The Back to School WEB
Where Everybody Belongs helps with the transition from elementary to middle school
Kid Reporter Anjali Bhat (left) with her friend and W.E.B. leader partner on Orientation Day. W.E.B. means Where Everybody Belongs and is part of a program to help sixth-graders transition to middle school. (Photo Courtesy Anjali Bhat)
Almost everybody is nervous about the first day of school, but for elementary school students moving up into middle school, that new world can look mighty big and scary.
My school, John F. Kennedy Middle School in Cupertino, California, is part of a nationwide program called W.E.B (Where Everybody Belongs). It was designed to help sixth graders feel more comfortable, relaxed, and happy in their new environment.
How does it work? A selected group of eighth graders are assigned as W.E.B leaders. Throughout the school year, the leaders meet with their assigned group of sixth graders to talk, give advice, and have fun. Simply put, it's the W.E.B. leaders' job to make the sixth graders feel like they belong.
I remember that I loved my three W.E.B leaders when I was a pixie (that's our school's nickname for sixth graders!). So, in seventh grade, I signed up to be a W.E.B leader. I submitted an application that included an essay on why I thought I deserved to be a leader.
In May, I attended W.E.B's Play Day, where seventh graders could experience what it was like to be a leader and were evaluated on their skills. Finally, a month later in June, I came back to the gym and almost screamed when I saw my name on the W.E.B leader list! I made it!
I came back to school in mid-August for a week of intense training with the 74 other W.E.B. leaders. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, we worked on our leadership, organization, and friendship-making skills. We had to learn how to come out of our comfort zone and do crazy, wacky, fun things we've never done before. I was extremely shy at first, but soon my confidence grew. It was a great experience, since I made so many new friends.
After the week of training, it was time for the W.E.B leaders to host Orientation Day, a four-hour, pixie-only event that included a campus tour, two hilarious assemblies, and LOTS of games.
My partner and I met our group of 14 sixth graders. After a few name games and group challenges, we took our group on the campus tour. My leadership skills came in handy when I saw a couple of boys in our group creating trouble. I didn't know if they would listen to me-after all, I was only two years older. But I got them to listen! They respected me, and I was proud. I was extremely happy to meet each and every one of my pixies. I can already see they are awesome kids with great ambitions.
On the first day of school and once every month, I will interact with my sixth graders to make sure they are on the right track. I'll even get to host and chaperone their socials, which are like mini-carnivals just for sixth graders.
As our W.E.B teachers constantly remind us, it's a huge responsibility. Along with that, I'm preparing for high school, so I'm getting an overwhelming amount of homework and lots of extra-curricular activities. I may get discouraged sometimes, but I know I'll be okay. I've got my friends and fellow W.E.B leaders with me. And besides, at my school, everybody belongs!
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