Student leaders on campus help others
In one classroom at Wood Middle School, it’s time to stretch.
A team of students are working with the Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) class.
The group is part of the PALS program. They serve as role models and leaders for others on campus.
“They do Peer Assistance Leadership (PAL). They work with our ALE kids and also put on special programs. We work with anti-bullying and anti-drugs. We do a lot of projects on campus that help our teachers,” Gretchen Salinas, the Wood Middle School Academic Dean of Instruction said.
Ms. Salinas is the interim PALS teacher. She is filling in while another teacher is on maternity leave. As a former Madison High School PALS instructor, she jumped at the chance to join the program again.
“We’re doing a lot to build leaders and to build the community here at Wood Middle School. One thing that we do every week is we go and we work with our ALE,” she said.
“When we’re all working on a team, we can all just work together and have fun,” eighth-grader and PAL Kaylee Cavazos said.
“They honestly get excited because they can hang out with someone and can enjoy a bit of their time with us because we are their PAL and they look up to us a lot,” thirteen-year-old and PAL Janey Guardardo said.
Wyatt McMilian said he joined PALS because he was bullied as a child and wanted to make sure everyone had a friend.
“Most people didn’t like my body type or how I looked. I want to show that it doesn’t matter. We all come in different sizes and different colors,” the fourteen-year-old said
“Wood is a very special place in my heart. You meet a lot of people and a lot of friends that you wouldn’t suspect. One of my greatest friends here is the librarian. I help a lot there because it really makes me happy to just see a lot of people communicating,” McMilian added.
Ms. Salinas said seeing her PALS help out in the community makes her smile.
“It’s a great reminder of why I became a teacher and why I want to continue to work in the District and work in the schools. You can’t lose that connection with kids and you can’t lose that relationship with kids, it’s so important.”
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