Exciting, new things are happening at Rainbow Child Development Center in Centreville. It has a new building and will soon be offering a full-day kindergarten program.
"We're a family-owned and operated company that has been in business for 21 years," said owner Eileen Hanley. "It was our vision at the beginning, and it remains still, that parents can leave their children in a safe, loving and educational environment."
Rainbow first opened in 1984 in Fairfax with just 20 children. It later moved to Reston for five years before settling in on Centreville's Braddock Road in 1992. In a 5,000-square-foot building, the staff took care of children ages 2 1/2 to 5 and had a pre-kindergarten program.
Now, another company occupies that facility, and Rainbow has constructed a new building next door at 14311 Braddock Road. It opened April 4, and now besides preschool care, this 8,000-square-foot building contains a private kindergarten.
"We had about 80 children in the old building and can now take about 140," said Director Doreen Bicoy, Hanley's daughter and a Sully Station resident. "We expanded because there was such a need for quality care in this county and because people like the aspect of a private preschool and kindergarten with the owners always on the premises."
Hours are 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; phone 703-222-9550 or see www.Rainbowchilddevctr.com. Nearly 100 children are already enrolled, with some openings remaining for the new session starting in September. (Call for specific information).
In addition, Rainbow also has an infant-and-toddler building across the parking lot at 14303 Braddock Road. It's for ages 6 weeks to 2 1/2 years and only takes 18 children total.
"We have 20 teachers, and many of them have been with us for several years," said Bicoy. "They're all very dedicated, and I think that's what makes us a quality school." And the parents agree.
"We love the new school, said Debbie VanTree, whose daughter Molly, 5, attends pre-K there. "It's a wonderful testament to [Rainbow's] love for children and [the staff's] hard work." Added Amy Bennett, mother of son Chase, 4: "We are so proud to tell people that our son goes to Rainbow."
Julianna Foley said Rainbow is "a wonderful home away from home" for her son Donovan, 5. And Wanda Miller, whose son Austin, 2, and daughter Madison, 5, go there, said, "Rainbow is like having another family."
As a parent, herself, for 38 years, Hanley believes she knows what parents need and want, and she does her best to provide it in a loving, nurturing environment. "I have been so excited to open our brand-new facility," she said. "We've worked very hard to come this far in our successful business. It's a dream come true."
And now and then, grown children come back to visit the people at Rainbow. "On Friday, a 16-year-old boy came by and said he remembered being here when he was 4," said Bicoy. "And now he's driving."