Kindergarteners were beaming from ear to ear as they left their classrooms on the first day of school at Troy Elementary.

Lena Green climbed in the backseat of her mother’s car with the help of her new teacher, Tracie Huner. Green nodded when her mom asked her if she had a good day.

“They had fun and danced and heard a gingerbread story and made gingerbread people on popsicle sticks,” said Pamela Green Nealey, Lena’s mother. “She really had a good time and that makes a parent feel good, to know that their child is getting nurtured and enrichment.”

As kindergarten students were wrapping up their abbreviated first day, other students were chowing down in the lunchroom.

Lunch was one of the best parts of John Baxley Sanders’ day.

CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY PROUD PARENTS.

“I was starving,” Sanders, in Jennifer Dunn’s fourth-grade class, said with a smile. “But I am excited for science, too.”

Sanders and his classmate Walker Stallworth both said their favorite subject is science and they are excited to learn about chemicals this year.

“The day is going well,” said Superintendent Lee Hicks. “Students and teachers seem to be excited to be back. We have a few kinks to work out, but everyone is having fun and gearing up to learn.”

Over at Charles Henderson Middle School, there were more firsts as incoming sixth-graders moved into their lockers.

“It’s very exciting to see everyone and all the young faces as they are coming to a new school,” said Principal Aaron Brown.

Brown said he tried to welcome every sixth-grader personally as they came into the school because he wanted them to feel at home.

“There has been a high level of energy in the air,” Brown said. “Knock on wood it has been a good day. We are on fire.”

And with moving into a new school and getting a locker for the first time, decoration is key: from shelves, to mirrors to organizers.

“It’s fun to make it your space,” said sixth-grader Madi Johnson, who was organizing her books on a bright blue shelf.

“It’s awesome,” sixth-grader Aiden Stephens echoed, pointing to her green shelf and blue mirror.

And reports from Pike County Schools were just as good as from Troy City Schools.

“It looks like, right now, we are up about 60 students,” said Superintendent Dr. Mark Bazzell. “That’s always a good sign.”

Bazzell said he’s only heard good things from teachers and principals in the school system.

“We had a full day of instruction today,” Bazzell said. “We want to get the kids acclimated and on track from day one.”

“It’s an exciting time of year.”