Photo by Maggie Jarman

     Student leaders can connect easily with the ninth graders. This makes it easy for them to get the encouraging guidance they need by having someone closer in age to relate to, rather than trying to relate to a teacher.

     “We want to put in place people who know some things,” Leach said. “A student-to-student contact is great, and they will listen to students more than they will listen to adults.”

     Senior Miranda Bagley is one of the many Link Crew leaders who put in the effort to help ninth-grade students. She gives her useful insight when advising the ninth graders and tries her best to be a useful resource for them.

     “I think as a senior, [being a Link Crew leader is] important because you’ve gone through all four years of high school at this point,” Bagley said. “You can give them the most information because you’re the oldest and you’ve done all of it.”

     Freshman Walker Aldridge recently came to Rose after attending C.M. Eppes Middle School. He is one of the ninth graders who gets to experience advisory with Bagley. Aldridge utilized the information and advice that Bagley and his other leaders provided him.

     “My leaders were showing me what to do and telling me what to do,” Aldridge said. “I can ask them questions because the upperclassmen have done [this] stuff before.

     Ninth-Grade orientation includes playing fun games, getting to know each other and walking around the school to grow familiarity in the rampant garden.

     “I had a great time; I liked to meet all of my teachers and [further my] love [for] Rose,” Aldridge said. “I was more comfortable going into school on the first day; I got to see some people who were in my classes and see where my Link Crew Leaders were; they made me feel more welcomed.”

     Link Crew has carried on year after year, as Leach and Noles have played big roles in continuing the thoughtful tradition. Leach has been involved since 2005; Noles started shortly after. One of the ways student leaders can help is by introducing the many advantages that Rose has to offer. Ninth graders can learn about clubs to join, sports to play, make new friends with leaders or even get the chance to explore new friend groups.         “If you have a good Link Crew leader, then you, as a ninth grader, can get invested in this school,” Noles said. “It opens up a ninth grader to a lot of possibilities they might not otherwise have.”

     Having an involved Link Crew leader can go a long way. They can provide ninth graders a warm welcome not only for their first year, but also for the rest of high school.

     “We know that it’s such an important step to have a good beginning,” Leach said.

     If you don’t have a good beginning, you might not get involved, [you] might not want to continue coming back. Leach and Noles are looking forward to hearing about the direction that leaders are pointing the ninth graders in, as well as how the advisories with them blossom over time.

     “We got off to a great start this year, and I’m excited to hear all the feedback after we do activities and [hear] from people that this went well,” Leach said. “I love to hear the successes.”

successes.”