Link Crew club transforms the WHS freshman experience

In the fall of 2024, Windsor High School welcomed a new program that would reshape the way incoming freshmen experienced their first year. Link Crew, designed to ease the transition from middle school to high school, paired upperclassmen mentors with freshmen, fostering a sense of connection, belonging and school spirit.

Jessica Teal (staff) and Cammie Smith (staff), two beloved teachers at Windsor, had long thought about introducing Link Crew. Their passion for the program stemmed from their own high school experience.

When she was a high school senior, Teal signed up to be a Link Leader at Rocky Mountain High School, where she worked with a small group of freshmen to help them navigate the unique challenges of high school. When she was a freshman in high school, Smith benefitted from having a Link Leader. Smith said, “I will always remember my Link Crew Leader, Tiffany.”

Link Crew was introduced to Windsor High School thanks to the support and vision of former principal Tom Dodd, who recognized the need for a program to help freshmen smoothly transition into high school. He told staff about the opportunity to be Link Crew coordinators and ultimately choseTeal and Smith, believing their leadership and passion for student success would help the program thrive.

The school was also fortunate to receive core grant funding, allowing the proper resources to get the club going. The funding helped with all the training, materials and the development of orientation events. 

Despite some of its success, bringing the Link Crew to Windsor has been challenging. One of the biggest challenges was time. Many people had other commitments and were unable to show up.

Jake Darnell (09) said,  “Its always really funny when the Link Leaders come into the advisory because we always just talk and laugh.”

The program launched with 52 juniors and seniors who trained for weeks to take on the role and to prepare for the freshman invasion. Freshmen were greeted with cheers and lines of people showing them to the gym where they played a few games and got introduced to Teal and Smith. 

For Teal and Smith, watching the program grow and flourish has been fulfilling. Teal said, “We firmly believe that it is an incredible program that can make a difference in the lives of students starting their academic and social career at WHS. Link Crew’s positivity and encouragement are infectious and we love it!”

Although Link Crew has had its challenges, some freshmen have felt more included because of it and Link Crew Leaders continue to plan more events.