SLO Down Newsletter
NAVSTA ROTA / November 2020
All overseas DoD school students will get free meals starting Nov. 2
On Nov. 2, the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) will begin serving meals free of charge to military students who are enrolled in an overseas Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school. The free meal waiver was granted the U.S. Department of Agriculture for food services operated by School Food Authorities (NEXCOM, Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) or Marine Corps Community Services).
“Providing free school meals is a great way to ensure all of our student customers have access to healthy and fresh food,” said Orlando Del Hoyo, Student Meal Program Specialist for NEXCOM. “This effort will also lessen the financial burden on our service members and their families during these unprecedented times. NEXCOM remains in close coordination with DoDEA and the USDA to ensure a successful rollout.”
A recent waiver by the USDA granted DoD School Food Authorities the authority to provide free school meals through June 30, 2021. Families can elect to participate and receive free reimbursable meals, subsidized by the USDA, at participating schools and grab-and-go locations beginning Nov. 2. Participants are required to have a DoDEA student ID number and student meal account through NEXCOM, the AAFES or the Marine Corps Community Services. No action is required to receive free school meals for students with an established school meal program account. Parents without an account are encouraged to create one in advance for their children at their local NEX customer service desk.
School meals purchased prior to implementation of the waiver (August through Oct. 31), will be credited to the appropriate student meal program account. The credit does not apply to adult meals, second meals, a la carte items or “lunch plus” purchases.
NEXCOM facilitates student meals and serves as the DoD School Food Authorities at 20 schools in nine different overseas locations. Those overseas locations supported are Yokosuka, Atsugi and Sasebo, Japan; Anderson Air Force Base and U.S. Naval Base Guam; Naples, Italy; Bahrain; Sigonella, Sicily; Rota, Spain; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
For additional information, including FAQs, parents can visit the school meal program site at is www.mynavyexchange.com/smp.
During COVID-19, Use of Non-Medical Family Counselling Remains Strong
Oct. 29, 2020 | BY C. Todd Lopez , DOD News
During the COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns, the use of counseling support, such as what's available through Military OneSource has continued to rise — something that's actually been happening since before lockdowns began in March, said Lee Kelley, the director of Military Community Support Programs.
"We've seen a steady increase in Military OneSource utilization of non-medical counseling that has continued throughout COVID-19, but did not start at the onset of COVID-19," Kelley said, adding that during COVID-19, the lockdowns and the pandemic itself have increasingly shown up as stressors in counseling sessions.
The Military OneSource program has always provided non-medical counseling, Kelley said, for such issues related to military life that are under the threshold of what would be needed for a mental health diagnosis. Included in issues covered there, Kelley said, are relationships, anger, communications issues, grief and loss, for instance. The non-medical counseling provided through Military OneSource can be provided face-to-face, she said, but more often it's provided via telephone or video.
The related Military and Family Life Counseling Program, on the other hand, has always been face-to-face. That is, Kelley said, until COVID-19 closed down so many resources.
"What happened during COVID-19 was [that] a demand signal immediately went up from our military community, service members and families around the globe," Kelley said. "[They said] ... we don't want to lose the capability of the counseling support provided by the Military and Family Life Counseling Program. So the program quickly transitioned in a matter of days to provide telehealth support ... so that same counselor that you knew from your child's school, you were then able to connect with via video."
Kelley said a commonality between both counseling programs is that the most frequent topic for personnel seeking assistance from both services is relationship issues.
"That's the top issue people seek non-medical counseling through our programs for: relationship support," she said.
As a result, Kelley said, Military Community Support Programs has created a new program to focus specifically on highlighting the issue.
"We've been focused on a public-facing relationship campaign to help pull back the curtain on what relationship support looks like for couples in the military," she said. "And we're looking internally at how we provide that relationship support to determine how we can do it in the most effective manner possible."
No Rise in Domestic Abuse
While there have been some reports in the civilian community of a rise in reports of domestic abuse during COVID-19, the same hasn't happened in the military community, defense leaders said.
"Certainly, we see the news and we know that in the civilian community there are increases in the number of reports," said Carolyn Stevens, the director of the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy. "We are not currently seeing that within our military services. In fact, the number of reports now are very similar to the reports a year ago this time."
Nevertheless, she said, because there have been reports of such an increase in civilian communities, the department needs to keep an eye on the issue.
"We are concerned ... and this is an issue that we do need to maintain watch [on]," she said.
Anchored 4 Life Community Service Project
The Anchored4Life Club is the place where connections happen. It is a peer-to-peer club to connect youth while building transition and resiliency skills. The club provides opportunities for peers to enhance social skills, learn leadership skills, build character, improve self-esteem, and integrate into their community. Youth will learn these transition and resiliency skills using the Club features.
Members of Anchoered4Life decided that they would support the local Soup Kitchen in Rota by collecting reusable 1 liter or quart sized containers with lids and donating them to the soup kitchen. Containers don't have to be brand new, but they should be in good condition with a lid that seals or doesn't leak.
Containers can be dropped off at School Age Care (SAC) in building 41 during the month of November. If you have any questions, please contact the School Liaison Officer (SLO) at SLORota@eu.navy.mil or 727-2425.
Federal Student Aid
KMC College Search 2020-21
Due to the continued COVID-19 situation in Germany and elsewhere, the annual Kaiserslautern College Night will not occur at this time.
However, in an effort to continue providing opportunities for students to obtain information and have live interactive connection with college/university reps, we have set up a Facebook page, KMC College Search 2020-2021, the link being https://www.facebook.com/KMCCollegeSearch20202021
More than 70 colleges and universities have already posted and continually update their upcoming live interactive college fairs and open houses, many of which are occurring in the next days. Some of these events may be specifically for students from the Kaiserslautern area and others which will be for students from broader areas, but in every case, there will be no cost for students to access, use and join in these events.
We encourage you to look in often to this Facebook page as new event posts are expected on a regular basis. Hopefully schools which you may have an interest will be posting their live interactive events for you.
Attend a Virtual College Fair (FREE)
Don't miss it! 600+ colleges will be online to talk with students at virtualcollegefairs.org on Nov 8. Register now! #nacacfairs
* Navy endorsement is not implied
Virtually Orange - The Online Dutch University Festival
November 8th: Virtually Orange
Connect with more than 20 Dutch universities during the biggest, undergraduate only, “Study in Holland” event this Fall.
There will be two “Study in Holland” information sessions (one in each time frame) to learn more about studying in the Netherlands and ask general questions. The 20+ universities will be available via live chat for students, parents and counselors.
It is all happening on Sunday November 8, 11.00-14.00 CET and 18.00-21.00 CET!
Registration: https://www.ubivent.com/register/11/Virtually_Orange
DGF Elementary & MHS Office Hours
o Rota DGF Elementary
* Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Call Ahead for an Appointment DSN 727-4185 or CIV +34-956-82-4185.
o Rota DGF Middle High School
* Please email or call ahead to schedule a registration appointment. Email:
RotaHS.Registrar@eu.dodea.edu or call: DSN 727-4444 / 4181 /4183 or CIV +34-956-82-XXXX
Calendar Updates and DGF School Calendars
Monday (11/9)
- CCRS Q2 Training Day - No School DGF Complex
Wednesday (11/11)
- Veteran's Day Holiday (Schools and Child & Youth Programs Closed)
Wednesday (11/17)
- ES School Advisory Meeting (SAC) @ 3:30
Thursday (11/18)
- MHS School Advisory Meeting (SAC) @ 3:30
Thursday (11/26-27)
- Thanksgiving Recess - No School DGF Complex
- Thanksgiving Holiday - CYP Facilities Closed Nov. 26 Only
Tutoring Resources
Tutor.com
1. Go to: https://military.tutor.com/home
2. Review eligibility requirements
3. If eligible, create or sign into your free Tutor.com account
4. Click on "Connect with a Tutor"
5. Courses include: math PreK - College, sciences, English, English Language Learners, Social Studies, Social Sciences, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Business, Computer Literacy, Test Prep, Nursing/Allied Health, Study Skills, Life Skills and More
6. Bilingual Spanish-speaking tutors are available for some math, science and social studies subjects
Khan Academy
1. Go to: https://www.khanacademy.org/
2. Click on Learner to open an account
3. Courses include: math PreK - HS, college level math, test prep, science, computing, arts & humanities, economics, reading, language arts and life skills
* Navy endorsement is not implied
Exceptional Family Member Program App
Preschool Services for Children with Disabilities
Child Find for children three to five years of age is an ongoing outreach program that locates and identifies children who may have developmental delays or educational disabilities and need special services. If you have concerns regarding your child's development please contact 727- 4185 or 727-4435.
SCHOOL REGISTRATION
DoDEA Online Registration for Students (DORS)
The DoDEA Online Registration for Students (DORS) is currently available for families registering in schools serviced by Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). DORS reduces manual forms and makes it easy for parents to register their child for school.
For complete information about the registration process, including eligibility and enrollment please go to https://www.dodea.edu/registration-process.cfm
NEW STUDENTS
- click here https://dodea-registration.hosted.src-solutions.com/
New students registering for enrollment are required to provide verification of the following:
- Date of Birth
- Dependent Status
- Active Duty Status of Military Sponsor or Employment Status of Civilian Sponsor
- Status of Defense Contractor Sponsor and Central Billing Letter
- Status of non-DoD sponsor (other Federal Agencies)
Spanish School Registration
School Liaison Office
School Liaison Officer – Areas of Support
1. Communication Connections
2. PCSing Support
3. Deployment Support
4. Special Needs Support
5. Home School Support
6. Volunteer Coordination / Partners In Education (PIE)
7. Post-Secondary Preparations
Email: SLORota@eu.navy.mil
Website: https://www.navymwrrota.com/programs/a8fe4fcd-189f-4539-995d-596b3922fbb8
Location: NAVSTA Rota, Building 41
Phone: +34-956-82-2425
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RotaMWR/