2013 01 07 js2 s december 2012 newsletter

JS2S/S2S NEWSLETTER

JS2S HELP VETERANS FEEL AT HOME

AT BAY HAVEN CHARTER SCHOOL

Local veterans were invited to Bay Haven Charter School for

lunch and a program in their honor on November 9th, and the

members of JS2S were busy helping them to feel welcome and

escorting them around campus. The veterans were greeted at the

front door of the school by smiling JS2S students who directed

them to the check-in counter. The veterans were then escorted by

other JS2S students through the campus to the lunch area and the

gymnasium where the program was held.

Pictured below, JS2S students Emily Smith and Sydney Bruzek,

greet veterans at the door.

Bay District Schools & Naval Support Activity Panama City December 2012

As part of the special

recognition, Veterans were

invited to sign their names

beneath the branch of the

military in which they served.

Pictured above, Shane

Williams, helps a veteran with

this special recognition.

Junior Student 2 Student (JS2S) and Student 2 Student (S2S) programs are available in middle and high schools to help ease the stress that

students often feel when they are new to a school and community. Student representatives help new students to find their way around

campus and to become familiar with the community and culture. New students are also invited to monthly get-togethers with JS2S and S2S

team members where they play games, have snacks, and become better acquainted. Although the programs were designed by the Military

Child Education Coalition to meet the needs of military students, the program is also open for civilian students who are new to the area.

VETERANS’ DAY AT

BAY HAVEN CHARTER

Lynda Kent, School Liaison Officer

Naval Support Activity Panama City

850.774.7976

[email protected]

101 Vernon Avenue, Bldg. 461

Panama City Beach, FL 32407

JINKS MIDDLE SCHOOL

FRIENDSHIP TREE

Photo on the left, Xzander Pinkney signs his name on his handprint leaf

on the Friendship Tree.

MEET & GREET NEW STUDENTS

A week after new students arrive, they are surprised with a candy-

gram saying "Welcome - We are glad you are here!"

Twice a month, in the mornings before school, JS2S hosts a "Meet

& Greet" where new students are invited for some Food, Facts, &

Fun! The JS2S students personally hand the invitations to the new

students and invite them to attend. At the “Meet & Greet” new

students receive a Welcome Bag filled with goodies and the newly-

designed New Student Handbook filled with important information

that will help students to be successful at Jinks. JS2S students go

over this handbook with the new students and answer their

questions.

The Halloween "Meet & Greet" was very special! Students had a

lot of fun bobbing for apples and enjoying cookies. Many of the

students had never experienced anything like this, and their laughter

filled the room.

Students bob for apples at the Halloween Meet & Greet

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JS2S/S2S NEWSLETTER

Bay District Schools & Naval Support Activity Panama City December 2012

At Jinks Middle School, there are 46

enthusiastic students from grades 6-8 in the

JS2S group. One of the ways that JS2S

members help new students to feel welcome

and like a permanent part of Jinks is by

inviting them to become part of their "Hands

of Friendship". This is a large tree that one of

the members painted on a wall in guidance.

The branches extend out and wait for

"leaves" to be painted on them. The leaves

are actually handprints of the new students.

Once new students place their handprints on

the tree, they use a gold pen to sign their

name and the year they moved to Jinks

Middle School. This immediately begins the

bond between the students and the school on

the first day. Eventually, the tree branches

will extend down both sides of the hall as the

new students grow in number.

Bay District Schools & Naval Support Activity Panama City December 2012

JS2S/S2S NEWSLETTER

A breakout session during the event

allowed sponsors to meet away from

their student leaders and ask questions,

share ideas and best practices, find

answers to the problems that they

encounter in guiding their programs,

and to build relationships among

themselves.

Above: Aeron Lawler, Bay High School,

shares ideas during Symposium.

After attending the event and sharing

the information at her school, one new

sponsor stated, “My faculty and

administration are now aware of the

priorities of JS2S. They have been

offering ideas and support since I

returned from the training.”

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A NETWORKING EVENT

JS2S/S2S SYMPOSIUM

A GREAT SUCCESS

The first JS2S/S2S Symposium was held at Gulf Coast State

College on September 25, 2012 with 89 sponsors and students

leaders from 13 middle and high schools in Bay District Schools

participating. The purpose of the Symposium was to offer

information and resources that would give better understanding

and helpful ideas to those who are new to the programs as well as

to help veteran sponsors and students leaders to improve and build

their programs. Lynda Kent, School Liaison Officer at NSA

Panama City, planned and conducted the event.

Students Learn Public Speaking Skills

Student leaders were also busy with team building exercises and

networking of their own during the breakout session. Janet

Psikogios, Regional Program Coordinator of Operation: Military

Kids, engaged the student leaders in learning and practicing good

speaking techniques and social skills to use as they welcome new

students to their schools.

Below: Rutherford High School students Jasmine Holland (left) and

Aurora Wilhelm show Denver Dellinger, Arnold High School, how to

help new students make handprints for the school wall as Lynda Kent,

School Liaison Officer, NSA PC, looks on.

Fun

Facts

Food

Friends

Academics, Relationships, Finding the Way

www.webaddress.com

Bay District Schools & Naval Support Activity Panama City December 2012

JS2S/S2S NEWSLETTER

JS2S/S2S Symposium

September 25, 2012

JS2S & S2S are programs of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)

Visit their website for more information.

www.militarychild.org

The next edition of the

JS2S/S2S Newsletter will be

published in the spring of

2013. Please submit articles

and photos of your activities

and events by March 31 to:

Lynda Kent

School Liaison Officer

NSA Panama City

850-774-7976

[email protected]