In the Steilacoom Historical School District, close to 50 percent of the student body comes from a military family. So it should come as no surprise that the Military Child Education Coalition extended an invitation to Steilacoom High School (SHS) to implement the Student 2 Student (S2S) program. S2S, which was created in 2006 to ease the transitions military students face when changing school districts due to a PCS, is currently active at 250 schools in the country and Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) at installations worldwide.

The program began at SHS in March 2006 and since then its volunteers have worked with more than 700 new students, including 120 who have come through the school's door this year alone.

Though S2S follows three basic tenets (Academics, Finding the Way and Relationships), each school is allowed to tailor the program. For instance, although the program was designed to help military kids transition from a move, SHS maintains 100 percent acceptance. So, regardless of military status, all new students have the option of taking part in S2S.

"I remind kids that you don't have to look at going to a new school like it is a bad thing," said S2S member Jalen Penn, 16, who has moved a number of times, unrelated to the military. "You can meet new people and experience new things."

All S2S programs are completely student run and staffed, with one teacher and one guidance counselor serving as advisors. Craig Miller, who teaches social studies, has served as the advisor since the beginning and is quick to point out that the students are the reason SHS has been heralded by the Military Child Education Coalition for its S2S program.

Janett Trujillo, age 16, was new to SHS last year when the Army transferred her father to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. As a result, she experienced S2S firsthand and appreciated what it did for her.

"I had someone there for me, whether they knew me or not, and they kept checking in on me and making sure I was settling in," she explained. "I want to do the same for other students."

Upon arrival, an S2S member will take the new student on a tour of the school - but this is a sans-teacher, teen-friendly tour where the new students hopefully feel comfortable enough to ask questions. There is also a lunch buddy component to ensure that new students are not left sitting alone before they've had a chance to make friends, and monthly ‘Rewinds' are held so that students can check-in, give feedback and maintain the S2S connection. Once a year, S2S members also hold a school-wide drive for Operation Make a Soldier Smile to collect items to be sent downrange or be given to returning single soldiers.

"These kids all do such great things and work so hard to make this club a success," said Miller, who will be faced with rebuilding his team this coming year as 10 of the 21 are graduating seniors.

Annually, Miller gets about 65 student applications, which translates to about 10 percent of the school's population, and team members are selected by May 1. They attend a two-day training prior to school getting out for the summer. In August, before school resumes, the S2S program at SHS hosts a new student orientation and on the first few days of school, its members set up tables by the front doors to intercept any newcomers who may have slipped through the cracks.

In addition to setting a great example, SHS is now serving as a catalyst for other schools looking to implement the S2S program.