Early childhood center

Curriculum highlights

Parsha and Chagim through STEAMM

(Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, Mindfulness)

With our unique program, your child will come home with a strong understanding of Parsha and Chagim while gaining age appropriate knowledge and skills in general studies.

Middot, Shabbat, Chagim, and Parsha as well as literacy, social studies, math, science, music, and art, are all infused with the sense of kedusha inherent in all learning that is the hallmark of an OCA education.

Learn more about our STEAMM program →

Social – emotional growth

OCA’s student-centered, play-based environment allows each child to grow emotionally, socially, and intellectually at his or her own pace while respecting the classroom setting. Our experiential learning opportunities and indoor and outdoor activities nurture independence and self-confidence together with a sense of belonging to a warm, caring community. We utilize the Mariposa method to foster social-emotional skills using an empathy-based approach.

We encourage the students to express themselves in different modalities – language, drawing, acting, and play. Over time they grow in their confidence, independence, resilience, and self-advocacy skills.

Key areas of social-emotional growth in the ECC include:

Ability to adjust to new situations

Resolving social problems through basic negotiation and compromise

Self regulation - managing strong emotions in an age-appropriate manner

Following classroom routines and transitions 

Tolerating and managing frustrations

Asking for help 

Participating in group discussions and interactive play with peers

Shares and takes turns

Grow Torah curriculum

At OCA, our teachers view the ECC garden as an extension of the classroom experience, in which our students learn Parshat Hashavua, Chagim, and core Torah values through hands-on gardening. With the guidance of the Grow Torah curriculum, not only do our children literally reap the fruits of their labors, but they learn, for example, how our chagim are rooted in the annual agricultural cycle of planting, growth, and harvest.

As the children water, dig and observe changes in the garden, they practice the value of environmental stewardship and learn that caring for the earth is one way to show gratitude to Hashem. Ultimately, connecting Torah learning with real-world actions, each lesson throughout the year helps our young learners see themselves as partners in caring for Hashem’s world.