South Carolina’s military-connected community has been in full swing for several weeks as Governor McMaster proclaimed April as Month of the Military Child on 26 March with over 200 military children and families across the state sharing in the event. Department of Education Superintendent Ellen Weaver and Education Oversight Committee Executive Director Dana Yow were also in attendance of this monumental occasion for South Carolina.
This month, the nation celebrates military-connected students whose service member parent(s) or caregiver(s) protects and serves our country while our local community and school district has celebrated with early literacy events, breakfasts, field trips, parades, spirit weeks, and proclamations across Kershaw County.
Camden Mayor Alfred Mae Drakeford, along with members of Camden City Council, and Kershaw County Council Chairwoman Katie Guinn and her fellow council members started the month with public proclamations and pledged their continued support to the growing Kershaw County military-connected community.
Leslie Stover Middle School hosted a breakfast event for students and families with close to 100 celebration attendees while Lugoff-Elgin Middle School hosted a breakfast event for their military-connected students and families as well with keynote speakers including Principal Gene Cameron.
KCSD Deputy Superintendent and Military Liaison Tim Hopkins, served as the special guest reader at Camden Elementary School’s inaugural Tell Me a Story event presented by the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). Tell Me a Story is a local family literacy event that provides an opportunity for families to explore and discuss difficult topics such as deployment, separation, fitting in, and moving.
Doby’s Mill Elementary School hosted its inaugural MCEC early literacy event in support of Month of the Military Child and has plans to build and strengthen its Purple Star School Program with their Military Liaison, Dr. Patricia “Jeanne” Dillman, who also serves as school counselor.
Other organizations, schools, and families continue the celebrations until the end of the month. For more information or to celebrate with an event in support of military-connected children, please contact Sara Jane Arnett, MCEC Community Coordinator at sarajane.arnett@militarychild.org.
