The John Thomas Dye School in Los Angeles, California, is an independent, coeducational day school enrolling approximately 320 students from Kindergarten through Grade 6. The campus occupies 11 hilltop acres in Bel Air overlooking Santa Monica, Palos Verdes, and the Pacific Ocean. The homelike and inviting campus provides a country environment in the midst of the Greater Los Angeles urban area. Students enjoy easy access to the city’s parks, zoo, museums, libraries, and performing arts centers. They are within reach of nearby beaches, mountains, and national parks.

In 1929, founders Catherine Robberts Dye and her husband, John Thomas Dye II, started the Brentwood Town and Country School in their home for their only son, John Thomas Dye III, and his friends. Known to their students as Aunty Cathryn and Uncle John, the Dyes sought to nurture children in a loving atmosphere.

The School’s reputation for academic excellence, strong ethics, and its unique learning environment attracted many new students. By 1949, the School had outgrown its home. A new, larger facility called The Bel Air Town and Country School was built on the present site. In 1959, the School was renamed in honor of John Thomas Dye III, who was killed in action during World War II. Mr. and Mrs. Dye served as Headmaster and Headmistress until they retired in 1963.

The vision of the founders is being carried into the 21st century by a new generation of leadership. Building on the history and core strength of the School, the present Headmaster, Raymond R. Michaud, Jr., and his elected 18-member Board of Trustees, strive to prepare children for a rapidly changing world. The basics-reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, the arts, athletics, problem solving, self-esteem, social skills, and respect for individuality-are still at the heart of the program. Because technology skills and the ability to gather and process information are vital to today’s children, the entire School is linked by a state-of-the-art computer network to the Internet and the Worldwide Web.

The John Thomas Dye School, a nonprofit corporation, is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the California Association of Independent Schools. It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. One hundred percent of the School’s endowment fund is actively invested. There are 2000 living alumni, many of whom continue their relationship with the School through a variety of supportive activities, including Development.

THE CAMPUS. At the center of the campus is John Dye Hall, which houses administrative offices, an assembly hall, a music room, and computer and science labs. Classrooms are located in two identical wings extending east and west from the main building. The Lower School (three Kindergarten classrooms and a K–3 Science Center) is located in a separate adjoining building. A multipurpose facility on the lower field furnishes a spacious gymnasium, an art studio, and a library with more than 13,000 volumes. Also on the grounds are two large outdoor play areas for the younger children, an athletic field for physical education and after-school sports program, and a 5-acre hiking canyon used as a living science classroom. The plant is owned by the School.

THE FACULTY. Raymond R. Michaud, Jr., has been affiliated with The John Thomas Dye School for 32 years and has been its Headmaster since 1980. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of San Francisco, where he was also Assistant Director of Admissions. He received his M.A. in Educational Psychology from California Lutheran University and has held teaching and administrative positions at Harvard- Westlake School in Los Angeles.

All 46 men and women on the full-time faculty hold baccalaureates, and nearly half have earned advanced degrees. Faculty benefits include medical/dental/vision plans, life insurance, a retirement and flexible spending plan, Social Security, and long-term disability. All faculty and staff are trained in first aid and CPR by the Red Cross, and medical emergencies are handled at the nearby UCLA Medical Center.

STUDENT BODY. Students come primarily from West Los Angeles, but also from many different areas of the city and its suburbs. They are about evenly divided between boys and girls. There are three classes in Kindergarten and two each in Grades 1-6. Each classroom has two full-time teachers. One of the School’s goals is to have its student body represent the cultural, economic, and ethnic diversity of the community.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM. The school year, from September to June, includes Thanksgiving, winter, and spring vacations and observances of several national and religious holidays. A typical day, including seven class periods, morning recess, and lunch, begins at 8:05 a.m. and ends at 3:05 p.m. for all students. Families may drop students off at school as early as 7:15 a.m. For an extra charge, an After-School Program lasting until 5:30 p.m. is also available.

Classes are small, with a 7:1 student-faculty ratio. Homework is part of the school program beginning in Kindergarten. Grades are sent to parents three times a year, and parent-teacher conferences are held at least twice a year. School-developed tests and Educational Records Bureau tests are conducted every spring to assess student progress.

The integrated curriculum focuses on the interrelationships among various disciplines. Problem solving and effective reading, writing, and oral communication skills are emphasized. Students are grouped heterogeneously to encourage them to learn from one another. In Kindergarten through Grade 4, classes are self-contained; fifth and sixth grades are departmentalized. Core subjects include reading, writing, and verbal skills; mathematics; social studies; and science. All students are taught by specialists in art, computers, library, music, and physical education.

After graduation, 100 percent of the Class of 2009 entered leading independent secondary schools in Los Angeles.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES. Boys and girls in Grades 4-6 may develop leadership and initiative by serving on the elected student government. Officers and four representatives from each of these grades are chosen by their peers. Assisted by a faculty advisor, the group plans student activities, including community outreach projects. In recent years, John Dye students have held Thanksgiving drives for the needy, adopted Head Start families, and raised money for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

After-school athletics for Grades 4-6 include flag football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and track for boys. Girls compete in basketball, volleyball, soccer, and track. There are teams for every ability level, and everyone is encouraged to participate.

Students in Grades 4-6 also publish a school newspaper and a creative writing magazine. Older students mentor younger students; as an example, sixth graders act as Big Brothers and Sisters to first graders. Students may also serve on the Green Team, which takes responsibility for the school recycling program and the Community Service Club. Frequent informal student variety shows, called Music for Lunch Bunch, entertain the school community. The sixth-grade play is an annual success.

Guest artists and lecturers visit the School; the Parents’ Association plans field trips to enrich the classroom experience. The Cultural Resource Project invites families to share their culture, traditions, and resources with the school community. The celebration of holidays and special events is a constant cycle in the life of the School. Back to School Night, Open House, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, the Candle Lighting Ceremony, Grandparents’ Day, the School Birthday, the fair, numerous festivals and feasts, and graduation provide lasting memories.

ADMISSION AND COSTS. John Thomas Dye welcomes bright, capable boys and girls who show promise of becoming strongly motivated, intellectually curious students capable of benefiting from the growth opportunities the School offers.

Acceptance of a candidate is based upon available space and upon an assessment of the child’s readiness and academic ability. A study of his or her previous school record and of the results of School-administered testing helps determine readiness. Both standardized and teacher-developed tests are used. Children of alumni and siblings of current students are given priority once they have met the admissions requirements. Application, with a $125 fee, should be made one year prior to desired enrollment. The new Admissions cycle begins on August 1 and ends the third week in March, when notification of acceptance status is mailed out.

Tuition for the 2009–10 school year is $21,500 for Kindergarten-Grade 6. Required uniforms are extra. A $2000 one-time New Student Fee helps support the School’s Financial Aid Program, which awards funds based on financial need. In 2009–10, the School distributed more than $500,000 in financial aid.

Assistant Heads: Josie Bahedry (K–3) & Nat Damon (4–6) .

Director of Admissions: Judy Hirsch .

Director of Development: Lisa Doherty .

Business Manager: Robert E. Suppelsa .