1. Andover High School www.usd385.org  Presented by: Mark Cross – Industrial Arts Teacher Link/Web Crew Presentation

2. Link Crew Objectives  To empower juniors and seniors as role models for freshmen. Middle school – 8 th graders.  To increase academic success through support of peers.  To develop leadership skills in students on your campus.

3. Link Crew Objectives cont:  To expose students to a variety of individuals at your school in positive situations.  To teach students that by working together they can be successful and enjoy one another.  To help create a supportive and positive atmosphere on your campus.

4. How Link Crew Supports Freshmen  Link Teams All freshmen are divided into Link “crews” of 8-10. Each Crew is assigned 2 Link Leaders who will serve them as a mentor and a friend for the year.

5.  Link Phone Call Link leaders telephone each of their freshmen to extend a personal invitation a few days before Orientation. How Link Crew Supports Freshmen

6.  Link Orientation General Assembly http://www.wcco.com/video/?id=19573@wcco.d ayport.com http://www.wcco.com/video/?id=19573@wcco.d ayport.com Orientation for freshmen in separate classrooms by the link leaders.  Focus of activities : getting to know other students.  Learning strategies for being successful at the school. How Link Crew Supports Freshmen

7.  Academic Follow Ups An academic follow up is a special lesson taught in all freshmen English classes by link leaders.  Topics include, making good choices, using resources on campus, dealing with peer pressure. How Link Crew Supports Freshmen

8.  Social Follow Ups Link Crew sponsors social events on campus to help freshmen and link leaders stay connected. Examples are: movie night, Cocoa & Cram night. How Link Crew Supports Freshmen

9. How Link Crew Teaches Leadership  Link Leader Training Link leaders attend an intensive 12-hour training prior to Orientation.

10.  Link Crew Each link leader is assigned a team of 8- 10 freshmen to mentor through their first year of high school. How Link Crew Teaches Leadership cont.

11.  Link Orientation Each link leader then gets to practice the skills learned at Training by leading his/her freshmen crew through two activity sessions on Orientation day. How Link Crew Teaches Leadership cont.

12.  Academic Follow Ups Link leaders attend a two-hour training that continues the link’s practice and understanding of leadership and group dynamics. How Link Crew Teaches Leadership cont.

13.  Number of schools trained: 816  Number of educators trained:2,391  Approximate number of students affected in 2005-2006 school year: 950,000 Statistics

14.  David Douglass High School, Portland Oregon: 71% reduction in freshmen disciplinary referrals. 48% reduction in freshmen absences.

15. Statistics  Boulder High School, Boulder, CO 1997: 20 freshman hazings. 1999: 0 freshman hazings.

16. Statistics  Dodgeland High School, WI 13% reduction in freshman failure.

17.  Mark Cross – Crossm@usd385.orgCrossm@usd385.org Questions Andover High School 316-733-1335 www.usd385.org www.boomerangproject.com