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Military-Connected Student Support
Military-Connected Student Support
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Webpage banner: April is the Month of the Military Child with sketch of soldier boots next to child's legs and sneakers; PWCS logo included

Military-Connected Student Support

Welcome to Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS)! PWCS educates about 5,000 military-connected students. We are bordered by U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir to our north and Marine Corps Base Quantico to our south. Many of our families live in Prince William County but commute to these and other installations in the National Capital Region. We hope to make school transition as smooth as possible for military families as they enter and/or exit PWCS. Use the school locator tool below to find the school assignment. Proceed to that school to begin the registration and enrollment process.

Find My School Assignment

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@PWCSMilKids

Photo of a young girl hugging her parent who is wearing a U.S. military uniform

Month of the Military Child

Prince William County Schools partners with the Department of Defense Military Community and Family Policy in designating April as Month of the Military Child – a time to honor the sacrifices and service made by military families worldwide and throughout our community. During the month of April, the school division emphasizes the experiences of PWCS dependent children of military members serving at home and overseas.

Military-connected children can be affected by mobility, transition, deployments, and family separation. During the week of April 18-22, we encourage staff, students, and community members to participate in a Division-wide Spirit Week to honor and support our military service members and their families. Information is provided below for both the division-wide spirit week and for additional school-based activities during the month of April.

Spirit Week (April 18-22)

April 18 — MILITARY BRANCH MONDAY
Students and staff take a photo and share the branch(s) of service your family supports. Share photos on social media and tag @PWCSNews, #PWCSMilKids on your school’s Facebook/Twitter page.

April 19 — TRUE COLORS TUESDAY
Show your patriotic side—students and staff wear RED, WHITE, and BLUE today! Share photos on social media and tag @PWCSNews, #PWCSMilKids on your school’s Facebook/Twitter page.

April 20 — PURPLE UP! FOR MILITARY KIDS DAY
Wear PURPLE to show your support for military kids! Challenge students, faculty, and staff to wear purple. (Suggestion for classrooms—students wearing the most purple wins a prize). Share photos on social media and tag @PWCSNews, #PWCSMilKids on your school’s Facebook/Twitter page.

April 21 — WE LOVE OUR TROOPS THURSDAY
Wear YELLOW to show support for all of our troops. Share photos on social media and tag @PWCSNews, #PWCSMilKids on your school’s Facebook/Twitter page.

April 22 — FANTASTIC FRIDAY
Wear bright colors or stars to thank our troops for making America shine bright. Share photos on social media and tag @PWCSNews, #PWCSMilKids on your school’s Facebook/Twitter page.

Image of an American flag

Bloom: Empowering the Military Teen

Bloom is where you can find comfort and advice about everything military kid related—from moving tips to the top things to do at your duty station. Bloom was co-founded by teens who grew up in military families.  This website provides posts from featured authors, often other military kids who want to share their stories and connect with their community; and it also includes:  Videos, quizzes, art, surveys, blogs on military life, moving, people, experiences, and much more. 

Grades 2-5: Exploring Art in the Marine Corps

Virtual Month of the Military Child Program

 

Grades 2-5: Exploring Art in the Marine Corps

Join the National Museum of the Marine Corps live as we celebrate the Month of the Military Child with our presentation: Exploring Art in the Marine Corps.

In this program, the audience will hear from two former Marine Corps Combat Artists who currently work in our museum. Viewers will also enjoy the artwork of previous combat artists such as Col Charles Waterhouse and 1st Lt Leonard Dermott. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how important art is in documenting and bringing to life what it is like to be in the United States Marine Corps.

This program will also feature chosen artwork from elementary school participants, who will have the opportunity to submit their creations that reflect how they view the Marine Corps and the Month of the Military Child.

For this program, we will be taking selections of artwork from students in grades 2-5. These will be submitted through Flipgrid. To learn more about how to submit your artwork, click the link below:
https://flipgrid.com/f18d3712
Submissions through Flipgrid closes March 28 at 4 p.m. (EDT).

This program has been developed for elementary school students, and will be presented on: 
April 1 - 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. (EDT)
April 7 - 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. (EDT)
April 14 - 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. (EDT)
April 15 - 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. (EDT)
Each program will be approximately 40 minutes long with a Q/A period.

Although this program will be completely free, we do require pre-registration (see form below). Once you have registered, the correct Zoom links for your requested program will be sent to the email address provided. Registration for these programs ends at 4 p.m. (EDT) on March 31, 2022.

Please join us here at the Museum for this celebration of the Month of the Military Child, as we show appreciation for the children with parents or guardians in the United States Military. At the end of this program participants will see a special thank you montage celebrating military kids all around the world.

Grades 6-12: Where in the World? A Deep Dive of Marine Corps Careers

 

Grades 6-12: Where in the World? A Deep Dive of Marine Corps Careers

Join the National Museum of the Marine Corps live as we celebrate Month of the Military Child with a special virtual presentation: Where in the World? A Deep Dive of Marine Corps Careers.

A museum educator will lead viewers through a behind the scenes look at the daily lives of past and present Marines, giving a greater understanding of the diverse jobs, like accounting, logistics, and mechanics, to name a few, within the Marine Corps, reminding the audience that each Marine is essential to the Corps. Viewers will also hear from a Marine Corps Recruiter to learn more about the process of becoming a Marine.

This program has been developed for middle school and high school students, and will be presented on: 
April 8 - 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. (EDT)
April 21 - 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. (EDT)
April 22 - 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. (EDT)
April 28 - 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. (EDT)
Each program will be approximately 40 minutes long with a Q/A period. 

Although this program will be completely free, we do require pre-registration (see form and scroll to the bottom). Once you have registered, the correct Zoom links for your requested program will be sent to the email address provided. Registration for these programs ends at 4 p.m. (EDT) on April 7, 2022.

Please join us here at the Museum for this celebration of the Month of the Military Child, as we show appreciation for the children with parents or guardians in the United States Military. At the end of this program participants will see a special thank you montage celebrating military kids all around the world.

Marine Corps Community Services Message

School Activities for Month of the Military Child

School Activities for Month of the Military Child

Hero Wall
Create a hero wall to honor military family members. Share the wall on school website and through social media.

Website Feature
Promote the Month of the Military Child on the school website. List activities that will take place on different days during the month.

Kick-Off Breakfast
Kick off the Month of the Military Child with a breakfast or lunch or muffins for military children in the school. Include their parents or other family members associated with the military.

Special Announcements
Have a military child participate in the morning announcements and share an interesting fact about their life as a military child.

Daily Factoids
Have a daily or weekly announcement with military-connected student facts. Start with the national facts and move into school facts.

Military Memorabilia
Decorate display cases and bulletin boards throughout April with military focused memorabilia, or items brought by military children reflecting their experiences (where they have lived or traveled, family members’ service memorabilia, parts of a uniform, patches, coins, etc.)

Where in the World?
Create a world map and pinpoint where students and staff have lived because of their military lifestyle.

Adopt a Service Member
Adopt a deployed service member or unit. Send cards, letters, and care packages to deployed troops.

Adopt a Family
Adopt a family whose military member is deployed. Find out what the family needs help with—yard work, in-home technology, childcare, tutoring, homework help, etc., and have a class or club step in to help out.

Guest Speaker
Ask a military member (a parent or sibling of someone in the class) to be a guest speaker and share their perspective on life in the military as well as their profession.

Time Zone Wall
In a main hallway set up a series of clocks showing the time in different countries where military children’s family members are deployed.

Show-n-Tell
Have students bring in something military related, such as memorabilia from an installation or service branch, favorite airplane, or a book.

Poster Contest
Decorate the school. Have a group of kids design posters thanking military children and their parents for their service. Have military children make posters reflecting their experiences. Have a contest for students to choose their favorite poster.

Share Stories
Invite a service family member in the classroom or at an assembly or through a virtual meeting, podcast, webinar.

Salute to Military Children at Sporting Events
The announcer could make a special announcement before, during or after sporting events recognizing all military children (i.e. raising the flag, singing the National Anthem, and/or reciting the Pledge of Allegiance).

Military Family Liaison
Name a faculty member as the school’s “go-to” person to help military families. Post the liaison’s information on the school website.

Take a class trip to a military installation
This could be an active duty installation, a National Guard Armory, or an armed forces reserve center or complex. Meet with some of the service members and learn about what they do.

Sports Tournament/Field Day
Organize a field day or sports tournament. Divide the students into teams representing difference branches of the military. Encourage the participants to wear the color of the military branch they represent. Invite the local media to cover the event.

Highlight April as Month of the Military Child
Display/highlight Month of the Military Child on the school’s marquee, and in staff and parent newsletters.

Share Stories
Create an atmosphere in individual classrooms to bring awareness of military students’ lifestyle to their peers through conversations—ask questions, share experiences and point out the relatable experiences that all children have like. Talk about what it may feel like going to new school or on the first day of school, having parents leave on business trip, struggling to make new friends or having to say goodbye to friends.

Salute
Invite a neighboring high school JROTC to your campus for a demonstration.

Resolution

Resolution

MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD

April 2022

WHEREAS, the Virginia Board of Education recognize the month of April 2022 as Month of the Military Child to pay tribute to the military families and their children for their sacrifices made and for their commitment and courage; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia is a member of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which addresses key issues encountered by military students including enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility, and graduation; and

WHEREAS, military-connected children and their families move every two to three years within the United States or overseas, disrupting academic routines and friendships; and

WHEREAS, military-connected children also serve their country by demonstrating resilience, perseverance, and cultural competency; and

WHEREAS, military-connected children provide unique and valuable insights on learning, friendship, service to others, and heightened national or global awareness; and

WHEREAS, Prince William County Public Schools provides Military-Connected Academic and Support Programs through a Department of Defense Education Activity partnership grant to support the unique needs of military service members and their families; and

WHEREAS, military families in Prince William County include men and women on active duty service in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy, and members of the reserves and the National Guard; and

WHEREAS, Prince William County Public Schools serves 8,686 school-age, military-connected children;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Prince William County School Board and the Superintendent of Schools recognize April 2022 as “Month of the Military Child” and encourage all schools and offices to show enormous appreciation with activities to honor our students from military families.

Approved by unanimous consent by the Prince William County School Board on March 16, 2022.

Resources

Resources

Caring for our Youth—Military Kids Connect

DoD Impact Aid Program for Military Connected School Districts—Department of Education

Deployment-Related Resources for Military-Connected Children (PDF)—DoDEA

Facts about Military-Connected Students (PDF)—Military Child Education Coalition®

Fact Sheet on the Military Child—AASA, The School Superintendents Association

Military Kids Connect—Deployment
Military kids share their thoughts with each other about their dads' deployments.

Reactions to Deployment: School-age Children (ages 6-12) Summary (PDF)—Department of Defense Education Agency (DoDEA)

Photo of young boy hugging a military soldier draped in the American flag

Fact Sheet on the Military Child

Did you know that:

★   Approximately two million military children have experienced a parental deployment since 2001.

There are currently 1.2 million military children of active duty members worldwide.

Nearly 80% of military children attend public schools throughout the United States.

The average military family moves three times more often than their civilian counterpart.

The repeated and extended separations and increased hazards of deployment compound stressors in military children's lives.

One third of school-age military children show psychosocial behaviors such as being anxious, worrying often, crying more frequently.

The U.S. military consists of approximately 1.4 million active duty service members and 810,000 National Guard and Selected Reserve.

Active duty military families live on or near military installations worldwide. National Guard and Reserve families might never live near a military installation, and look within their community for educational services, friendship and support.

A positive school environment, built upon caring relationships among all participants—students, teachers, staff, administrators, parents and community members—has been shown to impact not only academic performance but also positively influence emotions and behaviors of students.

Supporting the military child takes a school-wide effort, and professional development opportunities to inform school staff of the academic and social-emotional challenges military children face.

~ Retrieved from AASA—The School Superintendents Association ~