Superintendent Arntzen and MIC3 Observe National Purple Up! Day

• Brian O'Leary
• April 19 2023

HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen and MIC3 Commissioner Ray Shaw are honoring military families and military-connected children on National Purple Up! Day, April 19,  at the Montana Capitol. The designation of April as the Month of the Military Child acknowledges the significant role military-connected students play in our communities. In 2011, the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Military Youth and Family Program started the “Purple Up! for Military Kids” as a visible way to thank military youth for their strength and sacrifice. Because purple represents joint service operations and is a combination of Army green, Marine Corps red, and Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy blue, it is the appropriate color for military children from all branches.

“The sacrifice of our military members and their families is never forgotten,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Today we honor the children and families of those who serve in our armed forces. We are all Montana proud of our Purple Star Schools and Purple Star Champions' commitment to the academic success of all Montana children.”

Montana is home to over 6,200 military-connected children with a parent currently serving in the United States Military. There are nearly 3,800 active duty military members in Montana and over 5,700 National Guard and Reserve members. Montana Purple Up! Day will be celebrated on April 27, 2023, in Great Falls to honor Montana’s 2023 Purple Star Schools and Purple Star Champions.

Montana’s 2022 - 2023 Purple Star School Awardees are:

• Montana School for the Deaf and Blind
• Great Falls High School - Great Falls Public Schools
• Chief Joseph Elementary School - Great Falls Public Schools
• Meadow Lark Elementary School - Great Falls Public Schools
• Early Learning Family Center - Great Falls Public Schools

The 2022- 2023 Purple Star Champion Awardees are:

• Brian Holbein, Lt. Col (R) JROTC Teacher at Great Falls High School
• Michael Wonch, MSgt (R) JROTC Teacher at Great Falls High School
• Col Christopher Karns, Mission Support Group Commander, Malmstrom AFB

In 2013, Montana’s Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) was adopted by the Montana legislature with the purpose to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families. The MIC3 is a quasi-governmental entity operating under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. With 50 member states and the District of Columbia, the Compact ensures the uniform treatment of military-connected children transferring between states and enrolled in public and U.S. Department of Defense schools.