From the Director:
"We celebrate the Month of the Military Child to stress the importance of providing children with quality services and support to help them succeed in a global environment. Military children assume many special responsibilities that deserve our understanding and recognition."Dr. Joseph Tafoya
Director of DoDEA
April 2007: DoDEA Celebrates Month of the Military Child
April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community. Sponsored by the Department of Defense Military Community and Family Policy, the Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and the challenges they overcome.
The Month of the Military Child is part of the legacy left by former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. He established the Defense Department commemoration in 1986.
Throughout the month, numerous military commands will plan special events to honor military children. These events will stress the importance of providing children with quality services and support to help them succeed in the mobile military lifestyle. These special activities include arts and crafts shows, picnics, carnivals, fairs, parades, block parties and other special activities, focusing on military children that highlight the unique contributions they make.
DoDEA joins the Department of Defense and the military community in celebrating April as the Month of the Military Child. At DoDEA, we know that military children face many obstacles unique to their situation, such as having a parent deployed for extended periods of time and moving frequently. Deployments and family separations can be stressful times for children. DoD schools are part of the wide community support network available to families. Training is provided to our teaching staff on the various stages of deployment and the ways that children are affected. Teachers, counselors, and psychologists guide honest and open discussions with students. Schools link deployed parents and students by email and other technologies. Our most important contribution is to remain focused on the educational mission and provide a stable environment for the children in our schools especially during these times of stress.
Throughout the month, DoDEA will encourage schools to plan special events to honor military children and have administrators and principals incorporate the themes of this month into their every day duties and responsibilities. These efforts and special events will stress the importance of providing children with quality services and support to help them succeed in the mobile military lifestyle.
