Mark Walski, Austin police officer and Ellis Middle School liaison officer, has put on another hat this year — activities director at EMS.

As AD, Walski oversees the numerous activities available at the middle school, from Chess Club to plays to one of the more non-traditional offerings — ping-pong.

“In middle school we really gear toward participation,” Walski said. “Some kids like to play basketball; some like to play flute.

“By the time they are at the high school level, they are more sure of their high school future,” he said.

About 15 kids participate in ping-pong, which is in its second year at EMS. Walski serves as their advisor. The students have not competed against other schools yet, but Walski has researched area districts to see if they have programs.

Sportsmanship has been a big priority for Walski and EMS.

When Walski was a golf coach last year, he taught his players to shake hands with coaches and make conversation with other competitors on the tee boxes.

“The importance of sportsmanship is very high at Ellis,” he said.

EMS, like the rest of the Austin Public School District, focuses year-round on the six-part Character Counts education program, and this month’s “pillar” is “Caring.”

“Each individual team must somehow bring Character Counts into their team,” Walski said, “more or less trying to get the kids to do something above and beyond what they would normally do.”

For example, students will be collecting donations for the Salvation Army in their red kettles during a wrestling match.

To give students the opportunity to buy more uniforms and take ownership in their individual sports, each team is conducting a fundraiser by selling cookie dough and pizza.

When Walski took over as AD, he believed the school needed to better its communication with Austin High School, not only to gauge what they need to do to transition kids, but to collaborate on activities. AHS offers sports EMS does not have, like boys swimming and tennis, which gives athletes interested in those sports the opportunity to participate.

“We’ve had the volleyball team come here and do practice; the football team has been great talking to our kids,” Walski said. “It would be nice to have that communication better.”

Participation in school activities has been another priority for EMS: 40 to 50 more students took part in some type of activity last fall than in 2007. For example, 100-120 kids try out for the school plays, and turnout for the dance program has been exceptionally high.

“At the middle school level, we don’t cut kids,” Walski pointed out. “My goal would be to have every kid in an activity at Ellis.”