
The
Purple
Star
Designation
is
awarded
to
military-friendly
schools
that
have
demonstrated
major
commitment
to
students
and
families
connected
to
our
nation's
military.
This
year,
the
Virginia
Department
of
Education
(VDOE)
and
the
Virginia
Council
on
the
Interstate
Compact
on
the
Educational
Opportunity
of
Military
Children
(The
Council)
recognized
four
Prince
William
County
Public
Schools
as
2021
Purple
Star
schools.
The
four
schools
receiving
this
designation
are
Ashland
and
Tyler
Elementary
Schools,
Parkside
Middle
School
and
Porter
Traditional
School.
These
four
schools
join
a
group
of
schools
in
PWCS
that
have
previously
earned
the
Purple
Star
designation.
View
the
list
of
PWCS
Purple
Star
schools.
Ashland
Elementary,
Parkside
Middle,
and
Porter
Traditional
have
the
unique
distinction
of
being
the
first
three
schools
in
the
Division
to
receive
the
award
for
the
second
time
since
the
program's
inception
in
Virginia
in
2018-19.
Anna
Houseworth,
principal
at
Ashland
Elementary
is
proud
of
everything
the
school
is
doing
to
help
ensure
military
students
stay
connected
to
their
families,
even
when
deployed,
on
temporary
duty
travel,
or
on
a
permanent
change
of
station.
"Our
entire
Ashland
staff
goes
above
and
beyond
to
ensure
our
military
children
and
families
feel
connected
and
supported.
I
am
proud
to
serve
such
a
dedicated
group
of
teachers
and
staff
who
always
go
the
extra
mile
to
make
a
positive
impact
on
our
children's
lives."
This
sentiment
is
echoed
by
fellow
principal,
Kaitlyn
Engelmeier-Foor
on
Porter
Traditional's
accomplishment
of
receiving
the
Purple
Star
designation
for
the
second
time.
"We
are
so
proud
of
our
military
students
and
families
and
are
committed
to
providing
them
with
the
support
and
resources
they
need
to
have
the
best
educational
experience!"
Dan
Dunham,
military
student
and
family
specialist
for
the
VDOE
applauded
each
school
for
their
"continued
commitment
in
supporting
military
connected
students
and
their
families."