Interested in tie-dyed hats? How about some goat milk soap?
Those are just two of the many entrepreneurial ideas happening in the 6th grade Alpha classroom. In fact, they’re starting their own businesses!
Starting the Entrepreneurial Project
The sixth grade began reading articles about other students in Asheville who started their own businesses. From there they categorized various businesses into those that provide a product and those that provide a service.
Once they did that, the ideas started flying. Of course, with so many ideas comes the process of narrowing down the possibilities to something concrete and specific. In fact, teachers helped students assess their talents and passions to create a business that was in line their interests and values. This part of the project certainly involved a lot of personal reflection and sharing to help students determine the best course of action for their businesses – such as to “go it alone” or to create partnerships.
Creating a Business Plan
The next stage of the project was to generate business plans. The first step was in writing a mission statement. Students looked at Rainbow Community School’s mission statement as a starting point. They learned that a mission statement needs to be short, but also clearly communicate the goals of the business.
The Alphas went on to do market research and learn how to identify their customer base as well as looked at other businesses in Asheville that provide a similar service.
Finally, the students wrote up their business plans that included how to advertise, promote and and secure business loans. In fact, students had to present their business plans to a Loan Committee (that included parents, 6th grade teacher Jennifer and assistant Justin) to see if they would qualify for a $20 loan.
Learning from Established Businesses
In order to help students understand what it is to start a business, members of the Asheville community visited the 6th grade to share their stories. The owners of Chai Pani shared the story of its creation. Other business owners came, too. The message they wanted to drive home?
It’s important to identify your passion and to work for your dream wholeheartedly. There’s a feeling of flow and serendipity to identifying one’s dream and then taking the steps to make it happen.
They also shared that by recognizing and using your talents, you take your place in creating a better community and world.
Highlights of Alpha Businesses
The sixth grade Alphas are thrilled about their projects. They talk about them in the mornings when they come to school, and leave filled with new ideas of how they’re going to try new products in their businesses or offer a new service. Still, others talk about their first sale. One student made business cards to advertise his company. It’s entirely possible that even after this project ends, many students will continue working on their businesses. The following are a sampling of what students are doing:
The Spiritual Center: Maia and Sunshine’s Cleaning and Organizing Company
The Spiritual Center: Maia and Sunshine’s Cleaning and Organizing Company. Their mission: “Using the philosophy of Feng Shui, we organize and clean your home in order for you to have an enjoyable, energy-filled and healthy environment.”
Belle is selling eggs from her chickens, and compiling a cookbook of favorite family recipes. She is polishing her business plan to present to her father to secure a loan to purchase five goats. She plans to sell goat’s milk and cheese, goat milk soap and lotion at local farmer’s markets.
Clay and Ryan sell tie-dyed items such as fez hats, ball caps and bow ties.
Annika has created a business selling animal tails that attach to a belt. On the side, she’s creating posters and fliers to help promote her classmates’ businesses.
Pet Snaps is Ben’s pet photography business. He’s designing his own website to attract customers.
Hugh and Juliana have a naturally scented candle business. They make and sell the candles themselves. They have already been door-to-door in Juliana’s neighborhood selling their creations.
Our 5th grade Honeybees have been stretching their musical muscles. They worked with the band Elephant Revival learning about singing and songwriting.
Here are our songwriter/singer 5th graders at LEAF in action:
5th Grade Honeybees at LEAF with Elephant Revival
They did a great job with their performance and had a meaningful experience with the sweet spirits of Elephant Revival.
Here’s another look at all the enlightened musicians:
Violins, voices, guitars, and more all amounts to an incredible musical experience.
Elephant Revival had such a blast, they shared an endearing photo on their Facebook page:
Elephant Revival poses with the 5th grade students while they practice.
If you use Facebook, feel free to head on over to share your child’s experience with them while they worked with Elephant Revival.
Something we’re particularly proud of: During the band’s afternoon performance at LEAF, they made several positive references to their experience with the kids and with the school, specifically wishing more schools could be like Rainbow.
(click to view full-screen – you’ll be able to read all the text clearly)
Rainbow Community School recently was recognized for its efforts at environmental sustainability and the innovative ways in which students and staff aim to learn about and take care of our planet.
The NC Green Schools Committee of the Reading, Riding, Retrofit non-profit organization recently recognized Rainbow as a Green School of Excellence. We are the first to receive such an award.
Rainbow was judged according to five categories: Culture/Community, Curriculum Integration, Healthy Schools, Sustainability and Innovation. We scored very high, which allowed us to become the first NC school to achieve the NC Green School of Excellence Award. The other two categories are NC Green School of Quality and NC Green School of Promise.
On May 19th, judges from NC Green Schools will be coming to campus to have a celebration with us at 10 am. Parents are invited to attend.
On behalf of Rainbow, there is a press release on the Mountain Express website, found here:
Our campaign was a HUGE success! We are just shy of our $200,000 goal to acquire the church property next to the school. Thank you to everyone who came to the event. There was music, food, fun, and games.
Our fundraiser yesterday raised $24,000, bringing us to $168,000 towards our $200,000 goal. For all who joined us, we are incredibly happy you came!
We want to extend a special thank you to our musicians, Greg Olson, Bobby Miller & the Virginia Daredevils, Adama Dembele & Friends for all of your musical entertainment. We had so many volunteers who contributed their many hours and talents to the event and we express our deepest gratitude. FUEL Food Truck and Catering, GQC Lebanese Street Food, Wicked Weed Brewing, & Bill Drew provided some delicious food and drink – it was all a success.
Thank you also to our Board of Directors, faculty, & staff – without everyone’s help, this whole event might not have been possible. The future of Rainbow is right now and we’re making it happen!
A special thank you to all the members of the Asheville Community who helped make this day possible.
The fourth graders just finished an archaeology unit and invited the Rainbow Community to come see.
They built a wigwam! We’ll let the photos speak for themselves:
To build the wigwam, the students harvested local grapevine and learned to weave it in and out of the shelter to create the skeleton frame. The Omega students helped the 4th graders complete the project.
Building the wigwam reinforced their Archeology unit because it allowed them to have hands-on experience relatable to the ancient societies archeologists discover.
They also did soap carvings and rock paintings using all-natural materials.
At the end of the unit, and also to celebrate, they taught other classes about Archeology, including the Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 3 classes.
