Link Crew is all about making and maintaining connections.  People function on a much higher level when they feel connected to one another.  When we show that we care about people they feel respected and valued.  They are more likely to perform better academically and to succeed socially and emotionally. The following are true accounts and tangible evidence of our success with the program.

Each time an important connection is made between a Link Leader and a freshman, a marble is placed in our marble jar.  The jar serves as a visible reminder of the impact Link Crew is having on the IHS community.

Disclaimer: Postings are kept anonymous to maintain the privacy of the individuals involved.

~ “On Halloween, **** and I made 100% contact with our crew.  We figured out their lunches, and if we couldn’t find them during a lunch period, we got their schedule and found them during our free periods.  One girl came up to us later in the day and thanked us for the candy.”

~ “The first two days of school **** and I observed one of our crew members sitting by himself during lunch.  Both days we talked to him but believed he would eventually make friends and find people to sit at the table with him.  On the third day he was still by himself so we invited him to sit at our table with us.  He sat at our table the rest of the school year.”

~ “On orientation, Sam and I asked everyone’s birthdays.  Today is *****’s birthday and she had said this was a big one for her.  So we went out this morning and bought cookies and decorated a cool box for her.  I saw her between classes and gave it to her and I saw her face light up.  She gave me a big hug in the hallway.  I could tell she really liked having us know and remember to do something special for her.”

~ “Almost every day, in the busy hallways of IHS, I see one of the freshmen from my Link Crew.  At first it would take him a minute to remember who I was, and why was this ‘big kid’ talking to him?  I’d always come up behind him and give him a friendly shove, and then we’d stop and talk.  Now we know each other pretty well, and every now and then I feel a shove, and when I turn around, there he is.  We always stop and say hi, and I ask how he’s doing and what’s new.  I’m not sure if I’m making a positive difference in his first year at the ‘big, scary high school’, but I really admire him and his enthusiasm for what we’re trying to do.  Unlike some of the other kids in my crew, he doesn’t roll his eyes and act bored when I talk to him and ask him questions.  It is this daily interaction that accounts for me putting a marble in the jar”

~ “***** added me as a friend on myspace and I see him all over the plave! He looks like he is doing awesome! He’s always smiling and really friendly to me.”

~ “One of my Link Crew members instant messaged me just to say hello.  I asked hew how all of her classes were going and she said that they were going well but that she is having trouble balancing volleyball and all of her homework. We had a nice conversation.  I see her in school sometimes too and it seems like she is doing really well!”

~ "We met with 100% of our freshmen on halloween. All revieved candy!"

~ “I was teaching a class and had time left over, so I asked if there were any questions.  One dude raised his hand and asked if he could be a Link Leader!”

~ “I saw a freshman I had taught sitting alone reading, so I went over and we had a nice conversation about books!”

~ “Yesterday I called my crew just to check in, I reached seven of them and it was really cool to catch up!”

~ “I gave my Link Crew my cell number and one of my kids text messaged me just to say hello.  I called back because I haven’t seen him in a few days and he called me back to say he had been sick and we chatted.  I also chilled with ****** during 6th period lunch yesterday.”

~ “I was in the quiet section of the library and I saw ****** there. Since we couldn’t talk I wrote her a note telling her to email me if she wanted to talk, and she did!”

~ “On Thursday a freshman girl was lost so I helped her.  I ran into her trying to open her locker and I helped her again.”

~ “On orientation day we had a freshman who was rebellious and didn’t want to do anything but by the end he was all interested in 64 squares and he actually talked to me during the fire drill.  Now we say ‘Hi’ in the halls.”
~ “****** came to the auditions for the fall play, which I am stage managing.  I asked her if she was interested in production and now she’s the assistant stage manager, and I see her almost every day at rehearsal.  She’s really cool…she does Spanish theater and Spanish was her first language.”

~ “My Link Crew say hi to me in the hall!!!”

~ “I called **** and asked how she’s doing in school, what she thought about her teachers and if she needed any help with anything.  She was very surprised and seemed happy to hear from me.”

~ “****** said she was having trouble in biology so I helped by telling her to talk to her teacher.  I asked her how her grades are and how’s school.  I think ****** was happy to know that we stay in contact with our crew members.”