by Webmaster | Jun 13, 2014 | Home Page News, News

The Glass Foundation is a private family foundation based out of Asheville, NC. They bestow grants based on Child Development, Environmental Education and Historic Preservation.
Rainbow Community School would like to express its sincerest gratitude for The Glass Foundation whose generous grant will allow our school to continue with Phase I of the new campus addition. We are growing ever more excited to be able to use this space for school and community needs.
The grant funds will be used to continue with construction over the summer that will result in a new Performance Hall for use by Rainbow but also the Asheville community!
The Rainbow Community Performance Hall will be open September 1st.
If you would like to use this space, we welcome inquiries. Please contact the school’s office or send email inquires to info@rainbowlearning.org.
by Webmaster | Jun 3, 2014 | Home Page News, News
Our student council voted earlier in the year to do a field day at the end of the year.
They’re making great strides at making a difference in their community.
We began with a welcome ceremony at 10:30 in the morning. Students lined up according to their color.
Students listened as we talked about rules, safety and good sportsmanship.
Students in each class were divided by names, letters and their rainbow colors.
Each class marched to a station where they waited to hear a horn. Once they heard the signal, they began their activities.
Once they completed going to all the different stations, they met back on the playground for watermelon.
Everyone had a chance to spit seeds and talk with each other while referees calculated the points for the winning team.
And wouldn’t you know, everyone was a winner!
Enjoy the slideshow of the day.
[portfolio_slideshow id=4346]
Photo credits: Cynthia Calhoun
by Webmaster | May 26, 2014 | Global Citizenship, Home Page News, News
Our Rainbow Community has done it again: we’ve pulled off another spectacular production of Imagine!
From preschool through Omega, students performed skits, songs and lessons all wrapped up in a greater exploration of the outer self. This year’s Imagine performance complemented last year’s production that looked inward.
Each grade performed a skit and many teachers wrote the individual songs or skits themselves. Students performed them while being part of a greater, overall play, written by our very own Justin Pilla. Imagine happened on Justin’s birthday, as well – what an awesome present!
The Imagine play centered on extraterrestrial beings who came to Asheville to observe and try to be like tourists to find out information about humans. Unsuspecting students welcomed them, save one who was suspicious that the aliens really were from outer space.
Each act in Imagine was a demonstration of human knowledge through song, dance, poetry, acting, and much more.
Omega also put on a play between the two Imagine performances called “Time,” an adaptation of David Mamet’s The Revenge of the Space Pandas, or Binky Rudich and the Two-Speed Clock. One of our Omega students, Zoe E. rewrote the ending, hence the “adaptation.”
Enjoy the following photo journey of Rainbow’s 2014 production:

Everyone walked over to Calvary Baptist Church to see the Imagine Production

A Journey From Here…to the Beyond

The opening skit for Imagine

“Those are not aliens! They’re Tourists!”

First graders perform

Fifth grade dance

Third grade skit

A historical figure and a mesmerizing magical crystal

Second grade sings and performs

Our second grade teacher takes the stage!

A shadow performance

Fourth grade electrified
And a “Time” journey…

Opening scene – scientist at work – Waukegan, Earth

Theyre on another planet: Crestview, Fourth World in the Goolagong System

The king demands the sheep wool.

More about Time…

Hiding from the beings on Crestview

Hopefully this does not result in unfair punishment

The prisoners shall succumb to the pumpkin!

No, I have not seen any earthlings here. Nope.

Shall we dance?

“That Binky refuses to eat!”
by Webmaster | May 25, 2014 | News
What a special day it was for our preschoolers!
RCS held their graduation over at the sanctuary on the new property.
Before walking over, both preschool classes held a centering for one last time:

Centering at the Blue Door Preschool.
Once students finished, they made their way to the sanctuary.

Waiting for the graduation ceremony to begin.
Preschoolers began the ceremony by singing their “Hola, Hola” song in Spanish. They sang two other songs, including one in honor of Judith, who is retiring at the end of this school year. Preschool teachers then called up all the students to receive their certificates.

Preschoolers finishing their songs and awaiting their certificates.
It’s such a milestone to graduate!

Now everyone has their certificates! Are they happy or what?
After the ceremony, families gathered for food and sharing. They began with a blessing:

A blessing before the picnic.
Everyone lined up and the food was yummy! The day turned out beautiful and bright.

Lining up for the picnic.
It’s so fun to have all our families on campus. They help to make RCS the wonderful place that it is!

Wonderful families at RCS!
We have students who value trust, honesty and love.

Our families are awesome!

Congratulations, graduates!
by Webmaster | May 20, 2014 | Global Citizenship, News
Yesterday, the NC Green Schools team from the non-profit organization Reading, Riding, Retrofit came to Rainbow to give us a plaque with our award. We are now an NC Green School of Excellence.

At left, Robin Cape (Executive Director of Reading, Riding, Retrofit), center is Katie Ferrell (Program Director) and Max Mraz – Rainbow Builder and Groundskeeper Extraordinaire.
The Reading, Riding, Retrofit: The NC Green Schools Programs organization strives to recognize and encourage schools that practice sustainability. They work to support school initiatives to become more “green” in their practices. For schools who want to participate, they list on their website various goals that schools can try to attain to help green their campuses. They have a five-part rubric: 1) Culture and Community, 2) School Sustainability, 3) Healthy Schools, 4) Curriculum Integration and 5) Innovation.
Rainbow tackled all five parts. Many schools only try to hit two or three parts of the rubric but we already know that Rainbow strives to go above and beyond with is vision of sustainability.
Joining in the fun was WLOS and Tammy Watford. They came to see the celebration and created a “Never Stop Learning” video documenting our all-school celebration.
They also interviewed two of our Omega students and their perceptions of being “green” and leading sustainable lives.
The first graders performed their “Water Cycle” song and 6th graders shared poems inspired by nature. Take a look at the photos to see all the wonderful students and staff enjoying a beautiful award on a beautiful day.

The Water Cycle Song

First grade Rainbow students sing the “Water Cycle” song as they are filmed by WLOS.

Kindergarten students join the celebration.

Two executive directors converse while students are assembling.

Kindergarten and first grade students get ready for the celebration

Students and teachers look on as sixth graders read their nature poems.

Students get ready to celebrate

Max, Robin and Torin (an RRR judge) check out the wooden “balance beam” trails on the preschool playground. The NC Green Schools team toured the school after the celebration.

Left to right: Cynthia (who wrote the NC Green Schools application), Renee (Exectutive Director of Rainbow), Robin Cape and Katie Ferrell

NC Green Schools judges and Rainbow staff check out the worm composting bins.

Robin Cape, Executive Director of Reading, Riding Retrofit: NC Green Schools Programs – touring the campus