Who are the Poudre Pals and what do they do?
Poudre Pals is a program which pairs a warm, accepting 11 th or 12 th grader with an elementary student, on a one-on-one basis, during school hours, at one of our feeder elementary schools. This special relationship allows young children to share experiences, joys and anxieties. A Poudre Pal is a special friend who can help a child make good decisions and choose wise and safe ways to solve problems. Poudre Pals are role models and mentors who will help the child they are matched with to develop new behaviors and improve self-confidence, which will hopefully improve achievement in the classroom and relationships with other children.
Counselors and teachers in our feeder elementary schools will match their children with our Poudre Pals. Poudre Pals will meet their students in locations chosen by staff members in the elementary schools. These meetings will not leave school grounds. Poudre Pals must provide their own transportation and they must meet with the child during the regular school day. The time for relationship building will be arranged cooperatively with the Poudre Pal and the elementary school staff. The Poudre Pal volunteers their time and may earn credit for this experience through the PaCE program. Poudre Pals is not a tutoring program.
How will the relationship building time be spent?
The child and the Poudre Pal will decide how the 30 minutes to one hour of time will be spent, depending upon the needs of the child and the talents and interests of the Poudre Pal. A Poudre Pal may decide to read a story, create a play situation to work through a child’s concerns, or simply play games, do artwork, or put a puzzle together. Sometimes a Poudre Pal will take a book or borrow one from the library to read to the child, or find a common interest and pursue it if it can be pursued on school grounds.
Is there training involved for Poudre Pals?
Training will be provided to all Poudre Pals. Pals will learn about the needs and issues typically associated with the children they will be in contact with as well as how to handle MINOR behavioral problems. Instruction will also be provided on listening skills, how to help kids set goals, how to handle confidentiality, what to avoid, and what steps will need to be taken to correctly report abuse and neglect to professionals within the elementary schools. Poudre Pals will be required to report to the Poudre Pals Coordinator at regular intervals to share concerns and the joys experienced in the program, as well as to report the hours they have logged in the program. Poudre Pals are required to adhere to the following rules: never criticize school procedures or personnel; never discuss a child’s confidential concerns or problems publicly; always respect the child’s beliefs and religious choices; never promote commercial products or brand names; and, never suggest, give, or recommend any medical advice or medication.
When do Pals arrange their visits?
THE USE OF A FREE PERIOD WILL BE NECESSARY, other than 8 th period, since visits with all elementary Pals occurs during the elementary school day. It is possible to use a lunch period to visit with Pals (if the school is close by) but transportation to and from the school takes valuable time away from the visit. The best time to visit with Pals is on a block day (Wed. or Th.) when the PHS Pal’s free period occurs.
How do students get involved?
Any 11 th or 12 th grader is eligible to be a part of Poudre Pals (10 th grade students are not allowed into the program). Interested students must complete an application in the spring semester prior to the desired school year in which they wish to be a Poudre Pal. Applications are available in Mr. Nash’s office and during course registration meetings. Applications will be screened and the remaining candidates will go through an interview process in the spring semester. After being selected, all Poudre Pals and their parents will be required to sign and hand in the contract signifying the seriousness of their role and commitment to the program. Poudre Pals will be trained in September of the following school year and then will begin meeting their pals in early October. Poudre Pals must agree to a yearlong commitment. All Poudre Pals will be required to check in as a visitor at the participating elementary schools. Poudre Pal girls may be matched with either boys or girls. Poudre Pal boys will only be matched with boys.
What criteria are used in selecting Poudre Pals?
Mr. Nash will use the application, teacher recommendations, and the interview to determine if the student meets the following criteria: dependable and reliable--able to follow through on commitments; a role model--a person of exceptional character, strong self-esteem and positive values; mature; enjoys young children and respects their needs; has the ability to listen effectively; is a strong enough student that participation in the program will not jeopardize their academic standing; they are not so busy with employment or extracurricular activities that they cannot remain committed to the Poudre Pals program; they are able to provide their own reliable transportation whenever necessary.
How are the students matched with Poudre Pals?
The contact person at each of the participating elementary schools will be given the names of students who are demonstrating the need for a role model and mentor. The coordinator will determine with the staff referring the student what interests and issues the young person has and record them on a Poudre Pal referral form. This form will then be sent to the Poudre Pal Coordinator at Poudre High School so that the Poudre Pals can select the children who best match their interests. After all of our Poudre Pals have selected their child from your referrals, each of them will get in touch will the respective elementary coordinator to schedule a time and place to meet for the first time and make arrangements for the subsequent meetings. Since Poudre Pals must provide their own transportation, the Poudre Pals will select the elementary school location that best matches the time they have available.
How does an elementary school become involved?
Due to the time restraints and class schedules of our student volunteers, we must limit the distance of their travel to allow them enough time to spend with their chosen Pal. This means that we must limit our Poudre Pals service to the north area feeder school system (schools having students who will eventually end up at Poudre High School). Poudre Pals choose their Pals at the beginning of each school year. Elementary schools must assign a contact person at the beginning of the school year to work with the Poudre Pals Coordinator and the Poudre Pals (this is usually an elementary school counselor). After a contact person is assigned, contact Patrick Nash, Poudre Pals Coordinator, at 488-6044.