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Adolescence is the infamous threshold between childhood and
adulthood. It can be the best of times and the worst of times.
Life is in flux, and often the decisions that are made during this critical time set
the course of an individual’s life for many years to
come.
The Morning Star Rising program is designed to help adolescent
girls make a successful transition to young adulthood. Based
on traditional rite-of-passage programs, Morning Star Rising
supports girls in making this transition by offering a comprehensive,
four-phase curriculum-based program that integrates a variety
of services.
Morning Star Rising is based on a unique, four-phase curriculum
that underpins the entire program. Each phase builds on the
objectives of the previous phase. In sum, the curriculum helps
the girls to construct a vision of the future
through an examination of the past and learn
to create social power through the recognition
and development of personal power.
In August of 2007, The Austin Independent School District has launched an all-girls' secondary school, The Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. Beginning in 07-08 with 6th and 7th grades, the school will expand adding a grade a year through 12th grade.
Tamara Sbelgio, the founder and director of Morning Star Rising was asked to write an original course, developing the goals of The Ann Richards School. Drawing on her years of work creating and leading her original program, she is delighted to have had the opportunity to write the first two years of the STARS course, required of all Ann Richards students. This course sets the standard for academic programs designed to encourage and support girls in developing leadership skills applicable to all areas of social involvement.
In support of the STARS course, Morning Star Rising is proud to have published an academic adaptation of much of the most engaging and effective curriulum developed and refined over seven years. Star Track: A Guide for Stellar Girls is in the STARS course and is available for purchase and use in all-girls schools and all-girls courses.
During the seven years of the pilot program at Fulmore Middle School, several variations of the structural model have been used. Currently, girls enter the program in the 6th grade. During the continuous program that seamlessly moves through each of the four phases, the girls are involved in:
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Choose one of the links below to read more about:
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