The Oaks, 3/23/23, Vol. 37

“Our Mission is to create a joyful, play-based, cooperative preschool, supporting diverse families in a nurturing community, to prepare them to navigate the world with confidence”.

ABOUT US

The Oaks Parent-Child Workshop (The Oaks PCW) is a licensed parent-child cooperative preschool, affiliated with Santa Barbara City College, School of Extended Learning. The Oaks PCW serves families with children aged 2.5 to 5 years. Families participate in the morning program and attend weekly evening parent education classes. Additionally, we provide an afternoon child-care program for families currently enrolled in The Oaks PCW.

The Oaks PCW, established in 1947, and located next to the Ridley Tree Cancer Center, has been serving local families for over seven decades. Some of our currently enrolled parents attended The Oaks PCW as children; we aspire to care for future generations of Oaks PCW families for years to come!

BENEFITS OF JOINING A PARENT-CHILD WORKSHOP PRESCHOOL:

Rich and diverse play-based learning environment

Preparation for kindergarten and school success

Parent education and social support

Community and close relationships with other families that often last a lifetime

Opportunity to develop leadership skills

Parent-Child Workshops are affordable

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Young children learn best through play. Each day, children are provided with opportunities to make choices, explore materials and interact with one another. The carefully designed learning environment fosters a child’s natural sense of curiosity, exploration, and wonder. We are committed to creating a sustainable green environment. Social-emotional learning is at the heart of our morning and afternoon programs; children are provided with an opportunity to develop relationships with peers and adults, expand their emotional literacy, develop self-regulation skills, and practice problem solving. The children are able to take charge of their own day, choosing when and how to participate. We work together as a community to provide an array of opportunities to meet each child’s individual needs.

MORNING PROGRAM

The morning program operates from 8:45am to 12pm. We offer a wide assortment of experiences each day, including: natural sciences, sensory exploration, carpentry, art, tricycle-riding, gardening, dramatic play, music, animal care, climbing, fine motor activities, pre-literacy, and cooking. Central to our program is the notion that parents are a child’s first teachers. Under the guidance of early childhood educators, Oaks parents work and learn how to be more effective parents -- from each other and the children. Parents participate once per week from 8:30am to 12:30pm, offering open-ended activities, sharing in the daily operation of the school, and remaining actively involved in their child’s learning.

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

Our afternoon program complements our morning program by providing seamless, full-day care for families in our warm and nurturing environment. The afternoon program supports a smaller group of children (up to twelve children who are developmentally ready for a higher level of independence), accompanied by a teacher and assistant teacher. Parent participation is not required.

EVENING PARENT EDUCATION CLASS

The parent education classes take place Wednesday evenings at The Oaks PCW, from 7-9pm, and are an essential part of our learning together. The evening classes address common parenting issues such as positive guidance, fostering creativity, building a connection with the natural world, nutrition, sleep regulation, and kindergarten readiness. Beyond learning together, these evening classes contribute to building a strong community among families as we share parenting successes, struggles, and strategies.

TESTIMONIALS

“To me, The Oaks is an ideal community for young children to grow. Even though some of the details have changed since I was a child, the core of The Oaks hasn’t: the way we provide a community of safe and caring adults for our children, the emphasis on nature exploration and play, and the focus on respectful communication.”

—Current Oaks Parent and Alumni (Class of 1984)

“Some of my earliest memories as a child are from The Oaks. So when my wife and I were seriously dating and talking about marriage, one of my requests, if we ever had kids, was for them to attend The Oaks.”

—Current Oaks Parent and Alumni (Class of 1986)

“It has been so very special to have my son attend The Oaks. I have an abundance of happy memories from my preschool years at The Oaks. I can remember the director embracing me and being a safe space until I was ready to explore the activities set out for the day. Now with my son, I get to see him feel the same secure transition to school each day as each parent we pass greets him by name. My hope is that The Oaks will be an available option for our community for many generations to come.”

—Current Oaks Parent and Alumni (Class of 1993)

A family considering The Oaks PCW should schedule a tour. During the tour you will have an opportunity to observe the program, talk to parents and the director, and complete a waitlist card.

To schedule a tour please contact: 805.682.7609, membership@theoakspcw.org Now

Please come join us on Saturday, May 6 (10am - Noon) for our Spring Open House!

Parents and Children are welcome to come explore how we can enrich the life of your child and your family! Can’t come to