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Military Families

Hermon Hutchens Elementary values the many families in our community with military ties. We are applying for Purple Star designation to strengthen our support for students and families who currently serve or have previously served. We recognize that military-connected children navigate unique transitions, and we want every family to know that HHES is here to help.

This webpage provides easy access to key resources. Our staff has experience supporting military-connected students, so please reach out if you need additional assistance.

The Purple Star Program

What is a Purple Star School?

A Purple Star School is a public or charter school dedicated to addressing the unique educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected children.

These schools understand that military-connected students often have to move whenever their active-duty parent receives a relocation order, known as a Permanent Change of Station. This frequent uprooting means they change schools far more often than their civilian peers.

A military-connected child can expect to move six to nine times between kindergarten and high school graduation, with around 200,000 students transitioning to new schools each year.

How They Help

Purple Star Schools support military-connected students in several ways:

  • Staff Training: Designating a staff member to help students adjust to their new academic environment.
  • Student Programs: Offering student-led initiatives to foster social connections.
  • Family Resources: Providing a military family webpage on the school website to keep parents informed.
  • Professional Development: Offering relevant training for additional school staff.
  • Recognition: Holding school-wide military recognition events to promote tolerance and inclusion.

The primary goal of these programs is to help staff manage the challenges military-connected children face when moving between schools with different cultures, curricula, standards, course offerings, schedules, and graduation requirements.

Purple Star Schools pay special attention to students who arrive mid-year and miss the regular cycles of sports and club activities. They also recognize that every military-connected child has left behind friends and support networks and may be coping with a parent who is deployed.

Application Status: Submitted

HHES Statistics

HHES PK-12 Enrollment: 291

Military-Connected Students: 24 (8% of HHES student population)

Largest Military Connection: United States Coast Guard 

Coast Guard Volunteers at HHES: 7

How HHES Serves Your Family

We are committed to partnering with you to ensure excellence in the education of military-connected students and in finding innovative ways to support our military families.  

Transition Team

A dedicated team, comprising teachers, administrators, and a student ambassador, will support the transition to Hermon Hutchens by introducing new students and their families to the school community.

Registration and Enrollment Support

Tours of campus and early informational meetings can be conducted by a combination of virtual, telephonic, and in-person meetings to accommodate relocation challenges.

Dedicated Digital Curation of Information

HHES maintains this webpage as a reliable, asynchronous way for military-connected families to access information and resources related to targeted student support at Valdez City Schools.

Recognition Events

The school hosts events throughout the school year recognizing military-connected students and their families. Major events often occur surrounding Back to School in August, Veterans Day in November, and the Month of the Military Child in April.

Full Time Support Staff

VCS employs a full-time counselor and nurse who are committed to providing support systems for military-connected students.

At HHES, the Purple Star Point of Contact is Principal Krista Howell. (khowell@valdezcityschools.org)

Coast Guard connected families can also contact USCG Ombudsman Callie Hatfield at msuvaldezombudsman@gmail.com 

 

How HHES Is Training Its Staff

Teachers and staff at Hermon Hutchens Elementary are engaged in both live training and asynchronous e-learning modules focused on increasing understanding and awareness of the unique challenges faced by military-connected students and families.

Many of our teachers and staff are veterans, spouses of active duty members, or grew up in a military-connected households themselves and can identify with military life.

Resources for Educators:

School-Based Events

  • "Parent Teacher Conferences" before school starts
  • Kindergarten Boo Hoo/Yah Hoo Breakfast
  • Year-round school and classroom tours for incoming students and families
  • Veterans Day assembly and hallway walk of stars/veterans
  • Winter play
  • Winter concert
  • Spelling Bee
  • Family Literacy Night
  • USCG Pie Program: USCG volunteers visit as lunch buddies, tutors, recess duty, and crossing guards.
  • April Military Month: Spirit days, USCG Cutter field trips, guest speaker, art projects and hallway walk
  • We work closely with our PTA and Youth Sponsorship Club to facilitate family events such as our Halloween Carnival/Costume Parade/hallways, spirit days, popcorn days, Frosty Fever Bingo, and are active throughout the summer with various booths at festivals.
  • After the Bell Clubs/Programs: Chess Club, Art Club, Ski/Run Club, Dungeons and Dragons Club, Archery.
  • Full-time school counselor
  • Full-time school nurse

Resources for Military-Connected Parents

Interstate Compact

Purple Star Program

Academic Assistance

Social-Emotional Support

Military Life

Valdez Community

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Alaska Points of Contact for Military-Connected Parents

Callie Hatfield, Valdez USCG Ombudsman at msuvaldezombudsman@gmail.com 

Earnest Kincade, EdD: Eielson AFB School Liaison Program Manager
354th Mission Support Group
Office (907) 377-7490 Wok Cell (907) 385-9460
earnest.kincade.1@us.af.mil
Visit:  Eielson AFB School Liaison Office 
Joint Service School Liaison Program Managers  

Adele Daniels, JBER School Liaison Program Manager
673d Mission Support Group, JBER, Alaska
Office - (907) 384-1505 /Work cell - (907) 201-6385
adele.daniels.1@us.af.mil


Janet Farris, Fort Wainwright School Liaison Officer
Child & Youth Services, U.S. Army Garrison Alaska,
Fort Wainwright
Office:  (907) 353-1043
Cell:  (907) 460-1463
Janet.e.farris2.naf@army.mil