Raymond R. Michaud, Jr., 

Headmaster & Bel~Air Association Director

History:

In 1929, founders Cathryn Robberts Dye and her husband, John Thomas Dye II, started the Brentwood Town and Country School. It was held in their home for their only child, John Thomas Dye, III and his friends. The children flourished in this loving atmosphere, and soon all the students were calling the founders, Aunty Cathryn and Uncle John.

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, bigger facility, called The Bel Air Town and Country School, was built on its present 11 acre, hilltop site. In 1959, the School was renamed The John Thomas Dye School 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 now 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, math, science, history, the arts, athletics, problem solving, self-esteem, social skills, and respect for individuality are still at the heart of the program. But the entire School is linked to the Internet and the World Wide Web by a state of the art computer network. Technology skills and the ability to gather and process information are vital to today's children.

The Faculty:
Raymond R. Michaud, Jr. has been affiliated with The John Thomas Dye School for 27 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 MA in Educational Psychology from California Lutheran University and has held teaching and administrative positions at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. All 42 men and women on the full time faculty hold baccalaureates, and nearly one-half have earned advanced degrees.

The Academic Program: 
A typical day for our students, including seven class periods, morning recess and lunch, begins at 8:05 A.M. and ends at 3:05 P.M. 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. There are three classes at the Kindergarten level, 14 students in each, and two classes at the 1st through 6th grade levels with 21-24 in each. There are two full time teachers in each classroom, one lead and one associate. Homework is part of the school program beginning in Kindergarten. Grades are sent to parents quarterly, 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 between 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 4th grade, classes are self-contained. 5th and 6thgrades are departmentalized with the students moving, as in middle school, from core subject specialist to specialist throughout their day. Core subjects include reading, writing, and verbal skills, mathematics, social studies, and science. Specialists in art, computers, library, music, and physical education teach all students. Our science classes hike on trails through the 5-acre canyon that rims our school studying ecology in our own backyard. Community outreach is part of each grade level's curriculum with specific projects designed to compliment the classroom curriculum. After graduation, 100% of the Class of 2005 entered leading independent secondary schools in Los Angeles.

Student Activities: 
Boys and girls in Grades 4-6 develop leadership and initiative by serving on the elected student government. Their peers choose officers and two representatives from each 4th - 6th grade class. Assisted by a faculty advisor, the group plans special student activities. These include special service learning projects, such as holiday drives for the needy, Change for Change supplying 100% of all funds needed for the Feed the Homeless Program, Bake Sales to buy supplies for the local animal shelter, and packing groceries for homeless families through the One Voice organization. Students may serve on the Green Team, which takes responsibility for the school's recycling program. Frequent informal student variety shows, called Music for Lunch Bunch, entertain the school community. The 6th Grade Musical is a hit every year.

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 join in the fun of athletic competition.

After school enrichment is offered to those students interested in participating. There is an orchestra, a drama class, a ballet class, a chess class, and a karate class. These meet every week on campus. There are also Cub Scout and Brownie troops.

Students in Grades 4-6 also publish a school newspaper and a creative writing magazine. They can join the newspaper staff, the writing magazine editorial board, Meals and Reels Club, our Nature Club, the Sports Club (ultimate Frisbee, badminton, Frisbee golf, floor hockey, and a variety of games), and a Board Games Club. Older students mentor younger students, such as 1st and 6th grade Big Brothers and Sisters and Kindergarten and 3rd grade Reading Buddies. Guest artists and lecturers visit the School. The Parents' Association plans field trips to enrich the classroom experience, and the Cultural Resource Project invites families to share their culture and resources with the JTD community. The celebration of holidays and special events is a constant cycle in the life of the School. Traditions that have been celebrated for the past 77 years are an integral part of the history and constancy of the School and its students, whether present or alumni. These are the memories that last forever.