While WEB and Link Crew were not initially designed to be anti-bullying programs, lo and behold, we find ourselves in the midst of a society hyper focused on the need for anti-bullying efforts…and people are turning to the Boomerang Project for answers. Yes, you, as a WEB/Link Crew Coordinator are part of a zeitgeist. Welcome to the movement!

Here it is, the time of year that feels like “no man’s land”, when the school year advances at a snail’s pace and the trek toward June seems like the impossible journey. The long, dark dreary days of winter do nothing to help the situation. This is the time of year when it’s easy to forget how important the work you’re doing is, when the importance of the work is over shadowed by the need to just get the work done. And, let’s face it, when the need to just get it done becomes the overriding motivation, one thing’s for sure, it’s not going to be your best work.

The power of tradition is never more apparent than at this time of year when the winter holidays become the main focus. And while many traditions are steeped in spiritual beliefs, it seems even more come from the rituals established within our own families…however you may define “family”.

Regardless of their origins, the significance of our traditions are powerful. They give us a sense of belonging, a sense of prediction, a sense of order like no other. Think about it…was there a time in your family when a tradition changed? Remember the reaction? Or maybe you can recall a time you went to another family’s holiday gathering whose traditions were different? You may have stared in polite disbelief and thought to yourself, “You do what? When? How?...Why?” While we can rarely answer the why, we know its importance. Traditions are the framework, the structure that creates our memories… the stories of our lives.

Last week we had the honor of sitting at a table where three Link Leaders met with Tom Torlakson, CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Leaders both humbled and awed Mr. Torlakson, as well as the other public officials who were in the meeting, with their stories of being freshmen at their respective schools as well as now being Link Crew Leaders.

We were reminded that Link Crew and WEB are so much about the stories, both the challenges and the successes, that the students have to tell. Each of their stories was different, of course, but all had a common thread that ran through them: a picture of struggle, compassion and conquering. Follow this link to read Jay-R’s, Abraham’s and Anne’s stories as well as find out how you can share your students’ stories on our website.