Planning. Performing. Executing.
These three things make up most of the events that happen at Del Oro High, although there is one group out of the many that makes the magic possible, Link Crew.
Link Crew is a nationally recognized program that helps freshmen adjust to high school life. The ultimate goal for the program is to strengthen the campus community and culture, and with the help of their advisor, Madison Holmes, a Del Oro art teacher, that is achievable.
“All of these kids [who] showed up were either recommended or applied at the end of last year,” Holmes said. “[They] sacrificed their summertime to be trained and partnered up.”
Link Crew has organized several events this semester, including freshman orientation and a tailgate party prior to the start of the football team’s first home game on Sept. 5. The group’s next event is a Cocoa & Cram party in the cafeteria on Dec. 16 to help students prepare for finals. The event runs from 4-6 p.m. and provides tutoring for various subjects, as well as coffee, hot cocoa and refreshments.
Senior Stephanie Coronado talked about her experience as a Link Crew leader and explained how she has made connections with her peers. She said Link Crew has helped her be more sociable and confident in her speech and contact with others.
“I think that if you’re interested in a program like Link Crew, maybe you have some level of sociability at least,” Coronado said. “I always liked being social but it definitely helped me get more practice because to get those ninth graders to speak and talk to you is hard.
“They always want to have this protection of not caring when in reality it’s hard not to care.”
Lakhwinder Gansie, a freshman at Del Oro High School and his link leader, Andrew Ruiz, both have stated that being in the Link Crew program has been a fun experience and has helped them get out of their shells and express themselves more.
“He’s nice, he has the same interests as me,” Gansie said. “It’s cool to have someone like that. I talk to him about what kind of sports he’s gonna do”
Ruiz stated that their advisor, Holmes, has been there for them since the program started.
“It’s been great, it’s been awesome,” Ruiz said. “Ms. Holmes is a really good teacher; she cares a lot. She looks after her link crew leaders. If they need water, she’ll give them water. If they need food, she will ask. If they look some type of way, then she’ll ask.”
