We all want our children to be eager students: curious, resourceful, and resilient. The seeds for those qualities are planted in the first years of schooling. Their first experience away from home sets the stage for a time that seems almost impossibly far away to most of us parents: college, independence, moving out! For years students have been wishing that they could stay at Monica Ros until that time comes. Many parents would be happy if it at least lasted until sixth grade….or, maybe eighth. But, what makes Monica Ros so supportive to the intellectual and emotional growth of young children is its emphasis on young children. We believe that the most natural activity of childhood, imaginative play, can be leveraged for social and intellectual growth. With adding just a bit of memorization and cooperation, child’s play becomes a classroom performance. Community plus imagination equals a student council project. Quickly you can see how young children are capable of great things. At Monica Ros we give them these opportunities for greatness. 

Early Childhood is a distinct developmental stage which begins around 3 and ends between 8 and 9; it is also the focus of Monica Ros School. We know that young children are capable of great things. What makes Monica Ros so supportive to the intellectual and emotional growth of young children is its EMPHASIS on young children.

The “Right Beginnings” are so important! Curiosity, confidence, empathy, resilience, are the bedrock for healthy development. Our earliest experiences form our self-concept; self-concept directs our choices, our choices are our future. Creating an engaged scholar begins in preschool. Not with early academics, but with positive relationships, opportunities to be thoughtful and brave, kind and true. When academic practice is introduced to Monica Ros students, our language arts and mathematics programs combine with the magic of experiential learning to create the motivation to learn that will last a lifetime. These are the “Right Beginnings” and have been instilling a love of learning in generations of Ojai’s children for more than 75 years.