Mrs Keegan and Mrs Upton guide and lead Stage 3 students in the PALs program.
The experiences students have during playtime can have a significant impact on how well they perform during class time. Feeling left out or not having a friend to play with in the playground can put students on the back foot when they reach the classroom. Pals is a peer support program for the playground to promote positive playtime. Year 5 students volunteer to take on leadership roles as PALs (Peers and Leaders). Their main role is to organise games in the playground and ensure the playground is a safer, more enjoyable space for younger children.
Not only does this program provide lovely opportunities to engage students in positive play, but it also provides a valuable leadership opportunity for our Year 5 students. The PALs receive training that emphasises the need for empathy and inclusion as they perform their role, and they are required to give up one afternoon tea break per week as a PAL.
Our PALs have become an integral part of Wellbeing initiatives at Dundas Public School and are highly valued by teachers and students alike.
Dundas PALs for 2022: