PAL-ing around
Deirdre Newman
Rea Elementary School received a face lift Wednesday when members of
the Peer Assistance Leadership program planted poppies in a rose garden
in front of the school.
The students, who volunteer their services at the Costa Mesa school
and in the community, said they wanted to beautify the area and help the
environment.
“We’re planting poppies today so it will look nice and it will make
the world a better place,” said fifth-grader Monica Gallardo, 10.
This is the fourth year Peer Assistance Leadership -- or PAL -- has
existed at Rea, advisor Kristi Pacot said. It is open to fifth- and
sixth-graders who have been recommended by their teachers.
The school’s Peer Assistance Leadership program was one of two that
will be honored at the annual PAL Program Recognition Event later this
month.
Throughout the year, the students are involved in a slew of volunteer
activities, including tutoring younger students, helping to clean up the
Upper Bay in Newport Beach and volunteering at the Someone Cares Soup
Kitchen.
Even during the poppy planting, the students were eager to help one
another.
Fifth-grader Ervin Herrera noticed that Ashley Melgarejo was having
trouble with some weak poppies that could not stand on their own, so he
helped her pack them with more dirt.
“I felt happy because someone noticed I needed help planting the
flowers,’ Ashley said.
Many of the students said they joined the program for that very reason
-- the satisfaction of helping others.
“I wanted to help people and the environment,” said Jose Cruz, 10.
* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)
574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.