President's Message

Dear Friends,
Welcome to Villanova Preparatory School. It is my honor and privilege to introduce you to a Roman Catholic secondary co-educational community in the Augustinian tradition. Inspiration for our educational tradition and core values (community, truth and love) are firmly rooted in Sacred Scripture as handed down by St. Augustine of Hippo in the 4th century. The Augustinians claim a teaching tradition that dates to 1256, and yet focused clearly on the future.

Villanova was established in October 1924 at the request of Bishop John Cantwell who invited the Augustinians to California from Villanova, Pennsylvania to open schools and parishes in the early 1920’s. Villanova is a member of the Augustinian Secondary Education Association (ASEA) which comprises eight secondary institutions in North America and over 100 schools worldwide. Villanova offers both a day and resident program.

Villanova Preparatory School educates the leaders of tomorrow and is truly a microcosm of global citizenry comprising students from ten different countries. In the spirit of St. Augustine, Villanova educates the whole person within a diverse and disciplined environment, as our students strive for academic excellence, religious maturity, and a loving commitment to peace and justice through Christian service.

I hope you learn more about Villanova as you visit our new website. A personal invitation is extended to those who wish to visit our campus and experience the rustic setting of rolling hills nestled in the Ojai Valley. The beauty of our setting is reminiscent of the mission period of early California. Villanova is minutes from the Pacific Ocean and a leisurely drive to Los Angeles. If you are considering joining our community, you have some exciting times ahead.

In Christ Jesus and St. Augustine,

Rev. Gregory Heidenblut, O.S.A.
President

 

Headmaster's Message

Dear Web Visitors,

At Villanova Prep we recognize the great challenge for any school in these times is to prepare students for 21^st century careers and citizenship. Educational journals are stuffed with ideas on how to prepare our students for this new and ever more demanding century and global citizenship. Critical thinking, problem solving, adaptability, initiative, the ability to access and analyze information are all now essential skills.

Yet when I think about it, these skills are not so much 21^st century as they are 5^th century. Every one of them, as modern sounding as they may be, derive from the Augustinian core values of truth, unity, and love. We read the current journals and we learn from recent research, but we recognize that St. Augustine’s ideals, as ancient as they may be, still provide the most effective foundation for education available.

As you visit our website and become acquainted with our school, you will find that there can’t be a better place than Villanova to build on that foundation to prepare students for success in the 21^st century. This is a truly special school, where we look forward even as we reach backward. Unlike most campuses, the students come from a variety of elementary school experiences and backgrounds and even countries. Our international students bring a diversity and richness to the community that few other high schools can possibly provide. We pride ourselves on the diversity of both resident and day students, and the acceptance and respect for others that it encourages.

Our teachers are special as well, each of them committed to excellence in both teaching and learning. They are an extremely interesting bunch, with a range of interests that will challenge not only our students but the administration as well. It is their own participation in the world that allows us to offer such a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, whether it’s in a classroom or on a playing field. No student can fail to be encouraged by the example of our talented faculty.

It is not easy to provide a high school experience, maybe the most important experience of their lives, that sets these students on the journey from adolescent to adult.  But we truly believe that Villanova, with its belief in the past and its faith in the future, is uniquely qualified to change lives and form young men and women into the leading citizens of our complex 21^st century world.

Together in the bond of truth, unity and love,

Carol Hoffer

Headmaster