Students 'Link' Together at Woodbury High Schools

Thinking back to high school days, many people can likely remember the challenges that came with being a freshman. The lengthy corridors of the high school seemed imposing, figuring out class schedules was sometimes a hassle, making new friends could be tough and, all too often, upper-classmen wouldn't give freshmen the time of day.

But the transition from junior high to high school is made easier through the Link Crew program at , and Park high schools in District 833.

The program has been up and running in South Washington County Schools for two years, and so far it's been going well, according to those involved. The Link Crew program has been around for about 10 years, but has only recently been adopted by the local high schools, East Ridge assistant principal Matt Kraft said.

"It's a tremendous program," he said.

This year, there are 99 upper-classmen who signed up to be Link Leaders, part of an ongoing initiative that continues to help students get acclimated beyond the first few weeks of school.

Ninth-grade counciler Shannon Smith, an East Ridge school staff leader for the Link Crew program, said there are numerous ways upper-classmen who are involved in the program help freshmen feel more at ease.

For example, she said each Link Leader has their locker situated in a group of 10 freshmen lockers, so freshmen can easily interact with an older student. Link Crew also has a number of events throughout the school year in which freshmen get to leave class for about an hour and participate in team-building activities with their Link Leaders and other students.

Link Crew also hosted a "cocoa and cram" session Monday after school for freshmen who wanted study help to prepare for upcoming finals. Students were provided with hot cocoa and were able to seek out Link leaders and school staff to help with their studying.

In addition to those activities, Smith said Link Crew members also travel to area high schools and talk with incoming freshmen to help transition them into high school the following year.

Vincent Bedard, the student coordinator for Link Crew at East Ridge, has been involved with the program for the past two years, and said it has been a valuable way for freshmen and upper-classmen to connect and understand each other.

"I've talked to many Link Leaders and they said the program has opened their eyes," he said. "Almost immediately after they become involved with Link Crew (the upper classmen) relate to the freshmen and it's gratifying for them to be able to help them."

Link Crew is also a way for upper classmen to develop skills they can take into college and the work force, Bedard said.

"Personally, I think it's a great way to learn how to be a leader," he said. "Link Crew helps you build skills that help you in communication, organization, planning and brainstorming."

Kraft described the Link Leader students at East Ridge as the "cream of the crop," and added that they're often students freshmen can look up to as role models.

"When I was in high school, the seniors were top dog and the freshmen were low on the totem pole," he said. "There wasn't a lot of cooperation—it was about competition. It's not like that here. There's such a positive student climate, and Link Crew is a big part of that."

Bedard echoed Kraft's sentiment about the impact Link Crew has had at the district over the past two years.

"I think it's been really valuable," he said. "We're trying to make sure the academic journey for the freshmen here at East Ridge is a fantastic one."