MARYSVILLE – Going to school isn’t just about academics. It’s about building relationships, too.

To help students with that, the Marysville School District on the first day of school Sept. 4 is offering relationship building and team activities for students transitioning into middle school for sixth-graders and high school for ninth-graders.

Students in grades 7-8 and 10-12 get an extra day of summer vacation and won’t start until Sept. 5.

In middle school, the program is called We All Belong. Each student will have a peer mentor. At high school, the program is called Link Crew, which promotes school safety and anti-bullying.

The yearlong transition program has four components:

•Orientation: Leaders and freshmen start building a mentor relationship, and freshmen receive information about how to be successful in high school.

•Academic Follow Ups: Leaders support freshman academic success and character development through classroom visits.

•Social Follow Ups: Leaders and freshmen connect outside the classroom to increase student engagement.

•Leader Initiated Contacts: Leaders connect with freshmen on an individual basis.

Juniors and seniors are trained to be Link Leaders. Studies show that if students have a positive experience their first year in high school, their chance for success increases dramatically. Link Crew will increase attendance, decrease discipline referrals and improve academic performance.

Kindergarten will get started Sept. 9, and Preschool and ECEAP Sept. 16.

Arlington and Lakewood also start Sept. 4. In Lakewood, kindergarten gets off to a slow start through Friday, then the first full day is Sept. 9.

When Marysville students get back to school, they will notice a new look at many locations.

Totem Middle School has been through a major painting project this summer, along with a new roof, while Marysville-Pilchuck High School received some much-needed new siding that’s still being painted. Also paid for by passage of a capital levy were new playgrounds at Allen Creek and Quil Ceda elementary schools. Many schools received new portables and other portables were repaired. Shoultes Elementary was updated with a fire-suppression system and more. Some schools also received new carpeting, security and gym floor upgrades.

A number of students participated in summer learning programs so they wouldn’t “slide” academically.

Summer Success Programs took place at Marysville Middle School. Some elementary schools were open for summer library opportunities. And there also was the summer Reading on the Road program.

Even the teachers were learning this summer. Some were taught new instructional strategies like GLAD and AVID.

To get ready for school, many community groups, including the school district itself, had drives to collect school supplies for kids in need. The Everett Community College Cosmetology program even offered free haircuts.