Rainbow Schools

Two of my friends had keiki at Rainbows. I had to pick them up a few times when they were busy. I got off work then at 4:30, I’d walk and need to get them by 5 pm. Their girls went to school and then they paid more to have them picked up at 5pm and would get dinged if they didn’t pick up their keiki on time or before 5 pm.
This has to be the safest school I can think of. There are metal detectors at both of the entrances. There are sheriffs always on duty. There are all high fences to the outside where the keiki can play. There are surveillance cameras all over and people watching them ²⁴⁄₇. Why??? It is in the federal building. So everything is all because of Oklahoma and the white lone wolves that could possibly do something somewhere but it is highly unlikely.
It is in the fed building, some of the other students are children of lawyers, judges, important Presidential nominated office workers and other high high end white collar parents. So you know the school has many highly educated parents and by the same token as the keiki get a little older– have educational opportunities that other schools will not have the same level of exposure to great education like early reading.
There are plenty of staff– It seemed that the teachers were the ones with degrees and that there were others that did not necessarily have backgrounds in early childhood education.
The art on the walls was wonderful and showcased daily work on all levels.
It appears that all the keiki know the routines, they clean up at the end of the day like clockwork. They get to play nicely out in the yard in the afternoons. They seem to recognize different adults and go and get their friends to tell them that it is time to go home. Really great cooperation and Ohana at the school in general.
If I could– this is one of the best schools that I can think of for under 5 year olds and would want if I could pick up and drop off the children daily (if my work schedule would work with it).
More info at:

Cindy Barley, Director

300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96 813
Mailing address: Box 50 043, Honolulu, HI 96 850
Phone: (808) 541‑1701 Fax: (808) 541‑1703
Rainbow Schools’ curriculum is based on developmentally appropriate practices.
We use a learning center approach to the curriculum. Specifically, Rainbow Schools provide a curriculum rich in discovery and exploration. We believe that learning takes place through child-​initiated, free choice activities or «experiential» learning. Though the program may appear informal and flexible, the curriculum and environment are a result of careful daily planning by staff. Teachers arrange the learning environment into many interesting areas: art, blocks, cooking, computer, dramatic play, library, listening center, carpentry, music and movement, science, the outdoors, sand and water, table games and manipulatives. These learning centers also provide exposure to letters and shapes as well as a foundation for numbers and math concepts.
Our curriculum is designed to help each child develop in the following ways:
* Socially — by providing experiences to help each child learn to share.
* Emotionally — by helping each child to recognize and express feelings in acceptable ways.
* Physically — by encouraging children to develop large and small muscle strength and coordination.
* Intellectually — by providing creative learning opportunities to develop reasoning skills.
Rainbow Schools are dedicated to the idea that learning is a natural accomplishment of living and should be a joyful process. Positive learning experiences enable a child to build a strong feeling of self worth as well as to cope more effectively with the world.
Rainbow School’s role is to focus the learning already taking place in a child’s life by guiding the child toward four goals: basic skill development, a deeper awareness of the world and his place in it, creative expression, and the ability to make effective choices.
Rainbow Schools individualizes instruction so that the child may develop at his own rate. Children are expected to experience the consequences of positive decisions. All of this is achieved in an atmosphere of positive support where each child’s strengths and abilities are emphasized and tasks are broken into steps which are developmentally appropriate.