Issaquah Middle School—Where everyone belongs

When sixth-graders at Issaquah Middle School walked onto campus for their first day of middle school on September 6, they might have felt anxious about classes, the unfamiliar building, and their new outfits. But at least they didn’t have to worry about one typical “newbie” fear—finding a group to fit into right away.

They already belonged.

Taking a cue from District high schools’ LINK Crews, in which upperclassmen are paired with freshmen and sophomores to create an inviting environment, Issaquah Middle School this month began its own version of the program called WEB (Where Everyone Belongs).

On the first day of school, every sixth-grader was welcomed into a WEB group led by two eighth-graders—the veterans of middle school. Each group bonded and drew collective wisdom from the leaders, ultimately easing the transition from elementary to middle school. Throughout the year, the school will continue to host occasional functions for the WEB groups to participate in.

“It’s a huge undertaking but we think worth the time and energy,” Principal Corrine DeRosa said.