Manteca High’s Back to School Night Wednesday offered folks with an opportunity to get involved.

One such way included the Academic Boosters.

According to Kathy Ruble, who is president of this newly established club, parents and community members can now do their part to support such endeavors as Day of the Writer, Students of the Month, Perfect Attendance, and Standardized Testing And Results or STAR activities, to name a few, via fundraisers.

 “We’re looking to help recognize our kids during these tough economic times,” she said.

 The Academic Boosters is off and running with about 50 members, said Ruble, who worked the information booth during the all-school event.

She also had tickets available for the club’s inaugural fundraiser at De Vinci Restaurant, 1471 Yosemite Ave., scheduled on Sept. 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cost for the ravioli and salad meal is $10.

More information on the Academic Boosters can be obtained by contacting Ruble at 858-0832.

Many attending Back to School Night also had a chance to view the new-look Dawson Center.

“We’ve received a lot of compliments,” Principal Doug McCreath said.

The once enclosed outdoor cafeteria area where students often meet for lunch was expanded during the summer.

The plans were that of Sam Dolson’s Architectural Design class.

Gone is the wall that separated the quad to the adjacent classroom wing, with more tables equipped with green umbrellas added along the western corridor.

“We’ve really opened up the whole area,” said McCreath, who was helping members of JROTC take down the umbrellas as parents made their way to visit the classrooms.

As for Back to School Night, he added, “We had a strong turnout.”