Paradise Elementary becomes Rapides Parish's first Purple Star school
Paradise Elementary School on Monday became the first school in Rapides Parish to be designated as a Purple Star School, which denotes it as one that eases the transition for military-connected students. Moving around isn't unusual for military families, but that can be tough for children as they make new friends and then have to leave every few years. At a Purple Star school, there's a staff member designated as a military liaison who oversees a student-led transition program for new students, keeps an online resource bank for families and trains other staff at the school on what military kids need, according to a news release from the Rapides Parish School Board. Paradise was presented with its award during a Veterans Day ceremony on Monday by Louisiana Secretary of Veterans Affairs Charlton Meginley, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. Students honored local veterans and military families during the event. "Schools and employment are the issues that military families face when they have to move to a new location. Those families want to know that the schools show support and understand what they’re experiencing," said Meginley. The Ball school, which isn't far from Camp Beauregard, received a certificate and a digital
