Eighth grade WEB leaders are reflecting on their personal growth as they help incoming fifth graders prepare for the transition to middle school.
“My biggest fear about middle school was not fitting in or not finding the right friends for me,” said Sophia, an eighth grader at Glacier Creek Middle School. “It changed by noticing I don’t have to fit in, I just have to be me.”
“Finding where I belong and finding my friends has been the best part of middle school,” added Hattie, a Glacier Creek student.
In the WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) program at Glacier Creek and Kromrey Middle Schools, advisors as well as eighth grade leaders help new fifth graders adjust to the changes that middle school brings. Kromrey’s WEB leaders recently helped fifth graders find ways to prioritize homework while finding time for hobbies. Associate Principal Joanna Cree said it’s sometimes easier for fifth graders to absorb these lessons from students who experienced it more recently.
“Adults preach this often, but it means so much more coming from older student mentors,” Cree said.
Handling a greater amount of homework was one of the concerns that Glacier Creek’s WEB leaders said they had before coming to middle school. They shared in a video message how they overcame these concerns, which also included getting lost in a new building and making new friends.
“I was worried about not finding people with similar interests as me, but I ended up meeting people through my classes and starting a conversation with them,” said Khushi, an eighth grader. “There’s a lot more people than in elementary school, and you can make so many friends.”
“Attending Back to School Night lets you familiarize yourself with the school,” added Harvey, an eighth grader. “You might still make mistakes, but it helps a lot.”
MCPASD’s middle schools also proudly run a diverse selection of clubs for students to join, including Library Helpers, Crochet Club, Ladies in Law Enforcement, Speedcubing, Robotics, and more. Eighth graders said these are valuable opportunities to socialize, strengthen their self-esteem, and explore different interests.
“I really got to focus on things that I wanted to do more, and it really opened more doors for me,” Harvey said. “I also got a great community along with that in those clubs.”
Whether in a club or in a classroom, the support of new friends and teachers have a significant impact on students. Students said while it may take some time to adjust, the school communities look out for each other.
“Seventh grade was my breakthrough year,” said Andrew, an eighth grader. “Ms. Cochems, my seventh grade literacy teacher, has been my favorite so far.”
“Everyone is there to support you, and the teachers are there to help you,” added Lucy, an eighth grader. “Everyone just wants you to succeed.”
WEB leaders also shared words of wisdom for incoming fifth graders.
“I would tell them not to stress out about anything,” said Arnav, an eighth grader. “In the end, it will pretty much resolve itself.”
“Don’t be afraid,” added Aaliyah, another WEB leader. “You’ll get to have a good experience in middle school, and everything will be just fine.”