
It's the PALS Press!
October 2023
Off and Running!
Suddenly, we are off and running through the fall semester! Monica and I have been bopping around to campuses all over AISD for student trainings and teacher meetings, and we have LOVED what we have seen and learned.
- The bumper crop of PALS at Joslin Elementary are getting ready to serve their school in a rotating model that gets more mentor opportunities in the mix.
- Highland Park's Scottie PALS were selected via counselors' minute meetings and will serve younger students whose parents fill out the start-of-the-year counseling survey or request that their child get a PAL.
- PALS at Bernice Hart Elementary are ready to go under the leadership of Ms. Sanchez, one of the fifth-grade teachers. Despite not having a counselor this year, Ms. Sanchez is pursuing leadership and mentoring opportunities for Hart Rockets.
- Mr. Santos at LBJ High School is getting his PALS back into service project mode, helping them plan their second food drive and looking forward to a winter coat or toy drive.
- Menchaca's Mustang PALS are getting to know their True Colors.
- Elementary counselors are taking us up on our Tuesday PALS Support Zoom Sessions in great numbers. Any PALS teacher or counselor is welcome to log into one of these meetings to ask for help with logistics, activities or curriculum.
- We were able to shine a spotlight on Ms. McGraw from Crockett High School to learn more about what makes her tick!
Please send us an e-mail at monica.flores@austinisd.org or sbowley@youthlaunch.org if you'd like for us to come to your campus for supplemental PALS training or True Colors.
Looking at the month ahead...
Dates to remember:
PALS Teacher/Counselor Gathering South: 11/8, Radio Coffee, 4-6 pm
PALS Teacher/Counselor Gathering North: 11/15, Easy Tiger at The Linc, 4-6 pm
Getting to know Marissa McGraw, Crockett PALS Teacher
How long have you been teaching PALS?
This is my 2nd year
How long have you been at Crockett?
I’ve been teaching 12 years. 10 years in Houston ISD and 2 years at Crockett.
Where did you go to college?
Texas State University
What is your favorite part about teaching PALS?
When I see a HS students light up when they realize they have something in common with an elementary student. They get very excited and happy when they make that connection.
I love having the PALS meet each other.
Interesting idea to share- Marissa has students get into concentric circles and has them ask each other questions (prompts provided) .Then they move to the next person. Every PAL meets every student and then they are paired up according to connection. She asks students to submit 3 names. She hasn’t had any problems with matching students up.
What the some school events or projects that your PALS do?
We have several things go on during the year. We will be helping with Joslin Spooktacular and Joslin Field Day. Planning to do a project on campus with life skills on Fridays with PALS in the future.
Do you have a mentor or role model?
Amanda Caldwell, my Dance co-teacher. She has a gentler approach that I’m trying to emulate. She has helped me with learning AISD protocols and programs.
What is your favorite piece of 90s fashion that’s making a comeback?
Flare jeans. Music and hip-hop icons are a comeback.
How many pals do you have?
41
Do you have a support system?
Ms. Saul and the counselor on the elementary campuses.
I brainstorm with the counselors and think of different activities to do with the students. Some activities from last year were – Imaginary camping trip, mindful moments, drawing activities, edible snowman made out of pretzels and marshmallows.
How many sections of PALS?
3 sections of PALS
Favorite memory?
Marissa is a former Crockett PAL Alum in 2006 and 2007!
Her favorite memory from being a PAL, “I had a PAL who struggled with her hair and she would complement my hair and say she wished she could fix it like mine. I brought her some products and helped teach her how to style her hair. Over the school year, she learned to do it herself. It was great to see her learn, grow, and become more confident about her hair."
Upcoming Service Opportunities
You can always look for service opportunities at https://www.givepulse.com/search
Some upcoming opportunities to serve around town are:
Tree Planting with TreeFolks: Join TreeFolks and the City of Austin's Urban Forestry Program to plant trees at various parks and preserves throughout Austin, Texas.
We will plant native trees to help lessen water runoff and improve water quality in Austin's creeks. We will also talk about the site's history, discuss the importance of urban forest stewardship and explain how these plantings will help citizens and waterways of Austin thrive. 🌳
Volunteer at the Food Bank! Our key opportunities include volunteering in our warehouse, lending a hand in the garden or kitchen, or helping at one of our mobile food pantry distribution sites.
Warehouse- You'll inspect, clean, sort, box and make food donations ready for distribution to our Partner Agencies and the families they serve. Youth ages 8+ are welcome with adult (21+) supervision.
Kitchen- The Food Bank facility includes a 4,200-square foot commercial production kitchen that supports on-site meal preparation for multiple programs. Youth ages 15+ are welcome with adult (21+) supervision.
Garden- The Food Bank’s Garden serves as a replicable model of sustainable growing practices and teaches clients the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. Come help empower your community as you assist our gardener by planting seeds and seedlings, pulling weeds, shoveling compost, harvesting produce, and cultivating the garden beds! Youth ages 15+ are welcome with adult (21+) supervision.
Mobile Food Pantry- Asking for help can be the hardest thing folks have to do. We rely on volunteers to ensure our mobile food pantries are welcoming, respectful places for clients to get the help they need. Distributions occur at sites across our 21-county service area, including Austin, Lexington, McLennan, Bartlett, Lott, Cedar Park, Mustang Ridge, Fredericksburg, San Saba, Johnson City, Uhland and Kosse. Youth ages 15+ are welcome with adult (21+) supervision.
Education Supplies Prep Come join us at Austin Creative Reuse for a low-key evening volunteering, chatting with friends, and networking! You'll help our Education Coordinator prepare re-use materials for all of our educational programs! You might: bundle materials for the Creative Cache, create educational kits, or process supplies. But one thing is for certain; we're gonna have a fun time! This is an indoor, seated event located at Austin Creative Reuse in Windsor Park (just 10 minutes from campus!).
This project is very well suited for all ages, including children as young as 9 years old! Just make sure that any participants under the age of 15 are accompanied by an adult.
Craft Supply Donation Sorting and Packing Come join us at Austin Creative Reuse for a high energy night volunteering, chatting with friends, and networking! You will help us sort and package craft or office supply donations to be sold at our creative reuse center. This is an indoor, seated/standing event located at Austin Creative Reuse in Windsor Park (just 10 minutes from campus!).
Austin Creative Reuse is a Austin based non-profit that aims to foster conservation, education, and community building through the creative reuse of old items and the reuse of creative items! We take in ~50,000 lbs. of donations every month and we rely on volunteers to help us process all those donations! Most items we resell at our center at very accessible price points, but we also teach people new creative skills in our classroom, donate supplies to schools, and attend community events to teach our youngest generations about creative reuse.
Monica Flores
Stacia Bowley
Stacia Bowley supports PALS through YouthLaunch, an Austin nonprofit that advocates for and supports youth development programming in Austin and beyond. She has taught PALS, supported PALS with AISD, and taught middle and high school English You can reach her at sbowley@youthlaunch.org
Thank you for all you do!
About AISD PALS
PALS is a cross-age peer mentoring program founded at Crockett High School in Austin, Texas in 1980. PALS support K-12 students at all levels of their education, and are at work at campuses across Austin ISD.
Email: sbowley@youthlaunch.org
Website: austinisd.org/pals
Location: 4000 South Interstate 35 Frontage Road, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 9176931344
Facebook: facebook.com/AISDPALS