CREW

By Hayden Heckenkemper

The transition to high school for incoming freshmen can be scary and raise many questions: What do I wear? How do I act? Will the classes be too difficult? For students entering Bishop Kelley, Link Crew makes that often-scary transition considerably easier.

Driving up the Bishop Kelley U-Drive at the beginning of BK’s Freshmen Orientation is an anxious moment for many. Some rising freshmen have been rumored to ask their parents to turn around and take them back home. Though the freshman experience might seem overwhelming, it’s a pivotal moment, a rite of passage, for all new students entering Bishop Kelley and this provides a chance to meet their future classmates, learn how to organize their homework, and map out the entire school.

Greeted by a long tunnel formed by Link Crew Leaders, freshmen are introduced to Bishop Kelley life by running through the tunnel cheered on by upper-level students. While freshmen think about their incoming high school chapter, Link Crew is a well-oiled machine run by students in four roles: Leaders, Commissioners, A-Team, and Transfer Leaders.

Three Link Crew Leaders meet face-to-face with ten freshmen-a Link Crew Group-multiple times throughout the two-day orientation. Their main tasks include facilitating ice-breakers, getting the group to know one another, giving advice on navigating the first year of high school, and offering a helping hand to the new Comets.

Transfer Leaders perform many of those same tasks with new transfer students; those who are coming from different high schools or even moving to Bishop Kelley from another state or country.

The A-Team makes it all possible, acting as the behindthe-scenes crew for the long days. Additionally, the A-Team helps set up lunch, as well as the iconic Freshmen Olympics, a competition for each Link Crew Group as they rotate through a series of games in the large gym. They’re looking to get the most points possible in each match, ultimately hoping to win above all other Link Crew Groups. The A-Team is responsible for setting up and explaining each game to the freshmen, while Link Crew

Leaders participate in the fun with their groups. Commissioners are placed in pairs to oversee a couple of Link Crew Groups. This is done by ensuring that each freshman is in attendance, taking photos of events throughout the days doing check-ins with the Link Crew Leaders, and judging the freshman cheer competition after each Link Crew Group comes up with their unique cheer to show their new classmates.

Becoming a part of Link Crew isn’t a simple process. Each year, the program receives approximately 170 applications from Sophomores and Juniors, with around 120 being accepted. The application consists of teacher recommendations, a written response, and a video response answering questions. Even before they begin the application process, administration must approve each student for program participation.

With such an extensive application process, why do so many BK students want a chance to take part?

For most, it’s a no-brainer. Being a part of Link Crew allows for a chance to meet the new freshmen. The experience working in Link Crew after participating as a freshman (or transfer) comes full circle. Link Crew members love Bishop Kelley (loving Bishop Kelley is literally a prerequisite to being in Link Crew), and it’s second nature to want to share all they know about their high school experience in hopes of making the transition as smooth as possible for the new freshman class.

Freshmen go through a series of activities to acquaint themselves with Bishop Kelley. Link Crew Leaders help them locate their lockers and learn how to open them. Each freshman also goes through Bishop Kelley 101, where Link Crew Leaders tell them everything they need to know, from football game dress-up themes to hallway etiquette. Beyond that, Link Crew Leaders offer their experiences and learned lessons with their group to ensure each new student knows what to expect and how to handle new situations in high school.

The entire two-day orientation experience passes on significant information from Link Crew to the freshmen. Link Crew acts as the “Link” between incoming freshmen and the high school experience that awaits them.

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