- Pine Forest High School
- Military Families
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Contact Information
S2S Club Sponsor: Ms. Meadows
Military & Family Life Counselor: milfamcounselor0862@ecsdfl.us
Office: 850-417-4757
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Enrollment Services
New to the area? Have questions about registering your child for school, or what documentation is needed for registration? Click here to visit our ECPS Enrollment Services department for this information, as well as the current Student Progression Plans.
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Exceptional Student Education
Click to visit the ECPS Exceptional Student Education department.
Sondra Hill, Program Director
shill@ecsdfl.us • 850-429-2977
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Resources
The Joint Military Council for Education Excellence was established as a partnership between the Escambia County School District and Naval Air Station Pensacola in the Spring of 2020. Its mission is: Improving educational services and communication between the Escambia County School District and military families.
The Military Council convenes quarterly to address topics of mutual interest and to solicit input from community stakeholders, including military families.
NAS Pensacola Fleet &Family Support Center
Military One Source connects you to programs, services and products developed for military life. Turn to Military OneSource for tax services, spouse employment help, webinars and online training, relocation and deployment tools, and much more.
Military One Source also has a link to a tutoring service designed specifically for military students.
Military Child Education Coalition
The Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission has a specific section for parents with resources detailing the role of the School Liaison as well as helpful articles on helping military children change schools and cope with moving, among others. They also have a section on supporting military families with special medical or educational needs.
The ASVAB CEP offers students a chance to explore all paths to careers - college, certifications, apprenticeships, licensure programs, and the Military - in one place. Contact your school counselor to find out when the ASVAB CEP is coming to your school.
Military Kids Connect is an online community for military children ages 6-17, and provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children dealing with the unique psychological challenges of military life. MKC offers informative activities, helpful videos, and an online community that can build and reinforce understanding, resilience, and coping skills in military children and their peers. Today's military kids grow up in a world where they face unique challenges such as multiple deployments of important family members and frequent moves to new schools and neighborhoods. They need a unique set of skills to draw on to get through long and often difficult separations and situations.
Pear Deck Tutor (formerly TutorMe) is an online service that provides one-on-one, on-demand, live homework and writing support in certain subject areas.
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Transition Peer Program
Established in 2004, Student 2 Student® (S2S™) is a student program that brings military and civilian students together to welcome all new students, create a positive environment, support academic excellence, and ease transitions.
Club Sponsor: Whitney Meadows
Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month
How to get involved?
Students who are interested can contact Ms. Meadows at wmeadows@ecsdfl.us or our MFLC at (850) 417-4757 or milfamcounselor0862@ecsdfl.us
PFHS has a new S2S Team! Check out our page!
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PFHS Military Recognition Events
Pine Forest High School is proud to recognize our faculty, staff, and community who have served or currently serve our country. Each year, we plan a variety of events to honor our military. Check back for a list of current events. Past events have included:
- Military Appreciation Night at a home football game
- Purple Up! Month of the Military Child presentation and celebrations
- Valentine’s for Vets
- Veterans Day Celebrations
- Mess Hall Meetups
- ROTC Military Ball
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Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
Military Families who have students with disabilities may also qualify for the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/family-relationships/special-needs/exceptional-family-member
Escambia County Public Schools offers a variety of services to best meet the needs of students with exceptionalities. Those interested can learn more on the district website: https://www.escambiaschools.org/ese. Pine Forest High School does offer Exceptional Student Education.
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Mental Health for Military Students
At Pine Forest High School, we recognize that there are many demands on our military student population that may exhaust their ability to cope. Frequent moves, grief/loss, losing/making friends, separation from loved ones, etc…All of these challenges impact mental health. Students at Pine Forest understand that they are never alone in those challenges. We have several resources available to support our military and civilian students alike.
To learn more about military kids and mental health, please visit https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/2843081/military-teens-mental-health-here-are-resources-that-can-help/
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About the Military & Family Life Counseling (MFLC) Program
Pine Forest High School is honored to offer non-medical counseling to our military-connected students. MFLCs support military families through the unique challenges of military life, including cycles of deployment and reintegration, by providing non-medical, short-term counseling. Through a partnership between the school district, the installation and the office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, counselors will be assigned to various schools during the school year.
What is the counselor’s role in the school?
MFLCs provide consultation, training, and educational presentations/workshops to program faculty, staff, parents, and children. MFLC support augments services already in place at each school. Counselors take part in everyday school activities and events. They are available to support in areas related to deployment and reintegration; family dynamics; positive coping mechanisms; staff support and education; parent education and stress reduction. Counselors are also available to facilitate groups and trainings to build leadership skills; manage anger; build self-esteem and confidence and strengthen communication.
How are counselors selected?
Counselors are selected for their demonstrated expertise and training and are under the management of the office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy. Counselors hold a master’s or doctoral degree, are independently licensed and have experience working with children and youth. Counselors go through rigorous background checks before being placed in schools.
Why are the counselors in certain schools and not others?
Schools were selected by the Service Branch to receive MFLCs based on the number of military connected students attending each school. Military families who have students in schools without counselors can typically receive the same support through the installation’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department, Fleet and Family Services or the A&FRC.
Do counselors keep records about students and families?
No. Services provided by counselors are private and confidential with the exception of mandatory federal and military reporting requirements (i.e., child abuse, domestic violence and other life-threatening situations). No counseling records are maintained.