What Is Link Crew?
Timeline --> Year in the Life of Link Crew [PDF]
Link Crew is a high school transition program that welcomes 9th graders and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their high school experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, Boomerang Project's proven high school transition program trains mentors from your 11th and 12th grade classes to be Link Crew Leaders. As positive role models, Link Crew Leaders are mentors and student leaders who guide the 9th graders to discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to high school and help facilitate 9th grade success.
More and more studies show that if students have a positive experience their first year in high school, their chance for success increases dramatically. Link Crew provides the structure for 9th graders to receive support and guidance from 11th and 12th graders who have been through the challenges that high school poses, and understand that the transition to a larger school can sometimes be overwhelming.
Link Crew is a year long transition program with four components that contribute to its success:
- High School Orientation - Link Leaders and 9th graders start building the mentor relationship and 9th graders receive information about how to be successful in high school
- Academic Follow Ups - Link Leaders support 9th grade academic success and character development through structured classroom visits
- Social Follow Ups - Link Leaders and 9th graders connect outside the classroom at social events to increase student engagement, and promote positive school climate
- Leader Initiated Contacts - Link Leaders connect with their 9th graders on a more individual basis
High School Transition Program Promotes School Safety, Anti-Bullying
Link Crew's goal is to provide schools with a structure in which students make real connections with each other thus increasing school safety and reducing incidence of bullying with anti-bullying education. Through this program, 9th graders learn that people at school care about them and their success and leaders experience increased self esteem as well as overall character development. Link Crew is the high school transition program that will increase attendance, decrease discipline referrals and improve academic performance at your school.