Foundation School

Rooted in Tradition.

Rich with History.

Alive with Possibility.

Foundation School is the oldest, continuously operating Jewish early childhood center in the State of Oregon. We are intentionally and proudly Jewish and welcoming to families of all faiths and backgrounds. Our curriculum and pedagogy are inspired by the educational philosophy of Reggio Emilia, emphasizing inquiry and emergent curriculum, the environment as the third teacher, and documentation to enhance our practice and the connection between home and school. Our campus is nestled among the trees in Portland's beautiful west hills, and our classes take advantage of the surrounding forest trails in all weather.

1,000+

100+

Combined years of teaching experience among our staff

Families who have called our community home since 1955

475+

Forest hikes since the start of the school year

Another year gone, leaving everywhere
its rich spiced residues: vines, leaves

the uneaten fruits crumbling damply
in the shadows, unmattering back

from the particular island
of this summer, this NOW, that now is nowhere

except underfoot, moldering
in that black subterranean castle

of unobservable mysteries -- roots and sealed seeds
and the wanderings of water. This

I try to remember when time's measure
painfully chafes, for instance when autumn

flares out at the last, boisterous and like us longing
to stay -- how everything lives, shifting

from one bright vision to another, forever
in these momentary pastures.

Fall Song, by Mary Oliver

Who We Are

Outdoor Education

We find wonder and regulation in the forest trails around our campus, our kitat ya'ar (outdoor classroom), multiple outdoor spaces and the mud kitchen. We venture outside daily, in almost all weather, exploring the outdoors and experiencing the seasons changing around us.

Child-Led Learning

Children, like adults, learn best when their learning is self-directed and when they are able to scaffold new information with things they already know.

We are a Jewish early childhood community that joyfully welcomes both Jewish and non-Jewish families and educators. Our Jewish curriculum is woven into the fabric of everyday experiences, through the use of Hebrew, celebrating Shabbat weekly and holidays throughout the year, stories from the Hebrew Bible and Jewish history, and Jewish values.

Proudly, Joyfully Jewish

The natural world provides us space to learn math, science, emotional regulation, social skills, gross and fine motor, and more. We exercise our curiosity and observation muscles as we get out of the rigid classroom walls, experience the unpredictability of the outdoors, and understand that we are an integral part of the natural world.

Jewish culture is rich and varied, with an emphasis on food, storytelling, family, and ritual. We love gathering as a community to celebrate holidays and lifecycle events, creating lasting memories for our youngest learners and a strong foundation for lifelong Jewish learning.

Based on the Reggio model, our curriculum is child-led and co-constructed, based on children's interests and questions. We spend time observing the students, getting to know them, documenting their learning, and working with them to create opportunities for learning, growth, projects, and questions upon questions. As children see their learning documented, they understand that their work and their ideas have value, building confidence and trust in their abilities and in the teacher-student relationship.

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