Wheeling Park High School Designated “Purple Star Award School”

WHEELING - Ohio County Schools now has four schools designated as places to help military families.

Wheeling Park High School recently became the fourth school in Ohio County to receive the "Purple Star Award."

Purple Star Award recipients are schools and school districts across the nation "that have committed to providing dedicated support and services to students of military families," according to information from the West Virginia Department of Education.

A requirement for the designation is that someone at the school be designated as a point of contact to assist military families who have students at the school. At WPHS, the "trained military family point of contact," will be counselor Jen Mathieu.

Selected schools also have a link to resources on their homepage, have completed a minimum of two military support activities and submitted a localized plan of action.

"Their commitment provides a foundation for students of military families to develop productive, academic lives and to be a part of a supportive community," the WVDOE stated.

Triadelphia Middle School, Bethlehem Elementary School, and West Liberty Elementary School also have previously applied for and received the honor.

WPHS joins 270 schools in the state as Purple Star School Award schools. More information on Common Ground, the military program that offers support and resources for military families in the school setting, can be found on both the Ohio County Schools and WVDOE websites.