By The Forum Staff

Alarm clocks buzzed and the school bells rang on Aug. 12 for freshmen and new students to Legend. Juniors and seniors in the Link Crew program guided these 550 new students through their first day in a new school.

The day “was fabulous,” according to math teacher and Link Crew sponsor Michael Cordova. “This was the best Link Crew group ever.”

The Class of 2017 sat in the gym bleachers as science teacher and Link Crew sponsor Jay Zimmerman and Principal Corey Wise greeted them with ice-breaking activities and speeches on how to live out their high school experience.

In pairs, Link Crew leaders then grouped together with their 11 students and went to empty classrooms to engage in more ice-breaking and team-building activities.

“I liked the get-to-know you games. My favorite was team juggling with a tape ball,” freshman Kalee Ring said.

Link Crew leaders, who received training the previous week on Aug. 7 and 8, had the option to dress up their freshmen in different costumes, such as junior Ayana Shambe’s homemade Titan capes and junior Hallie Denman and senior Dylan Leighner’s huge glasses.

“[I liked] getting to know all the different freshmen and helping them get around and learn what’s special about our school,” Link Crew leader Christina Ducat, a senior, said. Ducat was in Link Crew last year as well.

After the multiple activities, the groups went through three rotations: technology lab with teachers, a school tour of the classrooms and lockers, and lunch.

The new sophomores, juniors and seniors went on a scavenger hunt instead of grouping with Link Crew leaders. The freshmen will perform the scavenger hunt during the school year in their Freshman Transition classes.

As a new addition to the Link Crew program, 31 leaders have committed to continue to help and mentor the freshmen throughout the year during their Freshman Transition classes.