Finally, everyone is back to school! In the U.S. and Canada, school resumes anywhere from late July to the traditional Tuesday following U.S. Labor Day. So, some of you are well into the school year with faint wonderings of whether you even had a summer break and others of you are still feeling the jitters and excitement that the new school year brings. Regardless of where you are in the process, welcome back!
 
Thanks to your efforts, Link Crew and WEB welcomed over a million new students this year, helping diminish their anxiety and successfully bringing them in as new members of your school family. We are grateful to you for your dedication, your commitment and to the impact you are making in schools throughout North America.


From our end, we have the awesome privilege of hearing your success stories in regards to Leader trainings and orientation days. Your phone calls and emails letting us know how things went are the highlight of our days this time of year! Here are just a couple of examples of the good that’s going on out there:
 
From Lake Forest High School in IL, a quote from a Leader:
 
“I really can't find words and much explanation for how great my experience was. I don't know if I just lucked out and had an awesome group of kids or what, but I feel like it would have been the same with any kids. Going into this school year, I was really just ready to go to college already. But Link Crew seriously made me wish I was younger and could be a part of it next year.”
 
And from WEB, Lakeside Middle School in CA:
 
"Our 8th graders really made us proud! We had to do some improvising but we made it through and learned a great deal for next year! We are having pizza with our WEB leaders this week to thank them. They went above and beyond the first day of school! Anyone sitting by themselves soon had a blue shirt next to them!"
 
For a further lift in spirits, you can also go to our Facebook page and witness all the excitement that folks have for their leaders and their programs.


Speaking of transition, we here at the Boomerang Project have also been experiencing it ourselves…in a BIG way, we've undertaken a few major projects in the last year, including our new and improved website.
 

We, like you, are thrilled that it is finally up and running! As you could probably surmise, it was one of the most challenging experiences in the history of our company…and not because it was a complex and vast undertaking, but more because it impacted our ability to best support you. But like most difficult processes, the end has been worth it. Heather, our bookkeeper, wisely said in the midst of the struggle: “You know guys, first it’s impossible, then it’s difficult and then…it’s done.” While we are still working out some kinks (and ask for your ongoing patience), there are some cool new features that we think you will appreciate within the Coordinator’s Lounge, so if you haven’t visted it yet, you should go and check it out.

The other very exciting news (and another challenging experience) from our office is that we will be moving into a new building at the end of September (we figured the pain of launching a new website wasn’t enough!). After 7 years in the same location, it was time to update and upgrade. Over the past couple of months, we have been remodeling an industrial building into office space and are stoked to be in to our new digs soon. If you’re interested in seeing the process, check in with us on our Facebook page. We'll be posting a photo album soon to let you share in the excitement!  As the new building takes shape, so does the vision of the future of the Boomerang Project and we are excited to report that it looks good! Thank you for not only looking into the future with us, but for also being a part of it.

 
 
So, as we all begin this new venture called “the start of school” let’s take a collective breath.
 
Seriously…take a deep breath.
 
Now, think back to a great moment or moments that happened with your training or orientation. It might be seeing that first student come through the gauntlet, it might be walking into a classroom to see your “project” leading the heck out of a small group, it might be your principal’s face as s/he looked on in awe of an entire group of students doing Quadiliacha or Boom Chicka Boom. Revel in the greatness that you were a part of creating: the opportunity for kids to lead and the chance for transitioning students to breathe a little easier. You did it! Thank you from the bottom of our Boom Boom! hearts.
 
Now, let’s do this thing!