When done in balance with the quiet reciprocity of all beings, the ecosystem may move beyond survival; it may thrive.
This year, as we mark our 50th, we chose the theme The Art of Living and Learning. Krishnamurti said that true learning begins with direct observation of “what is,” free from judgment or distortion – a clear attention unclouded by fear, comparison, or the pressure to become.
Helping children to build the muscle of gratitude can also aid in a sense of humility – when we can see how interdependent we are on others for everything we have, everything we are, from the most basic level.
This month I traveled to New York City, meeting with alumni and longtime Oak Grove donors. Seeing how our alumni carry Oak Grove into the world, I am reminded of the deep roots our school has nurtured over fifty years.
What began 50 years ago, with just a few children and teachers sitting cross-legged in the grass, has blossomed into a vibrant, thriving community.
Solving problems is how children build competence – both in the classroom and in life. The aim of a healthy life is not to eliminate hardship but to develop the skills and inner resources to meet it.
Certainly, this is a place where the children are seen and known, a place where adults and children ask meaningful questions together and individually without the limits of an answer. But is this an oasis?
Failure is not separate from learning. When a child fails, something essential happens – which we see if we are attentive. In this world of comparison, failure can turn into shame. We live in a culture that idolizes success and recoils at failure. This conditioning can seep into how we raise and educate our children.
What does it mean to be fully present? Is it possible to be here in this moment with you and not be distracted by my “to-do” lists or the ever-emerging messages piercing notifications through my many devices and platforms?
Our teachers make space to demonstrate curiosity, make mistakes, and explore the world of knowledge alongside our students.
CONTACT OAK GROVE
Oak Grove School of the Krishnamurti Foundation of America
CALL: 805 646 8236
EMAIL: info@oakgroveschool.org
MAIL: 220 West Lomita Avenue
Ojai, California 93023-2244
Latest News
Parent Ed: Data to DialogueJanuary 23, 2026 - 3:13 pm
Garden Dispatch: Connection to the EarthDecember 22, 2025 - 7:53 pm
ReciprocityDecember 18, 2025 - 11:40 pm
Student Newspaper, Winter 2025 EditionDecember 17, 2025 - 10:40 pm
High School Winter Showcase 2025December 17, 2025 - 4:01 pm
How wonderful to welcome our seniors and chaperones back to campus today after their three-week visit to sister schools in India. We are incredibly grateful for the unique care, kindness, and friendships we experience each year. Thank you, Rishi Valley and The Valley School! Welcome home, Class of 2026! 🦎❤️ 🇮🇳 🪷
#gratitude #friendship #worldtravel #classof2026 #India #seniortrip #experientiallearning #theartoflivingandlearning #education
Another inspiring and meaningful MLK Day. Thanks to High School students across the Ojai Valley @ojaiyouth, and to all who helped and participated in today`s event. ❤️ #MLKDay #peace #civilrights #justice #peacelikeariverinmysoul 🎶🎶
See you at Libbey Bowl tomorrow! 10am-1:30pm
This free event is organized by local high school students and sponsored by the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation and the City of Ojai. The event will feature student art, essays and poetry centered on this year’s theme, "Building a Beloved Community."
Thank you to the @ojaivalleyyouthfoundation and City of Ojai and all who make this wonderful event possible.
A book, a poem, singing together, and art projects. Today`s assembly in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. left our hearts full and imagining a more peaceful world.
MLK Day invites us to hold both urgency and hope. History shows us that change is slow, uneven, and often met with resistance. It also shows us that progress is real, that courage multiplies, and that new generations continue to insist on dignity and equity. The question is not whether change is possible, but whether we are willing to participate in it now.
Please join us for Ojai`s 26th Annual MLK Day Celebration on Monday 1/19 at Libbey Park from 10:00am - 1:30pm. The theme for this year is "Building a Beloved Community." Oak Grove`s younger students host a sing-along at 10:30am, and words shared from older students at 1pm.
#MLKDAY #Ojai #Imagine #Peace #civilrights #equality #love #justice
Non-Discrimination Policy
Oak Grove School does not discriminate on the basis of any individual or group identity characteristics, such as but not limited to race, color, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national or ethnic origin, differing mental or physical abilities, or family structure in the administration of its educational or admissions policies, employment practices, scholarship, and other school-administered programs. View the unabridged policy.

