JULY 20, 2020

Update on School Opening

Dear OVS Parents and Guardians,

California Gov. Gavin Newsom laid out new rules on Friday regarding the reopening of schools. Specifically, the order requires schools in counties with high rates of COVID-19 to remain closed and move to online learning until infection rates decline. While cases in Ojai remain low, our larger Ventura County is included on the state’s watch list, which means we cannot open for in-person instruction until certain health benchmarks are met. 

With six weeks before we start school, we are hopeful that Ventura County will be removed from the watch list in time for Ojai Valley School to open with in-person classes. We are also looking into options to operate our primary grades as a daycare center, and we are pursuing a waiver to open the elementary division. We will update you as plans continue to evolve.

At the same time, OVS is preparing for the potential, and we hope temporary, switch to distance learning if necessary. The school administration has been planning for either path and we are confident that OVS will continue to deliver quality education throughout this pandemic and ensuing government orders.

Our Roadmap to Reopening, which we shared earlier this month (and can be found below), includes different opening models and safety protocols that meet and exceed the guidelines from the CDC and Ventura County Public Health.  

In the coming weeks, more information will be sent to you regarding the opening of school. Please do everything you can to help in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 so that students may return to campus.

Warm regards,

Craig Floyd, Head of School, Upper Campus  

Laurie Clark, Head of School, Lower Campus 

 

Click the link below for our detailed Roadmap to Reopening:

OVS Roadmap to Reopening 2020

Summer Reading is a great way to keep your mind engaged and explore great literature. Students entering and returning to Ojai Valley School are encouraged — and in some grades required — to read thought-provoking literature and complete assignments over the summer that will stimulate ideas for discussion at the start of the year. Please review the 2020 Summer Reading Lists for the Upper and Lower Campuses:

2020 Summer Reading and Assignments, Upper Campus
2020 Summer Reading, Lower Campus

We are continuing to monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation here in Ventura County, CA. At this time, there have been no changes to our OVS Summer Camp dates. We are developing contingency plans, including health screenings and program adjustments, and will be updating our campers as soon as we learn more. For now, we appreciate your patience as we navigate this challenging time. Our first priority is and will remain the health and safety of our campers and staff members!

 

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.org or call (805) 646-1423 ext. 1259. 

Be well!

At Ojai Valley School, we strive to develop the intellectual and personal growth of all of our students – and Outdoor Education is a core part of that experience.

From the top of Ojai’s Topa Topa Mountains to the depths of the Grand Canyon, the Outdoor Education program introduces all students to the stunning mountains, canyons, deserts, and beaches in the West — while teaching students how to respect and care for our fragile environment. 

Click here to learn more about the OVS Outdoor Education program.

Our spring sports schedules may have been disrupted, but our Spud spirit remains strong at both the Upper and Lower Campuses.

 

The Athletic program is a vital component of life at OVS. We believe that physical fitness is essential to the overall health and vitality of our students, as well as the development of character, teamwork, and other life skills. OVS middle and high school students participate in athletics each season. They have the opportunity to choose from a range of sports options in the fall, winter, and spring, and all elementary and primary students have physical fitness classes as part of the curriculum.

Learn more about sports at Ojai Valley School here.