November 22, 2022

Freshmen entering Copley High School for the 2022-2023 school year received a warm welcome from Link Crew, a new student leadership program.

Link Crew was established by the Boomerang Project at Lawndale High School in Lawndale, California in 2013. The program, which has expanded across the country and internationally, connects freshmen with upperclassmen mentors who provide advice and guidance in order to ease the transition into high school.

Assistant Principal Willie Cook, English teacher Kim Carothers and physical education teacher Jodi Mirman created the Link Crew program at Copley High School last spring. Their goals are to train students to take on leadership roles in their school and community and to enhance the school culture for all students.

“I envision real mentorship,” Cook said. “I envision genuine relationships between freshmen and upperclassmen. I envision an amazing school culture based on inclusiveness and high performance.”

“Link Crew hopes to achieve a mentorship program that continues to connect incoming students to current upperclassmen,” Carothers said. “[These students] can support them as they go through their high school careers.”

Link Crew leaders had the opportunity to attend the annual freshmen orientation, where they broke off into small groups to engage the freshmen in insightful conversations and team-building activities. On Halloween, Link Crew leaders handed out treats to freshmen in the parking lot during the group’s “Trunk or Treat” event.

“Students will hold themselves and others accountable for their behavior, grades [and] attendance by forming relationships where students feel seen, cared about and valued,” Carothers said. “This will lead to better overall student behavior, attendance, test scores, graduation rates and better social-emotional health in all our students.”

Seniors and juniors willing to take on a leadership role are free to join Link Crew in late February or early March. Sophomores can apply to be part of the “A-Team,” or leaders in training. There are currently 60 student members of Link Crew, but the staff leaders predict that this number will grow in upcoming years.

“We will know Link Crew is successful when freshmen are proud to be a part of their small link groups,” Cook said.

“I would 100% recommend that a friend join Link Crew,” senior and Link Crew leader Garrett Scott said. “I would also recommend that [anyone] who is an upperclassman engage with the underclassmen and just make sure everyone is doing well. That’s what it’s all about here at Copley High School.”