Description : High school program in Ojai Valley School

Quick overview of Summer program for kids:

• Age: from 3 to 7 years;
• Dates: June 25 - August 05;
• Duration of the program: 2, 4, 6 weeks.

About the educational program: The program of the language course for children from 3 to 7 years old offers a full-time course for students of this age. The learning process takes place in a game form, that is, with the help of dances, songs, sports activities, art and other types of interactive interaction.

Young students get to Ojai Valley School on a school bus that takes children from Marina Park to Ventura from 07:30. They come back at 16:35. Academic classes begin at 8 am and last until 3 pm. During this time, the children twice eat in the dining room - breakfast and lunch.

Brief information:

• Age: from 8 to 13 years;
• Dates: June 25 - August 05;
• Duration of the program: 2, 4, 6 weeks.

About the educational course: The language course for older students provides for several types of curricula. Academic classes last 4 hours daily from Monday to Friday. Lessons are thought out so as to be interesting and exciting, and they are directed mainly at the development of reading, writing, mathematics.

International pupils are offered several subjects to choose from:

• Magic mathematics;
• A book club;
• Creative writing;
• Mechanical reading; 
• Musical perception;
• Art;
• Journalism;
• High-tech training.

After completion of the program, each student receives a report on his academic performance.

Quick overview of theatrical camp:

• Age: 14-16 years old;
• Dates: June 25 - August 05;
• Duration of the program: 2, 4, 6 weeks.

For pupils of 8-10 classes, the main disciplines are English, algebra and geometry. In addition to this academic program, high school students can choose to study in one of the thematic camps.

For example, a theater camp is suitable for creative children who are passionate about acting, theaters in general or music. Here teenagers will be able to learn how to put out light, sound, create scenery, and at the end of each session they will perform their theatrical performances before all participants of the camp. In the first half of the day, children attend electives: dancing, staging a voice, mastery, technique, creating scenery, where they will be able to fully reveal their creative potential.

Quick overview of Riding camp:

• Age: 14-16 years old;
• Dates: June 25 - August 05;
• Duration of the program: 2, 4, 6 weeks.

In high school the main subjects for studying are:

• English;
• Geometry and algebra.

The remaining classes are held within the chosen program - the riding camp. This course is perfect for children who can ride, and for those who have not yet learned the skills of riding. The guys will ride horses and take care of them themselves - clean and feed. After lunch, they will have the opportunity to join entertainment or sports activities.

Quick overview:

• Age: 14-16 years old;
• Dates: June 25 - August 05;
• Duration of the program: 2, 4, 6 weeks.

About the educational course: Older children, pupils of grades 8-10, the main subjects for studying are English and mathematics (algebra and geometry). And the additional program "English as a second language" will help foreign children to adapt faster in an unusual language environment and improve their ability to speak a foreign language. All students are divided into groups according to their level.

Brief information of Adventure camp:

• Age: 14-16 years old;
• Dates: June 25 - August 05;
• Duration of the program: 2, 4, 6 weeks.

List of subjects to study:

• English;
• Geometry;
• Algebra.

Thus, the "Adventure Camp" prepares its students active pastime for such activities as:

• Tennis;
• Dancing;
• Archery;
• Swimming;
• Cooking;
• Riding;
• Photography;
• Journalism;
• Film production.

Every week, students will be able to choose new activities.

Brief information:

• Age: 14-16 years old;
• Dates: June 25 - August 05;
• Duration of the program: 2, 4, 6 weeks.

Pupils from 8 to 10 class during the training focus on three disciplines:

• English;
• Geometry;
• Algebra.

Also, the training course is supplemented by the program of the thematic camp chosen by the schoolchild.

International students who chose the Robotics group for themselves will be able to build a rocket, create their own Lego robot, make a design scheme from various parts and learn how to use the Arduino program.

Quick overview:

• Age: 14-16 years old;
• Dates: June 25 - August 05;
• Duration of the program: 2, 4, 6 weeks.

Film Camp's students are engaged in the fact that they are expanding their knowledge in the field of cinema, making joint projects with their classmates. For teenagers who have chosen this direction, daily discussions and criticism in the field of cinema are held. In order to become a part of this camp, the pupil needs to take with him a camera, video camera or smartphone, as well as a hard disk with a memory capacity of 500 GB.

In addition, the program of the thematic camp is accompanied by the study of three compulsory disciplines:

• English;
• Geometry;
• Algebra.

Primary classes Ojai Valley teaches children from grades 1 to 5, from grade 3 (8 years old), the educational institution accepts students for full board with the possibility of year-round living, meals, supervision. In primary grades, students strengthen basic academic skills, develop thinking, expand knowledge, form values, a sense of responsibility, and leadership abilities.

The philosophy of the Ojai Valley School, Elementary Division combines basic academic sciences with art, music, technology, foreign language, equestrian sports, physical education, technology, outdoor pursuits. Joint proposals play an important role in the development of social and cultural values. The main focus of the curriculum is on the development of academic skills, responsibility, citizenship, respect for oneself and others.

The academic structure is strong, consistent, flexible: the emphasis is on the fundamentals of mathematics, reading, language arts, science, social studies. Every week there are classes in the study of Spanish, librarianship, art, music, woodworking workshops, computer literacy lessons. The program is complemented by physical education, outdoor activities, horse riding, singing. Teachers use materials and methods designed for collaborative learning, traditional lessons. The small class size allows teachers to give individual attention to each student.

Quick overview of the educational program of Art:

• The Fine Arts program introduces arts disciplines in the elementary grades, gradually developing the creative skills of students during their primary and secondary school lessons.
• Woodshop is part of the visual arts program and has been around for over a century. Special attention is paid to the creation of handcrafted wood projects that fulfill a practical and aesthetic function.
• The goal of the Performing Arts program is to create an inspiring environment in which students can explore musical genres, participate in activities designed to improve their music perception, gain confidence, and increase self-esteem by developing their own creativity.

Brief information of the educational program of Technology:

At the entry level, technology is being integrated into student life on a daily basis inside and outside the classroom. Elementary school students master them in weekly lessons. Each course builds on the knowledge of the previous year and includes topics: security in internet research, basic coding, introduction to 3D design and printing. Students spend time in Makerspace - a place where students can develop ideas, design, and implement them. They use Legos, K'nex, Little Bits, 3D Printers, Hummingbird Circuits, Makey Makey, craft tools.

About the educational course of Foreign language:

All primary school students study Spanish as a foreign language. The goal of learning at this level is vocabulary learning and cultural enrichment: the goal is consistent with the amount of time allocated for learning. Students in all grades participate in language activities of varying difficulty depending on skill level. They explore a culture different from their own through vocabulary development, reading, face-to-face learning, interactive lessons, songs, and role-playing.

Students understand how language and culture depend on each other. The vocabulary related to family life, school activities, leisure, is used in pair and group work, in student-teacher interaction, providing opportunities for creative use of language. The four basic skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking - are introduced as students gain experience with 5 themes: communication, culture, connection, comparison, community. Teachers use computer software, audio, video lessons.

high school

OVS High School students take on a challenging academic program that develops critical thinking, mental ability, and problem solving skills prior to moving to high school. Students in grades 6-8 study an integrated course of study in mathematics, natural sciences, technology, engineering. They develop strong writing, research, reading skills through a curriculum based on literature, language classes, social studies. In middle grades, students choose a foreign language themselves, continue to study Spanish, as well as visual and performing arts.

In high school, students are provided opportunities for self-reliance and personal growth through leadership responsibilities inside / outside the classroom. Extracurricular activities include student council, outdoor teaching, athletics, reading with students in primary grades. Students practice singing, drama, music, visual arts, crafts. They learn about the great artists and musicians of the past, visit the museums of the region. Students participate in a variety of stage performances, music concerts, concerts at the 480-seat Greenberg Entertainment Center. Students can learn to control light, design, create sets, be part of an orchestra, or perform on stage.

Art

The Fine Arts program provides students with a balanced education in various artistic disciplines: throughout the year, students are given the opportunity to study various media - print graphics, drawing, oil pastels, charcoal, pen, ink, painting, ceramics, watercolor, papier-mâché. These traditional media are accompanied by a growing number of digital art opportunities, including digital photography and online research. The on-campus art room has recently been expanded with a digital projector, graphic tablet. Middle school students visit the art room once a week for 40-minute lessons, where they get to know new concepts, artwork, artists. Students spend 3 days a week at the Fine Arts and Woodworking Center for one semester, and the second semester at the Makers Space and Physical Technology Laboratory.

The Performing Arts program invites students to explore musical genres, participate in listening activities, sing, dance, play, and explore pitch and rhythm. Criteria for judging the performing arts include participation, attentiveness, performance and general attitude.

Part of the program is the study of the music of the peoples of the world. From New Zealand Maori to local Indians, OVS students explore musical traditions, discovering a multicultural musical field. Thanks to a grant from Barbara Smith, the campus hosts exciting world music performances every year.

Middle school students participate in various ensembles - OVS orchestra, choir, Garage Band, string orchestra. Rehearsal times are built into the weekly schedule, with many members taking one-to-one lessons on campus to hone their gaming skills. Students showcase their talents at nightly concerts, in the spring musical, and in the classic Oklahoma and My Fair Lady shows. Individual music lessons with professional teachers are available to students.

Technology

Today's students are intensively exposed to technology and have instant, easy access to information and communications via smartphones and computers. High school is a time of significant growth and change for young people. The goal is to help students master useful technological skills, develop critical thinking, common sense when working with the Internet. The school promotes creativity, problem solving through programming, robotics, engineering skills as part of a technology curriculum. The programming skills learned in high school will provide a solid foundation to study robotics in high school.

High school technology classes include:

• Grade 6: Game Design, Programming, Cad Design, 3D Printing.
• Grade 7: drone flight, CAD design, 3D printing, programming, robotics design.
• Grade 8: robotics, programming.

Advisory assistance

In the advisory program, each high school student is paired with a counselor who oversees his / her academic and social progress with a small advisory group (usually about 7 students) that meets 3 times a week. The consultations are focused on discussion of academic skills, time management, goal setting, cybersecurity, nutrition, conflict resolution, friendship, ethical dilemmas, making good decisions.

About the educational program of High school:

High school students thrive during college preparation: special attention is paid to character development, academic performance. The school creates a favorable environment: students are encouraged to ask questions to teachers, look for new ways of learning. Students are engaged in complex work on the Advanced Placement program, visual arts, athletics, and other optional, extra-curricular activities.

Ojai Valley School offers a wide variety of courses, including 24 Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors across all disciplines. All courses at Ojai Valley School are approved by the University of California, the minimum graduation requirement for college recommendation is 17 credits, which includes:

• 4 - in English;
• 3 - in social sciences;
• 3 - in a foreign language;
• 3 - in mathematics;
• 3 - in natural sciences;
• 1 - in fine arts.

Most OVS graduates go beyond the minimum requirements and take additional courses tailored to their interests in their future college major. For example, a student interested in medicine chooses additional classes in science and mathematics, and a student wishing to enter a college of fine arts meets the minimum requirements for these subjects to make room for additional art classes: ceramics, photography, AP Studio Art.

Students work closely with the administration to create an individualized class schedule that meets their requirements and contributes to the achievement of educational goals.

The high school provides a relaxed learning environment with state-of-the-art labs, classrooms, and talented faculty members motivating students to strengthen academic skills, satisfy intellectual curiosity.

Quick overview of Advanced placement:

For admission to Advanced Placement, students undergo training and entrance tests. The school reserves the right to limit the number of AP and Honors courses a student can attend. AP students take exams in the spring.

AP & Honors List:

• AP English and Composition;
• AP English Literature;
• English 10 Hons;
• AP World History;
• AP History of the United States;
• AP Psychology;
• Honors Spanish 3;
• AP Spanish;
• Honors Calculus;
• AP Calculus AB;
• AP Calculus BC;
• AP Statistics;
• AP Computer Science A;
• AP Principles of Informatics;
• AP Studio Art: 2-D Design;
• AP Studio Art: 3-D Design;
• AP Studio Art: Drawing;
• AP Biology;
• AP Chemistry;
• AP Physics 1;
• AP Physics 2;
• AP Physics C: Mechanics;
• AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism;
• AP Ecology.