The Panther Paw

It’s time to empty out those piggy banks and raid the couch cushions—JCMS Penny Wars are here! From Thursday, September 25th through Thursday, October 2nd, students will have the chance to rally their SRTs, raise funds for our Student Activities Fund, and battle it out for the ultimate prize: a pizza party! 🍕🔥

How It Works:

Pennies = Positive Points! Drop your pennies into your SRT’s jar to help your class climb to the top.
Sabotage with Silver & Bills! Nickels, dimes, quarters, and even dollar bills count against other SRTs. That’s right—you can bring down the competition by dropping these into their jars.
Daily Updates! Totals and leading SRTs will be announced each day on the Panther Windows, so keep an eye out to see where your team stands.

The Prize

The winning 7th-grade SRT and the winning 8th-grade SRT will each score a pizza party lunch on Friday, October 3rd—the perfect way to head into Fall Break with a victory celebration. 🍕🎉

Why It Matters:

Not only is Penny Wars a fun competition, but it also supports our school community. All funds raised will go directly to our Student Activities Fund, helping us bring more exciting events and opportunities to JCMS students.

So Panthers—dig deep, strategize smart, and bring the energy. Every penny counts, and every strategy matters. Let’s make this Penny Wars the best one yet!

🎓 Indiana College GO! Week is Coming!

Next week, JCMS will be celebrating Indiana College GO! Week—a statewide program dedicated to helping students discover their path to success after high school. This is a time for our Panthers to learn more about college options, career pathways, trade schools, apprenticeships, and military opportunities that could shape their future.

Throughout the week, students will take part in a variety of fun, interactive activities designed to spark curiosity and give them hands-on exposure to different possibilities. It’s all about helping them see that the future holds many doors—and they get to choose which one to unlock!

🎟️ How It Works:

Students will earn tickets for each activity they participate in.
Tickets can be collected all week long.
On Friday, students will have the chance to enter their tickets into drawings for dozens of amazing prizes!

🎁 Prize Highlights:

Students could walk away with:

An LED room lamp
A drone
A portable speaker
An Owala water bottle
College hoodies
Headphones
Kendra Scott jewelry
…and so much MORE!

👕 Dress-Up Days:

To make the week even more exciting, students are invited to join in themed dress-up days:

Monday – Don’t Sleep on College: Wear your pajamas (no slippers or tank tops).
Tuesday – Camo Day: Wear camo, or represent your favorite branch of the military.
Wednesday – College Game Day: Show off your favorite college gear.
Thursday – Rock Your Career Path: Dress as your future career, or rock a band tee!
Friday – Battle of the Teams: Represent your team with pride!
- Echo = Black
- Summit = White
- Velocity = Red
- Pathfinder = Blue

(Please remember: all dress-up days must follow JCMS dress code—no masks or face/body paint.)

💡 Why It Matters:

College GO! Week isn’t just about prizes—it’s about planting seeds for the future. By participating, students will:

Gain knowledge about post-secondary choices.
Start exploring what path excites them most.
Learn the importance of setting goals and planning ahead.

We encourage parents and families to talk with your student about what they’re learning, help them think about their strengths and interests, and most importantly—cheer them on as they participate.

This is a week to dream big, take chances, and get excited about what lies ahead. Let’s make College GO! Week at JCMS a powerful step toward each student’s future success!

This week at Jennings County Middle School, students will be participating in an important safety training during their SRT classes. The focus of this training is to help every student understand that threats are never a joke—whether spoken, written, or posted online.

During the sessions, students will learn that:

Threats have consequences. Even if someone claims they were “just joking,” threats can lead to school discipline and even law enforcement involvement
Words matter. Remarks like “I’m going to hurt him” or “I hope she dies” can cause real harm and fear, even if they don’t meet the legal definition of a threat
Sharing = owning. Passing along or reposting a threat on social media is dangerous and can bring the same consequences as making the threat in the first place
Report it. If a student sees or hears a threat, the responsible action is to tell a trusted adult right away. Reporting is not “snitching”—it’s protecting yourself, your friends, and your school

The safety pledge students will review emphasizes:

🚫 Don’t Do It! – I will not make threats.
🚫 Don’t Share It! – I will not spread threats made by others.
✅ Report It! – If I see or hear a threat, I will report it immediately.

At Jennings County Schools, safety is non-negotiable. This training is a reminder that we all share the responsibility to keep our school safe, supportive, and focused on learning.

Parents/Guardians: Attached you will find a guide for Parents/Guardians going more in depth with this information.

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Check out this month's edition of The Panther Perspective published by our Advanced Media students!

NAMI Indiana Hosts Informative “NAMI 101” Meeting in North Vernon

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Indiana is excited to announce an informative “NAMI 101” meeting, scheduled to take place on Monday, September 29, 2025, from 6:30 to 7:30 P.M. EST at Jennings County High School Auditorium, 800 W. Walnut St., North Vernon, IN 47265

This free and engaging presentation will provide an overview of NAMI’s structure, programs, and the

critical ways in which NAMI supports individuals, families, and communities impacted by mental illness.Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in an open Q&A session following the presentation, offering them a chance to connect with local NAMI Indiana leaders and learn how they can bring NAMI programs to the area.

Who should attend?

Individuals looking to understand more about NAMI.
Those interested in bringing NAMI’s impactful programs to their local community.
New and existing NAMI Indiana members.
Anyone who has participated in a NAMI Indiana program, support group, or presentation and

wants to deepen their involvement.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP but it is not necessary, Kelsie O’Keefe kokeefe@namiindiana.org.

Join us for this informative session and learn more about the resources NAMI Indiana provides for

individuals living with mental illness and their loved ones.

About NAMI Indiana

NAMI Indiana is the state chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largestgrassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Through advocacy, education, support, and public awareness, NAMI Indiana works to raise awareness and provide essential services across the state.