MCCS and Semper Fit hosted a week-long Back to School event from August 11-15 at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California to prepare children for the new school year starting August 25. The week included an education fair, pool party with water activities, a Back to School Brigade that provided school supplies, and a fashion show where children modeled donated clothes. Over 100 people attended the pool party. The events aimed to give families stationed at the Combat Center activities and supplies to help kids start the school year.

1. MCCS, Semper Fit host week-long back to school event
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms
Courtesy Story
Date: 08.18.2014
Posted: 08.20.2014 11:59
News ID: 139932
Story by Cpl. Kathryn Seiler
TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - With a new school year quickly
approaching, Marine Corps Community Services organized an entire
week of activities from Aug. 11 to Aug. 15 for children who are
going back to school Aug. 25, 2014.
The Back to School Week began with an education fair where
educators from Morongo Unified School District informed parents of
educational options for their children. They had several events
planned for the following three days to include a pool party, a Back to School Brigade and a fashion show.
The week-long event was organized by MCCS and Semper Fit, and sponsored by American Friends of our
Armed Forces and Operation Homefront.
The pool party took place at the Training Tank Aug. 13 for families stationed aboard the Combat Center. The
Semper Fit team provided water bikes, canoes, paddle boats, and a giant inflatable Slip N’ Slide for Combat
Center patrons and their kids.
More than 100 people attended the event and enjoyed snow cones, popcorn and other tasty snacks. Brad
Brimhall, director, Semper Fit, and Janet New, operations branch head, Semper Fit, were in charge of the pool
party and enthusiastically spread the word about staying active and keeping families involved in their
community.
“The more interest in the programs we have to offer, the more we can provide for the Marines, sailors and
families aboard the Combat Center,” Brimhall said.
The week-long event gives families another set of activities to participate in leading up to the first day of school.
“Sometimes you just can’t get off base so we try to afford those kinds of things to the families stationed here. So
we have to bring activities to the service members,” New said.
The pool party was a positive precursor to the start of a new school year. Operation Homefront added to the
events by hosting the Back to School Brigade at the Community Center. They provided military families with
basic school supplies for free, including back packs, pencils, pens and other supplies Aug. 14.
Last week’s events ended with a fashion show sponsored by AFAF at the Main Exchange Aug. 15. Sixteen
children were lined up one aisle, waiting to model the clothes they hand-picked from the exchange. The clothes
were generously donated by AFAF for the kids to model in front of dozens of attendees. The families cheered as
the children walked down the aisle.
“We just want to have people enjoy the summer before the start of the new school year,” said Celina Laserna,
MCCS marketing.

2. As each child walked down the aisle, they had a chance to show their personality and delivered adorable
responses to questions the announcer asked. The event ended with a group finale and the participants bowed as
the audience applauded.
The Back to School Week was well received and helped the kids put their best foot forward for the school year
ahead.