holistic education Archives - Rainbow Community School

Kaleidoscope: The Power of Learning Outdoors

by Susie Fahrer | Oct 27, 2025 | Director's Blog

Rethinking What Makes a Learning Environment Powerful

When you think about designing a space for truly powerful education and human development, what comes to mind? Often, we consider factors such as how we engage with technology, the curriculum we offer, or the level of professional development our teachers have.

And yes—these factors are critical in supporting a successful learning environment. But there’s something incredibly simple and accessible to all of us that research shows provides deep nourishment for academic success: spending time outside.

Learning Beyond Four Walls

For students at Rainbow Community School, outdoor learning is woven into the fabric of our curriculum. From the earliest childhood settings, students spend time outdoors—studying seasonal changes, going on nature walks, engaging with the canopy around them, and exploring the rhythms of weather and landscape.

These experiences help children attune not only to the natural world, but to their own growth and development.

Nature as Curriculum

Being outside inherently creates a hands-on learning experience. As students matriculate through the grades, the level of complexity in their outdoor learning increases.

They move from observation to integration—cultivating a farm-to-table experience, growing their own food, engaging in composting systems, studying local ecosystems, and exploring the rivers, mountains, and geology of our region.

Outdoor learning extends beyond our campus, connecting students to real-world field studies that deepen their sense of place and purpose.

The Research Behind Outdoor Learning

Educational research continues to affirm what we see daily at Rainbow: that time outdoors amplifies a child’s capacity for curiosity, awe, and wonder. It nurtures critical thinking and builds the dispositions of a healthy learner.

Beyond the cognitive benefits, there’s also a spiritual connection that emerges when students spend time outside—a quiet sense of belonging to something greater, a reconnection with rhythm and balance.

A Sensory Awakening

You’ve probably experienced this yourself—the subtle shift that happens when you step outdoors. Maybe it’s the first breath of fresh air as you leave your home, the breeze across your skin, or the vivid colors of the changing seasons.

Each moment outdoors invites us to slow down and become present. The songs of birds, the rustle of leaves, the textures of the landscape—all awaken our senses and remind us of the living world we are part of.

Bringing Outdoor Learning Home

In this month’s Kaleidoscope, we’ve included resources to help families bring the benefits of outdoor learning into their own homes. These are simple, accessible ways to integrate time outdoors into daily life—no matter your setting or schedule.

Even five minutes outside can transform your mood, reset your attention, and bring a brighter sense of possibility to your day.

An Invitation to Step Outside

I hope that this gives you just a moment to remember that even five minutes outside can change your whole disposition, and can bring a brighter sensation and opportunity to the learning that’s here before you.

May you have a wonderful time exploring the natural world.

Kaleidoscope October 2025

by Susie Fahrer | Oct 20, 2025 | Director's Blog

What do you think of when you hear “school” or “schooling”?

Hi, my name is Susie Fahrer and I am the executive director of Rainbow Community School and Omega Middle School. Have you ever stopped to wonder what comes to mind when you hear the words “school” or schooling? For many of us , we were transported to a large building, often with a wide hallway, usually having classrooms on either side, particularly designed with tables and chairs, oriented towards the front of the room, where perhaps the teacher is standing delivering their content for the day.

How do you design a space for learning?

And more often than not, nowadays we’re probably picturing a classroom filled with computers or iPads where students are behind a screen engaging technology as a primary part of their schooling experience. While much of this is creating a foundation, perhaps if we would change the scope, if we considered reframing the question. What would you think about if we actually asked, how do you design a space for learning?

The Elements of Space

Well, for many of us, we start to imagine the beauty of a space. Natural light and beautiful materials. Creating a space that feels welcoming. Or maybe we think about how we engage a diversity of learners through design for flexible seating and hands-on materials. And maybe still, we think about that technology, but we recognize that it’s integrated with intention and balance.

Designing for Learning at Rainbow

Also offering space for discourse and project-based learning and meaningful curriculum. And finally, for some of us, the walls might even dissolve, and we consider stepping out into the natural world, engaging space for play and physicality. Understanding that brain science allows us to know that optimal learning is spent both indoors and out. So here at rainbow, we have the ability to design for learning.

A Learning Village

For many people, when they first step on our campus, they describe it as a village. And this couldn’t be a better imagery to capture the vibrancy with which we design our classroom and our campus spaces, to meet the needs of preschoolers through middle schoolers in an engaging and joyful learning experience. If you are new to rainbow, I invite you to look at our website or perhaps book a tour and come see what we’ve built here and designs for learning and an optimal experience for children where they are nurtured and supported through a learning journey from the earliest childhood experience into adolescence.

The Door is Always Open

For those of you who are already part of our community, I invite you to come and sit with me and continue the conversation. My door is always open.

Kaleidoscope – November 2024

by Susie Fahrer | Nov 4, 2024 | Blogs, CEO's Kaleidoscope, Director's Blog

Dear Rainbow Friends and Families,

If you like, you can listen to this recording.

It has been over a year since I have published a Kaleidoscope. This pause has been a mindful one, offering time for reflection on Rainbow’s communication practices, with the goal of designing an intentionally integrated set of publications that support an informed and engaged community.

The return of this publication marks a few adjustments. To begin, Kaleidoscope will be published seasonally, in support of a cadence of strategic communication that is digestible and meaningful. Also, you will always find a recording of the document for readers that would prefer to listen to the contents over taking the time to read it on a screen. May these adaptations offer you all a meaningful and worthy read, supporting your participation and understanding in the full Rainbow journey.

Following Nature’s Wisdom: What Can Be Learned In The Wake of Helene?

As we grapple with the destruction and loss of the past several weeks, I hope you are finding ways to honor, process, and attend to your wounds and needs. The work of facing trauma, while personal, is something that can be done in partnership. Please be reminded that Will Ray, our Director of Counseling, is available to support students and families in the coming weeks, and to help you engage in additional therapy services. He can be reached via email will.ray@rainbowlearning.org or by phone (828-424-4733).

In nature, power and force are often equally integrated with beauty and strength. This past month I have been humbled by the collective humanity growing all around us. Fellowship, care, service, love, awareness, engagement, understanding, compassion…the list goes on. These, I hope, are the experiences and memories that rise above the flood line. May they buoy our grief and guide our resilience.

In support of parents and caregivers

One of the most natural instincts we have is to protect our children. They are born into this world depending on us for the most basic of needs, and as they grow it can be difficult to know how and when to provide autonomy and engagement with challenge, failure, fear, and sorrow. The reality is, there is no single way to parent a child through the complexities of this world. As humans, we benefit from a personalized approach that accounts for our strengths and vulnerabilities.

That being said, many families come to Rainbow with some level of shared values around developmentally appropriate access to media consumption, technology, social/emotional discourse, and so on. However, when our world increasingly surrounds our children with unavoidable complex and dynamic realities (Covid, Climate Change, Social Media, etc) it is our obligation to pause and consider how best to move forward as a community. In these moments, allowing our children to guide the inquiry often inspires the most profound and appropriate learning.

In the coming weeks as we digest the impacts of the storm, the outcomes of the election, and the process of rebuilding in our community, we can be mindful of keeping Rainbow a student-centered environment. Recalling that each child will be looking to the adults around them for cues to feel safe, grounded, and ready to learn. As adults, we are not immune to the emotional toll of our current circumstances. Even so, we have the ability to create a collectively conscious atmosphere at Rainbow that supports our children.

A conscious return to our school programming

The first few weeks back have felt wonderful. The teachers created a compassionate re-entry process supporting the children emotionally, providing familiar routines, and engaging their love of learning.

We also have a few upcoming events that offer opportunities for community fellowship, spiritual connection, and a pathway for matriculation.

Movie Night- We are publishing this event internally, but Rainbow families are welcome to bring extended family and friends. For folks who choose to attend the potluck before the movie, please label any food you anticipate sharing. Everyone should bring their own lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks.

Day of the Dead- We are grateful to have our Hispanic families leading us in the preparation of the Ofrenda and planning of this sacred holiday. Anyone that is able to offer donations for the altar or sign up to be a firekeeper on the day of the event, can find details in this LINK.

Tamales will be served free of charge, sponsored in collaboration between Rainbow and a parent donor. They will be shared on a first come first served basis while the altar is being created on Wednesday.

Omega Open House- Omega Middle School will be hosting our fourth and fifth grade students and families for a visit on November 8, 2024. It will be an opportunity for our current students to get a personalized understanding of how the 7 Domains model shifts in adolescence to facilitate scholarship, encourage healthy autonomy, and inspire long-term thriving. More details will be shared directly with Fourth and Fifth grade families.

Winter Performance- Our annual winter performance will be held on December 19th at 3:00pm. This performance will feature preschool-5th grade classrooms and Omega elective performances. Since it is a school-wide event, we will not host afterschool that day, and Omega will dismiss prior to the event. More details will be provided soon. This is a beautiful celebration of music and art that will be a welcome culmination of 2024.

Yours In Partnership and Appreciation for the Journey,

Susie Fahrer
Executive Director

Kaleidoscope February 2022

by Susie Fahrer | Feb 21, 2022 | Blogs, CEO's Kaleidoscope, Director's Blog, Home Page News, News, Publications

The return to school in 2022 unfolded at a brisk pace reinforced by pandemic stress, student narratives and conferences, re-enrollment planning, and more. My recent conversations with staff, parents, and students have shared a theme of “emotional erosion” describing the continued mental health impacts of pandemic living. This fragility reminds us all to tread gently, offering ourselves and others grace as we strive for coherence and harmony in our daily experience. Additionally, there seems to be a collective anticipation of spring gifting renewal and new life. In this moment, I invite you to focus on the return of light spiritually and emotionally for ourselves, our children, and our school.

This month’s Kaleidoscope focuses on time where we look back at our past, pause for our present, and vision our future. Intentionally contemplating our time together can help us slow down and counterbalance the urge to simply “push ahead,” reminding us that we always have the power to reframe our perspective from a mindset of doing to being.

Looking Back At Our Past:
It is hard to believe I am nearing the end of a second year as the Executive Director of Rainbow Community School. While the pandemic has certainly impacted our shared experience over the past 2 years, I am so proud of the many accomplishments we have achieved together within and beyond COVID. Our 2020-21 Annual Report is a capstone document that highlights several of these celebrations. I hope you will take the time to read it and recognize the collaborative efforts it showcases. This document is a testament to our holistic approach and community mindset that is at the very heart of our mission and vision.

Pausing For Our Present:
As noted above this present moment has many of us feeling full. I can’t help but return to our theme for this year; Collective Enrichment and Continual Evolution, for an opportune frame. Recently, the teachers completed Learner Profiles, offering a beautiful and holistic view of each child’s educational journey. This artifact is a great example of the rich curriculum and individualized approach at Rainbow, and it is also a tool for capturing a child’s evolution over time. Hopefully, the conferences provided ample time for each family to digest these narratives and look ahead to goals for your child in the remaining months of school.

Similarly, our institution has been designing opportunities for enriched conversation and collective wisdom to source our individual and organizational evolution. Our Primary Division continues to implement Fundations, and recently gathered for a formal training and reflection opportunity. Upper grades teachers took this time to dive deep into the data provided by our standardized testing. Additionally, teachers gathered earlier this month for a fire circle with feedback and fellowship. This listening session resulted in adapting our Wednesday training schedule to offer more breath and space for organic and relevant meetings to take place, bringing a little of spring’s renewal to our professional development calendar.

If we truly center ourselves in this present moment, it feels critical to also discuss COVID. Governor Cooper recently endorsed returning to a more typical school experience. The school toolkit is evolving, and the Safety team will be meeting this Friday (2/25/22) to outline Rainbow’s next steps in alignment with this updated guidance. Throughout this journey, we have been asked by many families how they can support community wellness. It is clear that everyone continues to take steps to monitor physical health and keep students home when ill. We are grateful for this partnership. It feels equally important to commit to a healthy dialogue around COVID. Vaccination status, infection level, and mask choices, are just a few of the potentially divisive topics surrounding this pandemic. We are all susceptible, including our children, to the polarizing impacts of debate versus dialogue. At Rainbow, we have the power and ability to center our humanness and model conscious communication. The teachers and staff are committed to this practice daily, as we facilitate healthy processing of pandemic impacts with our children.

Visioning Our Future:
Visioning further ahead brings a sense of joy and play as we consider all the possibilities yet to manifest. Rainbow Summer Camps are soon to be released to the public, and the line up is exciting! From crafting to adventuring to ESL, there is sure to be a week of exploration your child can’t resist. Reach out to our Camp Director, Susan Waddell with questions.

The much awaited 2022-23 School Calendar outlines our instructional flow for next year. This calendar has been reviewed by the administration, faculty, parent council, and board in an effort to create a rhythm that supports optimal learning for our children and a balanced experience for our stakeholders.

Looking forward, there is so much to be inspired by. I am hopeful that we will find time to commune together and be nurtured by the beauty and breath of spring.

Yours In Taking Time,

Susie Fahrer
Executive Director

Kaleidoscope- September 2020

by Susie Fahrer | Oct 1, 2020 | Blogs, CEO's Kaleidoscope, Director's Blog, Home Page News

The autumn equinox ushers in the final harvest season and delights with warm hues painting the leaves and landscape.

We watch as the creatures of the natural world busy themselves with preparations for the winter months. I find that the pace of our school community often mirrors this vibrant energy with routines giving way to a lively learning culture. Fall reminds us to surrender to the natural cycle of the seasons knowing that rebirth is just around the corner. As we settle into a rhythm for the school year, acceptance for what needs to be released will help us in birthing something new.

Communication is central to the success of our community. In collaboration with weekly publications like Rainbow Reminders and regular classroom newsletters, Kaleidoscope captures the bigger picture of what is happening on campus and exciting news for Rainbow’s future.

Our opening weeks have created a foundation worth celebrating.

This first month of school has manifested a community rising to its full potential. Teachers are designing innovative and dynamic programming while engaging in person and remote learners, coordinating outdoor education, and crafting meaningful content. Parents are fostering social gatherings through video platforms, collaborating with carpooling, and sharing resources and ideas for navigating learning at home. Rainbow’s Board is engaged in critical visioning to help ensure a thriving school in and beyond these unprecedented times. Eckhart Tolle said, “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” Thank you all for continually surfacing the beauty of this Rainbow community. I am ever grateful and empowered to witness a community aligned in service to our children.

Moving beyond our foundation leads us to a new layer in our programming.

This time of year we are typically preparing to formally assess our students in grade 3-8 with the CTP (Comprehensive Testing Program) standardized assessment. This year, our initial focus needs to be on establishing healthy and robust learning environments for our students. Implementing testing now would unnecessarily disrupt this process. As a result, we have moved the assessments to a more desirable timeframe. Testing is scheduled to take place from November 30th- December 17th to ensure both cohorts have ample time to complete this experience. In addition, we anticipate offering individualized testing sessions for fully remote learners. We will provide more explicit information about testing protocols and processes in the coming weeks.

We have also discovered the need to more explicitly define guidelines for attendance and participation in remote programming. Teachers will begin working on their narrative reports at the end of October, and it will be important for families and students to understand the frame of evaluation for attendance and participation. An addendum to our COVID-19 Mitigation plan will be released within the week detailing these specific expectations.

Finally, we are exploring the potential for our first on campus community-wide event. Halloween has served as a long standing invitation for festive costuming, family engagement, and joyful gathering. A team of teachers and administrators are working out the details to design an experience that can safely welcome all learners to campus for some aspect of celebration throughout the day. Details will be shared through your classroom newsletters and in collaboration with the parent council, as the specifics are established.

Fostering depth within our mission is a key aspect of our school’s evolution.

In my welcome letter, I introduced our intention to make our curriculum for racial and environmental justice more visible to our families supporting a partnership in learning. Teachers are exploring the Pollyanna Curriculum this year along with the Teaching Tolerance Anti-Bias Framework as tools for surfacing a more explicit curriculum and approach. Families are encouraged to be a part of this work in collaboration with the school. An upcoming opportunity to engage in conversation and contemplation with our community is the Talking to Kids About Race event, on October 18th from 3:30-5:30pm. This event will include a panel of parents of color and parents of children of color from Rainbow, along with an exploration of the Racial Identity Benchmarks sourced from the City and Country School in New York. We look forward to the rich discussions that abound at this annual event.

Our environmental efforts are best captured in the multitude of student-led projects on campus. Preschool has created a viewing station for a Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar found on campus. This will metamorphose into a Regal Moth. Preschool has also established a connection with the Roots Foundation to plan for edible gardens on campus. In partnership with Max and Shaun, our facilities team, Fourth grade is working on relocating their garden beds to the hill by Omega. Fifth grade has reworked their compost stations for maximum efficiency and will have school-wide composting underway soon. The Omega sixth graders are creating invitational spaces for squirrel observation and the seventh and eighth graders are in the process of designing and constructing a pathway to their outdoor learning center, and so much more. The campus has clearly become an enriching tool for investment in the natural domain.

Even with all of the energy focused on the present, it remains critical for us to look ahead.

In the short term, this involves looking beyond October 22nd, when families will reevaluate their remote learning status. Administration will be reaching out soon with a simple survey to collect data about our communities’ intention for the winter months. There has been some buzz from families that the opening of the school year has given them a sense of comfort and they look forward to continuing or transitioning to in person learning. Other families may have a reason to consider or continue with the remote model. A look at our community data will help us determine the most effective path that takes diverse family needs into consideration At this time, we do not imagine a big shift in our approach unless the family data suggests this is advantageous. We will be sharing this survey with you all very soon.

Another part of visioning is ensuring that we are always taking into account the larger, longer term goals of the school. During the 18-19 school year, Rainbow hosted a community-wide summit using the process of Appreciative Inquiry to gather data from our critical stakeholders about the direction of the institution. This led to our most recent Strategic Plan. This document guides the administration in evaluating decisions with a long-term lens on impact and alignment with our community values and vision. I look forward to advancing our progress on these strategic goals in the coming months and years.

May the beauty of fall surround you. May the crisp air refresh you. May the season of harvest be a reminder of the great abundance we share when community is ignited and fellowship is at the heart of our experience.

In Love,
Susie Fahrer

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