REQUIRED ACTIVITIES

Schools choosing to apply for the Purple Star School Award must complete required activities that ensure military children and families are engaged in meaningful celebrations and activities. Purple Star Schools will conduct the required activities on an annual basis.

Documentation of activities is required when applying for the Purple Star School award. Documentation may be photos, videos, social media posts, etc.

Recognizing the timing of school calendars and the award timeline, we currently accept plans for planned future events for a limited number of activities. Submitted plans should include topic, dates, delivery method, responsible parties, community partners, etc. 

You will select “Completed” if your school has implemented the activity, “In Progress” if your school plans to implement this school year, "On Hold" if your school is not selecting this activity this year, or "Not Planned" if your school has no plan to implement this in the future. "Completed" and "In Progress" selections must have the required documentation attached. 

Please note, the "in Progress" option and the submission of future plans is limited to specific activities.

Your course facilitators are available to support schools in their on-going Purple Star School related activities.

Here are the activities schools are required to hold annually.

1a. The school must have an assigned staff Point of Contact (POC) for military-connected students and families. 

The POC acts as a liaison between the Department of Education and the school. The POC will:

1. complete the Military Children in Our Schools course

2. identify and inform teachers and staff of the military-connected students in their classrooms

3. provide ongoing professional development to staff on various aspects of military culture and educational needs

4. coordinate the annual Purple Star School activities

5. complete the annual renewal form

• Provided above. No further information needed.

1b.  The school has a Purple Star Advocate

The Purple Star Advocate is the staff member who will collaborate with the School Liaison Officer, site administration, and Department of Education to resolve Compact related issues.

This may be the POC, an administrator, counselor or other staff member familiar with, or willing to become familiar with, the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. For middle and high schools, we recommend the Advocate be a counselor.

• Provided above. No further information needed.

2. The school’s Point of Contact completed the Nevada Military Children in Our Schools professional development course. 

• Attach the Point of Contact’s Certificate of Completion

• Ask KellyLynn to verify completion if you are unable to access your certificate.

3. Professional development regarding special considerations for military students and their families was included during a staff meeting or professional learning day.

• Please attach agendas, Power Points, and any additional items to how information on military-connected students was delivered to faculty, staff, and families.

4. The school held special celebration activities for the Month of the Military Child in April.

• For celebrations that are completed, please provide photos, agendas, programs, etc. that clearly show the celebration and how military children were recognized.

• For celebrations that are in progress and planned for April of this school year, please provide an outline or calendar of the planned activities. The plan should provide a clear picture of when the event(s) will take place and how military children will be recognized.

5. The school created, maintains, and coordinates an active student-led transition team program to provide peer support for enrolling and withdrawing military-connected students. This group should contain at least one military-connected student or adult.

• Please describe the transitional program,

• who facilitates the program (staff and/or students),

• how students are identified and encouraged to participate in the program,

• and how the following topics are addressed:

                        • Welcoming and acclimating a new military-connected student.

                        • Educational support for military-connected students, including special populations.

                        • Social-emotional support for military-connected students.

6. The school maintains a designated Purple Star page on the school’s website featuring resources for military families.

• Provide the URL to your Purple Star School webpage in the box on the PDF Application. The link to the webpage should be easily found from the main webpage.

• For web pages still being built, please include your school's main URL and attach a document that contains where the Military Family Resource page will be linked from, the wording, images that may be used, and list of links and resources

• Additionally, if you are committing to applying, you are welcome to use the NV Purple Star School logo on your website now with “We’re Applying for…” wording and change it to "We are a Purple Star School" once the designation is awarded. NV PSS Logo 2. 

Resources

• 2022 Month of the Military Child Ideas for School Personnel.pdf