Frisco Student Mentors Build Weekly Connections Across Campuses

Centennial High School PALs are meeting weekly with Wester Middle School sixth graders, giving younger students another trusted connection as they adjust to new routines and a larger campus.

In an October 19 report, Frisco ISD said the partnership pairs trained high school mentors with sixth-grade students identified by Wester and its feeder elementary schools.

A yearlong match

The high school students complete six weeks of peer-mentorship training before participating.

Wester counselors use questionnaires submitted in August to match Centennial PALs with younger “PALees,” either one-to-one or in small groups.

The groups meet each week for homework help, games and conversation.

Frisco ISD says the arrangement supports communication and leadership skills for the high schoolers while giving sixth graders a near-peer they may find easier to approach.

A spirited beginning

This month’s matches were introduced during a pep-rally-style draft at Wester.

The students marked the start by creating secret handshakes and talking about shared interests, beginning relationships intended to continue through the school year.

The partnership is notable because Frisco ISD PALs typically work with feeder elementary students; this version extends that support into middle school. The district says Student Ambassadors and PALs operate at all 12 Frisco ISD high schools.

Community conversation

What kinds of activities help younger students feel comfortable with an older peer mentor?

Where else could student-to-student mentoring make a meaningful difference in Frisco schools?

What support would help more high school students serve as consistent mentors?