Purple Star Military Children Program

We are so glad you are here, thank you for your service! You are not alone, and it’s important for your children to know they are not alone in our schools. The California Purple Star School Designation Program (Purple Star Program) seeks to reduce the burden on military-connected students and their families by articulating the most critical transition supports for military-connected students and their families by publicly designating schools that meet certain requirements. The program signals which schools are the most committed and best equipped to meet their unique needs.

The Purple Star Program was designed to help mitigate the challenges of high mobility by setting standards for and publicly designating military-friendly schools. The Purple Star School Designation Program was codified in 2024, California Education Code 51255.

The Purple Star Program’s true value derives from its potential to:

Centralize and make knowledge accessible,
Develop stakeholder networks, and
Support schools in cultivating and communicating cultural competency in supporting military-connected families.

The image displays the logos of various California Purple Star Schools, showcased against a vibrant purple background.

Site EAI Leader/ Purple Star Military Support School Liaisons

We Support Our Troops!

We Support Our Troops!

Abby Reinke Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Jametra Jamon

Alamos Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Deborah McManus

Barnett Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Katie Ray

Bella Vista Middle School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Heidi Ackerman Reem Saeb

Chaparral High School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Angelica Curiel

Crowne Hill Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Jennifer Gomez

Abby Reinke Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Jametra Jamon

Day Middle School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Stephanie Roush

French Valley Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Mary Perez

Gardner Middle School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Brittany Robinson

Great Oak High School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Maria Castillo Crystal Pastorian Jennee Scharf

Jackson Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Geri Campbell

LaVorgna Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Jeniffer Perales

Margarita Middle School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Kimberly Zimbardo

Nicolas Valley Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Alisha Parla

Paloma Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Kelley Armstrong

Pauba Valley Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Sandy Coward

Rancho Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Sara Brejnak

Rancho Vista High School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Lisa Kalldin

Red Hawk Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Kimberly Rourke

Summit Academy (TK-8)
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Lynette Grant

Temecula Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Lilybel Olvera

Temecula Luiseno Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Celyn Miles

Temecula Middle School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Katrina Miles

Temecula Valley High School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Jessica MacDonald Lucricia Knight

Tony Tobin Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Kayla Gelinas

Vail Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Jametra Jamon

Vail Ranch Middle School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Fabiola Pimienta

Vintage Hills Elementary School
Military Family Liaison/EAI Site Leader	Samantha Varzeas

Military Family Resources

Family Support Resources

Military Families Eligible for DoD Tutoring Program

No-cost, online tutoring and home help for the military.

Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3)

Bridging the gap by supporting education transitions across states.

Department of Defense Educational Activity

Teaching the children of Department of Defense military and civilian families worldwide.

Deployment & Reconnecting Kits

Bringing Families Back Together offers free kits for dealing with deployments and helping military families reconnect following deployment. The kits include Journals, DVDs highlighting common issues and strategies to process emotions, guidebooks and stuffed animals.

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

Our customized checklist builder makes it easy to stay organized and ensures you always have access to the latest information and resources. No sign-up is required, but you can choose to create an account to save your progress and preferences.

Exceptional Family Member Program - Marine Corps Camp Pendleton

Services are available for any authorized dependent family member of active duty personnel who possess a physical, medical, or emotional disability. In addition to early intervention, education, medical, or therapeutic support services, caseworkers at Camp Pendleton offer support groups, play groups, respite care, parent workshops and individual consultations to provide parents with training and information.

Exceptional Family Member Program - Naval Base San Diego (EFMP)

Supports families with special needs, including any special medical, dental, mental health, developmental or educational requirement, wheelchair accessibility, adaptive equipment assistive technology devices and services.

Families Over Coming Under Stress (FOCUS)

Marine and Family Programs provides resiliency training to military children and families. It teaches practical skills to meet the challenges of deployment and reintegration, to communicate and solve problems effectively, and to successfully set goals together and create a shared family story.

Family Forces

Provides individual, family, group and couples counseling services to military children and families. To assure easy and convenient access, services are available at the child or youth’s school, in one of their office settings, or in the client’s home. Most services are billed through Tricare/TriWest insurance. A fee for service option is available for military children and families who are not covered through this provider. Family Forces also serves active duty members as part of their EAP option, available through Military One-Source. Staff will gladly help eligible families obtain the necessary EAP authorization.

Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC)

Offers programs for every military family including confidential and no-cost assistance to all military service members and their families through individualized consultations, informative workshops, and counseling. FFSC also offers certified financial consultants to help service members and families to build wealth through individual sessions or a wide array of classes, workshops on fun things to do in the area, effective parenting techniques, enhancing couple's communication, managing stress, deployment preparedness, crisis readiness, new Navy spouse information, relocation and the transferring process, and so much more. FFSC's licensed clinical staff offers free and confidential individual, group, marriage, family, and child counseling. FFSC can make programs available in the evening by request.

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children

Ensuring that the children of military families are afforded the same opportunities for educational success as other children.

Marine & Family Programs at Camp Pendleton

Provides programs, services, information and referrals for active duty Marines, Sailors, family members and retirees. Services range from education opportunities to childcare and include children, youth and teen programs, family care, personal and professional development, transition assistance, behavioral health and counseling services.

MCB Camp Pendleton School Liaison Office

The School Liaison Officer at Camp Pendleton coordinates education support services to maximize opportunities for academic success for transitioning military children/youth. The School Liaison Office fosters and promotes quality education for military children by working directly with the command, families, school districts, and local communities, and by providing referral services to family support agencies at Camp Pendleton.

Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)

A non-profit, world-wide organization, the Military Child Education Coalition is focused on ensuring quality educational opportunities for all military children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition.

Military Child Education Commission

Information, resources, and programs for military-connected students.

Military Crisis Line

For service members in crisis, or for anyone who knows a Service member who is, confidential support is only a phone call, click, or text away. The Military Crisis Line is staffed by caring, qualified responders from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs who have served in the Military and understand what Service members have been through and the challenges they and their loved ones face. The Military Crisis Line, online chat, and text are free to all Service members. Go online or call 1-800-273-8255.

Military OneSource

A 24/7/365 information and referral service available via toll-free telephone and internet access. A personal and family readiness tool, Military OnSource programs are beneficial to those geographically separated from installation services or those unable to seek assistance during traditional working hours.

National Military Family Association

“The voice for military families”, dedicated to providing information to and representing the interests of family members of the uniformed services. In addition to information on deployment, education, family life and health care, NMFA provides valuable links to other useful sites designed to give you the latest information available.

Operation Homefront

Through our multi-level programs, military families can access crisis and transitional housing relief, regain resiliency and receive recurring family support, which works together to help them become stronger, stable, and more secure.

Tutor.com for US Military Families

Homework help, online tutoring, college support and career help. FREE 24/7 access. Military families in the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force can take advantage of this military family program to get help with more than 16 subjects.

Vet Center

We offer confidential help for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Our services include counseling for needs such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). We can also connect you with more support in VA and your community.

Veterans Village of San Diego

Provides free, confidential off-base support groups for all active duty military and Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans.

Support for Military Personnel & Families

An official Defense Department website with information, resources, and network for military personnel and their families.

Support Resources for children in grades K-5

Support Resources for children in grades 6-12

Center for Parent & Teen Communication

Learn some easy tips for improving communication with parents, caregivers, and other adults. These are strategies you can use now and in future relationships.

College Scholarship Information

The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created in recognition of the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military family community. A scholarship is awarded annually for each commissary operated by the Defense Commissary Agency.

Government Shutdown Support

Active Duty Military and Government Local Resources

Active Duty Military and Government Local Resources

To Our Active Duty Military and Government Families,

We honor the unique sacrifices you and your families make in service to our country, both at home and abroad. During times of government shutdowns, we recognize that the challenges you face can grow even heavier.

Whether it’s delayed pay, uncertainty around benefits, or the pressure of maintaining stability for your children during periods of disruption, please know you do not have to face this alone. Our community stands with you, ready to support you, just as you have so faithfully supported all of us.

We’ve compiled a list of local food and essential needs resources available in the Temecula area. These services are prepared to assist with speed, dignity, and compassion. Seeking support for your family is not a sign of weakness, but a powerful reflection of your resilience and commitment.

Thank you for all you do.

TVUSD

Navy Federal Credit Union and USAA both offer financial assistance during the government shutdown.

Resource	What They Provide / Notes	Contact / Location
Temecula Community Pantry	Free food, groceries, clothing, household items. Open Mon/Wed/Fri 8:30 am–12:00 pm (Jan–Oct). In Nov/Dec, open daily. (Food Banks)	28922 Pujol Street, Temecula. Phone: 951‑676‑8022 (Food Banks)
St. Vincent de Paul Temecula (Food Pantry)	Weekly food distribution (canned, dairy, produce)	Located at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church, 41875 C Street, Temecula. Fridays 8:00‑10:00 am (svdptemecula.org)
Mission Hope (Hope Food Pantry & Resource Center)	Free food pantry, plus housing support, family resources, and case management	Contact: (951) 444‑1404. Website: MissionHope.com (Mission Hope)
Circle of Care Ministries	Food & clothing distribution, emergency resources, “retail rescue” programs. (Circle of Care)	26090 Ynez Road, Temecula. (951) 973‑3582 (Circle of Care)
Good Samaritan Community Food Pantry	Provides food boxes (fresh, frozen, canned) delivered or available in Temecula	32127 Camino Rabago, Temecula. Phone: (951) 415‑5731 (Free Food)
Western Eagle Foundation (Food Distribution / Co‑op Grocery)	Acts as a large distribution center; partners with Golden Share to offer subsidized grocery boxes. (Homeless Shelter Directory)	40940 County Center Drive, Temecula. (951) 695‑7206 (Homeless Shelter Directory)