The following story is from the January 2025 Greatness Update magazine, featuring our 2024 annual report. For the full issue, visit plcschools.org/our-district/annual-report. 

On a typical school morning, brothers Wyatt and Mack Breeden weave through the hallways of Anderson Grove Elementary, greeting teachers and classmates like old friends. For these military kids—a first-grader and fourth-grader—the school has become much more than just another stop in their family’s journey.

Their father, Captain Aaron Breeden, has witnessed this special connection firsthand. “During my time at Offutt, there have been many trips, both short and long, that have taken me away from my family,” he shares. “That’s just part of the job. But what makes it easier is knowing that, here in PLCS, my kids are surrounded by people who care.”

The Breeden family’s experience exemplifies why Anderson Grove Elementary earned its Purple Star designation in November 2023, becoming the first elementary school in the Papillion La Vista Community Schools to receive this distinguished recognition.

The Purple Star designation isn’t just another accolade to hang on the wall. It represents a school’s demonstrated commitment to serving military-connected students and their families. For schools to earn this designation, they must meet specific criteria, including maintaining a dedicated staff point of contact for military students and their families, establishing transition programs, and providing professional development for staff about the unique challenges military students face. Anderson Grove’s Purple Star designation marks the beginning of an ambitious district-wide initiative as PLCS is actively working to earn this recognition for all schools.

For the Breeden family, Anderson Grove represents more than just a school. It’s a place where their children feel seen, understood, and valued. As PLCS works toward district-wide Purple Star designation, Anderson Grove’s success provides a blueprint for creating environments where military families thrive—where teachers become extended family, where classmates understand what it means to have a parent deploy, and where the challenges of military life are met with unwavering support.