There’s the anticipation of having to take your children and leave a settled community environment or school due to an unexpected transfer, or having a parent leave for months or years at a time on deployment. When you are the parent left behind, there’s the reality of abruptly becoming a single parent and feeling the full weight of caring for the family and home. And then there’s the emotional toll of missing and worrying about the spouse or parents that is away.

Oftentimes, a school community can step in and provide support for military families specific needs and hardships. The nationwide nonprofit Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) helps children with parents or guardians in armed service by providing programs, resources and guidance so the child can stay on course academically, socially and emotionally. The organization is the national advocate for Purple Star Schools, a program to support military-connected children as they relocate with a parent’s change in duty station. The Purple Star program helps schools respond to the many challenges military-connected children face.

One Catholic school in South Carolina just became the first private school in the state to be awarded Purple Star status. St. Joseph School in Columbia, which serves 4K through grade 6, was recognized on Aug. 30, 2024, as a Purple Star School. 

Msgr. Richard D. Harris, pastor of St. Joseph Church and the school, said military families are essential to the community.

“I am — and the parishioners of St. Joseph Catholic Church are — very proud of the students, faculty and administration of our parochial school on being named as the first private school in South Carolina to become a Purple Star School,” Msgr. Harris stated. “Our military families are a vital part of our parish and school community. It is an honor that they have chosen to become part of our family, and a privilege to welcome and support them in their transition to a new educational and spiritual environment.”

Nearly 20 percent of the St. Joseph student body are in military family households — many students with one or both parents in the armed services — due to the school’s close proximity to U.S. Army Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base and McEntire Joint National Guard Base.

Lisa Leonard, school counselor at St. Joseph, helped lead the way with MCEC and Purple Star status. Schools have to meet rigorous criteria to qualify for this distinguished designation. They must develop a dedicated support program and complete staff training for the unique needs of military-connected students. Purple Star Schools provide resources and opportunities for families to stay supported within the community.

St. Joseph has a staffer who specifically welcomes military families and works with them on gaining connections to other military families and community resources.

“It’s a unique situation and we know that,” Leonard stated. “This could be a child’s third school in three years, and they are in the third grade. We want to welcome them and make them feel at home. I think it is important that they know they aren’t alone.”

She said the draw to St. Joseph for military families is the small environment and individual attention a student receives. The school only has 250 students.

“Many want the Catholic faith, of course,” she added, “but many also want that commonality, especially if they attended a Catholic school in the place they just moved from.”

Leonard said students often have an easier time making friends and adjusting at St. Joseph with peers who can relate because the school has a more robust military family population compared to some schools in the state.

St. Joseph also provides extra help to children who might be struggling academically.

“It’s a challenge changing curriculum when the kids are moving frequently. The standards could be different,” Leonard added. “We are mindful of that at St. Joseph’s, and we are here to help to give them the support they need to do well in school.”

The Purple Star ceremony was attended by Dr. Tremekia Kim Priester, from the S.C. Department of Education’s Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission/Purple Star Program; Jason Fowler from the S.C. Department of Veterans’ Affairs; Mayor Daniel Rickenmann of Columbia; and state Rep. Heather Bauer of District 75 (Columbia).

Samantha Canton has three children attending St. Joseph, and she spoke at the reception.

“My husband recently transferred from enlisted to become a military intelligence officer and was detailed infantry, which unfortunately has come with a lot of training away from the family,” Canton explained. “To say that this past year has been hard would be an understatement with Sean being away the past 14 months, leaving me missing a husband and our kids missing their father. 

“For our family, the major support network that has offered comfort in trying times has been St. Joseph’s Catholic School. The faculty here have been amazing and understanding to the difficulties our children have faced with their father being gone,” she said.

Msgr. Harris said that their “presence among us, and the gifts of their talents and unique experiences are an important contribution in our continued nurturing of strong academic excellence and moral Christian values.”

Leonard added that St. Joseph is honored to have these military families.

“They have chosen our school to attend and we understand the significance of helping them to thrive,” she said.