La Vista Continuation School, Fullerton Joint Union High School District is the only PAL Program in Orange County being offered in a continuation school setting. Former PAL Advisor, Gayle Smith, started a PAL program over sixteen years at La Vista. Gayle shared the following:
" In order to become a PAL at La Vista, students need to be recommended by teachers. Interested students are interviewed by current PALs; they look for students who are compassionate, respectful, and who love working with kids. Once chosen, the peer leaders are required to maintain good attendance in order to remain in the program.
The main focus of the La Vista PAL Program is to assist students on campus and to reach out to children in the community who have special academic and/or physical needs. La Vista PAL students are required to have perfect attendance during the week if they want to visit elementary and preschools on Friday. PAL students love working with children, therefore this rule helps keep them motivated to stay in school. In addition to their weekly visits, the La Vista PAL group provides holiday gifts (Halloween, Christmas, Easter) and activities for all the younger students they work with."
When asked why PAL has lasted at La Vista for so many years, Ms. Smith stated:
“I think the main reason is because we offer PAL as a class. We meet daily, which provides the opportunity to work together in growth-promoting sessions and circle groups where we discuss issues of concern to the students and plan our activities.”
