, math, science, and social studies are introduced with a variety of hands-on activities, projects and games. Students also enjoy an enriching co-curricular program that includes woodshop, art, Spanish, physical education, library, animal sciences, and music — all balanced with time for play and rest time in the afternoon. These offerings provide a strong educational foundation that helps in the development of the whole child. 

The Pre-Kindergarten program utilizes the natural beauty of the campus, as well as thematic units, field trips, outdoor excursions and community service opportunities to relate what students are learning to the outside world. The early education children receive in our Pre-Kindergarten program sets them up for many years of intellectual exploration, both inside and outside the classroom. Students enter this program at ages 3 or 4. The youngest students spend two years in Pre-K before matriculating to Kindergarten at age 5. After-school care, snacks, and hot lunches are provided, and teachers strive to provide a high level of care and support through regular contact with families. 

Building Character 

Children begin to learn practical skills in the Pre-Kindergarten program. They become more independent and competent in taking care of themselves. They learn to clean up, put away their own work and learning materials, and to help care for the classroom. These skills are valuable not only in themselves, but as building blocks for developing competence, cooperation, and appropriate impulse control. Character building occurs in the classroom as well as during lunch time — when students learn to select a nutritious meal balanced with fruit, veggies and protein — and on the playground during Free Play time. Each year, our college-bound seniors remark at how the character skills they learned at OVS all began in the Pre-K yard! 

Language Development 

We take the phonetic approach to learning using Montessori tools along with Ojai Valley School’s philosophy of hands-on learning. Every child works individually with the Pre-K teacher to develop reading skills through the use of sand paper letters, the moveable alphabet, three-letter phonetic word lists, and phonetic reader books. 

Math Development 

Through individualized math instruction, children are introduced to number value, one-to-one correspondence, single addition and subtraction using manipulatives, estimation of objects, and geometric solids and planes. 

Science and Social Studies 

Learning is developed through monthly thematic interdisciplinary units. The classroom is transformed into learning environments based on specific topics, such as Arctic animals, butterflies, and more. Through art, language, math, and science project-based activities, students explore and develop their curiosity in a nurturing environment.