Rainbow Montessori School is a private Montessori school for children who are Toddlers through Kindergarten. Rainbow's mission is to help each individual reach his or her fullest potential and to prepare our students to be independent thinkers, lifetime learners, and responsible citizens in an ever-changing world.

Rainbow was founded in 1980 by Doris Rasmussen. Rainbow is dedicated to the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, which recognizes a child's need to learn basic academic skills, observe the environment, do independent work, and cooperate in a community.

Rainbow serves families in the Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Camelback Mountain area, Pinnacle Peak, Carefree, McCormick, and Gainey Ranches.

Rainbow Montessori School has a unique approach to education which builds upon the need and eagerness of younger children to learn about their immediate world. Later, we satisfy the passion of older students to explore beyond the walls of their classrooms. We teach and we remove obstacles to learning. The result, for nearly forty years, has been graduates who are poised, confident, self-starters with a broad mastery of skills and subject matter. These students have become critical thinkers who have respect for one another and the environment, and who have developed a lifelong love of learning.

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Rainbow Montessori school is a private educational school dedicated to the Montessori Method. It is based on a balance between freedom and structure and is specifically designed to meet the child's developmental needs. Rainbow Montessori's approach to education emphasizes the potential of young children and develops this potential by means of a prepared environment, specifically trained and certified Montessori teachers, and the use of Dr. Montessori's didactic materials.

Our goal is to help each child grow in:

• Self discipline
• Independence
• Academic skills
• Self confidence
• Problem solving
• Inner organization
• Joy in constructive activity
• Respect for self and others

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We are fortunate to have such a well-defined and experienced staff in a small school setting. The heart of our school is our teaching faculty, which is among the best in the area and consists of well-trained, experienced, dedicated individuals who consistently inspire and challenge the students and each other. All Directresses in addition to their other advanced training and experience, hold diplomas with American Montessori Society, Association Montessori International, St Nicholas Montessori Association and North American Montessori Teacher Training.

The faculty is guided and inspired by the strong administration team of Principal Doris Rasmussen and Vice Principal Robin Sendra. Doris has her American Montessori Society teaching certification from Montessori Western Teacher Training Program, Garden Grove, California, along with a background in Special Education. Robin has her Bachelors' Degree of Science from Arizona State University in Psychology along with her Administration Diploma from Center for Montessori Training Education, New York, in Montessori Management.

The health and safety of our school community is a priority for Rainbow Montessori School. All Head Teachers are trained in CPR and First Aid and all staff are trained and expected to respond appropriately to an accident or sudden illness. All main doors to both Voltaire and the Cactus campuses are accessible with an access code. All visitors must be identified before entering our buildings. Both campuses have security systems sending alarms straight to fire and the police departments. All of our staff have been FBI fingerprint clearance checked and registered with the State. A well-documented policies and procedures manual is provided for all staff. Safety policies are all in place i.e. Epi-Pen, Twin Ject, etc. Monthly Health and Safety meetings are held with the Principal and Head Teachers.

• Open door policy with Administration
• Parent teacher conferences 2 times a year
• E-mail access
• School Web site
• Written student reports 3 times a year
• Daily teacher call times
• Teacher e-mails
• Monthly newsletters

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