Mount Si High School’s freshman orientation builds bonds
Published 8:30 am Wednesday, August 31, 2016
School started early this morning in Snoqualmie Valley Schools with almost 500 freshmen heading to the Freshman Campus. Most of them were probably feeling pretty comfortable with the new building and the new school year, thanks to an orientation program now in its third year in the school district.
Link Crew, a program led by about 80 upperclassmen — “two to three Link leaders for every 10 to 12 freshmen,” said Link Crew coordinator Linda Wickswat — introduced the incoming freshman class to their new school and to each other through a morning of orientation activities Friday at the freshman campus.
Groups chose names for their teams and silk-flower leis or beads, feathers, or hats to match their chosen themes. The younger students played games, donned costumes and made personal connections with the older students leading them.
“We’re linking them, so they have a mentor for their high school careers,” explained Wickswat, a teacher at Mount Si High School. “Every Link activity talks about working together, everyone is in this together.”
A prime example of that idea is the “64 Squares” game. Leaders set up a grid of sheets of paper that students have to work together to find a way across. Volunteers try to find the way, following directions from the group, but once someone steps on a square, the number of next moves is limited.
“You have to keep trying different paths,” said Peter Marden. Maybe he was talking about the whole high school experience.
Advice from the road
As part of the Link Crew orientation program, student leaders wrote down their own pieces of key advice for freshman, which were shared with the group.
Things I Wish I Knew
Use every resource possible
Respect your elders
Don’t get caught up in drama
Finish work on time
Make new friends
Don’t care about other people’s opinions
Know how to use a graphing calculator
Stay away from PDA
Be excited for school, go to the events
Try new things
Get involved
Study for midterms/finals
You will lose friends
Learn from your mistakes
Don’t sweat the small things
Most Important Advice
You will find your true friends by the time you graduate
Teachers are there to help
Do the work
Ask for help if needed
Have perfect attendance
Do not procrastinate
Always have a lunch
Grades matter
Take classes you’re interested in
Popularity doesn’t matter
Find a new passion and follow it
Have a water bottle at all times
Stay true to yourself
Have a notebook for each class
Be honest with yourself and friends
