Military Families

MPOC

instructorPOC – Colonel Vincent Bugeja (318514@dadeschools.net) 

Colonel Vincent Bugeja (AFJROTC Department Head) is our Homestead Senior High School Military Point of Contact appointed to facilitate all matters associated with supporting each and every one of our Military Connected children.  We will be supporting each Military Connected Child via four processes: 

1. MPOC Introductory Face to Face meetings with each child to explain purpose or our Purple Star School Program initiative (supporting our military connected children)

2. MPOC Monthly Face to Face meetings with each child – a recurring heading check to ensure that each student is properly acclimating to Homestead Senior High School 

3. Transition Team Member Sponsor – Our MPOC has appointed individual students on our Transition Team as sponsors for each military connected child.  All of our sponsors are current members of the Homestead Senior High School AFJROTC program.  The nature of this sponsorship will vary depending on the needs/desires of the military connected child. 

4. MPOC Connection with Parents – Our MPOC will be reaching out to each parent of our Homestead Senior High School Military Connected Children to provide support and/or answer any questions. 

Transition planning for military families

At Homestead SHS, we understand that military families often face unique challenges related to transitions.  We provide both individualized and group sessions to inform our new students/parents on all aspects associated with Homestead Senior High School 

  • New student orientation 1-2 weeks prior to opening of classes.  While this session primarily targets the new Freshman class, the content provided also serves as a great introduction to new students of all grades 
  • Our Registrar and counselors are always available to facilitate final transition from departed school to Homestead SHS 
  • Our Military Point of Contact, is Colonel Vince Bugeja 318514@dadeschools.net is  always available to assist military families.   

POC – Colonel Vincent Bugeja (318514@dadeschools.net

Academic planning for military families

While our course offerings are available online  

https://www.homesteadshs.net/2024-2025-subject-selection/ 

our Registrar and our counselors are available to develop a customized schedule for new military-connected students including providing appropriate credit for courses already completed in last school – with a goal of a seamless transition for incoming students.  

  • 9th grade counselor Ms. Monica Manuel (manuel_m@dadeschools.net) 
  • 10th grade counselor Ms. Carolina Brailly (cbrailly@dadeschools.net) 
  • 11th grade counselor Ms Mikaela Marriott (mmarriott@dadeschools.net) 

Resources/educational opportunties for military students

We have broad range of course offerings, magnet options, athletics and extracurricular programs to provide our students with the fullest experience desired. 

Student led transition program

cadets

Our student-to-student Transition Team is composed our top AFJROTC Cadets.  Our Transition Team will connect with our new military connected students in mid August/early September thru the balance of the academic year.  The Transition Team will provide each new military connected student with individualized school tours of all key locations.  Our Transition Team will be coached by our Purple Star School MPOC (Colonel Bugeja) and managed by one of the student members of Transition Team (Our AFJROTC Cadet Commander). 

Post week 1 connections/relationships will be student dependent.  Nevertheless, Transition Team will convene monthly with our new military-connected students to have some level of continuity as the new students become acclimated with Homestead Senior High School. As the year comes to an end, these same “new” students will hopefully transition into active members of the following year’s Transition Team ready for the following year’s students. 

POC – Colonel Vincent Bugeja (318514@dadeschools.net) 

Exceptional student education services

As one of the original 11 states to become members of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, Florida recognizes the need to provide support to ease the trauma when children are uprooted from school as parents are transferred from base to base and state to state. The demands on military members and their families are not only increasing but are becoming more complex. Homestead Senior High School is absolutely committed to develop customized IEPs as required for all students to include our military connected students. We work with the Military One Source Exceptional Family Member Program which provides military families with special needs considerations during the assignment process and access to support services to help navigate the medical and educational system. Our ESE personnel work closely with this agency to coordinate services and will meet with teachers, students and parents to ensure that appropriate accommodations are provided as well as conduct follow-up sessions to monitor progress. 

Upcoming military recognition events

Our school has as one of its elective offering an AFJROTC program.  Current military recognition events planned by the AFJROTC Department for AY 24-25 include but are not necessarily limited to  

  • the City of Homestead 9/11 parade 
  • the City of Homestead Veteran’s Day Parade 
  • MDCPS JROTC Pass-In-Review 
  • the month of the Military Child (April 2025)  

POC – Colonel Vincent Bugeja (318514@dadeschools.net) 

Mental health challenges for military students

Homestead SHS is equipped with a full staff of counselors and mental health professionals prepared to take on the unique challenges of all our young students to include our military connected adolescents.  

 

We instruct targeted grade levels on Teen Mental Health First Aid (TMHFA) which teaches high school students how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders among their friends and peers. Please access site below for additional information: 

 

Everything You Need To Know About Teen MHFA - Mental Health First Aid (Everything You Need To Know About Teen MHFA « Mental Health First Aid) 

 

Case Study – Impact of Parental Military Service on the Heath of Military-Connected Children Journal_of_Pediatric_Healthcare.pdf (core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com) 

Military Child Wellbeing tool kit (https://militarychild.org/resource/wellbeing-toolkit/)

POC – Ms. Rachel Dufresne rdufresne@dadeschools.net