The Montessori School of Bowling Green started the New Year with a new program as a way to promote its
peace curriculum.
The PEACE PAL program is a K-6 community get-together that is held twice a month on Tuesday mornings.
Each group of PALs has a mixture of students from each grade level. The students in the upper grades act
as peer leaders and advisers for their group of six to seven students.
PEACE PALs is an acronym that stands for Promoting Excellence and Character Education through Peer
Advising Leaders. Group leaders meet with teacher advisers who present topics and help the leaders
brainstorm ways to teach that concept. Concepts deal with core ethical values such as fairness, honesty,
compassion, responsibility, and respect for self and others.
Kindergarten teacher Cindy Brechmacher stated, "One amazing aspect of this program is that the same
PALS will be together throughout their years at MSBG so that the younger students in the group know that
someday they will be the leaders."
Students use a variety of techniques including written expression, role-playing, graphing, scripts and
technology to explore the ways in which they can learn effective communication and critical thinking
skills.
Deb Reddin, who teaches grades 4-6, stated, "The goal of this program is to prepare our students to
be citizens of the world. It offers a tangible way for students to learn."