Purple Up Month Toolkit
During April, the Department of Defense Education Activity and school systems across the country honor the courage and resiliency of military-connected children by celebrating the Month of the Military Child or “Purple Up Month."
Purple is used to recognize military children from all branches because it represents a combination of Army green, Marine Corps red, and blue from the Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy.
West Virginia Activities for Purple Up Month
During April, WVDE and our Common Ground partners designate a "Purple Up" day, along with a week full of spirit activities. Schools are encouraged to participate, and if they're unable to celebrate the designated day or week, they can select their own date.
Contact Carrie Clendening or Robert Mellace with questions.
Celebrate Spirit Week April 7-11, 2025*:
We encourage every school to observe the following events during Spirit Week.
- Military Monday – Monday, April 7, 2025
Wear clothing showing pride in your favorite branch of the military. - Crazy Camo Day – Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Wear your favorite camouflaged clothing. - Red, White, and Blue Day – Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Wear colors representing our nation’s flag. - RED Day – Thursday, April 10, 2025
Wear red to Remember Everyone Deployed. - “Purple Up” Day – Friday, April 11, 2025
Join communities across our state and nation in honoring military-connected children by wearing purple (a mix of all military branch colors) and engage in activities celebrating their strength and resiliency.
*Do Spirit Week dates not work for your school?
If there are reasons a school cannot celebrate Spirit Week during the dates mentioned above, the school may select more convenient dates of their choosing during the month of April.
Communications strategies for celebrating Purple Up Month
- Mention that Purple Up Month is April and include the dates that you will be observing Spirit Week events.
- Download the West Virginia Spirit Week Poster, display it in your school, and communicate with students, parents and guardians.
Social Media
- You may share media and photos from events at #CommonGroundWV.
- Please follow all federal, state and local guidelines for sharing event media.
Purple Up Month Celebration Ideas for Schools
- Ideas from MIC3
- Ideas from the Military Child Education Coalition
Month of the Military Child Toolkit
Download a collection of resources to help you celebrate military-connected children during April's Month of the Military Child.