Character.
Compassion.
Confidence.
About
Head of School
Welcome
It is with great joy that I welcome you to Carden Conejo School. I am honored to lead a community where tradition, character, and academic excellence come together to shape confident learners and compassionate leaders.
At Carden, we believe education is about more than textbooks and test scores. It is about nurturing the whole child intellectually, emotionally, socially, and creatively. Learning is embraced as a joyful journey, where imagination, wonder, and resilience are cultivated in equal measure. Rooted in classical traditions, the Carden Method is carried forward by dedicated teachers who blend academic rigor with warmth and discovery, preparing students not only to excel in school, but to engage the world with empathy, purpose, and poise. Our students are scholars and servant-leaders, excelling in academics while contributing meaningfully to their community.
This is also a place where partnership matters. Teachers and staff work closely with parents to create a safe, welcoming, and vibrant culture. Our families are deeply engaged in school life, and together we celebrate milestones, traditions, and the everyday moments that make childhood so memorable.
The values that define Carden Conejo School shine through in all that we do. These guiding principles ensure that Carden is not only a place of learning, but also a place where children discover who they are, what they value, and how they can make a difference in the world.
Joyful Hearts & Inquisitive Minds
We nurture kindness, gratitude, and empathy so that children grow with a deep sense of care for their peers and the world around them. Our classrooms are designed with intention to inspire exploration and discovery, encouraging students to ask questions and seek understanding.
Academic Excellence & Critical Thinking
We combine proven pedagogy with modern best practices to deliver a rigorous, well-rounded education that challenges and supports every learner. Through the Carden Method, students develop clarity of thought, precision in language, moral integrity, and a love of learning, while also being taught to analyze, question, and connect ideas. These essential skills empower our graduates to solve challenges thoughtfully and creatively.
Emerging Leaders & Authentic Friendships
Our supportive environment fosters meaningful relationships where students feel valued and connected. They develop responsibility, courage, and strong communication skills that prepare them to step forward with assurance and integrity.
Lifelong Learning & Creative Spirit
By instilling a lasting curiosity and love of knowledge, Carden prepares students to continue growing long after they leave our classrooms. Through art, music, and theatre, they learn to express themselves, think imaginatively, and embrace new possibilities.
Lasting Values & Timeless Tradition
Grounded in the enduring philosophy of Mae Carden, our students graduate with respect for themselves and others, a strong sense of responsibility, and the resilience to face life’s challenges with courage and grace. For nearly a century, the Carden Method has guided schools in creating environments where children flourish in both character and intellect. As we look to the future, we are proud to carry forward this heritage while also innovating for the world our children are growing into.
I invite you to visit our campus, experience the warmth of our classrooms, and see firsthand the joy of learning that fills our halls. Whether you are a new family exploring our school for the first time or a longtime member of our community, we are happy to have you as an important part of the Carden story.
Mission Statement
Carden Conejo School is committed to providing a learning environment and school community that promotes personal integrity and respect for the uniqueness of each individual. Our program encourages all students to achieve their full intellectual, emotional, social, physical, and creative potential. By developing confident and independent thinkers, Carden Conejo prepares its students for academically demanding secondary schools.
Philosophy
Our pedagogy is rooted in the belief that education is not merely the transfer of information, but the cultivation of the whole child—mind, heart, and character. Drawing from classical traditions, the Carden Method emphasizes clarity of thought, precision in language, and the development of moral integrity. Learning is approached as a joyful journey, where imagination, curiosity, and discipline are nurtured in equal measure. With an emphasis on manners, respect, and personal responsibility, Carden Conejo seeks not just to educate students, but to shape thoughtful individuals prepared to contribute meaningfully to the world around them.
The Carden Way
Carden Conejo provides single-subject specialist teachers for all Kindergarten–6th Grade students in Math, Science, French, Music, Creative Art and Design, Physical Education, and Computer Science—ensuring that each lesson is led with expertise, enthusiasm, and real-world experience.
The Carden Method is a time-tested approach that blends academic excellence with character development—fostering confident, compassionate learners prepared for life.
At Carden Conejo, learning begins at age three and continues through middle school in a nurturing, structured environment. Students are guided to think clearly, speak confidently, and grow with purpose—supported by small class sizes, subject-specialist teachers, and a curriculum that values both intellect and imagination.
Through the Carden Language Arts Method, Singapore Math, FOSS Science, and rich instruction in public speaking, the arts, and critical thinking, students build a strong academic foundation—while developing empathy, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.
The Carden Way
The Carden Method
The Carden Method is a language-rich, phonics-based approach that helps children develop clarity of thought, confidence in communication, and a lifelong love of reading.
Beginning in Kindergarten, students are introduced to sounds, symbols, and the rules that govern language. They learn to read with imagination, form mental images, and understand what they read—not just sound out words. This foundation builds strong spelling, grammar, and analytical skills across all subjects.
Carden students consistently demonstrate advanced reading and writing abilities, and are well prepared to succeed in middle school and beyond.
Singapore Math
Singapore Math builds deep mathematical understanding through hands-on exploration, visual models, and real-world problem solving. Recognized worldwide for its effectiveness, this method helps students develop true number sense—not just memorize steps.
Students use manipulatives, interactive tools, and guided practice to build fluency, confidence, and a lasting foundation for advanced math.
FOSS Science
Developed at UC Berkeley, FOSS (Full Option Science System) brings science to life through hands-on experiments, inquiry-based learning, and real-world problem solving.
Students learn by doing—designing experiments, asking questions, and discovering how science connects to the world around them. With FOSS, STEM becomes meaningful, memorable, and fun.
The History of Carden Method
Mae Carden, a Vassar graduate with a Master’s in Education from Columbia University, developed her method in response to the unstructured teaching practices of her time. She believed that learning should be joyful, language should be clear, and every child should be guided with purpose.
Miss Carden created a comprehensive, sequential curriculum rooted in phonics, clarity of thought, and character development. Her success led to the founding of Mae Carden, Inc., which continues to share her method with schools across the country.
At Carden Conejo, we proudly uphold Miss Carden’s philosophy—providing a warm, structured environment where students grow in confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning.
