Webmaster, Author at Rainbow Community School

Alumnus Allijah Motika – Creative Multi-Instrumentalist

by Webmaster | Sep 16, 2014 | Alumni News & Accolades

Allijah Motika – Creative multi-instrumentalist

Alumni News!

We are so proud of all of our alumni.

We have news from Allijah Motika who just graduated from Catawba College in May.

He studied music, with a concentration in Popular Music and achieved summa cum laude. He received many honors while there, including getting a Presidential Scholarship, and was on the Dean’s List and Presidential Honor Roll. He was a member of Alpha Chi Honors Society, a Junior Marshal, and was named Who’s Who Among Students.

As a student, he participated in an Artist Development Program, learning everything from being a live sound engineer to helping oversee performance spaces on campus. He also tutored other students in various subjects. This has helped prepare him for life after college – running a band and fulfilling his dream of being a musician!

Allijah is part of a band that formed in 2012 called Life Size. He also is the acting manager, promoter and booking agent. In addition, he’s a co-songwriter, co-producer, and plays multiple instruments for shows and performances.

Already, he has several notable performances:

Vernaculars All-Stars at the NC Governor’s Inaugural Ball in 2013 – with Parmalee and The Avett Brothers
God’s Appointed People Choir at the Democratic National Convention in 2012 – with Jessica Sanchez
Catawba Singers – European Tour 2011 and Chicago Performance – with Eric Whitacre
Governor’s School West Chorus – 2009

Great job to Allijah – we are proud of you and so thrilled that you’re part of the Rainbow family!

Here’s a recent quote from Sarah Hall – Salisbury Post

“Their songs, all original compositions, demonstrated that they have become accomplished songwriters.”

RCS Staff Does Professional Development at Sanctuary

by Webmaster | Sep 4, 2014 | News

Professional, Spiritual and Personal Development

One of the most special things about Rainbow is how students and staff alike have opportunities to grow. Each person grows personally, professionally and spiritually.

Before school starts in August each year, all staff come back together after summer break – many of whom will have engaged in professional development on their own – for a week of training.

As part of that training, the staff goes on a required retreat.

It’s not just any kind of retreat.

The time the staff spends together is designed to help teachers understand the practice of teaching on a higher level, understand how to work with each other better, build relationships, and engage in relevant, innovative training so that ultimately, this translates to working in the classroom with Rainbow Community School’s students.

Mountain Light Sanctuary

This year for the August retreat, teachers went to Mountain Light Sanctuary.

For two days they engaged in activities that nourished their spirits, and allowed them to participate in workshops that they could immediately use in the classroom.

Temperaments

Pictured below is one such workshop.

The school’s Director, Renee Owen, led a Temperaments training.

This was designed so that staff could understand more about their own temperament, but also how to identify the temperaments of their students.

This allows for better communication and understanding between students, teachers, and the greater Community.

Photo credit: Michael Lightweaver, Mountain Light Sanctuary

At the end of the training, after many discussions, de-briefings and having learned a lot of beneficial information for the classroom, the staff gathered for one final photo.

They held one last Centering and blessing before they dispersed.

End of staff retreat
Photo credit: Michael Lightweaver, Mountain Light Sanctuary