While mothers fill shopping carts with school supplies and silently count down the days to the beginning of school, teachers and administrators are counting down as well.

"I am hugely excited," said Kathy McKinniss, Bunsold Middle School principal. "It's my 35th year in education. I've had a lot of first days of schools."

Marysville Exempted Village School District students' first day of school is Tuesday, Aug. 21.

But Bunsold Middle School is trying something different by rolling out the buses for a new kind of orientation a few days early.

Students boarded the buses Friday, Aug. 17, to arrive at BMS at the same time they will on regular school days. Students spent two hours getting familiar with what to expect this school year.

"The kids want to know if the teachers are going to be nice, where their locker is and where the bathrooms are," McKinniss said.

Parents are invited to a curriculum night Sept. 11 for their own style of orientation.

"We found that parents needed something different and needed to know academic expectations," McKinniss said.

McKinniss said the school staff is already starting to get ready for the 2013-2014 school year. "We're all looking at new common core standards for next year," she said.

"So we're having a lot of conversations about what we're teaching and how we're teaching."

Marysville High School Principal Matt Chrispin said a new common core curriculum will be implemented in English and math this year at the high school.

When he opens the doors Tuesday, he will greet a record 1,656 students along with new staff members.

"We welcome 10 teachers who replace those who retired or left the district for other employment opportunities," Chrispin said.

Other new things at the high school include permitting electronic devices to be used on campus, allowing teachers and students to use technology in daily learning.

The high school is also changing the traffic pattern at the three-way intersection in an effort to streamline bus and parent traffic entering and exiting campus.

For $45, students also have a chance to attend ACT and SAT Boot Camp Oct. 15. Juniors and seniors will be able to register for the test strategy seminar in mid-September.

The entire school district is changing to a new student information system. PowerSchool replaced the Aeries information system the district used which allowed students and parents to check grades and schedules online.

Chrispin says after 22 years in education, including six years as the principal at MHS, one thing he wants parents to know is learning does not stop with high school graduation.

"Encourage your child to seek further education after high school," Chrispin said.

"The high school diploma is no longer the automatic ticket for employment like it used to be," he said.

"Whether it's a two-year, four-year or technical school, your child's education needs to continue past their days at MHS in order to be competitive in the global economy."

McKinniss agrees that parents need to encourage their children.

"Just be really positive about the year," McKinniss said. "It could be the best year ever."

Both Chrispin and McKinniss said they want parents to keep the lines of communication open.

"The MHS staff is here to prepare and support you and your child," Chrispin said.

"If they don't know something they should call us," McKinniss said.

"I don't want parents ever to worry," she said. "Every year is a fresh start."

Student enrollment figures by building are:

* Edgewood Elementary School: 435

* Mill Valley Elementary: 422

* Raymond Elementary: 249

* Navin Elementary: 423

* Northwood Elementary: 453

* Creekview Intermediate: 826

* Bunsold Middle School: 875

* Marysville High School: 1,656

* Electronic Building (charter/ homeschool/etc): 236

Total: 5,575.