Our class will be visiting the Rainbow House on January 29th. We sent home permission slips with your child’s picture, contact information, and medical concerns home today in take home folders. Please sign this form and return it to school with your child on Monday January 21st.
The Rainbow House is a part of a local nonprofit organization that the Nichada and ISB community has supported over many years. The grade two team became acquainted with the Rainbow House through Nonthaburi Neighborhood Reach (NNR), a nonprofit organization of volunteers dedicated to serving the Nonthaburi community and supporting local charities. NNR achieves this by publishing Thani Talk, as well as hosting an annual charity bazaar. They also actively educate community members about needs in the local community and provide members with opportunities to serve our local surrounding communities.
Grade 2 partnered with NNR two years ago to find a nonprofit organization we could serve in order to provide our students with authentic service learning opportunities. The grade two teachers felt that fundraising is a way to serve our local community, but actual service provides a richer and longer lasting context for developing global citizenship and an awareness of the local community and how one can have a positive impact on it. We decided to partner with the Rainbow House after getting acquainted with the services it provides to the local community. Service learning is an integral part of ISB’s new vision statement. “Enriching communities through the intellectual, humanitarian and creative thoughts and actions of our learners.”
“Started in 1990, Rainbow House is now home to 40 children, ranging in age from 2 to 21 years old. The children have all come from the government homes in Pakkred. These children have been selected on the basis of having strong potential for independent living and the potential to be placed in a family setting. CCD has prepared and helped place over 30 children in adoptive homes and returned 16 to birth families.”
In preparation for our trip, we will be providing a developmentally appropriate education around physical and mental disabilities. We will also invite a guest speaker from NNR to help our learners understand the role that the Rainbow House plays in the local community as well as the importance of service learning in this particular context.
This service learning project has a direct curricular connection with our Communities unit of study as well as the vision of our school. Last year was our first year engaging in this service learning project and both students and families provided positive feedback about the experiences.
We thank you for your support. Please contact us with questions, comments or concerns.
Ms. Eide and Mr. Hagen.
