Frequently Asked Questions

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

A: The Morning Star Rising model provides bridges elementary school and middle school and between middle school and high school by continuing the connection as the girls enter ninth grade. Staff visits the high school campus and members in high school are encouraged to participate in field trips, summer activities 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 book or film clubs, and community service projects.

Q: How often do Morning Star circles meet?

A:  The 6th grade circle meets Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 – 5:30 pm from Septmeber through May. Study/field trips are held at least four times annually on Saturdays. The summer book or film club meetings each meet one evening a week for at least 8 weeks during the summer.

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: .  Morning Star Rising believes that rites-of-passage programs work best when adapted to a single-sex, and that women should lead girls' program and men should lead boys' programs. However, 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.  If interested in developing such a parallel program for boys, please contact Morning Star Rising for consultation and assistance.

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. Each summer, high school MSR alumnae, and often their mothers or their mentors participate in thesummer book or film club. They may also serve as mentors when they become seniors in high school. High school alumnae have also enriched the middle school program by participating as guest presenters and resources.  Recently, MSR alumnae who are college students have served as a summer program intern and as a program assistant.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 approximately 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.