6th grade students participate in getting-to-know-you activities with their 8th grade WEB Leaders (in green shirts) at Walnut Springs Middle School.
Sixth grade students had the opportunity to meet one another and explore their new middle schools on August 13 as part of the Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program being implemented at all four middle schools in the Westerville City School District during the 2019-2020 school year.
WEB is a middle school orientation and transition program that welcomes 6th graders and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their middle school experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, the program trains mentors from the 8th grade class to be WEB Leaders. As positive role models, WEB Leaders are mentors and student leaders who guide the 6th graders through a successful transition to middle school.
The program is powered by a first day, all day orientation, exclusive for 6th grade students that includes a high-energy assembly and student led activities in small groups. Two staff members at each middle school attended a full three-day workshop in the spring and worked with soon-to-be 8th graders last year to begin preparing for the orientation on the 13th. T-shirts for WEB Leaders were generously sponsored by Westerville Education Challenge.
There will be an ongoing opportunity between WEB leaders and assigned 6th grade team members to connect throughout the school year.
In addition to helping 6th grade students feel right at home on the first day of middle school, families were invited to participate in middle school family workshops to learn more about their new school including how to access student grade information and ideas to support their student during this big transition.