Each school year, a team of William Paca Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade students work together to help incoming sixth-grade students adjust to the transition from elementary school to middle school. This group of students, known as the Bridge Crew, have been a staple of the William Paca Middle School community since the 2018-19 school year. Created through the efforts of Paca’s administrative team and school social worker and advisor Alyssa Cabrera, the Bridge Crew is designed to improve the new student experience at Paca and help “bridge” the gap between elementary and middle school.

The Bridge Crew helps support Paca’s newest students by hosting numerous events for them throughout the year, beginning with the Ice Cream Social. This event provides a great opportunity for incoming sixth graders to play games, have fun and make new friends early in the new school year. Other events include the Fall Festival, Winter Funderland, Spring Fling and the Mash-Up.

The Bridge Crew also helps students and their families at the sixth-grade walkthrough in August and assists sixth-grade students in finding their classes and/or opening up their lockers during the first weeks of school. This assistance also extends to any new student that starts at Paca during the school year. New students are assigned a buddy from the Bridge Crew who shows them around the building and to their classes while also providing information on all of the clubs and activities available to them.

Approximately 40 students are selected each year to join the Bridge Crew after going through a competitive and thorough application process. These student leaders are recommended at the end of sixth grade by a teacher – for the following year – for demonstrating leadership, compassion for others, and who possess an outgoing and helpful demeanor, noted Ms. Cabrera. Rising seventh-grade members, as well as the recommended rising sixth graders, must then complete an application that is reviewed by administrators, faculty and staff, before a lottery is held to select Bridge Crew members for the upcoming school year.

To further ensure that student members are prepared for their role as full-fledged Bridge Crew members, they must also fill out a contract and complete a three-hour training session over the summer.

The effort that goes into applying for the Bridge Crew is certainly worthwhile, as the students who are chosen to be a part of the program benefit just as much as the students they are tasked with assisting.

“We’ve had many students from the past who come back to tell us that it has helped them get out of their comfort zone, become more outgoing, helpful and involved in more clubs and other activities the school has to offer,” said Ms. Cabrera. “They also feel it has helped them become leaders in their school as well as the community.”

The Bridge Crew is a truly special program that helps make countless students and families feel comfortable, engaged and welcomed within the Paca school community!

William Floyd Middle School has a similar Student Ambassador program where students help their peers new to the school and district acclimate to the school community. This group will be profiled in the near future!