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