Winchester Trail Elementary School has earned the Purple Star Award by demonstrating commitment and support for children and families who are connected to the U.S. Military, the Ohio Department of Education announced on Monday, April 11.
Winchester Trail is one of 263 Ohio schools to receive the Purple Star Award in 2022, and one of 431 active Ohio Purple Star Award schools. Winchester Trail’s designation as a Purple Star School is active until 2025. Previously, Winchester Trail earned a Purple Star Award in 2018 and Canal Winchester High School, an active Purple Star School, earned a Purple Star Award in 2020.
“Our staff at Canal Winchester Schools is committed to empowering all students to success and that means understanding the unique situations that students experience and how best to support them,” said Superintendent Mr. James Sotlar. “We are proud of Winchester Trail Elementary for its commitment to providing specialized support for military families to help these students succeed and achieve their goals.”
To meet the requirements for the Purple Star Award, schools must name a liaison between military-connected students and their families and the school. The liaison works with teachers to support the military-connected students in school and helps to ensure military families and students have access to necessary considerations and resources in the community.
“At Winchester Trail, we are extremely passionate about our students and their family members,” said Mr. Max Lallathin, Principal of Winchester Trail Elementary. “We applaud those that are and have served and we want to give them the honor they deserve.”
Mr. Lallathin and Fourth Grade Teacher Ms. Rebecca Dennison are the school’s designated Military Family Contacts. Resources for military families are provided on the district’s website at cwschools.org. Each year, Winchester Trail invites Veterans to speak to 5th grade students and attend an honorary luncheon.
“Purple Star schools are another example of Ohio’s proud tradition of honoring our service men and women,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in an Ohio Department of Education release. “As a community, these schools are embracing our military-connected students and their families, providing them with support and resources to meet those families’ unique needs.”
Original source can be found here.
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