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While summer in the U.S. officially lasts until late September, Troup County school students and teachers kissed summer vacation goodbye on Friday with the first day of school.

The bittersweet ending brings with it the excitement of what is to come and the joy of reuniting with friends.

On Friday, new school superintendent Dr. Rachel Hazel toured several schools meeting with principals and teachers as they kicked off the school year. Hazel visited Hillcrest, Franklin Forest, Hope Academy and Gardner Newman on the first day of school and plans to get to others in the coming days. She said by the end of the first full week she plans to visit every school.

By midmorning on Friday at Franklin Forest Elementary, everything was running smoothly. The first day of school can often be hectic as students and teachers adjust to new classrooms, bus drivers adjust to new routes and everyone gets back into the normal routine.

Starting on a Friday might sound like a counterintuitive choice, but the schools use that day as kind of a soft start to get the kinks out and if needed, issues can be worked on over the weekend. 

For elementary schools, the first day of school focuses on allowing students to get to know their classmates and setting behavioral expectations before jumping right into heavier studies.

As former School Superintendent Dr. Brian Shumate liked to say, getting students bussed to school, getting them fed and safely home is a good first day.

“Everything is going incredibly smoothly,” Hazel said. “It seems like the kids have never missed a beat like there was never a day off. They’ve come in and are ready to learn. Our teachers are excited. I’m excited to see that.”

Normally the first day comes with at least a few hiccups. Not so this year, Hazel said, at least by midmorning.

“If we did, it hasn’t come to our attention yet. I’m sure there are a few traffic things that always come with the first day of school but this is absolutely one of the smoothest openings I’ve ever experienced and in all my years of education,” Hazel said.