Transitioning from Middle School

Link Crew is a freshman transition program that welcomes incoming freshmen to Arvada West and makes them feel comfortable and supported throughout the first year of their high school experience. 

Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, the Link program trains mentors from the junior and senior class to be Link Leaders. As positive role models, Link Leaders provide support and guidance to ninth-graders and help them discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to high school. Link Leaders check on their freshmen periodically throughout the year to make sure they are immersing themselves in the school culture and doing their best to maintain academic success. 

Throughout the school year Link Crew will organize multiple events, small and large, to give freshmen the opportunity to get involved on campus and create lasting memories.

Learn more about Arvada West Link Crew

Starting high school is an exciting event in a student’s life and can also be a challenging time as well. By definition, transition means the change from one place, state of being, or condition to another place, state of being, or condition. 

This transition means a whole new school building, new teachers, new classmates, and notably more challenging material along with enhanced postsecondary planning and graduation requirements. This transition affects adolescents’ academic experiences, motivation, self-perception, and self-regulation. This process also affects parents and teachers. 

Effective transition programs help students move to a new school and become a part of the new school.  With the implementation of transition programs and the support of parents, teachers, administrators, and mental health professionals, this transition can positively impact students both socially and academically.