GUERNSEY – Last Tuesday, Guernsey-Sunrise School set a milestone in its history, hosting a celebration of local military students and their families after being officially designated as a Purple Star School.
Have you ever moved to a new school or a new state as a child? Have you as a parent experienced anxiety as you moved your family and young children to a new town and an unknown school district?
On average, active-duty military families move every two to three years, and nearly 2,000 students in grades K-12 in Wyoming will relocate to six or eight different schools throughout their school years. The stress and anxiety of the move and the transition to new schools can take a toll on the students and parents alike.
In recognition of these difficulties, and a desire to support military-connected families, the Wyoming Legislature, Wyoming Department of Education, Wyoming Military Department, Platte County School District No. 2, and various military support organizations, have joined together to create a Purple Star School program in Wyoming, and now in Guernsey.
Last spring, Superintendent Lisa Weigel found out about the Purple Star School (PSS) program and brought Guernsey-Sunrise administrators and staff on board to set up a military support program to the school. Assistant principal Jeremy Dietchman took the lead to make arrangements to meet the requirements of becoming a Purple Star School; and Mindy Kelley, and Tesha Frederic volunteered to be designated liaisons between transitioning families and the school district.
Superintendent Lisa Weigel said the program is a good fit for the school. Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center is literally across the street from the school campus, and Guernsey-Sunrise School administrators and staff want to ensure smooth transitions socially and academically for the students transferring in from other districts as well as providing good communication and resources for parents as they adapt to a new community.
“We want to make strong connections and do anything we can to help children and their families… We’d like to help them adjust from the beginning, rather than being reactive if the student begins to struggle,” Weigel said. She added, she is excited for the opportunities the Purple Star School designation opens up for the school to be relevant educationally and socially as it recognizes the struggles of military families and strives to meet individual needs.

Kelley will be the first point of contact for those families as the program liaison, who Weigel said, “is a natural fit with her leadership skills.”
One of the main goals of the Purple Star School program is to ensure students are on track academically, supported emotionally, and fully prepared for a bright future once they graduate from college. Kelley pointed out one of biggest challenges of transferring to a new school is the varying curriculum and classes set by each district, and records transfers are not always smooth. Sometimes students are behind or ahead in some subjects – or both! The Purple Star Program requires participating schools to have a plan to meet the students where they are and come up with a plan to keep them on track for graduation and preparation for the world beyond high school. It also recognizes and sets a plan for assisting families who need an extra support system when a member of the family is on deployment.
“I think it is a really cool program and is going to be beneficial,” Kelley said.
At a school-wide ceremony recognizing the distinctive award, state and local officials and guest dignitaries were present and shared their enthusiasm about the program in Guernsey. Included were Wyoming superintendent of public instruction Megan Degenfelder; Tyler Harrison, representing U.S. representative Harriet Hageman; Brian Boner, Wyoming senate district 2; Wyoming governor’s office senior policy advisor Jennifer Davis; Retired Maj. Gen. K. Luke Reiner, former Wyoming adjutant general of joint force headquarters; deputy base operations manager at Camp Guernsey, Lt. Col. LaQuendin Counts; VFW Post 4471 color guard, and auxiliary; PCSD No. 2 board of trustees; SRO Deputy Mangan; Platte Co. Sheriff’s Office; Guernsey mayor and council; school administration, staff, students, and members of the community.
Local VFW Post 4471 color guard presented the procession of flags, Mrs. Stacia Cook’s kindergarten class gave the Pledge of Allegience, G-S band performed the national anthem, G-SHS senior Nathan VanNatter gave the welcoming address, and a banner was presented by elementary students LJ Counts and JT Krieschel.
Dietchman said he is pleased to be a part of this new chapter in the school’s history, pointing out the Purple Star School program was an easy fit for Guernsey-Sunrise since the school already has many of the required policies and activities in place.
Boner, one of the Wyoming senators sponsoring the Purple Star School legislation, thanked the school for its choice to participate in helping military families. “This community and school district has supported the military a long time….It’s been a long time coming but we finally got the program in place. I thank you for your support of the way of life here and abroad.”
Maj. Gen. Reiner, after a career in uniform, said, “That makes a difference... [and] I thank the state legislature for supporting the military as exemplified through the legislation allowing Purple Star Schools.” He shared the dedication to service by U.S. servicemembers around the world, and pointed out one thing U.S. servicemembers around the world have in common is their families at home. “That is the centerpiece of the discussion today: military kids. The reality is, no soldier…or serviceman can be successful without a family that supports him and her…When those soldiers sign up, they do it because they love their families, their kids, and they want them to be safe.”
Maj. Gen. Reiner discussed the challenge of being a child with a parent serving in the military. He pointed out their life can be tough, but they can also take pride, not only because of their parents’ service, but they also have the opportunity to make friends in different communities across the country and the globe. “You have had life experiences that have shaped you and it shows. I like to think you’ve adopted a sense of character…Take pride in who you are and what you represent.”
He said programs like the Purple Star School makes it easier for servicemembers to do their jobs because they know the community has their back, helping their family and kids at home. Maj. Gen. Reiner also pointed out, the children’s life experience shapes them and can help them adopt positive character traits. “I can see being a military kid is a challenge but also an opportunity. That’s why I like the program we celebrate today, and I thank this school district for embracing this program that is important to all of us.”
“[These] children have unique and special challenges and opportunities as their parents serve….We are all better because of the strength of the military child,” he said.
Lt. Col. Counts shared his personal journey even now underway in moving his son to Guernsey this year from a different state. He said there has been a mix of excitement and apprehension mixed with challenges and an opportunity for growth. He admitted he grappled with guilt in the choice of relocating his son, but his experience working with Guernsey-Sunrise School helped alleviate his worries. “Communication with the school is paramount,” he said. “Your responsiveness and willingness to answer my [multitude of] questions helped alleviate my worries.”
Lt. Col. Counts said his son has been transitioning even better than he anticipated, and he has been reminded through the process, change is an opportunity for growth and learning. “The Purple Star School program has been an exceptional tool…thank you for your support of military families.”
Superintendent Degenfelder said Guernsey-Sunrise is one of less than 10 schools who have been designated Purple Star Schools in the state. “It’s a big deal,” she said.