The Thacher School - Review #1

Thacher's community on campus is unlike any other, connections at the school go beyond merely knowing every student's name but having had interacted closely with everyone whether on a camping trip, in the dining hall line or at a weekend event. The freshmen riding program sets each class up for success by allowing them to bond and form close-knit connections amongst themselves.

As a boarding high school student, I grew very independent, self-sufficient and confident in my own capabilities. I also know that the connections I made with my peers during these years will last a lifetime. There is no better place to spend four transformative years than with over 200 motivated and talented individuals on a beautiful campus in a valley, surrounded by scenic sunsets.

From the second students arrive on campus, they are shown that they are supported. They meet their dorm head, their prefect, their advisor and get so much help navigating campus. If my kids were attending I would feel confident that they were given all the support and resources they needed to have a smooth transition.

I like that all the students share values of being hardworking, motivated, intellectually curious, being kind to one another, and creating a community where everyone can grow to be their best self and be authentic to themselves. Without this shared value, this special community could not be achieved.

Take advantage of every opportunity given and approach every camping trip with a positive mindset, they are so much and something alumni always miss. Also make sure to take advantage of Winter camping trips when they are offered

Academics at Thacher are challenging and push each student towards intellectual growth without pushing students towards unhealthy stress levels. Every student feels supported as small class sizes, only about 7-13 students per class, can allow teachers to work closely with students and recognize when a student may need some extra help. Almost all the teachers live on campus and are always willing to have students over at their homes for extra help or to meet at any time to review anything .

The athletic program at Thacher has something for every individual as there are competitive sports such as football, baseball,lacrosse and also climbing and western riding. The athletic program allows for great connections to be made as every student is participating and the athletic period allows for a break from academics. The facilities are very nice and all have scenic views of the surrounding mountains and valley. The coaches are often also teachers which allows for close and supportive relationships to form especially as they are the ones who drive the team to off-campus games and to dinners after.

The art program requires all freshmen to take an introductory course to visual art, music, and drama. This is a bonding experience for freshmen and allows them to try new things and figure out what they enjoy most. There are also art courses like ceramics which is always popular among students as it is very enjoyable. The different art groups on campus such as jazz ensemble and chamber singers perform often at school wide concerts and for parents as well

At the beginning of each year, the school organizations hold a club fair with several clubs ranging from tech club to tea club. The clubs allow anyone to join and there are some for everyone. There are also several affinity groups such as the Black Student Union and Latinos Unidos. Although community service hours are not a graduation requirement, students are very involved as many chose to do community service during their weekly free periods and take advantages of other weekend opportunities that come around throughout the year.

Dorm life is arguably the best part of being at a boarding school as you get to live next to your closest friends. Students are never forcibly required to room, however many do choose to room at some point as it is an exciting experience. There are prefects in each dorm however the dorm rooms are not set up by perfect groups which allows for more mixing, especially freshman year. Dorms will often have weekly events after check in such as a pool night. Each dorm also has a common room, kitchen and laundry room.

The dining hall is almost always open, it closes briefly after meal times for cleaning but opens later to allows students to drop in and grab a bagel or soft serve. There is a wide variety of meals throughout the year and are always several options at every meal. The dining hall is also very accommodating as there is always a vegetarian and vegan option.

Town life is amazing for students as Ojai is perfect for young students. Ojai has many places for students to eat on weekends and all the options are local business as there are no chains. Ojai is a close-knit community and has good connections with Thacher students.

There is a lot of time to socialize at Thacher as there is time dedicated every night to hang out with friends and peers. Each weekend there are opportunities to get off campus with friends and events occurring on campus as well.