Community Classroom

General Information

Location

Inside the Oberlin Engagement & Activity Center (OEAC)
36 S. Prospect St., Room #107
Oberlin, OH 44074

(The former Prospect Elementary School Building.)

Hours

Any OberlinKids member is welcome to use the classroom anytime the building is open for public use, but special playgroup times are offered, in an effort to gather families together to play and practice social skills.

Open Building Hours

Monday - Friday*
8:30am - 3:30pm*

Playgroup Hours

We encourage caregivers make plans with other families for playdates at the Community Classroom during the below hours.

Monday - Thursday*
9:30am - 12:30pm*

*While it is generally open for drop-in style play during the above days and times, the Community Classroom is closed when the Oberlin Engagement & Activity Center (OEAC) is closed for City recognized holidays and other City events like trainings. Special events may also occur from time to time. Check the events calendar for closings and special events, as well as featured playgroups held in the classroom.

Classroom Activities Include:

Meeting other families,

Literacy skills building,

Math skills building,

STEAM,

Arts & Crafts,

Social emotional development,

Science skills building,

and so much more!

Special Events

Follow us on social media or visit our Events page for the most up-to-date information about upcoming special events.

Host a Playgroup

If you are interested in hosting a playgroup and would be interested in inviting others to join you on a regular basis (e.g., Mondays from 10-11am), we would love to promote it so families come and play with your family to increase socialization and practice social skills.

Hosting a playgroup involves:

  • being present to welcome others,

  • turning the lights on/off, and

  • making sure the room is cleaned up at the end.

If you are interested, contact our Director, Jenn Keathley.

Classroom Rules

1. Members Only

Contact Jenn to verify membership or ask questions.

If you have completed your child's annual screening within the past 12 months you are a member. All children in the household birth-kindergarten are strongly encouraged to become members by completing the ASQ-3 and ASQ-SE-2 each year to monitor development. We have made the community classroom "members only" in an effort to build a community of families with children to build friendships and create a "village" of support.

2. Children Must Be Attended at All Times

Caregivers must remain with their children at all times.

3. Sign In & Out

  • The OEAC Building: at a podium by the front and side entrances

  • The Community Classroom: located by the classroom door

Signing in and out of the spaces is important for data tracking and grant reporting since the classroom supplies and facilitators salaries are grant funded. We also look at times and days when people use the classroom naturally so we can plan special programming to meet the needs of the community.

4. No Food or Drink

Please do not eat or drink in the classroom. Help us keep the room clean, safe for those with allergies, and insect free.

5. Let Us Know

Let Jenn know if there is anything broken, damaged, or if supplies are running low.

6. Help Keep Our Classroom Healthy

Prevent the spread of illness whenever possible. Please do not come to the classroom when you or your child is sick. Help us prevent the spread of illness by staying home when you are under the weather and by practicing handwashing and hand sanitizing often.* These are the same practices and policies at early learning centers, daycares, and schools. Practicing them in the Community Classroom is a learning opportunity.

*Due to a lack of running water in the Community Classroom, we offer hand sanitizer at the classroom door and ask all to use it upon entering. Sinks are available in the restrooms in the main hallway, if needed. Any visibly dirty or contaminated toys may be cleaned by adults using the products on the shelf above the classroom sink or should be placed in the sink for staff to clean before returning them to the shelves.

6. Clean Up After Yourself

Help us keep the classroom safe and clean. Hand sanitizer is available and you and your children are strongly encouraged to use it upon entering the roon and after eating, when contaminated by bodily fluids, or when clearly dirty. There are sinks and changing tables available in the restrooms located in the main hallway. Teaching your child to clean up is an important transition to school activity.

Thank you for the funding that supports the Community Classroom!

  • Community Foundation of Lorain County

  • Women's Fund

  • Youth Fund

  • Bill Long Foundation

  • Nord Family Foundation

  • Stocker Foundation

Thank you for providing the space for the Community Classroom!

  • City of Oberlin