News & Announcements

Thank you for your love, your grace, and your continued support throughout the first half of this school year. Wishing you a holiday season filled with warmth, peace, and the simple pleasures that make life extraordinary. May the coming year bring you moments of happiness, prosperity, and the continued blessings of family and friendship. Winter Break begins this Friday, December 22nd, followed by a Professional Development Day on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. We will see your little humans on Thursday, January 4th, 2024. Take care and see you soon!

With love and heartfelt wishes,


SSMA Staff

Welcome to a Stellar Year at Shining Stars Montessori Academy!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

On behalf of the entire Shining Stars Montessori Academy community, I extend a warm and
heartfelt welcome to the academic year 2023/24! As the Executive Director, it brings me great joy
to begin this new journey with both our returning families and those who are joining us for the first time.

The Kids Ride Free (KRF) program allows students to ride for free on Metrobus, Metrorail, and the DC Circulator while traveling within the District.
To be eligible for participation in the KRF program, each student must be:
A resident of the District of Columbia, and
Age 5 through 21, and
Enrolled in an elementary or secondary public, charter, a private or parochial school located within the District or youth in the care of the District.

Please check your child’s backpack. Meal application letters were sent home on Friday. If you would like to see if you qualify for free and reduced meals, applications are available in the main lobby.
Have questions? We have answers. Please call the Front Desk at 202-724-1467.

This year Shining Stars will hold a "Holiday Spirit Week" starting December 19, 2022. The themes for this week are as follows:

December 19, 2022
Merry Monday - If you have them, please wear your holiday-themed merry hats, socks, and other festive gear.

December 20, 2022
Tacky-Ugly Sweater Tuesday - Wear your ugly Christmas sweaters

Check out SSMA’s Rock the Stars apparel and Welcome the Fall online spirit wear store open for a limited time only! Purchase all kinds of gear from T-shirts and sweatshirts to beanies! Each item is made to order and ships directly to your home! Our Web Store is open for one week only therefore all purchases must be made before Sunday, October 9th

Where has the summer gone? While you will be receiving this year’s Family Handbook
(2022-2023) we know that the time is approaching to go back to school supply shopping. Please
see the curated supply lists for all levels:
Children’s House - PK3, Pk4, and Kindergarten
Lower Elementary - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grades
Upper Elementary - 4th, 5th, and 6th Grades

I am delighted to welcome you to the Shining Stars Montessori community and to an exciting school year upcoming this fall. After a year of mostly virtual learning, it will be great to safely bring the whole school community back together again.

Each day the SSMA classrooms will complete an activity or lesson that embodies a different Montessori principle. The principles are as follows: Day of Peace - Tuesday, May 31st. Random Act of Kindness Day - Wednesday, June 1st. Discovery Day - Thursday, June 2nd. Day of Service - Friday, June 3rd.

Now, more than ever, a strong community is what will give us strength. Many of our families and friends will soon be facing financial and emotional hardship.
Our Board of Directors is leading this campaign so that we can support as many families as possible. In the coming months, some might need help with groceries, medical expenses, rent, and other bills. The fund will support us during the 2020-2021 years and beyond. Help us make this fund strong to support as many as possible.