About The Olive Branch Preschool
Philosophy Approach
Curriculum Essential Ingredients
Essential Ingredients
Community
The Olive Branch Community School’s mixed-age environment fosters a culture of respect and cooperation. In order to learn to find answers to their questions, the children are encouraged to work together, experiment, research, and to consult experts. A pillar of our approach to learning includes community outreach and involvement; wherever possible, community helpers and experts are invited to school to help the children shape their understanding of the world and of their interests. The children are also invited to enter the community outside the school with regular field trips in order to build a closeness with others and a hands-on understanding of the world. These methods also help to foster positive traits such as empathy, respect, curiosity, and confidence.
Children are Empowered and Respected
It is of the utmost importance at The Olive Branch Community School that the children are honored and respected, and that they possess the agency to guide and construct their own understandings of the world. We help children to shape their ability to explore and to learn, and teachers facilitate learning by figuring it out alongside them. With inspiration taken from the empowering works of psychologists Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, The Olive Branch Community School allows children the ability to shape their own learning in the most meaningful ways.
Bringing the Outdoors In and the Indoors Out
At The Olive Branch Community School, we are committed to facilitating a closeness with sunshine and nature, as we believe these are extremely important avenues of learning across all domains. Children spend ample time outdoors, and our indoor space is full of natural elements, with an intention of minimizing all synthetics. This creates a beautiful, comfortable, and respected learning environment with plenty of avenues for important sensorial exploration.