It’s lunchtime at Newport Elementary, and about 20 students are sitting in a horseshoe shape on the floor of counselor Khiara Bankston’s classroom. The fifth- and sixth-graders, all members of the school’s new Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL) chapter, offered thoughtful feedback on the recent Career Week as Mrs. Bankston added their thoughts to a slide labeled “Reflections” projected on the whiteboard behind her.

The nationwide PAL program helps students build leadership skills. The curriculum creates opportunities for students to enhance life skills such as mediating peer conflicts, making responsible decisions, communicating thoughtfully with their peers, and building healthy relationships. Students use what they learned while planning and leading on-campus campaigns that promote kindness and inclusivity, such as Kindness Week, and organize community projects like campus cleanups. By taking ownership of campus activities and events, they learn about responsibility and goal-setting while also building relationships with and among their peers. 

Principal Dr. Christa Glembocki said the program has made a difference. “The PAL students are taking responsibility for leading events and helping their peers feel included,” Glembocki said. “It’s strengthening everyone’s sense of belonging in our school community.”

For Career Week, PAL students guided younger students to booths at the recess-time career fair. During Kindness Week, they planned and led activities such as writing cards to others for an emotional boost. In addition to special events, the PAL students read books to TK through first-grade students as well as organize and lead weekly recess games, encouraging all students to feel included and participate. 

“That connection is important. It’s all about students helping students,” Mrs. Bankston said. 

While helping peers is a large part of why many students participate in the PAL program, some also felt the need to step outside their comfort zone and learn how to be a leader. 

“I’m pretty shy, but being a part of PAL gives me confidence,” sixth-grader Anabelle Salazar said. “It’s helped me talk to others and learn how to help other people. I’ve gotten to know more people. You can learn more about people when you help them.”

“You have to be a good problem solver to help others,” added fifth-grade student Cameron Schwer. “It’s not the easiest thing, and it’s a lot of responsibility, but that’s something I like about being in PAL.”

As the program continues, Newport El’s young leaders are learning that leadership is built through action and that even small efforts can make a lasting impact.