Monroeville High School earns Purple Star status

MONROEVILLE — Earlier this week, Monroeville High School joined some elite company from across the state. The Huron County school is among this year's 165 Purple Star Award designees named by the Ohio Department of Education that honor military families and veterans. Last year, Monroeville Elementary earned the Purple Star award for the first time. Monroeville High School principal Jim Kaczor said it's the first time the school has pursued and received this honor. "We are very proud to be given the designation of a Purple Star school," he said. "There's never enough that can be done to support those who are in the armed forces and their families. We want our students to understand and appreciate the sacrifices that are made by military personnel as well as their families." Each year, Monroeville High School hosts a Veterans Day assembly and breakfast to show appreciation for local veterans, Kaczor said. "We assist student families with deployed military personnel and we've had recruiters regularly visit to meet with interested students, display lunchroom presentations and make classroom presentations," he said. Additionally, in previous years, Monroeville High School has hosted "military appreciation nights" during basketball season by providing a dinner for military families and veterans. "Our National Honor Society has also fundraised for the Wounded Warriors Foundation," he said. Monroeville Schools superintendent Kristin Kaple-Jones added the district is proud "to be in a community with such a rich history of military veterans and military families." "There is a lot of pride in Monroeville, especially when it comes to our armed forces, so we are honored to receive this designation," she said. Created in 2017, the Purple Star Award, is given out by a board that includes those in statewide education, veterans services and other organizations that help decide schools that are eligible. Institutions that earn the award receive a special Purple Star recognition to display in their buildings. Each Purple Star designation will remain in effect for three years, according to state officials. To meet the requirements for the Purple Star Award, schools must designate a liaison between military-connected students and their families and the school. The liaison works with teachers to support the military-connected students in school and helps to ensure military families and students have access to necessary considerations and resources in the community. Purple Star honorees include schools that host monthly military kids club meetings, professional learning for all educators on the unique considerations for serving military-connected students and school-wide celebrations honoring military students and families. _ Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood