An Evening with the Stars

On September 24, Family Star Montessori School is hosting our Evening with the Stars fundraising event at the PPA Event Center in Denver. Family Star is celebrating 25 years of service to more than 3,500 children in Denver in 2016. We invite you to attend this important mission-based event and learn how Family Star opens up a world of possibilities for children and families by utilizing inclusive Montessori early education as a tool to alleviate poverty, which in turn, strengthens families and our community.

According to the 2015 Denver Great Kids report, more than a quarter of Denver's children are living in poverty. Children who live at or near the poverty level are at greater risk for physical, emotional and cognitive health issues that can negatively affect their educational success. It is well known that low-income children consistently fall behind their peers in test scores, graduation rates and college enrollment and the most critical time in a child's development occurs between zero and five years of age. For these reasons, Family Star has committed to making excellent early Montessori education opportunities available to all young children, zero to six years, regardless of their socio-economic status.

During the 2014-15 program year, Family Star Montessori served 335 children, ages two months to six years, and their families through our year round center-based services. Family Star maintained an ethnically and economically diverse student population. Out of the children served:

78% were below the federal poverty level and 27% of these students were homeless or in transitional housing
50% of students reported being of Hispanic or Latino origin, 38% identified as Caucasian, 20% identified as Bi/Multiracial, 14% identified as Other, 12% did not specify, 2% identified as Asian/Pacific Islander and 1% identified as American Indian/Alaskan Native.
21% of our student body came from Spanish-speaking families
13% of students have an individual education or family support plan addressing special needs

This year is an important and pivotal time of exciting growth for Family Star. We need your support! Join us on September 24th for dinner, silent auction, dancing and celebrating 25 years of service to Denver's children! We hope to see you there!