WEB is a middle school transition program that welcomes 6th graders and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their middle school experience. WEB, an acronym for Where Everybody Belongs, is built on the belief that students want to and can help other students succeed. The WEB middle school transition program trains members of the 8th grade class to be WEB Leaders; as positive role models, WEB Leaders are motivators, leaders and teachers who guide 6th/7th graders to discover what it takes to be successful in middle school.
WEB creates safety and comfort for your new 6th graders. While the transition to middle school can be a major event in the life of a young person, very few strategies for support exist in most middle schools. WEB was developed in response to the recognized need for a middle school transition program and based on the philosophy of the very successful high school transition program, Link Crew. Creating a safe and positive learning environment for all students has become a major priority as many educators are finding that the traditional “fun and games” of teasing each other can often result in dire consequences. Additionally, more and more studies are showing that if students have a positive experience in middle school they have greater chances for continued success in high school.
WEB begins with a fun and energetic orientation day that gets 6th graders excited and proud to be attending their new middle school. It also allows them to begin developing relationships with other students as well as learn strategies that will contribute to their middle school success. WEB continues after orientation providing a variety of both Academic and Social Follow Up Activities throughout the year. The Academic Follow Ups are lessons presented by trained WEB Leaders during visits to 6th/7th grade classes. These lessons are designed to give 6th/7th graders the skills needed to be successful during their middle school years and beyond. Social Follow Ups provide social settings for the WEB Leaders and their groups to reconnect and further build relationships outside the classroom.
WEB’s goal is to provide a structure in which students make real connections with each other. Through this program students learn that people at school care about them and their success.
WEB is the middle school transition program that will increase attendance, decrease discipline referrals and improve academic performance at your school.