WEB Program Ensures Every Student at WMS Belongs
WEB Program Ensures Every Student at WMS Belongs
WEB leaders created a welcome tunnel at Westonka Middle School orientation.
The transition to middle school is a significant milestone for young students. To help make it a positive experience, Westonka Middle School offers WEB—“Where Everybody Belongs”—an orientation and transition program led by seventh-grade students. WEB welcomes new students to WMS and helps them feel comfortable, connected and supported throughout their first year of middle school.
The program trains seventh graders to be WEB Leaders. As positive role models, WEB Leaders are mentors and student leaders who help new students learn what it takes to be successful during middle school.
“Middle school is a big transition, and our WEB orientation program is essential because it sets the foundation for everything we do,” said Principal Christy Zachow. “It ensures our incoming students immediately feel valued, seen, and like they truly belong here.”
Multiple studies show that if students have a positive experience in their first year in middle school, their chances for success increase dramatically. WEB provides the structure and support to help new students transition to middle school successfully.
Incoming fifth graders and other students new to WMS were invited to attend a WEB orientation on September 2, where large group activities led by fifth-grade teacher Travis Swendseid and vocal music teacher Freya Klein encouraged students to embrace the middle school years and celebrate their school. Students also broke apart into small groups where they learned tips from their experienced seventh-grade leaders as well as played games to get to know one another and toured the school.
When WMS kids arrived on the first day of school, they already knew several other students, and they had toured the building enough to feel comfortable. It helped relieve the anxiety of the first day and set a positive tone for the year.
“While the focus is on preparing our fifth-grade students for middle school, at the same time, it gives our seventh-grade student leaders an incredible platform to step up, mentor and build real leadership skills,” said Zachow. “Ultimately, our WEB program is about building a culture where every child feels safe, connected, and ready to thrive from day one. This has been one of the keys to our success as a middle school.”
WEB leaders will be used for other activities during the year to help fifth graders adapt to middle school life.