PALs program changes format to focus on student education

PALs program changes format to focus on student education

Kadence Huffman, Opinions Editor

Entering the 2022 school year, Peer Assisting and Leadership members have been assigned to their little PAL and will begin meeting with them next week.
The PAL program consists of approved juniors and seniors including juniors Katelyn Casillas, Louren Conner, Nicole Crouse, Caitlyn Hilbers, Jaycie Holley, Brianna Howard, Brittany Howard, Kassidy Marin, Kline Mayo, Kaydyn Ritchie, Brynlee Skelton, Chance Warren, and seniors Kadence Huffman, Jill Liles and Sara Schroeder.
“PALS is going to be ran differently this year, “ PALS sponsor Krissa Johnson said. “We are going to be focusing more on the children learning more in the classroom and building bonds with the high school students.”
They will set aside 10 minutes per day to do an educational activity with their little PAL. The high school PALS are not attending a group training this year.
“We did PAL training on our own this year, and I feel like we will benefit from that more than we did attending the training somewhere else,” Johnson said.
Students involved in PAL said they are excited to meet their kids and build friendships with them.
“I’m ready to interact with the kids because I know they will be looking up to me,” Casillas said. “I want to make a good influence on them.”
Junior involvement in the PALS program is proportionally larger than senior involvement this year.
“I am excited to be in PALS because I love kids,” Ritchie said. “This class is a perfect opportunity to help them out while having fun.”