At Milford Middle School, getting caught in the WEB is still a good thing, and there’s a lot more to catch this year.
With the brand-new school opening its doors to grades 6–8 for the first time, the Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program has expanded its reach. Eighth-grade leaders are now welcoming both 6th and 7th graders into the building and helping them feel right at home.
WEB co-coordinator and teacher Jennifer Bruce, who leads the program alongside school counselor Jenna Chambers, said the heart of the program lies in the welcoming and friendly nature of its student leaders.
“It’s very difficult to feel a sense of belonging when you’re transitioning from elementary to middle school,” Bruce said. “WEB is a national program that helps bridge that gap. We train our 8th-grade leaders to welcome and guide incoming students, so they start their school year feeling connected and supported.”
The program launched last year with start-up funding from the Milford Schools Foundation, but sustaining it has taken creativity. “We’ve done fundraising, like dine-to-donate nights, to keep it going, and the community really noticed the awesome work done last year and found ways to help us,” Bruce said. Now in its second year, the program is running more smoothly than ever. Leaders are grouped with students based on the teams they’ll join, such as Team Lions and Team Wildcats, making it easier to build relationships that last throughout the year.
Interest in becoming a WEB Leader has grown dramatically. “We had over 120 applicants this year,” Bruce said. “They go through an application process, need a teacher recommendation, and must explain why they’d be a great leader. The number of students willing to step up is overwhelming in the best way.”
Eighth graders Lucy J. and Jacob C. are two of those leaders.
“I wanted to help kids feel welcome and know they have someone to go to if they need help, and I thought this would be the best way to make that happen,” said Jacob.
Lucy described WEB as “a way of showing new people around and helping them with things they wouldn’t know yet — being there for someone who might need to talk.” Both agreed the program is aimed at “the new people,” this year’s 6th and 7th graders, who are stepping into a bigger environment for the first time.
WEB Leaders played a high-profile role before the school year even began. During Milford Middle School’s official ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, August 8, students served as tour guides, leading community members through the brand-new hallways and classrooms. As the staggered start to the school year began, 8th graders had their own first day on Wednesday, August 13. The next morning, Thursday, August 14, they returned to greet the incoming 6th and 7th graders at the doors, helping them find classrooms and navigate their first day in the new building.
Orientation activities also included visits to the 9th Grade Community space, where small groups led by WEB Leaders took part in team-building exercises and got a preview of high school life. Though orientation is WEB’s largest event, the program runs year-round. Leaders will visit classrooms throughout the year for follow-up activities, offering tips, encouragement, and a reminder that at Milford Middle, no one is alone in their journey.
Bruce said the program’s future will focus on deepening community connections. “We want our students out in the community more, representing the values of WEB, and helping every student find their place here.”
Jacob’s best advice to incoming students was, “Try to make new friends, be social, and don’t worry about what other people think of you.” Lucy added, “Be someone people can trust, be there for them through the good and the bad, be a friend.