The Impact of PALS
In Action: PALS Summer 2024
PALS 2024: Connection and Community
Despite a transition in leadership, PALS 2024 operated an incredibly successful program, integrating into the broader Andover Summer programming in new and exciting ways while also retaining its own unique identity, maintaining it as a special program for Lawrence middle school students seeking academic enrichment opportunities for their summer.
With a goal of enhancing student learning in STEM and humanities by showing students that school can be fun, PALS classes pushed students to take risks, try new things, ask questions and advocate for themselves. Integrating physics, forensics, novels and short stories made for highly engaging classes, and students left the summer with a jumpstart on the content they would be covering in the fall at their Lawrence schools.
In addition, students—especially those entering 8th and 9th grades—left with a better sense of their secondary school options and the types of skills they will need to successfully navigate the transition from middle to high school. This summer, more than ever before, PALS students were integrated into the broader Andover Summer community through participation in All School Meetings and assemblies, as well as participation in Afternoon Activities alongside their peers from around the world in the Lower School Institute program.
Students React to the Impact of PALS
“I have learned how DNA replicates and how to see the DNA of a strawberry. I have liked how challenging the STEM course has been because although we review topics we learned in 7th grade, we build upon it and learn new things.”
—PALS Participant ’24
"We learned how to break apart poems and see all the hidden messages. What made it enjoyable was getting to take turns to see what we all think / our opinions on the topic."
—PALS Participant ’24
PALS Faculty React to Summer 2024
"For me, the end of the school year marks the beginning of...PALS! PALS is about exploration, connection, and fun. Students are given unique academic experiences where they work in a variety of disciplines (literature, science, poetry, philosophy, writing, art, math, history, geography) in a way that is truly "outside the box." This outside the box element provides a vast, open space for students to grow. And they do grow! What is beautiful to witness is that this growth is done with each other. There is an undeniable spirit of community in the program; the tears and heavy hearts on the last day of the program is always a testament to this. I think it is also proof of the fun everyone experiences at PALS!"
—Michael Leyden, PALS humanities teacher
"Teaching in PALS was the highlight of my summer! It was so wonderful to see the way that, over the course of 5 weeks, our students became more confident in the classroom and began to imagine broader academic possibilities. PALS truly provides students with opportunities and resources for academic and personal growth. It was an honor and a joy to teach in this amazing program!"
—Anna Green, PALS humanities teacher
Sending Schools
A record number of Lawrence Middle Schools were represented in applications to PALS Summer 2024: 9 of 11. This is reflective of intentional work to expand access and open our program to interested, motivated students from all across the City.
- Lawrence Family Development Charter School
- Community Day Charter School
- Spark Academy
- UP Academy Leonard
- Wetherbee School
- Parthum Middle School
- Lawrence Catholic Academy
- Guilmette Middle School
- Frost Middle School
37
students in grades 7 and 8 completed the program
33
report they will apply to schools they visited
100%
feel confident they can access resources to help them apply to high school
100%
agreed that they...
Had fun
Learned something new
Made connections with peers and adults
96%
feel prepared for the upcoming school year