Back to school: School Liaison Officer helps prepare Team Seymour for the academic year

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Aaron J. Jenne
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Over the summer, Team Seymour kids have worried less about studying for tests than they have the base pool schedule.

With the starting of school on Aug. 25 for the Wayne County School District, that is about to change.

To better prepare families for the academic year, Robert Freeman, 4th Force Support Squadron school liaison officer, offered advice to bring everyone up to speed on the upcoming school year.

"Developing a good plan is essential in making a student's first impression of a school a good one," Freeman said. "Military families are used to arriving and departing throughout the school year, so it's never too early or late to prepare."

As the school liaison officer for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Freeman is in charge of answering the many important questions military families may have concerning schools in the local area.

Recently, he's received several calls from families who've recently arrived on installation and are seeking input on the rules and regulations from the new school district.

"Because our military members move so frequently from state to state, it can be hard to keep up with all the nuances associated with each school district," Freeman said. "I am here to help ease the transition these families have and better prepare them for what to expect before their children even step foot into their new classroom."

Freeman also suggests parents take time to attend school's open houses, especially if it's their first time enrolled there.

Many Wayne County middle and high schools are hosting their open houses Aug. 20, while elementary schools will hold theirs Aug. 21. During these events, parents and students are given the opportunity to view classrooms and meet teachers for the upcoming year. This helps familiarize students with the school they will be attending and answer any additional questions the parents may have, Freeman said.

Some parents, like Mary Brumley, wife of an Airman assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing and mother of two, started preparing for their children's return to school weeks ago. She said her family had completed their supply shopping and was now anxious to get the school year started.

"My children are very excited to start school," Brumley said. "However, they've been constantly asking questions, and I can tell they are scared about a new experience. Hopefully, meeting their teachers at the open house and seeing where they will sit in class will help quell that fear."

Freeman also stresses the options offered for full-time working parents. To accommodate their schedules, programs like the School Age Program at the Youth Center offer before and after school care. Certain Wayne County schools also provide bus transport for their students to and from the youth center to further assist military families.

"The base offers a lot of support options for military families to help in their preparation for the upcoming school year," Freeman said. "The programs, like the ones offered at the Youth Center, are vital in preparing children for the school year."

As Airmen and their families continue to prepare for the new academic year, the school liaison office, as well as other base agencies, is available to help with the process.

For more information, call the Seymour Johnson School Liaison Office at (919) 722-0691. For more information regarding Youth Center programs, call (919) 722-0502.