Olive Tree Early Learning Academy

Directions Website

Olive Tree Early Learning Academy A whole child approach to high-quality early education where children grow to love learning.

10/16/2026

🌿 Hispanic Heritage Month | What We Bring
A Letter from Our Director

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, I've been reflecting on how we see our neighbors.

Too often, especially when speaking about immigrants and Hispanic and Latino communities, the conversation focuses on what people lack, what they need, or what they are supposedly taking.

But my friend Raquel Leal inspired me to ask a different question:
What are they bringing?

Our neighbors bring wisdom, stories, languages, traditions, resilience, skills, and experiences that enrich our communities. Having needs doesn't diminish the gifts someone brings.

As a Hispanic woman, an educator, and a person of faith, I believe deeply that dignity requires us to see people as whole human beings, not through stereotypes or circumstances.

Christian Community Development reminds us that we are called to walk alongside our neighbors, not position ourselves above them. We all have something to give and something to learn.

And I hope that's what we're teaching our children: not simply to tolerate differences, but to recognize the beauty, dignity, and contributions of others.
True belonging means knowing that your voice, your story, and what you bring matter.

As Hispanic Heritage Month ends, may we continue asking not only what our neighbors need, but also what they bring.

Thank you, Raquel, for inspiring this reflection. 💚

We all have something to bring. And together, we are better. 🌱

With gratitude,
Hecniris Rosario De Leon
Executive Director

Today, children explored guacamole as part of our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration! 🥑Avocado, or aguacate, is native ...
10/08/2026

Today, children explored guacamole as part of our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration! 🥑

Avocado, or aguacate, is native to Mexico and Central America, and it is used in many family recipes, dips, spreads, salads, and meals.

In the classroom, making guacamole is more than a recipe. It is fine motor practice, sensory exploration, science, language, and choice. It also gives teachers a beautiful chance to model curiosity, respect, and descriptive language.

Does your family have a favorite way to eat avocado?

This week, we are beginning a Hispanic Heritage food series in our classrooms!Food is never just food.Food can tell stor...
10/07/2026

This week, we are beginning a Hispanic Heritage food series in our classrooms!

Food is never just food.

Food can tell stories about culture, family, community, land, migration, celebration, survival, creativity, and care. It can show us what ingredients were available in a place, how families passed down traditions, and how different cultures have influenced one another over time.

For young children, food is also a beautiful doorway into learning. They can smell, touch, taste, compare, describe, ask questions, and make connections between what they experience in the classroom and the wider world around them.

As we explore foods, fruits, and vegetables connected to Hispanic and Latino countries and communities, we want to invite curiosity. Where did this ingredient come from? Who grew it? How do different families prepare it? What stories does it carry?

At Olive Tree, whole-child learning means helping children grow in language, empathy, curiosity, sensory awareness, cultural respect, and connection.

This week and next, we will be learning through food. We invite you to join us in curiosity as we explore and learn!

Today is World Teachers’ Day, and we could not let it pass without celebrating the incredible educators who make Olive T...
10/05/2026

Today is World Teachers’ Day, and we could not let it pass without celebrating the incredible educators who make Olive Tree what it is!

Our teachers do so much more than teach lessons. They notice the small moments. They comfort, guide, encourage, listen, plan, observe, document, create, clean, laugh, problem-solve, and show up with love again and again and again.

They help children feel safe enough to try, curious enough to ask, and confident enough to grow.

We are so grateful for the exceptional educators who partner with families every day in helping children grow to love learning.

Happy World Teachers’ Day to our Olive Tree teachers. You matter deeply. 💚

Have you been keeping up with our stories this week?We’ve been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month through music: listen...
09/23/2026

Have you been keeping up with our stories this week?

We’ve been celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month through music: listening for instruments, learning about artists from different countries and cultures, and noticing how rhythm, language, movement, and storytelling show up in songs.

So far, our stories have taken us from Colombia to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Venezuela, and more.

Keep following along as we keep learning through music, movement, and joy!

See if you can spot some artists that are still to come this week! What artist would you like to see us highlight?

Hispanic Heritage Month has kicked off at Olive Tree and this week and next we are celebrating through music.Children ar...
09/17/2026

Hispanic Heritage Month has kicked off at Olive Tree and this week and next we are celebrating through music.

Children are listening for rhythm, moving their bodies, noticing instruments, finding countries on the map, and learning that music can carry culture, memory, language, joy, and story. We will be exploring artists connected to Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Mexican-American Tejano music, and more!

For young children, music is more than a song in the background. It supports language, listening, coordination, confidence, emotional expression, and connection.

Keep an eye on our stories over the next few days as we learn about different artists, instruments, languages, and traditions connected to Hispanic Heritage through music!

What song or artist brings joy to your family?

Exciting news 🎉 we are a Community Investment Grants funded partner.This support helps strengthen the everyday work hap...
09/15/2026

Exciting news 🎉 we are a Community Investment Grants funded partner.

This support helps strengthen the everyday work happening in our classrooms: partnering with families, supporting exceptional educators, and creating a safe, creative, inclusive environment where children can grow to love learning.

We are grateful for partners who believe in investing in young children, families, and the future of our Knoxville community.

Thank you, , for helping make this work possible.

What an evening. 🌱Last week, we welcomed friends, partners, advocates, and community members to Grow to Love Learning: A...
09/15/2026

What an evening. 🌱

Last week, we welcomed friends, partners, advocates, and community members to Grow to Love Learning: An Olive Tree Experience.

Throughout the evening, guests were invited to step into the world of early childhood and look a little closer at what happens in the everyday moments of a child’s life. They explored how relationships, brain development, intentional teaching, play, and thoughtfully designed environments come together to help children feel safe, known, and ready to learn.

Most importantly, they experienced a little of what we believe so deeply at Olive Tree: every child has a story, and every child deserves someone who takes the time to know it.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us, asked thoughtful questions, shared in the experience, and chose to invest in the children and families we serve. Your support helps make high-quality early learning accessible to families across our community.

And a very special thank you to our event sponsors, whose generosity helped make the evening possible:
🌿 Altar'd State's Stand Out for Good
🌿 UTK College of Education, Health & Human Sciences
🌿 Knoxville Smokies
🌿 Lakeshore Learning

Thank you for believing in the importance of early childhood and in our mission to create a place where children grow to love learning. 💚

The beginning of a school year can be full, even when it is all going well.Children are learning new routines, using lot...
08/28/2026

The beginning of a school year can be full, even when it is all going well.

Children are learning new routines, using lots of social energy, practicing transitions, and holding big feelings in small bodies.

Sometimes those feelings show up after school.

A few simple supports can help.

Settling into a new year takes time. Connection helps children land well.

Save this for the weeks when everyone is still finding the rhythm.

A few weeks into the school year, the rhythm of the classroom starts to take shape.Children begin to know where things b...
08/26/2026

A few weeks into the school year, the rhythm of the classroom starts to take shape.

Children begin to know where things belong.
They remember familiar songs and routines.
They learn how to move through transitions.
They notice which friends like the same materials.
They begin to trust the adults waiting to help them.

These small rhythms matter.

Predictable routines help children feel safe. Safe children are more ready to explore, ask questions, take turns, solve problems, try again, and grow in confidence.

At Olive Tree, we see routines as part of whole-child care. They are one of the quiet ways a classroom says: you belong here, and we will help you know what comes next.

Address

5311 McKamey Road
Knoxville, TN
37921

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 6pm
Tuesday 7am - 6pm
Wednesday 7am - 6pm
Thursday 7am - 6pm
Friday 7am - 6pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Olive Tree Early Learning Academy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category