OUR MISSION
To expand a child’s natural passion for learning in a setting that celebrates Ojai’s natural beauty. Our curriculum builds a child’s confidence both in the classroom and out in the world, inspiring a lifetime of discovery.
WHY WE PROVIDE EDUCATION THROUGH THIRD GRADE
Our Philosophy: An Early Childhood Focus
We all share the desire for our children to be eager students—curious, resourceful, and resilient. The foundation for these qualities is laid in the early years of schooling, setting the stage for their future independence and success. For this reason, the distinct developmental stage of Early Childhood, ranging from around 3 to 9-years-old, takes center stage at Monica Ros School.
We understand the importance of these formative years, and that's why we believe in the immense benefits of an environment focused solely on young children. Our emphasis on this developmental stage allows us to tap into the most natural activity of childhood—imaginative play—and leverage it for social and intellectual growth.
Curiosity, confidence, empathy, and resilience form the bedrock for healthy development. Our earliest experiences shape our self-concept, guiding our choices, and influencing our future. At Monica Ros, we understand that creating engaged scholars begins in preschool—not with early academics, but through positive relationships and opportunities to be thoughtful, brave, kind, and true.
When the time comes to introduce academic practice to our students, our language arts and mathematics programs seamlessly blend with the magic of experiential learning. This unique combination ignites a motivation to learn that lasts a lifetime, instilling in our young scholars a deep love for learning.
For over 80 years, Monica Ros School has been nurturing generations of Ojai's children with these right beginnings. We firmly believe that by focusing on young children and offering them opportunities for greatness, we lay the groundwork for a bright and promising future.
We invite you to join us at Monica Ros, where we celebrate the joy of childhood and create an environment where young minds thrive. Let us embark on this transformative journey together, ensuring your child's academic and personal growth from the very start.
Monica Ros, Founder
About Our Founder
Monica Horder Ros grew up in Australia where her childhood was filled with wonderful family experiences involving music, dance, drama, and art. In 1927, she married Ricardo Ros, a Cuban traveling through Australia. Their mutual interest in Theosophy and the teachings of Krishnamurti led them first to India and then to Ojai where they lived for a time at Krotona.
As they became integrated into the Ojai community, Mr. Ros taught Spanish briefly at The Thacher School, and Mrs. Ros taught music to local children. They also traveled, and Mrs. Ros continued to refine her natural talent for teaching by taking college courses at Columbia Teacher’s College in New York. In late 1939, Ricardo Ros passed away and his widow left Ojai to be with his family in Havana. Her ties to the community were strong, however, and fortunately for all of us, she returned to Ojai in 1940 and resumed her teaching of music to local children at her house on Grand Avenue.
“To learn with a love of learning, without competition, to take responsibility, to appreciate another’s ability, to cooperate in the enjoyment of the marvelous make-believe of play-acting with costumes and music and dancing, was my wish for all the children to experience.
“I can only say that I hoped the intent of the little school spoke for itself through the responses of the children as they felt physically secure and happy when they first made this break from home and continued to flower and respond as they entered kindergarten and grade school.”
- Mrs. Monica Horder Ros
Recognizing Mrs. Ros’ talent with children, Mrs. Anson Thacher encouraged her to broaden her teaching to the general instruction of young children. These classes developed into the first nursery school in Ojai, Monica Ros School, founded in 1942. In 1944, the School moved to the current location on McNell Road. Mrs. Ros was thrilled with the site, describing East Ojai and the facilities in those days as very rural and undeveloped: “Out of necessity, the outdoors became a classroom in many instances where children could develop and enjoy the contact with their surroundings.” Also, the existing small houses used as schoolrooms brought an atmosphere of homelike informality. Her deep, ongoing concern for the children as individuals is still held as a core value of the school.
In 1967, Mrs. Ros retired as Director, and the School became a non-profit corporation. The presence of Monica Ros continues to be felt each day at the School and in the hearts of the School’s many alumni. This little treasure in Ojai’s East End has been instrumental in shaping positive attitudes about school for many young children. The special, secure atmosphere fostered at Monica Ros School has been a precious start for generations of Ojai’s children.