Rising Panthers: Kadena High welcomes incoming freshmen

Ms. Miranda Ferguson, DoDEA Pacific Public Affairs Officer

Feb 07, 2025

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Kadena High School welcomes eighth grade students during the first-ever “Rising Panthers” orientation event Jan. 23, 2025.

Incoming freshmen were welcomed to Kadena High School, in Okinawa, Japan, during the school’s first-ever “Rising Panthers” orientation on Jan. 23.

Approximately 240 eighth graders residing in the Kadena High School attendance area were bussed from Ryukyu Middle, Kadena Middle, and Lester Middle schools to the event, where they learned about graduation requirements, participated in a course fair, and received a campus tour.

Dr. James Bleecker, Kadena High School principal, explained the event was purposefully student-led, with 50 student presenters at the course fair sharing information about AP classes, foreign languages, Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, AVID, and JROTC, as well as 15 student ambassadors from the Pacific Student Transition Program leading campus tours.

“Our rising freshmen get to talk to kids who are in the classes they may want to take,” Dr. Bleecker said. “And our Panthers are promoting the programs they are participating in."

As eighth grade students approached tables at the course fair, they were greeted with informative brochures, displays, stickers, and students prepared to answer questions and share their personal experiences.

“The important piece is student-to-student connection," said SMSgt James Walker (ret.), JROTC instructor at Kadena High School, noting cadets were sharing their experiences in JROTC, such as earning their pilot’s license and scholarship opportunities. “When kids go, ‘Hey, this is what I got out of this...’ that speaks volumes.”