HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Two Massachusetts schools received the Purple Star Award Designation from the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education last spring.
Bedford High School and Hanscom School are the first in Massachusetts to be recognized as Purple Star Schools, a designation awarded to public schools that demonstrate a commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families.
“This designation reflects the commitment Bedford High School and Hanscom School have to our students,” said Laurel Wironen, 66th Force Support Squadron school liaison program manager. “It’s a win for military families and military-connected students.”
Military families relocate every two to three years on average, and by high school graduation, a military-connected child may have attended five or six schools.
“The application process is lengthy; it’s a lot of work,” Wironen said. “However, these two schools were already meeting the criteria on their own before Massachusetts began its Purple Star designation program.”
Bedford High School
Most high school students who live on Hanscom AFB attend Bedford High School.
High school graduation requirements vary from state to state, and military-connected students who transfer during high school may face challenges meeting state specific requirements.
School counselor Brian DeChellis oversees the transition of all military-connected students entering and leaving Bedford High. On average, the high school has about 100 military-connected students at any time, with approximately 30 new students transferring in each school year.
“These kids are such a resource to this high school, and we are so fortunate,” DeChellis said. “They are truly global citizens and bring a richness to the hallways and classrooms that we would miss out them.”
To help teachers and staff understand the unique aspects of military life and better support students, DeChellis organizes professional development sessions.
“For instance, high school algebra is not the same in every state, so we build academic supports into the student’s schedules to fill any gaps,” DeChellis said. “We try not to let any student slip through the cracks. We’ll go above and beyond because they deserve it.”
Hanscom School
Elementary and middle school students who live on the installation attend Hanscom School.
The majority of these students come from Air Force families, but the school includes students from families affiliated with other branches, including Space Force and Coast Guard. Children of federal employees residing on base are also eligible to attend.
Hanscom School Principal Erich Ledebuhr notes that a typical student spends one to three years at the school and that one-third of the student body is new each year. This highly transient population presents unique challenges.
“As our student population changes, our responses to their needs are examined,” Ledebuhr said. “Programs may be revamped from year to year as the needs of the students change.”
Despite the challenges, Ledebuhr and his team are dedicated to providing a quality education and ensuring student success.
“The students are so resilient, they want us to know them and to get to know us,” Ledebuhr said. “Even if the students are here for a short time, it is so important to create connections and establish a culture of community in our school.”
The Purple Star School program is designed to help schools respond to the educational and socio-emotional challenges military-connected children face during their transition to a new school.