Brielle, Isis, and Malia
Andersen Elementary School
April is a month of celebration for military connected children and is also known as Month of the Military Child, MOMC. Different celebrations are created during this month to recognize these children for being strong through it all. As a military child it is tough to move around all the time. They have to leave their friends, family, and sometimes even pets behind. It is especially hard for them to say goodbye to their parents knowing that they will be gone for a very long time. This month is dedicated to honor military connected children for the challenges that they go through.
Coming back to school after spring break, DoDEA Andersen Elementary School on Andersen Air Force Base on Guam will kick off this special month with a Welcome Wave! Parents, teachers, and members of the community are invited to stand at the car rider line or the bus lane and welcome military connected children into the school for their special month with a huge wave. Those participating in the parade are encouraged to wear purple, the color dedicated to military children, or their uniforms. Pom poms and posters may even show up by some. This is just the start of all the amazing activities for the month of April for military connected children.
Families can spend time nibbling on lunch together at the “Purple Up!” picnic at school! The “Purple Up” Picnic lets AES families join together with their military connected children and gobble up their yummy food, in a gigantic group. The idea behind it is to celebrate military connected families that are at Andersen, and this event is just the chance for it. Military members and civilian personnel work very hard to prepare to keep us safe and for our freedom. Military children also have to make sacrifices. So why not bring a smile of pure joy to all of their faces and allow them to eat together picnic style for a special lunch?
The “Purple Up!” Parade is an event that military children and their families will never forget! Andersen Elementary School will celebrate their students by having a “Purple Up!” Parade on Wednesday, April 9, 2024 beginning 8:15am. It will start with students parading around the school, being joined by other classes. Along the sidewalks on the route are parents, relatives, and community members who have also come to celebrate by cheering on the students. Some classes may even carry signs that share messages such as “Month of the Military Child” or “I am adaptable”. People, both parade participants and the audience, are encouraged to wear shades of purple and purple accessories. Viewers can snap photographs of their smiling faces while waving and cheering. The students will have a great time being celebrated as the strong children they are. The parade is a guaranteed wonderful way to celebrate our military connected children and their families.
PTO is also sponsoring a run and a movie night to have even more fun activities for military families. On Saturday, April 20, families are able to come to Arc Light track to participate in the run together. A special reward will be given at the end of the run to all the families that participate. The movie night will be held in the gym on Friday, April 26, and a surprise movie will be showing. Families will be able to bring pillows and blankets to get cozy and wear any comfortable clothing to relax and enjoy the movie together. Along with the movie, popcorn will be provided for everyone. PTO hopes many will join them in honoring all the military connected children by coming to enjoy these events!
April will be an eventful month with all of these special activities including the welcome wave, the picnic, the parade, the run, and movie night. Military connected children serve in their own way and deserve to be honored. These activities plan to do just that, to celebrate these children and the difficulties they go through. Hopefully, many will be able to spend time together with their military connected families, and “Purple Up” to honor these strong children!