Three MPUSD Schools Designated Purple Star Program Schools for Supporting Military-Connected Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2024
Contact:
Marci McFadden, Chief of Communications & Engagement
831-706-6971
Three MPUSD Schools Designated Purple Star Program Schools for
Supporting Military-Connected Students
Monterey, CA – Three Monterey Peninsula Unified School District schools - La Mesa School, Marshall Elementary School, and Monte Vista TK-8 School - were designated California Purple Star Program schools by the California Department of Education. The Purple Star Program seeks to reduce the burden on military-connected students and their families by articulating the most critical transition supports and services for military-connected students and their families by publicly designating schools that meet certain requirements.
Approximately 14% of MPUSD students and their families are military-connected. Given the shorter length of time that military families reside within and attend MPUSD (five weeks to six months with the average length of stay of 18 months), the district and its military-connected schools understands the importance of building capacity to quickly identify, respond to, and support the needs of students and their families.
“We are extremely honored to receive this designation for three of our schools. MPUSD has a strong partnership with our military partners, and this not only confirms our ongoing commitment but recognizes the important work we are doing to meet the unique needs of our military-connected students and their families,” said PK Diffenbaugh, Superintendent, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.
“At Marshall we predominantly serve military-connected children and we know the challenges associated with change. We have made our school a welcoming and safe environment that supports students during a transitional move,” said Robin Connery, Principal, Marshall Elementary School. “ We have worked hard to train teachers and staff to better understand the needs of serving our student population.”
Marshall Elementary, along with La Mesa School and Monte Vista TK-8 School, engage in various levels of professional development to learn how to support military-connected students in families. Examples, but not limited to, of the work being done includes:
- Coordination of efforts with a military family life counselor or military liaisons
- Military and family life counseling
- Welcome programs offered by the school offices and student-led groups to help support and transition military-connected students
- Annual military liaison visits with teachers and staff and briefings on community resources available to support students
- Extensive support to students with exceptional needs to ensure proper placement upon arrival
- Warm welcomes and inclusivity from the Parent-Teacher Associations or Parent-Teacher Organizations
- Partnership with TechConnect Teen and Youth Centers to offer a variety of “out of school” programs for youth attending Kindergarten – 12th grade
- After School clubs and programming for military-connected students
- Applying and receiving extra funding from the Department of Defense Education Activity to support students and families
- Workshops and podcasts offered to teachers and staff
“We are excited about being named a Purple Star School,” said Julie Alderete, Principal, La Mesa School. “This recognition honors our school community’s ongoing efforts to support our military connected students and their families. We are thankful for the partnership with our parents and for their confidence in our school.”
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About Monterey Peninsula Unified School District
The Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is home to approximately 9,600 students in grades transitional kindergarten through 12th grade. The district also houses preschool and adult education. The district is built on a solid foundation of effective instruction, positive school culture, systems of support, and collaborative leadership. The district is nestled along the Monterey Bay, and stretches from the city of Marina to the north to the city of Monterey to the south, and encompasses the communities of Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey, Sand City and Seaside.
About California Department of Education’s Purple Star Program
The Purple Star Program was designed to help mitigate the challenges of high mobility by setting standards for and publicly designating military-friendly schools. The Purple Star Program’s true value derives from its potential to centralize and make knowledge accessible; develop stakeholder networks; and support schools in cultivating and communicating cultural competency in supporting military-connected families.