By Nate Brinkman

More than 4,800 students kicked off Austin Public Schools’ 2016-17 school year today, and administrators are optimistic for another great year.

“As always I am very much looking forward to coming back to school and seeing all the bright faces and smiles of the students,” Superintendent David Krenz said.

Krenz explained that this year he wants to focus on positivity.

“We want to provide a very positive environment for the students, and we want to maintain that throughout the year,” He said.

One way the district will focus on the positives is through its new #AustinIs hashtag initiative, which aims to get students, faculty and parents to share in the district’s social media sites by using a variety of hashtags — such as #AustinIsAcademics, #AustinIsEnrichment, #AustinIsActivities, #AustinIsArts, #AustinIsScience, #AustinIsTechnology and #AustinIsAthletics — as part of the district’s new communications plan to promote positive messages in Austin schools.

Here are a few more things happening at Austin Schools early this year:

Sumner Elementary

Sumner Elementary School, which along with its adjoining Woodson Kindergarten Center classes began classes Aug. 1 for its 45/15 schedule, is using a new program this year to check on students who may be at risk of dropping out.

Sumner became the first Austin school to enact Check & Connect, a mentoring program started at the University of Minnesota in 1990.

It’s designed to connect students and families with education and ensure that they are on a course toward graduation.

“Our ultimate goal is to keep kids in school,” Sumner Principal Shelia Berger said.

Berger said the program seems promising.

“This program has a very strong research background and I am confident that it will do what it is intended to do,” she said.

AVID

A program aiming to get students avid about reaching college is expanding to another school this year.

AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, has been in place at Austin High School, I.J. Holton Intermediate School and Sumner in past years, and it’s is now being implemented Ellis Middle School this year.

The program, which is an elective students can choose to take, focuses on students who land just below advanced placement level classes with the hopes to challenge them and get them into those classes.

The overall goal of AVID is to get students into college. The students that fit the program get Bs and Cs and maybe a few Ds on average. They are students who have expressed an interest in college, but don’t quite have the means to get there yet. They may be the first in their family to go to college, and they may be underrepresented or have a lack of support at home.

AHS

Austin High School freshman are set to jump into the new school year after orientation on Aug. 25 with the help of a select upperclassmen known as Link Crew leaders.

Much is already planned at AHS early in the school year.

The 2016 homecoming week will begin Oct. 2 with powderpuff football and conclude on Oct. 8 with the homecoming dance. The homecoming football game will be Oct. 7

A busy year also awaits Austin’s music programs.

The AHS choirs will take a trip to Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, to visit some historic and significant places such as Elvis’ Graceland, The National Civil Rights Museum, The Grand Ole Opry, and The National Country Music Hall of Fame.

Then the district’s music department is looking forward to the second annual “Christmas at Home” concert Dec. 16 and 17 at the Historic Paramount Theater. This concert is intended to be the public’s chance to see ensembles from across the district. The concert includes many small student ensembles as well as music teacher ensembles and community performers. Cost for this concert will be $15 for adults and $5 for students in advance and $20 at the door for all.

For more on upcoming Austin Public Schools events, visit www.austin.k12.mn.us/Pages/district-calendar.aspx.