Geronimo Owen in the Play Henry V

Geronimo Owen in the Play Henry V

Henry V

Geronimo, on the right

It’s always exciting to hear about what our alumni are doing.

Geronimo Owen (a ’13 Rainbow graduate) has two roles in Henry V, a play by William Shakespeare. He plays Boy as well as Duke of York.

He was pleasantly surprised when he got these roles, never having acted before.

The play happens from June 6-28, 2014. It begins at 7:30 pm Friday-Sunday at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheater in Asheville.

For more information, head over to Montfordparkplayers.org or call (828)254-5146.

“I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot;
Follow your spirit: and upon this charge,
Cry — God for Harry! England and Saint George!” 
― William ShakespeareHenry V

Shakespeare

The Rainbow Warriors

The Rainbow Warriors

rainbow and black and white

Rainbow Warriors

Students who come to our school become the Rainbow Warriors. They learn about themselves, how to relate to the world, how to live sustainable lives, and how to respect all people. The Warrior is our mascot.

There is a story behind the mascot. Its roots are deep in the Native American Indian tradition.

This story is adapted from Warriors of the Rainbow by Reneé Owen.

Long ago, when various tribes roamed this land, there was an elder named Eyes of Fire, who could foresee the future. She foretold that because of the greed of the people, one day the fish in the streams would begin to die, birds would fall from the air, the oceans and seas would turn black, and the trees would cease to be.

There would come a time when “keepers of the legend, rituals, and myths would be needed to restore us to health.” The keepers of this sacred knowledge and these Ancient Customs would have a name: the Warriors of the Rainbow.

They will be humankind’s key to survival.

The Rainbow Warriors would be many and great. They must be strong of heart for there will be terrifying mountains of ignorance to conquer. They will find willing hearts and minds that will follow them on this road of returning Mother Earth to beauty and plenty once more.

These Warriors would tell how the world today has turned away from the Way of the Great Spirit and that is why the Earth is sick. Thus, the Warriors must teach the Way of the Great Spirit with love that flows like the pristine mountain streams to the oceans of life. They would show that miracles can be accomplished to heal this world and restore Mother Earth to health.

The Warriors of the Rainbow would see that their young were educated with love and wisdom of their surroundings.

They would teach respect for Nature. They would teach the people the ancient practices of Unity, Love, and Understanding. They would teach of Harmony among the people of all four corners of the Earth.

There would come a day of awakening when all the peoples of all the tribes would form a New World of Justice, Peace, Freedom and recognition of the Great Spirit. The sick and needy would be cared for by their brothers and sisters of the Earth.

The children would once again be able to run free and enjoy the treasures of Mother Earth. The rivers would again run clear, and the forest would be abundant and beautiful. The powers of the plants and animals would again be respected, and protection of all that is beautiful would become a way of life.

The day will come, it is not far away. The day that we shall see how the ancient knowledge will be our key to survival, and return us to harmony with Nature and humankind.

Photo credit: Cynthia Calhoun

Kathy Clarke – RCS Alumna – Meets Madeleine Albright

Kathy Clarke – RCS Alumna – Meets Madeleine Albright

RCS Alumna Clarke

Kathy Clarke, ’08 RCS Alumna

“Rainbow caters to success.”

She also knows what she wants to do with her life: be a writer. And she’s pursuing her dream with gusto.
She’s already doing two internships related to her passion – one in publishing, and the other helping with the publicity for a Macalester professor publishing a book of poetry.
Before she arrived at Macalester, Kathy attended the prestigious Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, where her writing talent earned her the coveted “class orator” title.
This honor led to one of her proudest accomplishments so far: sharing the podium with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who delivered the commencement speech.
“I actually walked away from graduation with six awards, and so I was pretty proud of myself,” Kathy recalls. “But then Madeleine Albright came up to me after graduation and said, ‘You must be a rock star!’ I might get that as a tattoo—‘You must be a rock star!—Madeleine Albright.’ That’s something I never want to forget.”
Kathy’s talent at writing emerged at an early age: even before she could read she had shown a passion for the written word.
“My parents joked and said that I was going to write the Great American Novel before I could read,” she says: “I would scribble on pieces of paper and put them together and then read them to people as if they were words.”
As it happens, one of Kathy’s favorite memories of her time at Rainbow also involves writing.
While she was in the Omega program, her teacher Susan Waddell would sit with Kathy at lunch and let her student write on her computer.
She wasn’t the only teacher who did this, Kathy says: William Harwood would also just let Kathy go and write on his computer. She regards this time as vital to her development. “I experimented with a lot of just writing fiction.”
But Rainbow gave Kathy more than free time: the individualized attention she received helped a motivated student become a self-motivated student.
“I remember one assignment where Susan had us describe a beautiful place and she gave us a list of adjectives we couldn’t use—but then she gave me an extra list of adjectives, and that was really fun.”
Kathy received this sort of personalized challenge again and again. Her teachers, she says, “paid individual attention to me, which made me pay individual attention to me and not just go through the motions of school.”
Rainbow also gave Kathy the freedom to develop—at her own pace—a work ethic and a sense of purpose. “We got a lot of free time. And that really helped me learn to motivate myself.”
More than anything else, though, Kathy now appreciates the difference Rainbow’s emphasis on self-discovery has made in her academic career.
To start with, learning to trust herself allowed her to choose Mercersburg over the other options (some closer to home) that presented themselves. “You need to know yourself first before you make big decisions like that, and then when you do you will make the right one.”
And even at a prestigious private school, knowing herself gave her an edge. “Coming out of Rainbow, I was so much more advanced than even my high school classmates at knowing who I was and knowing what I wanted and what I needed. It was a kind of learning and a kind of growth that caters to success in a way that traditional curriculum doesn’t.”
In Gratitude: The Glass Foundation

In Gratitude: The Glass Foundation

 

 

The Glass Foundation is a private family foundation based out of Asheville, NC. They bestow grants based on Child Development, Environmental Education and Historic Preservation.

Rainbow Community School would like to express its sincerest gratitude for The Glass Foundation whose generous grant will allow our school to continue with Phase I of the new campus addition. We are growing ever more excited to be able to use this space for school and community needs.

The grant funds will be used to continue with construction over the summer that will result in a new Performance Hall for use by Rainbow but also the Asheville community!

The Rainbow Community Performance Hall will be open September 1st.

If you would like to use this space, we welcome inquiries. Please contact the school’s office or send email inquires to info@rainbowlearning.org.

 

2014 RCS Omega Graduation – Speeches and Ceremony

2014 RCS Omega Graduation – Speeches and Ceremony

omega graduation

Our graduates – June 2, 2014

Each year, we send off bright young men and women to start their high school careers.

Every graduating student writes a speech and stands in front of their Rainbow family – parents, staff, and students – and gives us a glimpse of what his or her experience has been like at Rainbow.

These speeches are at once eloquent and erudite, comical and entertaining. Each student beautifully demonstrates the learning they have done, honoring their school year and community with their wisdom.

The graduation ceremony began with a sacred tradition we have here at Rainbow: a Centering.

The Omega (7th and 8th grade) students led this part of the ceremony. The video below shows the centering – it’s part of what makes Rainbow so special.

Afterward, our eighth grade graduate, Nitara was the first to give her speech. She revealed how much she’s grown and learned during her tenure at Rainbow. She will be attending Carolina Day School next year.

Next was Andrew, with his insights on how to achieve success and advised everyone that life is what you make of it, and that no matter what you must try. Andrew will be attending Asheville Christian Academy.

Francesca followed, sharing her experiences in Omega, how she found her teachers to be amazing. She felt like she really became part of a family when she came to Rainbow, especially during her experience in Omega. Francesca will be attending SILSA for the next school year.

Our wonderful Lily went next, recounting her memories of her time at Rainbow. She attended this school for 12 years and always felt like the Rainbow community was a second family. We will miss Lily, too. She will attend Asheville High School.

Later, Justin came up, explaining how his Omega experience has changed his life and tells about the friends he’s made. His experience has truly Omega has changed his life forever. Next year, he will attend Carolina Day School.

Bella was next, sharing some observations that she’s made and how they have provided some powerful lessons – such as learning from your mistakes and life is short – we should all live it to the fullest. She will also attend Carolina Day School next year. Bella received the prestigious Merit Scholarship from Carolina Day, given to only five students each year.

Gwyn started her speech with a Peter Pan quote about “never saying goodbye” – because here at Rainbow, we don’t say goodbye. We say, “We’ll see you soon and we will never forget you.” She will attend SILSA next year.

Michael is “moving forward” and this isn’t goodbye – it’s a new beginning. Ever since he started at Rainbow in third grade, breaking his wrist at the class potluck, he came to realize that his teachers and friends became his second family. He will attend Carolina Day School next year.

Xena, who attended Rainbow for 11 years and calculated how much time she spent at Rainbow in hours, days and months – this was the place that became her home away from home. She’s leaving, as a bird who learns to fly, from the protection of her nest. She’s going to explore the big world outside. Xena will attend Carolina Day School.

Hannah told everyone about how Rainbow helped her to blossom and how much she felt welcomed by the community. She will attend SILSA next year.

Mikayla recounted her experiences at Rainbow – her love of her teachers and how they accept their students for who they are. Mikayla will also attend Carolina Day School.

Finishing up the speeches was Zoë – with her passion, love, warmth and drive to make the world a better place – within her speech was a magical, captivating story that everyone must hear – with such emotion and strength, the entire crowd was moved with her words. She will attend Carolina Day School next year and she also received the Highlander Award, given by the Head of School at Carolina Day to only one exceptional student each year.

The eighth grade graduates sang a song for the Rainbow Community. It’s called Home by Phillip Phillips:

This graduation ceremony was a success. We wish only the best for our graduates and we know that they will find success in all of their future endeavors.

 

Photo and video credit: Cynthia Calhoun