News Article By: Siena Van Der Veen Echoes Writer Sept. 2, 2023
Sweaty palms and nervous faces, these are the makings of SHS’s newest freshman. On August 16th at 7:30 AM, freshmenfreshman load into the school for their orientation. Link Leaders, the name given to link crew members who had been at the school since 7:00 AM, prepare for the morning ahead of them. As the freshman walk into the high school for what could quite possibly be their first time, everyone searches for their friends. While Link Leaders are in the gym setting up name tagsnametags, group numbers, bleachers, and even the welcoming gauntlet, all the freshmenfreshman try to ease their nerves. Freshman Marcus Webb, finds his friends in the middle of the cafeteria and sits nervously. “My first impression of the high school was that I thought I would have loads of homework,” said Webb. At 8:00 AM, the freshman start to make their way into the gym. The Link Leaders, with smiles on their faces and a happy attitude, greet them with a gauntlet, two lines of the leaders where all the freshmenfreshmanwalk throughwalk through. As freshmenfreshman make their way through the gauntlet, they grab their name tagsnametags and find a place to sit on the bleachers. When everyone sits, the activities start. Activities such as Simon Says and Balloon Pop got them talking. As the introduction to the balloon pop started, all of Webb’s friends around him were trying to get him to volunteer to be part of the balloon pop. Finally giving in, he raised his hand and volunteered, unknowing that he would not regret the moment one bit. “It really helped me gain some energy and enthusiasm about the day after participating in it,” Webb says. Then they got in their groups and went to assigned classrooms where they bond get to know each other activities. After finishing their activities, they went on a tour with their Link Leaders, so they could get to know the school. The Link Leaders hoped to help the freshman in any way they could, especially to ensure they knew that they would have someone to talk to. Senior Ella Tilton hoped to make the freshmen feel more comfortable in their first year of high school.
DETERMINATION. Marcus Webb, 9, participates in a beginning activity called balloon pop as an intro activity to make freshman feel more comfortable. "I loved participating in the balloon pop because it gave me a lot more energy and made me more involved throughout orientation" said Webb. Photo by Norah Fleming
“I did not experience my first year of high school here, so when I got here, I had no idea where I was going for classes and no idea what I was doing, so I hoped to make them feel a bit more comfortable about where their classes were and what to expect in high school,” Tilton explains. Webb was worried he would not be able to find all of his classes on the first day. “The tours the Link Leaders gave helped me understand where exactly I would be throughout the day, and it has helped me a lot since school has started,” Webb comments. All in all, the freshman orientation with Link Crew not only helped the freshman know where their classes were, but it also helped them start to get to know some new people in high school. It helped them know they are not alone in the school, and if they ever need anything, they can get ahold of the people from their groups, or the Link Leaders they see around.
NEW INTRODUCTIONS. Ella Tilton, 12, does introduction activities involving multiple new people during Link Crew orientation. "I enjoyed the introduction activities because I was able to meet new freshman and help them feel a bit more comfortable" said Tilton. Photo by Norah Fleming