Mobile High School
Peer Assistance Program
What is PAL?
P.A.L (Peer Assistance Leadership) is a Mobile High School Student Mentorship program being introduced in January 2006 with the goal of providing assistance to our intermediate level students. Senior students selected for the PAL program will be expected to provide both personal and academic support to assigned students in grades seven, eight or nine. The primary goal of the Mobile PALs program is to pair our intermediate students with caring individuals who will cultivate supportive relationships that positively contribute to student achievement and success.
What is Student Mentorship?
Student Mentorship involves establishing a deliberate, conscious, voluntary relationship with another student that may or may not have a specific time limit and that has the sanction of the school administration. The outcome of the relationship is expected to benefit all parties in the relationship in the areas of personal growth, positive attitudes and behaviours, and lifestyle enhancement.
What is the aim of PAL?
The aim of the Mobile PAL program is to provide intermediate students with a senior student mentor to assist and guide them toward graduation. The senior mentors provide knowledge, fun, friendship, and confidence to students who may be experiencing behavioural or academic difficulty in our school. The guiding vision is a high school where everyone is capable of becoming their best in a safe and interactive environment.
Who can become A PAL?
Senior Students who wish to apply for PAL must be mature students who are capable of becoming a trusted student friend and who also can be a supportive resource to a young person. Those interested in mentoring must feel comfortable helping a young person through the intermediate grades and should be able to be a stable role model providing a positive sense of identity and purpose. There are no specific life experiences required of mentors; we ask that they be good listeners, reliable, patient, flexible and accepting of differences.
What are the benefits of PAL?
As outlined by the Department of Education a "positive school climate exists in a school when there is collaboration, high expectations, mutual trust, caring, and support for all individuals. Having a positive school climate influences the effectiveness of a school. Students in a school with a positive school climate are more likely to attend regularly, cooperate fully, contribute more frequently and achieve better than students from a school with a less desirable school climate. Effective schools create and maintain peaceful environments that are conducive to learning." Having an effective PAL program can help improve student attendance, increase academic success, reduce the possibility of student drug/alcohol use, promote responsible behaviour, and engage students more
fully in their own education.
What is expected of me in PAL?
Senior student mentors will work as a team of two and will be assigned to a specific student at the intermediate level. This partner approach will lessen the initial discomfort associated with intentional pairing. A team of two mentors working with one student should enhance the level of trust. Assignment of mentors will be done after careful consideration of each individual student and will be based upon background, needs, and interests. The ultimate aim for Senior Mentors is to form a trusting relationship in order to help students achieve greater levels of academic and personal success.
Senior Mentors (PALs) are expected to:
Meet with their assigned student a minimum of two times per week
Sit at recess or lunch at least two times a week
Communicate by email, MSN, or phone on a regular basis
Discuss school events or issues of concern
Encourage completion of homework, assignments and other projects
Assist in problem solving
Be a good listener
Offer alternative options for undesirable behaviours
Provide real guidance
Other duties as assigned
How do I apply to become a Mobile PAL?
Initially the school will identify senior students who have previously demonstrated that they are themselves successful engaged learners who are capable of providing the kind of leadership required of PALs and who have consistently demonstrated the kind of commitment necessary to make this program a success. The school will contact these students by email with a request that they join the program. Any senior student, who can demonstrate that they are both mature and responsible and who have a keen desire to work with intermediate students by helping them achieve academic success can make application to become a PAL.
What is expected of Intermediate Students Who Are Assigned A PAL?
Working with intermediate students has taught us much about the beneficial effects of supportive friendships during adolescence. Students need only be themselves and let their PAL positively contribute to their achievement and success.
Online Application Forms
Those senior students who are interested in being a PAL must complete the online application form which is available by clicking here
Those intermediate students (grades 7, 8, and 9) who would like to be assigned a PAL should click here to submit their application. Assignment of a PAL will only occur after parents/guardians have signed their agreement.
| 