Student leaders from both Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute (OSCVI) and West Hill Secondary School (WHSS) joined forces on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at the Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre (BOEC) near Wiarton for a Link Crew training event. Seventy students participated in team-building and training activities that will prepare them to welcome incoming grade 9 students to the newly combined secondary school in Owen Sound in September 2016.
"It was great to see students from both schools come together to work towards a common goal," says WHSS Link Crew coordinator Chris Ewing. A team of teachers from both schools along with staff at the BOEC led thetraining exercises throughout the day.
"The Link Leaders from OSCVI were very excited to connect with their new classmates to get the Link Crew process started. The students recognize that their leadership and mentoring are essential to the success of the grade 9 class. After we dropped off the West Hill students at the end of the day, the bus was buzzing with positive energy. Our leaders had a great day connecting with the other leaders, and are very much looking forward to this process going forward," says OSCVI Link Crew coordinator Michael Harris.
"It was cool to meet with and get to know the West Hill leaders. They were a lot of fun to work with. I am excited for the next school year and I want to help the new students get off to a good start in September," says Graham Askwith, a Link Leader from OSCVI.
"Today we worked together with the intention of creating the best possible atmosphere for all students next year, while meeting new people and sharing ideas about what our new school could be," says Hannah Merner, one of the student leaders. This will be Hannah's third year participating in the Link Crew program.
Students will meet for two more training days in late August before welcoming the grade 9s on the first day of the new school year. This September will also mark the 10th anniversary of the Link Crew program in Bluewater District School Board. The mentorship program gives grade 9 students a chance to meet fellow incoming students, as well as make connections with senior mentors to help ease the transition into secondary school.
