On September 19, 2024, Bens Branch Elementary, Brookwood Forest Elementary, Dogwood Elementary, Oakley Elementary, Pine Valley Middle School, Porter Elementary, and Valley Ranch Elementary earned the Purple Star Designation for supporting the unique needs of military-connected students.
The Purple Star Campus Designation began in Texas in 2020, and is given to districts that are committed to supporting military-connected students and their families. This initiative provides resources and a sense of community to military-connected students by implementing programs and hosting events that address the challenges that these students face.
New Caney ISD earned its first Purple Star designations during the 2023-2024 school year, and has since expanded to include 14 campus designations, with two more campuses working towards earning the designation. New Caney ISD has approximately 1,300 military-connected students in the district, and is currently the only district in Region 6 with a Purple Star Designation.
According to Title 1 Coordinator, Cypris Potts, the Purple Star designation has allowed students to connect with their peers in new ways and find community with other military-connected students and families.
“The Purple Star designation creates a new understanding with the students,” Potts said. “Students are starting to identify with the term military-connected, and the liaisons are creating communities with not just the students, but their families as well.”
The campus liaisons are volunteers on each campus who lead the Purple Star program. Many of our liaisons come from military families or are veterans themselves, so they are able to build strong relationships with students due to their common experiences.
“My experiences in the military have given me insight into the unique challenges these students face, including frequent relocations, adjustments to new communities, and the emotional complexities of having a parent in service,” PVMS Campus Liaison Mya Clark said. “By taking on this role, I hope to create a more inclusive and supportive environment that acknowledges and addresses the specific needs of these students.”
An important aspect of the Purple Star program is hosting events that recognize the military-connected students and families. Over the last school year, NCISD campuses have hosted a wide range of events, such as Veterans Day ceremonies, Military Child Appreciation Day, and parades for students to honor their family members that have served. Other Purple Star activities include the Cookies and Conversation event at Bens Branch Elementary, where military-connected students were able to come together to get to know each other, and the Porter Elementary sock drive for homeless veterans.
“The cool thing about the Purple Star [events] is that it’s what they find relevant to their families and their students,” Potts said. “It's so cool because there are so many different ways that they are recognizing their students.”
Ultimately, the goal of the Purple Star designation is to raise awareness and understanding of the military-child experience, and create a school culture that welcomes these experiences.
“I hope that [the Purple Star designation] helps our military families feel like they are appreciated and supported,” Bens Branch Elementary Campus Liaison Nicole Jarboe said. “I want our campus to be a place where they can come and feel like they belong. I also hope that by having this designation, families feel immediately comfortable knowing we are here to help make the transition easier.”
Congratulations to our Purple Star campuses! For more information on Purple Star, visit our Purple Star webpage. To donate or support our Purple Star campuses, please reach out to the campus liaison.