MONROE - The Monroe School District is aiming to link in new freshmen to help ease the stress of eighth-graders transitioning to high school.
Starting next fall, 42 current Monroe High School students will serve as crew leaders in Link Crew, a transition program used in more than 2,200 high schools across the country. The Monroe High School transition program came about after several teachers made a trip to Minnesota to see Link Crew schools at work.
Debbie Schmidt, Monroe High School counselor and Link Crew coordinator, updated the Monroe school board Monday, May 13 on the high school's timeline and training planned this summer.
"The goal is to take our orientation and make a first impression on the freshman a positive one," Schmidt said. "We are hoping to see improvement in attendance and a reduction of referrals. It's a phenomenal program. Not only for the freshman, but our leaders."
The Link Crew leaders will go through 12 hours of training this summer. There were 87 students who applied to be Link Crew leaders.
Schmidt said the orientation for freshman the first day of school will include an assembly and activity period in the gym. Then junior and senior crew leaders will guide freshman in team-building activities, skill development, discussions and follow-up socials.
Monroe School District Superintendent Cory Hirsbrunner said in schools in which transition programs are fully operational, researchers saw a dropout rate of 8 percent, while schools without transition programs averaged 24 percent.
Hirsbrunner said she had the most e-mails and phone calls she has ever had from teachers who attended a professional development training wanting to implement the program.
Board member Brian Keith supports the Link Crew program, after learning about it through the Verona school district.
"Getting the kids early helps alleviate a lot of stress," Keith said. "I'm a huge fan of this."
Starting next fall, 42 current Monroe High School students will serve as crew leaders in Link Crew, a transition program used in more than 2,200 high schools across the country. The Monroe High School transition program came about after several teachers made a trip to Minnesota to see Link Crew schools at work.
Debbie Schmidt, Monroe High School counselor and Link Crew coordinator, updated the Monroe school board Monday, May 13 on the high school's timeline and training planned this summer.
"The goal is to take our orientation and make a first impression on the freshman a positive one," Schmidt said. "We are hoping to see improvement in attendance and a reduction of referrals. It's a phenomenal program. Not only for the freshman, but our leaders."
The Link Crew leaders will go through 12 hours of training this summer. There were 87 students who applied to be Link Crew leaders.
Schmidt said the orientation for freshman the first day of school will include an assembly and activity period in the gym. Then junior and senior crew leaders will guide freshman in team-building activities, skill development, discussions and follow-up socials.
Monroe School District Superintendent Cory Hirsbrunner said in schools in which transition programs are fully operational, researchers saw a dropout rate of 8 percent, while schools without transition programs averaged 24 percent.
Hirsbrunner said she had the most e-mails and phone calls she has ever had from teachers who attended a professional development training wanting to implement the program.
Board member Brian Keith supports the Link Crew program, after learning about it through the Verona school district.
"Getting the kids early helps alleviate a lot of stress," Keith said. "I'm a huge fan of this."