By Naomi Tsuang
News Editor
Mira Costa English teacher Maddie Hutchinson and Academic Support Counselor Keshia Fields are currently in the process of implementing Link Crew, which will begin next school year, as a program in which Costa juniors and seniors will help incoming freshmen adjust to high school.
Link Crew is a program in which upperclassmen act as role models, friends and support systems for incoming freshmen through school events and monthly lunch meetings, Hutchinson and Fields said. The upperclassmen, called “Link Leaders,” will be able to give freshmen advice on classes, extracurriculars and athletics.
“The goal is to take something that may seem overwhelming, like going to high school, and lessen that stress by providing support and friendly faces from day one for [freshman students’] entire first year on campus,” Hutchinson said.
Photos: Hutchinson and Fields implement Link Crew
Link Crew was a program at Costa approximately seven to 10 years ago, Hutchinson and Fields said. They decided to bring the program back to Costa after months of discussion with the Social Emotional Wellness (SEW) Committee, a group of students, teachers, parents and administrators that aims to improve the emotional well-being of students.
Hutchinson and Fields reviewed applications from incoming juniors and seniors who were interested in becoming Link Leaders, and they selected 97 students, whose names were posted next to Hutchinson’s room yesterday to notify them of their acceptance into the program. According to Hutchinson and Fields, they selected upperclassmen who were involved in a variety of sports and extracurriculars to be the Link Leaders so that freshmen will be able to relate to their Link Leaders’ interests.
“The Link Crew program will help upperclassmen to [become more involved], and we hope they see the meaning and connect with freshmen to continue our tradition on campus of a tight school unit,” Costa Principal Dr. Ben Dale said. “I have always thought that we have good relationships between upperclassmen and lowerclassmen, relative to other schools, and Link Crew is just a way to make [this relationship] stronger.”
All freshmen will be involved in Link Crew and have the option to return to the program during their junior or senior year, in order to become Link Leaders. Link Leader responsibilities include leading freshman orientation, checking up on their freshmen buddies throughout the school year and attending school events, such as football games and dances, with their crews.
Link: Learn more about Link Crew and the goal of the program.
“I want to get more involved at school and connect with the freshmen, because I know when I first came to Costa it was hard for me to make friends right away,” Link Crew Leader and sophomore Kennedy McIntosh said.
Hutchinson and Fields are discussing the possibility of making Link Crew a class period for next school year. Schools that have the most successful Link Crew programs have a class period dedicated to the program because it provides an opportunity for the students to collaborate with a teacher present, Hutchinson and Fields said.
Link: Find out more about Costa’s Social Emotional Wellness Committee
“Our hope is that the freshmen become more involved and feel more connected on campus, which will ideally result in increased school pride and inclusivity,” Fields said.
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