Military families face unique challenges, especially when frequent relocations disrupt their children’s education. At Rose Hill USD 394, we recognize the importance of creating a supportive and stable environment for these students. That’s why we are excited to share that our district has officially started the process of becoming a Purple Star District.
At the school board meeting on December 9, the Rose Hill USD 394 Board of Education approved a resolution in support of military-connected students and families, marking the first step in the district’s application. This decision reflects our commitment to meeting the educational and social-emotional needs of children whose parents serve in the military. With nearly 8.5% of our student body being military-connected, this initiative is an important step in ensuring these students feel supported and valued in our schools.
What Does It Mean to Be a Purple Star School?
The Purple Star School program recognizes schools and districts that go above and beyond to support military-connected families. To earn this designation, schools must demonstrate their dedication in several ways:
Actively assisting students as they transition to new schools.
Providing resources to meet their unique educational and emotional needs.
Partnering with families to ensure students achieve academic success.
Military-connected children, including those whose parents serve in active duty, the National Guard, or the Reserves, often move every two to three years. This program helps schools respond to these frequent transitions, ensuring students remain on track to be college, workforce, and life-ready.
Why This Matters
With an estimated 1.2 million active-duty military-connected children enrolled in schools across the U.S. and abroad, the impact of school transitions is significant. Rose Hill Schools is committed to making these moves as smooth as possible by creating a welcoming environment where military-connected students can thrive academically and socially.
Recognition Timeline
In April 2025, the Kansas State Board of Education will announce the districts and schools that have earned the Purple Star designation. Schools that receive this honor will be awarded a Kansas Purple Star logo to proudly display on their websites and in their buildings, symbolizing their commitment to military families.
A Special Thank You
This effort would not be possible without the initiation and dedication of Amanda Topinka, social media go-to girl for Rose Hill School District. Amanda has been instrumental in putting together the information, helping to craft the resolution, updating the district website, and reaching out to the McConnell AFB School Liaison for guidance as we navigate this path to becoming a Purple Star District.
Rose Hill Schools is proud to take this important step in supporting our military-connected students and families. We look forward to continuing our efforts to provide an environment where all students can succeed, no matter their circumstances. Stay tuned for updates as we move closer to April 2025!
Pictured above: Elementary Music Teacher, Mrs. Ashurst, with her family when she was promoted to SFC (Sergeant First Class) Ashurst.