Positive Experiences in Educational Relationships (PEER) is an LCPS program, accompanied by a specialized class in every school in the county that was created to help students develop leadership skills, train upperclassmen mentors to assist their peers, and promote healthy coping skills and strategies to handle academic and emotional stress.

To help bring up school spirit at Rock Ridge, PEER regularly organizes initiatives. Counselor Whitney Leach, a PEER program co-advisor finds these campaigns motivational for the students and staff. “A lot of students have probably seen us in the hallways handing candy out,” she said. “One morning, at the end of first quarter we stood outside with the bubble machine and kind of said ‘hi’ to everyone to lift spirits and that was fun.” 

Short-term events are not the only type of campaigning PEER organizes at the school. Longer-term campaigns, dedicated to monthly themes or awareness days are also a large part of the work the program does for the community. PEER mentor junior Charvi Krishnan thinks these campaigns are important to shed light on relevant issues and conversations. “For example, March is Women’s History Month, so we’ll do a campaign focused on it, to bring awareness to that topic,” Krishnan said. 

One of the more recent ways PEER helped uplift the student body and bring smiles to students’ faces was by hanging up sticky notes with positive messages on the school restroom mirrors. “You see [the sticky notes] every time you go into the restroom,” Krishnan said. “I feel like we do a good job of spreading a good vibe.”

The unity and diversity inside of PEER reflect directly on the positive change they bring to the school. The organization unites people from many different social circles within the school, making it a safe space for people from all different walks of life. “It’s an equal standing between everyone,” Krishnan said. “It is really fun because we all hang out together. The best way I can put it is [that] it does feel like we are all friends, more than anything. We enjoy each other’s company, and we’re able to have a good time with no sort of stigma.”

The impact PEER has in the community is just limited to Rock Ridge. “Peers get to go [to the elementary schools, like Rosa Lee Carter and Moorefield] in the morning and mentor the students there, and then come back for the rest of the day,” Leach said. 

The PEER program at Rock Ridge does not receive outside funding, which means it relies solely on the school community to continue its work and campaigning. To attract attention to their good cause, the organization organized a “PEER bracelet” table during lunches, selling bracelets for $2 each, with all of the proceeds going to the program. Junior Maya Waas, a member of the fundraising committee, helped organize the event. Waas sees this event as not only an opportunity to raise funds for the organization but also as a way to promote it. “I definitely think that things like this can spread awareness in general about our program,” Waas said. “Not everyone buys a bracelet, but they hear about it and they hear more about PEER”

The bracelets PEER sold were also decorated with uplifting messaging, which matches the overall goal of PEER: making the school a more welcoming and positive place. “I think this initiative is part of the community’s thinking, because the bracelets have positive messages on them, so it helps our uplifting initiatives,” Waas said.

In order to achieve all of its goals, the program is always looking for ways to promote itself. “One of our goals this year is to be a little bit more visible in the school,” Leach said. “I don’t think a lot of people know what PEER is. Sometimes people don’t even know that it exists. If [people] are looking for help, knowing that those students are out there and available [is important]. There are people out there who really could use a mentor in the school.”

This school year, PEER is continuing to support the students of Rock Ridge and is committed to spreading their message. “We want to be able to hit those monthly campaigns, and really bring as much change [as possible],” Krishnan said. With the help of the students and staff, including spreading their message and supporting their fundraising efforts, PEER will be able to make the school a more accepting and safe space for students and staff.