Burroughs High School kicked off the school year by hosting its annual Link Crew orientation on Monday, Aug. 5, welcoming the incoming class of 2029 with games and campus tours. The event aimed to ease the transition into high school for freshmen by connecting them with trained upperclassmen leaders.
Link Crew is a student-led program made up of sophomores, juniors, and seniors who volunteer to support freshmen as they begin their high school journey. The orientation featured high-energy activities in the gym, small group sessions, and personalized guidance designed to help students feel confident and connected.
“My hopes for this year’s Link Crew were to continue making it a fun and inviting experience for our incoming freshmen,” said Link Crew Advisor and History Teacher Emily Grogman. “Starting high school can be scary and intimidating, and I hoped that with our Link Leaders, we made that transition a little bit easier.”
This year marked a leadership transition for the program, as Grogman took over from longtime advisor Bob Hope, who is now retired. In addition to organizing the event and training the student leaders, Grogman ran the incoming freshmen through an energy-filled orientation program in the gym.
“It was my first time running the show, and while I know there are areas to improve for future years, overall I think this year went smoothly,” said Grogman.
The success of the orientation and outreach fell in large part to the Link Leaders. To become a Link Leader, students had to apply in the spring, receive a recommendation from a teacher, and attend summer training. Leaders helped organize materials, decorate the campus, and guide freshmen through activities like the Name Tag and 64 Squares games, which encouraged teamwork and conversation.
Senior Link Leader Jasmine Cases-Flores shared how meaningful the experience was for her.
“The most rewarding part was being able to give the freshmen something I didn’t have,” said Flores. “As a military kid, I missed out on orientation because of the Navy lifestyle. Helping others through that transition meant a lot.”
Freshman Sofia Buchan said the experience helped her overcome her initial nerves.
“I felt shy and had anxiety, but after I felt more comfortable with talking,” said Buchan. “The activity that helped me feel more comfortable was when we were eating donuts and talking to each other.”
By the end of the day, she felt ready for the year ahead.
“I feel more confident about starting now because I know where all my classes are. I also now have friends to talk to, so it won’t be as weird.”
With smiles, high-fives, and new friendships formed, Link Crew Orientation helped set the tone for a positive start to high school. The class of 2029 is off and running with support behind them every step of the way.
Grogman expressed her gratitude to the student leaders and shared her hopes for the future of the program.
“Thank you to all the Link Leaders this year! Y’all made this whole process fun and easy,” Grogman said. “I hope to see our juniors and A-Team return for 2026 Link Crew.”
