HJ838: Commending Gunston Elementary School.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 838
Commending Gunston Elementary School.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 21, 2023
Agreed to by the Senate, February 23, 2023

 

WHEREAS, Gunston Elementary School was named a Purple Star School for the 2022–2023 academic year for its commitment to excellence in supporting military-connected children and their families, and this was its second time receiving this designation; and

WHEREAS, located in Lorton, Gunston Elementary School is committed to high academic standards in a child-centered environment that gives students the tools and support they need to imagine, believe, and achieve their goals in and out of the classroom; and

WHEREAS, Gunston Elementary School builds strong relationships with families and community partners to create a safe and nurturing space in which students can develop healthy minds and bodies, become caring and respectful citizens, and take ownership of their own progress and learning to maximize success; and

WHEREAS, the Purple Star School designation is presented by the Department of Education and the Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children; for the current academic year, Gunston Elementary School was one of 189 schools in the Commonwealth, and one of 40 schools in Fairfax County, to receive the designation; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Education and the Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children have been participating in the Purple Star School program since 2018; Purple Star Schools retain the designation for three years before being required to reapply; and

WHEREAS, to qualify for the Purple Star School designation, Gunston Elementary School has cultivated a military-friendly atmosphere and provides peer transition teams for incoming and outgoing students, as well as helpful resources and programming on issues important to military families; and

WHEREAS, as part of its qualification, Gunston Elementary School maintains a trained staff point of contact as a primary link between military families and the school; the point of contact also conducts professional development sessions regarding special considerations for military students and their families; and

WHEREAS, recognizing the sometimes transient nature of military postings, Gunston Elementary School maintains informational resources on the arrival of new students, records requests and transfer assistance for outgoing students, and long-term academic planning; and

WHEREAS, Gunston Elementary School has a student-led transition program, which includes a student transition team coordinator, to provide peer support for both newly enrolled and withdrawing students; and

WHEREAS, Gunston Elementary School also provides information on specialized subjects like special education, parental rights, parent-teacher associations, extracurricular activities, local community supports, and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children; and

WHEREAS, Gunston Elementary School celebrates members of the military and their families with ceremonies, breakfasts, and other events throughout the year and celebrates the Month of the Military Child and National Purple Up Day, both in April, to honor the service and sacrifices of the nation’s veterans and show support for military students and their families; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Gunston Elementary School on its selection as a Purple Star School for the 2022–2023 academic year; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Gunston Elementary School as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the school’s outstanding contributions to young people and support for military families in the Commonwealth.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 838

Offered February 20, 2023
Commending Gunston Elementary School.
Patron-- Tran

WHEREAS, Gunston Elementary School was named a Purple Star School for the 2022–2023 academic year for its commitment to excellence in supporting military-connected children and their families, and this was its second time receiving this designation; and

WHEREAS, located in Lorton, Gunston Elementary School is committed to high academic standards in a child-centered environment that gives students the tools and support they need to imagine, believe, and achieve their goals in and out the classroom; and

WHEREAS, Gunston Elementary School builds strong relationships with families and community partners to create a safe and nurturing space in which students can develop healthy minds and bodies, become caring and respectful citizens, and take ownership of their own progress and learning to maximize success; and

WHEREAS, the Purple Star School designation is presented by the Department of Education and the Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children; for the current academic year, Gunston Elementary School was one of 189 schools in the Commonwealth, and one of 40 schools in Fairfax County, to receive the designation; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Education and the Council on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children have been participating in the Purple Star School program since 2018; Purple Star Schools retain the designation for three years before being required to reapply; and

WHEREAS, to qualify for the Purple Star School designation, Gunston Elementary School has cultivated a military-friendly atmosphere and provides peer transition teams for incoming and outgoing students, as well as helpful resources and programming on issues important to military families; and

WHEREAS, as part of its qualification, Gunston Elementary School maintains a trained staff point of contact as a primary link between military families and the school; the point of contact also conducts professional development sessions regarding special considerations for military students and their families; and

WHEREAS, recognizing the sometimes transient nature of military postings, Gunston Elementary School maintains informational resources on the arrival of new students, records requests and transfer assistance for outgoing students, and long-term academic planning; and

WHEREAS, Gunston Elementary School has a student-led transition program, which includes a student transition team coordinator, to provide peer support for both newly enrolled and withdrawing students; and

WHEREAS, Gunston Elementary School also provides information on specialized subjects like special education, parental rights, parent-teacher associations, extracurricular activities, local community supports, and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children; and

WHEREAS, Gunston Elementary School celebrates members of the military and their families with ceremonies, breakfasts, and other events throughout the year and celebrates the Month of the Military Child and National Purple Up Day, both in April, to honor the service and sacrifices of the nation’s veterans and show support for military students and their families; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Gunston Elementary School on its selection as a Purple Star School for the 2022–2023 academic year; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Gunston Elementary School as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the school’s outstanding contributions to young people and support for military families in the Commonwealth.