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Warrior Pals Meet at First Assembly of the Year

Every year for the past seven years, Key Clubbers have volunteered to mentor 4th graders through the Warrior Pals program. The first meeting of this year was on Sept. 20.

“I always enjoy seeing everybody meet for the first time and see how excited everyone is about chatting and getting to know about their warrior pal.”  said Key Club Adviser Mrs. Andrea Tira when asked about the first assembly.

“Warrior Pals are combinations of mentors and pen pals,” said Tira. “We pen pal by writing letters back and forth throughout the year. In the letters we are mentoring, cheering them on, patting them on the back, and encouraging them to think about what it means to be a TERRIFIC kid.”

When she says TERRIFIC, she is using the word as an acronym for: Terrific, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inclusive and Caring. Each time they write a letter to their Warrior Pal, Key Clubbers focus on one word in the TERRIFIC acronym, thereby encouraging their young mentee to embody the attribute.

Key Clubbers hold up signs for the acronym TERRIFIC kid. The fourth graders learned it stands for Terrific, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inquisitive, Friendly, Inclusive, and Caring. Photo provided by Becca Teffeteller

When asked about her favorite part, Tira said it is how all the fourth graders have “Someone that’s on their side cheering them on all year long.”

Adam Teffeteller, a fourth grader at Lyter, said, “Talking to a high school student was fun. I liked my warrior pal.”

One of the reasons high school students enjoy Warrior Pals is the opportunity to visit the elementary school they attended. 

“Everything looks so small and you just think about old memories there,” said sophomore Key Club participant, Austin Davidson.

“I think it’s cool because I haven’t been there for years and years,” said senior Key Clubber Todd Crawford, “Seeing the things that have changed and the teachers that have changed is interesting.”

“I liked going back to my old school and reminiscing on the good moments of life,” said sophomore Simon Dietrich who also partakes in Key Club, “That’s where it all started, that’s where your character comes from.”

High School Key Clubbers take on their responsibilities as Warrior Pals seriously while also having fun.

When asked about her favorite part, sophomore Sydney Kuntz said she likes “Connecting with the kids in our community.”

Davidson thinks Warrior Pals help fourth-graders with, “Learning new communication skills and how to interact with people later in life.”

“It gives them a connection to the high school in a way because they’re probably scared of transitioning to the middle school and after that, high school,” said Crawford. “It gives them a better understanding about what they’re going into the next couple years of schooling.”

 Sophomore Elsa Kehrer said she likes to talk to her Warrior Pal about sports, what he likes to do, school, and how to be a TERRIFIC kid. She said it helps them to know what’s coming up next in their life and make new friends. 

Fourth grader Adam Teffeteller and sophomore Elyse Boyle talk about their day, what they like to do, their favorite things, and being a TERRIFIC kid. Both later said they enjoyed the assembly. Photo provided by Becca Teffeteller

This Warrior Pal tradition began in the fall of 2017 with a much smaller program.

Tira said it originally used to be a group of 20 third and fourth-graders with 6-10 key clubbers. The program exploded and now every fourth grader and key club member has the chance to participate.

Tira said she is thankful that the fourth-grade teachers are open to participating in this program at Loyalsock Valley and Lyter. The Key Clubbers are invited three times a year for the assemblies. 

Tira, high school student chairs, and ninth and tenth-grade guidance counselor Mr. Eric Edler run the Warrior Pal Program.

Edler went to Loyalsock Valley with two chair leaders, junior Kayleigh Sheleman and senior Savanna Milholon.

Tira chaperoned the Lyter trip with chair leaders, sophomores Savanna Farley, Kenna Bennett, Evelyn Weng, and Ashley Wood, as well as senior Brenna Rosenbaum.

Featured photo (at top): Key Clubbers wait at Lyter Elementary’s Little League bleachers to meet with with Warrior Pals. The club members met with their assignmed fourth grade pen pal on Sept. 20. 

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