Friday, Sept. 9, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | PALS club sees good turnout for inaugural meetingThe PALS club (Peer Assisted Leadership Society) met for the first time this school year last Thursday at Starrs Mill. The club was formed in January as a way for students that were not participating in or attending school events to find something they might be interested in, as well as finding friends to share these experiences with. The club is sponsored by special education teachers Cindy Hartpence and Shannon Gagliano and the number of members skyrocketed as soon as it was formed. Last weeks meeting saw over 100 students attend, welcoming back old friends with hugs and making new friends over an impromptu pizza party. This is a nice club, said Hartpence to the crowd. It simply involves being friendly. One of the clubs goals is to introduce students who may have special needs, be shy or unable to speak Englsih very well to other students who may not have those difficulties and pair them up in groups to attend events such as football games or dramatic productions at the school. The club also participates in a monthly luncheon, school service projects such as cleaning up the stadium after a football game or hosting fundraisers for the club. Last year, a number of students in the club attended the Fayette County Special Olympics and this years fundraisers will be aiming to raise money to purchase a tent for the Starrs Mill athletes taking part in this years event. Allen Coe, the president of the club, and Jessica Hamilton, the vice president, have spoken to local Civitans organizations about the club. Both spent a good amount of time after the meeting talking and laughing with numerous members, catching up on everyones summer. Coe and Hamilton are joned as officers by Matt Hartpence as the clubs treasurer and Natalie Daniels as the clubs secretary. I am so impressed with the student body at this school and the kindness that they have displayed, said Hartpence. "It has a made a big difference in a lot of kids lives to get to know students they otherwise would have never met. Members of the PALS club often get together even on non-meeting days with Hartpence and Gaglianos trailer serving as a meeting place on most mornings. For a club that prides it self on being nice, everyone seems very happy and all involved are quick to say that there is always room for more students who would like to get involved. The PALS Club meets the second Thursday of every month in the cafeteria after school. |
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