This fall, Wellington’s middle school introduced a new set of community expectations—created with students, for students. Rooted in the values of authenticity, responsibility, curiosity, ambition, and empathy, the expectations define how students can live these ideals in daily, tangible ways. Read the full one-page expectations here.
The process began last spring when more than 60 middle school students applied to serve on a committee that would draft the expectations. From that group, 20 students were selected to work alongside faculty and Assistant Head of Middle School Sloan Magliery. Together, they explored key questions: What kind of culture do we want to build? How can our values show up in our everyday choices? The answers shaped a one-page document that now lives in every middle school student’s planner.
On the first day of school, the entire division joined in, adding their voices, discussing real-life scenarios, and reflecting on areas for growth. In advisory, students are revisiting the expectations as part of ongoing lessons and personal goal setting. For example, they might work through a case study such as: What do you do if a friend asks to copy your homework? How does that choice align with the value of responsibility? By practicing with concrete examples, students build confidence in applying the expectations in everyday situations.
According to Ms. Magliery, giving students an active role was essential. “When students help define the culture, they feel ownership. They don’t see expectations as rules handed down, but as commitments they chose together.”
This matters because middle school is a time when young people are developing independence and a stronger sense of identity. Having clear, student-driven expectations helps them practice accountability, strengthen relationships, and understand what it means to belong to a community.
For Wellington’s middle school, the document is more than a set of rules; it’s a framework for growth, resilience, and trust, ensuring that students not only know the values of their school but also have the tools to live them every day. View the one-page expectations.