KDSS to hold Link Crew Day for new Grade 9 students, Sept. 5

A popular back-to-school tradition for students entering secondary school for the first time, will return Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Link Crew Day will mark its 11th year in the Bluewater District School Board as all nine high schools, including Kincardine District Secondary School, offer up a host of orientation and welcoming activities for incoming Grade 9 students.

The peer-to-peer relationships that develop between the new Grade 9 students and participating senior secondary students, are the essence of Link Crew Day. The senior students, who have received prior ‘Link Leader’ training, act as mentors to their younger peers by providing guidance through their own previous first-hand experiences to help ensure smooth transitions to high school.

“We know that entering secondary school for the first time is a significant adjustment for many students, especially if it is their first time in an unfamiliar building with new classmates and staff," says Blair Hilts, learning services administrator - student success. "Link Crew Day is specifically designed to help break the ice and alleviate some of that stress by providing new Grade 9 students with an entire day of fun, team-building activities.”

The hashtag, #BWDSBLinkCrew, has been created for schools to share their Link Crew details and photos on social media.

With Grade 9 students attending Link Crew Day Sept. 5,, the first official day of school for Bluewater school board students entering Grades 10, 11 and 12, will be Wednesday, Sept. 6.