When science and AVID teacher Sarah Noack proposed a freshman-oriented program that would aid the transition to high school, former principal Nicole Griffith’s interests were spiked. Griffith introduced Noack to a program she had run before at Austin High called Link Crew. The group would focus on introducing the freshmen class to the campus and helping them settle in throughout the year. 

Noack recruited history teacher Ashley Friedman and assistant principal Gabriel Adame to assist in her starting it in January of 2023. The three of them flew to Portland, Oregon, to begin the training process and were taught everything from the Link Crew company, Boomerang, preparing them for the incoming year of applicants. When they returned, they sent out applications and chose the crew members for 2023. They held their first freshmen orientation in August of 2023, allowing the class of 2027 to experience a tour of McCallum prior to the year starting. 

Since the training in Portland, they have had three different groups come through the program, giving Noack the chance to grow to love many parts. 

“One of my favorite parts is playing games,” Noack said. “Especially this game partner tag, where we [Noack and Friedman] have the members say really unhinged things to one another and watch y’all run around. I look forward to it because it just makes me laugh and it’s just so funny how intense it gets.

With most of Noack’s job consisting of grading papers and leading lessons in her science classes, she enjoys the time spent outside of that with no academic standards. 

“I love hanging out with kids in a space that feels like fun and silly,” Noack said. “We’re free to do that and I’m not having to grade anyone.” 

Leaders are given many responsibilities when being accepted into the program, with one of the biggest being the freshmen’s number one supporter when they walk into the halls of McCallum for the first time.

“We have to be a good mentor and good example for the freshmen,” junior Link Leader Davianna Rondero said. 

Freshmen orientation took a new name this past summer and is now known as Big Mac Day. The leaders came in a week prior for training, so they were well prepared when the big day finally came. Big Mac Day consisted of Link Leaders leading the freshmen through various team-building games and then concluding with a tour of McCallum.

“The leaders did an amazing job managing their groups and setting up prior,” Rondero said. “Everything for sure paid off.”

 Freshman Ava Strickland thinks that the introduction of the school benefited her when it came time to come for the first day. 

“It helped me know where some of my classes might be,” Strickland said. 

When looking to the future, the leaders and teachers have many ideas on how to develop the program. 

“Something I hope to change next year is creating a more welcoming environment for the incoming freshmen to minimize their stress and anxiety over entering a new environment,” Rondero said. “Link Crew is already doing a great job of this so far, but I would love to strive to do even better next year.”

Similar to Rondero, Noack has hopes for the incoming years in creating a strong and safe place for freshmen to be. 

“My hope is that it changes some of the general attitude toward freshmen,” Noack said.  “I wish that upperclassmen would say, ‘Welcome to our school, you belong here,’ to the freshmen.”

After having to watch how the freshmen were treated on campus for many years, Noack has developed a passion for working on their inclusion.  

“They belong here,” Noack said. “They can be sweet, kind, loving and have lots of school spirit. This should be a place where they feel welcomed and not shunned for how young they are.”

While Noack has long-term goals, she also has short-term goals that she feels will be more tangible. 

“I would love to have a freshman night at one of the football games,” Noack said. “Where freshmen tickets are free, Link Crew sits together with them and we just have a big student section for one of the games.”

Overall, Noack hopes to continuously grow the program and hopefully make a difference in the freshmen’s lives.

“I hope slowly, over time, the culture will become more welcoming,” Noack said.