Transition Planning for Military Families

• Patrick SFB School Liaison contact information:
  Susan Clark, School Liaison Program Manager
  Susan.clark.8@spaceforce.mil
  321-494-1991
  On Facebook @ PatrickCYES.SLO
  https://www.gopatrickfl.com/youth-programs.html

• https://www.militaryonesource.mil/ (a free 24/7 resource for military families of all branches of service providing a variety of assistance, resources, and tools)

• www.militarychildcare.com (Resource and information on available Before/After School military childcare)

• https://sesamestreetformilitaryfamilies.org/ Provides resources and information appropriate for younger children on military related topics such as moving, deployment, etc. Applicable only for elementary school.

  
  
  Steps for Transition

• Register and enroll at school of choice.

• Identify as Active Military Duty 

• Fill out a form for student (s) in family to meet with Military Family Life Counselor

• Set up conference with principal and classroom teacher (s)

• Join Parent and Teacher Organization to assist with events.

• Military students are taken on a student-led tour of Mims Elementary.

• Mims Elementary Website/Military Webpage and supports shared with new families.

Academic Planning for Military Families

• Information regarding academic standards and opportunities, graduation requirements, DE and AP course offerings, applicable CTE programs, etc. for Brevard Public schools can be found in the Student Progression Plan on the BPS Curriculum and Instruction website.

• https://www.stepupforstudents.org/ Scholarship resources available to students in Florida in a variety of categories tax credit, unique abilities, New Worlds reading, Hope, transportation, etc.

  
  
  Guidance contact information:
  Cheree Cochran, Principal
  321-264-3020
  Email Mrs. Cochran
  
  Christine Cerrato, Assistant Principal
  321-264-3020
  Email Mrs. Cerrato

Resources and Educational Opportunities for Military Children

• www.mic3.net Information on the Military Interstate Compact and resources available for eligible transitioning military dependents

• https://military.tutor.com/home Free tutoring and test preparation and essay review resources for eligible military dependents

• https://unitedthroughreading.org/ Free shared story time resources to keep children and parents connected during a deployment

• Tutor.com :

  This program is available 24/7 for U.S. Military and their families at no cost and it is online tutoring and it offers homework help. The Tutor tutors can assist you with working through difficult homework problems, assist you with improving your writing skills, and with other skills.

• United Through Reading:  unitedthroughreading.org

  Family bonding experiences are made possible by shared story time through a program called United Through Reading.  This program connects military families who are separated for deployment or military assignment.

• Military OneSource:

  The Military OneSource provides services in such areas as tax services, spouse employment help, Webinars, online training, relocation, deployment tools, and other areas. Call-800-342-9647.

• Military Child Care :  

  Department of Defense (DOD) program that makes it easier to find the child and youth care your family needs.   Call 855-696-2934

• Military Kids Connect:    

  Military Kids Connect (MKC) is an online community for military children (ages 6-17 years old) that provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children from pre-deployment, through a parent’s or caregiver’s return.

• Sesame Street for Military Families:

  This is a free, bi-lingual (English and Spanish) website that families can utilize to locate information and multimedia resources on topics such as military deployments, multiple deployments, homecomings, injuries, grief, and self-expression.

• USDOD—Taking Care of Our People:

  This is a US. Department of Defense website.  This website recognizes the service and sacrifice of our military and their families. The U.S. DOD dedicates resources, services, policies, and programs to support the more that 2 million uniformed service members and the 2.6 million family members around the world.

• Red Cross—Military Services :     

  Members of the Red Cross assist members of the military, veterans, and their families how to prepare, respond, and adjust to the challenges of military services.

• Scholarship:    

  Families of K-12 students are provided a choice of financial assistance towards private school tuition and fees or help with transportation costs for students to attend a public school different than the one the student is assigned to through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-CO) programs.

Student Led Transition Program

• BPS is committed to ensuring a peer-led, safe, and positive transition for students from military families into our schools. For support, please contact the Military Point of Contact listed at the top of this webpage.

• Mims Elementary has put together a student group that is committed to ensuring a welcoming transition into our school family. This group of students will help transition military family students by introducing what our school has to offer. The student teams’ goal is to LEAD!

 L: leading students to success

E: educate others

A: Acquaint to the school

D: Discover the possibilities at Mims Elementary

Information on Exceptional Education Services

Tammy Michonski (School Counselor)
Email Mrs. Michonski
Phone: 321-264-3020

• Brevard Public Schools provides a range of ESE resources, including school-specific support for families navigating transitions with IEPs and 504 plans. For more information, please visit the BPS Exceptional Education Services website.

• Department of Air Force EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program Information) https://daffamilyvector.us.af.mil/membersite/

Information on the mental health challenges facing military students, including ways to access school-based mental health services

• Patrick SFB installation Military Family Life Counselor information:

CYB MFLC Robert Updegrove

321-474-1530

• Brevard Public Schools offers Psychological and Mental Health Services to all students, including those in military families. These school-based mental health services, along with many other resources, are available at the Mental Wellness website or at https://bpscommunityconnect.findhelp.com/.

Mental Health Contact:

Tracy Portz
Mims Elementary School Social Worker
321-264-3020
Email Tracy

Upcoming Military Recognition Events

•   Purple up! Wear purple to celebrate military kids! Purple references the joint environment of the military, encompassing all service branches, Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, and Veterans. Purple combines each branch’s colors into one: the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard all use shades of blue, the Army uses green, and the Marines use red. (National Purple Day is April 15, 2025)