The Ohio Department of Education announced Monday (April 11, 2022) that Cambridge High School was selected as a Purple Star School for their commitment to serving military-connected students and family.
The
Purple Star Class of 2022 includes 263 Ohio schools that received Purple Star designations. Cambridge High School was one of 94 schools that received the esteemed award for the first time while169 schools earned a renewal after three years as dedicated Purple Star Schools.
“Ohio’s military-connected youth require supports to ensure their unique social, emotional and academic needs are met,” Dr. Stephanie Siddens, Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Ohio. “The Purple Star award your school is receiving signifies your school’s demonstrated commitment to serving these students and families.”
Under the guidance of Lovel Quinn who was designated as the High School’s military liaison, Cambridge High applied to the Ohio Department of Education to become a Purple Star School.
"I think we should take every opportunity to celebrate our men and women of the military, past and present,” Quinn said recently. “We should honor our veterans and always remember the sacrifices that they and their families have made and are presently making."
Ohio’s Purple Star Advisory Board established a set of important criteria that schools must meet in order to be considered for a Purple Star designation. Each Purple Star designation is valid for three years.
Cambridge High School supports military-connected students and families in many ways including a
Military Connection page on the district’s website that provides easy access to resources both within the school and in the local community.
In addition to supporting military-connected students, the district makes an effort to educate students about the military and the men and women who have served or are presently serving.
“I believe part of what we should do as a school district is to help our students understand what being a Veteran means and why we celebrate Veterans Day and Memorial Day,” Superintendent Dan Coffman said. “One of the ways we can help them understand is to provide appropriate education and provide students with experiences like taking them to the Veteran’s Day Parade.”
During April, Cambridge High School is joining with other schools to celebrate the
Month of the Military Child and highlight the significant role military children play in the armed forces community.
Cambridge City School District also started a
Military Honor Wall on its website this month that will highlight alumni, current students that have enlisted, and staff members who served or are currently serving in the military.