After months of free reign on playtime, thousands of students started on a new adventure this month — their first day of school.

Seven-year-old Tayhlor Pogacsas sat eagerly outside Broad View Elementary School Sept. 6. Around him were dozens of other kids and parents who filed in and crowded around waiting for the doors to open to another school year.

“I’m happy because I miss school,” Pogacsas said.

The young students came bearing brand-new backpacks, although some kept the trusty one from last year. Brand-new sneakers strode in bright white, yet to be christened during a playground session.

Pogacsas is one of the kids who will go into a full on sprint once that recess bell rings.

“I really like recess,” he said. “It’s my favorite.”

Parents came with coffee in hand, kids in tow, equally eager for the school year to get started.

“It’s my vacation now,” said Stephen Pogacsas, father of Tayhlor.

Shortly after 9 a.m. the students and their parents made their way en masse to the school’s courtyard where they lined up in rows with their classmates. At the head of each line, one anxious learner held high a sign with the name of the teacher for that class.

It didn’t matter that William Castillo, Jr., had been awake since 6 o’clock that morning. He was a vibrant sign holder for Ms. Linda Eigenraan’s second-grade class and his mom, Jeanette, was busy snapping pictures to commemorate the day.

“All summer he’d been waking up around 8 o’clock,” she said. “But this morning he was up when I looked into his room at six. He’s so excited.”

William was eager to get down to the task of learning.

“I like work,” he said. “Math, reading and learning stories are my favorites.”

The day was one of mixed emotion. There were tears from some students and none from others. There was excitement from some students and none from others. And there was excitement from some parents and tears from others.

The highest ratio of parents to kids was over by the first-time elementary schoolers, the kindergartners who were required to bring a parent. This was also where you found the most cameras snapping pictures and the most tears — this time from the parents.

Before the first day of school Sept. 6, kindergarten teacher Brenda Williams was busily floating about her classroom making sure everything was just right.

“Oh, it’s going to be fun. It’s a brand new group, brand new volunteers and it’s going to be fun, fun, fun with new adventures,” she beamed.

Bill and Juanita Reed were full of pride and anxious of the separation as they stood in the courtyard videotaping their kindergartner, 5-year-old Mackenzie Reed.

“Don’t get me started,” said Juanita as she fought back another bout of teary eyes. “We’re just so proud, excited and want her to know how much we love her.”

The week before school at the Reed house was filled with talk of what to expect of school mixed in with shopping trips for clothes and supplies.

“We made a time capsule of all her favorites and her senior year will give it to her to open,” Juanita said.

In a mini-study session, Bill Reed found his daughter was truly sharp beyond her years.

“She knows her ABCs, and I asked her if she knew her seasons and she said ‘Of course Daddy. There’s crabbing season, fishing season, football season and clamming season,’” he said with a laugh.

Broad View Principal Joyce Swanson led the students, parents and staff in the Pledge of Allegiance before the parents gave one last kiss and hug, the kids waved frantically and the students hustled to their classrooms.

In the kindergarten classroom everyone shuffled in, hung up backpacks and coats, pinned on name tags and the students sat on a rug surrounding their teacher. Parents received paperwork, an introduction to the classroom, introductions to the various class mascots — including Clifford, a big red dog who’d take them on many reading adventures this year — and their first lessons of the day.

“Remember children, always be a friend,” kindergarten teacher Brenda Williams said. “And boys and girls, be sure to show Mom and Dad where the boys bathroom and the girls bathroom are.”

Some lessons never seem to lose their noteworthiness.