Our Purpose 

LISD PALS is based on the PAL® Peer Assistance and Leadership Nationally Recognized Evidence-Based Prevention Program.  The mission of the PAL® Peer Assistance and Leadership program is to enable young people to use their potential to make a difference in their lives, schools, and communities. – palusa.org. Our LISD PALS (Peer Assistance, Leadership, and Service) mission is to create leaders, love people, and improve the community. 

PALS exists to: 

·        Create Leaders in ourselves

·        Create Leaders in our community

·        Mentor leadership qualities to students in our feeder schools

·        Be positive examples to others - both at VHS and in our community 

·        Promote school spirit on our campus and in our community

·        Make a better world one person at a time.  

PALS EXPECTATIONS

LISD PALS is a nationally recognized, TEA-approved course that focuses on mentoring students and serving the community.  As a representative of the LISD PALS organization, you will be expected to uphold the following expectations: 

1. PALS must always demonstrate commitment to the program.  PALS are positive role models and lead by example.  This includes refraining from attending parties or functions where alcohol and/or drugs are present or inappropriate behaviors are being exhibited. 

2. PALS must be trustworthy and hold all information as CONFIDENTIAL.

3. PALS must listen to one another and respect the ideas and opinions of others - Including teachers, classmates, and administration.

4. PALS must follow the rules/laws of the community, school(s), and class.

5. PALS must participate in all individual and group activities and any required school events. 

6. PALS must be on time and attentive to their PALee during their assigned visit.

7. PALS must wear PALS attire to all PALS events.  

8. PALS must follow the rules and standards as stated in the Leander Independent School District Student Handbook (including, but not limited to, truancy, cheating, fighting, skipping class, dress code, and avoiding discipline referrals).

9. PALS must demonstrate appropriate use of social networking sites. 

10. PALS must maintain a stellar attendance and tardy record at their school site.

11. PALS must maintain passing grades in all classes at their school site with a commitment to academics.

12. PALS must show a commitment to community service.

PALS PLEDGE

I understand that I have been recognized as a role model and I understand that PALS should have high ethical and moral standards.  Because I have chosen to be a PAL, I will abstain from any behavior that would compromise those standards.  These behaviors include, but are not limited to, drinking, alcohol, smoking, or participation in any other illegal activity.

I understand that other students will see me as a role model and that any reports of misbehavior or unethical actions will be questioned and subject to the PALS Discipline Policy. Appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken, which may include probation or dismissal of my position as a PAL. 

I understand that if I do not follow the PALS Handbook in regard to dress code, attendance, grades, VHS Code of conduct, participation in school events and community service, I may be dismissed from the program.

I understand that breaking confidentiality also causes harm to my PALS class and to those I’m trying to help. Because I have chosen to be a PAL, I will not share information about my fellow PALS or PALee with anyone outside the PALS program.  If my fellow PAL or PALee needs help, I will either contact Mrs. Freund or the school counselor immediately.

Attendance

• It is important that PALS members realize the level of commitment that is necessary to make this program successful. Attendance is not only crucial, but also mandatory.

• Absences jeopardize the entire program and hinders success.

• Attending PALee visits, community service events, and PAL organized school events is mandatory

• Jobs and appointments are not an excuse to miss any of these events!

• An absence will only be considered excused in the following circumstances:

• Personal illness/accident (resulting in missing school)

• Funeral or death in the family- Parent email required

• UIL or school-related performance/event

• If a PAL is going to be absent from a PALee visit, class project, and/or scheduled event, he/she must notify the

PAL teacher (in writing and in person at least 48 hours prior to the conflict) before missing. A demerit and/ or

make-up assignments may still be applicable (see Discipline Process).

• PALS are always representing LISD (during and after school hours) so please conduct yourself accordingly.

• PALS will need to wear the appropriate attire to all events.

GRADING POLICY

PALS is an accredited TEA course and students will be responsible for maintaining a 70+ to stay active in the organization.

Grades are based on:

• 25% Daily grades (such as Notebooks, and Class Assignments)

• 25% Major Grades (such as Travel, Tests and Projects)

• 25% Service (Service Hours and PALS Points)

• 25% Participation (Class and PALS Events)

If a PAL is absent from class for any reason, it is their responsibility to find out what was missed and what the assignment or alternate assignment might be.

Board Policy EIA (Local)

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT - GRADING/PROGRESS REPORTS TO PARENTS 

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that each campus or instructional level develops guidelines for teachers to follow in determining grades for students. These guidelines shall ensure that grading reflects a student’s relative mastery of an assignment and that a sufficient number of grades are taken to support the grade average assigned. Guidelines for grading shall be clearly communicated to students and parents. 

The District shall permit a student who meets the criteria detailed in the grading guidelines a reasonable opportunity to redo an assignment or retake a test for which the student received a failing grade. 

Purpose of Grades and Reporting

The focus of a grading system is to measure student mastery on their content or course standards. The purpose of grades is to provide students with feedback about their progress and achievement, guide students about future course work, provide guidance to teachers for instructional planning and communicate progress to parents. 

The purpose of the report card is to report student achievement based on content or course standards, with work habits reported separately through comments/ codes.

Principles of Grading and Reporting  

When developing team grading guidelines, teachers should reflect on the Grading Principles and Actions to ensure their grades accurately reflect a student’s level of mastery of content or course standards.

Expectations for Developing Team Grading and Reporting Guidelines: 

• Classroom grading systems are focused on student learning and mastery of content standards.

• Teachers shall develop, through collaboration with their course-level team, a consistent and clearly defined grading guidelines document that will be submitted to the campus principal for approval and distributed to students and parents. 

• Students should be provided ample opportunities for non-graded practice and formative feedback throughout the learning process. 

• Teachers should consider how non-graded feedback can be embedded into the current grading system to increase student learning and decrease the number of students failing to master learning targets, significantly reducing the number of students in need of remediation/retake or redo of assignments and assessments.

• Grades should be logical, justifiable, and sufficient in number to assure that the reported grade is an accurate measure of the relative mastery of content or course standards.

• Student behavior and other non-academic skills are reported, separately through comments/codes.

• Teachers should review and return all graded work to students within a time frame that will benefit the student. This will provide students with feedback and allow them to identify any areas of weakness and arrange for tutorials, extra study sessions or make-up teach/redo.

• Students will be allowed adequate time for missed learning and opportunity to demonstrate mastery of content standards. (Making up missed work due to student absences is covered in our student handbook section under Academics.

*In order to be awarded a grade of “70” in a course or subject, a student must demonstrate 70% mastery of the content standards in any recording period.

Guidelines for Making Up Missed Work Due to Absences

• Students who are absent for any reason must check with each teacher the day the student returns from any absence to determine the:

  • Make-up assignments,

  • Specific dates for completing the work, and

  • Dates to complete any missed tests.

• When a student is absent from class due to illness, upon his/her return, the student will be allowed one day for each day of absence to make up the assigned work and/or take a quiz/exam. 

  • Previously scheduled assignments that were due on the day of the absence will be due on the day the student returns to school. 

  • Previously scheduled quizzes/exams will be administered on the day the student returns to school.

  • The student is allowed one (1) day for each day of an absence to make up assignments and quizzes/exams scheduled during their absence.

  • One (1) day of make-up time is allowed for each day of absence (Example: 2 days absent - 2 days to make up work; 4 days absent - 4 days to make up work, etc.). 

• Note: based on the A/B schedule at the high school level, the term “one day” is equivalent to one class period.