By Amanda Pevey
Elmore/Autauga News
On Friday Millbrook Middle School hosted their inaugural Purple Star Picnic event for their military students and their families. Over 60 guests were in attendance. Millbrook Middle was recently recognized as one of the Purple Star schools. The picnic included sandwiches, chips, cookies, and drinks. Special guests included Superintendent Richard Dennis, and School liaison program managers Katheryn Ganster and Robert Richert; Rachel Surles, Community Coordinator from the Military Child Education Coalition; Christine Flynn, Military and Family Life Counselor; Ayena Jackson, Middle School Director; and Shay Jackson, Senior Coordinator of Secondary Curriculum Military Liaison for ECPS. Families had lunch, played games on the law with their children and spent time visiting.
A HUGE thank you to all the sponsors for the event that provided lunch that includes Bethany Hicks with Remax Cornerstone Plus, Don Duncan at Don Duncan’s All-American Auto and Tire, and Covenant Christian Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Millbrook Middle School is very thankful for your support!
Assistant Principal April Emanuel is the Family Liaison for the military families at the school. She helped organize and put together the entire event. Emanuel was also the one tasked to get the recognition of the school becoming a Purple Star school.
“Purple Star is a program that is really important to us because it emphasizes the need for schools to be welcoming and supportive of the transitions that military students and families have to make constantly,” said Emanuel. She continued, “I know how it feels to move every few years and have to start all over in a new place. We are striving at MMS to make the transition from one place to another easy for our students and their parents. Events like today help us get to know our military families, students and let them know that there are resources and people available to support them.”
Flynn is the MFLAC, Military Family and Life Counselor. She spoke to families at the event. She provides non-medical counseling and support services to military-affiliated students and their families. She assists working through any barriers or problems they may be experiencing, or impact suffered due to being in a military family. Her personal philosophy is that through counseling, children will be able to see that their options and dreams are limitless.
“We are excited to be named a Purple Star school this year,” said Principal Kreauter. He continued, “We thank our military families for attending our first of many events that are centered around supporting our military families. Thanks to all who attended. We would also like to thank our sponsors for always supporting our initiatives.”
For more information about the Purple Star program or resources for military connected families, please visit the Millbrook Middle School website at: https://millbrook.ecm.schoolinsites.com/MilitaryFamilies
You can also visit their Facebook page at: www.Facebook.com/mustangpridecatchit
