PAW PAC is in the third year of implementation at Norco Intermediate and is a student group led by our counseling team that believes Positive Actions in the World (PAW) start with Positive Actions in our Community (PAC). The philosophy is that kindness begins with one, spreads and grows, and has the power to change the community and the world. To improve school climate on campus, PAW PAC has designed and led activities such as What If Week, Bobcat Bravos (staff positive notes), anti-bullying and anti-suicide campaigns, Valen-KINDS notes, Random Acts of Kindness activities, and a United Way Holiday Toy Drive for which our NIS PAW PAC received a recognition award from United Way. PAW PAC members have also taken on a leadership role with our YEMP career day, where they interviewed the adult presenters prior to classroom presentations, and they assisted in leading our future 7th graders at orientation by teaching our NIS positive behavior expectations and supporting the future Bobcat students in presenting their learning. PAW PAC members are initially chosen through an application and interview, but our counseling team also considers membership as a very purposeful process for students who need an additional school connection or who may need to experience membership in a positive group in order to progress in their personal skills and positive attitudes with peers. Another key to the success of PAW PAC is the strong leadership of our counselors, who have expertise in the adolescent brain and the changes experienced in middle school that affect school culture and specific social behaviors. PAW PAC members wear their “Got Kindness” T-shirts often, and recently have contributed to school-wide announcements with positive quotes in the mornings. Through strong leadership and a student membership of 40+ students, our PAW PAC has truly accomplished their purpose of improving culture and kindness on our campus.
The future goals of the club are to expand students’ views into the community and world through the continuation of projects such as the team building seen in the accompanying photos, the United Way Toy Drive, and a project with Blankets for Rhinos that focuses on helping wildlife sanctuaries caring for animals that are often separated from their parents by poachers. We believe this focus within and beyond the immediate community is important for student understanding of how service and charity impact the world and provide a personal connection and purpose that builds character and self-worth. We are extremely proud of the impact our PAW PAC has made in just two short years, and we cannot wait to continue the creativity and positivity in the future!
Check out our video HERE!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGRTnSPOCWk&feature=youtu.be