Citrus ESE Parent Advisory Group

Helping students have ‘grit’

Last week ESE parents, grandparents and educators gathered for the first school year’s quarterly Citrus Schools ESE Parent Advisory Group.

Stephanie Crosier, Parent Services Specialist for FDLRS, stefanie.crosier@marion.k12.fl.us

This group brings together stakeholders of ESE students to help support one another. Resources are shared, guest speakers present and parents have opportunities to share with one another and the district.

This meeting’s guest speaker was Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS), Parent Services Specialist, Stefanie Crosier.  Ms. Crosier gave a personal and passionate presentation on the importance of “Grit”, and how developing grit is critical to student’s success.  During the presentation, she shared a wonderful TED TALKS video on Grit by Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth. Follow this link to Dr. Duckworth video: https://youtu.be/H14bBuluwB8

Ms. Crosier shared the wealth of resources that FDLRS offers free to students, families and educators.

During the meeting, I had an opportunity to share about my personal connection to ESE.  These ESE students and families are always very special to me and I am grateful for the work our educators and the community does to make our kids more successful.

The next quarterly Citrus Schools ESE Parent Advisory Group meeting is scheduled for Oct. 17, 2017 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm.

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No Lice Issues Reported

There have been some unofficial reports recently of a lice issue at Forest Ridge Elementary.  FRE at this time has not received any reports of lice. The Citrus School District nor FRE has issued any statement regarding any problems or concerns of lice at FRE.

If you have any concerns for your student please do not hesitate to contact your students’ school’s health clinic.

Thank you,
Thomas Kennedy

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Purple Heart Anniversary

Was honored to have accompany me to the the Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart breakfast, former POW and two Purple Heart recipient, Capt. Richard Tangeman, U.S.N (Retired) and his wife Lori. With us is Florida Senator Wilton Simpson.

August 7th is the Nation’s Anniversary of the Purple Heart.  This weekend as the Nation’s First Purple Heart School District, Citrus Schools was honored to be asked by the Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) to celebrate at their annual MOPH Awards Breakfast.

During the event Patriot, Curt Ebitz read ‘The History of the Purple Heart’.

The History of the Purple Heart, first known as “Badge of Military Merit”

At his headquarters in Newburgh, New York, on August 7, 1782, General George Washington devised two new badges of distinction for enlisted men and noncommissioned officers. To signify loyal military service, he ordered a chevron to be worn on the left sleeve of the uniform coat for the rank and file who had completed three years of duty “with bravery, fidelity, and good conduct”; two chevrons signified six years of service. The second badge, for “any singularly meritorious Action,” was the “Figure of a Heart in Purple Cloth or Silk edged with narrow Lace or Binding.” This device, the Badge of Military Merit, was affixed to the uniform coat above the left breast and permitted its wearer to pass guards and sentinels without challenge and to have his name and regiment inscribed in a Book of Merit. The Badge specifically honored the lower ranks, where decorations were unknown in contemporary European Armies. As Washington intended, the road to glory in a patriot army is thus open to all.”

Pre-WW2 Awards: The Purple Heart as we know it today was reestablished in 1932 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington. The original criteria for award of the Purple Heart as published in the War Department Circular No. 6 of February 22, 1932 states that the medal be awarded to anyone serving in the Army who had received combat-related injuries or had received the AEF’s Meritorious Service Citation Certificate during WWI, the latter criteria harkening back to the intent of George Washington’s “Badge of Military Merit”.

WWII Awards: In April 1942 the War Department amended its policy regarding the issuance of the Purple Heart. The new regulations authorized the posthumous award of the Purple Heart retroactive to December 7, 1941, and eliminated the use of the medal as a merit award.

(source: http://www.citruspurpleheart.org/page3.html)

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