Captain Gillespie and his crew from Fire Station 10 had some sharing time with us today. They showed us what a fireman looks like in his fire fighting suit and mask. They also told us about fire safety, answered our hundreds of questions and showed us all the tools on their ladder truck. We were fascinated. Thank You Fire Station 10!
Thursday was Hero Day, our fourth day of Spirit Week. We dressed up as Jane Goodall, John Muir, an astronaut, moms, doctors, and Mr. Rodgers. At lunch we ate with each other and shared who are heroes were. Then we played chase.
Middle School Teachers, Susan & Jason, dressed up as a collective of their middle school students. Nice.
How do we gauge how much to expect from our child?  For example, by the age of ten, my expectations of my oldest daughter were very adult-like, but every once in a while I would catch a glimpse of her from a distance, and I would realize how little she still was. I was telling Jessica Redford, one of our wise preschool teachers, about this, and she replied, “High expectations aren’t so bad; it’s how you react when your expectations are not met that matters.”Â
Low expectations are just as common. Our children develop so quickly, that often we don’t notice they are ready for a new level of challenge. Just when we figure out one stage of development, they’re on to another phase. Jessy Tickle, another RMCS preschool teacher, told me last week about a student who wanted his parent to zip up his coat. The parent said, “But Miss Jessy tells me you can do this by yourself at school.” The boy replied to his mom, “Did Miss Jessy tell you that?!”  (Now he knows that Miss Jessy and mom are a team.)  Parents have learned a lot from seeing how much their child can accomplish in school. As teachers, we are not doing our job if we don’t push kids a little beyond their comfort zone in order to develop more independence and responsibility.  I often have to restrain myself from swooping in to help a four year old close up his lunch box, for instance. It only seems natural to help, but the teachers will patiently allow them time to do it on their own, and if the child asks for help, they’ll provide assistance or a verbal clue, rather than doing it for them.  Our teachers have high regard for their students.
After I entered the teaching profession, my expectations for my own children would recalibrate frequently, as I was able to compare them with a variety of other children. Child development texts may be the official source, and other parent literature is helpful, but if you really want to know what your expectations should be at this stage, ask a teacher. You’ll find that Rainbow teachers are more than happy to share their observations with you. Of course, another great source is other parents. Rainbow is a giant parent support group. If you think something your child is doing is abnormal, just ask other parents, and they’re likely to tell you their child is doing the same thing. There is no such thing as normal. Every child is totally unique and wonderful.
Rainbow 4th-grader, Thomas McDermott Post, and Mayor Billy Keyserling of Beaufort, SC, came together Monday for a book signing and discussion. Their book, A Pink Dolphin, tells a story about community coming and working together during difficult times.
Thomas beamed as he sat in front of classmates, schoolmates and parents with Mayor Keyserling talking about what inspired him to write the story, how they worked together, and what it’s like to publish a book.
Wednesday was Rainbow Day. Everyone came in every hue from top to toes. We had a pep rally on the deck where each class shared their chant and we sang a song about opposites in Spanish. It was loud. It was bright. It was Rainbow. What a great group of children!
Renee leads the entire school in a pep rally
Come by for a tour today!
