As the class of 2028 arrived, Link Crew implemented changes to their system, including freshman orientation events, aiming to improve their overall peer mentorship and ease the transition into highschool, drawing on the experience of upperclassmen.

Link Crew started three years ago with the purpose of welcoming freshmen to  the school.

“We decided when it started three years ago that it was going to be a program that would build every single year and grow every single year, and that we would try to change what we needed to in order to fit our school mold and what the students needed,” Olivia Bogert, TPHS English 11 teacher, AP English Literature and Composition teacher and Link Crew adviser said.

Many adjustments were made to freshmen orientation this year, including schedule changes, shorter presentations and additional information on how to navigate the school.

After analyzing the results of surveys from 2023-2024, Bogert concluded that the freshmen “appreciated the activities that are meant to connect them as a group, but … they wanted more information on their classrooms, more information on the schedule.”

To improve upon this, Link Crew provided every freshman a folder containing the bell schedule, calendar and campus map. Additionally, they helped freshmen find their classes in a campus tour.

“Myself, PALs, ASB and Falcon Vision, along with the admin, got together … to make sure the freshmen know what is offered here,” Bogert said.

At the start of orientation, Link Crew showed a student-made film by Falcon Vision member Portia Perry (10), which presented numerous school programs with the intention of sparking the interest of freshmen.

Link Crew members also expressed that they see improvement in the organization of freshmen orientation compared to previous years.

“Just looking at freshman orientation, it went way smoother,” Link Crew commissioner Reid Habas (12) said, “We had a way better structure, and it just seems like everything’s a lot more put together than it has been in the past years.”

Many of the freshmen found their Link Crew leaders and the orientation to be extremely helpful.

“I wouldn’t have been able to know as much information as I do, and they’ve helped me make a lot of friends inside of my orientation,” Avery Kapsh (9) said.

Habas credits their successes this year to Bogert for “her great planning skills, the way she restructured the whole event, as well as [the] Link Crew commissioners that have worked hard throughout the past year.”

Nonetheless, Bogert is always looking for ways to further improve.

“I’ve already figured out some changes to orientation next year just based on timing, but we’re finally at that point where we can fine tune,” Bogert said, “In regards to the year as a whole, we’re trying out more social and academic events, but then we’re going to follow up with the freshmen and see if those were successful and then see how next year we can continue to add, change, delete.”

With a clearer vision of what the freshman truly need in mind, Bogert feels “very confident after the freshman orientation and [seeing] all the smiling faces.” Link crew is expected to continue powering up as facilitators of the transition into high school.