Students are involved in many things, such as going to the PC and working as paras during one of their school hours. This is what two students do.
“My favorite part is creating a connection with each kid. Seeing their faces light up when they see me brings me joy,” senior Malin Harris said.
Two seniors are enrolled in the program, but there will be three more next semester.
“Getting to make a small influence on someone’s life is why I chose to work with kids,” senior Justice McWilliams said.
Working at the PC doesn’t only help the kids, it allows the students to learn about what their future could be like.
“I decided to work as a para because I want to major in Elementary Education next year, so getting experience with working with all types of kids,” Harris said.
Harris and McWilliams leave during 4th & 5th hour every day to go to the schools to do their job.
“My high school student is Malin Harris,” Primary elementary school Life Skills teacher Kaylyn Stout said “While she is here, she typically takes over the para role and will take the student(s) to lunch, recess, bathroom breaks, or work times in their classroom.”
Harris works with kids who suffer from Emotional Dysregulation which is a mental health symptom that makes it hard to control your emotions and how you act on your feelings.
“My students can sometimes experience emotional dysregulation and both ladies are great about helping to calm the students down and get them back on track.” Stout said, “We could not do this without them.”
“I love working with the kids because it makes me feel like a helpful person,” McWilliams said.
If you are interested in doing the same thing go talk to the counselor Autumn Weiss.