VBCPS joins the Department of Defense, the DoDEA, Operation Military Kids, and the military community in celebrating April as the Month of the Military Child. Military children face many challenges unique to their situation, such as having a parent deployed for extended periods of time and moving frequently. Deployments and family separations can be stressful times for children.
Schools in Virginia Beach are part of the wide community support network available to families. Teachers, counselors, and psychologists guide honest and open discussions with students. Schools link deployed parents and students by email and other technologies, but the most important contribution VBCPS can make is to remain focused on the educational mission and provide a stable environment for the children in our schools especially during these times of stress.
This year, VBCPS is inviting everyone to “purple up”. Operation Military Kids (OMK), an organization dedicated to military families, is asking people around the nation to join them for an event they call, “Purple Up! For Military Kids.” They are encouraging everyone across the U.S. to wear purple on April 15 as a visible way to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. This is OMK’s fourth year of celebrating Purple Up. Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is the combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red and Navy blue. Since Virginia Beach schools are not in session April 15, we are inviting students and staff to “Purple-Up” Wednesday, April 2.
This Purple Up will coincide with the Art of Being a Military Child art exhibit opening, which will be held April 2 at Lynnhaven Mall.