Similar to the Green Keys assigned to new students, First Link volunteers are assigned to an incoming family by the Admission Office in May. They are first asked to reach out before the end of the current school year to welcome them. Volunteers do not need to be an expert on all things Deerfield, but they should be willing to keep in touch over the summer, and follow up throughout the year to provide advice and assistance as new families adjust to the Deerfield community and independent school life.
Many friendships and supportive relationships have formed as a result of the First Link program. Below is a snapshot of some of our favorite quotes from First Link parents. We hope you will consider volunteering to become a part of this supportive and welcoming initiative!
Volunteers to the First Link program foster connections and build relationships with newly admitted DA families. Involvement in this welcoming initiative helps current parents further integrate into the Deerfield community by outreaching to new families locally, regionally and internationally, forming relationships, sharing knowledge, offering support and enhancing the school experience for all.
As a First Link volunteer you will be given information to guide you, including a brief timeline, sample letters and important links to share with new families.Responsibilities include:
If you would like to volunteer as a First Link, and help us build strong partnerships between Deerfield parents and the school, we would appreciate your help.
Many of you remember how it felt the moment your child received their acceptance to Deerfield. If you are anything like us, pride and elation were soon eclipsed by questions and concerns as how best to organize and prepare for the changes ahead. Enrolling a son or a daughter at a new school, particularly a boarding school, is a decision that brings about different emotions and the search for information and direction. How do students manage laundry? Will the Health Center look after my child if they get sick? What is a “closed” weekend? How are roommates assigned? What does a family weekend entail?
We soon came to realize that answers were on the way via Deerfield’s “First Link” volunteers—current Deerfield families who are “linked” with a new incoming family to welcome them to the community and serve as a liaison and resource before and throughout their child’s first year.
A senior parent reflects on her own experience as a new parent: “While my son had been contacted by Admission and his Green Key, it is hard to describe the relief I felt in being contacted by my First Link, and not having to figure everything out by myself. Having a veteran of the Deerfield Experience walk me through the potential minefield of preparing for boarding school was a priceless gift. Not only did they provide valuable information about travel, accommodation, and more, we have remained great friends ever since. I found the experience so positive that I couldn’t wait to volunteer to be a First Link myself. And I am happy to report many of my Links are now Links, too—a gift that keeps on giving.”
Looking ahead, a new group of parents will join our community this summer, and they need our help—just as we needed our First Links help. Please volunteer to be a First Link family; it really takes very little time and is a great way to become more involved with Deerfield, to build new relationships, and to stay informed about the exciting things happening on campus. Parent involvement can always be rewarding—in this case, it builds your DA network and has a positive impact on our community!
If you are willing to serve as a First Link to an incoming family this year, please sign up below. Thank you, and we look forward to contacting you in May.
Travis Acquavella P’25,’27
Julia Cuddihy Van Nice P’24,’25
Leslee MacKenzie P’21,’24
Mary Read P’24
Co-Chairs First Link
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Julia Flannery, P’21
jflannery@deerfield.edu
413-774-1593
7 Boyden Lane, PO Box 87, Deerfield, MA 01342
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