Student leaders prepare to welcome and orient incoming new students, create sense of belonging

Anoka-Hennepin middle and high school advisors selected and trained student leaders over the past week to welcome new sixth- and ninth-graders and students new to the school. Orientation activities are hosted on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at district middle and high schools to help ease the transition to a new school for students making their next step in their academic journey. 

A safety net: WEB stands for Where Everybody Belongs, which is a national mentoring program that typically works with sixth graders at the school. Each school has teachers who serve as WEB Advisors and eighth grade students who volunteer as WEB Leaders, which provides opportunities for leadership and mentoring within the school community. 

The welcome events give incoming sixth-grade students the opportunity to attend and experience their new school, with the help of peers. Activities included:

• Finding your neighborhood bus stop, and riding the bus with sixth-grade classmates.
• Understanding school routines, traditions and rules.
• Touring the school, while gathering tips from eighth-grade WEB leaders.
• Participating in community-building activities with small groups of classmates from a homeroom class.

Linking up and rallying the crew: District high schools host similar activities, with student leaders being  a key part of a “Rally Crew” or “Link Crew” at the school. They are encouraged to share advice and knowledge with new students in their small groups, making it more comfortable for new students to locate a mentor within the school to go to when they have questions starting their journey at the new school. 

Advisors at Anoka High School covered key topics with Rally Crew student leaders, in addition to providing them with leadership training in giving school tours and facilitating small group discussions related to the following topics:

• Overcoming challenges.
• Time management.
• Balancing academic priorities and social activities.
• Tips and ideas for personal growth to explore interests and meet new people.
• Being prepared each day, and the importance of school attendance.

District secondary schools conduct follow-up “WEB” and community events throughout the year to create a positive school experience for all students.

View photos from WEB Leader training at Roosevelt Middle School, and Rally Crew training at Anoka High School.