OCS Military Minute
Month of the Military Child - April 2020
Greetings!
I hope this newsletter finds you all well. Each year, around this time, schools actively collaborate with our local Marine partners to celebrate and honor military children. As we continue working to adjust to our "new normal", I wanted to share a few district highlights and resources to help virtually celebrate Month of the Military Child this year. Thank you so much for being you and for all you do for our students, staff, and communities.
Enjoy & Stay Safe, B
2 Minute Military Kid Quick Facts Video
The Unique Life of a Military Child
MOMC Events & Announcements
Join Us Next Week
Looking for a fun and easy way to help acknowledge Military Kids from where you are? This year, I teamed up with the school liaisons to help our schools, students, and families celebrate Month of the Military Child by hosting a VIRTUAL SPIRIT WEEK! Our goal is to show support for our military children by representing remotely. We hope to get support from both Onslow County Schools and the Department of Defense schools! Please join the celebration, share your photos, and remember PAINT IT PURPLE for Military Kids on THURSDAY, APRIL 9.
Looking for Other Activities?
You can access my OCS Military Support OneNote for additional ideas, activities, and other fun ways to celebrate Month of the Military Child. I recently added new virtual activities along with other fun projects students and parents can easily implement at home.
MOMC District Highlights
2020 Military Child of the Year Semi-Finalist
Each year, hundreds of students (ages 13-18) are nominated to participate in Operation Homefront's Military Child of the Year award. Students are selected based on their demonstration of scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, and extracurricular activities all while facing the challenges of being a military kid. This year we are proud to announce that OCS is home to four Military Child of the Year semi-finalist:
Congratulations to these outstanding students for all of their hard work, dedication, and determination! We hope to recognize them at a future school board meeting.
- Hunter Galvin, Dixon High School
- Payton Jeffers, Dixon High School
- Jason Morrison II, White Oak High School
- Michayla Wittner, Southwest High School
Congratulations to these outstanding students for all of their hard work, dedication, and determination! We hope to recognize them at a future school board meeting.
NCDPI Purple Star School Award Recipients
I am so EXCITED to announce that 8 schools have obtained Purple Star School designation from the NC Department of Public Instruction. The following schools have gone above and beyond to demonstrate military friendly practices and a commitment to military students and families throughout their campus:
- Carolina Forest Elementary School
- Dixon Elementary School
- Jacksonville Commons Elementary School
- Meadow View Elementary School
- Northwoods Elementary School
- Richlands High School
- Sand Ridge Elementary School
- Southwest Elementary School
Each school has been invited to a state ceremony where they will be recognized by NC State Superintendent Mark Johnson. During the ceremony, each school will receive a purple star recognition to display on school premises. Congratulations to each school!
COVID-19 and Military Families
Impact to Military Communities
When it comes to military families, the COVID-19 national crisis has created additional stress by extending the length of deployments and delaying PCS orders which can be an emotional and financial burden for some. Recently, Blue Star Families conducted a study to highlight some of the ways the pandemic has significantly impacted our military families (graphic below).
Military Virtual Support & Services
One Stop Shop
Military families can contact Military One Source (MOS) 24/7 for almost ANYTHING! They have recently launched a COVID 19 support page where families can reach out and get assistance with financial, educational, and social/emotional support.
TeleFOCUS Now Available
The FOCUS Project stand for Families OverComing during Stress. This resilience training teaches families how to enhance communication, problem solving, and goal setting skills. This service is now being offered to families virtually. Interested families can call (910) 650-0055 or email CampLejeune@focusproject.org.
Interactive Games for Students
Military Kids Connect has a TON of fun and engaging games and activities focused on challenges associated with military kids: moving, feelings, deployment, health and wellness, etc.
Questions or Concerns?
Feel free to contact me, I will be more than happy to help in any way that I can.
Email: brittany.norman@onslow.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.onslow.k12.nc.us/Page/1946
Location: 200 Broadhurst Road, Jacksonville, NC, USA
Phone: (910) 455-2211
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brittany.norman.779
Twitter: @BritNorman_