Bellows Springs ES Named a Purple Star School

March 5th, 2024

Bellows Spring Elementary School (BSES) has been named a Purple Star School by the Maryland Department of Education. BSES is one of eight schools statewide to receive the inaugural distinction, which recognizes public schools that provide strong services and support for military-connected students and their families.

BSES’ journey to becoming a Purple Star school began last year, when BSES’ Leadership Intern Eric Soskil was approached by a new BSES family interested in connecting with the school’s military liaison. At the time, no such liaison existed, so Soskil provided the family with some resources he thought might be helpful. But the family’s inquiry got Soskil thinking about how the school could better support its military-connected families.

Around the same time, Soskil discovered the newly established Purple Star Program. After reviewing the program eligibility criteria with his fellow BSES administrators, Soskil decided to submit an application. In it, he outlined a plan to engage military-connected students and families, including building the identification of and communication to those families into the school registration and communication processes; hosting events at school; assigning peer ambassadors to incoming students; providing staff training on the unique needs of military-connected families; and more.

Soskil says he has learned a lot about the unique challenges and needs of the military connected families through the process of applying for the Purple Star Program.

“Many of our students and staff are directly connected to active-duty personnel [and/or] veterans,” he explains. “There are unique challenges for some active-duty families, especially when a parent or spouse is deployed. I’ve learned that when a parent is deployed the impact is felt by the entire family. Changes in deployment don’t just happen to the adult, but to the entire family.”

Soskil adds that “any opportunities that allow us to strengthen our partnership with families is a win for our school community” and that he hopes that the Purple Star recognition helps BSES military-connected families feel welcome and valued for their service.

HCPSS has additional information and resources for military families online.