Step Up For Students - Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO)
 

For more information regarding scholarships for your student
email please

kristin.white@saintmaryschool.net

Saint Mary Catholic School is committed to our military families. With our close proximity to Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, Duke Field, and Army 7th Special Forces Group, we are fortunate to serve many children of military personnel who are enrolled in our district.   We are here to assist and support the military family lifestyle concerning school transitions, deployments, and all other additional challenges that military life entails.  Over half of our Saint Mary faculty and staff have a military connection and are familiar with the challenges military life brings. 

Our School Counselor and Military Point of Contact (MPOC), Allison Newsom is here to support and ensure a smooth transition into our Saint Mary family.  Mrs. Newsom is a current military spouse and has family who have served in the military.  Her husband has participated in reading to students during Veterans' Day Week. She hosts a Military Kids Club once a month, coordinates Veterans Day celebrations, Month of the Military Child activities, and keeps connected with our military families.

In addition, our “Angel Ambassadors” take good care of all new students to SMCS.   This “peer-to-peer” program helps new students feel welcomed by eating lunch with them, introducing them to other classmates, giving them a tour of the school, and making sure all new students know what is available to them here at SMCS.

Saint Mary’s has the following resources for our students: Title 1 Reading Remediation, Title 1 Math Remediation, Certified ESE Teacher, Gifted Education Teacher, Speech and Language Pathologist, School Counselor, and Occupational Therapist.

If there is any way we can assist you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out to either our Principal, Peter Rodgers or to our School Counselor/MPOC, Allison Newsom.  Both can be contacted through our main office, 850.243.8913.

SMCS also works closely with the Eglin AFB Installation School Liaison Officer.  Her contact information is:
Elaine LaJeunesse
96 Mission Support Group
310 W. Van Matre Avenue
Suite 252 Bldg 210
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
Phone: 850.882.4319
(DSN) 312.872.4319
Email: elaine.LaJeunesse@us.af.mil     
www.EglinLIFE.com/slo/index.html

Events throughout the year:

• Monthly Military Kids Club meetings Military Kids Club
• Veterans Celebration Assembly
• Military members read to our classrooms
• Hero letters and cards to our troops
• Christmas Cards sent to troops down range
• In partnership with SLO-Christmas gift extravaganza for our Military Kids
• Month of the Military Child celebrations to include: field trip to the USAF Armament Museum, Purple Up Appreciation Breakfast and other activities throughout the month.

Additional Resources and Links:

National Military Family Association: a national non-profit focused on many facets of military family support. Offers scholarships as well as camps.
 
Our Military Kids: has extracurricular scholarships specifically for Guard & Reserve children.
 
Tutor.com for Military (currently also includes DoD Civilians): free online, on-demand tutoring for military families - service member, spouse and children.
 
Military Family Books: great place to buy military specific books.
 
Military Kids Connect: Defense Health Agency sponsored and moderated forum where military kids can connect with other kids, watch videos about going through various challenges, etc.
 
Comfort Crew Kits: free kits that address deployment, grief, transition, and more. Resources for students and parents that can be ordered directly by military families.

www.militarychild.org:  The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) delivers programs, services, and professional development to meet the needs of military-connected students, parents, and professionals.


Blue Star Families: a national non-profit with a local chapter in the DMV area offering support and resources to military families.