Students helping students: Gloucester High School builds the links of friendship
by Laura Cummings
East Ottawa Star
It’s a transition that’s resulted in more than a few sweaty palms and shaking hands – being thrust into the terrifying, nerve-wrecking world of high school.
But students at Gloucester High School are getting some extra help when it comes to making that educational leap, and the program there to ease that move recently received an added training boost from international organizers.
The Link Crew is a “transition program that helps new Grade 9s,” explains student success teacher Laurie Labelle, starting with a “big bang” orientation hosted by the Grade 12 student mentors at the beginning of the year and followed by monthly academic follow-ups and social events to help newer students adjust to school life. It’s a structure that is often more effective than staff attempting to reach out to newcomers, she continues.
“There’s the cool factor,” Labelle describes. “They’re on the same page, so they’ll talk the same way … and make it fun. (Statistics show) that one caring person is enough to make sure they come to school every day.”
The social aspect of the program also “gives the kids a chance to make new friends,” she explains, while allowing Link leaders to “keep an eye on” any potential issues or problems the younger students may be having.
Currently, there are 36 leaders and 156 Grade 9s participating in the Link Crew program, Labelle continues, totalling 18 teams for the year.
This is only the second year Gloucester has run the initiative, she says, with the east-end school the first in Eastern Ontario to provide it. Initially conceived in California, the program has now spread to six other schools across the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Labelle adds.
Though Link leaders get training via an in-school class all year long on subjects ranging from different types of tutoring to multiple intelligences, American Link Crew organizers came to Ottawa for special training, she recounts.
The day-long sessions – held on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at Bell High School in the west end – hosted all six local schools, Labelle explains. The sessions are typically held in the United States, she continues, making it all the more exciting.
Gloucester students were able to network with other groups, compare ideas and complete additional training, she says.
“It was so much fun,” recounts Grade 12 student and Link leader Kelsea Lancaster, with the group completing different leadership activities like role-playing.
“It was a room full of nice people,” adds Allison Pieters-Sutherland, a fellow mentor and Grade 12 student, of meeting their citywide colleagues. “We all just got along.”
Both joined the group after receiving recommendations from teachers and hearing positive comments, the pair explains, as well as a way to prepare for their desired future careers in education.
“I remembered how it was in my Grade 9 year,” Pieters-Sutherland says of her motivation for wanting to get involved.
The sense of friendship and belonging amongst Link Crew leaders is one reason the program is so successful, Lancaster continues.
“Everyone is friends with everybody,” she illustrates. “We’re like a family. It’s a class we look forward to every day.”
And though Link Crew is more about “helping the (Grade 9s) to get something out of it,” Lancaster continues, students on both sides gain lifelong skills and become more caring, giving individuals.
Looking back, participating in Link Crew “was the best thing I ever did in my high school (experience),” she says, citing new friends made and new skills gained. “It’s taught us to be kind, and not to look down on anybody … to have respect for yourself, and everybody else.”
The Link Crew is a “transition program that helps new Grade 9s,” explains student success teacher Laurie Labelle, starting with a “big bang” orientation hosted by the Grade 12 student mentors at the beginning of the year and followed by monthly academic follow-ups and social events to help newer students adjust to school life. It’s a structure that is often more effective than staff attempting to reach out to newcomers, she continues.
“There’s the cool factor,” Labelle describes. “They’re on the same page, so they’ll talk the same way … and make it fun. (Statistics show) that one caring person is enough to make sure they come to school every day.”
The social aspect of the program also “gives the kids a chance to make new friends,” she explains, while allowing Link leaders to “keep an eye on” any potential issues or problems the younger students may be having.
Currently, there are 36 leaders and 156 Grade 9s participating in the Link Crew program, Labelle continues, totalling 18 teams for the year.
This is only the second year Gloucester has run the initiative, she says, with the east-end school the first in Eastern Ontario to provide it. Initially conceived in California, the program has now spread to six other schools across the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Labelle adds.
Though Link leaders get training via an in-school class all year long on subjects ranging from different types of tutoring to multiple intelligences, American Link Crew organizers came to Ottawa for special training, she recounts.
The day-long sessions – held on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at Bell High School in the west end – hosted all six local schools, Labelle explains. The sessions are typically held in the United States, she continues, making it all the more exciting.
Gloucester students were able to network with other groups, compare ideas and complete additional training, she says.
“It was so much fun,” recounts Grade 12 student and Link leader Kelsea Lancaster, with the group completing different leadership activities like role-playing.
“It was a room full of nice people,” adds Allison Pieters-Sutherland, a fellow mentor and Grade 12 student, of meeting their citywide colleagues. “We all just got along.”
Both joined the group after receiving recommendations from teachers and hearing positive comments, the pair explains, as well as a way to prepare for their desired future careers in education.
“I remembered how it was in my Grade 9 year,” Pieters-Sutherland says of her motivation for wanting to get involved.
The sense of friendship and belonging amongst Link Crew leaders is one reason the program is so successful, Lancaster continues.
“Everyone is friends with everybody,” she illustrates. “We’re like a family. It’s a class we look forward to every day.”
And though Link Crew is more about “helping the (Grade 9s) to get something out of it,” Lancaster continues, students on both sides gain lifelong skills and become more caring, giving individuals.
Looking back, participating in Link Crew “was the best thing I ever did in my high school (experience),” she says, citing new friends made and new skills gained. “It’s taught us to be kind, and not to look down on anybody … to have respect for yourself, and everybody else.”