Link Crew is a High School transition program that welcomes Grade 8’s and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their High School experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, McMath Junior and Senior Leadership students use the skills that are acquired in class to connect with the Grade 8’s. As positive role models, Link Leaders are motivators, leaders and teachers who guide the Grade 8’s to discover what it takes to be successful both socially and academically during the transition to High School and they help facilitate their success all year long.

More and more studies show that if students have a positive experience during their first year in High School, their chance for success increases dramatically. The Link Crew High School transition program provides the structure for Grade 8’s to receive support and guidance from Junior and Senior Leaders who have been through the challenges that High School poses, and understand that the transition to a larger school can sometimes be overwhelming.

The vision for the McMath Link Crew is to provide both academic and social support throughout the school year. Academically the Link Leaders will introduce some basic strategies that will contribute to Grade 8 High School success. This is accomplished via a Peer2Peer model where Link Leaders are trained to teach and deliver life skill lessons in Grade Eight classrooms. This year the plan is to develop a curriculum that touches on the following four topics: academics, social/emotional connectedness/socialization, and personal management.

Socially the Link Leaders also facilitate interaction during the year. These activities allow the Grade 8’s and their Link Crew Leaders to be connected in a number of different ways. 

McMath was the first school in Richmond to offer this unique yearlong connection between senior and junior students and the program provides a hands-on opportunity to demonstrate ~ ‘Wildcats Helping Wildcats.’