School liaison available to assist base families

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  More than 600 school-aged children here will soon head back to school to begin a new school year. For those new to the area, this school year will be at a new school with unfamiliar surroundings.

To help those students successfully transition, the Hanscom school liaison specialist brings schools, families and the Hanscom community together in meeting the educational needs of children for all personnel assigned to Hanscom.

"I want to provide families with the tools they need to overcome any obstacles to education that stem from the military lifestyle," said Laurel Wironen, 66th Force Support Squadron school liaison specialist, who noted that the average military family moves to a new assignment nine times over a parent's 20-year career.

She added that with each move, military children face a new school, friends and many other school-related challenges.

"I also advocate for the educational needs of military children and assist service members and their families with information and referrals regarding local school districts and other education options, including home schooling and private schools," she said.

The first day of school for students attending Hanscom Primary and Middle Schools in first through eighth grade is Aug. 29. Kindergarten and pre-school students begin Aug. 30, while Bedford High School opens Sept. 6.

Among her many responsibilities as the school year begins, Wironen is responsible for the "First Count" Federal Impact Aid Survey for federally-connected students. This survey is for both military and Department of Defense civilian families with children in local school districts.

"Schools generally depend upon property taxes for funding, but locally funded schools serving military families don't have that option," she said. "The survey helps determine, in part, how much federal funding, and potentially supplemental state funding, the school receives to compensate for that fact. It's an important piece."

Bedford High School students will receive the Federal Impact Aid Survey during the first few weeks of September. Look for more information on it as school begins.

Students who attend either Hanscom Primary School or Hanscom Middle School on base are part of the Lincoln Public School District. Parents of children attending either of these schools are encouraged to sign up on the website to receive school newsletters via email, as well as email alerts regarding important events. To do so, visit www.lincnet.org.  

Bedford High School uses a web-based system for mass communication. This system distributes newsletters, emails and emergency notification. Parents are encouraged to update and verify email, cell and home telephone numbers at http://www.bedford.k12.ma.us/info/aspen-parent-portal.html.  

Each school has scheduled several upcoming important dates that parents should be aware of.

A "Meet and Greet" for Hanscom primary and middle school families is scheduled for Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. at the respective schools. A similar event is scheduled for kindergarten students Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Parents are encouraged to stop by to meet teachers, check class lists and find out more about the Parent Teacher Organization.

A complete list of key dates and important information throughout the school year can be found at http://www.hanscom.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/851385/school-notes.  

For up-to-date information, visit the respective school websites to view calendars: www.lincnet.org and www.bedford.k12.ma.us/bhs/.

For more information on the school liaison program or for information on any of the local schools, visit www.hanscomservices.com/SchoolLiaison.asp or contact Wironen directly at 781-225-2765.