Why does Rainbow have such dedicated, mindful, creative, and loving teachers? Because we follow every single one of the recommendations in this article. Teachers are still treated like blue-collar workers by politicians. At Rainbow they are highly respected professionals who are provided time to collaborate with one another, autonomy to run their classroom, consistent and relevant professional development, and balance in their lives so they aren’t burned out. The result? Students who are dedicated, mindful, creative, and loving. Empowered teachers create empowered students.
“And just when you think you’ve got things figured out things change again…” The sixth graders share this powerful wisdom about the transformational power of love through their original song “Love as Metamorphosis”. The melody and rhythm of the song parallel the powerful lyrics as they describe the ever unfolding process of love. The sixth grade worked closely with their teacher, Justin Pilla, to create entirely new composition and lyrics for last year’s Annual Winter Program. Steeped in the emotional, spiritual, and creative domains, these sixth graders have created something beyond the material that can touch us all if we are open enough to receiving it.
Our Winter Program featured many beautiful originally composed songs, but “Animal Love” was the only one written by a particularly student. 5th grader Lilly Fox was inspired to write “Animal Love” when she learned that the Winter Program’s theme would be Love this year. More touching still is the way her classmates rallied around her and her song. As one of our smallest classes here at Rainbow, the 5th grade has continued to astonish us with their tender support and committed love of each other.
Inspired by Musical Director Sue Ford’s vision of writing all original songs on the theme of Love for December’s Winter Program, Susie Robidoux, 4th grade’s fearless Lead Teacher, developed an entirely new unit on Love. She got her students started by asking them: What is love for you? What does it look like? What does it feel like? From there they came to understand love as having three distinct forms. Love is first an expression originated in the self, then an action cultivated in community, and finally an offering given with generosity. The fourth graders learned to think of it this way: Love is fostered within us… grown among us…. and gifted beyond us. These beautiful song lyrics reflect their journey through their curriculum on Love.
Let us work together for love in head, heart, and hand. Let us work together for love to make a better land. Love is many things; I cannot count them all. It is powerful. It is peaceful. Love is many things; I cannot count them all. It can break down every wall. Through the woods past the valley where the sea of green grass grows. Love is found in nature’s harmony where the holy river flows. Friends, family, love of life; I feel the warmth from you. Follow me to the land of love where your light is honored and true to make a different land.
The Third Grade Penguins sing to us of the transformative power of love in this touching music video. In December’s Annual Winter Program Sue Ford, Rainbow’s Music Director, helped each grade write original songs on the theme of love. The audience was touched by the children’s simple and profound message that love might truly be the most natural and easiest gift to both give and receive.
