Approximately 500 incoming freshman students and their parents were welcomed to the Newport Harbor campus on August 16 for the annual Anchor Down event. Parents attended an informational presentation designed to help them become familiar with the school's leadership, including new Principal Dr. Kevin Astor, members of the administrative team, department and program chairs, and the various parent community organizations that support Newport Harbor High School. Students were matched in groups with Link Crew, a student-led organization, for the day.

 

"The high school experience is an important milestone for both students and their families. It is also a more complex journey, as students become increasingly independent and opportunities for parent involvement naturally become less frequent”, said Stacy Peterson, Newport Harbor Educational Executive Director. “It’s important to connect us all together.”

 

An internationally recognized high school student leadership program, Link Crew welcomes and mentors freshman students to help them feel more comfortable about the first year of their high school experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, students from the junior and senior classes go through a 10+ hour training to be Link Crew Leaders. As positive role models, Link Crew Leaders help guide freshman students to discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to high school, help facilitate freshman success at NHHS, and make a positive impact on school culture as an NHHS Sailor. 

 

More studies show that if students have a positive experience during their first year in high school, their chance for success increases dramatically. Link Crew provides the structure for freshmen to receive support and guidance from juniors and seniors who have been through the challenges that high school poses and understand that the transition to a larger school environment can sometimes be overwhelming.

 

The goal is to provide a structure in which students make real connections with each other, thus increasing respect among all members of Sailor Nation, school safety, and Sailor pride. The Freshman class also got a campus tour, lunch catered by TK Burger, and completed the registration process where they took their ID and yearbook photos, made purchases at the Sailor Store, got locker assignments, and received tentative schedules. 

 

“Through the training, I learned more about how people think and act around a community they aren’t familiar with. When school started, we put on events for the freshmen, like a Halloween Candy Hunt and Hot Chocolate Hangouts. Being able to interact with students just starting high school is gratifying when you get to be a big part of their beginning experience,’ said former Link Crew member Nikki Sharp.