Our 100% Spanish immersion program serves children ages two to five from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM in a daily schedule built on structure and flexibility. Free of the time pressures of the adult world, we navigate our day with both routine and spontaneity.
Listening, speaking, phonological awareness, phonics and letter formation skills develop in an environment that emphasizes the beauty of communicative language. Constant stories, books, poetry, letters, chants, songs and signs immerse children in text and spoken word, exclusively in Spanish.
Our activities, projects and games are framed within a context that promotes curiosity, inviting children to solve situations where numbers, space and the analysis of multiple relationships are the initial focus of learning math. Measurement, comparisons, patterns, counting and arithmetic happen in every corner of the school, reminding kids that math is not only everywhere - it’s meaningful and fun.
From the Latin word scientia, meaning “knowledge”, science is the state of knowing. It’s the practice of posing questions and hypotheses to explain the world around us. We favor the inquiry of the natural habitat through
Our emphasis on art gives children a toolbox for creative expression. Children experiment with varying textures, colors and artistic styles to find their own voice as artists, depict their thoughts and feelings while simultaneously honing their fine motor skills. Our drive for artistic development is grounded in the importance of freedom, respect and self control as a way to live a meaningful and happy life.
Schedule applicable for all students ages 2-5
Children enter their classroom like it’s their second home, greeted by loving teachers as they independently place their belongings in their cubby. Then they dive into hands-on learning activities and exploration to get their mind and body warmed up for the day.
The formal start of our academic program: our morning meeting is a morning circle of love and connection, curiosities and intentions. It’s a place for students and teachers to connect as a family - to sing, dance, listen and be heard. Questions, surprises and problems to be solved set the stage for a day of learning and fun, all tying back to evolving central thematic units of our curriculum.
After group activities in the morning meeting, children get an unrushed chunk of time to explore, experiment and engage in activities anchored in our four pillars of learning: language, math, science and art.
Our objective-driven morning project time is designed for both collaboration and individual projects, pushing children to hone skills in problem solving and creative expression. We invite students to follow their interests to create and share knowledge through short and long term projects, storytelling, construction and reflective thought.
Teachers act as guides and facilitators of research, modeling methods of inquiry-based learning. They consistently document children’s progress and mastery of kindergarten preparedness objectives to ensure children are always challenged and supported.
After a morning packed with excitement, students and teachers slow down and sit together for a family meal - a time to refuel and reconnect.
A time to share about the day, the morning session concludes with another loving circle of reflection and camaraderie. Teachers and students sing, dance, ask and listen.
At this point, students are either dismissed or stay for the afternoon workshops/nap.
Children who nap do so between 1 and 3 PM.
We treat our afternoon sessions with as much importance as the morning, keeping children engaged in meaningful experiences until pickup. That’s why we’ve curated an afternoon program filled with innovative learning opportunities in our daily workshops. Students display their work annually to their parents and community in a special celebratory exhibition of growth.
We’re proud to offer the following enrichment workshops as part of our afternoon program, taught by specially-trained OHL teachers:
Mondays: From large scale group projects to individual art pieces, children are allowed to get messy and free in an environment that opens them to a world of expression and fulfillment. Murals, sculptures, paper making, weavings and abstract art are only a few of the creative projects children create in their afternoon art studio workshop.
Tuesdays: Weekly robotics games and activities encourage learners to think strategically and solve problems. They help young minds plan, design and build while having fun in the process. Using a combination of basic Legos and inspiring open ended questions, our robotics workshop has one goal – to foster critical thinking while having fun.
Wednesdays: Chess offers children a chance to have fun while developing essential skills for life. Children learn to think one step ahead, anticipating possible outcomes and developing strategies. They acquire an understanding of mathematical and spatial concepts, plus social emotional skills of sportsmanship. Best yet, they can have a blast doing it, eventually challenging their peers and parents to this classic game of intellect.
Thursdays: We’ve combined elements of yoga, pilates, sports and gymnastics to provide an outlet for children’s boundless energy and need for movement. Our challenging and fun exercises develop self regulation, sportsmanship, gross motor skills and an awareness of their body and space.
Fridays: All children are now born “digital natives”. Technology can be a way to express creativity and grow as a visual storyteller. Photography can help develop a child’s voice, vision and identity as it pertains to his or her family, friends and community. It can also strengthen connections between visual and other forms of expression leading to decision making: What should be the focus? At what angle? Get in close or take a wide shot? Is there enough light? Our digital photography workshop gives children the chance to experiment with introductory photography skills and documentation of what they treasure. Once a week, children use digital cameras for an afternoon photoshoot inspired by a certain aspect of visual expression.
After the nap and workshops, students engage in a combination of directed and unstructured activities focused on expression, creativity and movement, both indoors and outside in our beautiful natural environment.
After children help to clean up and organize the classroom, final pickup happens by 5:30, until another day of wonder and exploration begins.
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