CRESTVIEW — The Month of the Military Child is in force nationwide throughout April. The 29-year-old event recognizes American children 18 or younger with parents serving in the U.S. military.
North Okaloosa schools are celebrating with various activities, including a Purple Up! observance, officially set for April 15. Employees and students are encouraged to wear purple, the color formed when the colors of all U.S. military branches combine — "Army green, Marine red, and Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy blue" according to the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension site, http://bit.ly/1NfddAc.
Celebrating the Month of the Military Child particularly resonates here on Panhandle, said Henry Kelley, the Okaloosa County School District's Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission representative.
"Because 10,000 out of 30,000 Okaloosa students are military, we have the highest (percentage) in the state," he said.
The commission works with public schools and "addresses key educational transition issues encountered by military families including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility and graduation," he said.
A key part of the program is providing Military Family Life Counselors in Okaloosa schools who assist military families and students with transfers and deployment-related issues.
ANTIOCH: On the first Friday of April, students and staffers wore red, white and blue. The school is being decorated with "Thank a Military Child Today" signs; bracelets, hats and other wearable items are being created.
BAKER AND CRESTVIEW HIGH: A bulletin board features statements from military-connected students about "one thing they want their fellow students to know, as well as thank yous and other messages from their peers.
Tonya Nascimento, Military Family Life Counselor for Baker and Crestview, said of students creating board posts, "A lot of them didn't know just how many classmates' parents were deployed…or how often they have had to move." Students also shared how proud they are of their military parents, even though the sacrifices they have had to make are great, Nascimento said.
Some English classes have written essays based on a vignette where students imagine their parent has been deployed, they don't get to speak to them often, and the parent misses special events like homecoming, graduation, etc.
NORTHWOOD: Donna Goode, Northwood principal, said they are printing certificates for their military students. She and the school's military counselor will call students up to the office individually to shake their hand and thank them for their service. "We know how difficult it (having parents away on assignment) can be for them," Goode said.
They will have lunch with the school's military counselor, who meets regularly throughout the year with the students, and has created a bulletin board recognizing their achievements every couple of months.
RIVERSIDE: The Military Family Life counselor at Riverside said, "Right now, kids are working on a big world map" with their names and the places they have lived with their military parents. The design will include a photo of the child and their military parent, and be on display outside the cafeteria.
SOUTHSIDE:The Military Family Life Coordinator at Southside said posters are on display. While they focus on support for military children every month, that has increased this month as follows:
•The coordinator sent an email to all employees explaining the additional issues military children cope with, such as living with their grandparents while their parents are deployed or employed in another state to earn more money; missing tests, missing important tests other school milestones due to relocations, etc.
•Children took home alist of resources for military parents.
•She has been reading a book series, "We Serve Too," to students every month to teach them about issues faced by military children. Subjects include deployment, reunion, moving and more.
•Military-connected students have a patriotic lunch with the school's military counselor is every third week.
•Pre-kindergarten through first grade students are writing and illustrating a book about their experiences called "Brave Heart the Deployment Bear." A May publish date is planned.
WALKER: A stars and flags bulletin board on the schools' military-connected students is on display in the front hallway.
Walker and CHS Military Family Life Coordinator Janice Ockerman Smith said, "I talked to the children about the importance of our military and some of the many struggles the family goes through.
"(Walker) is having two lunches to celebrate our military children — one was (Thursday) and another will be later in April. I hope everyone takes a moment to thank a military family this month, and year-round.
"Or, even better, offer to give them a hand, whether it’s with child care, cooking a meal or helping to mow a lawn. As First Lady Michelle Obama often says at her Joining Forces events, "Everyone can do something.”
Email Editorial Assistant Renee Bell, follow her on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida schools celebrate Month of the Military Child