ESCANABA — Youths are heading back to school this week for a new academic year. Parents, teachers, principals, school staff and others are welcoming students back for a new year filled with new curriculum, equipment, meals and even new educators. With a new year comes new students, and according to local principals, enrollment is looking very good.

Principal Krista Johnson of Webster Kindergarten Center said enrollment is about the same as previous years. Of that enrollment, roughly 6.5 percent are out-of-district students.

“We are unique as a kindergarten-only building, no other district in the area offers that so I think that’s appealing to a lot of families,” Johnson said.

Students and parents will be pleased to see a new sensory wall at Webster, created by Tracy Jensen, a special education teacher at Webster.

“The wall provides sensory input to children’s fingers and hands with items such as sand art, a bubble machine, a heat-sensitive mat, fidget spinners, and materials with different textures,” Johnson said.

She said that it allows kids to explore their senses as well as improve their visual, auditory and tactile processing.

“By providing a sense of calm and comfort, our sensory wall assists children in learning to self-regulate their behaviors and ultimately improve focus,” she said.

Teachers can take the students to the wall when they need a break or to release energy.

“The wall allows students to expend energy and return to class to focus on schoolwork,” she said.

Johnson also highlighted the free breakfast and lunch at Webster.

“This year, we are looking forward to expanding our hot breakfast offerings to several times a week. Our Food Director, Nancy LaFave, and school cook, Taylor Cordy are planning menus that appeal to our children,” she said.

Students will have the option to enjoy egg bites, pancakes, omelets, fruit and much more.

“Students will begin each day with full bellies giving them energy to better attend to schoolwork,” Johnson said.

She added that the custodial and maintenance staff have worked tirelessly to get the facility ready for students and teachers.

“We are excited to welcome back our previous students as well as brand new families to Webster,” she said.

In Gladstone, High School Principal Andy Jacques said that the enrollment numbers are higher than in previous years.

“Our enrollment is up more than we’ve had in probably the last five or six years,” Jacques said.

Of that enrollment, Jacques said roughly 20 percent are out-of-district students.

“Enrollment-wise, it’s looking really good,” he said.

The staff is also very similar to last year, as no one retired or moved on from the school.

“Having a solid staff that takes care of our kids and knows how to create relationships — it just makes our years go really smooth,” he said.

Jacques said that the school will continue to work on current programs, but is open to creating programs based on what the kids are interested in.

“If our kids are interested in something, I want them to be able to get involved. So being involved in our schools will give them more ownership in their school,” he said.

In the past, Gladstone High School started a fishing club and a dungeons and dragons club simply because the students were interested in it.

He also touted current programs such as the auto shop and wood shop. It was started five years ago, but it continues to grow as the school has put more resources into the programs.

“It gives kids another outlet to be able to work with their hands and be able to learn skills that they can use for the rest of their lives,” Jacques said.

He said he still gets jitters on the first day of school and he is so excited to be back.

“It’s like it’s the first day of school for me.”

Principal Katee Inghram at Cameron Elementary School said enrollment is roughly the same as in years past.

Of those enrolled, roughly 23 percent are out-of-district students.

She said this year, the school will be using TRAILS as part of its curriculum.

According to the TRAILS website, the program assists teachers in empowering their students to build healthy relationships, make caring and responsible decisions and manage strong emotions.

She said that the school faces the challenge of space in the building as it is limited.

“We use our gym and cafeteria in the same space,” Inghram said. She said her team has to quickly transform the room based on its purpose for the next class or group of kids.

“It’s tricky,” she said.

She also said they are working on getting replacement equipment for the playground, as two of the large slides are damaged. The playground is operable, but some equipment is damaged and not usable.

Inghram also spoke about the Parent Teacher Organization at Cameron, saying it supports the students, teachers, community and parents in various ways.

“In addition to gathering interested volunteers for events throughout the 24 to 25 school year, the Cameron PTO gave families a school calendar magnet for their refrigerators and organized a back-to-school photo booth for picture-taking fun at open house,” she said.

The PTO also welcomed the teachers back with food and some supplies.

“They provided lunch for teachers during the first professional development day, welcomed new teachers with Gladstone swag, and surprised all teachers with Gladstone purple sunglasses for recess duty,” Inghram said.

In Bark River, students at Bark River-Harris Junior High and High School have a new but familiar face in the principal’s seat. Caleb Adams, a former teacher at Bark River-Harris is now the principal for the new academic year.

Adams said enrollment for Bark River-Harris has been good and some students attend from out of district, but he is not sure of the exact number quite yet. It’s been a transition for Adams and the school, but Adams said it has gone without a hitch so far.

“We have a great staff in place, so the transition for me has been nice and smooth,” Adams said.

Adams and company have revamped the math curriculum for the year, equipped with new textbooks.

He also invested in a new system for when students are walking the halls of the school.

“We purchased a new hall pass system called SmartPass that will increase student safety and hallway traffic,” he said.

With steady enrollment, improved curriculum, new faces, great PTOs, new equipment and enthusiastic principals and teachers – it’s sure to be a successful school year.

“I’m looking forward to the school year, and we are excited to see where we can go as a school district,” Adams said.