Where adventure begins
Omaha's Premier Preschool
Please enjoy our virtual tour, and feel free to schedule a tour with Mrs. Ruigh through email at rainbowfactoryruigh@gmail.com.
Where adventure begins
Omaha's Premier Preschool
Please enjoy our virtual tour, and feel free to schedule a tour with Mrs. Ruigh through email at rainbowfactoryruigh@gmail.com.
our philosophy
Rainbow Factory Preschool has served families in our community since 1964, utilizing various pedagogies to implement our inclusive, developmentally appropriate curriculum. Our teachers and staff work with your student to foster independence and creativity through active learning centers including dramatic play, sensory experiences, movement exploration, language activities, early literacy works, and gross motor play in our beautiful natural playground.We provide opportunities to our students that stimulate their growth, believing that children learn primarily through play. Our goal is to encourage our student’s healthy emotional, social, physical, and cognitive growth in a nurturing environment they love!
active learning
Children are active learners. Children learn through experiences with people, objects and things in their world. Experience through play, knowledge, curiosity and sense of wonder are foundations for children’s learning. Children’s ideas about themselves impact their interactions with adults, with other children, and with how they view themselves as learners.
development
Learning is most meaningful when it is integrated across all areas of development. Children construct knowledge and integrate new ideas and concepts into their existing understandings. Their achievements in language and learning are influenced by the social and emotional aspects of their development. Communication influences mathematical and scientific understandings. There are no clear lines between the domains or areas of learning.
COMMUNITY
Development and learning are rooted in culture and supported by the family. The child’s language, knowledge, traditions, and family expectations are the primary influences on development. Learning is enriched by stable, nurturing relationships within the family and community.
Programs
We understand that play is a child's work and through play a child learns. We encourage children to reach out, touch, laugh, sing, and discover that learning is fun.
Programs
We understand that play is a child's work and through play a child learns. We encourage children to reach out, touch, laugh, sing, and discover that learning is fun.
2024-2025 School year programming
TWOS Program
Monday Through Friday Full Day 9:00am-3:00 Pm $1,000.00/month
Monday Through Friday Full Day with Aftercare
9:00 am-6:00pm • $1,200.00/monthMonday Through Friday Mornings Only
9:00 am-12:00pm • $500.00/monthMonday Through Friday Mornings with tuesday/thursday full day
9:00 am-12:00pm Mon/Wed/Fri & 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM Tues/Thurs • $700.00/month
This program is childcare based but will implement elements of our center-based play curriculum and prepare children to move into the half day Threes or Multi-age room the following year! This class is designed to set your child up for long term success at our center and engage socially with peers in a developmentally appropriate, safe, and fun atmosphere! Student must be 2 years old by July 31, 2024. This program is currently full for the school year.
Multi-Age preschool (3-5 years old)
Monday-Friday MOrnings
9:00AM-12:00PM $450.00/monthMonday through Friday FULL DAY
9:00AM-3:00PM • $785.00/monthMonday through Friday FULL DAY with Aftercare
9:00AM-6:00PM • $1,000.00/monthMonday through Friday Mornings with Tuesday/Thursday full day
9:00AM-12:00pm M/W/F, 9:00 Am-3:00 pm T/Th • $600.00/month
We offer several different Pre-K class choices. All classes work towards teaching the same academic and social objectives. We are proud to offer different class options in hopes of providing the opportunity for all children to have the Pre-K experience. Our curriculum builds on everything learned earlier in our preschool program. Kindergarten readiness activities are taught in a fun and structured environment. This class will continue to learn through play, with a focus on reaching specific academic goals. This is a time for deepening the child’s confidence, building friendships, and learning to love school. We send Rainbow Factory children to Kindergarten academically prepared and with joy in their hearts. Must be 3 by July 31, 2024 and potty trained (or medical exception). This program currently has 3 openings-please contact Mrs. Ruigh at rainbowfactoryruigh@gmail.com for more information.
The Staff
The Staff
Barb Ruigh
Director
Mrs. Ruigh is a newer face at Rainbow Factory, bringing her Reggio-Inspired approach to the preschool where she infuses a love of nature with emergent curriculum. This approach allows students to be collaborators, and Mrs. Ruigh challenges students to expand their knowledge based on their genuine interest and understanding of students as capable individuals. Mrs. Ruigh has been in the early childhood education field for 30 years. As of July 2024, Mrs. Ruigh has been named our director, we are thrilled to have her leadership which will infuse her love of nature & creating functional, beautiful classroom spaces that act as a third teacher.
Justice Rhoden
Lead Teacher, Multi-age Preschool
Ms. Rhoden is gentle, kind, and approaches children with care. Joining Rainbow Factory in 2020, Ms. Rhoden has continued to develop her curriculum and classroom management skills while leading our Full Day multi-age classroom. Ms. Rhoden has been in the early childhood education field for over five years and her understanding of children’s needs makes that obvious to all who are fortunate enough to work alongside her.
Ashley Bandow
Lead Teacher, Twos Program
As the mother of five children, with two sets of twins, Mrs. Bandow operates with calm and thrives under the chaos of a Twos Program in her fourth year at Rainbow Factory. Mrs. Bandow has a Masters Degree in Sociology and English, and is currently pursuing an Associates in Early Childhood Education.
Anna Williams
Lead Teacher, Multi-age Preschool
Outdoor Coordinator
Mrs. Williams leads our Multi-age Mornings program in her fourth year at Rainbow Factory, as well as planning and executing Camp Rainbow curriculum and oversight. Using her background in horticulture, Mrs. Williams engages our students in gardening and maintaining our nature center which feeds their love of nature and understanding of community!
Jenny Reid
Twos Teacher
Mrs. Reid’s love of literature and children landed her in our Twos program at inception of said program, and we’re thrilled she signed on for a third year nurturing our youngest learners! Mrs. Reid’s own children went through Rainbow Factory as preschoolers, providing us with unique insight through a parent and community member’s perspective since 2017.
Lisa Smith
Teacher, Multi-age Preschool
Ms. Smith has been a part of the Rainbow Factory staff off and on since 2018, providing her excellent behavior management skills in our classrooms as a teacher. Ms. Smith believes children learn through each other as much as they learn through teachers and likes to promote ample opportunities for peer engagement in her classroom.
Stella Mogis
Aftercare Lead Teacher
Miss Stella hones her empathetic nature to care for children in our Aftercare program daily. Growing up in Montessori schools, Miss Stella encourages students to grow through practical life skills and supporting their independence through play.
Stacey Brown
Co-lead Teacher Multi-age Preschool
New to Rainbow Factory Preschool this year, Mrs. Brown co-teaches with Ms. Rhoden in the Multi-age Preschool Room. Mrs. Brown has been in Early Childhood Education for over 30 years. She is an Emergent/Creative Curriculum Specialist as well as Reggio inspired. She believes by observing and allowing the children to help choose what is of interest to them, helps them gain better knowledge of the world around them. Learning through play, as well as providing opportunities for new experiences, not only in the classroom, but out in nature, is what she strives for in a classroom.
Sydney Baylor
Teaching Assistant
Ms. Baylor has been a part of the Rainbow Factory Preschool staff as a teaching assistant. She is currently working as a long-time substitute in the Multi-age Preschool classroom with Ms. Smith. Ms. Baylor received her bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology and has over six years of experience working with young children. She enjoys watching her students’ imagination, creativity and problem-solving skills grow with free play and self-directed activities, alongside traditional and nature-based learning.
Katie Bryant
Office Assistant/Float/Art Instructor
Ms. Katie comes to Rainbow Factory with over 40 years of experience in early childhood education, working as a teacher in all age groups, as well as in administration. She has her CDA for Infants and Toddlers. Her primary responsibilities at the preschool will be to assist Mrs. Ruigh with her tasks as well helping out where needed. As a grandmother of five (one of whom is a RF alumni), she likes to spend time with family. Ms. Katie also dabbles in photography, loves to read and relishes in her husband of 44 years chef made delicacies.