Military Families

Grand Peak Academy is dedicated to helping military parents, whether they are active duty or in the National Guard and Reserves, feel confident that their student is gaining the educational skills necessary to be college, workforce, and life ready. We also support the social and emotional well-being of military students as they adjust to new schools and cope with a parent’s deployment.

Grand Peak Academy is committed to a community grounded on positive relationships, high standards, and responsive teaching. Our learners will pursue pathways of passion based on firm foundations, creativity, and grit. We recognize that military-connected students face specific challenges. At Grand Peak Academy, we:

Support students throughout their transition with resiliency tools and resources. The students in our student led transition program are there to provide support through transition times.
Support students in making new friends and finding where they belong.
Offer after school clubs and activities to foster a sense of belonging and community.
Facilitate opportunities for students to connect with others who share their interests or hobbies.
Support students and families through times of transition, deployments, and other life events unique to military life.

Our Character Council (grades 6th through 8th) and Kindness Club (grades 5th through 8th) serves as a welcoming team to greet new students and their families. They are here to give a tour of the school, introduce students to our teachers, and be a friendly face for the first days of school. These ambassadors will eat lunch with students as they learn about Grand Peak Academy. We want all students to have someone they feel comfortable around and feel safe to ask questions. For questions about our Character Council and Kindness Club, please contact Mr. Newell at daniel.newell@grandpeakacademy.org or Ms. Gilmore at lisa.gilmore@grandpeakacademy.org.

Our registrar, Mrs. Billingsley is here to support our military families and serves as our point of contact for families looking to attend Grand Peak Academy. To get started with enrollment please view our Enrollment Info page to complete the waiting list application. To learn more about the classes and services offered at Grand Peak Academy please visit the Classrooms page on our website. If your family would like to visit Grand Peak Academy for a tour or if you have any questions please reach out to Mrs. Billingsley.

Marcia Billingsley
Grand Peak Academy Registrar
marcia.billingsley@grandpeakacademy.org
(719) 495-7360

D49 Military Families Page

Military and Family Life Counseling Consent Form

Primary Goals

To ensure that staff can help manage the academic requirements and planning challenges military-connected students face when they move between different schools.
Seek to accommodate students who may have missed out on the normal cycles of sports and club activities.
Acknowledge that every military-connected student has left behind friends and support networks and may be dealing with a parent who is away from home on deployment.
Provide resources and guidance to help students transition smoothly and maintain academic success despite frequent relocations.
Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment where military-connected students feel supported and engaged in school life

Grand Peak Academy Military Family Liaison

The Military Student and Family Liaison is a dedicated Grand Peak Academy employee who supports military-connected families — including those with active duty, reserve, and veteran status — as they transition into our school. The SML assists families throughout the enrollment process, helps students adjust to their new school environment, and connects them with local resources as needed. They also provide support with academic planning, including class scheduling and ensuring students meet grade level requirements. The SML works in close partnership with the District Military Student and Life Liaison and military liaisons from surrounding bases to ensure a seamless and supportive experience for every military-connected student.

Contact

Marcia Billingsley

Registrar and Military Student and Family Liaison

marcia.billingsley@grandpeakacademy.org

Military Bases School Liaison

United States Air Force Academy Liaison

Megan Garland-Evelo
Phone: 719.337.6790
Email: megan.garland-evelo@us.af.mil
Website: School Liaison Program
Please contact any of the school base liaisons (see above) or email d49military@d49.org to have assistance in obtaining a Military Family Life Counselor.

MSFL Mission

MSFL Mission

To provide a continuum of care as well as to serve as a navigator and advocate for

military-connected families.

Who the MSFL serves:

Active Duty Military, of all branches
Retired Military
Reserve and Guard
Military veterans
Foreign Military assigned to the Colorado Springs area

Services the MSFL provides:

School transition assistance includes the following:

Individual and group transition counseling
Helps develop transition action plans for incoming students
Connects students, parents, and guardians to district personnel
Establishes connections with special service providers (Special Education, Gifted, 504, etc…)

Referral Services:

Military Family Life Counselors
Military Chaplains
School Liaison Officers (SLOs)
Military One Source
Other district, school, community, national, and installation programs

Additional Points Of Contact For Military Students and Families

Lisa Gilmore

School Counselor

lisa.gilmore@grandpeakacademy.org

Kelli Chappelle

D49 Military Student and Family Liaison

kelli.chappelle@d49.org

D49 New Student Essential Links

For military families transitioning to District 49, having quick access to essential resources is crucial. The links below provide direct access to important enrollment information, academic planning, transportation services, and specialized support programs. If you have further questions related to transitioning to District 49, please contact Kelli Chappelle, D49 Military Student Family Liaison at 719-495-1199 or by email at kelli.chappelle@d49.org

Enrollment Information – Learn how to enroll in District 49.
Required Enrollment Documents – A checklist of necessary documents for registration.
Transportation Services – Find bus routes and transportation policies.
School Choice – Explore options for academic planning and school selection.
49 Pathways – Learn about career and academic pathways available to students.
Special Education – Access support services for students with special needs.
Gifted Education – Discover programs designed for gifted learners.
Nursing Services – Colorado Immunization Requirements
Colorado Department of Education

Military Academic Support & Resources

Military Child Education Coalition
- Program Outstanding students from MCEC Student 2 Student Program participate in leadership and character development training to support student roles within their S2S program and prepare them for the future world. Program The Caregiving Youth Student Leadership Program was established to help youth in caregiving roles identify resources as well as increase leadership knowledge and skills to help prepare for life after high school.
School Quest
- SchoolQuest is a free, online tool that helps parents of military-connected children to prepare for the frequent school moves and other unique stressors of a military lifestyle that could adversely affect their academic success.
  The website serves as a virtual hub where parents and students can find helpful information, tools, and resources centralized on a single platform.
March2Success
- Free standardized test preparation funded by the US Army.
MIC3
- Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission:The interstate agreement between all 50 states that facilitates smooth transitions across districts and states.
Military Tutoring
- Military families are eligible for the DoD Tutoring Program: no-cost, online, 24-7.
Our Military Kids
- Our Military Kids provides activity grants for children ages 3-18 to cover sports, fine and performing arts, camps, and tutoring programs during a parent’s National Guard or Reserve deployment or combat-injury recovery.
Bloom | Empowering the Military Teen
- At Bloom, you can find comfort and advice about everything military teen related: from moving tips to details on duty stations. You can also read posts from other military kids who want to share their stories and connect with their community. We’re FOR military teens, BY military teens.
Air Force Special Education Legal Assistance
- Clearinghouse of resources, documents, videos, and sources of support for military families.
Military One Source
- Your 24/7 gateway to trusted information, resources and confidential help. When MilLife happens, it’s your “first line of support” — giving service members and military families tools to stay well and thrive.

Military-wide Resources

Local Military & Veteran Resources

El Paso County Veterans Services Office
719-520-7750
Email: vet@elpasoco.com
5850 Championship View #130 Colorado Springs, CO 80922

The El Paso County Veterans Services Office is responsible for assisting residents of the State of Colorado who served in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard or any other armed service of the nation.

Mount Carmel Veteran Services
719-309-4758
530 Communication Circle Colorado Springs, CO 80905

This center provides a wide variety of services for the local military connected community. Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center’s Health and Wellness Team offers access to confidential counseling services, as well as alternative therapies to service members, veterans and spouses alike. Please check with your insurance company and PCM, if you need a referral to receive services.

The Steven A Cohen Military Family Counseling Services
719-370-5141
1915 Aerotech Drive, Colorado Springs CO 80916

Red Rock Behavioral Health Services is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community mental health organization. We provide integrated behavioral health and physical health care coordination service. Please check with your insurance company to see if a referral is needed from your PCM to receive services.

Home Front Military Network
719-577-7417
Email: info@homefrontmilitarynetwork.org
1120 N. Circle Dr. Suite 230 Colorado Springs, CO 80909

HFMN helps service members, veterans and their families navigate support systems through web-based and call-in information and assistance to find the services that are the best fit, and follows alongside these individuals every step of the way.

Local Resources

Falcon Clothes and Community Pantry at Falcon Middle School
Contact Cari Muresan – Falcon Zone Community Liaison

Sand Creek Community Resource Center at Horizon Middle School
Contact Lauren Stuart – Sand Creek Zone Community Liaison

Pikes Peak United Way
Food Bank Distribution Springs Church Parking Lot 1515 Auto Mall Loop 80920
*Every third Thursday of the month. PPUW will also have staff on site to assist with filing out forms to various organizations for those who need assistance.

Solid Rock Community Development
3219 S Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80916: (719) 985-8935

Catholic Charities
Please click the link to get started with their application process to receive assistance

Energy Outreach Colorado info@energyoutreach.org
EOC provides energy bill payment assistance, coordinate emergency repair and/or replacement of heating systems, free energy efficiency upgrades through the CARE program, and energy education.

School Contact Information

Principal
Mrs. Nicole Parker
nicole.parker@grandpeakacademy.org

Assistant Principal (4th-8th grade)

Mrs. Caitlin Casai
caitlin.casai@grandpeakacademy.org

Assistant Principal (Kindergarten through 3rd grade)

Mrs. Amanda Ralston
amanda.ralston@grandpeakacademy.org

Dean

Mrs. Maryalice Gabrielson
maryalice.gabrielson@grandpeakacademy.org

School Counselor

Ms. Lisa Gilmore
lisa.gilmore@grandpeakacademy.org

Registrar and Military Student and Family Liaison

Mrs. Marcia Billingsley
marcia.billingsley@grandpeakacademy.org

Counseling

Ms. Gilmore will serve as an additional point of contact for Military students and families that attend Grand Peak Academy. Please contact lisa.gilmore@grandpeakacademy.org to have assistance in obtaining a Military Family Life Counselor.

Main Phone Number
719-495-7360

GPA Board Resolution

Military Families