Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is Morning Star Rising different from other adolescent after-school programs?

A: The Morning Star Rising model creates a bridge between middle school and high school by continuing the connection as the girls enter ninth grade. Staff visit the high school campus and members in high school are encouraged to participate in field trips and special workshops on career exploration and college admission.  Support and guidance is multi-faceted. The model incorporates affiliation groups, personal mentors, field trips, volunteering, summer internships, and community service projects.

Q: How often do Morning Star circles meet?

A: The seventh grade circles meet on Monday/Wednesday and the eighth grade circles meet on Tuesday/Friday and the 6th grade Little Sisters meet on Thursday every week of the school year. Study/field trips are held at least one Saturday each month. The summer book club and the summer eighth grade meetings each meet once a week for at least 8 weeks during the summer.

Q: Where are meetings held?

A: At the middle school, Morning Star has a "clubhouse" with comfy furniture, plants, colorful folk art, and art produced by the girls. The girls feel that this is "their" place.

Q: Is Morning Star intended for a particular population?

A: No. The curriculum is adaptable to any community, its needs and its resources.

Q: Is Morning Star intended just for girls?

A: No. The core of the program, the four-phase curriculum, is equally appropriate for adaptation for a similar rite-of-passage program for adolescent boys. The activities and curriculum lessons that develop around each phase might be tailored differently, to account for the particular needs and interests of boys. Also, Morning Star Rising believes that rites-of-passage programs should be single-sex, and women should lead girls' program and men should lead boys' programs. Morning Star plans to implement a similar program to serve boys in the future.

Q: How are girls selected to participate?

A: Interested girls must apply to Morning Star. Willingness to commit to the program and teacher recommendations are the primary criteria. Participants are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and interests.

Q: Do the girls continue involvement in Morning Star Rising after the 9th grade year?

A: Yes, if they wish. They are asked to serve as Big Sisters to the next class of 9th graders to return the support that was given to them. They may also serve as mentors when they become seniors in high school. The Circle of Giving is an important component of the model.

Q: What is the time commitment required by those who choose to become Morning Star Rising mentors?

A: Morning Star asks mentors to meet with their mentee at least four hours each month, for a little over a one-year period. We are sensitive to the fact that many people have busy lives and some months are busier than others. The time requirement is not rigid, but we do look to select mentors who are committed to making a real difference in a girl's life. The quantity of time is not as important as the quality of the relationship between mentor and mentee.