Link Crew helps new students fit in

For many South County students, school began Monday, Aug. 17.

However, at Anderson Union High School and West Valley High School, freshman orientation was held at the end of last week.

It's all part of a program called Link Crew, in which the high schools help welcome and transition students to each campus and make the leap from middle school or junior high to high school.

AUHS has been involved in this program for about 5 years and WVHS has been participating in the program for about 9 years, according to AUHS counselor Faren Reid.

Link Crew has helped build acceptance in the school because freshman view each other as individuals. If you know the person you are bullying, you are less likely to do it, Reid said. This, in turn, leads to a decrease in bullying and an increase in connections among different social groups at AUHS, she said.

"Even students who have graduated still talk to their Link Leaders," said Reid.

At West Valley High School, Counselor Tom Pasquini said transition and transfer students identify more readily with the school and tear down the social walls that sometimes separate students.

"We had freshman as well as transferring sophomores, juniors, and seniors attend our Link Crew orientation," Pasquini said. "It helps them feel more connected to the school and each other while helping to create a friendlier atmosphere."

At the same time, it gives incoming freshmen the opportunity to meet new people and discover things in common with those they have gone to school with most of their academic lives, Pasquini said.

"It has helped with the diversity on campus," said Reid, "They go through school with most of the same kids and never know that someone struggles with this or someone has had to overcome that. It helps make everyone closer."

The Link Crew program involves two or three staff members from each high school who go to a three-day training and come back with materials and tools to create the program in their high school.

For more information about the Link Crew Program, visit http://www.boomerangproject.com.