Purple Star

military adult and child

military two adults and child

military adult and child

Crystal Yarnell

yarnell.crystal@brevardschools.org

(321) 727-3090 Ext. 45023

Gemini Elementary Values Our Military Students and Families

Gemini Elementary School was established in 1966 and was named after the space program. Gemini Elementary was one of the first schools built on the Space Coast to honor NASA’s legendary missions to space. Over the years, the community has grown and has welcomed many military families, working in the space and engineering field. Throughout the years at Gemini, we have recognized events and activities, such as various Purple Up! Day, Patriot’s Day, Veteran Day activities, and bulletin boards display provide our students opportunities to showcase our military families.

Transition Planning for Military Families

Patrick SFB School Liaison contact information:
Susan Clark, School Liaison Program Manager
Susan.clark.8@spaceforce.mil
321-494-1991
On Facebook @ PatrickCYES.SLO

https://www.gopatrickfl.com/youth-programs.html

With each move, military children face many school-related challenges, The Patrick Space Base School Liaison can provide information about transition planning, academic options and options and resources with regards to the local area as well as connect you to the School Liaison at your next installation when transition to another location.

 Transition Steps:

  1. Register and enroll at school of choice. Please see Tiffani Lebron, school office clerk to assist in the school enrollment/registration process. 321-727-3090. Tiffani can assist with the transfer of educational records requests from previous schools.

  2. Identify as Active Military Duty.

  3.  Fill out a form for student (s) in family to meet with Military Family Life Counselor.

  4.  Set up conference with principal and classroom teacher (s).

  5.  Joining Parent and Teacher Organization or SAC to assist with events.

  6.  Military student is taken on a student-led tour of Gemini Elementary by School Safety Patrols.

  7.  Gemini Elementary Website/Military Webpage and supports shared with new families.

Academic Planning for Military Families

  • Information regarding academic standards and opportunities, graduation requirements, DE and AP course offerings, applicable CTE programs, etc. for Brevard Public schools can be found in the Student Progression Plan on the BPS Curriculum and Instruction website.

  • https://www.stepupforstudents.org/ Scholarship resources available to students in Florida in a variety of categories (tax credit, unique abilities, New Worlds reading, Hope, transportation, etc.)

  • [Insert school specific guidance contact information]

Brevard Public Schools Elementary Curriculum https://www.brevardschools.org/Page/18473

Christina Carver
Gemini Elementary School Principal
(321) 727-3090
carver.christina@brevardschools.org 

Jennifer Unseth
Gemini Elementary School Assistant Principal
(321) 727-3090 Ext. 45015
unseth.jennifer@brevardschools.org 

  1. Set up conference with principal or assistant principal to discuss curriculum and testing.

  2. Meet with the classroom teacher to discuss prior academic progress.

Resources and Educational Opportunities for Military Children

Gemini Elementary has after school tutoring in the form of Academic Support Programs, as well as multiple teacher-organized private tutoring. Teachers also sponsor a variety of after school clubs, such as Friendship Club, Math Club, Drama Club, and Chess Club. Cheerleading activities are provided through our Brevard After School Program. Below are some additional online resources that can help our military families transition.

  • www.mic3.net Information on the Military Interstate Compact and resources available for eligible transitioning military dependents

  • https://military.tutor.com/home Free tutoring and test preparation and essay review resources for eligible military dependents

  • https://unitedthroughreading.org/ Free shared story time resources to keep children and parents connected during a deployment

Tutor.com     www.tutor.com/military

This program is available 24/7 for U.S. Military and their families at no cost and it is an on-line tutoring and it offers homework help. The ww.tutor.com/military tutors can assist you with working through difficult homework problems, assist you with improving your writing skills, and with other skills.

 United Through Reading   https://unitedthroughreading.org/

Family bonding experiences are made possible by shared story time through a program called United Through Reading.  This program connects military families who are separated for deployment or military assignment.

 Military Child Care   www.militarychildcare.com                                          

Department of Defense (DOD) program that makes it easier to find the child and youth care your family needs.  Call 855-696-2934

Military Kids Connect     https://youth.gov/federal-links/militarykidsconnectorg

 Military Kids Connect (MKC) is an online community for military children (ages 6-17 years old) that provides access to age-appropriate resources to support children from pre-deployment, through a parent’s or caregiver’s return.

Sesame Street for Military Families     https://sesamestreetformilitaryfamilies.org/

This is a free, bi-lingual (English and Spanish) website that families can utilize to locate information and multimedia resources on topics such as military deployments, multiple deployments, homecomings, injuries, grief, and self-expression.

USDOD—Taking Care of Our People   https://www.defense.gov/Spotlights/take-care-of-our-people/

This is a US. Department of Defense website.  This website recognizes the service and sacrifice of our military and their families. The U.S. DOD dedicates resources, services, policies, and programs to support the more that 2 million uniformed service members and the 2.6 million family members around the world.

Red Cross—Military Services        https://www.redcross.org/military-families.html

Members of the Red Cross assist members of the military, veterans, and their families how to prepare, respond, and adjust to the challenges of military services.

Scholarship        https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/

Families of K-12 students are provided a choice of financial assistance toward private school tuition and fees or helps with transportation costs for students to attend a public school different than the one the student is assigned to through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-CO) programs.

Student Led Transition Program

BPS is committed to ensuring a peer-led, safe, and positive transition for students from military families into our schools. For support, please contact the Military Point of Contact listed at the top of this webpage.

Gemini Elementary has a student-led transition program, through our fifth and sixth grade safety patrols, as well as our sixth-grade advisory council. Safety patrols are viewed as our School Ambassadors, demonstrating leadership and citizenship throughout the school day. They would provide a buddy system; provide a tour of the school, and a resource for a new student coming into Gemini. The sixth-grade advisory council would meet with our new student to share school expectations, school procedures, and school events. Our council would reinforce our schoolwide JetSTARS expectations:

  •  S- Safe

  • T-Timely

  • A-Accountable

  • R- Respectful

  • S- Successful

Information on Exceptional Education Services

Steps:

  1. Parents inform the school that their child has exceptional student services at enrollment. Tiffani Lebron, school office clerk can request IEP/504 information from the previous school. Once received, the ESE Support Specialist will review any records for appropriate placement or accommodations.

  2. Parents inform the school that they would like to know about exceptional student services at enrollment for their child because they have concerns about the social-emotional and academic development of their child.

  3. Link to school/district resources     https://www.brevardschools.org/o/bps/page/exceptional-student-education

  4. School Principal Contact: Christina Carver  - (321) 727-3090 - Carver.christina@brevardschools.org

  5. School Counselor Contact: Crystal Yarnell - (321) 727-3090 ext. 45023 - Yarnell.crystal@brevardschools.org

  6. Exceptional Education Support Specialist Contact: Ava Byrd - (321) 720-3090 ext. 45182 - Byrd.ava@brevardschools.org

     

FDLRS Parent Connection: FDLRS Parent Services provides information, training, and support to districts and families, to promote effective parent participation in the education of children who are exceptional and/or have special needs. Parent Services include assistance in the development of family-friendly programs, training and support for services for children with disabilities, and the support of partnerships between schools and parents to support student achievement. 

https://www.fdlrseast.org/

Information on the mental health challenges facing military students, including ways to access school-based mental health services

Mental Health Wellness Canine: Gemini Elementary is in the process of receiving a Mental Health Wellness Support Canine that will accompany our School Resource Officer daily. This canine will be used to offer support to any students or staff daily as needed.

 Special Education Connection Resource for Parents

The Florida Department of Education is proud to provide access to Special Ed Connection at no cost to families of individuals with disabilities who are enrolled in Special Education program. Special Ed Connection Contacts.

 Brevard Public Schools offers Psychological and Mental Health Services to all students, including those in military families. These school-based mental health services, along with many other resources, are available at the Mental Wellness website or at https://bpscommunityconnect.findhelp.com/.

Upcoming Military Recognition Events

Information on Military Recognition Events

  • Patriot Day Activities Schoolwide – September 11, 2024

  • Purple UP! For Military Kids- April 15, 2025

  • Month of the Military Child activities- April-ongoing

  • Bulletin board display of Military Students and families- November 2024

  • Veterans and Families showcased in weekly newsletter- November 2024

  • Morning Announcements featuring our Veterans and Families – November 4-8, 2024

Information on the Mental Health Challenges Facing Military Students, Including Ways to Access School-Based Mental Health Services

Our school counselor meets with each military student and family enrolled at Gemini Elementary. She understands that transitions can be difficult and will need some support. We offer a buddy system when the student enrolls. Mrs. Yarnell also organized student social groups and meets with them weekly during lunches.

 Crystal Yarnell - Gemini Elementary School Counselor - Yarnell.crystal@brevardschools.org

 Patrick Space Force Base Connections

Patrick SFB School Liaison contact information:
Susan Clark, School Liaison Program Manager
Susan.clark.8@spaceforce.mil
321-494-1991
On Facebook @ PatrickCYES.SLO

https://www.gopatrickfl.com/youth-programs.html