In First through Fifth Grades, OHDS students engage in an intellectually challenging and standards-based General Studies program. The curriculum focuses on the important ideas within the fields of literature, mathematics, history, science, humanities, technology, and the fine and performing arts. Themes explored across the curriculum include: Native Americans, the California Gold Rush, Electricity and Magnetism, and Simple Machines. Our math program builds within students' basic skills, year upon year, as we prepare them for the more advanced mathematics they will receive as they progress. We offer a comprehensive general education that helps students develop the ability to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively and work well with others.

The Judaic Studies program enables learners to actively connect to the texts and texture of our tradition. With its concentration on "learning how to learn," our program produces informed and confident readers of traditional Jewish texts. Study of Torah, Jewish holidays and history provides students with broad Judaic literacy. Our students develop comfort and fluency in Hebrew language through instruction and the study of Hebrew language and literature.

Students are given the opportunity to explore a wide variety of fine and performing arts. We consider the arts to be a core element of our classrooms. They are, therefore, integrated into the regular academic program so that students might, for example, examine a significant event through not only history and literature, but art and music as well.

View our Curriculum Guide »

"This is the place where the kids not only learn to perform, but how to be an audience.  My kids take great pleasure in watching presentations by other classes.  We usually go to night assemblies for kids in other grades because my kids want to watch their friends perform — and their friends are in every grade!  It's actually fine for us because OHDS has become our community, too.  We have developed close friendships with other parents through our kids."

Leslie Edelman, OHDS Parent