Santa Ynez Valley Family School

Features and Highlights

• Building Confidence Each student is challenged based on their individual learning continuum, and encouraged to stand up for themselves and others in group settings.
• Enabling Exploration. Active learning occurs in every multi-age classroom, sparking creativity and curiosity within each engaged learner.
• Creating Community Students acquire tools to strengthen their social and emotional well-being, and are given opportunities to contribute as caring community members.
• Advocacy: Child-centered learning & assessment, Group focused teaching, Multi-age classrooms Tenacity: Differentiation in classroom, Hikes, Self-evaluation and reflection, SEL (Growth Mindset)
• Inquiry: Nature/ Outdoor activities, Project-based learning, Emergent curriculum Collaboration: Community events (Halloween, Coffee Cart, “Family week (conferences), PE, Buddies, Cooperative Learning groups
• Creativity: Theater, Music, Art, Unstructured play time, Choice in displaying learning, Student directed assignments Mindfulness: Meditation, SEL Curriculum, Hikes, Low student/teacher ratios

About Santa Ynez Valley Family School

Founded in 1974, Santa Ynez Valley Family School is a small, independent school for Preschool through Fifth Grade located in Los Olivos, California at the base of Los Padres National Forest. Community, creativity and nature drive a multi-age, individualized curriculum that inspires critical thinking, curiosity and empathy. Our students seek challenge and meaningful learning within a nurturing environment supported by high-quality teachers, involved families and joyful peers. We believe that academic, social, and emotional skills are vital to growing whole human beings who become engaged citizens of the world.