Garcia Middle School

WEB, which stands for “Where Everyone Belongs” is a middle school orientation and transition program that welcomes new students 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 our GMS 8th grade class to be WEB leaders. As positive role models, WEB leaders are mentors and student leaders who guide the sixth graders to discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to middle school and help facilitate sixth grade success.

More and more studies show that if students have a positive experience their first year in middle school, their chances for success increase dramatically. WEB provides the structure for sixth graders to receive support and guidance from eighth graders who have been through the challenges that middle school poses and understand that the transition to a larger school can sometimes be overwhelming.

Our yearlong GMS WEB program has four components that contribute our 6th graders success:

• Middle School Camp - GMS WEB leaders and sixth graders start building the mentor relationship and receive information about how to be successful in middle school
• Social Follow Ups - GMS WEB leaders and sixth graders connect outside the classroom at social events to increase student engagement and promote positive school climate
• Advisory Group Follow Ups - GMS WEB leaders connect with their 6th graders during advisory class one Wednesday each month

Through our GMS WEB program, our new students learn that people at school care about them and their success.