MILL CREEK – Some Henry M. Jackson High School juniors and seniors will do just about anything to get freshmen over their transition jitters.
The hokey-pokey and Duck, Duck, Goose were fair game last week as self-assured upperclassmen managed to convince reticent ninth-graders to unfold their arms, raise their eyes from the gym floor and shed a few inhibitions.
Ashley Allen, a senior, said a survey of freshmen found one of their biggest fears is seniors. Other concerns were lunches, a six-period day and finding their way around.
“We want them to know they have some support,” said Allen, a member of the school’s Leader of the Pack mentor program.
Jackson, where classes start this morning, reflects a growing trend: More and more high schools are tapping juniors and seniors to help make freshmen feel welcome.
Geoff Bennett, an assistant Edmonds-Woodway High School principal, believes the strategy works. At Edmonds-Woodway and many schools, the upperclassmen are part of a group called Link Crew.
“It’s difficult to statistically measure the effectiveness of the Link Crew, but I have noticed a decrease in hazing that used to exist in many high schools,” he said.
Bennett, for one, can still remember his freshmen year at Edmonds High School in 1967 when a senior football player made him do pushups on the first day.
At Edmonds-Woodway, the Link Crew has been in place for five years. Before school started last week, 85 upperclassmen volunteers helped 300 freshmen – about three-quarters of the class – explore their new campus while engaging them in ice-breaking conversations with new classmates.
The school has no trouble finding enough volunteers.
“We always have more people apply than we need,” said Sherri Webster, the Edmond-Woodway activities coordinator.
Last week, purple-shirted upperclassmen from Kamiak High School helped wayward freshmen interpret their schedules and find classes on their first day. They, too, will try to keep in close contact with their freshmen.
At Jackson last week, Allen, a senior, gave student-to-student advice about high school, telling her four freshmen to dress warm for football games and to give an upcoming ice cream social a try. She urged them to get involved in their new school.
Jackson administrators considered bringing in a consultant to help organize the freshmen orientation. The upperclassmen wanted no part of it.
“These guys are really taking it upon themselves to help the freshmen,” said Dave Peters, an assistant principal, as he watched the seniors leading flocks of freshmen here and there.
Typically, the orientation is not a one-day encounter.
At Jackson, the juniors and seniors will contact their freshmen several times in the next few weeks through face-to-face meetings or e-mail to check on how they are doing. They will invite them to a football game, a basketball game, a movie and other events.
“If you are having a problem, you can come to me,” Allen told her students.
Freshmen Jason Nolte and Andrew McDougal said the orientation helps.
“Finding my classes is my big concern,” McDougal said. “This takes some of the pressure off.”
“This helps. I don’t have any concern,” Nolte said. “I have been looking forward to this for a while, getting out of middle school and going to high school. I just can’t wait until school starts.”
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
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