DeWitt High students relaunch PALS peer-assistant program to support new students

Christy Thalen and Joey Taylor presented the relaunched PALS (Peer Assistant Leadership and Service) program at the DeWitt Public Schools Board of Education meeting, accompanied by students Sydney Ferguson and a student identified as Piazzu. The presenters said the program revives a long-running peer-assist effort to help new students acclimate to DeWitt High School's large campus and to promote restorative, peer-led problem solving.

PALS members were selected by peer survey across grades 9—12, Thalen and Taylor said, with four students chosen from each grade. The presenters described several program activities: a student orientation at Eaton RESA paid for in part by a grant that covered bus costs; a new-student luncheon sponsored by an ISD team that served roughly 30 students and exchange students; and recent peer-mediation training delivered by ISD trainers.

"It was really fun, and we learned ways that we can help students resolve conflicts, by themselves and help them make their own solutions," a student who participated in the training told the board. Presenters described restorative-justice circles and said the approach encourages students—own solutions with an adult present as support rather than as the primary decision-maker.

Thalen and Taylor said the program pairs new students with a junior pal to walk them to classes and eat lunch together for a week, and that the PALS group will sponsor a "Random Acts of Kindness" week in February and other inclusion efforts. They invited feedback from parents and board members on other ways peer leaders could support students.

The presentation concluded with the board thanking the presenters for the update. The program's next steps include continuing peer-mediation training, the February kindness week and ongoing collaboration with ISD partners and Eaton RESA.