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Little Star Montessori School |
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 Little Star Montessori School PO Box 608 509 Highway 20 Winthrop, WA 98862 (509) 996-2801 littlestar1@centurytel.net 
26 Years of Excellence1982-2008 |
Our History
Little Star's first class, circa 1982 Little Star Montessori School was founded in 1982 as a non-profit organization by Rayma Hayes, a certified Montessori instructor, and a group of parents who wanted to establish a quality preschool in the Methow Valley. In 1989, after seven years in rented space, land was donated to the school and, with contributions of money and services from community members, construction of a new school began. The new building was completed in 1992 and since that date has been the home of Little Star School and the Winthrop Public Library. For the past 24-years, Little Star Montessori School has provided early education to young children, aged 18-months through kindergarten. We strive to be responsive to community needs. Preschool and kindergarten have consistently been the core of Little Star’s programs, but we also offer a toddler program, after school programs, summer camp sessions and, in previous years, elementary education. Public school buses stop at Little Star daily to deliver kindergarten students who are enrolled in our after-school program. Little Star has actively sought out and encouraged enrollment of children from low-income families. In 1997 the Little Star Board of Directors established a scholarship committee to develop a stronger scholarship program. Currently, approximately 30% of our students receive some form of scholarship to attend our school. A great deal of our operating budget and scholarship funds come from the fundraising efforts of our parents and Board members. Our fundraising efforts are many and include events as simple as wrapping paper sales to our more elaborate bi-annual Little Star Auction. Community support for this event has allowed it to become the mainstay for Little Star. Little Star has a dedicated teaching staff; two of our seven teachers have been with the school since its beginning, another two with us for 13 years, and three have been with us for five years. | |
