Ventura Missionary Schools (preschool, elementary, and middle school) were established in 1979 and 1980 as a ministry of Ventura Missionary Church.
The preschool was created to provide an early education program, and the elementary and middle schools were founded a year later to offer an alternative to a public school education.
VMPS and VMS offer a quality Christian education for church members and people in the area.
The schools employ 38 teachers, 1 aide, 3 office staff, a preschool director, a principal, 4 yard duty aides, and 3 daycare teachers, for a total of 51 employees.
VMS regular classroom teachers are required to be credentialed. Out of the 16 regular classroom teachers, all have their credential and 7 have an additional Masters degree. There is a healthy balance of those new to the field and veteran educators; the majority of the teachers have been employed at the schools between 5 and 15 years.
The Arts are a major component of a VMS education. Students attend Spanish, Art, Computer, and Music classes weekly. Instruction is provided by specialized teachers.
The principal, Mrs. Nancy Baker, has been at VMS 20 years; 8 years as a classroom teacher and 12 years in administration. She has a teaching credential, administrative credential, and a Masters in Educational Administration.
Curriculum used at VMS is chosen on its merits of effectiveness, teacher and student "friendliness," thoroughness of instruction, coverage of state standards, and integration of Biblical principles whenever possible. Curriculum published by Christian publishers (A Beka, Bob Jones, ACSI) is used in spelling (through 6th grade), handwriting (through 4th grade), and, of course, Bible, a subject taught daily at each grade level (see VMS Textbooks).
VMS students memorize Bible verses weekly. Elementary and middle school students focus on a monthly character trait . This year we are focusing on the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Each month students will reflect on the "fruit" and work on ways to incorporate it into their everyday lives.
Our students annually participate in two spelling bees and a vocabulary contest. Every year our students also enter the Ventura County Transportation Commission Annual Poster Contest. Over the years, our students have won first, second, and third places in their grade divisions and have been given savings bonds at the awards ceremonies.
The education students receive at VMS is arts-enriched, rigorous, challenging, and academically sound as evidenced by high standardized test scores and the percentage of students taking advanced classes in high school.
