JS2S Newsletter

1. JS2S/S2S NEWSLETTER
Bay District Schools & Naval Support Activity Panama City December 2012
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.
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.
VETERANS’ DAY AT
BAY HAVEN CHARTER
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.
Lynda Kent, School Liaison Officer
Naval Support Activity Panama City
850.774.7976
lynda.kent@navy.mil
101 Vernon Avenue, Bldg. 461
Panama City Beach, FL 32407

2. JS2S/S2S NEWSLETTER
Bay District Schools & Naval Support Activity Panama City December 2012
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
At Jinks Middle School, there are 46 students and invite them to attend. At the “Meet & Greet” new
enthusiastic students from grades 6-8 in the students receive a Welcome Bag filled with goodies and the newly-
JS2S group. One of the ways that JS2S designed New Student Handbook filled with important information
members help new students to feel welcome that will help students to be successful at Jinks. JS2S students go
and like a permanent part of Jinks is by over this handbook with the new students and answer their
inviting them to become part of their "Hands questions.
of Friendship". This is a large tree that one of
the members painted on a wall in guidance. The Halloween "Meet & Greet" was very special! Students had a
The branches extend out and wait for lot of fun bobbing for apples and enjoying cookies. Many of the
"leaves" to be painted on them. The leaves students had never experienced anything like this, and their laughter
are actually handprints of the new students. filled the room.
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.
Students bob for apples at the Halloween Meet & Greet
Delete text and place photo here.

3. JS2S/S2S NEWSLETTER
Bay District Schools & Naval Support Activity Panama City December 2012
A NETWORKING EVENT JS2S/S2S SYMPOSIUM
A GREAT SUCCESS
A breakout session during the event The first JS2S/S2S Symposium was held at Gulf Coast State
allowed sponsors to meet away from College on September 25, 2012 with 89 sponsors and students
their student leaders and ask questions, leaders from 13 middle and high schools in Bay District Schools
share ideas and best practices, find participating. The purpose of the Symposium was to offer
answers to the problems that they information and resources that would give better understanding
encounter in guiding their programs, and helpful ideas to those who are new to the programs as well as
and to build relationships among to help veteran sponsors and students leaders to improve and build
themselves. 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.
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 and place photo here.
Delete text the training.”

4. Bay District Schools & Naval Support Activity Panama City December 2012
The next edition of the
JS2S/S2S NEWSLETTER 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
lynda.kent@navy.mil
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
Fun
Facts
Food
Friends
Academics, Relationships, Finding the Way
www.webaddress.com