Photo Courtesy of Link Crew

By Ashley Gilbert & Anna-Carolina Knapp

On Monday, December 4, Link Crew and AMP collaborated to host a remarkable opportunity for freshmen: Cocoa, Cookies, and Cram. This opportunity offered freshmen a dedicated time before finals weeks to engage in valuable tutoring. It also offered an opportunity to clear detention hours while indulging in hot chocolate and cookies.

During Cocoa, Cookies, and Cram, Link Crew leaders, AMP tutors, and teachers helped mentor and prepare freshmen for their upcoming finals. Getting help studying and completing last-minute homework was especially helpful for freshmen as this is their first round of high school finals. This event had a variety of stations for students to seek guidance and support in various subjects including math, English, science, and different foreign languages.

“Our objective is to be able to provide a space for our freshmen to study and prepare for finals,” Co-Coordinator of Link Crew Yadira Martinez said. “There are a lot of students that may not have that space or environment at home.”

Cocoa, Cookies, and Cram definitely provided this comforting and helpful environment, leaving the freshmen who attended feeling more confident.

“Another goal is for our freshmen population to feel supported during their first finals week in high school,” Co-Coordinator of Link Crew Cassandra Gonzalez said. “We hope they can feel more welcomed and comfortable on such a big campus by showing them our support.”

The Link Crew takes on the crucial role of guiding incoming freshmen through their first year of high school with exceptional care and support. One key initiative is the grand welcome event during Summer Transition Academy (STA), where the overwhelming nature of the high school is diminished through small group activities and an enlightening school tour.

“Our Link Crew leaders are trained to run the orientation for the first two days of school, which is a monumental task,” Martinez said. “After orientation, we continue to foster connections with the freshmen through various social events, such as Freshman Football Hangout, to help them become acquainted with the school and its vibrant community.”

Cocoa, Cookies, and Cram is just one of the many events that Link Crew puts on to support freshmen throughout their first year in high school.