The Otter Room is our after-school classroom for ages K-4th grade, providing before and after-school care, as well as full days for 4J and SPS ‘No School Days.’ However, during the summer, we have a fun program where we explore and take the kiddos on field trips—no less than three days a week, including three big trips somewhere fun out of town, like OMSI.

Amber, the lead teacher, was a substitute for Unity for a few years before moving into the lead teacher position at the beginning of the school year in 2024. Fun fact: Her mom is the lead Ladybug teacher, and Amber attended this school as a child. She knows this school well. Maya, the teacher’s assistant, has worked with after-school-age children in Portland before moving here. She is in her first year at Unity.

Otters have fun doing planned crafts, games, and other activities. If your child has homework, we can help them with that, too! While all these activities are happening, the teachers encourage the kids to problem-solve, work as a team, and think of others, modeling and helping them navigate how to communicate with one another in a kind way—even when frustrated. We practice a lot of collaborative problem solving and positive conflict resolution.

We also have two guinea pigs (Pumpkin and McSqueakers) as class pets, and the kids get to take turns holding and feeding them. This helps the kids learn to be gentle and teaches them responsibility for caring for another living creature. 

We have a garden class once a week, and at least once a week we give the kids extra time in the garden—which is right outside our door.  It is a great area for the kids to explore and fall in love with nature.

Another fun thing our older room does is operate a Kindness Cash Store. The concept is that they receive “kindness cash” (fake dollars that say kindness cash) when they are caught being kind, following the limits, and serving as mentors or helpers. They can also earn kindness cash for doing extra tasks around the class. They are "paid" for doing their jobs as students in the classroom, just like they would as an adult and as a responsible community member. On Fridays, every other week, they get to exchange their money for something in the store to take home with them. Not only does it help us model being good community members, but we also count the money, subtract it, and learn to be responsible with it by saving to buy something big in the store.

Lastly, it is not uncommon to find a once-Panda move through the school and stay with us until 4th grade in the Otter room! This provides the child with a solid, loving environment for most of their childhood.