OZ Full Circle Preschool

At OZ Full Circle Preschool, we embrace a play and interest-based child-led curriculum, inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. We respect the child’s need to generate their own questions and aim to help children make sense of their experiences. Using the project-based approach, we encourage teachers, children, family, and other members of the community to collaborate in ongoing projects based on the children’s interests. Children’s work is deeply respected and is used by educators and families to better understand children’s development and thinking processes. Children are fully supported in their expressive and creative endeavors. Children are encouraged to reflect on their work and the works of others, and to lend words and meaning to their creative processes. We believe strongly in providing children with inviting spaces that encourage creativity and exploration. We believe that in order to provide children with opportunities for independent and collaborative learning, we must ask open-ended questions and provide children with the proper language and materials to further explore their innate curiosities. While the Reggio Emilia approach is specific to the region in Italy, we understand that our approach is uniquely based upon the values, needs, and resources of our Burlington community, and the Jewish teachings interwoven throughout our daily learning experiences.

JUDAISM

Judaism holds education as an extremely high value. Through the preschool, Ohavi Zedek provides a place for our youngest to form their identities at a synagogue, feeling safe, supported, loved, and nourished in the context of Judaism during their formative years. Our Jewish values of chesed (loving kindness), tikkun olam (healing the world), and knesset (community) are woven into the curriculum, helping young children develop strong values and ethics from the very beginning. The children attend a weekly music class led by Cantor Steve where they learn songs in Hebrew and English that follow the themes of the Jewish holidays, acts of kindness (mitzvot) and gratitude to the earth. Each Friday, our students gather with Ohavi Zedek clergy to sing and celebrate our week together during a Shabbat luncheon provided by Full Circle.

NATURE CONNECTION 

At OZ Full Circle Preschool, we believe children are born scientists and explorers with innate curiosities about the natural world around them. As children make sense of their surroundings, it is essential to help them understand the natural world and how they fit into it. We believe that offering inviting outdoor learning environments is an important way to support children on their quests to explore beauty, natural elements, life cycles, and open space. We strive every day to connect children to the outdoors by creating environments rich with natural materials, plant and tree life, and sensory opportunities to enhance learning, engagement, and active play while offering opportunities for scientific exploration and discovery.

Children’s direct interactions with nature in modes like gardening, observing insects, smelling flowers, exploring flowing water, working with mud, watching the clouds, and building forts among trees and shrubbery all contribute to a connection with nature and place while encouraging nourishment, mindfulness, and respect for all living things. By providing children with these early experiences outside each day, OZ Full Circle Preschool helps instill an enthusiasm for nature that will positively impact the way children regard, respect, discover and explore the natural world while strengthening their abilities to take risks, develop more self-awareness, and foster a lifelong appreciation for the Earth.

“Nature is a tool to get children to experience not just the wider world, but themselves.” – Stephen Moss

*Please note these rates remain the same for your child’s full year contract, even if a child ages-up while in the room

To Apply: 

Fill Out The Full Circle Application

Enrollment Update:
Preschool – Part time Thursday/Friday (3 spots)
Older Toddler (2-3 years) – Full time spot available

If you have any questions regarding the program, email communication is preferred at [email protected].
Please note that we require a full year contract and typically enroll new children at the start of each school year every fall. 

You can review the OZFC Preschool Parent Handbook (pdf) here.