White’s enrichment plan offers win-win for students, teachers

Dorinda White, principal at Rainbow Elementary School, knew her faculty needed planning time. At the same time, students needed beyond-the-classroom experiences. Her solution has helped everyone.

Rainbow Principal Dorinda White

White conceptualized an enrichment series, running seven months this school year. Rainbow PTA and five substitute teachers have assisted in planning the initiative.

Two hours per month, teachers of each grade gather for lesson planning, professional development discussions and strategy collaboration. Simultaneously, their students pursue enrichment opportunities in extracurricular activities, PTA volunteer Emily Peck said.

The same group of substitute teachers fills in for the same classes each time.

“It’s a win/win combination” for teachers and students. “PTA has agreed to fund the project. Parents can see how their dollars directly benefit their children,” Peck said.

For enrichment sessions, Rainbow students have witnessed Burritt Museum’s demos for butter churning and spinning wool into thread. They visited “Math Alive” at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Third-graders learned about the use of drums in African, Indian and Japanese cultures. This month, sixth-graders led a presidential convention and election.

Future sessions will include visits by a National Weather Service employee and Discovery Jazz Band, along with a rocket demonstration by parents. For spring semester, Rainbow teachers hope for visits by Sci-Quest Hands-On Science Center and Huntsville Botanical Garden representatives.

This year, Rainbow PTA’s campaign is “Raise Up Rainbow.” “Parents, teachers and community help raise schools to a higher standard through donations, volunteer time and sponsorships,” Rainbow PTA President Alice Lessmann said.

Lessmann acknowledged Rainbow families’ contributions to the capital campaign and fundraisers. “Local businesses have helped us launch our new enrichment program by services and/or funding, (thus allowing) Rainbow to offer these programs,” Lessmann said.

“As long as we have support of our PTA, parents, staff and volunteers, the sky is the limit to projects we can achieve,” Peck said.

Rainbow PTA Board includes Lessmann, Yulie Palenapa, Jan Heering, Dawn Colvert, Hillary Warren, Carolyn Tolbert, Suzanne Uptain and Jan Heering. For more information, visit rainbowpta.org or Facebook/Rainbowpta.2012.2013.