by Admin | May 9, 2017 | Blogs
Rainbow’s Omega Middle School sixth grade class studies Social Entrepreneurshi p every year. In the spring the students come up with business ideas that reflect their passions, skills and support making the world a better place, whether at home or on the other side of the globe. By May they have a prototype ready to sell to family and friends on campus and based on feedback, will refine it and present at the West Asheville Farmer’s Market on May 30th.
Every Friday our Fundraising Manager and Nonprofit Development Consultant, Sara Stender, works with the sixth graders. She shares about the past week:
It has been so rewarding working with the 6th grade social entrepreneurship class this spring. This week we learned more about consciousness in business. We reflected on values – how to build businesses that represent what we believe in – and how to communicate them to our customers. Many of you saw how this is reflected in the student’s businesses that were set up on the deck last Friday. Thank you for supporting their work and for offering feedback during the final stages of research and development. The class will be selling at the West Asheville Tailgate Market on Tuesday, May 30th, from 3pm-5pm so please stop by and say hi! Some characteristics of a conscious company as defined by our sixth graders this week include:
- Awake
- Paying Attention
- Offering Value
- Trustworthy
- Connected to the People
- Certifications (Organic, Fair Trade)
 We had a compelling conversation with Chipper Bro, who has been with Patagonia since they started in 1973! He explained the importance of transparent business practices and encouraged us to get involved with the company’s Traceable Down project. Chipper also helped us to remember that even big companies like Patagonia often start with one person and their passion. 43 years later the company is influencing other large global corporations to implement environmental and social practices that help shape a brighter future for all of us.
On Tuesday we took a field trip to The Hop ice cream factory where owner Greg and  manager Gretchen really honed in on what it means to be community-driven, and how to know if a company is walking the talk. Greg shared that building relationships with their suppliers and customers is the most important thing – more than just a sale – and sourcing clean and local ingredients (even the unicorn poop!) to support the environment and the local economy. Thank you social entrepreneurs of all ages for being a beacon of hope!
A special thanks to Asheville Tourists owners and Rainbow parents, Brian and & Kali DeWine. Their gift of game tickets helped raise funds for the 6th graders to start building a Conscious Commerce Cart that will showcase social entrepreneurship for years to come!
#LoveTheHive
#OmegaMiddleSchool
#RainbowCommunitySchool |
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by Susie Fahrer | Oct 28, 2022 | Blogs, CEO's Kaleidoscope, Director's Blog, Home Page News
Deep Gratitude
Dear Rainbow Friends and Families,
My deepest gratitude for the energy, orchestration, donation, and collaboration that went into realizing the successful return of the beloved Harvest Hoedown. The day was filled with joy, laughter, entertainment, and plenty of sweet treats. It was a beautiful representation of our community in action.
Community is not only built through our gatherings and events, but also through our programming and curriculum. There is care and time put into the models of Compassionate and Nonviolent communication in the classrooms. The students are participants in their own learning through self-reflection, and governance through things like class meetings. They are learning the balance of autonomy and personal needs with community and collective consent. They are taught the difference between intent and impact. The teachers model and teach concepts of empathy, active listening, systems thinking, valuing diverse perspectives, and more. All of these are essential elements of a “community mindset” that supports healthy classrooms and fosters strong relationships beyond our doors with family, community organizations, and new schools.
Omega Open House
- One of the most powerful ways to explore the impact of our programming is through the experience of our oldest learners and Alumni. Families and students of all ages are encouraged to join us on November 3rd from 4:00-6:00pm for the Omega Open House and Alumni Panel. Learn more, and RSVP for the event here.
Upcoming Events
At Rainbow, we believe in the power of adult learning and engagement to support a meaningful and transformative community experience for all. Our dynamic governance model provides monthly circle gatherings that are regularly published in Rainbow Reminders. These circles are open, and anyone is welcome. Additionally, your class meetings provide a more intimate classroom connection experience. Two additional upcoming events critical to supporting a shared understanding of our core values include:
- Talking to Kids About Race– This is an annual event that surfaces new and relevant learning every time we come together. This year, participants can expect lots of opportunities to share ideas, ask questions, and practice scenarios that further their own and their child’s understanding of race. These conversations foster our efforts to become a more equitable, inclusive, and reflective community for all.
- General Circle– This circle meets three times a year to discuss elements of our school and organizational values and programming. It is a “meeting of the minds” where every circle (parent, staff, admin, board, equity, etc.) has representation in the conversation. This year I would love to broaden the scope with more participation. The first General Circle of the year will be held on November 7th from 4:00-6:00pm in sixth grade. The topic will be Community and Family Engagement. This is a time to document celebrations, areas of growth, and strategic and visionary thinking as we plan for a thriving future. Reach out to Susie if you would like to attend.
Partnerships and Community
The word community at Rainbow extends far beyond our doors. We have long term partnerships with many local organizations such as Riverlink, Open Doors, Sunshine Project, ACS, First Step Farms, to name a few. Two community partnerships we love promoting to parents and caregivers include Building Bridges and REI, since we have seen the profound impact of their work on participants from our community. I am also coordinating and participating in a monthly fellowship group with local Heads of School. We met this week, and hope to have a rotating monthly meeting at each participating campus. This will include time for strategic conversations, collaborative thinking, and fellowship.
Children are the heart of our school and the community is the life force. We opened the school year with a theme of Embracing Holism and Connection. We flourish when the whole of our school is engaged in the work of achieving our mission. I hope you have found a place of connection and belonging within your classroom and that you continue to explore the many ways we manifest community at Rainbow.
Yours In Partnership and Gratitude,
Susie Fahrer
Executive Director
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.
by Admin | Oct 31, 2016 | Events
For the first time in Rainbow history, the Annual Book Fair is being hosted at Firestorm Books & Coffee down the street at 610 Haywood Rd in West Asheville! We are so excited to support our local community business neighbor and hope you will join us in purchasing books from 2pm-6pm from Tuesday, Nov 29th to Friday, Dec 2nd! 15% of cash profits and 30% of credit profits from books purchased within this time frame will be donated to Rainbow Community School.
Our Kick-Off event on Tuesday, Nov 29th from 4-6pm at Firestorm Books will feature marvelous classroom performances, including theatrical readings and original music. We hope to see you there!
by Webmaster | Aug 7, 2014 | Home Page News
We are very proud to be getting our certificate of occupancy for our new Community Auditorium!
We are inviting local businesses to campus on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014 to join us for a ribbon cutting hosted by the West Asheville Business Association and the Asheville Chamber of Commerce.
Where: Rainbow Community School’s New Community Auditorium.
Time: 4:30-6:00pm
Details: There will be food, beverages, door prizes, and sponsorship opportunities. We will also have a presentation about how Rainbow is impacting Asheville.
Did you know that you can rent out the auditorium?
by Admin | Jan 23, 2017 | Events, News
Rainbow community, won’t you join us for this fun 25-minute educational play designed to inspire green living and energy saving?!
Arrive at the auditorium in the Rainbow Community Center on Wednesday, January 25th, at 60 State Street, at 10am to grab a seat and enjoy the play starting at 10:15am.
Access educational materials and play fun games with your children either before the play or afterwards to help them integrate all they’ve learned. https://www.myenergykit.org/education/
You’ll also have a chance to order an energy kit filled with energy efficient materials for your home such as energy efficient light bulbs and a water conservation showerhead. As a community, how effective can we be in creating investment among our children to be more concsious of their energy use?
Play Synopsis:
Energy is being wasted everywhere you look, but Nikki Neutron and The Energized Guyz are here to help! The Conservation Caper is a theatrical program designed to engage elementary students in green living and saving energy. In this 25-minute educational play, Nikki takes on Dr. Maybe, a villain bent on wasting water and energy, and shows our students how we all can do our part to save energy.
In fact, The Conservation Caper has a goal to save 10 million kilowatt hours of energy during the 2016-17 school year. Will you join this mission?
